This body shaming seems to be limited mainly to "Western" societies. In most of Africa, the "larger" women are considered the most "beautiful." Is that still "body shaming" but in the other direction?
We can’t let [the failed coup d’état] go because it directly connects with our legacy of racism and hate in this country that stems from the genocide of the indigenous Americans and the enslavement of African Americans. The legacy of that is institutional racism and white nationalism; and if we don’t deal with it directly and explicitly in every institution, it will continue to persist and grow and permeate; and it will lead to a Donald Trump in the future. ~ Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY)
Newly elected Representative Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) was in the Capitol building on January 6. He…
Men make their own history, but they do not make it as they please. They do not make it under self-selected circumstances, but under circumstances existing, already given, and transmitted from the past. The tradition of all dead generations weighs like a nightmare on the brains of the living. …
As black people everywhere finally exhale a toxic mix of white supremacy/white racism, police brutality, and structural, foundational discrimination….and now inhale in at least one collective chest-full of fresh air following the slam dunk conviction of killer-cop Derek Chauvin for the lynching of George Floyd, we must remain cognizant of this nation-state’s historical, usual and normal and expected response to even the most modest of gains black people have made over the past 401 years. That history is replete with white resentment, white retrenchment, white retribution, white vengeance, white anger, and unspeakably brutal white violence.
I'm not convinced that completely ignoring so-called "black conservatives" is productive or even realistic. Historian Dr. Gerald Horne posits in one of his many books on slavery and slave resistance that the most important reason that there was never a successful slave revolt in the US is because each and every attempt was betrayed by what today would be considered black "conservatives" among those who sought freedom "by any means necessary."
These folk must be watched, called out and shunned whenever and wherever they raise their self-hating selves. Actually, and ironically, contrary to your theme, your piece does that nicely.
It's obvious to black people that the "decent" white men (and white women) are vastly outnumbered by the racist, bigoted white folks, male and female. Look no further than the 74 million-plus white people who voted for Trump not despite his racism but BECAUSE of it.
As the third week of the trial of former Minneapolis killer-cop Derek Chauvin for the videotaped murder of George Floyd begins, comes now yet another “disturbing” video of yet another duo of state-sanctioned white “law enforcers” as they unlawfully stop, harass, berate, curse, mace, beat, and arrest — but, thankfully this time, stop just short of lynching — yet another unarmed and innocent black man on the streets of this nation-state. This time…this particular brother is an Army Lieutenant in full fatigues. His near-fatal “mistake,” however, is that he is driving a brand new Mercedes Benz with temporary (but up-to-date)…
Very well done! Even recent history shows us that what white people fear more than anything else is what they used to call "Nego Rule." As you aptly point out, and I have long contended, that is because they really do believe that, despite the example of Obama, should we ever come to power, we will retaliate for their centuries of mistreatment against us.
That's because they do not understand black people, never have and probably never will. On the other hand, we understand and know them better than they know themselves -- because we've be forced to do so and for so long.
Love your sense of history and, more importantly, history's relevance to the present and future.
Indeed! Well researched and well written. But, then, that's what we've come to expect from this young sister.
Freelancer since the earth first began cooling. My beat, justice: racial, social, political, economic and cultural. I’m on FB, Twitter, Link, hdyerjr@gmail.com.