It really isn't very difficult to understand. As long as we are making everyone laugh, we're ok. As long as we are entertaining everyone, we're ok. As long as we work for capitalism, and just accept the overall disrespect and oppression that the masses of our people experience without saying anything about it, we're ok. As long as the slave does nothing except show appreciation for the slave master, we're ok. This model and these requirements have been the dominant form in which Africans are permitted to be displayed through popular culture for so long that most people don't even question it today. Even still, we hear you loud and clear Marshawn. By the little that you said, you spoke volumes and we appreciate you for that. The capitalist system said it pays you to perform for it, so therefore it expects you to respond to its whims and if you dare not do so, it will punish you. It said you belong to it today just like your ancestors did when we were first dragged over here. It told you that it will not tolerate you disobeying its orders. Your response? Instead of bowing your head and selling out, you strode up there defiantly and in spite of whatever backlash that will certainly come from the capitalist endorsers, the National Football League, reactionary, racist talk radio and television, you told the entire world that you ain't playing their slave master/slave game. The capitalist media, uninterested in our athletes and people for anything beyond fetishes and spectacles, got aggressive with you in an age old attempt to intimidate any rebellious slave who dares stand up against the master. You didn't blink. You didn't bow. You didn't laugh. You didn't capitulate. You looked them right in the eyes and you called them out for the hypocrites that they are. You reminded them that they don't care about us as people so why should you care about them as messengers for the capitalist system? Without saying it, you refused to let them forget that there is no difference between how the state sanctions systematic murder against our people and how the mouthpiece media system for the state attempts to treat you as it's private property. You told them that you aren't their docile slave and in case any of them were still confused, you clarified it by shouting out to "the real Africans!" This is not difficult to understand at all, but for those of you who are still confused, look at it like this. African people are not Americans. We were never brought here to be Americans and it doesn't matter if we stay here another 500 years, we still won't be Americans. We can't be because the capitalist system was built and is maintained today through our exploitation. Or, as one of the young African activists put it earlier this week; this system's comfort is built on our fear. We aren't Americans. We are Africans. The only stake we should have in America is destabilizing it and reclaiming our resources that this capitalist society steals daily. It's not that difficult to understand. In fact, it's so easy to understand that Marshawn hardly had to say anything to make it crystal clear and whether some people want to act confused about it or not, the one good thing about the capitalist media is tonight, there are Africans everywhere in the world who have received the message. Whether you wait tables, pick up garbage, pick fruit, teach school, or play pro football, you are an African. America is not your home, Europe is not your home. Canada is not your home. Central, South America, and the Caribbean are not your homes. You may live in all these places, but home ain't where the heart is unless that heart is properly politically educated. We are connected to Africa. Wherever you live, Africa is your real home. That connection will remain there whether you acknowledge it or not. Whether you do anything about it or not. You are an African because the future of Africa and your personal future are intrinsically linked so if you want to understand some sort of intersectionality, understand that intersection. You may live in America, or wherever you are, but you are African. It's not hard to understand. Maybe if more of us were saying less, but making it count, as Marshawn attempted to do today, less of us would be confused about this very important message. By saying just that little bit, he spoke up for all of us and all the uncle toms that will be pulled out of the woodwork in the next few days to denounce him won't change that one iota. It hasn't happened nearly as much as it should and unfortunately for every Muhammad Ali, Roberto Clemente, Mahmood Abdul Raoof, and now Marshawn Lynch, there are plenty of Jackie Robinsons, Joe Fraziers, and David Robinsons, but it doesn't matter because with just a few short words, Marshawn shut down all those uncle toms. And, if you don't believe that, just watch over the next few days how brutally the slave master reacts when one of his slaves rebels. Thank you Marshawn. We hear you. We understand you. And, and we are with you!! We will keep working to help our people understand that we aren't just Black people. We aren't African-Americans, Black British, Afro-Cubans, Nigerians, etc., etc. We are Africans period! It's not that difficult to understand, but our enemies have worked hard to confuse us. So, we will keep working to demonstrate to our people our true and actual relationship to this backward capitalist system, but for today, thank you brother for making our work just a little easier.
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