Does anyone else thing that it's like total incongruity with Pan-Africanism and being consciously Black in the Diaspora to cling to Christianity as if it really gave us anything but a bunch of philosophy and a symbol of subservience to that old Great White Father? I'm not racist in saying "Great White Father" i'm just saying it historically. But does anyone else catch my drift? I've read Malidoma Some's book "Of Water and the Spirit" and with my small knowledge of the concepts of modern science, it seems like our old religions fit, at least philosophically with scientific truth. Maybe I'm hallucinating... I don't think so though... I'd like some responses because it's rather inconsistent for me to watch and listen the whiny faction of my elders whine about how the white man wants to beat us down, and praise Jesus. I'm not saying that Christianity is illegitimate but it's just like bending down in submission to history's wrath instead of recreating the Black lifestyles from stronger, African culture and philosophy, which serves us more and would serve us more for the simple reason that it's our own. We'd have more pride and the nigga out on the streetz wouldn't be so nihilist about their world. They'd feel as if they were part of a community, a collective body helping itself when no one else will take any moral responsibility as fellow humans to help. I could go on and on... but that's what this is for right?

dou xie nimen,

arakunrin

Backatya wrote:
But the word is how I've heard my family speak of black people I'm only using it as an example. Letting go of backward thinking? so just letting things lie as they are? I see so much of this like everywhere, I have awesome brothers and sisters who jump to the chance at learning something new and doing things differently. I'm proud of them. I can't be proud of the rapper who uses such slurs, that was my only point for using the term. I understand this though, thank you, and I'm sincere about that too. It all just FEELS so hopeless...
confused2

Arakunrin


I understand the feeling of 'hopelessness'. But 'moving forward' has to start with the individual. Nothing that can be deemed as dramatic change happens spontaneously with everyone and everything moving in the same direction at the same time. Onlyin the realms of nature would you see such spectacular occurrences.

On the human level it is the ME and the YOU, which become the catalyst of change. MY/YOUR's individual action is where it starts. Sure, comment, complain, orlambaste the actions of those around you who seem to be doing nothing more than holding us back, but don't necessarily expect that toevoke aspectacular transformation. Ensure that you 'make your move! Do your thing! Regardless or in spite of what they do.

Hopefully (and very likely) it will have affect on others who will see the wisdom of your ways and the error of theirs, through you leading by example.

Try it. When anyone in your family or among your friends uses that word, tell them 'NO, I DON'T LIKE THAT, IT'S NOT GOOD'. Make a conscious effort to'let it go' from your own vocabulary, and see what happens over time.

EVERY ONE OF US HAS WITHIN US THE CAPACITY TO BE THE CATALYST OF CHANGE!

Respect

I agree with Backatya's comments about the N word. That's just spreading more ignorance.


As for religion, as John Henrik Clarke said, "The world would be a lot better off if we had less religion and more common sense." EVERY NONAFRIKAN RELIGION THAT WAS BROUGHT TO AFRIKA DID US MORE HARM THAN GOOD. STOP WORSHIPPING THAT EFFEMINATE CRACKER JESUS AND THENONBATHING CHILD MOLESTER MOHAMMED. Where is your PRIDE, Black people?confused3

And still, the stone which the builders reject is the chief corner stone.

I came and posted first of all because I wanted to discuss our lifestyles and the fact that so many in my community are not looking for any alternatives to their rather insipid lives, which they live with no vigour, no spark, nothing to make them really feel good, feel the endorphins and serotonin surging through their veins.Their lives are so ritual and so inexorably old fashioned and out of step with the rest of human knowledge. I'm trying to make the point that our old ancestral religions and philosophies fit the mold of reality, at least philosophically. So when we're on spacecraft and such 400 years from now, first there will be some black people aboard to ensure that we don't die out, and secondly that we can actually survive the hard times to come. If we don't see ourselves now as who we really are and what we're meant by design to be then we're hopeless. I didn't mean to offend anyone by referring to my fellows as I did, I merely meant to illustrate how they have been treating each other and me as I have travelled in the northeast, the mid-atlantic, the south, California... I've already "fixed" myself, I've synthesized my reality for myself and it keeps on reaffirming itself, without my mental intervention. I'm not even that religious but just knowing about my people's ancestors and those ancestors' traditional philosophies has filled out the hole that Western imperialism put in my soul. My mother refuses to see the logic and the total congruities of my reality. She's always complaining about how white people jump the gun and treat her a certain way and then she goes to the "Western religious version" of reality and scolds me for abandoning the church that gave me nothing but an insult to my bloodline and flesh. Nothing but an insult. So my question is why we're not jumping (as a majority or at least a more than minimal faction) to the opportunities to recreate ourselves. I won't use that term anymore. In fact that is one of the few times I'veEVER used that term. But the previous question is what I'd like to discuss.

ase'o

arakunrin

Backatya wrote:

arakunrin wrote:

I fear you misunderstand what I mean by my reference to the individual. I am not speaking in the sense of individualismversus community. I am not saying we just exist as a bunch of individuals. The concept of 'COMMUNITY' and its central roleour African culture is not contrary to the point I am making here.

What I am saying is that when it comes to action, to effect change on the wider (community if you like) level it is not something one just waits to happen in some spontaneous way with everyone acting at once. It requires that each (and every one) of us who are enthused with an idea or motivated to 'do', go and ahead and DO. Waiting for everyone to be at the same stage and ready to 'go' before you (the individual) make your move to 'go', could mean that in effect no one 'goes'.

Of course there will be those among us who have the gift to lift and motivate large numbers into action as they head toward a common goal. But such a gift to motivate does not lie with us all. Yet what we can do (in the absence of being able to 'motivate on mass') is to do our thing anyway and try to convince others (by example or by preaching if youwish) to do likewise. In other words, in your sphere of influence (be it a few friends, family members or whoever) you try to make a difference by starting the ball rolling.

When I speak of the individual doing, I mean just that, as opposed to waiting for the many (whose supportultimately would be needed for complete success) to be at the same place as you, before you make a move.

You see, so often I hear people speak of what we (black people) must do, and I say to myself "Yeah that maybe very true, but what are you doing in the meantime whilst waiting for all black people to get the message",

Respect

I understand better now what you mean. Well I've been trying to learn Yoruba but it's hard to keep up without having anyone else to chat with but myself. I read nonfiction Africana and various history books and I feel at least like I know what has gone on and how things have worked over the course of human history--not as a bunch of coherent set of facts but more of as a familiarity with events and trends things make sense. I feel as if I'm there already...perhaps I'm not though...

I consider myself to be a Christian, although I acknowledge that often I fall short of the mark. I don't think that I am worshipping a "Great White Father" or otherwise allowing myself to be oppressed due to my religious beliefs.

As Backatya rightly pointed out, change comes from individuals who want to be better, regardless of their religious backgrounds. I don't see how Christianity = docility as you are trying to claim. Dr. Martin Luther King was as radical as they come and ignited a movement that was transformative for an entire nation and an example to the entire world. Dr. King was a Reverend and a devout Christian.

You should try to separate your disdain for Christianity with your theory as to how Blacks can be more progressive. Christians can be, and have been,as progressive as everyone else.