Privilege of Choice
Many biracial people believe they possess what is called the “privilege of choice”.
It’s important to note that being biracial does not exclude one from the warrior class. However, the tragic mulatto is altogether different. I want to be clear on this distinction.
The tragedy of the “tragic mulatto” is their attempt to divest themselves physically, culturally, spiritually from anything that even resembles our ancestors. Their attempts amalgamate, assimilate, and sub-integrate, will ultimately result in a permanent minority status within the framework of white-supremacist Western society.
The “tragic mulatto” is one the many consequences of interracial coupling.
-Lazarus
“Lord willing and the Creek don’t rise.”
“Lord willing and the Creek don’t rise.” was a saying commonly said at church, when one member would ask another if they would be there on the following Sunday. They would respond, “Lord willing and the Creek don’t rise.” This has nothing to do with the actual body of water.
You see, this was set back in the days of the Creek Indians. The [European invaders]Settlers were afraid that the Creek would rise up and retaliate against the settlers for invading their land. Hence, the saying, “Lord willing and the Creek don’t rise!”
Here’s another saying…
“Prostitution is the world’s oldest profession.”
This one is particularly amusing to me. One that should never be stated by a Black person because it is taken out of a ourstorical and cultural context. It is important not to get caught up into eurocentric interpetations of reality. So, the next time someone talks about the oldest profession in the world. You need to stand up and ask, “Who’s world?!”
-Lazarus
143
Love is a verb.
“In Love” is a Noun. (a place; a state of mind)
Love is the journey.
“In Love” is the destination.
WWYAD?
What Would Your Ancestors Do?
What are some of the lessons we can learn from our ancestors and apply today?
Considering that our ancestor’s motivation was not based on personal safety or selfish individualism. –and they considered the impact of their actions on future generations…
Do you ask yourself, “How is what I am doing going to help my children’s, children’s, great great grandchildren?”
-Lazarus
Review: Soul On Ice
Soul On Ice
Eldridge Cleaver
Remarkable!
Eldridge Cleaver shared in his honest, raw, revealing and unapologetic autobiography, a collection of memoirs, essays and vignettes that changed the way I view my experience and society as a whole. His passion and eloquence made this book very easy to read and hard to put down. Eldridge is a heroic iconoclast!
I particularly enjoyed his portraits of the SuperMasculine Menial, Amazon, Omnipotent Administrator and the Ultrafeminine. These sexual image classes come to life in his theory about the historically racist society that borne them. The natural emotional entanglements and repercussions that result are unfolding right before us. I can discuss this topic alone at length. But, if you want to understand why the opening Monday Night Football skit (Nov 2004), which ended with a near-naked blonde in the arms Terrell Owens, outraged many white men while many Black men didn’t understand what the fuss was about, then read Part Four!
Speaking of sports, “Haven’t you ever wondered,” Eldridge asks, “why the white man genuinely applauds a Black man who achieves excellence with his body on the field of sports, while he hates to see a Black man achieve excellence with his brain?”
This book made me “adjust” my attitude toward white women. My reaction when I realized that I was “indoctrinated” by a Euro-centric beauty standard was not as nearly as extreme as Eldridge’s who says, “I flew into a rage at myself, at America, at white women, at the history that had placed those tensions of lust and desire in my chest”. I simply, treat “Beckys” as if they’re invisible and give them no acknowledgement whatsoever. My interaction, if necessary, is absent of eye-contact and full of disdain, simply as a matter of principle. This is of paramount importance.
I am starting a local chapter of Ofay Watchers Anonymous. Anyone interested in joining?
-Lazarus
(written: 11/30/2004)
Circle of Influence
As I strive to be a better Husband-Father-Son-Brother-Friend (in that order). It is incumbent upon me to also educate; sharing lessons learned.
When I’ve made a difference in the lives of every Black person I know, then I will expand my circle of influence; encompassing more and more of my community. It is my firm belief that If every Afrikan man did this, we would build our Nation through strong families and healthy relationships.
The diameter of my circle of influence should match circle of concern.
-Lazarus
Review: Darwin’s Athletes
Darwin’s Athletes: How Sport Has Damaged Black America and Preserved the Myth of Race
John Hoberman
Painfully Important
I was drawn to this book because I’ve felt for a long time that Blacks, despite the handful of highly-paid professionals, were being exploited in modern sports. I had to table my critique of those Black athletes who made it as professionals. How dare I refer to them as “40 million dollar slaves1“ when I, myself, was merely a 40 thousand dollar slave? Indeed, I have been exploited in the corporate arena only at an exponentially lower compensation package. I had concerns that were deeper than financial freedom.
Despite our dominance for decades, the power was still concentrated in the hands of the white male. The subliminal colonial imagery remains a splinter in my mind.
Furthermore, it bothered me that the arenas of sporting events were filled whites, the same whites that would cross the street if some of the same players on the field, sans uniform, were coming towards them; the same whites that would vandalize your home while wearing a Westbrook2 jersey should you dare to move into their neighborhood.
Finally, I was interested in finding out more about the consequences of the “Hoop Dreams” of many of our Black youth.
Hoberman’s thesis is controversial and painfully important. He attempts to addresses my concerns as well as many other racial dimensions of the modern sports world. The book is strongly argued and excellent researched.
You may never look at sports the same way again.
-Lazarus
1 - refers to title of ‘Rhoden’s book, 40 Million Dollar Slaves.
2- Brian Westbrook of the Philadelphia Eagles
Review: Black Bourgeoisie
Black Bourgeoisie
E. Frankin Frazier
Skillful Analysis
Like The Mis-education of the Negro, this book is perhaps more relevant today than when it was first published in 1957. E. Franklin Frazier’s Black Bourgeoisie skillful dissects the growing black middle-class.
Frazier contends that the black bourgeoisie have unconditionally accepted the values, morals, and the standards of beauty of whites. Even with this emphasis on conformity to white ideals, they will never gain the acceptance they seek. Despite their “wealth” the black bourgeoisie will continually be the subject of contempt for whites and consequently will be excluded from participation in white society. At the same time because of their social isolation and lack of cultural tradition there are effectively alienating themselves from their own and are “in the process of becoming NOBODY.”
This is one of the most important books I’ve read [all year]. It caused me to do a thorough self-examination and view at how I was representing myself.
-Lazarus
(written: 12/20/2004)
Review: Between God and Gangsta Rap
Between God and Gangsta Rap
Extravagant Rhetoric
While I’m one of Michael Jordan’s biggest fans, Dyson’s attempt (in Crossing Over Jordan) to make Jordan a successor of Joe Louis and Jackie Robinson fails because Jordan has never confronted a segregated society or white authority. This critical dimension of “Black athletic heroism” is missing. Jordan’s battles, by no means meager, were fought and remained on the court. Sorry Mike. (Jordan and Dyson)
If you have the patience to sift through the superfluous speak of a self-proclaimed intellectual you may find some nuggets of interest. I found his views on affirmative action and Dr. Martin Luther King interesting and different. However, these are few a far between in book which is a virtually a compilation of album reviews and rants from a sycophant.
Furthermore, from reading Black Bourgeoisie (by Franklin E. Frazier) I learned that sometimes bourgeoisie blacks will emerge themselves in a particular facet of Black culture, in many cases “Negro music”. Although physical and socially removed their people they and claim cultural ties to their “blackness” through the music they’ve studied. Dyson has done this with rap and with great finesse.
Some should explain to Mr. Dyson(and his white readership) that if you need an interpreter for a rap album then, maybe it isn’t meant for your consumption.
-Lazarus
(written: 12/16/2004)
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