I have long aborted all pretence at conforming for such traits have been infinitely alien to my phenotypic and genetic scaffolding. But I suppose, sometime during my formative years, when hair follicles were more cephalic and less facial, that my maverick persona became inescapable. For one Holy morning, outrageously I concluded that Sunday Schoolings were the avenue trodden by mass mis-educators but admittedly, I must emphasise that the underpinnings for such an incongruent hypothesis was supported by irrefutable evidence.
Admittedly, if not for the corroborating evidence being axiomatically conspicuous, intoxicatingly flabbergasted I would have been if they who sat with and before me hadn’t noticed what I noticed; Jesus and all his disciples except Judas, were White. But as an audacious provocateur, with post-slavery scepticism oozing from my every pore, I unforgivingly queried the divine racial makeup for which a stern-eyed lecture on the principles of faith was directed my way, with assurances of it’s unquestionable spiritual capacity to neutralise all lingering innate instincts to question God’s work.
But confess I must, not forgiveness coupled, that an eternity was not theirs to recognise that this abstract concept of faith couldn’t be assimilated by this young bohemian. Fortunately, after a few punctuated Constantine Sabbath Days they all resigned themselves to the inevitable miseducation sessions interruptions by tolerance infuriating questions.
And about a decade thereafter, my curiosity, not the feline fatal genre, led my eyes to peruse a research paper which faultlessly set out to determine beauty in the eyes of Black children. For the methodology was overly simple, but no less scientific, recruiting 25 unworldly black kids to independently identify, from two dolls, beauty and ugly. And the findings numbered 25 which saw beauty as White and ugly as Black. Then the very cohort was tasked with independently identifying good vs evil. For this a black professional, suited and booted sat alongside the murderous Oklahoma bomber Timothy McVeigh. Unsurprisingly, the result was unchanged.
Megyn Kelly White only Santa
Then intriguingly a Black writer wrote a piece that Santa Claus shouldn’t only be depicted White. Thereupon, within a millisecond this proposition did get the attention of Megyn Kelly, the then White FOX News Journalist. For immediately she readied an oral rebuttal, supported by an incandescent White jury, to collectively execute the Black writer’s blasphemous postulation.
Then on the fateful morning, Megyn presented an opening statement which secured her a permanent place in the dunce corner. For unbelievably she asininely argued that Santa Claus is undoubtedly White and we should all get use to it. Obligatorily, I burst the buffoon’s bubble, bringing to the attention of her jaundice eyes that Santa Claus is fictional and can be represented by any race. Then foolishly, further she went by asserting that Santa Claus is just as White as Jesus. No! Jesus was born in the Middle East; not Europe.
Black but not Black
And even as I bring these distressing issues to the fore, I must highlight this painfully stupefying encounter. For recently, a friend and I discussed discrimination under PPP for which I posited a list of names. And not wishing to outstay my listening welcome, I highlighted PPP 23 years (1992-2015) of no black ambassador when they duly turned to another Black servitude in Dr. Luncheon to make this shocking revelation.
Then we naturally came to Kwame McCoy’s servitude inclinations but prophylactically avoided such a miasmatic expostulation since the protracted nausea was not worth it. But before concluding to provide my dear lady her say, admit I must that for years bloated I was by this unanswered question, how can the PPP Blacks turn a blind eye to the persecution of their fellow Blacks?
And it was at this juncture The Right Honourable Lady responded to my evidentiary discourse, for which she immediately and unashamedly informed me that she is not Black hence such discriminatory lacerations shan’t befallen her. Indeed, I took an inordinate minute to calm my breathing and reset my brain for undoubtedly the hearing of such abase hogwash is an experience that is bound to cause brain freeze. And for the record, I must emphatically state that the lady’s mother is a red woman, as per Guyanese vernacular while her Rastafarian father and I are both as black as the bitumen roads.
Fill those vessels wisely
Undoubtedly, the aforementioned clearly underscore the psychological scars miseducation can cause to the minds of our children. An passant, I must confess that I’ve forever questioned if it was by design that Christianity was forced upon us.
For struggled I have to be convinced that these biblical scriptures, with an all White cast were coincidental or more likely our painful initiation into White supremacy that we unwittingly burdened our children with. Having said that, this must be the most opportune moment to humbly remind you that your children at birth are akin to empty vessels; they will produce what you put in. Miseducate them about White Gods and they will forever have the mindset of the aforementioned.
For undoubtedly, it is beyond imperative that as black parents we be mindful of what we place in our empty vessels. As a rule we must constantly remind them that they are highly intelligent. That they are beautiful. That they can be whatever they aspire to be. Doctors. Lawyers. Teachers. Academics. Accountants. Economist. Journalist etc. Any career path they can pursue.
Educate our black boys and girls of the dangers of being pigeonholed. Educate our black boys and girls to forever shoot for the moon. Of utmost most importance is the necessity to be fastidious with toys and dolls selection, for they can define their worldview. The books they internalise can underpin their moral compass. The programmes they view can inform their belief structure. Positive role-models, that reflect their race, will be their reminder that yes they can.
The confidence must be instilled that breed self respect; for self-worth and self-belief will preclude servitude inclinations. Teach them to be the voice of all regardless of race, etc.Teach them that they are not better but humble equals. For these values and more are worthy of being in your vessels. In your children.
Finally, this I must stress that the aforementioned education must start the moment they exit the womb, for the mis-educators maybe in white coats. For this we must aspire. For this we will achieve. Eradication of Black servitude.
This is an abridged version of the article “Eradicating black servitude” that first appeared December 28, 2000.
