Black People Stick Together

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Permalink Reply by Ghettopunkrocker on November 27, 2009 at 6:28pm

Depends on how you look at it. I think we do stick together more than we think we do.

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Permalink Reply by PFunkJAzz on November 27, 2009 at 6:44pm

Got a bunch of Mexicans on my shift and we're out watching employees arrive for work. One guy goes careening down the lane almost hitting an approaching car.

I yell out "HEEEYY!!!"

The guy swerves; barely avoiding an accident. All the Mexican guys are silent. I stare at one of 'em with a "WTF!" look on my face. He says, "See brothers try to look out for each other, but a Mexican just waits for the accident to happen".

I laugh and say "Yeah so he can go gethis uncle from the autobody shop to come make the repair." They all laugh in agreement.

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Permalink Reply by Rage_Proletaire on November 28, 2009 at 4:34pm

Well, needless to say, I don’t have any statistics or any solid truth above refutation, but per my experiences, I’m certainly not convinced that “blacks stick together”. For the last year or so, I’ve believed that the ‘hood doesn’t respect me (or anybody, really), despite all the perpetually-trendy catchphrases about “respecting the ‘hood.” Your pirate ship analogy is perfect, or at least congruent with my worldview.

The Jena Six thing … I remember a few co-workers expressing pleasure at having something worth wearing on their shoulder like a chip (some of them believed they now had the perfect “excuse” to go out and be rude to as many whites as possible whilst making grocery; a rather pathetic strain of bloodlust) – I highly doubt the solidarity was genuine. Blacks (like every other human thing) are prone to accept the mob mentality like some kind of band-aid, as if reparations are at stake, no matter what the cause may be.

When I was in the ninth grade, much of my school stuck together to block this kid from launching a Gay-Straight Alliance club before he left for college. We called it a protest, but it was basically kids trying to get onto television, with picket signs and all manner of undiluted anti-gay sentiments expressed as having the blessing of our parents and stalwarts of "the respectable black community." So, when the principal likened the anti-gay mobbing to her brother being hosed down and bitten by cop dogs on the way to school (in the sixties), we all said that "the white people won" because the "gays won their club." For whatever reason, we thought our principal had "betrayed" the black community. People want to feel a part of something, no matter how baseless the cause. And these folk who think "we" stick together behind a race banner are deceiving themselves. The Jena Six shit was all about people getting their violent rocks off "vicariously", some perceived retribution against institutional racism. A farce, if you will.

I often times feel like I have to lose a little self-respect (and wear the deficiency like a banner), in order to be respected by many of my so-called race-mates, especially in the neighborhood. People want apologies for my skin shade, for being married to an attractive woman, for wanting to elevate myself and my family, for dreaming (even if I’m no more equipped to put those visions into action than the next man). And there always seems to be plenty of hate to go around – I’m definitely not alone in that boat.

Like Calvin said, misery definitely loves company. And I’ve been in too many absurd situations, with life and/or limb at stake, because somebody’s feelings have been hurt all their life, and they have to spread the disease. Black people certain like to complain together.

I remember some old head scolding me in a Circle K with, “Good morning, Black Man! See, we speak to each other, down here,” (he mistook me for a snooty, “high-yella” northerner since I passed him without any acknowledgment). And then I reminded him that there are no discernible commonalities between the two of us, other than that box we’d both check under “ethnicity”; I do love how certain types will pretend, and swear up and down, that we’re all out for each other. I’ve learned to operate in opposition to that fallacy, because it keeps me functional...

Grass is always greener, they say...

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Permalink Reply by Darkness Unlimited* on November 28, 2009 at 4:44pm

Well i can certainly tell you that i to was once "stupid & niave" a long time ago. You see, when i was still a kid i had the NERVE to actually think that Black people had [almost] an obligation to "stick together" & the reasons were more than obvious. We simply have soo many enemies! Most White people couldn't be trusted. Rich & old White people most definately were our enemies - them & there slave religion. WE simply don't have the coladeral to be low-down to each other in such thought-less, self-destructive ways. To ME atleast, it was such a given that WE "stick together; that's kinda how i felt waaay back then. So it took me years to get over why other young niggas MY age fucked with me so sevrely just b/c i was a Metalhead(i blame religion, ignorance, & hypocrisy). Still don't get it, but hey i'm at the point where i just don't give a fuck no more.

Since i've been soo soundly rejected by White people too, i've simply picked up allies where-ever i could find 'em - in small handfuls. I'm stll convinced that Black solidarity is a noble & priceless cause. But in large part it just doesn't happen. Not unless ours backs are against the wall atleast, but it certainly shouldn't have to take an distress situation like the "Jena 6". But the same could be said for liberalism as a whole, too.

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Permalink Reply by Rage_Proletaire on November 28, 2009 at 4:49pm

Darkness Unlimited* said:

So it took me years to get over why other young niggas MY age fuck with me so sevrely just b/c i was a Metalhead. Still don't get it, but hey i'm at the point where i just don't give a fuck no more.

Since i've been soo soundly rejected by White people too, i've simly pcked up allies where-ever i could find 'em - in small handfuls...

Co-sign.

Some might say said experiences are merely capable of "jading" people. I'd say such experiences help you stay awake.

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Permalink Reply by Darkness Unlimited* on November 28, 2009 at 4:56pm

Rage_Proletaire said:

Darkness Unlimited* said:

So it took me years to get over why other young niggas MY age fuck with me so sevrely just b/c i was a Metalhead. Still don't get it, but hey i'm at the point where i just don't give a fuck no more.

Since i've been soo soundly rejected by White people too, i've simly pcked up allies where-ever i could find 'em - in small handfuls...

Some might say said experiences are capable of "jading" people. I'd say such experiences keep you awake.

I'd say BOTH are extremely true!

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Permalink Reply by Rage_Proletaire on November 28, 2009 at 4:58pm

Darkness Unlimited* said:

Rage_Proletaire said:

Darkness Unlimited* said:

So it took me years to get over why other young niggas MY age fuck with me so sevrely just b/c i was a Metalhead. Still don't get it, but hey i'm at the point where i just don't give a fuck no more.

Since i've been soo soundly rejected by White people too, i've simly pcked up allies where-ever i could find 'em - in small handfuls...

Some might say said experiences are capable of "jading" people. I'd say such experiences keep you awake.

I'd say BOTH are extremely true!

Ah, touché...

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Permalink Reply by Darkness Unlimited* on November 28, 2009 at 5:02pm

Rage_Proletaire said:

Darkness Unlimited* said:

Rage_Proletaire said:

Darkness Unlimited* said:

So it took me years to get over why other young niggas MY age fuck with me so sevrely just b/c i was a Metalhead. Still don't get it, but hey i'm at the point where i just don't give a fuck no more.

Since i've been soo soundly rejected by White people too, i've simly pcked up allies where-ever i could find 'em - in small handfuls...

Some might say said experiences are capable of "jading" people. I'd say such experiences keep you awake.

I'd say BOTH are extremely true!

Ah, touché...

Ah`ight nigga, that's enough. Go away! You crampin' my style! lol

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Permalink Reply by Rage_Proletaire on November 28, 2009 at 5:08pm

Darkness Unlimited* said:

Rage_Proletaire said:

Darkness Unlimited* said:

Rage_Proletaire said:

Darkness Unlimited* said:

So it took me years to get over why other young niggas MY age fuck with me so sevrely just b/c i was a Metalhead. Still don't get it, but hey i'm at the point where i just don't give a fuck no more.

Since i've been soo soundly rejected by White people too, i've simly pcked up allies where-ever i could find 'em - in small handfuls...

Some might say said experiences are capable of "jading" people. I'd say such experiences keep you awake.

I'd say BOTH are extremely true!

Ah, touché...

Ah`ight nigga, that's enough. Go away! You crampin' my style! lol

lmao.

Ah, ya make me get carried away...

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Permalink Reply by Compound Egret on November 28, 2009 at 8:47pm

I think from the outside every group gives that appearance. There are varying amounts of unity within every group, but it seems like everyone's ideal is always far greater.

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Permalink Reply by blaqvenus on November 28, 2009 at 11:33pm

I agree. I think we stick together more than you think we do.

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Permalink Reply by Calvin Chaos on November 28, 2009 at 11:50pm

this is pretty much where I'm at too. I have always had high standards for friends so I just limit myself now that I'm older to a small group.

Rage_Proletaire said:

Darkness Unlimited* said:

So it took me years to get over why other young niggas MY age fuck with me so sevrely just b/c i was a Metalhead. Still don't get it, but hey i'm at the point where i just don't give a fuck no more.

Since i've been soo soundly rejected by White people too, i've simly pcked up allies where-ever i could find 'em - in small handfuls...

Co-sign.

Some might say said experiences are merely capable of "jading" people. I'd say such experiences help you stay awake.

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