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Re: By Your Works--not color
Posted By: starshyne In Response To: By Your Works--not color (Ras C. Liontree)
Date: Sunday, 25 December 2005, at 4:16 p.m.
Greetings Christopher,
Well Ayinde said quite rightly and eloquently alot of what I am also feeling. Excuse me if some of this is repeat questions, ideas...I have learned much by listening to Ayinde.
I said it would be nice to hear from “your African Empress” because I am taking from what you said that this is endeavors that you both work at, so I am questioning why she hasn’t from time to time came on here to present the works to the community. I really feel that more black women need to be in the position of leading. Ayinde is right in stating that she could have very valid reasons not to be posting on here. I am sorry if I was wrongfully offensive.
Thank you for the invitation to call/phone number, but why I am raising these questions to you and your family on a public forum is to talk about the works and rightful order of doing, so we can all learn and grow along with the many others on this board. I generally only come on the board to talk this one issue, white supremacy/racism, so I can firm up and learn more, thus being better armed in my day to day...when examining it, it is clear to see how subtle and intrinsically intertwined this white superiority complex is...to be working towards any kind of justice in the world, one has to be honest... there is enough work within one’s self.
You said it would be nice if there was someone who was black to answer the call. Are you sure there is not a black person to answer the call? What steps did you make to check if there was not before you took on the duty yourself? Why do you feel there is not a black person ready and able? Also what possible factors of the society in which we live contribute to this? You being one able and ready, while a black person possibly not able and ready?
You said that you don’t teach black self-determination, but live it. Interesting, I never heard of a white man living black self-determination? While it is true that “countenance”, works and heart can serve as an example for others, I feel it is important to realize that as white people we are not the ones to be teaching blacks self-determination, from the simple fact, that we don’t have the experience.
You went on to elaborate about your works in the prison, like I said…I feel there is nothing wrong with providing resources, materials, connections, etc...I was questioning more so you taking a leadership position, head Rastafari Chaplin, and designing a Rastafari Curriculum? Have you received black rasta’s input about what the curriculum guide entails? How do you decide what is correct Rastafari resources? Once again, how come you, a white man, have the relative breathing room, time and resources, to do the “works”?
Did you have black teachers and leaders that you learned about rasta from? Could they be possibly ready and able to take the lead in the “works” you do?
You asked me:
“How is it that white Quakers could play a role in the Underground Railroad?”
I feel that you answered the question for me when you said:
“The ones who chose to do that had to step up to organize money, food, clothes, transportation, and safe houses while risking their life by listening to their heart and conscience.”
They did what’s right. Why do we whites feel we need to be commended to doing what is only just? This serves us whites again with a prime example of how we feel that “principles” of life radiate out from us.
This reminds me of our white charity. In the west, charity means to go above and beyond “the call of duty”. It is consider by us whites as something “extra” we do….
We are not condemned if we don’t do it, our society doesn’t require us to, and we are free to horde resources and freedom…that is the “independent” and self centered vibe of the west. So to us whites being just in our day to day is a choice we feel we have the right to make…and if one of us does do so, we are considered to be doing extra.
The Quakers broke the law…a false and unjust law...standing for truth and right is its own reward. Once again why were the Quakers free, why did they have the food, transportation, money etc…at their disposal to organize?
Charity, donations, fundraising, and contributions needs to be considered paid as reparations by us whites.
You also said:
”...If they got stuck in saying wait I am white so therefore should not step up with action...”
I am surely not saying that whites should not step up to action…whites do need to step up into action…and that does begin within one’s self. We whites are generally quick to take on a missionary type of role, where we claim to be about being of good heart and acting in the best interest of the people.
The arrogance and ignorance we whites are reared in is very ingrained. Do you feel you are free of this white mind set? If so, how did you go about doing it?
I am not looking for your answers to serve me. I am looking for the true and right answers to spend my life in service of, this is an ongoing work…I could never feel like I have arrived, not UNTIL white supremacy is downstroyed.
You talking about my position of volatility is interesting. I am so, because I am uncomfortable in this society…I am uncomfortable with the fact that I have been given ranking status in this white supremist patriarchal society…I think that me talking this to you and not patting you on the back like many others I am sure do…makes me come across to you as volatile, because to really honestly face these hard questions and reality it is uncomfortable to us, it is volatile to the ingrained constructs we whites have in our brains.
This is not about being PC…or dogmatically correct. This is about being honest about where Jah bore you in this day and time. Looking at one’s life and what it means in the context of the world. To say that facing white supremacy/racism and sighting how we whites are not the ones in a position to lead…is not about “politically correct dogma”. That is reminiscent to me when other whites like to start hooting and hollering that whites addressing reparations and racial justice are just doing so because we are just full of white shame and guilt. When it is all about a blatant acknowledgement and action based in reality and responsibility.
Yes, I do pay money where it’s due.
Truth and Right.
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