Many of you remember Robin Harris' comedy routine about "Bebe's Kids" that turned into an animated feature some years ago. It was pretty funny. However, as an adult with my own little stinkers (they're the best), I see Bebe and her children in a different light. I also see Black America in a different light - and it reminds me of Bebe's Kids.How?
Black America, whether people want to admit it or not, is developmentally behind other races/groups in this country. The fact of the matter is that we are not actually "African-Americans", but a new breed entirely. Immigrants from Africa are African-Americans. I would even say that Black people who have a real African heritage could be considered African-Americans. However, most of us who use the label aren't really African-Americans at all.
We're Black Americans.
If you actually look up the word "heritage", you will see that it's not something you take or adopt, like many of us adopt African culture. Heritage HAS TO BE passed down. The problem is that for most of us, our heritage was effectively stolen and erased during slavery. Our people retained some traditions and beliefs, but not enough to call it an actual heritage. They had to start over from scratch, creating an identity and a legacy here in America that began in American slavery. That culture and legacy is unique, and not from Africa. It's Black culture, and Black heritage.
That's who we (for the most part) really are.
In that vein, we are a fledgling people. We have come a very long way, overcoming and achieving impossible feats in the face of fierce adversities. However, we have a long way to go, not having yet developed sufficiently in a number of areas.
That's why Black America needs to grow up.
I see Black America like a prepubescent teen, who thinks she knows more than she does, viewing the world with underdeveloped eyes, spending money as soon as she gets it, going through changes that are sometimes confusing -
and a bit hot in the pants.
Like a 13 year old girl who is a little too fast, Black America is like a talented, witty, but often naive brat.
Or, you can liken Black America to a young boy, thinking he's a man because he has a little hair here and there, needing a father figure but not having one, learning how to stand up on his own through trial and error but not willing to admit it, learning hard lessons the hard way, tempted to use his brawn to get ahead instead of his brains -
and a bit hot in the pants.
So, if you can see this how I see it, it looks like Bebe's Kids are in junior high or something. If Black America could see and admit that, we could develop and grow. However, remaining in denial about who and where we are as a people is only stagnating our growth. Instead of just celebrating and snotting and crying all month long, in February, let's take a critical analysis of our history, too. We have accomplished a lot, but we have also made some mistakes. Acting like our poop doesn't stink does not clear the air and make it smell like roses. It's still crap.
And Black America, at times, is full of it.
So when, and how do we grow up?
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I feel like we are awoke but we havent yet taken a shower, brushed our teeth, ate breakfast etc. So while we are awoke to the knowledge of self now we must actually do things that will make our lives better.
ReplyDeleteSounds like we are regressing. Take at look at our quality of entertainment. Look at how our educational system is going backwards. The solution to all of this is helping people understand our traditional values as it pertains to our community.
ReplyDeleteTrue...we do need to grow up. At times Black America can be a bit childish, which is why we probably are the way we are as a race. We can improve this by getting the lazy bone out our bodiesand getting the word "CAN'T" out our vocabulary. We as a people rely too much on things just being handed to us instead of putting in work for what we want or to get ahead. Once we realize that we will not progress sitting on our behinds and whining about things that we are too lazy to get up and fix, then we will be ok.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if you have read this. Though you, or anyone else who follows this blog might find it interesting.
ReplyDeletehttp://courtingdestiny.com/archives/2008/03/21/pastor-wright-barack-obama-jim-crow-tuskegee-experiment-kenny-butler/
Why can't we just get over it and get ourselves ahead? Because it's just too complicated and not that simple. I really don't think people understand the vast disadvantage that years of oppression and hatred has put black people at. AND its still isn't completely over with so duh. No we aren't going to just be able to straighten up our acts in the snap of a finger.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing we need to help each other to grow because no one else is looking out for us. As a race we don't have our priorities straight, that is only a small part of the problem. Alot of us are like crabs in a basket.
I AGREE BLACK AMERICA DOES NEEDS TO GROW UP, WE DO SIT AROUND AND WAIT FOR THINGS TO BE HANDED TO US. WE RELY ONLY ON OUR DREAMS TO TAKE US WHERE WE WANT TO GO AND PUT NO EFFORT INTO MAKING THOSE DREAMS COME TURE. WE LIVE THROUGH ENTERTAINMENT AND LIVE THROUGH OTHR PEOPLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND LIVE FANTASIES THROUGH THEIR REALITIES. ANYTHING WORTH HAVING IS WORTH WORKIN HARD FOR AND I BELIEVE ONCE WE GRASP THAT CONCEPT THE WORLD WOULD BE A BETTER PLACE. PEOPLE WOULD APPRECIATE THINGS MUCH MORE IN LIFE. MONEY WOULD BE SPENT MORE WISELY AND AND INVESTED SMARTER. WE WILL GET IT TOGETHER ME. I HAVE FAITH.
ReplyDeleteI agree we need to “grow up” and at the same time those of “us” that are grown need to make sure, we are giving back to the community. The “black” experience in America is of course a unique one and we often forget that sometimes people need a little push. I am one to complain about the state of our community but I am also the first one in line to help. From what I have learned in the classroom and in real life is there are so many children and adults alike that are teetering and really just need that extra push or word of encouragement. There are so many media outlets that instill in the black community that we’re lazy, stupid, and will never amount to anything. Or, if you do amount to something you will most likely be an athlete or a rapper. We never teach each other we can be more. I was always told I could do or be anything and I believed it because I saw my parents go from nothing to something. However, this was all done with the support of my family and people in the community.
ReplyDeleteI want the complaining to stop and I would like people to take responsibility for their actions and situations but at the some time if there is no one to teach them any different how can we expect them to change? I learned in both my psych and soc class (and observed it in everyday life) that if you tell a person that they are stupid and worthless enough they will believe it. We need to figure out a way to get these people to stop believing this and perhaps they will grow up.
On a side note, we also need to learn to stop being so concerned with materialistic things that have no long-term value. True story when I purchased my condo 4 years ago the mother of a childhood friend of mine asked me “why do you want to own a house?” I really thought she was joking but when I laughed and she asked the question again and added that she was serious, I had a confused look on my face. So I replied “because I want something that I can call mine.” And she replies “well it is not really yours b/c you have to pay the bank.” So I replied, “I’d rather pay the bank than pay the landlord and keep him/her bank account well supplied with my hard earned money.” I further went on to explain to her that this was an investment (that at the time was worth about $10k more than I paid for it). No matter what I said to her she just could not grasp the concept. This woman was about 49 years old at the time and dressed from head to toe in GUESS and carrying some designer bag.
All of the comments here are great! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI think it would be hard for anyone to say that we don't have a problem, so the next logical thing to do would be to assess the problem and start discussing solutions. However, it's difficult to do that with Black folks, because we have our own home grown brand of social theory that has nationalist roots and oftentimes is based on erroneous logic or a misinterpretation of the facts.
For instance, we try to perpetuate a mandate for community service and involvement (not that there's anything wrong with that) without setting any guidelines for the community that is to be served. All of the burden for maturity, desire, ambition, and compassion must come from the giver with no responsibilities being allotted to the recipients.
That's not fair or balanced, and for anyone who has actually done work in the community, we know that such an imbalanced approach doesn't work.
You all have inspired the next post...thank you :-)
as a young black woman in college i myself do feel the need for we as a people to "grow up" and better our image in society in general. but i feel like this is something better said than done for one i feel that it is not possible for black people, at least not todays generation, to band together and work for this cause because of our own short comings. i feel like as a people it is easier for us to make ourselves the victim and pull out the black card on anyone that is not black and use it as an excuse for our actions and/or any unsuccessful event in our lives. because the media plays such a big role in molding the image of black people i myself feel that there are more black people striving to obtain that image of the drug dealing, promiscuous, doing any and everything to get quick money black american than those who are actually trying to better themselves and their families. also i feel that we are too easy to criticize one another instead of work and striving to be a support system for each other, especially for those who have no other supportive factor in their lives. im not saying that i have completely given up hope in my people but i am saying that i dont see this issue being fixed anytime soon.
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