Black Culture Discussion Thread

[spottieottie305]

My thoughts on black or more specifically African American culture... There are many words that come to mind both good and bad. As a whole I feel we need 3 things to compete and gain respect as a community

Education
We need to really work on attaining knowledge of self. Most black people have no idea of their history before slavery and the Civil Rights movement. Once you have an idea of your real history you begin to have a better sense of your self worth. You begin to understand true spirituality that can provide you food, clothing, and shelter. You will understand self reliance and slowly come out of a post traumatic slave mentality. No longer will you wait for heaven in the afterlife, you will have the ambition to build your ideal community here and now. You will want to take action! We will begin to establish a culture of accountability and pro activity.

Economics
Once we have a better view of who you are and become self aware of your situation in America you can begin to build a community. You will begin to value the people in your neighborhood, you have pride in your people and where you live. You seek out and connect with competitive black businesses and create networks to drive leadership in the community. Your community begins to pool their money and elect officials to enact policies that will act on their behalf and enhance their standard of living. We will have police in place that actually have a stake in the community, we will have businesses that we will want to maintain and patronize, we will have a school system that actually creates curriculum that empowers the youth through real education.

Health
Lastly, to truly achieve self actualization and some semblance of sovereignty we need to focus on our mental and physical well being. Lets move away from processed foods, chemicals in our hair, and anything that is detrimental to our well being. We will have money to afford proper health care and seek out ways to live longer and prosperous lives.


I recommend everyone get Hidden Colors 1, 2, and 3 at the link below.
http://hiddencolorsfilm.com/shop.php


Also watch this Powernonomics presentation by Dr. Claude Anderson

 

[360waves]

To me I believe there is a lack of culture in the African American community. Sadly it is based upon the deconstruction of a previous culture.

 

[am1x90xnike]

In order to talk about solutions, we need to talk about goals for our community.

Equality if opportunity - I think America has made great strides in this area. However, in order for most to exercise their equality of opportunity they must be afforded the knowledge to know what to do once they get there. A PRACTICAL real world, education in trade and finance, beginning at increasingly younger ages, is the best way to fulfill this promise. Legal, trade, finance, all should be taught ad nasuam to highschoolers, with extra devotion being given to the hood. Profitable (actual money) high schools should be strived for. School bonds

Freedom - criminal justice overhaul. Less militarization of the police, end to the drug war, end to the privatization of prisons, more training for police officers (off some police college type steez). Police bonds.

Higher taxes on national/multinational corporations

Trade unions

More local shopping/reinvestment into community

Less political correctness/more freedom of thought

Gerrymandering

More people voting

These are my goals, and they aren't exclusive to the black community. They are also goals which are federal, easily applying to all states. They are also goals which can be applied at the individual level.


Like, the same question I've been asking. What do y'all want? What's the goal and what tangible effect would it have? Then we can talk solutions.

 

[spottieottie305]

To me I believe there is a lack of culture in the African American community. Sadly it is based upon the deconstruction of a previous culture.

Just for clarification, what do you mean by lack of culture and what previous culture are you talking about?

 

[360waves]

Just for clarification, what do you mean by lack of culture and what previous culture are you talking about?

Sure, I think many african americans dont have a sense of culture. the traditions/ food/ way of speaking/ way of life has been based on survival. Africans were stripped of their original culture and were forced to under extreme measures. I believe culture requires unity, it requires a seems of belonging and truly believe african americans don't have that. They dont know where they are from and the unity is lacking. Some can argue that hip hop is black culture but how can that be when hip hop is still fairly young? there is a lack of culture, there isnt any tradition that is passed down from gen. to gen. A lot of people list activities as culture and i disagree. like cookouts, family reunions and so on. There is lack of unity, lack of knowledge, laack of tradition, lack of belonging. even the name african american or black or black american is vague. no belonging almost like living in limbo. you're just here because of certain events in a dark corner of american history.

 

[sloanboy]

what this man spottie said he is on point to the fullest i saw that vid a while back i almost cried when he start talking about the N.O. employment rate.
Black people have no idea how big of a impact our culture have on people outside this country especially the brothers we get alot of love.

 

[victor page]

Hip Hop is undoubtedly black culture and African dance is CLEARLY in its DNA.

 

[spottieottie305]

Sure, I think many african americans dont have a sense of culture. the traditions/ food/ way of speaking/ way of life has been based on survival. Africans were stripped of their original culture and were forced to under extreme measures. I believe culture requires unity, it requires a seems of belonging and truly believe african americans don't have that. They dont know where they are from and the unity is lacking. Some can argue that hip hop is black culture but how can that be when hip hop is still fairly young? there is a lack of culture, there isnt any tradition that is passed down from gen. to gen. A lot of people list activities as culture and i disagree. like cookouts, family reunions and so on. There is lack of unity, lack of knowledge, laack of tradition, lack of belonging. even the name african american or black or black american is vague. no belonging almost like living in limbo. you're just here because of certain events in a dark corner of american history.

Great perspective. I agree we have lost our original culture, but we do have our own unique culture here in America. The problem with our modern African American culture is connected to trauma. This is why you have so many people of African decent indulging in self destructive behavior. This is why I so strongly believe in educating ourselves so we gain some perspective of who we really are.

And yes, I do believe hip-hip is a PART of African American culture. Just like Jazz, Soul, and R&B. Its a part of our musical heritage in this country. We have a long history of creating new forms of music in the US.

African Americans have a very unique way of expressing themselves from the way we walk, talk, dress and even how we worship. The black church is a great example of modern African American culture.

 

[360waves]

Great perspective. I agree we have lost our original culture, but we do have our own unique culture here in America. The problem with our modern African American culture is connected to trauma. This is why you have so many people of African decent indulging in self destructive behavior. This is why I so strongly believe in educating ourselves so we gain some perspective of who we really are.

And yes, I do believe hip-hip is a PART of African American culture. Just like Jazz, Soul, and R&B. Its a part of our musical heritage in this country. We have a long history of creating new forms of music in the US.

African Americans have a very unique way of expressing themselves from the way we walk, talk, dress and even how we worship. The black church is a great example of modern African American culture.

i agree, i overlooked hip hop as just rap and forgot to include the other genres. you are correct. I agree on education. The youth need to recognize the importance of it.

 

[Quincy McCall]

Hip hop is definitely a big part of our history, but it derived through a number of other fairly important things from our culture that seem to have been forgotten, I think now would be a more perfect time than any to start another cultural expressionist movement like that of the Harlem Renaissance

 

[lolcomin]

Why do people put me down for sounding or acting white is what i wanna know why. I'm just here to go to school and have fun but get "called" out cause i talk like i'm white or act 

 

[tay1]

 
Why do people put me down for sounding or acting white is what i wanna know why. I'm just here to go to school and have fun but get "called" out cause i talk like i'm white or act 

Some people are ignorant. Don't let it phase you.

 

[spottieottie305]

Why do people put me down for sounding or acting white is what i wanna know why. I'm just here to go to school and have fun but get "called" out cause i talk like i'm white or act 

It's wrong and very ignorant to make fun of people for speaking or acting a certain way, but you probably speak and articulate with an European American accent. As far someone acting "white" there is certainly some credence to that thought process as there are mannerisms, dress, and other cultural cues that people identify with a typical European American or those in the dominant society. You may exhibit some of this behavior in the eyes of those around you.

As long as you know who you are and are being the best person you can be, keep doing you. Ignore the haters.

 

[victor page]

Hip hop is definitely a big part of our history, but it derived through a number of other fairly important things from our culture that seem to have been forgotten, I think now would be a more perfect time than any to start another cultural expressionist movement like that of the Harlem Renaissance

I'm already looking forward to the next genre of music that will move the culture.

I want to see the return of the live band.

 

[am1x90xnike]

Y'all ever wonder why there can never be a racial dialogue is because y'all always turn the conversation into 'we were kings in Africa' 'white people are jealous' or, the ever popular 'you can't have an opinion on race issues because you're white' ('white' being a race)...just some food for thought.

 

[victor page]

Nobody cares what you have to say bro.

You dead in here b.

Skedaddle

 

[3stheluckynumbe]

Black people have to learn to build their own.

 

[am1x90xnike]

Damn...the one person in here not circle jerking Africa and actually proposing solutions for American black folk ought skiddadle? Doesn't that answer ops question right there?

 

[spottieottie305]

Y'all ever wonder why there can never be a racial dialogue is because y'all always turn the conversation into 'we were kings in Africa' 'white people are jealous' or, the ever popular 'you can't have an opinion on race issues because you're white' ('white' being a race)...just some food for thought.

What are you even talking about... there is a very positive dialogue going on in here. Good solutions and perspectives.

I swear some of y'all dudes on here dwell on negativity. Lets keep things going people.... Let's keep talking about solutions

 

[am1x90xnike]

What solutions? I've asked the same damn question ten times in this thread alone. I'm down with discussing actual tangible solutions, but this back to Africa stuff needs to stay in the other thread (a thread I've intentionally stayed out of for this very reason). All I'm getting is 'we should know our history from Africa' a few have said education, but educate about what? Africa? What tangible effect does that have? How about we educate about the black owned banks from a few pages back, or about trades? I feel like cats always talking the same thing, but it ain't working. Turn off Nas and let's get some tangible, real world, workable solutions. I know some of y'all do things in the community, what do y'all notice BESIDES 'LACK OF IDENTITY' (which I think is complete bs because you check any kid in some Jordan's and he seems to know exactly who he is and what block he came from, but I digress) like, do cats not know about stocks and savings? Or about assistance programs for young mothers? Are these programs even effective? Anyone work at planned parenthood? What's a workable solution to the drug epidemic?

I'd be down to start a book buying program for kids in the hood, maybe start up some type of online school which can teach black kids about finance and trades, get some steam behind that.

These are what I think of as 'solutions' actual, tangible things we as NT can do to help our community, all communities. Sitting round romanticizing about Africa ain't gonna get it done.

 

[spottieottie305]

What solutions? I've asked the same damn question ten times in this thread alone. I'm down with discussing actual tangible solutions, but this back to Africa stuff needs to stay in the other thread (a thread I've intentionally stayed out of for this very reason). All I'm getting is 'we should know our history from Africa' a few have said education, but educate about what? Africa? What tangible effect does that have? How about we educate about the black owned banks from a few pages back, or about trades? I feel like cats always talking the same thing, but it ain't working. Turn off Nas and let's get some tangible, real world, workable solutions. I know some of y'all do things in the community, what do y'all notice BESIDES 'LACK OF IDENTITY' (which I think is complete bs because you check any kid in some Jordan's and he seems to know exactly who he is and what block he came from, but I digress) like, do cats not know about stocks and savings? Or about assistance programs for young mothers? Are these programs even effective? Anyone work at planned parenthood? What's a workable solution to the drug epidemic?

I'd be down to start a book buying program for kids in the hood, maybe start up some type of online school which can teach black kids about finance and trades, get some steam behind that.

These are what I think of as 'solutions' actual, tangible things we as NT can do to help our community, all communities. Sitting round romanticizing about Africa ain't gonna get it done.

Whether you want to see it, black people are having an identity crisis. We always fight for everyone else and never want to do for self. Perfect example is the ice bucket challenge. We have all these people out here fighting for ALS while police brutality against black people seems to be at an all time high. We have no real communities and no voice becasue we are not unified. We react to everything becasue we have no cultural agenda.

I'm down for all those things you mention, and I get it... you're all about action. But why leave Africa element off the table. Me personally, I am not proposing we all leave America and back to Africa overnight, but I do know we need to do for ourselves. We need to know who we are and where we come from. We need to have a thorough understand why we're in the situation we are in. We are a lost people because we don't have a living cultural heritage and I feel we should study African culture holistically and take from it what works and leave what doesn't. We must learn from past mistakes to create a better solutions for the future.

This is by no means an easy fix, but we also need to strongly think about setting up global connections with African nations that are willing to work with us. There are a lot of opportunities and resources out there.

 

[iamjusayn]

What solutions? I've asked the same damn question ten times in this thread alone. I'm down with discussing actual tangible solutions, but this back to Africa stuff needs to stay in the other thread (a thread I've intentionally stayed out of for this very reason). All I'm getting is 'we should know our history from Africa' a few have said education, but educate about what? Africa? What tangible effect does that have? How about we educate about the black owned banks from a few pages back, or about trades? I feel like cats always talking the same thing, but it ain't working. Turn off Nas and let's get some tangible, real world, workable solutions. I know some of y'all do things in the community, what do y'all notice BESIDES 'LACK OF IDENTITY' (which I think is complete bs because you check any kid in some Jordan's and he seems to know exactly who he is and what block he came from, but I digress) like, do cats not know about stocks and savings? Or about assistance programs for young mothers? Are these programs even effective? Anyone work at planned parenthood? What's a workable solution to the drug epidemic?

I'd be down to start a book buying program for kids in the hood, maybe start up some type of online school which can teach black kids about finance and trades, get some steam behind that.

These are what I think of as 'solutions' actual, tangible things we as NT can do to help our community, all communities. Sitting round romanticizing about Africa ain't gonna get it done.

I would think that a Black kid from the hood would be more inclined to start his own business, go into finance and trades if he first was taught his ancient African history of ruling kings and queens involving Dynasties versus just telling him to "go on and open up a business and run a bank", IJS. We have to rewire their minds bruh not try to glaze over another layer on top of ill-rooted base. Teaching them about the Moors who pretty much pioneered trading (spices, gold, salt, iron) and finances (gold) into europe and china would be best. Show them the connection.

If a Black kid from the hood can identify himself with his ancestors who introduced civilization to other parts of the world, invented thousands of things (most of which were stolen by white slave owners then taken to the patent office), ruled empires, etc etc that he would be more inclined to keep up that tradition. Most Black kids in america actually don't feel like they ought to nor like they actually can outside of sports/music which is by design (protocols of zion) and sad!

This is why I said the teachings and learning of ancient African history are first and foremost of importance. Teaching them about starting another Black Wall street like tulsa, oklahoma does no good if the child does not understand truly why white racists chose to burn it down which goes back to Africa, lack of melanin, hatred, etc. It's hard to stray away from history like that man is my point.

/G\

 

[spottieottie305]

I would think that a Black kid from the hood would be more inclined to start his own business, go into finance and trades if he first was taught his ancient African history of ruling kings and queens involving Dynasties versus just telling him to "go on and open up a business and run a bank", IJS. We have to rewire their minds bruh not try to glaze over another layer on top of ill-rooted base. Teaching them about the Moors who pretty much pioneered trading (spices, gold, salt, iron) and finances (gold) into europe and china would be best. Show them the connection.

If a Black kid from the hood can identify himself with his ancestors who introduced civilization to other parts of the world, invented thousands of things (most of which were stolen by white slave owners then taken to the patent office), ruled empires, etc etc that he would be more inclined to keep up that tradition. Most Black kids in america actually don't feel like they ought to nor like they actually can outside of sports/music which is by design (protocols of zion) and sad!

This is why I said the teachings and learning of ancient African history are first and foremost of importance. Teaching them about starting another Black Wall street like tulsa, oklahoma does no good if the child does not understand truly why white racists chose to burn it down which goes back to African, lack of melanin, hatred, etc. It's hard to stray away from history like that man is my point.

This is a great point. What people will always talk about is how Black Wallstreet was burned to the ground by jealous whites as a reason not to build something, but what people forget is that they rebuilt Tulsa. They got a loan and rebuilt the church, which was the pillar to that community. The community ultimately failed becasue integration destroyed the black economic base. We lost our competitive advantage and the black dollar no longer went to black businesses.

Without studying history we wouldn't even know about Black Wall Street. We wouldn't even know this type of thing was possible. This is why us having knowledge of self is so important. We need to establish a cultural identity. We must have some cultural continuity that binds us our African roots. Otherwise we're lost. We have no guidance or an example to follow.

 

[iamjusayn]

This is a great point. What people will always talk about is how Black Wallstreet was burned to the ground by jealous whites as a reason not to build something, but what people forget is that they rebuilt Tulsa. They got a loan and rebuilt the church, which was the pillar to that community. The community ultimately failed becasue integration destroyed the black economic base. We lost our competitive advantage and the black dollar no longer went to black businesses.

Without studying history we wouldn't even know about Black Wall Street. We wouldn't even know this type of thing was possible. This is why us having knowledge of self is so important. We need to establish a cultural identity. We must have some cultural continuity that binds us our African roots. Otherwise we're lost. We have no guidance or an example to follow.

I agree. Ancient African history pretty much holds no weight against BET unless we rewire their minds, starting with education of their ancient African history.

Yall be good though because I can sense this is all falling on deaf ears.

/G\

 

[am1x90xnike]

Well...as a black kid from the hood, who was forced with that Africa talk down his throat, I can tell you, we identify more with Jay-z than we do some random king in Africa. I can tell you, I drew more pride from my Grandmother struggling through school while raising six kids (two of whom weren't hers). That is where we ought to draw all our mentality from. I'm over Africa, I've learned about as much as I need, always open to learning more but it's not a priority. Dre does more for the kids in Compton than some king, a king that ain't got no J's. Go out in the hood, read them one of those Africa passages, and then read them some lyrics from Outkast, "we were once kings" or "get up get out and get something" which you think has more of an effect? I can dig learning about Africa, but attempting to draw everything we are from them is disrespectful to all those who actually made us, from the Soujourner Truths to the P. Diddy's. These were people of action, you ain't catch Tubman sitting around "we were kings" she was on her "***** come on, we getting the **** up outta here" steeze.

Honestly, I'm not seeing the point of all this Africa talk, they ain't us, they don't share the same morals, they don't share the same history, over half of us have european heritiage, but none of ya'll are talking that "these light skin brothers need to learn about their Irish heritage"

Ya'll are creating this racial identity crisis. Me, and every kid from my block, know exactly who we are, it's you smart brothas that struggle with identity. Personally, outside of all the education I have, I'm a hustla, I have a friend with a college degree, he's a gangsta, I have other friend who are absolutely  comfortable in their own skin, I think thats something ya'll need to search for within yourselves, but while ya'll are looking, can ya'll actually help the kids in Chicago?