Have Some Nigger Cake: The Impossibility of "Revamping" Derogatory References

My post yesterday was a very labored one because there was so much anger going on while I was writing it that I had to edit a lot of my first thoughts.  I wanted to convey my anger, disappointment and revulsion about Makode Linde's decision to create a racist cake "sculpture" (that depicted a racist caricature of a Black woman in black face) without distracting from emphasizing his assault on Black female identity as his means to an end.

I will not presume to know what Mr. Linde was thinking when he decided to start creating a series of blackface art".  But I will say that there is not one part of me that believes that he didn't know what he was doing when he created that repulsive cake that has now been circling the internet as "the Nigger cake".

He was obviously trying to be provocative but it was at Black women's expense and somehow I don't think that showing insensitivity towards women is a positive when you're supposedly addressing the horror of female genital mutilation (which occurs in places other than Africa), as he stated originally.  His creation has allowed yet another degrading image to become attributed to Black female identity.  All Black people should be angry about that, not just Black women.

Mr. Linde, a 30-year-old Swede with an African father, explained that the screaming cake was part of a series of works he calls “Afromantics.” His intention for the works, he said, is “revamping the blackface into a new historical narrative and sort of lifting invisible prejudice to an exaggerated level, where it’s becoming over-obvious and in a way more in your face and easier to talk about.”

He initially said that he created the cake as a way to bring attention to female mutilation and now he wants to "revamp blackface" so that we have new and improved racist imagery to deal with as Black people.  (Gee, Thanks.)  There is no way to revamp blackface or the word nigger for a more palatable consumption.  They will always incite anger and pain because they represent the rabid hate that is an atrocious reflection and indictment on our white supremacist society.

Mr. Linde also said, “In my art, I’m more like questioning the different images of blackness. I’m not illustrating real black identity. I am illustrating ideas, or concepts, or patterns that surround ideas about black identity.”      

What questions?!  There has never been a question about why the different racist images or names for Blackness exist in this society.  Mr Linde should be honest and say that he wanted some notoriety by any means necessary (no pun intended).  If he really wants to break new ground for a new historical narrative to draw attention to "invisible prejudices" then he should take the pictures (of all those participatory smiling white faces) from his event and turn that into art.  Of course that art won't be shown in Sweden's Museum of Modern Art, but at least that art would be highlighting the real problem.

Racism is a societal defect that was created by morally and mentally corrupt people.  Mr. Linde can't correct a defect with something defective.  Black face already existed, there was no need for "new black face".

We live in a white supremacist structured world and the only way to combat that is to stop placating white society.  Those that indulge in the cruelties of racism need to be called out on a daily basis if necessary every time that they do.

[Source]

Repect Black: Past, Present, Future (Part 2)

This is the last post in the series that began with me making the statement that Black History Month Should Not Be Enough and Respect Black: Past, Present, Future (Part 1) began my thoughts on why.

In the 21st century there are people that are trying to legislate the revision of history in textbooks in an effort to remove white people's culpability in atrocities that have been inflicted on non-white people here and around the world.   They also intend to lessen or completely remove information and entire programs that provide information about non-white people and their contributions.  That means that your children will continue learning that white people matter and that they don't in a legally required formal education facility also known as America's elementary and secondary school system.  White supremacy wants to extinguish anyone or any event that doesn't fit their white superiority model.  If they succeed.  A Black History Month isn't going to do squat to make that better.  The only way to combat this level of arrogance and duplicity is to engage our children and ourselves in the importance of a great education.

We live in a time where people would rather embrace a deplorable whitewashed fairy tale rather than the truth that comes from a rich history of people from all backgrounds who endured and sacrificed a great deal to make sure that the future moves forward and not backwards.  Education is imperative.  There are great inspirational stories about people that have done great things but those stories have been relegated to the sidelines when it comes to impacting the lives of Black people in a positive way on a grand scale.  Black History Month has become more about memorizing and reciting and less about engaging and doing.  Our kids will continue to suffer if the right values are not encouraged and supported.

Conscious living and a solid education as a foundation is what all Black people should be encouraged to pursue because it the best way to ensure a life of success and purpose.  If you show a child ALL that is possible through knowledge and an education then you plant the seed.  Black History Month can't possibly encompass that which should be the concerted effort of all of us towards emboldening the lives for those that come after us.  Everything that we do should be with the specific goal of bettering our lives and the lives of Black children.  We have to ensure that our children can navigate this world knowing that they are important.  What good is all of that history if it doesn't propel us forward in showing that we have a responsibility and the possibility to do great things.

Education is the best path for success in life for our children.  Parents are an integral factor in a Black child choosing a better life for themselves than the one that can be offered from a life lived in limbo without aspirations, priorities and goals.  We are 13% of the American population and yet we have the highest percentage of the incarcerated, unemployed and poor in society.  The chance of a Black child having a successful life in this world without an education is significantly less than the odds of winning the lottery.

My point?  Education, Education, Education and did I say Education.  Parents are their children's best advocate in the pursuit of their best lives.  An education is a very important part of that.  If we do not speak up and do right by them then we fail them terribly as their protectors and guardians.  Black people can have a hard time in this world that is full of choices and obstacles that no other race of people have to be concerned with and yes it is unfair.  But that unfairness doesn't negate the fact that an education expands our options and offers the potential to create our best life despite the obstacles.  Black children deserve to have great lives and that begins with their parents making better choices and great decisions on their behalf.  

Education will always be THE equalizer and accelerator in society that will allow Black people to lead successful lives.  Making education a priority in your household is what our children deserve.  The futures of Black children depend on it. 

Another White Privileged Group Misappropriates Black American History

Unfortunately there are so many instances in today's society that really make me question the sanity and intellect of some people.  When they choose to hijack struggles that relate to horrible atrocities inflicted on human beings in order to buoy their supposed altruistic intentions it is deplorable.

The premise of what PETA is supposed to stand for is something that I don't have a problem with but it is what they do in order to represent their beliefs that is an issue.  PETA,  three marine-mammal experts, and two former orca trainers decided to sue Sea World on the behalf of five orca whales using the 13th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.  Yes.  You read correctly.  PETA actually went into court with their attorney Jeffrey Kerr to defend the rights of whales using the 13th Amendment.

"Slavery is slavery, and it does not depend on the species of the slave any more than it depends on gender, race, or religion,"

Well I am sure that the Black Americans enslaved under the laws of this land for almost three centuries would appreciate that PETA and Mr. Kerr feel so entitled to equate their lives and suffering to be the same as that of orca whales.  I mean after all Black people were considered things and property.  So it is entirely the same.  Right?  The ethical PETA's insults toward a tragic part of Black American history don't end there.

Our understanding of animals grows every day. Animals are no longer regarded as "things" to dominate, but as breathing, feeling beings with families, dialects, intellect, and emotions. Just as we look back with shame at a time when we enslaved OTHER HUMANS and viewed some people as property less deserving of protection and consideration, we will look back on our treatment of these animals with shame. The 13^th Amendment exists to abolish slavery in all its forms—and this lawsuit is the next step. (bold and capitalization emphasis mine)

I know.  It makes you want to rinse your brain hoping that you didn't read that correctly.  But you did.  I told you that I question the sanity and intellect of people especially when they completely obliterate logic and reason.  In these two sentences they have reduced the pain, torture and struggle of Black people in America during slavery to little more than the necessary means to their selfish, entitled and inconsiderate end.  "No ethics towards people just animals" should be their new slogan.

Alas, there will be no national outrage against their debasement of our history.  And although the lawsuit has been dismissed it is another example of how white privilege continually provides an opportunity for PETA and other organizations like it to have cover when they misuse and misappropriate Black American history regardless of the pain and suffering that they might inflict.  I am sure that PETA didn't mean any intentional disrespect towards Black Americans because white people never do and white privilege's subterfuge allows for them to be ignorant and inconsiderate of our history.  A history that included the ethical mistreatment of human beings which of course is not PETA's concern.

Respect Black 365: Past, Present and Future

Without an education our options were severely limited

 
Black History Month Should Not Be Enough  is the previous post that began this series.

In the post (that started this unexpected series) I proceeded to support my belief that Black History Month should not be enough.  It was created to inspire Black Americans with the honors as well as the struggles that our history holds to ensure that we always remember what came before so that we strive to have better lives with the same rights to live our lives with justice and equality--  and we all need to make sure that we do.

I am an observer.  I spend large amounts of time taking in my surroundings (which includes people, places and things) and then processing that information to get a better understanding of the world around me.  I am a multi-tasker which means that I am usually very good at organizing my life in a way so that nothing that matters to me suffers.  Back to my observations... they are not always crowd pleasing but I believe them to be fair in the sense that I always try to look at anything that I am observing with more than one point of view.   Sometimes, there is only one way to see certain things and I go with that.

Black people's subjugation in America and around the world is a subject that really only allows for one way to see the global societal structure-- and it is one based on racism and classism.

An observant and/or well-traveled person should readily see that the problems that afflict Black people in America are the same ones that afflict Black people worldwide.  It is the responsibility for those that see it, to acknowledge it and address it.  Black people!  We really have to do better at connecting the dots and not making excuses for differences (while they may different, are not that different) in a way that we should fail to see the same actions of racism and classism towards ALL OF US.  Stop saying, "Black people born here or there are better/less than Black people born anywhere else."  People choking on quicksand don't die any different; they still die choking on quicksand.

Known Black History Fact

When Africans were kidnapped by Europeans from the continent of Africa and then forcibly imprisoned on other continents; the majority of those people were shipped (like non-human cargo) to South America and then smaller numbers (due to deaths from famine, murder and disease) were shipped to North America, Europe and other areas.

My reason for mentioning the above Black history fact?  Black people are everywhere!  There are too many of us (even those that came to America and other areas after slavery ended) operating with a European colonized mindset and we fail to see the beauty and worth in who we are because of what was done to us.  It has been intentionally affirmed through violence and propaganda that we are not to be valued.  No other race of people are made to feel that who they were born to be is unacceptable on a global scale like Black people.  Because of this too many will do anything to not be associated with that which is the most hated among those that subscribe to racism.  Unless their skin tone betrays them.

How awful to not live happily in a skin that you don't/can't/won't consider a blessing.  Are there exceptions to the rule regarding racism? Yes.  But this post is addressing the rule that the majority of society operates under. Start finding your blessings people.

Conscious Living
Intra-racial and Inter-racial relationships for Black people due to a racist society have been mixed (no pun intended) at best.  There is always this feeling that there is a need to justify and/or clarify reasoning for choosing to engage in relationships, environments and behaviors with Black or non-Black people if you are a Black person.  Plantation house rules that carried over from slavery and Jim Crow and are effectively utilized today to keep Black people subdued, controlled and unenlightened.  Ugh.  The wrong things carried forward hinder our ability to really live.

Black ancestors risked their lives to be educated and to have their children educated because they knew that education was an equalizer and it would allow them to participate in a society that insisted on trying to keep Black people in a position of servitude.  It wasn't hard for Black people to see the differences in how white people lived versus how Black people were made to live.  We worked in their homes.  The knowledge of the difference was painful and interpreted in different ways which translated to (1) Black people emulating "whiteness" to be seen as "acceptable" to whites and (2) Black people deciding to live great lives without assimilating and seeking "acceptance" from white people.  We have these two types of thinking among Black people alive and well today in the 21st century.  Oh how I wish we all embraced #2.

Education as an equalizer was the most powerful tool available to subvert the restrictive and oppressive times.

Better Lives Lived with Purpose
Despite the highly oppressive and violent state of society during many varied times in history, Black people still found a way to build families and raise their children.  There were Black owned businesses that were established and neighborhoods that were filled with Black people who created better lives for themselves by choosing to educate themselves either formally or own their own to ensure that they could provide better lives for themselves and their families.  Sure there were those that made excuses as to why they couldn't or shouldn't put themselves and their families first but they were in the minority.  Black people made sure that their history and values for better lives were passed to their later generations despite the actions of their white oppressors to do otherwise.

There was actually a time when the louder public voice among most Black people was the one that championed choosing solid families, educating our children and a united goal of personal and community excellence.

I Don't Hate White People

White privilege is everywhere!

I  hate white privilege.

I hate white privilege that is wielded as a weapon in society to subjugate non-white people.   I absolutely despise the white privileged apathetic actions and behaviors towards racism.  The disdain that I have towards white privilege and it's assault on the lives of Black people is at times extremely close to the surface because in society at large there seems to be no conscious separation between white people and their privilege. 

Don't tell me racism doesn't exist and then proceed to have secret (nudge, nudge, wink wink) agreements to exclude non-white people from participating, living or working in areas that you consider to be yours. White Supremacy and its drainage leaves a sewage stink on everyone that chooses to engage in it and on those that are affected by it. 

White people that readily engage in white privilege become ignorant and insensitive automatically.  It is why they genuinely feel that they are entitled to feel only honor for their ancestors great "accomplishments."  Leave out the not so good way they garnered said accomplishments because that is not as important especially if it makes them look or feel bad.  "Those were different times" is a favorite response which basically means that they could care less what their privilege has done to inflict harm on others as long as they don't have to see it or address it.  It's all good.

I hate white privilege because white privilege expects me to readily and gladly show respect without question to people that did not consider me to be human being.  There is no explanation that would make me want to honor Thomas Jefferson or any of the various other slave owning "forefathers"?  Showing respect to white people that saw people like me as inferior, as chattel is definitely not on my bucket list. Jefferson's Declaration of Independence did not include me.  "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal"  Yes.  Everyone that looked like him.

The Constitution?  The original mAmerican document didn't include people that looked like me either.

Originally, the Framers were very careful about avoiding the words "slave"and "slavery" in the text of the Constitution. Instead, they used phrases like"importation of Persons" at Article 1, Section9 for the slave trade, "other persons" at Article 1, Section 2, and "person held to serviceor labor" at Article 4, Section 2 for slaves.Not until the 13th Amendment was slaverymentioned specifically in the Constitution. There the term was used to ensure that there was to be no ambiguity as what exactly the words were eliminating.In the 14th Amendment, the euphemism "otherpersons" (and the three-fifths value given a slave) was eliminated.

My respect is reserved for the people that were responsible for the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments and for the people that were invaluable in the pursuit of Civil Rights legislation.

Real progress for all citizens of this country won't happen until white privilege is abolished.  We must always choose to speak out and fight against all actions that are meant to keep non-white people's voices and rights quelled.  If not we will deal with unjust and disrespectful behavior from people that would like nothing better than to see non-white people relegated to roles of servitude that don't allow us to have a voice in how America evolves.  White privilege should never be tolerated.


Racism thrives because white privilege lives.  They both need to die.



Photo Credit

Black History Month Should Not Be Enough.

I understand why Black History Month (originally Negro History Week) was created. We wanted a formal acknowledgement that our contributions to America were valued and respected and we also wanted to ensure that our children and other children would learn the truth about our struggles, successes and contributions gaining knowledge on all of the historical events that we are a major part of in the making of America.

We are now in the 21st century and my question would be this. Has Black History Month served the purpose for which it was created?

24/7 365

What is the endgame?
Is it readily noticeable to you that Black people in America are respected and that our lives and contributions are respected and valued?  The answer for that to me is a big fat NO.  And we participate in our own disrespect.

I think that we have concentrated so much on the aesthetic/formality that we forgot that there was something deeper to be garnered or expected.  Making something out of nothing is what we do because historically we have always had to and I believe those experiences over time cultivated an innate ability to transform anything that we want if we are willing to work hard at it.  I think that we have essentially gotten tired and lazy about getting the job done.  Other people are just now discovering exactly what it feels like to make ends meet with no ends when far too many black people have been doing exactly that for centuries in America.

I get it.  I mean who wants to have to fight or challenge every. damn. thing. every. damn. day. in order to live decent lives.  But is that it?  Do we really want to give up all of the years of hard work by those that had it a hell of a lot rougher than we could ever imagine?

Have we accepted our forced exclusion?
The more that we try to be "a part of" by assimilating into our currently distorted white centric society, the more it cripples our ability to stand against the horrendous economic, educational and social disparities in America affecting far too many of us-- effectively surrendering our right to be.  We live in a world that would like all people to believe that our value as people is limited and that our value should and can be controlled by others whenever they feel that we are of use and can serve a purpose to accomplish their goals.  Does "(________) is the new Black" sound familiar?  Or what about "Women are the new Nigger"?  We are tools for most of society to make a point or to reach their goals.  That could not have been what was envisioned for us by our ancestors.

Making do with a month long remembrance of the same recycled Black heroes and events that have been accepted by white American comfort levels seems disrespectful to all of the many Black ancestors that gave so much to this country.  It is past time for us to make something more out of it. 

Conscious living is important.
I must admit that I have resented the need for a Black History Month since I was in High School.  Black Americans are people that live on a tight rope because we are always on the verge of being history (as in non-existent).  We walk gingerly in this world fearing that very thing because if we do too much or go too far for societal comfort by disclosing and expecting for the societal ills of America to be redressed then we risk being seen (by white privileged society) as not being real Americans.  The current state of affairs with the way President Obama has been treated proves that no matter what we do to better this country, there are those that will continue to see us as not being real Americans.  Always be aware of that.

Never stop.  Do not stop thinking, learning, teaching, feeling, believing and doing everything in your power to declare and preserve our right to have decent lives and to have all of our lives and contributions valued by everyone.  Questioning and challenging America's disservice and dishonesty towards all of it's citizens and their contributions is what all Americans should do.  The way that this racialized America continues is by withholding ALL of this country's history from the future leaders that should know it and right now Black History Month in its current form does very little to counter that possibility.

We all deserve the opportunity to live better and live with purpose.
A large majority of American children in elementary and secondary education are learning from antiquated models and the information that they are learning is heavily redacted biased and/or misleading.  For Black children and other non-white children who do not have parents that are able to counter and supplement their knowledge that means that they grow up believing that white people are superior to them especially if they are getting their cues from the media and popular culture.

What I am about to say may be hard for some to hear.  But we have not been doing a great job at ensuring that our children grow up with positive influences at their immediate disposal so that the negative influences in popular culture are not allowed to inform their minds and their decisions.  They are exposed way to early to situations that are not easy for an adult to discern or resist but yet we expect for children to do it.  Our children's greatest influence should be us and we should be worthy of that responsibility.

"Each One, Teach One", is an African proverb that should be ingrained in the mindset of every Black person.  It is important that every Black child knows and sees that is possible to do anything they want in life.  I love this moment in time for Black children who will never remember the time before a Black President.  It does make a difference for a Black child to see someone that looks like them doing extraordinary things in life.  To see our own reflection in this world is a very powerful affirmation for everyone and it is extremely important for a Black child.

I will end this post with another proverb, "If you want to go quickly you go alone. If you want to go far you go together".  It is vital for all Black people to remember this if we do not want to see our lives extinguished.


This subject matter was larger than expected so there will be more posts to follow.

Black people should never tolerate white privilege!

1500's- (murdering and enslavement of black Africans by white Europeans)

Declaration of Independence 1776 (didn't include black people)

U.S. Constitution 1787 (included black people as property)

Emancipation Proclamation (September 22, 1862 and January 1, 1863) (freed black people from bondage on paper but wasn't federally enforced)

Thirteenth Amendment 1865, abolished and prohibited slavery

Civil Rights Act of 1866, extending the rights of emancipated slaves

Civil Rights Act of 1871, also known as the Ku Klux Klan Act (to combat them organizing to kill black people)

Civil Rights Act of 1875, prohibiting discrimination in "public accommodations"; found unconstitutional (1883)

Jim Crow Laws 1876-1965

Civil Rights Act of 1957, establishing the Civil Rights Commission to ensure black voting rights

Civil Rights Act of 1960, establishing federal inspection of local voter registration polls to ensure black voting rights

Civil Rights Act of 1964, prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin by federal and state governments as well as some public places

Civil Rights Act of 1968, also known as the Fair Housing Act

Civil Rights Act of 1991, providing the right to trial by jury on discrimination claims and introducing the possibility of emotional distress damages, while limiting the amount that a jury could award

Five centuries later, I have the tolerance level of a people who have spent the last 500 years being treated and portrayed as inferior to those that share the skin tone of white European slave owners who enslaved black Africans.  

Black people have continually had to fight for everything that is our right as human beings and American citizens and those very rights we fought for are now enjoyed by many non-blacks.  Yet, in this screwed world sharing the skin tone of people who committed genocides on numerous countries around the world is far more prized than sharing the skin tone of those who fought to level the rights for all of us.

Non-white people should NEVER defend, excuse, perpetuate or succumb to white privilege.

The goal of slavery was to create a system that would continually feed the ideal that to be anything other than Anglo is meant to be shamed and destroyed.  The media(print and broadcast), texts, social history and policy have now taken the place of slavery in the mistreatment and enslavement of black people.  White privilege was spawned from the racism of white cowards that felt inferior without it, including America's forefathers.

Any non-white or white person that champions, defends or excuses a white person's ability to maintain a privilege in this world based on the color of their skin is a foolish enemy to us all.

My Roots Are Showing

For as long as I can remember I have always been interested in knowing where my ancestry began. It started with writing my family tree (as I knew it) on a piece of notebook paper--first, middle and last-- first, middle and last -- until everyone was accounted for. It always made me feel good to know that I knew my people but at a certain point (the age of 12) I realized that there had to be more. My family tree always began with my grandmother and ended with the youngest child born.

To go back further I would have to rely on the sources available to me. Off to grandma I went. She was rather forthcoming but only to a certain point. I began by asking her mother's name then her father's name which she answered but when I asked for their parent's names she turned and faced me and asked me why did I want to know that. I proceeded to tell her that I had been writing our family tree over and over again for years and it always began with her and I wanted to go back further. My grandmother politely and lovingly shut me down and told me that all I had was all I needed to know. Confused by her response I probed further by asking, but why? She just repeated that that was all I needed to know.

Being the ever inquisitive child I continued on and went to other relatives trying to find the answers to my questions, all the while I'm thinking that there was some sort of mystery to be solved and I was all about that. During my queries with other older relatives I was able to find out my maternal great great grandfather's name but then that was it-- nothing else for another 15 years-- no one was talking!

After family members started dying more relatives started asking questions and finally those that knew started talking. Suffice it to say my grandmother was not one of them and it still puzzled me as to why she wouldn't want to participate in our history being passed on to each generation. I would later discover that it had more to do with her not wanting to mentally connect to a part of most Black Americans past-- Slavery.

In college I was able to study Black history in depth going beyond the basic Black history month sanitized version that was sometimes taught. Needless to say, the truth about Black American's history in this country was extremely disturbing. Our present isn't going to be any better if we don't wake the hell up!

I have been able to trace my maternal history back five generations but there are holes in that history, as there is with most Black Americans. Because we were considered and listed as property on the United State Census prior to 1870, we have to try and find slave owners' records that might list our ancestor as an individual and not a number. I don't need to tell those who have started this process the degree of difficulty in finding this information.

The research continues (between bouts of anger)...