Race, The Power of an Illusion

Race, The Power of an Illusion
A Three-Part Documentary by California Newsreel
c) 2003
www.newsreel.org

"Racism... Is about how people assign meaning to how another looks."

- Robin D.G. Kelley

It's true, there are no genetic differences or sub-species in human beings based on color or race. In fact, the African culture contains the most diverse genetic encodings of all cultures. Most of what we in America think we know or feel about racism is based on old societal programs, governmental politics, and economics.

"Race is the great interest of the age." - from an American newspaper in the 1840's

This is an interesting but somewhat biased documentary. It's useful, however. I recommend it for students interested in evolution. I felt there was a missing issue here, barely touched on... The problem of criminal activity and language barriers with privileged whites assisting immigrants and people of color. This documentary outlines the absurd books and propaganda on racial profiling which were created in the 1800's.

President Andrew Jackson was responsible for propagating bigotry through his writings. These were later produced as the values-set for American politics. In spite of asserting "all men were created equal", Jackson wrote extensively about Native and African Americans as being inferior.

In the 1800's, charts and scales were created to show various grades of skin color used to classify people. Although Asians met these criteria (in comparison to Caucasians) they were denied American Citizenship with little or no real explanation.

Segregation, IMO, was imposed as a way to track criminal activity and force like-minded ethnic cultures to police themselves. Let's face it, in the 18oo's and early 1900's, there were no cell phones, digital cameras and recorders to track people or their crimes.

Why do we ("whites") have a legacy of generational wealth compared to "people of color"? (This is what I feel is rapidly becoming an illusion...) Some think American wealth is a "benefit" of conforming to American (white dominator culture) values.

The power dynamics are shifting radically. More crimes will be caught by American citizens, exposing the denial and false activities of all... Including those with "white" skin.

Coz We Be Good Soldiers

Coz We Be Good Soldiers

While you've been busy
regimenting and up-grading
your priorities,
I've been organizing
and ritualizing mine:
coz we be good soldiers
in hot or cold weather.
I've been linin' my drawers,
ritually-foldin' my socks
Sweepin' and cleanin' the rocks,
coz I be a good soldier.
You've been practicing your riffs
and driving your wiff
and walking the dog,regimenting your log
coz
you be a good soldier
in hot or cold weather.
We got it down to a T
scaling A, B & C
coz we got it set up
ritually.
No time to think
no time to ponder
no option for "mental"
when it's set up
regimental -it's all about freedom, right?
Coz we be good soldiers
in hot or cold weather.
It's not about choice -
we just get things well-done.
Gotta get it set up -
so others can have fun.
Have you cleaned-up the kitchen?
Did you thaw out the chicken?
Did you walk the dog?
Did you unplug the clog?
Have you scrubbed out the toilet
and vacuumed the rug?
Did you clean out the mail,
hit the holiday sales?
Did you call both the kids,and bleach-out your skids?
Did you talk to your shrink?
Have you abstained from drink?
Did you check-in with group?
Did you toss out the soup?
I forget how good you are -
you be such a good soldier!
Did you take all your meds?
Did they dumb-down your head?
Well, I fibbed a bit here...
I'm not really all that.
Sure, I cleaned out the closet,
got rid of old hats...
But I'm a Free Agent!
I do what I please!
Instead of do "solider" -I just say
"whatever".
What would happen if
the dog
passed away,
and the wiff ran away with the
garbage man?
Would you still stay
regimented, soldier?
I like to pretend
we do it together again...
Two god-damned good soldiers -
(whatever)!
I know you've done
every little thing you could
to be it...
So what of your dreams?
Your potentials, gifts and talents,
when the world won't let you see it?
I wish I could rip
the oppression from your eyes!
But my every attempt
seems to tyrannize...
So like you, I'll pretendI'll act like an excellent soldier.
Chin up,
forward
march

father of lies

father of lies

people can converse with one another
without establishing a definite;
not every dialog
needs an outcome or closure,
or exorcism.
there is no moral to this story,
unless to simply see
there are lies.
it's impossible to disguise
maturity or wisdom; but lies
are designed to stunt and complex a soul,
and keep it in a state of childish
dramas and schisms.

in the beginning
it starts with stories of santa, what have you,
and the easter bunny;
yet everyone knows and loves
how it's all about Christ and the devil
(that father of lies and denial, who's
always doomed to be the center of some
great spiritual revival).
those "wonderful" holidays
striving for prizes of acceptance,
validation!
we grow out of the stories
without recognition
or perhaps appreciation
of what's real;
instead it's appeal gets muddied
in dust, blood and shadows.

It knows It's struggles to achieve perfection,
so It does what It wants to get
what It needs.

by the time a child is 12-14, she's already heard It.
all.


layer by layer It builds
until one is neurotic by the age of 24.
until one decides
(and yes, that's choice and decision)
to take command of one's life and
put an end to facades once used,
to save face.
but damn! those old "victim" habits and voices
die hard...!
(chronic lying and denial
are that very fall from grace.)

so true, what they say -
one is only as sick as one's secrets
in a time when lying
is the order of the day -
coached, and haunted
by that father,
the one of lies,
whose shadows, demonic,
devise to layer a soul
out of his or her core...
buffered on, to the devil's playground.
as such, one can't ignore
one's loss of innocence:

triggered
by fear and drama,
controlled
by mass pressure, authority and power-over,
many go on to create war...
to compete against and kill-off the very thing
that heals, and makes whole.

A Woman's Nature to Nurture

It's in a woman's nature, and her essential need, to nurture... Whether she is young or not, married or not. We are creatures who need to feel our feelings and be powerful about it, deep inside. We know our powerful feelings generate energies and vibrations that help us feel good about ourselves. We know, when we cut ourselves off from our feelings at a deep level, the results are dis-ease and illness.

You cannot condemn a woman who has lived through such an experience, you will only earn her disrespect. And if she is a person of substance? She will consider herself to be a spiritual warrior, and will also fight back: but not in the need to confront, no, not ever. If she is a person of substance it will always be with the intention of restoring the balance of wellness. It goes against a woman's natural needs to create war.

Nurturing verses Guilt

Punishing a child with "negative" consequences only reinforces guilt, shame, resentment, blame, anger and hatred.

=

Conversely: a child will have a better appreciation of "consequences" when they are used as a reward system... To validate and reinforce well-being, self-worth and joy.

A nurturing parent will teach a child that consequences are earned.

Those who use punishment as leverage to induce guilt or shame will only provoke more. Thus, such emotions become powerful tools of war.