BlackNationalism101Class#4 Popularizing Black Nationalism Part1

Black Nationalism 101 Textbooks: Ten Lessons: An Introduction to Black History and Not Dark White: The 411 on Black Nationalism

Instructor: Mba Mbulu

Class #4 [AudioVersion]

Read the Not Dark White Essay that follows. Be able to expound on the following issues.

(1) The essay begins with"We are Black People, We are not dark-skinned white people. We need a Nation of Our own." Is that statement important enough to be mentioned over and over again? Do you recognize the three premises in that statement?

(2) Do you think it is true that people develop according to the types of tasks they take on?

(3) Is there any evidence that new standards and new power realities are emerging?

(4) What does it mean to make Black Nationalism crystal clear in the minds and hearts of Black People?

(5) What does it mean to make Black People appreciate Black Nationalism and become aware of the need for Black Nationalism?

(6) What does the phrase "feel different power realities" mean?

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"Popularizing Black Nationalism" Part 1

We are Black People, We are not dark-skinned white people, and We need a Nation of Our own.

To be the best that We can be, We have to take on tasks that bring out the best in Us as a People. Individual endeavors and accomplishments are okay, but they can not produce the power foundation We need to effectively impress Our friends, enemies and neighbors. That is why We must take on tasks that bring out the best in Us as a People. It follows, then, that We can not continue to follow white America's leads; instead, We need to function in a manner that can eliminate Black People's feeble love relationships, broken families, weak community ties and destructive personal and interpersonal behaviors. To get ahead, We have to assume responsibilities that fully mature adults assume and work toward objectives that fully mature adults work toward. As long as We function within the white context, as white America's Tonto, We will not be able to set Our sights on the types of independent objectives that stretch beyond the boundaries of racism, encourage new modes of thinking and believing, revolve around different principles and result in the installation of new standards and the creation of new power realities.

Yes, these are the type activities We need to be involved in. In order to stop being America's sidekick, We need to start expressing Our nationalism, Our Black Nationalism. That is what normal people all over the world have done and continue to do. We need to do likewise. We need to take on the huge task of making Black Nationalism crystal clear in the minds and hearts of Black People. Black leaders, real Black leaders, must generate images that represent Our cultural, historical and political essence. Black educators, real Black educators, must teach from a Black perspective, about real Black history, Black sciences and arts, and essential Black contributions to the development of the modern world; and do so without the least degree of equivocation, apology to or undue respect for white people's teachings and feelings. And Black commercial leaders, real Black commercial leaders, must go about their business with the aim of helping to finance the processes through which Black leaders, educators and activists can carry out their duties, obligations and programs. Thus, leaders, educators and business persons who are concerned about the welfare of Black People will do all they can to accelerate Black People's thrust toward national awareness and political independence. Success for Us, individually and collectively, can only be viewed within that context.

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We must not only make Black People conscious of Black Nationalism, We must make them aware of the need for it. In many regards, Black Nationalism can be compared to breathing and eating, natural acts that are so critical that Nature will not allow persons to ignore them. Since Black Nationalism is about freedom and self determination, which are as critical to Our development as breathing and eating, Black People must be made to appreciate them to the fullest. We must realize that self-determination is to Our development what breathing and eating are to Our survival. Since We want to do much more than survive, We have to value Black Nationalism above all else.

I have been a student of human beings for as long as I can remember, and I am convinced that, as advanced as humans appear to be, it is amazing how underdeveloped humans actually are. For instance, humans are not always aware of what their true needs are. Since We, Black People, have been systematically underprovided for and disconnected from Our roots, it holds especially true for Us. Therefore, We need to be taught that Our spectrum of needs and expectations is much too small, that it behooves Us to demand more and more, that We should cherish ideas such as Black Nationalism and respect those individuals who help Us come to the realization that self-determination is a necessity, not an extravagance.

Additionally, humans are usually not aware of the most effective way to get things done. Even though human beings know how to perform a number of critical functions, humans rarely know how to perform those functions properly enough to receive maximum benefit from them. For example, few humans know how to perform such basic functions as breathing, eating or sleeping for maximum benefit. That is because humans have settled for what is provided by Nature. But Nature only provided humans with enough know-how to survive; to thrive, to receive maximum benefit, one has to dig deep, get an in-depth understanding and learn how to perform a function a more efficient way. That is what Black People must be taught. In order to get the maximum benefits from Our struggles and activities, We have to go beyond the age-old (white) choices, overcome the manner of thinking that limits Our options, identify Our strategic needs and determine the most efficient way, not the most admirable or least risky way, to address those needs.

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The business world dominates because it is composed of doers; individuals who look at a difficult situation, manage the odds and create an environment that is favorable to their profit making objectives. Black Nationalists must do likewise. In spite of whatever odds, We must teach Black individuals to appreciate different images, understand different ideologies and feel different power sensations. We have to nurture a taste for real freedom and real self determination, and convince Black individuals to rediscover their love for Blackness, true blue Blackness. If this involves touching modern day Black persons in ways they have not been touched before, and devising unorthodox strategies to help them overcome their inhibitions, then so be it! That is Our challenge!

Certainly, We must address that challenge until the results We need have been realized. We can do it, I know We can. Why? Because We are Black People.

We are Black People, We are not dark-skinned white people. We need a Nation of Our own..

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