Friday, April 25, 2008

More on Elaine Brown... New Age of Racism

I admit it - I am thoroughly impressed by Elaine Brown. The video I posted happened to be from a different speech; I discovered that she's actually been on the talking circuit, visiting Colleges and delivering what is in my opinion a Very important lecture concerning the past, present, and most importantly the future of our Nation.

She really breaks it down; not sure if you took the 2 hours needed to listen to the video I posted, but you really should; After doing so it will become evidently clear to anyone, regardless of race, how much work is yet still to be done; how we have all been duped into believing lies about the foundation of this nation, and it's greatness.

We equate greatness to wealth - to the ability of someone to rise from the ashes, and find him or her self living the good life - we say that it couldn't happen anywhere else, and yet, we overlook what is also happening - we look at the exceptions to the rule and wonder what is wrong with everybody else; We ignore the string of luck involved that many of those people, those success stories needed to experience the success that makes others call them "The Exception".

Brilliant points on how we take 5% of a race who immigrated here, succeeded here, and then we equate it to their entire Race - ignoring that often their race is poor in the country they came from - their race is having the same kinds of problems that come with Oppression and Struggle.

The person who comes here from Vietnam, starts a business, and succeeds, is not the Norm. Yet that person is held up as a barometer to blacks who were born here - to suggest that something is wrong with black people - The few blacks who succeed in this nation are also held up as a barometer. The reality that most of these success stories are "Entertainers" ... the fact that there are only so many openings in that world, that The Production companies only give out so many contracts, is ignored.

And white people in this nation ... ignoring all these facts, snub their noses at and look down on black people, convinced that something is genetically wrong with them, or that they are somehow naturally inferior to them.

... and other races as well.

I just love how she put the True History of America into a context that makes sense - and hopefully, makes sense to non-black people who have been bombarded with racist views about black people in America.

I'm going to look for her talk with the people at UCLA, as was mentioned in the article found @ the link I gave you yesterday, to the Wave Publication - a local newspaper; I want to share a quote from that article that inspired me to look for more information on this powerful woman.



“This New Age racism completely disregards American history and says that our present condition is all to do with personal choice,” explained Brown. “We have the highest infant mortality rates, Black women and children make up 65 percent of AIDS cases and perhaps the most damning stat, less than one percent of U.S. revenues come from Black businesses. We’re still not free and we’re living in the house of our oppressor.” - Elaine Brown

Listen in: Elaine Brown's Speech to Students









Credits:
Picture: The Wave Publication
Audio : Found here @ The Daily Bruin

No comments: