" Citizenship in the present requires far more autonomy and selection of suitable sub-groups than in the days of old. " Original post: http://capblackhood.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-limits-of-black-identity.html
Slavery and subsequent discrimination forced our forbearers into a single unit known variously as Negro; Colored; Black; Afro-American & more recently, African-American.
Toss in for good measure titles from the Black Nationalist & Pan Africanist schools of thought too!
As someone who fortunately wasn't a captive and experienced what I jokingly call Jim Crow-Lite, I saw no need to practice this identity since it's a hold over from a decidedly involuntary time.
Citizenship in the present requires far more autonomy and selection of suitable sub-groups than in the days of old.
We're overshadowed by a dysfunctional sub-group whose sub-culture cannot be blindly enabled in the name of misplaced racial solidarity.
Freedom today demands unity with like minded persons and sub-groups whose chief credential must be shared principles- NOT mere pigmentation.
Even my activist name, Cap Black, is an acronym for five color blind principles: brotherhood-loyalty-ability-courage-kindness, instead of solely focusing upon pigmentation.
Our present has a Klan who looks like us, using pigmentation, proximity and the captive era identity to full advantage as community standards plummet and lame excuses mount to the heavens.
I'm an individualist and as such associate ( or not! ) with other American Blacks and anyone else, as individuals or members of sub-groups.
Recalling coalitions with like-minded, majority Whites sub-groups underscores this point while referencing hometown alliances with a visionary former county commissioner and a maverick political consultant, whose shared principles rendered pigmentation moot.
Since moving, I've made allies from diverse areas: the local Occupy and Tea Party movements; Frederick Douglass Republicans and the Home Defense Foundation, few of whom share my ethnicity.
Citizenship in the present requires far more autonomy and selection of suitable sub-groups than in the days of old.
We're overshadowed by a dysfunctional sub-group whose sub-culture cannot be blindly enabled in the name of misplaced racial solidarity.
Freedom today demands unity with like minded persons and sub-groups whose chief credential must be shared principles- NOT mere pigmentation.
Even my activist name, Cap Black, is an acronym for five color blind principles: brotherhood-loyalty-ability-courage-kindness, instead of solely focusing upon pigmentation.
Our present has a Klan who looks like us, using pigmentation, proximity and the captive era identity to full advantage as community standards plummet and lame excuses mount to the heavens.
I'm an individualist and as such associate ( or not! ) with other American Blacks and anyone else, as individuals or members of sub-groups.
Recalling coalitions with like-minded, majority Whites sub-groups underscores this point while referencing hometown alliances with a visionary former county commissioner and a maverick political consultant, whose shared principles rendered pigmentation moot.
Since moving, I've made allies from diverse areas: the local Occupy and Tea Party movements; Frederick Douglass Republicans and the Home Defense Foundation, few of whom share my ethnicity.
Conversely, thugs I call chocolate Klansmen aren't my brothers and sisters. Ethnicity is trumped by dignity; development and conduct.
Their sub-group is unforgiveably un-dignified, un-developed and addicted to epic misconduct!
The captive Black identity imposes an " All For One! " metric which has us exalting thugs and worse as part of ongoing ethnic cheerleading, instead of distancing ourselves from such mess, to use an old school Black invective.
There are limits to Black identity, especially when said identity is a relic from a captive time when we had no choice.
Now we are free to choose principles over pigmentation and should select individualism and sub-groups reflecting sound values and conduct- of any color!
Cap Black
The Hood Conservative
504 214-3082
Comments