Living In The Past

Reference : "Brainwashed" By: Tom Burrell
Check Out Oprah .... Black Inferiority; White Superiority

I’m living the King’s dream . . . but it isn’t all of what it seems. People believe slavery - this long-term trauma and mental damage has a tremendous effect on the 21^st century. “Blacks were programmatically stripped of their cultural identity and brainwashed into a mindset of black inferiority – a double whammy that’s tough to overcome.” During this era racism still exist, although not all people and other race hate blacks. In fact I think we are more racist in our own race. African Americans are always battling against light skin vs. dark skin. The whites knew exactly what they were doing when they allowed light skin people to work in the house, while the dark skin people had no choice but to remain in the field. Their goal was to separate our race, and indeed they succeeded.

We have been brainwashed and its’ obvious! But we cannot continue to live in the past. We can’t go and change the past, but we can mold the future. I have faith in “my people.”

“We are a race that has been conditioned to ice over its emotions, to dance, sing, and laugh our way past the blues.” Our healing system is very weird. We laugh at Chris Rock, Martin, Madea, Will Smith, Kevin Hart etc. make jokes about our ancestors and about blacks statistics. Our all-time favorite rappers only rap about sex, money, and weed, & how they so called “made it.” Define made it please? They encourage us to cheat and abuse our loved ones. Blacks used the word “nigger” more than any other race. But it’s all fun and games right? Then why do we get mad when Caucasians and other races laugh and call us “niggers.” Trivializing blacks has become all too common a sport. The joke is always on us, and we should not only care; but care enough to change. We must lead by example.

Now once we stop battling inside our own race and bringing each other down, we can finally step out against other races that don’t want to see us succeed. If we’re going by statistics, academically our scores are the lowest; but indeed our abuse rate and incarcerated rates are the highest.

“In many ways African Americans have romanticized and institutionalized low expectations.”  Often our goal is to not be the best but to be the “best black” Inherent in these labels is a subliminal acceptance that our “best is somehow naturally inferior from the white “best.” When African Americans stop settling for less then and only then will they reach the top. Drake said “like you went to Yale, but you prolly’ went to Howard.” Howard maybe the top black prestigious college but who said we couldn’t be the top prestigious college?

We arrived in the 21^st century with 17^th century baggage that keeps us unhealthy and ill-suited for longevity. This book didn’t have a conclusion. This was not a book; it was a mission – one that no single individual can accomplish alone. It was a rallying cry to the young and not-so-young to cease seeing ourselves as victims, to roll up our sleeves , utilize our talents, honor our ancestors, develop a new approach to our education, and finally regain control of our lives, our destinies, and our minds.

Put your mind where our future can be! Prayer . . . Just Do It