MARGINALIZED BY OUR BELIEF

"Being called African American is another way for white people to say we are not a part of this country this is also listed in text books. If we are African American then what do you call the people who were born in Africa, but moved to America. Also if we're African American, white people should be called European American instead of white. Do not let them take that away from us, we worked hard to build this country. I was born in America, not Africa." - Rita, the Black Butterfly 11.25.13

Rita, your last sentence, "I was born in America not Africa." always makes thinking and non-thinking whites chuckle because the doubt of self is evident, and easy to play with.

These are head games we played with in the 1960's and 70's out of necessity. There are things far more probing into identity than the name game again. We are still wrestling with power, what it is, what it looks like and how to powerfully live in the world as people of African descent. Still we negotiate and wish and work for things hoping and on the defense. We are marginalized by our beliefs and practices. We are not in the game of power at the global level and should be, have the capability to be taken as serious as the Jews, the Japanese, the Taliban, etc. We are struggling with the mentality of a slave recently freed.  

As I write I am thinking about the white woman that purposed to teach me how white men with power think. I was in my twenties. One of the numerous insights she shared stung me the way she proved to me how deep the fear of whites lives with and within every Black born in the US. It operates in broad and determined ways and is subtle and easily brought to the service of whomever manipulates our images we don't own. The truth is we are more Wasicun Sapa (Black White People) than we will admit. 

Don't believe it? Study to prove her and other whites wrong, or leave the country for a period longer than a year and learn a new language in another country, preferably an African or Asian country. You'll see when you return to the States, and there will be no discussion. You will become engaged in the serious work of unlearning all you know. You will be stunned by what you really said when you said, "I was born in America not Africa." - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 11.26.13

Sandra Bullock's quote