Sunday, July 19, 2009

Obama's Warning to the Civil Rights Industrial Complex Will Go Largely Ignored

When the "First Black President" spoke to the oldest Civil Rights organization many saw this as a culmination of a "dream" and the struggle of millions of our formerly enslaved ancestors who "overcame". Cue the orchestra for this tender moment... 

Pause.

Ok I'm over it. Utter hogwash! 

Sorry but this isn't going to be a feel-good post about the merging of ideals within the "black community". Excuse me while I hurl. Obama is a fence-sitter on many significant issues regarding LGBT rights depending on which way his political career may go. He's a conflicted participant trying to hold another huge entity of dead ideals (that would be the CRIC TM WAOD) responsible for having an enforceable code of ethics. Well welcome to 2009 because we're not in 1959, 1969 and we're certainly not in 1999.  

First of all the "black community" is gasping its last few breaths for the collective of blacks who consider themselves part of something when joined strictly by race and a history of oppression by whites. They ignore seeking justice across the board, equality for black women and do not support LGBT rights as an whole. Just like the NAACP. Of course they're forgetting one thing: black people are also LGBT, living in black residential neighborhoods and often are doubly oppressed. Black female LGBTs including trans women have it the worst of course. They're raising children alone, face job discrimination as well as the extra threat of physical violence.

This is why I always discuss LGBT issues on this blog. Few blacks do because it's "controversial" or they have to face the mighty Wall of Hypocrisy from other blacks who want to use religion as the "Shield of Ironic Condemnation" that is only reserved for those sinners. Meanwhile the behavior of the masses reflects no discipline or standards. Don't you dare talk about their choices! Hence the 80% OOW birth rate, the lack of marriage and the perpetual joblessness amongst other things.

Khadija, blog host of Muslim Bushido broke it down on her post, The End of the Road for African-Americans, Part I about how the infrastructure in the "black community" doesn't support ONE THING. There is no independent economy, no group accountability and no social/political governance. So tell me what exactly is the NAACP good for? It's symbolism pure and simple. They're not the only do-nothing organization but they're the most readily thought-of. I don't see them as a benign stallworth of an era that has since passed. I think their purpose is to serve as an obstruction for any real progress. There's far too much money passing hands and zero transparency. Like BET, they are not a FRIEND TO BLACK PEOPLE!

They have a history of putting white people in charge or black men who give lots of speeches, pontificate on occasion and leave in a cloud of controversy over sexual misconduct. So far their current President Ben Jealous seems to be scandal-free (so far) but I'm not certain what he actually does. His prior work with Amnesty Int'l and career in social justice suggests he may have in fact been able to make some significant changes but with Julian Bond pulling the strings and a 64-member board of redirectionists holding the the purse I'm not expecting much. He may be infinitely qualified but he is a (token) symbol of of superficiality by a dead organization. They wanted their own bi-racial man who claims black heritage with a beautiful lawyer wife. Done and done. How juvenile can they be? 

I can't think of one initiative in recent memory these CRIC organizations have actually done to build an infrastructure that would support a community. That's for those still holding onto the idea there is one or one can be rebuilt. What have they done to lower the unemployment rate for blacks? They don't teach domination tactics. They can't get black men to accept responsibility for their children or to graduate college for goodness sake! They have got the "hand held out" beggar pose down to a tee. I wonder what the operating budget would be like if the white patronage went elsewhere? What investments do they have? I know that other blacks give money and time as well, largely African-American women doing the "save all of our people" dance - SOLO - as usual. If only they would pause, turn of the music and walk away the NAACP and others would have a whiplash-inducing about-face and suddenly find an agenda of relevance. We don't hold them accountable so they will remain ineffective.

Now there's word that the NAACP wants to stop focusing solely on black men feeling the butt end of white oppression and include other "people of color". We already know they don't do major campaigns that are for the benefit of black women. Well if those other POCs want to give money and time the way AA women do more power to them. It would give these women free time to find something else to do. If it's just lip service forget it! Including other groups who if the shoe was on the other foot are not seeking alliances with AAs is just further proof of their insanity. They already do as little as possible. Next they're going to open the bank for business and tell a select few to just come on in and take other people's money. 

In fact in The End of the Road for African-Americans Part 2, Khadija discusses material from the 2006 Harvest Institute Report, where Bob Law states:
Rather than demonstrate that leadership by leading their own people to the necessary levels of self-sufficiency and competitiveness, these leaders have abandoned the critical issues facing Black people and have begun to chase an ambiguous romanticized notion of alliances with other groups without any demonstration or even an explanation as to how these alliances will actually empower Black people.  ** I had to come back to add this portion. Sometimes when ppl are in agreement it isn't about cheering them on to gain favor but it's synchronicity.
When the black community collapses under the bloat of its uselessness I sincerely hope these organizations: NAACP, Urban League, National Urban Network, blah blah blah are the first ones to go. Color of Change is right up there following the same failed model. Quite frankly the CRIC deserves a swift demise. As well as the Black Church. They have been a HUGE disservice to the very people they claim to be helping. Like that wanna-be organization Raising Him Alone which is another Trojan Horse of the deathstyles of the supa fly (that would be us, er other blacks) I have zero sympathy for the confused and unfocused non-leadership. 

I'd love to see some of these other orgs like National Council of  Negro Women step up to the plate. Perusing their websites and objectives they are so woefully behind the times I don't even know where to begin. I see lots of ideas but I don't see a radical attempt at dismantling the sources. I'm certain many will disagree with me and if you want to take up that cause of getting the CRIC to "act right" feel free to do so. We see how successful that's been with regards to black men. I say it's time for all people of consciousness (compassion and common sense) to just LEAVE. Let them fix their internal squabbles, power plays and apathy on their own. Then they can prove their loyalty and relevancy. Of course that isn't going to happen and we'll be better off just focusing on our own needs, forming alliances with those prepared and able to be fully functioning partners. 

To all the naysayers: PROVE ME WRONG! Haha. I'd love to see you try.

*******
P.S. I read Raymond Leon Roker's piece in Huffington Post, NAACP vs. Gay Marriage. The timing was excellent as I was working on my response to Obama's speech. Thanks for the inspiration. It's also nice to see a black man defend LGBT rights and be so (fair) idealistic. Reading the comments it's the usual yada yada yada (nonsense). What do you think? 

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9 comments:

Felicia said...

Faith, you said...

"I say it's time for all people of consciousness (compassion and common sense) to just LEAVE. Let them fix there internal squabbles, power plays and apathy on their own. Then they can prove their loyalty and relevancy. Of course that isn't going to happen and we'll be better off just focusing on our own needs, forming alliances with those prepared and able to be fully functioning partners."

Right.

Time (in the land of the living on planet earth) is FINITE. Therefor time spent AWAY from attracting functioning partners - especially marriage worthy functioning partners regardless of "race" if your a marriage minded BW interested in baring natural born children within wedlock - is COUNTERPRODUCTIVE and downright self-sabotaging.

Anonymous said...

Faith- Happy Sunday!

First, I do want to thank you for being an open ally of black LGBT issues. You are right, there are very few bloggers that discuss our issues in context as women and being black (uhhh, not sure that made sense!)

Secondly, how the heck can you govern with 64 people on the board? Good grief!

Faith at Acts of Faith Blog said...

Felicia: Yes time is finite. I mourn the loss of it when my thinking was so disordered that I can't get back. I see other people with biological ties who are headed down a path that will leave them dissatisfied. Who knows if I would've listened had someone talked to me? Who knows what my life would be like now if I had known then what I know today? Either way I am here NOW and very grateful that I'm still relatively young.

Sassy J: That made perfect sense. It's not like I'm looking for kudos it's just what's right. I'm not setting myself up as any type of expert though either. It's just another aspect of the conversation.

zackboston said...

what kind of people are "prepared and able to be fully functioning partners"?

grace lee boggs wrote about this a few weeks ago, focusing on cities, and recommended a very well written and researched (but also 20 page) article called "The City Belongs to All of Us."

http://www.onthecommons.org/content.php?id=2399

Unknown said...

just want to say that these ideas you are putting on your blog in the last week and a half have got me really thinking.

you have literally blew my foundation.

i am reading muslim bushido's posts now.

whoa..
thanks for this

Faith at Acts of Faith Blog said...

Susan: Thanks for the link. That offers a nice plan of action. It required ppl ready to function and be cohesive abt improving the quality of their residential areas. As far as the "black community" goes you can forget it. A few individual blacks living in a a mixed area of class/race/economics - yes. The average area that had a middle class but is now declining as the criminal element slowly takes over - no. Not w/o them admitting there's a problem and who's causing them. Not w/o them taking action (police action) to stop it. People have to CARE first - and be solution oriented.

Brother OMi: Thank you. This is something that I'm learning as I write. So I'm right there with you feeling my mind being blown away. What is great about this is as a male you can impart this knowledge to other males and hopefully get some of them to listen to you. Just being open to listening to a black woman is a feat in and of itself (for some) - so THANK YOU!

Christian H. said...

Hi,
I'm back again. I totally agree that the "leaders" are just whiners expecting that people who would have Jim Crow are just going to give stuff away.

None of them talk about the worthlessness of our athletes and entertainers. None of them address the need for A DRESS CODE in high school.

I actually go around NYC saying things like "Good luck on that job interview" or "why is your boyfriend such a FUCKING BUM?"

It doesn't seem to have an effect. I say take away the choice. You either become productive or you work for food cleaning subway tunnels and shit.

I can say that black women need to stop putting up with that crap. They aren't looking for any American dream anyway so since marriage etc. is a part of it.

Unfortunately I can't help with the LGBT thing because that's a choice just like heterosexual abstinence is.

As far as rights, you need those.. and lefts crosses hooks and jabs. Why should anyone do anything? I may be a little jaded though because my mother just swore up and down I should have been gay, but I was a little kid.

I have to part company when I hear about the seven year old who knows his sexual preference. At seven you barely know how to use all of your limbs. That seems like nurture and NOT nature.

At any rate, yes the black community is DOOMED. It's already fallen. When the current thugs enter into the world they will have little to no job skills and obviously no desire to get them.

I feel bad for the younger generation of women because all they will have is BUMS.

Though I am looking for a group of women who will let me speak for them, I won't lose any sleep.

And the funniest thing is that I'm a SW developer and my rap album was killing on the Internet. The problem was the BUM HATERS who have to dress like bums and only support OTHER BUMS.

I hit my last straw with these bitch boys a year ago though I can't really talk about the reasons. Let's just say, I'm SICK OF THEM RUINING THE RED CARPET.

Faith at Acts of Faith Blog said...

Chrisitan H

Hi,
I'm back again. I totally agree that the "leaders" are just whiners expecting that people who would have Jim Crow are just going to give stuff away.

None of them talk about the worthlessness of our athletes and entertainers. None of them address the need for A DRESS CODE in high school.

I actually go around NYC saying things like "Good luck on that job interview" or "why is your boyfriend such a BUM?"

It doesn't seem to have an effect. I say take away the choice. You either become productive or you work for food cleaning subway tunnels and shit.

I can say that black women need to stop putting up with that crap. They aren't looking for any American dream anyway so since marriage etc. is a part of it.

Unfortunately I can't help with the LGBT thing because that's a choice just like heterosexual abstinence is.

As far as rights, you need those.. and lefts crosses hooks and jabs. Why should anyone do anything? I may be a little jaded though because my mother just swore up and down I should have been gay, but I was a little kid.

I have to part company when I hear about the seven year old who knows his sexual preference. At seven you barely know how to use all of your limbs. That seems like nurture and NOT nature.

At any rate, yes the black community is DOOMED. It's already fallen. When the current thugs enter into the world they will have little to no job skills and obviously no desire to get them.

I feel bad for the younger generation of women because all they will have is BUMS.

Though I am looking for a group of women who will let me speak for them, I won't lose any sleep.

And the funniest thing is that I'm a SW developer and my rap album was killing on the Internet. The problem was the BUM HATERS who have to dress like bums and only support OTHER BUMS.

I hit my last straw with these boys a year ago though I can't really talk about the reasons. Let's just say, I'm SICK OF THEM RUINING THE RED CARPET.

Christian H: Thanks for your thoughts. I did edit for language though. I'd like to adhere to less colorful words in the future.

Christian H. said...

Hey, I'm sorry for the expletives that weren't deleted, it's just that this is a rather touchy subject for me.

I work hard to be valuable to MY country and I have to deal with "men" who have no spine.

I was in Times Square over the weekend and it's just embarrassing. So-called brothers wandering around like being a bum is the definition of the black man. I reject that out of hand.
I am an American citizen with all the rights, privileges and RESPONSIBILITIES. The responsibility to set a good example, the responsibility to make our women look good by excelling ourselves, the responsibility to give white people a RESPECTED and RESPECTFUL view of black men.

But like I said, I do want to speak for women as I can easily get into certain places.

I know it's probably hard to trust any men but I have no ulterior motives except my love and respect for women - especially sisters.

I'd rather give up women than tell them to deal with BUMS with no life goals other than tatting up beautiful women and sagging with their friends - MudFlap and Skids.

Black women can do a lot by CUTTING THEM THE HECK OFF. The current trend in hip hop is just a way for the male establishment to further marginalize women. They figure that you'll trust the "brothers" which seems to be working.

There are more "men's" magazines with black women than ever before and they're not glamor just BOOTY shots - which sounds really gay. I'd rather look at her face and see how she wears a formal dress.

But let everyone know that there is a crazed genius out only for women's rights. BLACK WOMEN'S RIGHTS ESPECIALLY.

I do need your help though. Demand more from these "men." If you are trying to go to college why mess around with a "THUG" whose probably on the DL. Anyone who only hangs with men worries me.

Women are people FIRST. Usually much more measured than men and definitely less prone to using violence or intimidation to get their way.

Anyway, I'll be around. Thx for the forum.