How do you get black people motivated to do anything collectively? Can anybody answer that for me?
I know that during the Civil Rights Movement it was a struggle at the beginning to get people on board with things like the boycotts. Eventually people understood that it was their social responsibility and a means to the end of weary life.to better their lives for them and for others.
Where has that sense of responsibility gone to? It seems as though everyone is simply out for themselves. I know this is going to sound sacrilegious to some...but it's just how I feel.
It seems to me that once Black people began to gain equal rights, that we've moved away from supporting one another. The saying, If it ain't white it ain't right, comes to mind. Makes me sick to think about it. Our culture is so rich with beauty and intelligence and we won't use that to our advantage to advance and prosper in a way that we see fit.
I'm gonna get back on Corporate America to explain. In Corporate America one quickly learns that there are certain behaviors and ways of maneuvering through the system. If you are not adept at these, mostly unwritten, skills then you are not conforming to the preferred behavior. Hence, this minimizes your chances for success.
We should not go by example indoctrinated by the white, European, Caucasian, whitey, cracker, devil's design. (sorry I got carried away, but it just makes me mad) The design that is used today is the same design that was used to enslave our ancestors into bondage.
I pray that one day we will stop following their example and create our own. I know we can do it. I guess we just need to be motivated enough. Please help me understand what will motivate us?
Yeah it's annual review time at work!! I'm preparing myself now to not be swayed by the stool that spews out of my managers mouth in regards to my performance.
Say it 3 times fast.....I will not react, I will not react, I will not react.
I know that the motivation behind all reviews are to propagate a particular type of behavior or action by penning phrases that will ensure a particular result to justify a measly annual increase.
I know my job well, extremely well I might add. So I'm not being bitter, I just know how they operate. Ya see there is a bell curve that was created for our entire department. There is a mandate that every employee in the department or group can not be exceptional. Someone has to be on the low end and someone on the high. I'm sure you all know about Bell Curves and the percentages that are associated with it. So via performance review that bell curve will maintain its shape no matter what.
Sorry didn't mean to go that far off...I really am concerned about the black communities desire for change and ability to create new avenues for success for us all.
I'm putting my thinking cap on but it is difficult to think beyond the bondage of YT even today.
3 comments:
Fortunately, I have experienced some black folks who are supportive and still are into uplifting the black community.
We still have inferiority and unity issues that must be addressed though. I was listening to Michael Baisden's radio show today (via Howard University radio) and he and others were ridiculing names that some of our black children are given.
Baisden was so ignorant by suggesting that the "black Americans names" did not have any real meanings, which is not true in most instances. Get this, his daughter is named Michea, after some woman he is fond of. Ain't that a bitch?
An African woman called in from Zambia (or she lived here and was from Zambia) and said that people ought to have the right to name their children what they want. Amen! She explained her name and suggested that people need to get off the notion that "English" names are most appropriate.
This came from a black African woman who could have ripped "Black American names" apart because some Black Americans have laughed at African names for ions. She showed depth and intelligence, I think.
I'm saying that to say....here we are BLACK PEOPLE criticizing names of our CHILDREN and we wonder why they grow up acting like they do.
We've forgotten so fast that people ridicule (and have ridiculed) us just for having black skin and/or culture - food, clothes, music, dance, etc.
We've gotten so content in our new found status of homes, businesses, and jobs that it's practically open season (or discrimination time) against any group - gay, Muslims, low incomers, Mexicans, etc.
It's sad sometimes. Nonetheless, there are still LOTS of good open-minded people out there. Thank God.
Reading this post of yours made me feel like I wasn't alone in my way of thinking. I have been reading alot Langston Hughes here lately and have quickly rediscovered his messages of black unity absent the hate of other groups, blacks supporting one another--just being there to proffer goodwill toward one another, and black is beautiful is very much needed today among our own people, especially now that racism has become more insidious, more under the table.
Personally, I try my best to help and be there for another brother and sister. It bothers me to see black folks back bitting one another while trying to assimulate and accomodate the ways of some white folks.
It worries me that the self-esteem of a few gay brothers is measured by whether a white man is paying attention to them or not. In this world, you love whom you love regardless of race. Still, I like knowing that Langston Hughes preferred the love of other black men, especially the handsome dark-skinned brothers. I am of the same mold as Hughes.
Anyway, thank you for your post. In general, thank you for the good vibes of your blog in general. It's nice to know there are other brothers out there with the spirit of Langston Hughes in them who aren't afraid to challenge ignorance and show care for the welfare of their people in general.
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