Make It Plain: Malcolm X Documentary
We’ve Seen This Political Dance Before: Why The Shift from Biden to Bloomberg Says So Much About Inept Black Political Leaders
Maybe it is God’s fault for making Blacks the way that they seemingly are. Meaning the propensity to be so eager to forgive any non-Black person who issues half-hearted insincere requests for forgiveness. On second thought it could be Black parents who should be blamed for not developing a semblance of common sense in their offspring. Better yet, it may be the school system that shoulders the brunt for Black America’s on-going failure to recognize their collective interests, develop a plan, and then execute the plan. Regardless of where the blame should be placed, I am sure that we agree that there is something wrong in regards to how Blacks deal with what can only be termed the commonsense political matters.
Evidence of Black America’s penchant for forgiving political figures who dedicated significant portions of their public life rallying the White community to aid in their efforts to further oppress their darker brothers and sisters abound. The latest example of what can be best termed Black America’s political stupidity is found in their escalating support of former New York City Mayor Michael “Stop and Frisk” Bloomberg.
Black America’s affinity for White political leaders who led the charge to harm them may be the lynchpin that activates Black political support. Could it be that the reason Black political leaders have advised their constituents to shift their support from Joe “Crime Bill” Biden to Michael “stop and frisk” Bloomberg is a subconscious, yet omnipresent self-hatred referenced by Black psychologists Kenneth and Mamie Clark’s “Black and White baby doll test?” When one considers the illogical decision-making of Black political leaders, questions regarding pervasive self-hatred are rather reasonable. Put simply; does the self-hatred of Black America run that deep?
I honestly thought it a joke when I heard that Black political and civic leaders in Houston, Texas were orchestrating a political rally called “Mike for Blacks” in support of “Frisky” Michael Bloomberg. After a moment of incredulous laughter, I realized that the alluded to event is what I have come to expect from a Black political leadership cadre perched between the lack of wisdom and political strategy. If nothing else, the alluded to leaders have proven consistent in their ability to fumble political opportunities.
Nevertheless, here we are AGAIN, witnessing self-appointed and White endorsed Black political leaders shifting their political allegiance from Joe Biden, the architect of a draconian crime bill that disrupted Black America in untold ways, to Michael Bloomberg, a man whose policies reveals a segregationist heart that reminds one of Strom Thurmond and Bull Connor. Although unfashionable to state, Joe Biden’s Crime Bill and Michael Bloomberg’s rationale and execution of his “stop and frisk” policy would be applauded by ardent segregationists of yesteryear and even today. Let me be clear on this matter, Michael Bloomberg, Black leaders political darling of the moment, was a key cog in the building, maintaining, and executing of institutional racism throughout New York City.
It is time that Black America wakes up and realizes that the thoughts, viewpoints, and activities that Michael “stop and frisk” Bloomberg executed as Mayor New York City represent his true identity and only a fool will believe that his public affinity for Blacks is anything other than a ploy to secure the crucial Black vote in his pursuit of the Democratic Party nomination. In many ways, it is criminal for Black leaders to convince naïve trusting constituents that Michael Bloomberg has had a “come to Jesus” moment that turned his heart of stone into one of flesh when it comes to Blacks.
As mentioned earlier, I am unsure of who to blame for the continuing existence of an uninformed Black electorate whose political expectations are not met by the rewards they have historically received for their crucial support. There is no room to argue against the assertion that the tradition of Black elected officials being installed for decades to serve as modern-day members of the know nothing and do- nothing party serves as a prerequisite to Blacks pervasive pessimism regarding the political process.
I am sure that you understand my hesitation to term the current Black political economy as an occurrence of “plantation politics”; I have no choice considering the evidence. There is no doubt that an uninformed Black populace has placed their votes in the pockets of opportunistic leaders whose most meaningful actions are the trading of those precious votes for a personal favor.
Black America’s never-ending “have not” status leaves one to deduce that Black leaders are some combination of grossly inept in their dealings with powerful Whites and sly like foxes in their dealings with uninformed, yet very trusting Black voters. This wicked formula invariably results in a continuation of Black misery and suffering of Black men, women, children, and babies. And as you well know, when mired in such a terrible situation the question of whose fault it is, finds itself a distant second to how do we get out of this situation. One thing is for certain, the solution to Black America’s problems will not be provided by inept political leaders who seemingly have made the alluded to suffering secondary to their opening of increasing their personal situation.
What a shame!!!!!!
Dr. James Thomas Jones III
© Manhood, Race, and Culture 2020.
I thank you and appreciate you visiting Manhood, Race, and Culture.
If you enjoy the content that you find here at Manhood, Race, and Culture.
It would be greatly appreciated if you would consider purchasing my book, “Foolish” Floyd: The Life & Times of an African-American Contrarian.
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The Offensiveness of Color-Blindness in America
It is difficult to argue against the fact that those among us who insist that they “do not see color” are balanced between being well-meaning and naïve. My familiarity with such types is best expressed by an unemotional reaction to their pleadings for me to join the ranks of the historically illiterate.
Despite what the “color-blind brigade” believes, I understand that their emotional state vacillates between moments of frustration and uncontrollable white-rage. This matter is at the forefront of my mind due to a recent Facebook posting from what appears to be a well-meaning White lady who insists that she “does not see color.”
As stated above, I understand that her passion flows from a desperate desire to see all of her countrymen living in harmony. However, she fails to comprehend a fact provided by a former student who posited that “America will never get past Race. It is who we are. So how can we ever get past it?”
Although I agreed with my student’s assertion that impressively echoes W.E.B. DuBois’ ominous warning that “the color line will be the problem of the twentieth century,” I realized that the source of this post vehemently disagrees with such sensibility.
Experience has taught me that the “color-blind brigade” wishes for a simpler time that never existed. A cursory examination of their beliefs reveals that “We never were what they thought we used to be.” Many of their numbers have foolishly advanced the assertion that “If we stopped talking about Race it would simply go away!!!!!”
I can only imagine that if my exchange with the lady who created the alluded to post were in-person and not via social media that she would scream that “I don’t see color!!!!! I only see human beings” to my face.
I’m convinced that the color-blind argument, albeit well-meaning, primarily results from what can only be termed a loose use of language. Put simply; these people do not realize what they are actually saying in their fits of rage. If provided the opportunity to meet with representatives of the “color-blind brigade”, I would ask them to provide a description of me. I am certain that they would avoid physical descriptors such as my status as an African-American male.
What members of the “color-blind brigade” fail to consider is that their steadfast denial of physical traits is not complementary to those they are seeking to aid in their color-blindness. It is extremely insulting. They are in effect saying that they must deny a portion of my being to accept me or you. If provided the opportunity, I would advise the “color-blind brigade” to abandon their standard phraseology in favor of the following.
“I recognize your racial identity; however, I do not ascribe any negative characteristics to you because of it.”
Trust me when I say that this slight verbal alteration will make a major difference to all and hopefully open a long-overdue dialogue about Race in America.
Dr. James Thomas Jones III
© Manhood, Race, and Culture, 2020.
I thank you and appreciate you visiting Manhood, Race, and Culture.
If you enjoy the content that you find here at Manhood, Race, and Culture.
It would be greatly appreciated if you would consider purchasing my book, “Foolish” Floyd: The Life & Times of an African-American Contrarian.https://www.amazon.com/Foolish-Floyd-Life-African-American-Contrarian/dp/0692661107