"The n-word: "War on Blackness"

Israel mayor calls Black basketball players ‘niggers’ – http://splashurl.com/q4uuk95

 “The n-word: War On Blackness” 

This Israeli Mayor's remarks are a reminder for those who believe in the "post-racial" myth to rethink their false notion. A leader comfortably spouted a venomous word publicly and apologized only because of the negative press. Is a post-racial world filled with hate speech? When did "foreign" players and "n-word" players become synonymous?

For the record, I believe the n-word is polarizing regardless who uses it.

While I am not surprised by the Mayor’s choice of words, his choosing the word should give pause to all, that one (first-time) Black United States President does not equal the end of racism. It’s high time we open our hearts and realize more than residue remains from a corrosive and painful history.

Selective memory distorts the perception of a distant past and perverts understanding of present realities. I say this in light of slavery – enslavement – those of Jewish and African descent know all too well the perils of oppression:

“He (King of Egypt) said to his people, “Look, the people of Israel now outnumber us and are stronger than we are. We must make a plan to keep them from growing even more. . .So the Egyptians made the Israelites their slaves. They appointed brutal slave drivers over them, hoping to wear them down with crushing labor…” Exodus 1:9-11

Thus, it’s puzzling to hear convulsive language from a leader who could have demonstrated an empathetic view based on similar experiences of ancestral oppression.  In 2014, how can a leader utter the n-word publicly or privately to describe a people group? It's a wake-up call that the world and America still devalues people of African ancestry.

Every day those who wear Black skin are painfully aware of racial politics...Racialization is a common experience for people of color; both subtle and overt, serving notice that others view them as "less than". Whether in the public, corporate or religious square – whether coded or directly communicated it is clear that darker hued people are still viewed as "less than" worthy of full status as human beings. African-Americans and all people groups would do well to consider what Dr. Na'im Akbar refers to as the "psychological chains of slavery" reminding us there is a deeply rooted hatred for "Blackness" in the subconscious of all people stemming from the traumatic and systematic enslavement of African people.

Consider this, soldiers are taught to destroy their enemy. Soldiers aren't encouraged to view people (enemies) as God created beings with families who share their same goals for survival and making life better for loved ones. No, the soldier is instructed, there are people groups who threaten their way of life and “we must execute a plan to keep them from growing even more”. Whether this is true or not, soldiers enter into war with a psychology or mindset that their enemy is "less than" and unworthy of living, enabling them to kill their enemy.

Slavery, segregation and racism utilizes the same tactics and throughout the world because of colonialism, people with African ancestry ("Blackness") are viewed as the enemy. There is a deep-seated hatred of Blackness within the psyche of the colonized world from both non-Blacks and people of color which informs the senseless, insensitive and willful acts of destruction (war) toward Blackness. Once an enemy is identified/marked, justifying their murder and marginalization is no longer necessary.

Hence, Israeli Mayor Motti Sasson can remark without fear of retribution, “If you want to watch niggers, you have the NBA for that”. Similarly, for the same reasons non-Blacks are emboldened to stand their ground, shooting and killing unarmed Black young men. Furthermore, some Blacks like their non-Black counterparts share the same pathological view of Blackness seeing other Blacks as their enemy who are unworthy of living commit heinous crimes against one another.

The n-word is a mere symptom of the deeper malady, oppression and racism, whose fundamental tenet is the extinction of Blackness. The tentacles of slavery (colonialism) enfold the hearts and minds of innumerable people, thereby advancing the war on Blackness. Until non-Blacks abandon the assault on Blackness and desist from identifying Blacks as the enemy - racial slurs, oppression and murder will be a scourge haunting every aspect of life. Likewise, until Blacks are deprogrammed from self-loathing and negative self-concepts communities will continue to implode and rage will be directed toward other Blacks.  

If our goal is to end racism, slavery and war on Blackness, good-willed people “must make a plan to keep evil and purveyors of oppression from growing even more”. The solution/remedy and Hope is love and unity. . .Love sounds feeble and sentimental but when enacted, love is revolutionary.  In his book, Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?, Martin Luther King Jr. states in the chapter titled, “The World House”:

“Our hope for creative living in this world house that we have inherited lies in our ability to  re-establish the moral ends of our lives in personal character and social justice. Without this spiritual and moral reawakening we shall destroy ourselves. . .This call for a world-wide fellowship that lifts neighborly concern beyond one’s tribe, race, class and nation is in reality a call for an all-embracing and unconditional love for all men (people). This often misunderstood and misinterpreted concept has now become an absolute necessity for the survival of man(kind).”

The n-word will continue to rear its head, until there is an end to slavery, oppression, racism and the war on Blackness which begs the question for good-willed people:

“Will you make and execute a plan to end the war on Blackness?”

 Inspired By Love,

Marcus J. Singleton

Lead  Pastor

Living Faith Community

Hoover, AL

Our Vision: "A diverse community of faith, inspired by the love the of Jesus, committed to becoming and making disciples".