Roots and Realities: I Have Never Experienced Racism

Although this statement can come from any AUSA (Afrikan from the United States of America) person, hearing it come from young people fills me with sadness, frustration and anger. Not just at them but also at my generation. I am angry at my generation for not doing a good job of teaching our children and grandchildren about racism. Too many of our children simply don’t have the radar to even recognize racism when it is right there in front of them. To compound that inability is the resistance to really hear their elders try to explain racism to them. Unfortunately, by that time, it is frequently, too late.
That statement is also incredibly selfish and displays not only ignorance but a lack of insight. Why? Western culture is based in a false individuality and selfishness. Anyone saying that they have never experienced racism is actually negating the existence of racism. Even if they haven’t personally experienced racism (which is very doubtful), that does not mean that other AUSA haven’t.

This statement is unrealistic and betrays a willingness to ignore situations that are in front of their faces. And to ignore numbers. The fact that AUSA lag behind in almost every positive statistic and ahead in almost every negative statistic means something. Does it mean that they have bought into the hype or ingested the Kool-ade and truly believe that all other AUSA (except them) are inferior and un-intelligent criminals? Do they believe that they are the “magical negro” who is not like all the others (like so many non-Blacks like to say)?

This is compounded by subtle messages that are seen on television, like Toyota’s “You Can’t Stop My Drive” campaign that supposedly celebrates black men. It starts out great with images of young men achieving great things but ends with “Black men don’t need to wait for the baton to be passed” and “they don’t seek your guidance or mentorship, no sir, no sir”. This is creating, fueling and supporting a generational disconnect in the AUSA male community. How does this translate into real-life? Although the overwhelming majority of Black men who voted in the last election supported a progressive message, a significant number of Black men were convinced to vote for a white supremacist and white nationalistic message.

I have heard panels of these young people (male and female) extol the virtues of the current national administration, even though the majority of the country is suffering or will suffer from these policies. It will get worse.

I am frankly at a loss as to what to do. We are at the beginning of hard times and I’m not sure that our youth will be able to handle their realities. The suicide rates for AUSA of all ages has more than doubled (almost tripled) since 1960 with the greatest concentration in age groups 10-24 and 25-44. What does this say?

It is scientifically known that stress can cause severe psychological problems (as well as physical illnesses that shorten our life-span). Perhaps knowledge of what we are stressing from (racism), helps us to handle the psychological consequences of those stressors.

Food for thought.