I was invited to a talk where Black people and white people discussed racism. Please don't invite me to these conversations. My position is this:
1. Black people don't need to talk to white people about racism/white supremacy. Most Blacks are confused about what this system is and how it works so what are they going to tell another group?
2. Blacks have been victimized by racism/white supremacy. You don't see a rape victim discuss rape and molestation with her assailant. How many times have you seen Jewish people discuss with Nazis about their collective oppression?
3. White people need to talk to other whites about this system because they are the ones practicing or benefiting from it globally. How many times have you've seen whites blow up the mayor's office phone or going in mass to the police station demanding certain officers who unjustly murder a Black person be removed, fired and charged? But if a white child was murdered, they would burn down the police station if justice wasn't served.
4. We've been discussing this system for centuries and nothing has fundamentally changed.
5. We are not the problem, racism/white supremacy is. Sure, we engage in behaviors of self hatred but what do expect from a group who experienced 300 year of chattel slavery/prisoners of war, 100 years of segregation/Jim Crow/lynchings, and another 50 yrs of gentrification/mass incarceration/state executed murders/outsourcing of jobs replaced by an influx of drugs by Contras and the CIA//piss poor schooling.
6. These discussions are disingenuous at best and doesn't lead to any practical, concrete solutions. Most whites and Blacks are afraid of being honest. Very few have the balls to deal with this system of racism/white supremacy. And in the end, most whites go back to environment of comfort and will not put any money, resources to the empowerment of Black people. And Black people go back to their living hell.
7. Powerful people will NEVER teach, help or empower powerless people how to obtain and maintain power. Most folks ain't sacrificing their lifestyles, their income, or their access to resources to help oppressed people.
8. We are going to have to accept the reality that the primary fight for freedom, justice and equity must come from Black people. Now, if others want to assist, tell them to give up some $$$ (without hidden agendas), resources, and organize amongst themselves to fight this system of oppression. But, under no circumstance, can we allow others to join our fight. Look at the history of NAACP, Urban League and other so-called Black institutions that was founded by and mainly financed by whites or others. How effective are these organizations today?
9. Just because a discussion is under the cloak of religion don't move me at all. In fact, it maybe an attempt to practice racism and an appeasement of white guilt. Many of the domestic terrorism that Blacks experienced in America were at the hands of white christians. KKK consisted of mostly white Christians.
10. I'm not into feel good sessions where we sing, pray and hold hands. If you ain't dealing the history of this country, your role in it our collective oppression and ain't open to sacrificing something to make our collective existence better, don't call me.
Reggie Jenkins, UNNIK Academy
1. Black people don't need to talk to white people about racism/white supremacy. Most Blacks are confused about what this system is and how it works so what are they going to tell another group?
2. Blacks have been victimized by racism/white supremacy. You don't see a rape victim discuss rape and molestation with her assailant. How many times have you seen Jewish people discuss with Nazis about their collective oppression?
3. White people need to talk to other whites about this system because they are the ones practicing or benefiting from it globally. How many times have you've seen whites blow up the mayor's office phone or going in mass to the police station demanding certain officers who unjustly murder a Black person be removed, fired and charged? But if a white child was murdered, they would burn down the police station if justice wasn't served.
4. We've been discussing this system for centuries and nothing has fundamentally changed.
5. We are not the problem, racism/white supremacy is. Sure, we engage in behaviors of self hatred but what do expect from a group who experienced 300 year of chattel slavery/prisoners of war, 100 years of segregation/Jim Crow/lynchings, and another 50 yrs of gentrification/mass incarceration/state executed murders/outsourcing of jobs replaced by an influx of drugs by Contras and the CIA//piss poor schooling.
6. These discussions are disingenuous at best and doesn't lead to any practical, concrete solutions. Most whites and Blacks are afraid of being honest. Very few have the balls to deal with this system of racism/white supremacy. And in the end, most whites go back to environment of comfort and will not put any money, resources to the empowerment of Black people. And Black people go back to their living hell.
7. Powerful people will NEVER teach, help or empower powerless people how to obtain and maintain power. Most folks ain't sacrificing their lifestyles, their income, or their access to resources to help oppressed people.
8. We are going to have to accept the reality that the primary fight for freedom, justice and equity must come from Black people. Now, if others want to assist, tell them to give up some $$$ (without hidden agendas), resources, and organize amongst themselves to fight this system of oppression. But, under no circumstance, can we allow others to join our fight. Look at the history of NAACP, Urban League and other so-called Black institutions that was founded by and mainly financed by whites or others. How effective are these organizations today?
9. Just because a discussion is under the cloak of religion don't move me at all. In fact, it maybe an attempt to practice racism and an appeasement of white guilt. Many of the domestic terrorism that Blacks experienced in America were at the hands of white christians. KKK consisted of mostly white Christians.
10. I'm not into feel good sessions where we sing, pray and hold hands. If you ain't dealing the history of this country, your role in it our collective oppression and ain't open to sacrificing something to make our collective existence better, don't call me.
Reggie Jenkins, UNNIK Academy
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