Race Baiting - What Is Really Being Said

Bantu Stephen Biko said "The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed." There are many ways that the oppressor controls the oppressed using this weapon. One of those ways is with words. As any writer knows the choice and arrangement of words is a vital tool in relaying to the reader. It can be done consciously and/or subconsciously. During centuries of oppression of the descendants of Africa in America, African Americans have met a barrage of control via words and their assigned meanings. Wording is also used to control those who would oppress. Catchy sound bites and phrases are often used. Discussing and challenging the use of one of these phrases is the goal of this post. In weaponizing the sound bite "Race Baiting," has the oppressor successfully manipulated the minds of those who would oppress and those who are oppressed? 

Submissive Cause 

As they stalk those who prey,
The submissive
View with a steady stay.

As they captured what created prey,
The submissive
Knew where to lay.

As they devour the now prey,
The submissive
Brew a peace at bay.

Earlyn Walker - July 26, 2016

Lying Mirror

The first two lines in each stanza came to me last night. They kept coming and coming preventing sleep. Finished this late today and they stopped coming.

Mirror Maze by Uktara

My mirror is lying to me.
It cannot say who I be.
Hair all sticking up
Over a mind knowledge sup.
Eyes of tire
Hiding thoughts on fire.
Showing ears that hear
What some fear.
A body plumped with age,
Housing an ancestral rage.
Hands two sided tone,
But Black to the bone.
My mirror is lying to me,
Truth does not agree.

My mirror lied to me.
Could not tell me what I see.
Could not answer who is she.
Trapped what is free,
I know best to be.

Earlyn Walker March 25, 2016

Black Lives Matter - More Than A Movement

You only have to spend a short time on social media to gather what Black Lives Matters means to our

people.  As reported more and more Black people are leaving the bias information source called mainstream media.  We are relying more on the other media resources afforded on social media.  Social media is also a place for our voice on many topics especially race and racism to be heard.  That voice has been missing in the discussion since the mid 1970's.  We have voiced what Black Lives Matter really means to the children of Africa here in America.
The sharing on social media around Black Lives Matter has very little to do with politics and politicians.  This is even with the political trolls trying to squash it.  It is not solely about the organization and its organizers, really very little.  It has to do with how the words have made our people feel.   It has uplifted and awaken the spirit of our youth.  That is the true movement.  

The Muted on Racism - Know Your Place and Be Silent

I invented race and racism.  I will tell you when there is racism. 

Other wise be silent, stay down and know your place.

One act of empowerment of the Civil Rights Movement was to speak what we had kept silent for centuries.  Brother Malcolm was the most empowering leader on “telling White people what you feel.”  We empowered ourselves to tell our true history.  We empowered ourselves to speak out against our oppressors.  Beginning in the mid 1970’s and ever increasing in the 1980’s, the 1990’s and into the new millennium, our voice on the oppression of racism has been muted.  This orchestration to return us to silence, mute our voices, and destroy our freedom of speech on our racist oppression began with Nixon Presidency.  He adopted and ran the same Presidential campaign as George Wallace.  Hence he was elected to give back the role of superiority to White Americans.  We have been silenced in some form since our arrival in this country.