Black America’s Survival: Hinging on Group Success vs Individual Success
However, when Black America is placed under a microscope, a malignant picture emerges. Though much individual success has occurred sporadically among blacks, virtually no group achievement exists. Black America—as a group—is divided and fragmented, and comes in last place in relation to other races. Minority groups such as Asians, Hispanics, and Jews are far more productive. Their communal success can be attributed to their “greater good” mentality and their willingness to stand united; re-distribute their income within their communities to build and strengthen their communities; as well as assist one another in their individual plights toward success by sharing knowledge, skills, and access to resources, which will ultimately uplift their entire community.
Seemingly, the concept of unity and community is foreign to Black African Americans; seemingly, the thinking that prevails within the Black community is the “crabs in a bucket” mentality. Rather than linking hands with one another and building ladders to help others climb to the top (success) and take the black community to the next greatest level, every man seeks their own personal gain or wealth. They crawl over one another or outright sacrifice the lives and psyche of others to gain a dollar. This fact is most apparent in rappers degrading black women and promoting ignorance to the masses of black youth, hustlers selling drugs on the corner, entertainers constantly using the n-word for laughs, and failing participation in or creation of social movements to benefit the black race.
When will African Americans realize that until the Black community unites from within and makes strides as a group, no African American will be able to experience the true fullness of freedom and respect? Henry Louis Gates, Jr., educator, scholar, writer, editor, and public intellectual, is a perfect example of this victimization; and most recently President Obama regarding the “Baby Monkey” email shenanigans. Until Blacks unite as one and respect one another from within the group, respect from without is never, ever going to be a reality.
Malcolm X once said, “We cannot think of becoming acceptable unto others until we have first become acceptable to ourselves.” When you look at the Black community, the capital income exceeds that of most third world countries. Yet only about 5% of that capital remains in the community. Everyone else benefits from African Americans’ capital gains except for African Americans. There is something psychologically wrong with the way many African Americans think. If one’s very own community is not important enough to one for them to investment in financially and morally, how can Blacks really expect others to provide and care for the race?
Consider the fact that Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers NBA superstar, was recently fined $100,000 for using the derogatory slur “faggot” towards a referee. The fine illustrates the NBA’s zero tolerance for use of a derogatory term. However, when it comes to the black players’ use of the n-word, the NBA looks the other way. It does not cost one red cent for African Americans to free themselves from the psychological bondage of the n-word, inferior thinking, and self-destructive behaviors; yet, blacks—as a group—don’t even want to put forth the effort to take back their rightful dignity and self-respect that so freely and eagerly awaits their pick up.
The n-word is a derogatory term no matter whose mouth it flows from, black or non-black. So why do African Americans insist on making fools of themselves by publicly degrading the black race? Public use of the n-word does absolutely nothing to elevate or uplift the image of the African-American community as a group.
The rest of the world watches in utter amazement and shock as African Americans dog and totally disrespect each other. Jewish people would never publicly refer to one another as kike or hymie; the gay community publicly to each other as faggots; or Hispanics to one another as wetbacks. So why do Black African Americans stoop so low, disgracing, dishonoring and bringing contempt upon themselves by insisting on residing in their pre-appointed place and referring to one another as a n**ger?
Black America needs to ask itself how do those who tolerate use of the n-word from within come to this acceptance? And does their tolerance for the use of the n-word serve as validation that they are a free and independent spirit? Or does it prove that they have been spoon fed by the powers-to-be to accept this demeaning categorization of their ancestors and self? How did they come to accept the idea that they are a n**ga—and that being such a thing is okay?
Whether the “Willie Lynch Papers” are true or not, many years ago, a heinous plight was carried out against black slaves. The only purpose of this plight was to keep blacks divided, weary, and unaware of who they were and their potential. If blacks continue to remain divided and fragmented, flaunting the “me, myself, and I” mentality, as well as refusing to see the harm in use of the n-word and community-destructing behaviors, the community will remain in a state of limbo—unable to progress. Blacks must focus on group survival and partake in activities that result in the greater good, and not selling out for a dollar. Group success over individual success [must] become paramount to each and every black person. Only then can the plight be reversed and re-gaining control of the psyche and rejuvenation of the Black community can occur.
H. Lewis Smith is the founder and president of UVCC, the United Voices for a Common Cause, Inc. (www.theunitedvoices.com); and author of “Bury that Sucka: A Scandalous Love Affair with the N-Word”. Follow him on Twitter: www.twitter.com/thescoop1
