The Myth Of 'Flat Blackness'

The Myth of 'Flat Blackness'

For The Record, Black America is not monolithic. We don't just come in different Shapes, Sizes, Skin Tones, & Hair Textures; We have different Spiritual (Religious), Political, Sexual, & Philosophical beliefs. What we All share in common, is the Cultural Experience of being American Descendants of Chattel Slavery. Despite Our differences, THIS is what binds Us. We can All look back to an Elder Matriarch & Patriarch that dared to dream of a better Life for their Family, & future generations.

Our Family in Afrika, South America, & The Caribbean also share an experience of Slavery, & the atrocities associated w/ it. That said, The Black American/ ADOS Experience is unique. While Our Family throughout the Diaspora experienced Revolution, Freedom, & (some degree of) Sovereignty [i.e. A Flag], Black America did not. While European Immigrants were 'given' Millions of Acres of Land, We received 10Yrs of Reconstruction, followed by 90Yrs of 'Black Codes' & Jim Crow. Then came 10Yrs of Affirmative Action, followed by 45Yrs of Social Engineering & Criminalization. Our Legacy, is one of perpetually fighting the forces of White Supremacy.

Over the last 35- 40Yrs, Society has amalgamated Black Immigrants into Black America; Jesse Jackson's classification of 'Afrikan American' in 1988, only helped the effort to place Us under one umbrella. While the designation is genealogically true, it was a cultural misstep. Black America didn't push back @ this designation, because We were in the midst of a Black Consciousness Movement that celebrated Pan- Afrikanism. Plus, Black Immigrants lived in Black American Communities, & made significant contributions to the Collective over the Years.

Arturo Schomburg, Marcus Garvey, Dr. Yosef Ben- Jochannan, Kwame Ture (Stokley Carmichael), Shirley Chisholm, & Minister Louis Farrakhan are just a few of the Black Immigrants that aligned w/ Black American Culture. They are celebrated & revered by Black America as Icons of Our Culture. The American Government had a problem w/ that. In the mid- 1970s Henry Kissenger used The U.S. Information & Educational Exchange Act, (currently known as The Smith- Mundt Modernization Act of 2012) to put Afrikan, South American, & Caribbean Nations 'On Notice' regarding their relationship w/ Black America.

Using this 'Act', the U.S. Gov't depicted Black Americans globally as uncultured criminals & deadbeats, while simultaneously indoctrinating the immigrants that were issued Visas. By 1980, We began to see a Cultural shift. People that were 'Black & Proud' began to wave flags, & tout where They came from. On College Campuses, Black Student Unions fractured into Black, Caribbean, Latino/ Hispanic, & Afrikan Student Organizations. We celebrated the Cultural Diversity of the Black Diaspora, but over time, competition w/ & critique of Black American Culture grew.

While Black American Communities struggled w/ Unemployment, lack of Resources, & fewer Opportunities under 'Reaganomics'; Immigrant families that already had the financial means to relocate to another Country, were given access to Affirmative Action Programs meant specifically for Black America/ ADOS. These programs meant 2 'level the Playing Field' 4 Black America, now went to newcomers seeking their own 'American Dream'.

By the 1990s, a New Wave of Black Immigrants appeared in America w/ preconceived ideas about Black Americans. They were rude, disrespectful, & wanted nothing to do w/ Us. They began to cluster in enclaves, like European & Asian Immigrants. While this is by No Means the actions of Every Immigrant, it was a Group Collective effort. As Black American/ ADOS Communities suffered from Neo- Liberal 'Benign Neglect' & 'Tough on Crime' measures that:

Incarcerated hundreds of thousands of Black Men

Broke down Family structures, forcing Black Women 2 'Carry the Load'

Caused an 'Exodus' of Black Middle Class families that drained Communities of Mentors, Role Models, & Tax Dollars- creating an environmental & moral cesspool Nationally

Manufactured Poverty, which opened Communities up 2 lawlessness by Cops & Criminals- opening the door 2 gentrification

Elevated Drug & Gang Activity

Created Nutritional (Food) Deserts

Created a Homelessness Epidemic

Immigrant enclaves prospered, as Home & Business Ownership rose. Black Immigrants reinvested in their Communities, & the increase in Tax Dollars ensured proper Services (Roads, Water/ Sewage, Sanitation, ect...) & Political Representation were consistent.

This is NOT a knock on Black Immigrants- They R living 'The American Dream'. What I want to point out, is how skewed the #s get, when Statisticians include Black Immigrants into an overall Black American narrative. Our experiences R different. It makes Black America/ ADOS look better off than We really R. It may B due 2 their sovereignty, but Black Immigrants have more autonomy than We do. The Truth is that Black Immigrants R outperforming ADOS on nearly Every Level. In a 40Yr span, roughly 8 Million Black Immigrants have amassed more assets than 20- 30 Million American Descendants of Chattal Slavery have in 144Yrs. THIS didn't happen by accident, or because they 'work harder' than the people that literally built America.

The disrespect comes from those Black Immigrants that believe that They R somehow superior 2 ADOS, when in fact, They stand on Our shoulders. They call Us Lazy, Stupid, 'Cotton picking N-s' [Akata], & say that We lack Discipline & Culture. All of this, while taking advantage of 'Diversity Initiatives' that were never meant 4 Them. Black Immigrants were less than 1% of the [Black] population during the Jim Crow Era; most came after 1980, so what exactly R They being rewarded 4? They R conveniently 'Black' when it's time 2 take advantage of what is meant 4 ADOS; but R flag waving, hyphenated Americans the rest of the Time. Truth IS Truth.

As ADOS demands Reparations from the American Gov't, (some) Black Immigrants feel that They R also entitled 2 whatever We receive. Black Immigrants dominate the Congressional Black Caucaus, so politicians like Sheila Jackson Lee R trying 2 shift Reparations talk 2 a Trans Atlantic discussion. ADOS has No Standing in CARICOM, so why should others get a position in what We R due? They R living 'The American Dream', while We continue 2 experience the American Nightmare. Where is the solidarity?

Barack Obama & Kamala Harris R touted as 'The 1st Black President' & 'The 1st Black Vice President', but neither have a Black American Experience. Both R more aligned w/ the aspirations of many Black Immigrants- Suburban Life, Private Schooling, & little 2 no contact w/ Everyday Blackfolk. Again, this type of amalgamation skews the data of Black American Life. Black America/ ADOS has a Culture of 'Fighting The Power', while the majority of Black Immigrants gravitate 2 the Mainstream Culture. They 'get in where They fit in'. As a result, 2nd & 3rd Generation Black Immigrants R the 'Black' faces that We see the most in Mainstream Media.

As a result, too many 2nd & 3rd Generation Immigrants try 2 speak 4 Black America/ ADOS; but they lack the Cultural Experience 2 do so. People like Roland Martin, Candice Owens, Stephen A Smith, & Joy Reid R accomodationists, that care more 4 their personal well being, than the Black American Collective. They R condescending when speaking 2 Blackfolk, taking their cues from White Racists that they try 2 impress. This is not 2 say that every Black Immigrant behaves this way, or that there aren't ADOS out there that behave the same way. It just seems that over the last 30Yrs, America has only allowed this personality type entry into the country.

The concept of 'Flat Blackness' is simply false, because ADOS & Black Family from Afrika, South America, & the Caribbean R All Culturally different. By virtue of Our 'Region', We have different perspectives. White Supremacy understands that 'diamond cuts diamond', so Flat Blackness is a tool used 2 dilute the ADOS Experience, & Our ultimate demand 4 Reparations. It appears that The Goal, is 2 replace Us w/ immigrants, who R simply happy 2 live the American Dream that we have been denied. They seem 2 B unaware that once we're nullified, They will become The Target.

ADOS have tried the 'Kumbaya Coalition' time & time again, only 2 get disrespected by Our 'Partners'. I say, let Black Immigrants B 'Minorities', & POC/ BIPOC. ADOS needs 2 stand alone, so EVERYONE can clearly see what Our Experience looks like. The Black Immigrant experience, resembles the experience of other immigrants more than it does ADOS. Flat Blackness diminishes their accomplishments as much as it diminishes Our perceived Oppression. Contrary 2 what is being said, Black America/ ADOS has a rich Culture that The World mimics, but doesn't acknowledge. We also have a legitimate demand 4 Reparations that can't B ignored. Shame on Everyone that dares 2 deny Us.

Question: Shouldn't 'SOHO Karen' B called 'SOHO Carmen'?

-Just asking

#Clarity

#GlovesOff

I REALLY don't understand all of the confusion surrounding distribution of the COVID 19 Vaccines. Didn't the Gov't tout Project Warp Speed as a 'hit the ground running' protocol that detailed Who gets vaccinated, & which vaccine goes 2 which Region?

How did this 'British Strain', which experts say is w/i the spectrum of both vaccines disrupt distribution so completely? 2 Me, it looks like The Powers That B want 2 increase the Stress Level of the General Public.

#SellingTheSoap

24hrs later, The World is STILL talking about The attempted Coup/ Insurrection carried out by White Supremacists @ The Capitol (& other locations)... The TRUTH, is Whitefolk & their Colored Minions (POC, BIPOC) got a Good Look @ America from The Black side of the tracks.

These R The Same Thugs that:

Formed Lynch Mobs that pulled Family Men out their homes, 4 No Good Reason in the middle of the night 2 torture, kill, castrate, & burn- not always in that order

Came 2 Our doors demanding We send Our Wives & Daughters outside, 2 satisfy their sexual whim- or face The Lynch Mob

Forced Us off Our Land, bcuz They just didn't want Us 2 own it

Arrested Us 4 'Loitering', & other 'Quality of Life' offenses, so We could B de facto Slaves on Prison Chain Gangs

Destroyed Our Towns, bcuz We dared 2 flourish w/o their input

Continue 2 Oppress & Kill Us wantonly, KNOWING They won't B persecuted or prosecuted (See Dred Scott summation)

Preach Bible Prophecy, but Ignore the Same Prophecy, when They denied Us Reparations during Emancipation & Reconstruction. They grant 'Aid & Comfort' 2 those who wish 2 destroy Them, b4 granting Us a single seed

No, Black America/ ADOS was not shocked by the blatant act(s) of Domestic Terrorism taking place. 4 Us, it was 'Chickens coming home 2 roost'. We also KNOW some of those animals R Ur family members & neighbors.

-Welcome 2 AmeriKKKa!

#RealityCheck

#ADOS

So Joe Biden promises 2 release all of the COVID 19 vaccine, including supplies slated 4 2nd doses-

After getting his 2nd dose.

-Can't make this stuff up

#WingsOfTheSameBird

Sen. Roy Blunt should take his commentary 2 the Comedy Clubs. He complains that Joe Biden is presenting his Bill as a 'Infrastructure Package', but only 40% of the Bill will actually cover Infrastructure. Meanwhile, BOTH SIDES R silent when Law Makers announce 'Policy' 4 Black America, that does very little 4 Blackfolk. The language says 'Black' a couple of times, but the money goes 2 'Disadvantaged/ Marginalized Communities' (Poor Whites) People of Color (POC) & Native Americans. All of these groups already have specific Policies in place- why do they get the lion's share of what is meant 4 Us?

-Welcome 2 life on the Black Side of the Tracks

#ADOS