In America, it seems that African-Americans have subdued themselves into two dated mentalities know as the slave mentality or black supremacy. No I am not saying there aren't any exceptions from what my post is discussing, but there is definitely a wide margin of individuals that allow the concept of race to heavily affect their behavior.
The first mentality was brought on through a slave owner named Willie Lynch who single handly recognized that inorder for the master to remain domniate over his slaves he needs to be able to controll his slave through psychological tactics. In a purported speech he gave to slave owners in 1712, he dicussed a new strategy of control that will prevent slave rebellion. Lynch believed distrust, fear, and envy are stronger emotions than adulation, respect, or admiration; and should be applied to the following scenarios:
The first mentality was brought on through a slave owner named Willie Lynch who single handly recognized that inorder for the master to remain domniate over his slaves he needs to be able to controll his slave through psychological tactics. In a purported speech he gave to slave owners in 1712, he dicussed a new strategy of control that will prevent slave rebellion. Lynch believed distrust, fear, and envy are stronger emotions than adulation, respect, or admiration; and should be applied to the following scenarios:
"Don't forget you must pitch the young Black male against the old Black male ... You must use the dark skin slaves versus the light skin slaves ... You must use the female versus the male ... You must also have your white servants and overseers distrust all Blacks, but it is necessary that your slaves trust and depend on us. They must love, respect, and trust only us" (http://www.duboislc.org/html/WillieLynch.html)
Whether or not Lynch existed remains unknown; however, the strategy was right in it's approach for the continuing servitude of blacks and in establishing a slave mentality of the Black race.
Neverthess by the late 1960's the African American mindframe radically shifts into the state of racial pride and Black unity. Black prominence is embraced and mistrust is casted on the Caucasian race thanks to the teachings and ideology of legendary figure Malcom X. X encouraged his follwers to use violent tactics against their enemies who had oppressed the Black race for several decades. Unknowingly, this implanted a seed among African Americans to believe that they are victims of oppression, violence, and discrimination and for this they deserved revenge.
That was over 30 years ago and sadly African Americans are still under the same mentalities. So many are inclined to sterotype and outcast their own race and refer to individuals as hoodlums, thugs, or chickenheads (women). While finding comfort and relief among the Cauasian race.
Still there are others who are quick to use the race-card anytime a white policemen pulls them over for a traffic violation. This usually drives a wedge between the races in which the average Causian man or woman feels a form of guilt and unsteadiness around Blacks; while African Americans feel that they must defend themselves from white men and women who they believe see them as a slave.
But my question is why are we as humankind allowing our differences to negatively shape our thoughts and behaviors?
Personally I believe our society is so heavily concentrated on compeition and success that we are willing to find any excuse we can to get ahead. Whether it's affirmative action or plain ol' racism. Until we are ready to unite and see past our differences the human race will continue to break down.
Your questions are fundamental and sadly, not answerable. Without trying to sound like a cynic, I don't believe the human race will ever be able to completely unite and see past our differences. We are just too...human.
ReplyDeleteI think, unfortunately there is too much of a collective memory for society to move forward in certain ways. Until society, as a whole, can agree to reconcile certain truths and forget them, the human race will be unable to unite. And even then, I think there will be other things that will allow people to classify themselves and 'others.' Not that I like the idea of that happening, it just tends to be the way people make sense of the world around them.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy reading the writings of Langston Hughes, W.E.B Dubis and Ralph Ellison.
ReplyDeleteThey kind of express the same notions that you are conveying to me.
The nature of considering one's self as a captive soul is really a sad feeling for me.
I feel as though that as long as people keep using unexplained reasons to continue to set themselves into a box, of any sort of discrimination or profiling, the progress of a given community will be haulted.
Thank You for writing such an insightful entry.
You have some interesting points. Nonetheless, the state of black America is the way it is now because of 30 years ago.
ReplyDeleteI must say though, not all black Americans have either mentality.
And moreover, racism is alive and well. Do not be deceived. It's just hidden well and disguised as an inner city school with low funding and mediocre curriculum, staff, and teachers (if you get my drift.)
Nonetheless, nice post.