ARE SOME
BLACKS RACISTS? : CAN BLACK PEOPLE BE RACISTS?
By
Carl Patton, writing for the FreedomJournal
October 23, 2000.
One of the major responsibilities of those
that seek Truth ingrained in the Black Experience is to unravel impacting
questions and concerns in the Black community. The question of Race/Racism is
such a question. Therefore in order to bring "Are Some Blacks
Racists" up for review we need to define Race/Racism. Most Social
Scientists have defined Race and Racism in general terms that are often
universal. However, the Experiences of Blacks in America, Africa and the
Diaspora impose another definitive quality to Race/Racism.
Meanwhile, we preface our statements
with the notation that we do not come to refute the well- thought out comments,
and facts rendered by our esteemed colleagues, Brother Nathan Hare and Brother
Rashad. Thus for the sake of unity and the exchange of constructive dialogue we
come to add to the excellent points they have rendered concerning this subject.
We also note the ever present logic in the utility of various schools of
thought, philosophies and ideologies to come to the high road of Truth about a
particular question. Thus, to combine thought and personalities is benefited by
the essential element of agreement on the goal of Unity. The essential and
critical element of Unity in the Black community is a realization that the road
to Freedom, Justice and Equality will be traveled by different religions,
different political thoughts etc. However all that travel this road have
something in common. Hence all Black people that desire Human Rights wish to
keep intact the spirit of Unity and Love. For the record all of humankind even
those that preach Hate are consumed by the spirit of Love. Sadly to some the
spirit of "Love" is "Love to Hate." But can one Love to
Hate?
We also point out that we are not
sacrificing Truth for Unity. Thus we feel for certain that the points noted by Brother
Hare and Brother Rashad are on target. We also appreciate their efforts to
establish fruitful dialogue and the respect they have for the Black community
and other Independent Thinkers. For the record we also note that we do not
always agree with all of the comments by Brother Rashad or Brother Hare. They
also most likely do not always agree with all of the comments and positions of
the FreedomJournal. However, we have never had an antagonistic dialogue with
these well respected and honorable Brothers. Therefore, we have always been
able to maintain a fruitful and constructive dialogue. For this we are grateful
and further establish their irrefutable credibility.
Brother Rashad has noted that,
"the question actually begs for an answer that is not readily
available." Also, Brother Hare has noted the important element of
"Power" in the question of Race/Racism. These two points of interest
set our point of departure and also establish our basic framework for a
methodology to explore this question. It is for sure that the question of
Racism as it applies to Black people is a developing phenomenon. It is also for
certain that one cannot exert Racism without some element of Power. We also
note that the question of Race is not isolated from Economics. Thus, we argue
that one cannot come to understand the factors of Racism
in Black America, Africa and the Diaspora without an understanding of the
economics of racism.
Racism is justly then a unique
element that often is a component of economics. However, discrimination is a
component of racism. For example Jim Crow was a component of racism but Jim
Crow has come to an end. But meanwhile racism and many of its various
components still survive and develop. Therefore we argue that Economic/Racism
is a developing phenomenon in the Black community and throughout the world.
Thus the methodology for an analysis of "Are Some Blacks Racists" and
"Can Blacks be Racists" is noted in the developing philosophy of
Economic Racism.
Thus we note that the Economic
Exploitation of Africa and the Third World produced Racism. Economic Greed not
Economic Need came first and Racism soon followed as a rationale to exploit
those in Africa and other third World countries. This exploitation also
produced the greatest result of the Philosophy of Economic/Racism, Slavery in
America.
Thus if Blacks were exploited for
economic reasons and if their resulting subordination to European Rule was not
based on skin color and ethnic origins we bring another equation to this
discussion. This further equation then stipulates that anyone can be a racist
because racism has only an indirect bearing on the exploitation of other
people. Thus, Economics has been the driving force in front of Racism.
Therefore if Blacks exploited White
people for economic gain and then justified their exploitation on race then
they could also be racists. Here we point out that the acceptance that only
White people can be racist is to also accept certain aspects of inferiority.
Thus the admission that Blacks by nature and not by circumstance are exploited
economically can maintain the exclusive nature of only White racists.
At this point the FreedomJournal will
pose several questions and references to articles taken from the FreedomJournal
Archives:
What is a Racist/Racism?
Did Economic Exploitation come before
Racism?
What was the role of the European in
developing Racism?
Is Racism the result of the
Exploitation of the Third World or is Economics the result of Racism?
If Blacks Exploited White people
economically they could also develop a rationale for this exploitation and
could this rationale be race?
See:
The Economics of Racism
Articles from the series on The
Defense of Black American and African American:
Part
6: Theory For Analysis: The Dialectical Conclusions of Economics & Racism
Part
7: What Is Dialectical & Economics of Racism?
Part
8: The Economics of Racism: A Crucial Factor In Dialectics
Part
9: The Dialectics of The Black Experience: Re-Defining Racism & Economics
Part
10: Class & Race The Contradictions of Marxism
Part
15: Black America A Result of Economic Racism
Part
16: Capitalism: The Creation of Racism & The Black American
carl@freedomjournalpress.comcastbiz.net