I've typed a lot in regards to this so I won't go into extra detail, and I"m def not reading a cacplex article especially seeing how some people are already pointing out some key problems with the tone of it, but:
- We gotta remember we are reading what the journalist wanted to single out. There have been many a time where something will get plucked from an interview and made into a headline without the full context.
- The lead in to the excerpt had Kendrick remarking on his troubled past and run-ins with the cops and the kind of mentality that would have one gravitate toward destructive shyt..like strong arming shop owners. We don't get to read what was said between recounting his personal experiences and being asked about Mike Brown, but I would assume that he was relating the circumstances to his own.
- When he said what he said, I don't think he was addressing the entire black populace, but the kids who stood in his place at one point who clearly didn't value themselves enough due to their upbringing. Saying that starting at home and from "within" and getting right with how we see ourselves could prevent avoidable situations like Tamir Rice is something I agree with wholeheartedly. This doesn't negative racism, prejudice or disproportionate sentencing within the justice (if you can call it that) system but it is something that is far more within our control than the media, the cops or white peoples perceptions. I would think that should be a priority above all else in any legitimate effort to challenge white supremacy in any way that is sustainable.
Sun, all you are saying is well and good. until you realize Non of that would necessarily save Mike brown or T.rice. Why? ask yourself this question. Does stealing a pack of swishers = DEATH
YES OR NO
if the answer is NO for a white kid, then it should be No for all of us(every color)
Does standing outside slangin Cigs = DEATH when its white people? NO
then it shouldnt equal death for anyone else.
When White people say blacks are so lazy and blah blah blah. lets assume they are 100% accurate in their depiction of blacks. Does being lazy mean its OK to mistreat and kill These lazy people? YES OR NO
If the answer is NO when its a white person. Then well the answer should be NO across the board.
This is what is always missed when black folks start trying to talk to other blacks about what WE need to do to help ourselves.. in a public area.
Dont DO THAT. have that talk on the low. shoot that thru your music if you want it to get out to the masses.
But you have to always realize. nothing you do will stop US from being mistreated by THEM. say it with me. NOTHING MY BLACK A>>> can do to stop That white man from mistreating me. I can be a professional degree holding suit and tie wearing, proper talking brotha. and yet and still. The white man will mistreat me at some point in my life. Its a foregone conclusion. Its not a matter of IF, its WHEN will i catch that Cism and White supremacy.
The mere fact that kendric and other blacks believe its even a 50% our part and 50% their part(white folks). Tells me most of us are still lost in the sauce so to speak. we dont get it. its like 20% our part, and 80% theirs. They have created what you see in the ghettos. THEY did that systematically. They have created what you see in the jails. THEY DID THAT systematically. They have created dark skin bros hating on light skin bros and dark skin bros hating on one another, while also hating on dark skin women.
We didnt create this system. THEY DID, we dont keep this system alive. They DO. we have had instance throughout our history in the US where we have switched it up and got that group economics thing popping and got our education on, looked good when we walked down the street. wasnt hanging out acting crazy. Black Wall street anyone???? And you see how THEY treated us in the end.
They do not WANT us to ever climb up out of the system. If we do, it will make them have to EARN everything they have/get. Why would you do that to yourself when you can situp and work half as hard as a person of color but gain 3 times as much. why give that up? you wouldnt unless you were some really righteous person. its obvious they're not that righteous in general(not all). So here we are within a system of oppression.
What i'm telling you is something you may not want to hear. Unless they white folks that have most of the weapons in this country(the armed forces are still majority white). Until they become righteous. They will never give black people their due. and they will continue to setup a system where black people cant even earn their due by the masses. sure a few can but not MOST of us or even half of us. not going to be allowed. And since thats the case. it will continue to stress out black people. stress messes with your mental and physical health. mental: why youngins always say "i dont care" when they actually do.. you see youngins fighting & shooting all the time..worrying about who has the best clothes even though all of you are super broke and shouldnt even be wearing $200 jordan's.
physical : we out of shape, way out of shape the moment we get out of our youth, we over weight, broken down with a limp at 40 not 70, but 40. We got high blood pressure(stress and bad foods).. we eating that crap food to cope with our wack life.. its feel good food just like a feel good drug. we're doing drugs to cope with our wack life within this system.
In reality, not a dream. but reality. this will continue until the opressor takes his foot off of our necks, or until we leave here and go to another location where we will be treated properly(dont know if this place exists seeing that the european has colonized darn near every where and their white is good dark is bad mentality is all up within those colonized places cultures.
All the soul searching wouldnt fix this. being oppressed like this causes what you see. Not the other way around.
Keep traumatizing a victim while you're telling him or her to pull themselves up by their boot straps.
keep raping a woman as she's an adult that was molested 50 times as a child. while telling her she's too promiscuous and its her fault she has 10 babies by 20 different daddy's.
Did she really make a choice. or was the choice darn near forced on her?
now if some black folks want to come with some strategic plans on how to get the white man to take his foot off of our necks. then speak now.but if that aint the discussion. all other points are MOOT.