Don't be the " Mad At White Folks " Person is always my advice to American Black activists & concerned citizens, especially in the wake of Nelson Mandela's death.
This advice is by no means suggesting passive acceptance of bias nor abuse. It is strongly suggesting that being the perpetual " Mad At White Folks " person alienates you, not only from them, but often from fellow Blacks who grow tired of the non-stop tirade. Such antics allow critics to paint you into a corner from which the truth you speak rarely emerges.
A toxic past like ours regarding racism can poison those committed to ending its after effects if they don't put it in perspective.
"Perspective" in this instance doesn't mean glossing over racism, quite the contrary. It does mean not fixating on it to the extent one becomes what I call, " professionally angry " at every slight, real or imagined.
Professionally angry Black folks get so shrill and frustrated at being ignored that they often end up literally talking to themselves or worse, creating disturbances in order to be recognized. Unkind comments mount about Mandela but shouldn't overshadow acknowledging a global outpouring of admiration, particularly by Black folks whose fuses burn too fast, too often.
Inflaming already tense American race relations by being a proverbial " Mad At White Folks " person doesn't honor Mandela's legacy nor generally advance the Black community in these trying times!
Being the " Mad At White Folks " person can literally drive sufferers mad long before getting any changes done to society!
Original post: http://capblackhood.blogspot.com/2013/12/dont-be-mad-at-white-folks-person.html
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