Stop Giving Racist White People Exactly What They Want From Us

Although its incredible to comprehend in 2019, even with over 500 years of practical experience telling us otherwise, many African people living in settler colonies like the U.S., Canada, Azania (South Africa), etc., still have faith that we can fit a square peg in a round hole.  That we can find some way to function within these capitalist societies free from white supremacy and oppression.  

The primary way in which we demonstrate this continued belief is in our unwillingness to face reality head on.  Examples?  In 2019, we still act shocked, surprised, upset, whatever, when overt racist incidents happen.  We are so unprepared to deal with a reality that has been dominate for centuries that all we can do when confronted with overt racism is to record it while expressing our dismay that such a thing is happening.  

If there is anything that has been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt in this world, its that the majority of Europeans (white people) within  these settler colony borders are 100% committed to upholding white supremacy.  History is so full of examples of that from hundreds of years ago leading up to present day that those of us who know this beyond any question are not going to disrespect ourselves by trying to convince anyone on our position.  

Instead, here is a plea for us to stop catering to these sick and disgusting people once and for all.  There are plenty of them everywhere.  And, they all consider themselves the subject matter experts on dismissing our claims of discrimination in these societies.  This all by itself is absurd, yet we continue to provide them space to dominate, not just participate, but dominate in this discussion.  

When Europeans approach me on questions of race, white supremacy, whatever, unless they demonstrate a clear and scientific understanding of the issues (and so far, they are batting about 0 for 10,000 in this area), I don't even let them engage.  For example, if I'm having a discussion about these topics with other Africans, and they insert their opinions, which happens all the time, I'll be honest, I'm quick to shut them down.  

Them:  "I don't think race is the issue."
Me: "And what books on racism, police terrorism, institutional discrimination, etc., have you read?  Cuz if you can't name anything we can discuss intelligently, I couldn't care less what you think about anything.  It would be like me commenting on giving birth.  Worthless!"

That's my approach and some of you may think its rude, but what's actually rude is Europeans being arrogant enough to dismiss our humanity by even suggesting they know more about white supremacy then those of us who experience it and organize against it daily.  I can assure you that my approach certainly makes me feel solid and it prevents lots of stress from entering my life.  In other words, I don't give them what they want.  The vast majority of them, at least 98%, are completely unqualified to give a worthy opinion on white supremacy so by us going along with this society's lie (that everyone's voice matters on everything), we encourage this level of ignorance that disrespects us in the process.

Bourgeoisie society is all about giving the illusion of democracy at all times.  So in these societies bourgeois concepts like "your truth is your truth" and "no one's voice is more important than anyone else's" are always promoted to the point where if you challenge this bourgeois philosophy, you are accused of being elitist.

The truth is everyone's truth isn't the truth.  If I say 1 + 1 equals 25 you would have to be an absolute fool to tell me "my truth is my truth."  No.  I'm wrong.  I need to study harder.  And, I need to figure out what the correct answer is.  Period. That's how we need to start dealing with this racist scum, but in order for us to do that, we have to have done our work.  And, many of us haven't done any work e.g. analysis about white supremacy, capitalism, patriarchy, nothing.  We are as ignorant as the racist Europeans coming at us.  We don't know anymore about the truth than they do and many of us do much more to perpetuate our own oppression than we do to alleviate it.  So yes, its our responsibility to not rely on identity politics e.g. because we are biologically African, we are experts on the African experience.  Stop that nonsense.  This is the dysfunctional reason so many of you actually look to ignoramuses like Kanye West or Bill Cosby for opinions on these important issues.  If its not hip/hop lyrical styles or joke delivery, there's nothing those fools can tell me about our people's struggles for justice and I don't think its humanly possible for me to care less what they think about it.  And, again, I can feel firmly that way because of the confidence I have on these issues.

So, the first step is we have to study up because the only way you will ever be able to shut them down is if you know yourself.  Knowledge of our history as African people and our relentless struggles for dignity and justice at every stage of oppression against us, provides me the confidence to stand up and represent us against anyone, anytime, anywhere.  But, if you don't know our history, you can't do that. You can't have that confidence.  In fact, all you are really able to do is repeat the talking points about these issues that are provided to us by this very system that is oppressing us.  That's probably why so many of us feel some internal remote controlled responsibility to give these piles of horse manure so much space to insult us.  Subconsciously, if that's our only process for addressing white supremacy, we leave ourselves absolutely no choice except to believe, deep down, that much if not all of what these idiots are telling us about us is true.  Part of us believes them when they tell us "you should feel lucky that you are in <settler colony of your choice> instead of Africa!"  If you don't know anything about Africa, part of you has to believe that because all the wealth is here in the empire, not Africa.  From the uninformed outside perspective, it seems as if these settler colonies are more advanced.  That they are the winners.  And, it seems that Europeans are the reason for all that "success."  You missed the part where the wealth was stolen from Africa like you were so you believe them when they lie and say they built up this wealth and since you want a piece of the wealth, you think the only way you can achieve it is to imitate and mimic their system.

Yeah, its sick, yet, that's where we find ourselves in 2019.  For most of us, even when we experience these racist encounters with these people, the only response we have is to call the very same police who almost always amplify the oppression once they come and get involved.  

I don't profess to have all the answers, but there are some things I've tested for years so there are some elements to this I can assure you do work.  One is again, if you have that strong sense of our history, you can shut them down as I mentioned.  And, if they get aggressive and belligerent with you, if you have taken time to prepare yourself mentally and physically, you can shut them down that way also.  In fact, if you have this level of skill, most bullies (which is exactly what these people are) will detect it before they engage with you.  I experience that all the time.  I'll even go as far as to say these racist scum interact completely different with me, and people like me, than they do with most of you.  And, my size, etc., has very little to do with that.  Plenty of big muscular Africans get harassed and plenty of non-muscular men, non-men, etc., have learned how to protect themselves from being harassed.  

As Kwame Ture taught us, organization decides everything.  So, if you are concerned about racist encounters. If you desire to have our people defend themselves and maintain our dignity.  I have a message for you.  The skills and experience people like myself possess is not a capitalist commodity.  We desperately wish to share it with our people.  We desperately wish to see our people protected from racists as well as people within our communities who would prey upon us.  We can train people on how to get prepared, but you have to want it.  You have to be willing to work for it.  And, you have to be willing to work with other Africans to build cohesion and strength.  Most of us struggle with that last part.  We have totally bought into capitalism's individualistic philosophy.  We have absolutely no patience for our own people.  We will go everyday to schools and jobs that disrespect us as policy, but we refuse to give each other any opportunity to fail.  All of this has to change.

I look forward to the day when the police, gentrifiers, voluntary racist community police, racist organizational service employees, etc., find themselves consistently being faced with a new spirit among African people when they attempt to bully us.  When they start to experience us giving them as much consideration as they give us, and us having the ability to back that up.  And, when they start seeing this happen to them on a consistent basis everywhere, they will start to think twice before they mess with us.  The best part is all of this community defense work is part and parcel of our quest to have one unified socialist Africa.  All of this is required for us to have the respect and dignity that we deserve.  That our future generations deserve.  Who is ready to build solid work among our people?  Who's tired like I am of seeing us forward videos of us being disrespected while we are defenseless to stand up for ourselves?  Is anyone else sick of this nonsense and ready to do something about it?  Does anyone care?  Are there people who realize no individualistic solution is ever going to solve these problems?