tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803135128442396638.post2979887526785612726..comments2023-10-31T06:20:45.622-05:00Comments on Raving Black Lunatic: A Peculiar PeopleBig Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02510881583909431416noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803135128442396638.post-90584882549760324642009-01-13T17:23:00.001-06:002009-01-13T17:23:00.001-06:00I've recently read about group karma, and about ho...I've recently read about group karma, and about how certain experiences are common to a particular group. I believe people are born in a particular group to learn a life or soul lesson. One thing that annoys me about people who say they are liberal, and are so tolerant is that what is liberal anyways? It's a concept. I don't care about people's opinions, rationalizations, or logic...only if they can just be. I'm not a big fan of posturing. I'm from the New Orleans area, actually Mississippi, and these places because of group karma can't really be judged by the same criteria always as other places. For instance, people up north I know for a fact would not like me lecturing to them, and really I feel I should because alot of what they call tolerance just seems fake to me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803135128442396638.post-68834683509122358842009-01-13T17:23:00.000-06:002009-01-13T17:23:00.000-06:00I've recently read about group karma, and about ho...I've recently read about group karma, and about how certain experiences are common to a particular group. I believe people are born in a particular group to learn a life or soul lesson. One thing that annoys me about people who say they are liberal, and are so tolerant is that what is liberal anyways? It's a concept. I don't care about people's opinions, rationalizations, or logic...only if they can just be. I'm not a big fan of posturing. I'm from the New Orleans area, actually Mississippi, and these places because of group karma can't really be judged by the same criteria always as other places. For instance, people up north I know for a fact would not like me lecturing to them, and really I feel I should because alot of what they call tolerance just seems fake to me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803135128442396638.post-47806035086733383202008-03-28T11:26:00.000-05:002008-03-28T11:26:00.000-05:00Maybe we need to be "peculiar" as in airing that "...Maybe we need to be "peculiar" as in airing that "dirty Laundry" or calling out those Blacks who think they are "better than".<BR/><BR/>I used to have a roommate who didn't have a pot to piss in, but she thought she was better than other Blacks struggling every day. When we all moved to DC, the first thing she complained about was "those people" (i. e. other Blacks) that she had to sit with on Metro everyday going to DC to work.<BR/><BR/>::Rolls eyes::<BR/><BR/>But when she was out of a job, she refused to take her behind to the unemployment office and file for benefits (even though she had some money saved)because it was beneath her - until we told her to kick in her share of the rent or get out.<BR/><BR/>Blacks do have a problem when proving their worth to mainstream America because we're trying to prove our worth on criteria that not even White people are meeting. When we discover that fact, we should be able to define our own self-worth, because society, as they define themselves, are not going to do it for us. Our problem starts when we start looking in disdain at our own.<BR/><BR/>Some deserve our disdain - many do not. And my answer has always been to offer help but if it's refused, shake the dust off your feet and move on. Case in point, I was on my way back from NYC to DC one weekend and a brotha was in the station, panhandling and begging his butt off.<BR/><BR/>Two sistas (one kinda masculine) told the brotha to go and help people with their luggage; better yet, step to the counter and see if the transit company was hiring baggage handlers or whatnot.<BR/><BR/>That brotha said "Naw, I can't do that..." and continued hustling.<BR/><BR/>I said in snark fashion: "Why not? It's honest hustling."<BR/><BR/>BrothaMan said "I don't want to have to punch a clock."<BR/><BR/>Me: "But you'd rather be out here adding to the stereotype that Black people are too lazy to hold down a job, by begging..." ((rolls eyes)).<BR/><BR/>He asked me for some spare change. In my best Robin Harris impersonation, I told him to go find a spare job and he would have his own spare change.<BR/><BR/>I will help you if you want to help yourself - but I'm not going to add to the problem by making you dependent, either.The Christian Progressive Liberalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04445662404937684518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803135128442396638.post-59779591881443755832008-03-28T09:46:00.000-05:002008-03-28T09:46:00.000-05:00"We also tend to be willing to voice these complai..."We also tend to be willing to voice these complaints to any and everybody in a way that I rarely see from other ethnic groups.<BR/><BR/>Maybe I haven't noticed this because I don't interact with other minority groups that often, but I don't think so. I think black people have a complex when it comes to proving their worth to mainstream America."<BR/><BR/>AGREED.<BR/><BR/>No question. For every day of our sojourn in this strange and frequently inhospitable land, we have been FORCED to take and pass TESTS of DISASSOCIATION. The first tests were generational between Africans who'd been "in country" for awhile - and the new arrivals.<BR/><BR/>While we know the "Willie Lynch" letter was a fake, the principles were not. In fact, I stumbled across a book that is quite explicit on this topic. It's called Advice Among Masters: The Ideal in Slave Management in the Old South, by James Breeden.<BR/><BR/>Divide and rule...old school, new school no school fool.Temple3https://www.blogger.com/profile/18122251090089734813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803135128442396638.post-87346013649839069102008-03-26T10:47:00.000-05:002008-03-26T10:47:00.000-05:00I think you gave one way in which black people, ma...I think you gave one way in which black people, maybe the "haves," approach the issues that exist within our race/communities, but I don't know that I agree with your conclusion that it's an attempt to show objectivity to the masses. <BR/><BR/>I often speak about issues that I encounter on a daily basis: the cashier at McDonald's whose chewing gum and mumbling her queries to each customer, to the bagger at the neighborhood supermarket whose at most 140 lbs, but chose to buy his pants in a size 40, to the angry black woman in a random administerial position whose attitude is horrible. But, I don't do it in an effort to show my objectivity. Rather because I think somewhere along the line many in our community have abandoned the standards that used to hold us down; the haves and the have nots alike.<BR/><BR/>See, I think there is a difference between being an elitist, or an assimilationist (in my opinion this is you objectivity-focused black person), and simply saying that this is unacceptable.<BR/><BR/>I truly believe that we have to set standards and hold ourselves to them, and be less accepting of things that we know are detrimental to our quality of life in our society. <BR/><BR/>In sum, if you live next door to me and you have an inoperable car in your driveway, I'm calling the city. If you live next to me and you refuse to cut your grass, but it doesn't amount to a property code violation, only an eye sore, I'm knocking on your door. In general, I'm down for organizing the neighborhood residents to keep bullshit out ... not certain people. That's not self hate, that's self help. Our communities are red lined, so many of the concerned citizens are running away in search of better property values. Since, I'm all about staying put, I'm going to do all I can to sustain may property values and general quality of life. You're welcome, but these are the rules. <BR/><BR/>Kids standing on the corner, I don't too much have an issue with. In my experiences, if you take the time to know those kids, they will be as asset to you, no matter what they do for a living. I stood on the corner as a youngster, but never committed any crimes as result.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803135128442396638.post-55061593561806150232008-03-26T10:16:00.000-05:002008-03-26T10:16:00.000-05:00One problem is that there are SO many types of chr...One problem is that there are SO many types of christians. But t sa peculiar, i dont know, is it really that much like slavery?All-Mi-T [Thought Crime] Rawdawgbuffalohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08843040863123899426noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803135128442396638.post-59154938008423743512008-03-26T09:39:00.000-05:002008-03-26T09:39:00.000-05:00Thanks for the comments from all.TempleYou made so...Thanks for the comments from all.<BR/><BR/>Temple<BR/><BR/>You made some good points. I think you are right about the class dynamic to the self-hate. And typically, the hatred flows from the well-off to the poor. But, there's also a situation where black people whose level of "refinement" is not matched by their pocketbooks, yet they still look down on people who have less education or sophistication. Even if those less sophisticated folks are better off financially. <BR/><BR/>When I used the term self-hatred I didn't mean that black people will avoid anything black. I meant that we seem to be overly critical about segments of our population in a way that seems to suggest loathing. We also tend to be willing to voice these complaints to any and everybody in a way that I rarely see from other ethnic groups.<BR/><BR/>Maybe I haven't noticed this because I don't interact with other minority groups that often, but I don't think so. I think black people have a complex when it comes to proving their worth to mainstream America. We are constantly striving to prove we belong and are worthy, and one of the easiest way to gain acceptance is to show a willingness to denigrate other black people. Even black folks who understand the power dynamic in this country can't seem to resist this practice.Big Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02510881583909431416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803135128442396638.post-85249665155331168962008-03-26T09:19:00.000-05:002008-03-26T09:19:00.000-05:00Papa G becomes a 'raving black lunatic' on this su...Papa G becomes a 'raving black lunatic' on this subject. Especially when he perceives (sp?) it as people just one step away from 'the ghetto' turning their backs on the people still there. Blame it on the poor or the uneducated is something he hates. What are you doing to help your community, to help these people, would be his question and I think should be our question. Wouldn't that be the greatest balm to this self-hatred? <BR/>Sorry to ramble...<BR/>Oh, and you've got a little something on my blog...Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00900726730265994177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803135128442396638.post-20704877243432377782008-03-26T09:16:00.000-05:002008-03-26T09:16:00.000-05:00BigMan:It sounds like your analysis is really abou...BigMan:<BR/><BR/>It sounds like your analysis is really about the extent to which class-based or poverty-based misgivings trump racial allegiance. In other words, the "haves" (regardless of "race") desire to protect what they have from those who have not. <BR/><BR/>I'm wondering if there isn't another way to get at the crux of the complication. <BR/><BR/>You wrote:<BR/>"Oh, we'll cut some shady black politician a bit of slack, but when it comes to that group of young brothers hanging out on the corner, our first reaction is to call the police and turn on our alarm systems."<BR/><BR/>This sounds like a class-based phenomenon - and believe you've hit this right on the head. There is something more to this than "racial" self-hatred. <BR/><BR/>From a philosophical standpoint, this rift is a manifestation of left-brained thinking. It posits the politician as a potential benefactor AND representative whose interests must be defended because they represent the advancement of the group. The young men on the corner do not represent the advancement of the group - they represent the ongoing challenges of the group. The rift, then, is about economics and positioning - not "race" or phenotype.<BR/><BR/>To the extent that this rift reflects an unwillingness to engage in collective struggle to address root causes, it seems to still not be an example of "self-hatred." I do believe there are plenty of examples of that - but I don't know if these examples are right on.<BR/><BR/>To my mind (and I welcome your correction or addition here), proof of "self-hatred" requires some sort of "control" where other factors can be eliminated. Here, I believe the class factors are too significant to ignore.<BR/><BR/>I believe that in certain industries (like publishing - the Johnson Empire or Essence), Black folks have demonstrated a clear, consistent preference for Black products. Of course this is a much deeper topic - but I know that when Black folks see other Black folks doing the right thing (and in an excellent manner) we are consistently and demonstratively supportive.<BR/><BR/>Right now, in downtown Brooklyn, there are five Black-owned businesses that are thriving by serving a largely Black clientele. In two instances, a large number of "whites" and others patronize the business. One business is a fitness center, two are apparel retailers (3 stores), and the last is a hair salon/barber shop. These enterprises are all run by young Black men and women. <BR/><BR/>I raise these examples because, aside from the hair care salon, black customers have other options. I do not know if they patronize these businesses on a "racial" basis. I do know that there is compelling evidence of customer loyalty which is not adversely impacted by "self-hatred." <BR/><BR/>In the midst of all this potentially pro-Black buying and selling, it's not clear to me that the patrons are any more or less likely to provide aid to less fortunate Black folk who live in and around the streets on which these businesses thrive.Temple3https://www.blogger.com/profile/18122251090089734813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803135128442396638.post-76754068124420887042008-03-26T07:59:00.000-05:002008-03-26T07:59:00.000-05:00Great post. I think its easier to look down at ot...Great post. I think its easier to look down at others than to try to figure out a way to fix the problem. No one wants to try to help but everyone wants to complain. I can never understand why we do this to each other. Yes, I'm guilty of hating on folks from time to time (and I'm working on it) but you can never assume to know the situation people are in, especially if your assumptions are only coming from viewing them from afar....if that makes any sense.Mohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10302233036493770234noreply@blogger.com