As a conservative, I’m told I don’t understand the “Black Community”. Many Blacks talk about the “Black Community” but cannot define what the Black Community is. Similar to Matt Walsh, asking “What is a Woman?”, I am asking, “What is the Black Community?”, and what qualifies you to be a member?
Aug 30, 2023·edited Aug 30, 2023Liked by Cecil A. Grant Jr
Yes! You're reading my mind. Our ancestors would be turning in their graves if they saw what we have allowed ourselves to become. 60 years after the March on Washington and we have devolved. We had more respect for ourselves 60 years ago when we had significantly less opportunity, less education and fewer resources. What really bothers me is the older generation. They are no longer leading and are instead poor examples to follow. Where are our well-dressed grandmothers who wouldn't be caught dead with a bonnet or nightgown outside of the house? We are black Americans who have come so far. I remember when we had something to emulate. Those of us who remember, have to take the community back. I may be a conservative, I am not a victim. I am an inner city, fire hydrant open in the summer, penny candy, all-day salon Saturday, big mama having, Def Comedy Jam loving, hip hop head, clean sneaker wearing, church hat and Sunday-best BLACK woman. This is my community and I will hold my head high, recalling the intelligence of Angelou, the ground-breaking of Dr. Ben Carson, the Olympic dominating Carl Lewis and singing Lift Every Voice and Sing that we all learned alongside The Star Spangled Banner, not in place of it.
It is sad how we allow ourselves to be used as pawns. The color of our skin is now more important than the content of our character. MLK is sad as he looks at us embrace the backsliding of black americans. Check out my podcast "Changing the Narrative with Cecil Grant Jr." where I address these issues and more. Thank you for your comment.
What is the Black community? What is the White community? What is the Asian community?
How many thousands of news stories have we seen in the last half century that referenced Black or African American “leaders” who the journalists tell us were speaking on behalf of the entire “community?” Who are these leaders politicians and journalists so confidently anoint as the authorities of Blackness?
I’m white and old I’ll be damned if I can think of a white “leader” that spoke on my behalf or my “community” whatever the hell that might be. I thought we were trying to move away from this type of generalizing but it’s just another form of stereotyping dressed up as something else.
Thank you for sharing your positive analysis on the potential of the black community. I agree that education, a strong work ethic, and religious morals are all key to success. Emulating the leadership skills of great role models like Martin Luther King, Ben Carson, Thomas Sowell, Clarence Thomas, Marie Angelou etc. will provide a foundation for positive change.
I’ve encountered two groups of folks who have strong, tribalistic opinions about black community...MLK fit into neither...those who have given up all hope of integration and upper middle class blacks desperate to find meaning in an identity that has yielded sporadic or frequent stigma rendering them less than equal to their white peers. I sympathize with both reactions...but communities of rejection and resentment don’t function...
I don't call it 'the black community', I call it 'the black monolith'.
Ask enough black Americans in the working class, middle class, the affluent and the wealthy and you will always find similar tales of evangelism that endeavor to save those one class beneath us. This is the black American dream within the American dream. For most of our history here, I am bold to say we never expected that anyone else would have a desire to take up such a burden. I have mentioned before that black culture embraces that collection of social strategies and tactics, the Greenbook roadmaps to success. So what you listen for is those who seek to keep marching until victory is won. Or you listen for those who have decided this burden will never be raised and have given up all hope. Somewhere along that spectrum of the desire for racial uplift are the boundaries of the monolith.
I say the black monolith is composed of those marching on in solidarity with those others, the lesser of our brothers who exhibit for whatever reason those desperate dysfunctions, faults & frailties of the eternal emblematic uncles, poor cousins and disrespected of America. It is to this evangelical beat of waking up for which ‘allies’ are sought and bona fides granted for that great mission with all of its promise and potential. Who could resist such a calling? The talismans of this ambition fits very comfortably in the various pockets of International Marxism, of liberation theology, of ethnic nationalism, of community outreach, of Affirmative Action, of Keynesian economics, of Progressive politics and of course the new Woke Religion.
Black Americans suffer like any other human beings, but the very success of the creation of blackness makes that suffering especially poignant and symbolic of the moral aims of humanism.
It is only the ability to walk aside all of those enticements understanding the context of their creations that disambiguates that which is objectively ethical from a Enlightenment liberal humanist point of view from that which requires racial essentialism to put some special hot sauce on the same calories. Black Americans tell on themselves when they emphasize their flavor. The monolith exists to the extent that those in possession of cultural roadmaps do not generalize its wisdom and only seek a racially restricted application of its benefits, as if jazz music should only be heard by blacks.
As a white onlooker I continue to see modern day “black community” invoked in a way that puts black Americans in a box as to tell them they bear some sort of burden over actions of other black people. E.g. “they don’t represent the black community. You’re an embarrassment to the black community. Can’t call yourself a black man. You’re not black…”
I don’t see how this is compatible with individualism - values, rights, & duties originate in individuals.
Anne Wortham contemplated these ideas, “My father, after all, had lived 50 years by the time the 1964 Civil Rights Act was passed. What if he had decided not to actualize his human rights and the responsibilities they entail until the federal government recognized them in the form of civil rights? Suppose he had waited for a Jesse Jackson to tell him that he was "somebody"? What might have been the fate of his charge, me? What if my present individualism depended on a cultural climate in which being a black individualist would not be considered weird?”
“How would I develop my self-identity within the context of my membership and participation in the subcultures of the South and the black community? For individualism requires, not escape or release from the influences of family, class, community, or culture, but rational selection of the best influences.”
In Smithsonian Magazine they published an article on the Tulsa riots. In one paragraph, the writer admitted that business owners had begged Teddy Roosevelt to assist them as they feared those forming OK state. Nation Magazine heralded those forces as 'progressives.' It was an eye-opening read. But the more I reflected, the more it makes sense. I read a bio of Barbara Jordan. She reportedly studied not only the US Constitution but the state constitutions as well before voting to impeach Nixon. Dovey Roundtree Johnson's bio discusses her college experience. I think they studied Greek and Latin. Both women had strong fathers. I truly wonder if Black families were targeted for disintegration - by whom I can only suspect. I used to think of Black ministers decrying the abortion clinics in black neighborhoods as misogynists. Not anymore.
Terrific article, Mr. Grant. Your blurb states that you want to change the narrative regarding blacks in America, which is something we all should want to do. I've already tried by writing a book about it.
Please explain what external (i.e., not from other blacks) obstacles there are to opportunity.
I live in Washington DC, and here virtually every law and political decision--by both black and white politicians--is made with an eye toward encouraging blacks, or assisting blacks, or not offending blacks (e.g., declining to make arrests for shoplifting & fare-jumping). Black people are the *victims* of black criminals more often that whites are. Yes, the public education system is terrible, but liberals have run it since home rule was established in the 1970's. The conservative answer is more charter schools (technically "public" but allowed more leeway in administration). As for poverty, you are simply mistaken--poverty rates for blacks have been declining for decades, reaching an all-time low under President Trump (there's a ton of data for you to look up--here's one: https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2020/09/poverty-rates-for-blacks-and-hispanics-reached-historic-lows-in-2019.html).
Yes! You're reading my mind. Our ancestors would be turning in their graves if they saw what we have allowed ourselves to become. 60 years after the March on Washington and we have devolved. We had more respect for ourselves 60 years ago when we had significantly less opportunity, less education and fewer resources. What really bothers me is the older generation. They are no longer leading and are instead poor examples to follow. Where are our well-dressed grandmothers who wouldn't be caught dead with a bonnet or nightgown outside of the house? We are black Americans who have come so far. I remember when we had something to emulate. Those of us who remember, have to take the community back. I may be a conservative, I am not a victim. I am an inner city, fire hydrant open in the summer, penny candy, all-day salon Saturday, big mama having, Def Comedy Jam loving, hip hop head, clean sneaker wearing, church hat and Sunday-best BLACK woman. This is my community and I will hold my head high, recalling the intelligence of Angelou, the ground-breaking of Dr. Ben Carson, the Olympic dominating Carl Lewis and singing Lift Every Voice and Sing that we all learned alongside The Star Spangled Banner, not in place of it.
It is sad how we allow ourselves to be used as pawns. The color of our skin is now more important than the content of our character. MLK is sad as he looks at us embrace the backsliding of black americans. Check out my podcast "Changing the Narrative with Cecil Grant Jr." where I address these issues and more. Thank you for your comment.
What is the Black community? What is the White community? What is the Asian community?
How many thousands of news stories have we seen in the last half century that referenced Black or African American “leaders” who the journalists tell us were speaking on behalf of the entire “community?” Who are these leaders politicians and journalists so confidently anoint as the authorities of Blackness?
I’m white and old I’ll be damned if I can think of a white “leader” that spoke on my behalf or my “community” whatever the hell that might be. I thought we were trying to move away from this type of generalizing but it’s just another form of stereotyping dressed up as something else.
Thank you for sharing your positive analysis on the potential of the black community. I agree that education, a strong work ethic, and religious morals are all key to success. Emulating the leadership skills of great role models like Martin Luther King, Ben Carson, Thomas Sowell, Clarence Thomas, Marie Angelou etc. will provide a foundation for positive change.
I’ve encountered two groups of folks who have strong, tribalistic opinions about black community...MLK fit into neither...those who have given up all hope of integration and upper middle class blacks desperate to find meaning in an identity that has yielded sporadic or frequent stigma rendering them less than equal to their white peers. I sympathize with both reactions...but communities of rejection and resentment don’t function...
I don't call it 'the black community', I call it 'the black monolith'.
Ask enough black Americans in the working class, middle class, the affluent and the wealthy and you will always find similar tales of evangelism that endeavor to save those one class beneath us. This is the black American dream within the American dream. For most of our history here, I am bold to say we never expected that anyone else would have a desire to take up such a burden. I have mentioned before that black culture embraces that collection of social strategies and tactics, the Greenbook roadmaps to success. So what you listen for is those who seek to keep marching until victory is won. Or you listen for those who have decided this burden will never be raised and have given up all hope. Somewhere along that spectrum of the desire for racial uplift are the boundaries of the monolith.
I say the black monolith is composed of those marching on in solidarity with those others, the lesser of our brothers who exhibit for whatever reason those desperate dysfunctions, faults & frailties of the eternal emblematic uncles, poor cousins and disrespected of America. It is to this evangelical beat of waking up for which ‘allies’ are sought and bona fides granted for that great mission with all of its promise and potential. Who could resist such a calling? The talismans of this ambition fits very comfortably in the various pockets of International Marxism, of liberation theology, of ethnic nationalism, of community outreach, of Affirmative Action, of Keynesian economics, of Progressive politics and of course the new Woke Religion.
Black Americans suffer like any other human beings, but the very success of the creation of blackness makes that suffering especially poignant and symbolic of the moral aims of humanism.
It is only the ability to walk aside all of those enticements understanding the context of their creations that disambiguates that which is objectively ethical from a Enlightenment liberal humanist point of view from that which requires racial essentialism to put some special hot sauce on the same calories. Black Americans tell on themselves when they emphasize their flavor. The monolith exists to the extent that those in possession of cultural roadmaps do not generalize its wisdom and only seek a racially restricted application of its benefits, as if jazz music should only be heard by blacks.
https://mdcbowen.substack.com/p/all-us-so-called-blacks-part-one
As a white onlooker I continue to see modern day “black community” invoked in a way that puts black Americans in a box as to tell them they bear some sort of burden over actions of other black people. E.g. “they don’t represent the black community. You’re an embarrassment to the black community. Can’t call yourself a black man. You’re not black…”
I don’t see how this is compatible with individualism - values, rights, & duties originate in individuals.
Anne Wortham contemplated these ideas, “My father, after all, had lived 50 years by the time the 1964 Civil Rights Act was passed. What if he had decided not to actualize his human rights and the responsibilities they entail until the federal government recognized them in the form of civil rights? Suppose he had waited for a Jesse Jackson to tell him that he was "somebody"? What might have been the fate of his charge, me? What if my present individualism depended on a cultural climate in which being a black individualist would not be considered weird?”
“How would I develop my self-identity within the context of my membership and participation in the subcultures of the South and the black community? For individualism requires, not escape or release from the influences of family, class, community, or culture, but rational selection of the best influences.”
In Smithsonian Magazine they published an article on the Tulsa riots. In one paragraph, the writer admitted that business owners had begged Teddy Roosevelt to assist them as they feared those forming OK state. Nation Magazine heralded those forces as 'progressives.' It was an eye-opening read. But the more I reflected, the more it makes sense. I read a bio of Barbara Jordan. She reportedly studied not only the US Constitution but the state constitutions as well before voting to impeach Nixon. Dovey Roundtree Johnson's bio discusses her college experience. I think they studied Greek and Latin. Both women had strong fathers. I truly wonder if Black families were targeted for disintegration - by whom I can only suspect. I used to think of Black ministers decrying the abortion clinics in black neighborhoods as misogynists. Not anymore.
How did I miss this article you are correct we need new standards in the black community
Terrific article, Mr. Grant. Your blurb states that you want to change the narrative regarding blacks in America, which is something we all should want to do. I've already tried by writing a book about it.
smashwords.com/books/view/1184004
I'd be honored if you were interested in reading it and sharing your thoughts, good or bad. Keep up the good work, sir. ZL
Please explain what external (i.e., not from other blacks) obstacles there are to opportunity.
I live in Washington DC, and here virtually every law and political decision--by both black and white politicians--is made with an eye toward encouraging blacks, or assisting blacks, or not offending blacks (e.g., declining to make arrests for shoplifting & fare-jumping). Black people are the *victims* of black criminals more often that whites are. Yes, the public education system is terrible, but liberals have run it since home rule was established in the 1970's. The conservative answer is more charter schools (technically "public" but allowed more leeway in administration). As for poverty, you are simply mistaken--poverty rates for blacks have been declining for decades, reaching an all-time low under President Trump (there's a ton of data for you to look up--here's one: https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2020/09/poverty-rates-for-blacks-and-hispanics-reached-historic-lows-in-2019.html).