Black Culture

Blackness. My gift. My beauty. My strength. My heritage. My curse. My burden. My struggle.

My whole life I was told I was an black prince. And that I would someday be a black king.

I never knew it would be tempered with evil glares from those who don’t approve of me.

I never knew it would make me a target by racist cops looking to fill a quota.

No not a ticket quota. A quota of lock up as many of those black primates as you can.

A quota of kill as many of them as you can. No one will care. Their families may cry.

Al Sharpton may lead a protest or two. But in six months, no one will care and we’ll kill more.

In case you didn’t know, I am EVERY black man.

I’m Garret A. Morgan who invented the traffic light that saves your life.

I’m Benjamin Banneker who created the clock you set your watch to.

I’m David Boker and I created the inner tube you use in your tires of your big luxurious car.

I’m Charles Bryant and I created the seat belt that ALSO saves your life.

I’m Clarence Larry and I created the camera you use to capture your life’s greatest moments.

I’m Richard Spikes and I created the gear shift of your car.

I’m John Standard and I created your refridgerator and the oil stove.

I’m Barack Hussain Obama and I’m THE MUTHAFUCKIN’ PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BITCH!

And you wanna kill me?

When all I want is the freedom and rights I’m promised under the United States constitition that set me free from slavery on June 19, 1865. 

Yeah I mentioned slavery.

Don’t you tell me black people need to get over slavery in 2012.

Not when in 2012 my being black, tall, and a man can get me shot by a racist vigilante who sees me as a threat. When all I wanted to do was go home to family, eat my skittles, and drink my Iced Tea. My name is Trayvon Martin.

Don’t tell me I shouldn’t take being black so seriously when pulling out my wallet can get me killed by police and no one goes to jail. I am Amadu Diallo.

Don’t tell me I should see myself as colorless when the police can kill me on my wedding day and my son is left fatherless while the police laugh in my widow’s face while taunting her saying “Did you really think we’d go to jail or lose our jobs to protect and serve because we killed your black husband? Fuck you and him!” I am Sean Bell.

Don’t tell me racism is a thing of the past when the same education I pay for at Brown University allows police to beat me senseless, break my car windows, and have me fighting fake charges my last year instead of studying. I am the multi-talented actor Nic Few.

Don’t tell me I’m a murderer for being the shit out of a white kid who says I can’t sit where I want on my school’s playground and brandishes a gun at me. I am Mychael Bell.

Don’t tell me we’ve overcome when the police follow me into my house and shoot me in my grandmother’s bathroom in front of my six year old brother. I am Rahmarley Graham.

You call that justice? I call it foul bullshit. And as a college educated black man who publishes his own books and is a part of a community of other college educated black men and women who are parents, teachers, actors, singers, dancers, writers, lawyers, doctors, college professors, I stand up and proudly, look you straight in your eye, and say my blackness will not stop me. We are strong, beautiful, intelligent, creative, and proudly BLACK. Always will be. You won’t kill us all. And before it’s all said and done, the revolution WILL be televised, we will rise and have justice, equality, and shine brighter than ever. My blackness is not my burden. It’s my blessing. And my crown is my blackness. Mr. Armani out!

Author Armani Williams

This is Soooooo worth reading to the

end…dont let the long text discourage you, its truley worth it…………Enjoy

 It seems that an article was written to Sister 2 Sister magazine by a Caucasian woman who requested a response from black men. I’m so glad she got what sheasked for (and more) !!!

 Dear Jamie: I’m sorry but I would like to

challenge some of your Black male readers

 I am a White female who is engaged to a Black male-good-looking, Educated and loving. I just don’t understand a lot of Black females attitudes about ourrelationship.. My man decided he wanted me because the pickings amongst Black women were slim to none. As he said they were too fat, too loud, too mean, too argumentative, too needy, too materialistic or carrying too much excess baggage.

 Before I became engaged, whenever I went out I was constantly approached by Black men, willing to wine and dine

 me and give me the world. If Black women are so up in arms about us being with their men, why don’t they look at themselves and make some changes.

 I am tired of the dirty looks I get and snide remarks when we’re out in public.. I would like to hear from some Black men about why we are so appealing and coveted by them. Bryant Gumbel left his wife of 26 years for one of us. Charles Barkley, Scottie Pippen, the model Tyson Beckford, Montell Williams, Quincy Jones, James Earl Jones, Harry Belafonte, Sydney Poitier, Kofi Anan, Cuba GoodingJr., Don Cornelius, Berry Gordy, Billy Blanks, Larry Fishburne, Wesley Snipes…

 I could go on and on. But, right now, I’m alittle angry and that is why I wrote this so hurriedly. Don’t be mad with us White women because so many of your men want us. Get your acts together and learn from us and we may lead you to treat your men better. If I’m wrong, Black men, let me know.

 Disgusted White Girl, Somewhere in VA

 RESPONSE

 Dear Jamie: I would like to respond to the letter written by A Disgusted White Girl.

 Let me start by saying that I am a 28-year old black man. I graduated from one of the most prestigious universities in Atlanta, Georgia with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Management. I have a good job at a major corporation and have recently purchased a house. So, I consider myself to be among the ranks of successful black men.

 I will not use my precious time to slander white people. I just want to set the record straight of why black men date white women. Back in the day, one of the biggest reasons why black men dated white women was because they were considered easy. The black girls in my neighborhood were raised in the church. They were very strict about when they lost their virginity and who they lost it to. Because of our impatience to wait, brothers would look for someone who would give it up easy without too much hassle. So, they turned to the white girls. Nowadays, in my opinion, a lot of brothers date white women because they are docile and easy to control. A lot of black men, because of insecurities, fears, and overall weaknesses, have be come intimidated by the strengthof our black women. We are afraid that our woman will be more successful than us, make more money than us, drive nicer cars and own bigger houses. Because of this fear, many black men look for a more docile woman. Someone we can control. I have talked to numerous black men and they continuously comment on how easy it is to control and walk over their white women. I just want to set the record straight. I want A Disgusted White Girl toknow that not all successful black men date white women.

 Brothers like Ahmad Rashad, Denzel Washington, Michael Jordan, Morris Chestnut, Will Smith, Blair Underwood, Kenneth ‘Babyface’ Edmonds, Samuel L. Jackson, and Chris Rock all married strong black women And, to flip the script, there are numerous white men, in and out of the spotlight, who openly or secretly desire black womenover white women.. Ted Danson, Robert DeNiro, and David Bowie and Robin Thicke, to name a few..

 I just don’t want a disgusted white girl to be misinformed Stop thinking that because you are white that you are some type of goddess. Remember, when black Egyptian Queens like Hatsepshut and Nitorcris were ruling Dynasties and armies of men in Egypt, you were over in the caves of Europe eating raw meatand beating each other over the head with clubs. Read yourhistory!

 It was the black woman that taught you how to cook and season your food. It was the black woman that taught you how to raise your children. It was black women who were breast feeding and raising your babies during slavery.

It is the black woman that had to endure watching their fathers, husbands, and children beaten, killed, and thrown in jail. Black women were born with two strikes against them; being black and being a woman. And, through all this, Still They Rise!

 It is because of the black women’s strength,elegance, power, love and beauty that I could never dateanyone except my black Queen. It is not just the outerbeauty that captivates and draws me to them. It is not thefact that they come in all shapes, sizes, colors and shades; it’s that I love them.

> Their inner beauty is what I find most appealing about black women.. Their strong spirit, loving and nurturing souls, their integrity, their ability to overcome great

obstacles, their willingness to stand for what they believe in, and their determination to succeed and reach their highest potential while enduring great pain and suffering is why I have fallen in love with black women. I honestly believe that your anger is geared more toward jealousy and envy more so than snotty looks. If this were not so, then> why do you continuously go to tanning salons to darken your skin? If you are so proud to be white, then why don’t you just be happy with your pale skin? Why do you continue to inject your lips, hips, and breasts with unnatural and dangerous substances so you can look fuller and morevoluptuous?

I think that your anger is really a result of you wanting to have what the black woman has..

 BOTTOM LINE: If I were looking for a docile woman, someone I can walk over and control, I would give you a call. But, unfortunately, I am looking for a Virtuous Woman.Someone that can be a good wife and mother to my children. Someone who can be my best friend and understands my

struggles. I am looking for a soul mate. I am looking for a sister and; unfortunately, you do not and CANNOT fit the bill.

 No offense taken, none given. Signed, Black Royalty

“Your pain is the breaking of the shell

that encloses your understanding…

It is the bitter potion by which the physician

within you heals your sick self.

Therefore trust the physician, and drink

his remedy in silence and tranquillity:

Khalil Gibran

Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,

I am the dream and the hope of the slave.

I rise

I rise

I rise.

-Maya Angelou

“Still I rise,” And Still I Rise(1978)