Black Community Conundrum: The Slippery Slope into Victimhood

It was the summer of 2020. Coronavirus was just starting its takeover, shortly before the mask mandates kicked in.

As a bread vendor, I was working at a store filling the bread on the lower shelves. This anonymous woman (who happened to be White) stopped as she was walking past me. Coming back, she leans down to speak to me and says, “You matter to me.” Quizzically, I replied, “um…thank-you… you matter to me too.”

Perhaps I was just so engrossed in what I was doing that it took me a few moments to realize… she was referring to the Black Lives Matter narrative.

I immediately felt deeply sorry for her. Now, I am aware that there are those I personally know of (who are Black) that would relish with a sense of pride in such a moment like that-but not me. I only thought of what a sad state our country arrived in if we now apologize over the “privilege” of one skin color, while promoting the preeminent importance of another. What happened to our understanding of that famous line in Dr. Martin Luther King’s iconic speech that says, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character?”

The State of the Union

Despite what many claim today, most of us know that the current state of our nation was not always this way. Back up a few years. No one was kneeling during the “Star-Spangled Banner.” No statues were being torn from their bases. Schools bearing the names of past leaders that owned slaves were not being renamed. Oh, and Aunt Jemima, Uncle Ben and Mrs. Butterworth were only guilty of sitting on the kitchen table- not for being examples of racism. It was during these years that many in ‘Black America’ not only bore witness to, but also were living examples of success.

The struggle is real.

Like any other race in America, blacks faced daily challenges such as unemployment, marital woes, and health issues- as well as familial concerns. Yet, on television in the 70’s, we experienced shows like “Good Times,” “Sanford and Son,” and What’s Happening,” giving us weekly reminders that despite their struggles and trials, they remained close.

By the way, the “N” word was commonplace in most of these programs and not considered offensive-even to those that were White!

In the 80’s however, everything seemed to change, for the better. Suddenly, we saw upwardly mobile black families, and blacks seeking and gaining success in shows like “Living Single”, “Family Matters,” and of course, the flagship of the genre, “The Cosby Show.”

Even with its spin-off, “A Different World” that came later, these programs reminded blacks that our success was only limited by our desire and arduous work. In addition, shows like “The Cosby Show” and “Family Matters” presented historical television anomalies: strong, solid black two-parent functioning families experiencing the
American dream, just like their white counterparts.

What was most notable about these depictions was that they were more than mere possibilities. In many cases, these American dreams were coming true; we were living them! Black America realized that we could not only do more; but, we could be more. We didn’t stop there. It was also during this time that Oprah Winfrey launched her Emmy award winning syndicated namesake, “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” and Robert L. Johnson famously founded the phenomenally successful Black Entertainment Television, or BET, while Vanessa Williams became the first Black Miss America.

The Soundtrack

When it came to music, Black artists were hugely successful as well, including Whitney Houston, Prince, Luther Vandross, many singing groups and of course, Michael Jackson-to name a few. Whatever genre you picked,
blacks were making and leaving their mark. From Rap to Hip Hop, from R&B to Jazz, Blacks were not only making and breaking records, but also executing style and class. Films boasted names like Denzel Washington, Alfre Woodard, Angela Basset, Samuel L. Jackson, Halle Berry, Wesley Snipes, Whoopie Goldberg, and again, Whitney
Houston.

With such powerful and legendary strides, it seemed that Black America would continue to take full advantage of an opportunity to go against the grain of its own narrative.

So, what happened?

As we look at the genres of what we consider the arena of black entertainment today, our present state pales in comparison to what was the standard only a few short years before (those over 40 know this). Most of our television shows echo either the dysfunctional or the victimized black family, with only mothers in (albeit questionable) leadership roles. In the cases where men are either the subject or merely present, most of their familial leadership roles are devalued, and they are poor examples of fathers, husbands, or men in general.

We are bombarded as well with “star” reality shows, where every 3rd word is bleeped (and the “church” reality shows bear little difference). In the area of music, we have fared nearly the same. Most of our music is either vile, hypersexual, crass, or so devoid of morals it is seemingly on purpose.

Who should we blame?

Ourselves. Well, more to the point, victimology.

After many years of echoing, promoting, and exemplifying positive roles and successes, we abdicated our well-earned societal status in lieu of victimology. Somewhere along the way, it seemed the black populace collectively decided that almost nothing that happened in our own lives is our own fault (insert societal challenge here).

Misery loves company, and no one is as miserable as a victim. Someone that feels that no matter what he/she does, he will never have what he is seeking because “they” will stop him.

Victimology, and those that propagate it, attempts to erase any hope or promise for the future by convincing
individuals that any success they achieve does not show how intelligent they are or how hard they worked, but rather that they beat the system.

On the flip side, victimology doesn’t not teach that failure is an opportunity to do it again. To try harder, to work harder, to persevere. Instead, their failure is a result of the same system. Victimology further focuses on the false narrative that the only way to be successful is to subvert White authority; in other words, “beat the white man at his game.” It also convinces those that have achieved success to either continue to regale your public on how “oppressed” you are, and/or selfishly hoard the secrets, rather than share your pathway to success. This unfortunately perpetuates the well-known “crab in a bucket” thought process that says: “If I can’t succeed, neither will you.”

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Heeding Limitations

Victimology promotes that no matter how far you go, you are forever limited by ‘systemic racism’, the theory that everything is “systematically” orchestrated to limit any black success. Despite the rhetoric and that narrative, Black America has endured and enjoyed immense success in every area of society, at nearly every point in history.

Even during the days of Jim Crow and Black codes, there has yet been much success on record in the Black
community, both professional and personal. Like any other ethnicity or group, Black America has thrived despite  the odds it has faced. In addition to this, our children been put in a unique position where the bold strides that so many have made have sufficiently set them up to succeed.

So, if the road has been paved, and so much of the work has already been done, what is the hinderance for success?

Good question. However, for many black Americans, there resides inside of them an entity that will perish when there is a strong mind, and flourish when there is a weak one. At the slightest opportunity, it springs into action, taking full advantage of the chance it has been given. It is for these reasons that certain individuals hold onto their trump card (no pun intended), regardless of personally achieved status.

Without this card, there is nothing left. Which card am I referring to? The race card. Sadly enough, for far too many, racial identity is their only identity. It is the one component they feel that makes them unique. These people believe that no matter what, if you take away their racial identity, nothing else sets them apart.

It’s as if the racial identity card is a living, breathing being with a mind and an appetite all its own.  It consumes all reason and common sense. And it lives deep within those that have not the strength to think for themselves. It ostracizes those that dare to refuse to be victims to social, even familial outcast status. Like zombies in a movie, they move in trance-like fashion toward any opportunity to use it. It is controlling. It is mind numbing and  singularly focused. Its thirst; unquenchable and hunger; insatiable. But tgfhe only power it holds is that which we give it.

So now what?

At seekingeducationalexcellence.org (SEE), success is not merely a goal. It is at the very core of who we are. We understand all too well how personal, familial, and even financial challenges can dictate the difference between success and failure. With the support and investment of thousands whose singular focus is removing obstacles and excuses, there is no reason that anyone who seeks educational excellence can’t achieve it.

Seeking Educational Excellence. Inspiration. Not indoctrination.

 

 

 

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