After Super Tuesday, it seems as if Donald Trump will have an opportunity to become the 45th President of the United States of America.  Many might see this as a direct threat to Black America (as if there is no present threat),  but I digress.  An election of Trump to the highest office in the free World might be the best thing for Black people since 1863.  Why?

It will wake Black people up.

The majority of Black people are figuratively sleep; as in unconscious.  Unconscious to the oppression of systematic white supremacy.  This unconsciousness (and white supremacy, for that matter) is the reason that Blacks own one half of one percent of all the wealth in America.  A fact that has remained since…

1863

There are more Black people incarcerated, on probation, and on parole than there were slaves in…

1863

We (Black people) love to pretend that we live in a post-racial America in-between televised shootings of unarmed Black males.  This is, as the aforementioned points illustrate, obviously not the case.

And it is, for this fact, Trump’s support is most shocking to the unconscious Negro.  The white rallying cries for Trump by old and YOUNG white Americans exposes the collective white supremacist hate and vitriol towards Black Americans.

A Presidential election of a blatant racist bigot such as Donald J. Trump may just be the wake-up call for all sleepy Negros with individual power to use it while encouraging those without individual power to come together collectively.

…But then again if killing Black people dead in the street doesn’t spark the collective conscious of Black America to gather power, wealth, and influence, nothing will.

Sleep tight

by Kendrick Payne

One white man–and a school district employee at that–made the decision to celebrate his Halloween this year by dressing like music superstar Kanye West (as shown in this story’s featured photo). As harmless as the concept of dressing like West may seem on the surface, the teacher took his costume idea one step further by painting his face in the traditional “Blackface” style indicative of the old racist stage performers of years past.

White couple dressing in “Blackface” as Black NFL player Ray Rice and his wife, Halloween 2014.

White trick-or-treater who dressed himself as the unjustly murdered Trayvon Martin.

The school official, named Heath Morrow, was accompanied by his wife Shannon, who shared the photo of them via social media and other online platforms. Shannon Morrow was dressed as Kanye’s wife, Kim Kardashian. In typcial “slumming” fashion, she added prosthetics to her backside to make it appear larger, a la Kardashian.

This behavior isn’t new, as it has now become a Halloween tradition. Many white supremacists and suspected white supremacists alike use this celebratory day practice overt racism without the concern of being reprimanded for doing so. It is a day that emboldens them to act upon deep-seeded insecurities and malice that may be harbored as it pertains to Melanoid people…under the guise of fun, games, and humor…except no self-respecting person in Black Society received the memo to laugh along with these bigoted provocateurs.

Here is a link to the story.

B. Clark

Earlier this week, 18-year-old Jason Goolsby and his friend–both students of Howard University–were just hanging out near an ATM when police approached them under the guise of Goolsby and his friend having met the descriptions of being “suspicious”. According to the cops, this “suspicious” person in question had allegedly been seen in the same area by (bank) customers who complained of being “uncomfortable”; with the possible intent on robbing people.

The Metro Police (in D.C.) reports read that three individuals were approached by the cops, and one ran away, which resulted in a chase. Here’s what the report read:

“The individual resisted, and was handcuffed while resisting after he refused to stop,” the report stated. “The person making the video was interfering with police, and was also detained while the incident was investigated.’

Goolsby, whose Twitter account is @darealbighomiee, tweeted the following video that recorded the police harassment:

https://twitter.com/darealbighomiee/status/653729171953328128

After seeing this incident unfold, it becomes much clearer as to why these phone apps are extremely popular among white supremacists in the D.C. area. One way that we as Melanoid people can counter this harassment is for us to also download these apps, and report suspicious–and potentially threatening–behavior coming from suspects and predators of the dominant society.

Here is a link to the Jason Goolsby story.

B. Clark

According to the Cuyahoga County prosecutor’s office, The November 2014 shooting death of the Black child has been considered “reasonable” because of Rice’s possession of a toy gun and officers Timothy Loehmann and his partner, Frank Garmback assumption that the 12-year-old boy would be a threat to them.

On CNN.com’s  coverage of the story, Subodh Chandra–an attorney for the family of the slain Tamir Rice–has stated that the Rice family has demanded that the officers be held accountable, but feels that the prosecution isn’t aggressively advocating the accountability of the two cops.

“Any presentation to a grand jury — without the prosecutor advocating for Tamir — is a charade,” Chandra said. “To get so-called experts to assist in the whitewash — when the world has the video of what happened — is all the more alarming.”

B. Clark

For those who missed out on the opportunity to hear the Minister’s powerful message, it can be found in the video below.

B. Clark

A memo littered with racist propaganda provides the call-to-action for the removal of the Melanoid citizens in Southfield by November, which is approximately 70% Black according to the 2010 U.S. Census report. The flyer also displays the photos of local politicians and law enforcement officials who all happenen to be white.

This is no coincidence that their projected time frame for the removal of Melanoid people from Southfield coincides with the election in November. Given the current climate of escalated white supremacy on all fronts, perhaps their goal may not be as far-fetched as we would want to believe.

B. Clark

In the midst of our shortcomings, oppression, and our attempts to dig ourselves from hundreds of years of it all, Black Society as a collective might possibly be up against yet a new thorn in our sides: Self-Righteousness.

We’ve seen it time and time again. In spite of our humanity, we as Melanoid people are expecting each other to reach some sort of “moral high ground” that we’ve yet to verify even exists. Granted, this isn’t stated to give the green light to counterproductive and ratchet behavior, but rather to highlight the recent wave of finger pointing that has run rampant throughout Black Society.

 Sadly enough, we’ve disrespected each other to a level that’s nauseating. If a notable Brother or Sister in Black Society doesn’t necessarily live up to everything that we as individuals prefer them to be, then we are ready to dismiss them with yesterday’s garbage. For example, if a Sister in Black Society doesn’t have a natural hairstyle, yet she opens a business that will employ several dozen Melanoid people in her local community, then some of us (not all) choose to focus on the texture of her hair. In another example, if a Brother in Black Society is known for owning an extensive collection of high-priced sneakers, yet he is legitimately training young Melanoid men in his community a profitable trade, some (not all) of his peers in Black Society would forget all about his uplifting efforts, and wouldn’t be able to get past the Brother’s choice of footwear.

The general consensus among all racial backgrounds in this country over the past decade-plus is that former president George W. Bush’s term was less-than-favorable to state the least. In spite of this fact, we’d still be hard-pressed to barely count on two hands the number of individuals in the dominant society who would go above and beyond their call of whiteness to thoroughly slander and destroy Bush’s political legacy, or his character as an individual, for that matter. What does this tel us about some of the oft-maligned public figures in Black Society who have dedicated a large proportion of their lives to working on behalf of their fellow Melanoid people, yet their honorable–and much needed– contributions seemed to have gone in vain because of our refusal to look past certain human faults that could’ve typically been easily dismissed?

Of course, no one is above being reprimanded when committing acts of wrongdoing, and this includes Melanoid people. However, unless a Melanoid person goes out of their way to “ask for their escape” from Black Society, then there is no reason to waste precious time harping on the dysfunctions of Melanoid people without acknowledging–and seeking to counter– the system of racism/white supremacy that created the very same dysfunction in the first place.

B. Clark

Surprisingly, there have been many of Black Society’s notable figures who have taken an opposing stance on reparations for the descendants of Melanoid people who served as slaves to the wealthy white slave owners. Concurrently, white supremacists–and suspected white supremacists alike–are vehemently against Black America’s case for reparations as compensation for our racial group’s subjugation in this country.

In spite of whether detractors of reparations exist or not, the fact of the matter is that slavery in America was an oppressive and demonic institution that has traumatized the descendants of its immediate victims to this very day. That being stated, Those who are pro-reparations often debate what we in Black America should receive as stipulations of what is due to us. Here are a few suggestions, listed below:

1. Counseling/Therapy

As previously mentioned, slavery “did a number” on us in Black Society, and because of the system of racism/white supremacy that exists to this very day, our overall morale is severely wounded, despite recent attempts to recover from the lingering effects of systematic white supremacy. Because of this, counselors of our sorts should be at our disposal to aid us in our attempts to recoup our historic greatness as a people.

2. Money

This is hands down the most popular–and obvious–proposed provision of reparations due to Black America. With non-Black groups in America such as the Japanese already having received financial compensation for their own collective mistreatment, reparations in the form of cash payments could definitely serve as a direct path to empowerment for Black America.

3. Real Estate

The supposed “American Dream” includes home/land ownership. With groups such as the Native American Indians having received land allotments in the form of reservations which include wealth-generating businesses such as casinos and hotels, Melanoid people in this country deserve similar compensation. With gentrification posing as one of the primary factors for Melanoid people being shut out of neighborhoods and cities across the country, the right to own our own shares of real estate shouldn’t be in question. After all, the same people who cultivated the land of America  (Black people working under free slave labor) are entitled to the land as well.

4. Instant Credit Repair

Although the United States as a corporate entity recently saw a reduction in its credit rating, its individual citizens are still encouraged–and in many cases required–to maintain excellent credit. For Black America, credit repair for those in dire need of it would enable us to do anything from buying a home to starting our own businesses, thus putting us back in the race to be competitive with our counterparts in the dominant American society.

5. Business Start-up Initiatives

In order for Melanoid people to protect ourselves from a recently heightened level of racism/white supremacy here in the States, it has been widely recognized and agreed that building an economic base isn’t a luxury, it is necessary. With other racial groups setting up shop with their businesses in the States going through little or no red tape involved, every other group has a leg up on Black America when it comes to creating the necessary businesses that constitute a viable economy in their respective communities.

6. True Rehabilitation of Blacks Returning to Society 

Melanoid people in this country are by far the most affected group of people who suffer from mass incarceration. There are an overwhelming number of Blacks who are contrite about their former lives on the “other side of the law”, and seek to start new chapters in their lives as productive and beneficial members to society upon their return from the prisons. It is wrongfully assumed that the countless institutions across the country “rehabilitate” criminals, when we in fact know this to be false. The numerous Brothers and Sisters who return home from incarceration often find themselves entrapped in the same vicious cycle that saw them get “locked up” before. The solution? Provide sustainable options for these unfortunate victims of mass-incarceration in the form of an extensive (and accredited) college educations, an abundance of trade programs, job placement services, in addition to a host of other legitimate incentives for true rehabilitation….BEFORE their release from prison. This properly prepares them for society, and enables them to avoid the pitfalls that polluted the environments they were brought up in.

7. Protection From Race Soldiers

Since the long-standing problem of law enforcement officials murdering Melanoid people en masse has garnered global exposure, it is only fitting that policies be implemented to specifically eliminate the unjust killings of innocent Melanoid people. If animals such as the bald eagle are protected by law, then it is only fitting that human beings in danger of being eradicated–such as Melanoid people in this country–be protected as well.

The items listed above are a few scenarios of Melanoid receiving our well-deserved reparation compensation as a result of centuries of subjugation under such an unjust and murderous system of racism/white supremacy. A consensus has been reached in Black Society that we were by far the most mistreated group of people to ever reach the shores of the U.S. To further state our claim, this country was built off of our blood, sweat, tears, and intellect. It’s time to pay up, America.

 B. Clark

The report goes on to elaborate on how Hogan was caught on a sex tape with a woman. On the tape, there is audio that captures Hogan using the “n-word” more than once in reference to Melanoid people. In an interesting twist to the news story, it has also been revealed that WWE CEO Vince McMahon referred to another white WWE star–John Cena–as the “n-word” right in front of a Melanoid wrestling star by the name of “Booker T”. McMahon then proceeded to walk away form Cena in an exaggerated walking style that easily implies he is ridiculing a Melanoid person.

With the recent controversy surrounding Hogan, one must look at a recent chain of events that occurred leading up to the latest story. In 2014, an article was featured in November of last year, a story on Sole Collector (a sneaker publication and website) did a story on how Hogan loved to flaunt his large collection of Air Jordan sneakers to people via social media. In fact, you can view a quick video clip of him showing off some of his collection of Jordans below.

According to Hulk Hogan, his usage of the “n-word” has been validated because certain Black people deemed it ok for him to use as he pleases. This mindset of the wrestler is reminiscent of the “slumming” phenomenon, in which whites will hang out with a few Blacks in order to appease their appetite for debauchery before returning back to their communities to “sanitize” themselves of any semblance of Black culture. As most people in American society know all too well at this point, Air Jordans have been perceived to be synonymous with Black culture, style, and overall “swag”, as seen in the eyes of many non-Melanoid people.

Historically, many suspected white supremacists “slum” in order to get their “Black fix” while keeping their racist ideologies intact. It is also done to overcompensate for trying to convince Black people that they can be trusted, because they’re the “cool white people”. Now that Hulk Hogan’s racial tirade has been revealed, is it quite possible that he resorted to slumming for this very same reason?

By Saturday, July 4th, 2015, this country will have already witnessed one of its most volatile and disheartening years in recent history…and we’re slightly over halfway through 2015 at this point. At the time of this writing, the United States has witnessed literally hundreds of murders of innocent and unarmed Melanoid people at the hands of race soldiers (aka police officers), mass killings of innocent and unarmed Melanoid people in places of worship at the hands of white extremists who were inspired to do so in the name of racism/white supremacy, the burning down of several Black churches in various areas of the United States, and the worst part of the matter is that ALL of this occurred in 2015 alone. The U.S. has a Black president who chooses to ignore the even the basic needs of his biggest group of supporters in this country.

Supporters of Barack Obama during his election in 2008.

 In response to the recent escalated mistreatment of Melanoid people, the Senegalese recording artist superstar Akon mentioned that ‘America was never built for Black people‘. This is telling, considering that Akon has an international perspective; and although much of his fame and fortune has obviously been generated here in the States, he has been able to see the hostile racial climate that has taken its toll on Melanoid people (in the States) for what it is.

“How many African-Americans do you know actually consider Africa as a vacation spot? Not one… Even just for knowledge, just to know where they came from, just to get an idea of what that is; there is so much fear instilled in them that they wouldn’t even want to go there to visit. You mention Africa, they start shaking.”
-Akon

In addition to these factors that sum up the Black Experience in America, let us not forget about the Melanoid victims who were left homeless and in dire need of assistance because of Hurricane Katrina. The victims were referred to as “refugees”, as if to suggest that these unfortunate Brothers and Sisters were runaways from another country who had no business in the States anyway. Let us not forget legal constructs that remain relevant within the framework in today’s U.S. government, such as the Dred Scott ruling, and the The Three-Fifths Clause—two instances that explicitly show that Black people are not American citizens, and that we should be considered (by their laws) subhuman in the first place.

One of the most common white supremacist insults said to us over the years has been the “Go back to Africa” line. In hindsight, one has to wonder: Do the people who say such things subconsciously feel that we are not American citizens, or that we do not deserve to be a part of “their country”? While this particular topic is not intended to be one about citizenship, it does indeed raise concerns about our position in this country, and what does it truly mean to be considered a “Black/African/Melanoid-American” having been born in, and spending a great deal of our entire lives within the borders of the United States?

This year, we are quickly approaching another 4th of July Weekend. Considering what a taxing year 2015 has been on the hearts, spirits, and overall morale of Black America, what will this year’s celebration of the 4th of July mean to you?

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