The albatross clinging to the back of the Black race continues to remind Black people everywhere of the pain left by slavery. Yes the Black race has made strides since emancipation day but in a fragmented way. As a collective we are woefully short of where we need to be in order to leverage the talent of the Black race.
The rich culture lived by Africans before undertaking the arduous journey of the Middle Passage has been diminished through generations of slaving under a non-Black establishment. Those who understand the concept of culture i.e. the shared characteristics of a people would have witnessed the culture of the Black man subsumed by the more dominant of the colonial masters. Commonsense exposes the fact that the Black race compared to any other race experienced a physical and psychological abuse by another race never visited on any other race in the history of mankind.
The foregoing possibly explains why there is a latent discontent which haunts any discussion about race relations between Blacks and Whites 170 plus years after the emancipation of slaves in the West Indies. Despite it all, while the extreme among us may shout for retribution most will settle for reparation.
Earlier blogs on BU which discussed how the psyche of the Black man could remain bruise 100 years later should examine this issue through the eyes of a White academic. A White Professor Andrew Manis of Macon State College scribed his perspective about When Are WE Going to Get Over It?. All along Blacks have been made to feel that any tension and distrust existing between Blacks and Whites is all the fault of the Blacks. In Manis’ article mention is made of the fear many White Americans have had to the election of the first Black president of the USA. He mentions how White children are socialized to react negatively to the Black presidency and many other hair raising observations.
Some would label BU as racist. We prefer to seek comfort in the knowledge that speaking about race not in whispered tones, may help to weave the racial harmony some of us yearn for through honest and open engagement of the issue.
The blogmaster invites you to join the discussion.