“Forgive Us… Black America”

“Portrait of a Journey From Racism to Healing

October 17th 2008

“Forgive Us… Black America” – Portrait of a Journey from Racism to Healing was written in 1999, but was not publicly released at that time. After much contemplation, and with all that is happening during this 2008 election cycle in relation to our cultural climate, I have decided to release it, with some revisions.

After much struggle, I revisited the manuscript and answered the questions that I had posed in the chapters on racial healing. I re-discovered that, as the book states, “racism is a subtle foe”.

America is not only struggling in the global economy, we are no longer viewed as the “global leader” in foreign affairs, socio-economic development, human rights, etc. This book suggests that one of the main reasons for this shift is that, behind closed doors, “who we are” as a country, a culture, or as a beacon for human rights, equality and progressive human development is not the portrait we have painted for the world view.

In the 1999 manuscript, the events surrounding the Oklahoma City bombing were used to examine extremist forms of “hate”. The book also suggested that “untreated hate” in our own country could lead to other countries’ religious wars playing out on American soil… they did, on September 11, 2001. I believe these considerations are as important today as they were in 1999.

We can no longer afford to think, posture, or buy our way out of America’s problems. Something deeper in our culture must change.I am not a known or accomplished author, nor do I profess that Forgive Us… Black America is a “brilliantly written book”. What I do know from my experience in writing the book and from others who have read it, is this:

I believe it will change some viewpoints for the better about racism in America… and perhaps about other things as well. After all, have we not heard precisely what America’s domestic and global problems are all about?

It’s the Economy, the War in Iraq, Healthcare, Republicans, Democrats, Conservatives, Liberals, Religions, Jobs, Education, Social Security, Taxes, the Mortgage Crisis, NAFTA, FISA, Wall Street, Main Street, Poverty, Sexism, Racism…!

…No, it’s the indifference.

Welcome to this Blog. As the author of “Forgive Us… Black America” and the creator of this blog, the following is a brief introduction as to why it’s here:

- This blog is for discussing the issue of Racism in America, its history, where we are at now, and what changes we can make as individuals and as a culture, in moving forward.

It is my hope that we can have healthy, honest dialog here on the subject of racism without intentionally harming others.

- No “blatant racist comments or personal attacks on another member” will be tolerated. (Admin Moderators shall determine when a post has gone too far in expressing the poster’s views on the subject or in a manner that may be harmful to others.)

- In such events, a poster may be issued 1) a reminder; 2) a warning; 3) the Post deleted; and/or 4) the poster put in a dungeon made out of the chassis of a 1957 Chevy, with a scull n’ bones mural painted on the headliner for entertainment. It is reserved for those who simply do not know the meaning of “blatant racist comments or personal attacks on another member”.

- You must become a member to post.

- Your first posting will be held in moderation until approved by the moderated.

As the author, this is my first blog and I am relatively new to the blogging community. Bear with me and we’ll make something powerful happen here, I am certain.

Thank you for visiting. Let’s get to the real issues underlying all of the discussions on the subject of “Racism in America”… it’s long overdue… obviously.

Blacks, and Latinos, and American Indians, and Asians, and Whites know what it is like to live in…

Poverty Do we really understand it, care about it, want to end it?

Social Oppression It’s pretty simple… IT’S WRONG!

Bigotry Think it’s only a Racial Issue? Try this on…

“…(Mayor Antonio) Villaraigosa then talked about Proposition 8’s passage, saying it was an affront to basic civil rights. “If you think for a moment that this kind of bigotry is not connected to anti-Semitism, then you don’t really understand it,” the mayor said.” (emphasis in bold by post author)… from article on ADL’s site here

Racist Hate You have to be carefully taught.

Classism What is it? Does it work?

Racial Anger Is this what it looks like? Or does it look like this?

Is Race-Neutrality Hopeless? Rev. Wright exposed the flimsy tissues of so-called “race neutrality” in a nation founded on racial oppression… and, many of us were “really offended” and hated him for it.

…No. It doesn’t just take a black person to tell us what all these cultural and social issues are like. Nor does it take a wealthy, highly educated politician, government official, government agency, or a white person to explain it. You know exactly what these issues are about… when you live with their effects.

We should have, could have stopped racism – and a lot of other things – a long, long time ago.

Maybe we need to RAISE IT UP! a few notches, America.

——————————–

]]> http://forgiveusblackamerica.wordpress.com/2008/12/07/raise-it-up/feed/ 0 The Author