Sleeping Through A COVID-19 Ill Health Revolution

 by Kenny Anderson

"Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle." - Martin Luther King Jr.

I'm writing this post in remembrance and recognition of the great Black social reformer Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who was born today January 15, 1929.

The topic of this post addresses Black folks avoidance behavior 'ducking and dodging' the obvious need to radically change. My topic is based on a quote drawn from King's speech "Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution" where he stated:

"There are all too many people who in some great period of social change, fail to achieve the new mental outlooks that the new situation demands. There is nothing more tragic than to sleep through a revolution."

In writing this post on Black avoidance behavior I could have addressed 'politically' that we have been sleeping through a racist white right-wing backlash revolution that's been ever increasing since the election of the first Black president Barak Obama in 2008.

Indeed we've been avoiding dealing with the entirety of this racist white backlash and don't have a self-determination preparedness response agenda to deal with the full ramifications of it; by default our agenda is liberal dependency and fatalism.

I decided to address that for the most part as Black folks during a great period of change like the current COVID-19 pandemic we've been sleeping 'avoiding' dealing with the ramification of how COVID has tremendously rocked us super-disproportionately both physically, mentally, and in deadliness.

Black avoidance behavior is mental 'psychological' and it has tremendous ramifications that stifles problem-solving and prevents us from addressing our 'physical' massive chronic diseases medical preconditions that COVID has attacked and glaringly exposed.

When I first read King's words "sleeping through a revolution" years ago I immediately thought of sleeping as an avoidance coping mechanism to escape change. And for many-many of problem avoiding Black folks sleep is unfortunately the only freedom that they know.

In assessing Black avoidance coping it is a maladaptive form of coping in which our folks change their behavior to avoid thinking about our bad health conditions and the challenges of doing something to improve it.

Black avoidance coping is a quick fix but becomes more stressful and exacerbates stress making it chronic without helping us deal with the things 'risk factors' that are causing our bad health stress. Thus stress only piles up becoming problematic 'overwhelming' causing depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and over-religiosity.

Moreover Black avoidance coping causes a behavior of procrastination of constantly delaying to address our critical health issues that perpetuates stress. Regarding procrastination King said essentially waiting means you'll never do what's necessary 'required'; in other words Black folks we get sicker and die in our waiting-game.

Let us remember Black folks that Dr. King was against avoidance coping, King was a proponent of 'direct action' active-behavioral coping addressing problems directly! Yes Black folks regarding our health crisis avoidance coping is extremely 'irresponsible' contributing to enormous self-diseasing and self-mortality.

For sure Black folks our massive health problems require direct action now! We can no longer afford to be sleeping through this current pandemic exposing ill health revolution, lets us wake up and go to work now to heal and save ourselves!

Comrad George Jackson Addressing the Black Insecure Sensitive Ego

*Comrad George stated:

“It is always a job getting along with our friends and relatives. Establishing lasting and mutually rewarding relationships always calls for delicacy, sensitivity, and mainly suppression of the ego. One simply cannot say the first thing that comes to mind with no regard for the next person's ego problem. If I constantly say or do things that make the next person feel as if I am challenging his person, his capacity to reason, his standing as an individual, how can I ever hope to relate to him.

People the world over are not the same but those that we meet here in the U.S. are generally of a single type. By and large they are all fools, intellectual non-persons, emotional half-wits; status symbols, supervisory positions, and petty power motivate their every act. Personal, individual, financial success at any price is their social ethic, the only real standard upon which their conduct is built.

For us Blacks in particular this is a nightmare proposition. When this standard, this criterion for the measurement of individual merit and worth in this society is applied to us, measured against our standing or holdings, we cannot help but come out with a very low opinion of ourselves. From the womb to the tomb this plays in our minds. We are not worth more than the amount of capital we can raise. That is why you see Blacks pretending to be doing all right. That is why a Black man will buy a new car (status symbol) before he will buy food for his child or clothes for his wife.

And again with Blacks this whole thing goes even deeper. No man or group of men have been more denuded of their self-respect, none in history have been more terrorized, suppressed, repressed, and denied male expression than the U.S. Black.”

Black Men: I’m My Own Man?

 by Kenny Anderson

Recently I watched an interview with Freeway Ricky Ross a key point person ‘major Black drug dealer’ in the CIA geo-political drug trafficking operation of massive 'crack' cocaine profits funding arms to the Nicaraguan Contras ‘Iran-Contra Affair’.

During the interview Ross was asked when he was in prison what was the difference between Black and Mexican gangs? Ross said Black gangs were a lot less effective than Mexican gangs. Ross said that Black gangs were loosely organized, no real structure or leadership; that most gang members were individualists ‘I’m my own man’.

In contrast Ross said Mexican gangs were highly organized with a leadership structure; they operated as a unit of we are Mexican men! While I was listening to the interview with Ross, I reflected back on my experience providing Male Responsibility Development service to school-age Black boys (K-12) and to Black men in prison.

From elementary to the penitentiary I often heard “nigga you aint my daddy.” From my perspective this sentiment of “You aint my daddy” I raised myself results in “I’m my own man” that’s based in part on the tremendous numbers of Black boys who’ve grown-up decades fatherless resulting in feelings of insecurity, bitterness, and resentment towards older Black males ‘father figures’ that remain as ‘child within issues’ in adulthood.

The Fatherless Resentment Syndrome (FRS) coupled with significant socialized Black-on-Black male distrust undermines Black men’s objective need to be organized as a super-oppressed gender in America. These undermining ‘disorganizing’ factors is why ‘organized’ Arab, Asians, and East Indian men dominate Black communities economically.

Black Men, if we keep it 1000 we are limited of what we can do ‘accomplish’ just being only I’m my own man in the face of organized non-Black male oppressors and exploiters. Facing organized odds alone saying I’m my own man sounds confident, however underneath these words a sense of incapability and insecurity is there.

Black men when its all said and done 'bottom-line' the individualist notion I'm my own man is bullshit socioeconomically in the fact that as a race of men we lack the power in this country to control our own lives; we don't control 'provisions' and 'protections'!!

As long as we continue to be our own be all-end all individual ‘I’m my own man’ we will continue to be a bunch of disorganized individuals ‘I’m my own man’ who will remain oppressed and exploited by non-Black male organized groups.

Indeed, until we as Black men mature to a sense of group Black manhood, just being individually I’m my own man only ‘do me’ is why we will keep ‘getting done in’ collectively.

A Black Mother's Advise About Raising Black Sons

Black mother's advise to Black mothers to advise their Black sons growing-up in institutional racist America where they are the #1 'targets' of oppression.

As a Black Man Reflecting Back on Some Insightful Songs That Influenced my Consciousness

by Kenny Anderson

“Music speaks to all, it's so dear to us; music makes us think” – Gary Bartz

As a Black man I came of age in the middle 1960’s and the 1970’s, during this period I was heavily influenced by Malcolm X, Dr. King, SNCC, George Jackson, and the Black Panther Party.

My growing Black consciousness during this period was not only influenced musically by the specific freedom songs of the movement but also in general by the following insightful songs:

*Listening often to Earth, Wind & Fire’s song “Keep Your Head to the Sky” I learned to be inspired ‘stay-up’, to have self-confidence in ‘rising above’ adversities; to see ‘beyond’ my circumstances:

“Step right up, be a man

you need faith to understand,

So we're saying for you to hear

Keep your head in faith's atmosphere.”

*Listening often to Earth, Wind & Fire’s song “All About Love” I learned about ‘inner and outer’ behavior; about understanding one’s ‘higher-self’ genuineness versus one’s superficial ‘fake and tripping’ self:

“You know, for instance we study all kinds

of sciences, astrology, mysticism, world

religion, so forth you dig!

And like coming from hip place all these things help because it gives you insight into your inner self - have mercy! Now there's an outer self we got to deal with,

you know the one that likes to go to parties, one that likes to dress up and be cool

and look pretty on ego-trips and all this.”

*Listening often to Teddy Pendergrass’s song “You Can’t Hide From Yourself” I learned about facing ‘confronting’ your personal problems straight-up; ‘being responsible and accountable’ because there is no escaping them; that running ‘escapism’ from oneself is ‘futile and irresponsible’ only resulting in a weak character:

“You can't hide, you can't hide

Look in the mirror, there you are

Walking down the street, well

Look in the store window, there you

There you are, you can't hide no, no, no

You may run, no, but you can't hide

You can't hide brothers, you can't hide!”

*Listening often to Gil Scott Herron’s (GSH) song “The Bottle” highlighted to me making me much more aware of the consequences of alcoholism on Black men:

“See that Black boy over there running' scared

His old man got a problem, he pawned

off damn near everything, sold his old woman's wedding' ring for a bottle.”

*Listening often to Gil Scott Herron’s song “Pieces of a Man” made me want to ‘analyze’ deeply know how white supremacy psychologically broke so many Black men down ‘fragmenting and debasing’:

“I saw my daddy meet the mailman

And I heard the mailman say

"Now don't you take this letter to heart now, Jimmy

Cause they've laid off nine others today"

But he didn't know what he was saying

He could hardly understand

That he was only talking to

Pieces of a man.”

*Listening often to the Temptation’s song “Message to a Black Man” enhanced my sense of wanting to pursue assertive Black manhood; that you must be ‘demanding’ having a sense of boldness toward racial oppression:

“Think about it,

I have wants and desires,

just like you.

So move on the side,

'Cause I'm coming' through! No matter how hard you try,

You can't stop me now.”

*Listening often to McFadden & Whitehead’s song “Aint No Stoppin Us Now” became a personal motivational remembrance theme for me; a daily reminder to be determined and persistent ‘keep it moving’; ‘resistance mantra’ of no acceptance and no excuses:

“I know you'll refuse to be held down anymore!

Don't you let nothing, nothing

Stand in your way!

I want ya'll to listen, listen to every word say, every word I say!

Ain't No Stoppin Us Now!”

The music I’ve highlighted have been singing books for me for well over 40 years, I’ve never stopped listening to these songs; they provide a music sanctuary in the midst of ‘kill-kill/booty-licious’ asshole eating Rap and R&B along with so many of my peers back down memory lane 'oldie but goody' music focus only on ‘love-love’ panacea relationship songs.

What happened to listening to music that makes us think, that gives us insight to self-improve?

Black Male Slave Archetypes Enduring Behavioral Influence

by Kenny Anderson

Black men in our African forefathers native lands they were born and socialized to be proud, free, and independent – never to be slaves! When our African male Ancestors were enslaved white male supremacists plantation owners knew that to maximize their control and labor exploitation they had to place specific emphasis on emasculating and distorting captured African men psychologically.

The best way to control enslaved African male slaves was a consistent topic of conversations among slave owners and Southern magazines providing advice on how to manage, handle, discipline, and break Black male slaves. Indeed many enslaved African males rebelled, more ran away, and most often slowed down on the job, avoided work, deliberately broke tools, or pretended not to understand commands.

These forms of slave resistance presented a real problem and ever present danger for the white male masters. These plantation owners realized they had to breakdown ‘destroy’ a sense of Afrikan male ‘psycho-cultural archetypes’ of manhood that would inspire them to resist ‘rebel’; that they had to forcibly instill subservient and self-defeating ‘slave nigga male archetypes’ in them.

For example our enslaved Yoruba African forefathers sense of manhood prior to enslavement came from their spirituality known as ‘Ifa’ and embodied in male archetypes known as ‘Orishas’; the following are some Orisha archetypes:

*Kokou - a violent warrior

*Ògún - presides over iron, fire, hunting, politics, and war

*Shango – represents thunder, lightning, and avenging over wrongdoing

*Ọbàtálá - represents light, spiritual purity, wisdom, and moral uprightness

Enduring Slave Archetypes

Psychologically an ‘Archetype’ is a pattern of behavioral traits that become the model of which all things of the same type is replicated. The following are the original Slave Nigga Male Archetypes that are socialized, perpetuated ‘replicated’ in Black men to this day:

*Buffoon – Were enslaved Black males who were reduced to acting dumb, stupid, and unintelligent; they were jokesters too laughing all the time to make light of their enslavement. This archetype tradition is carried on today by too many Black males who are ignorant and always got something funny to say; never taking life serious as if being a Black man in racist America is a joke!

*Fiddler – Were enslaved Black males who entertained their white male plantation owners musically. This archetype tradition is carried on today by too many Black male Rappers who entertain their majority white fan base with kill other Black men rap lyrics.

*Slickster – In Africa they were known as ‘tricksters’ who were entertainers, teachers, healers, and sages, however on the plantation they often became enslaved Black males who tricked ‘slicked’ manipulated other slaves with superstitious subterfuge. Today we have too many Black males continuing this archetype tradition of constantly running game, scheming, con-games ‘deception’ trying to get paid.

*Studs – Were reduced to sex breeders ‘baby makers’ producing more and more slaves; today too many Black males continue this archetype tradition by womanizing and leaving massive numbers of Black children fatherless and poverty stricken with no support prone to many socioeconomic maladies.

*Mandigos – Were enslaved male boxers who fought each other viciously at the behest of their plantation owners who waged bets on the winner. Today too many Black males continue this archetype tradition by violently fighting, attacking, and murdering each other.

*Uncles – Were loyal butlers ‘gatekeepers’ who promoted, articulated, and protected the white male slave masters interests; they were the original sellouts and opportunists “House Negroes” as Malcolm X referred to them. Yes we have too many Black males who today continue the archetype of gatekeepers who use their leadership ‘broker’ influence to convey ‘political correctness’; gatekeeping for their own self-promotion/self-serving political and economic interests ‘agendas’.

*Cotton-Pickers – Were enslaved males who were reduced to only identifying with their labor; today too many Black males carry on this archetype tradition being preoccupied always talking about their jobs, services, and what their company produces – ‘I am solely what I do, provide, and buy’. They never identify with their own job of being self-determined!

*Preacher Man – Were enslaved Black males who were selected with privileges to convert, pacify, control, and justify theologically Black enslavement by white male supremacy through Christian preaching and prayer:

“I have just shown you the chief duties you owe to your great master in heaven. I will now tell you your duties to your Masters and Mistresses here upon earth. You must have one rule that you must always have in your minds that is - serve your master as if he were GOD himself. Poor creatures! You don’t consider that when you are idle and neglect your master’s business, and whatever faults you are guilty of - these are faults against God himself. If you steal from your master, you are stealing from God himself. If you tell lies to your master, you are telling lies to God himself. When you steal and waste your Masters’ goods, when you are saucy and wise, when you are stubborn or sullen, you are sinning not only against your master, but also against your master in Heaven.”

Yes too many Black men carry on this archetype tradition today of using the Bible to tell us to forgive racist murderers and as a religious tool to emotionally manipulate the Black masses to enrich themselves.

*Moonshiners – Were enslaved males who secretly at night distilled liquor to make what they referred to as ‘happy drink’ that made them feel good after grueling ‘back breaking’ plantation work. Today in Black communities there are liquor stores on every corner selling Black men the happy drink; too many Black men carry on this archetype tradition of drinking alcohol as a coping-mechanism on the neo-urban plantations; today moonshining would include Black men who grow or purchase marijuana to smoke every day to self-medicate themselves.

*Tattle-Tellers – Were enslaved Black males who told the white male plantation owners anything that was a threat to his control; today too many Black men carry on this archetype tradition being informants and agent provocateurs.

Black men we must realize and accept the legacy of slavery still continues psychologically in our minds through Black Male Slave Archetypes that prevents us from being truly free as Dr. King told Black men that we can never be really physically free until we become psychologically free stating:

“As long as the mind is enslaved, the body can never be free. Psychological freedom, a firm sense of self-esteem, is the most powerful weapon against the long night of physical slavery. No Lincolnian emancipation proclamation or Johnsonian civil rights bill can totally bring this kind of freedom. The Negro will only be free when he reaches down to the inner depths of his own being and signs with the pen and ink of assertive manhood his own emancipation proclamation.”

Black men breaking the psychological shackles of the Black Male Slave Archetypes is an ongoing inner-emancipation practice of mindfulness to identify, to understand, to check, and to rid ourselves of these slave archetypes that are subconsciously driving our behavior due to their deep-seatedness and reinforcement.

Black Men Sharing a Self-Reflection For Us to Think About

 by Kenny Anderson

As a practice I engage in reflection that entails both specific developmental self-reflection and general memory reflections.

Regarding the later I often reflect on 2 critical points older Brothers highlighted to me when I was a young teenager.

First, I remember older Brothers schooling us Black male youngsters telling us to never say we didn’t have work to do or that in the future stating we’re unemployed.

Their point to us was that how can Black folks be out of work when we suffer from racial oppression and there is so much full-time freedom 'self-determination' work to be done!

That as young Brothers we can always ‘should’ volunteer to better the Black community and we can always ‘must’ engage in personal development ‘self-work’ to become responsible, build character, and increase capabilities.

Second, when we departed from these older conscientious Brothers they would say “take good care of y’all selves young bloods,” their departing encouragement was more than about safety and fitness, it had an implied emphasis point for us not to engage in dumb shit and recklessness ‘self-harm’.

I want to cite this about self-care and Black men, in keenly observing us for many-many years; I’ve seen that too many of us don’t take care of ourselves including self-abuse; too many of us take care of material things more than our own health resulting in disproportionate illnesses and suffering.

As Black men too many of us live 7 days a week living in a rush working, raising families, or hustling in the streets to adequately take care of ourselves. Psychologically, subconsciously too many of us as Black men don’t believe we are worthy of self-care.

Indeed from then and now ‘self-work’ and ‘self-care’ are critical points of practice in Black self-determination that prevents irresponsibility, dependency, neglect, decline, deprivation, disease, and premature deaths.