by H. Lewis Smith
In the childhood fairy tale, “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” no one tells “the Emperor [he] has no clothes” on because they’re afraid that they will be viewed as disloyal, unenlightened, uncultured, or simply stupid, and shunned or mocked for their “ignorance.”
The common truth that is communicated in this story is that “the motive and rationale for not seeing the obvious truth has become so ingrained that the majority do not even realize that they are perpetuating a falsehood.”
This highly-profound ideology—conveyed through a children’s book—explains, precisely, African-American’s blindly-accepting mentality regarding the use and tolerance of the n-word and perpetuation of self-destructive lifestyles, resulting in the continued demise of the
African-American community Many are committed to keeping their mouths closed and eyes veiled as they pass along the false perception that the n-word is “just a word” and no longer has power,
that they have transformed the meaning, and/or that the continued use of the word has no affect on the psyche and thus no association to the current state of Black America.
However, I am committed to revealing the truth and saving a race of people, my fellow African Americans, from self-inflicted genocide.
In 2006, I launched a no-nonsense crusade dedicated to fostering
progressive self-esteem, pride, dignity, self-respect and introspection throughout the African-American community. At the forefront of this mission is eradication of the n-word. People often inquire: “What’s your problem?
Why are you so fixated on the word?” Truth of the matter is, I take issue with and am perplexed by black folks’ use of a word synonymous with 300 years of an ill-acknowledged African-American Holocaust, marked by physical brutality and a devious, forever-gripping mental enslavement.
The contrast is strikingly different between the Jewish community’s and Black America’s attitudes toward victims of their respective holocausts: the Jewish revere the memories of their cherished ancestors,
while African Americans make a mockery of their victimized ancestors through using the n-word. The Jewish community, nor any other self-respecting or prideful race, would ever dream of endearingly embracing a term synonymous to the genocide of their race.
A truly intellectually-liberated individual would understand this truth; using “n**ger” is proof that mental enslavement is still rampant in the African-American community.
The majority of gangsta rap songs use the n-word as a mantra every 10 seconds, and this has been and is generally acceptable to our community. On twitter, blacks use the n-word—spelled with both the “a” and “er”—every other second.
Claiming the term as an endearing word, yet, all in the same breath and in a fit of anger, the word becomes an instrument of hate, is a paradox; and it seems, we, as a community, are okay with such conflicting behavior.
I’ve heard many justifications for internalizing the word and honestly attempted to level with the reasonings provided. One of the most interesting by far centers on the infringement of freedom of speech.
However, considering the contradictory manner in how the n-word is used, such comments are nothing more than an insult to a thinking person’s intelligence.
And in response to the freedom of speech concern, other than the African American, no one argues about protecting their rights to demean and degrade themselves.
Presently, I’m not aware of any on-going annual events acknowledging and exalting the strength, courage, fortitude and resilience of our stalwart ascendants’ abilities to survive the horrific calamities they endured.
But for their tenacity to survive, none of us progenies would be here today. Use of the n-word is tantamount to spitting on our ascendants’
graves, sanctioning every whip lash, rape, disemboweling, castration, hanging, and torture that was performed on our victimized ancestors grasping for their last breath at the jeers of “n**ger, n**ger, n**ger.”
Out of shame of being identified as descendants of slaves, many blacks tend to distance themselves from all that occurred during the African-American Holocaust, which leads to self-identity crisis and separation.
These blacks really have no idea who they are or own any knowledge of the long-line of their proud, strong heritage and ancestry before the days of oppression.
The white man’s civilization can be traced back to ancient Greece and Rome (no further), but during the Dark Ages of Europe, black civilizations were thriving in Spain and Africa.
The Europeans were liberated from the Dark Ages by the Moors and Arabs, and obtained their knowledge on how to function as a civilization from those who came before them, Black ruled civilizations.
African Americans have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of and must somehow reverse this 400-year-old mind manipulation travesty. Blacks must transmute from the individual survivorship mentality to a collective progression mindset.
My challenge today is this: If use of the n-word has no effect on the condition of the African-American community and psyche, to prove this truth, all African Americans should stop using the word this very second.
If no change occurs from elimination of the word, all are free to return to using the word, and I will honorably admit my fault and begin scouting out the true root to ailments in our black community.
But if the face of Black America uplifts from eradication of the term and its offspring mentalities and lifestyles, we will realize the vindictive plight carried out against us and will end this cycle of death once and for all.
Now, note, this process will not occur overnight—as arriving to the current state we are in did not happen overnight. This challenge will take some time and unwavering commitment from all African Americans to see its true effects.
In the story discussed at the opening of this article, the town’s people realize that the emperor is ****—even a child exclaimed the revelation; yet, no one spoke up.
They simply ignored the child’s voice and remained in ignorance. Today, will African Americans listen to this wake-up call and commit to the challenge…or will my brethren continue to live in ignorance?
H. Lewis Smith is the founder and president of UVCC, the United Voices for a Common Cause, Inc., a writer for the New England Informer Online, and author of Bury that Sucka: A Scandalous Love Affair with the N-Word
Posted By: Sylvainy R
Tuesday, May 26th 2015 at 12:28PM
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