13 posts tagged “h lewis smith”
A powerful, deeply moving rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by the Grace Baptist Church Cathedral Choir, under the direction of Derrick James, summons back into focus the once proud, respectable and dignified Black America. The video, originally screened at the historic African-American Church Inaugural Ball in Washington, DC on January 18, 2009, traces the path of sacrifice and struggle from slavery to the civil rights movement, finally, to placing the first African-American into the highest office in this nation. This video recognizes and pays homage to remembering, overcoming, and holding sacred all the many struggles, setbacks, and hardships African-Americans endured to simply be treated human and receive entitlement to their rightful liberties. It conveys our strength and undying determination to persevere despite adversity—from without.
For the past 30 years, the prowess spirit of the “Black America” presented in this video seems to have been replaced or diluted with messages of self-destruction, inferiority, and insignificance mostly due to the creation and acceptability of gangsta rap and its associated lifestyle. This mentality has been perpetuated upon our kind, African Americans, by our kind, African Americans. It’s troubling that a race of people can recognize and dissolve an external enemy, but lack the ability to realize, address, and remove “the inside man”—inferior mentalities and degrading lifestyles—who’s causing the great hemorrhage—the continued demise of the African-American community.
The civil rights movement made race relations in America more diverse and open, but at the same time, more complex and challenging. Because of this, blacks were encouraged to remain united and rise up collectively to defeat oppression of the human spirit. Yet today, rather than serving as a dignified foundation to continually pursue collective advancement, the civil rights struggle is now the memorabilia that crowds the lanes of nostalgia, black lines of enlightenment that lay upon unturned history-book pages, and aging memoirs of former civil rights leaders fading again into blank sheets. Many of the younger generation seem to lack understanding of the power of a true race-progression movement built on dignity, thus, attach no significance to or appreciation of all that was endured, sacrificed, and lost; they just live in the here and now.
Rosa Parks worried and warned that young blacks had absolutely no sense and appreciation of the titanic battles that she and the civil rights leaders waged to make America live up to its much-betrayed promise of justice and equality. In a reflective interview years later, she did not absolve herself and other blacks of her generation of blame for [failing] to pass on the torch. She called for a redoubling of the effort to make young blacks, as she put it, “know what it means to be black in America today.”
Gangsta rap, a benefactor of the struggles of the civil rights movement, does indeed have some misplaced values: lack of respect and appreciation for all of the sacrifices of those before it. Saggin’ pants, the call for misogyny, wanton use of the n-word, glorification of thuggery and a gangsta way of life contrasts sharply with the exemplary, respectable and civil mood of their resilient progenitors. However, after watching the following video, one will realize that it’s not too late to re-light the mighty torch and pass it on. An entire generation of young minds have been mislead and misguided; it’s still enough time to reverse the process of self-destruction and stop the internal bleeding.
View this monumental, prideful, uplifting and true account of our African-American spirit:
H. Lewis Smith is the founder and president of UVCC, the United Voices for a Common Cause, Inc., and author of Bury that Sucka: A Scandalous Love Affair with the N-Word. www.youtube.com/watch?v=dP2U0jmZjec
Free the Slaves (FTS) held its inaugural Freedom Awards ceremony in Los Angeles on Monday, September 15, 2008.
Founded in 2001, FTS is a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit organization dedicated to actively eradicating slavery worldwide. The collection of freedom fighters work diligently to strip slaves from serfdom, and help them stay free through sharing knowledge, hope, inspiration; relevant practices; and establishing connections so that freed slaves can learn to live independently and adequately in their new-found freedoms.
FTS realizes that a mission of this magnitude requires the help of everyone—from big business and government, to the next door neighbor and everyday hero. To this end, FTS takes every stride to increase awareness about modern-day slavery world-wide. The group shares effective real-world strategies and stories to encourage others to get involved and take part in grass-roots anti-slavery movements.
The Freedom Awards was created to recognize and celebrate today’s anti-slavery heroes. Awards recipients are selected on the basis of producing successful, sustainable anti-slavery works and strategies that embody the vision of freedom. The Awards is a catalyst for sparking innovative ideals, pooling resources, provoking thoughtful reflection on theoretical techniques, and exemplifying effective anti-slavery strategies that can be adopted by change makers to end slavery for good.
Each award salutes an individual who significantly impacted slavery both within the United States and abroad, and on the response of Americans and others' to slavery around the world. Their spirit continues on through the individuals and generations they brought to freedom and today’s abolitionists who are inspired by their legacy.
Hundreds of liberators and innovators from more than 30 countries applied for the distinguished recognition. However, only four change makers were awarded.
Recipients of the awards were:
James Kofi Annan of Ghana – Frederick Douglass Purpose Award. James is a former slave helping others find purpose. James was enslaved most of his childhood in the fishing village of Ghana. At the age of six, he almost died in the nets. His story is one of rebirth and hope as he escaped slavery and graduated from college. He was motivated by the belief that other children must not be cheated of their childhood as he was. Everyday, hundreds of children are helped by his organization, Challenging Heights. One of the more disturbing facts about these enslaved “fishing net children,” as they are commonly referred, is that they are forced to work close to 20 hours per day, and if they should become ill or unfit to work, they are tossed overboard without a second thought. Archbishop Desmond Tutu presented this esteemed award to Mr. Kofi Annan.
Anywar Ricky Richards of Uganda - Harriet Tubman Reintegration Award. Anywar was stripped from his family at a very early age to fight in the army; he was forced to watch as his parents were locked in their home and burned alive. It was a gripping moment when he approached the lectern: As he reflected on this tragic moment and the loss of his parents, he choked up, and for several minutes, only silence filled the room. Once he collected himself, he segued into talking about his organization, Friends of Orphans. Located in the most dangerous area of Northern Uganda, Ricky helps child soldiers try to rebuild their lives and entire communities through healing the wounds of war. The abducted children are forced to commit atrocities in their communities, so they have no home to return to if they escape. Ricky helps communities understand what happened to the abductees and helps the children to understand that it is possible to live again.
Amilhan Abueya of the Philippines – William Wilberforce Leadership Award. Amilhan is co-founder of ECPAT International, an organization that fights the trafficking of children into sex slavery in more than 70 countries. Amilhan has advocated for the rights of children for more than 20 years, serving as a bridge between trafficked children and those who have the power to end their nightmare.
CPT and Reporter Brasil of Brazil – Harriet Tubman Community Awards. Recognition was given both to Brasil and The Pastoral Land Commission (CPT) organization. Reporter Brasil investigates and publicizes the supply chains that slavery touches; CPT works with survivors of slavery in rural areas and triggers government raids to free slaves. Together they are a formidable anti-slavery team.
These are remarkable achievements, and nothing but the utmost respect and applause goes to these individuals for their tirelessness, selflessness, and devotion to ending such heinous plights.
China and Africa are two of the preeminent advocates for slavery: .http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1063198/Chinas-new-slave-empire--disturbing-eyewitness-account-Peter-Hitchens.html
According to FTS, there are 27 million slaves around the world—many of whom are children—living in physical bondage…As I mulled over the figure, I couldn’t help but to reflect to 143 years ago when more than three million African American ascendants were physically set free; yet, as is witnessed in the high rates of black on black crime, disproportionate ratio of black male incarcerations, rampant drug dependencies, and downtrodden and dangerous communities, African American descendants remain mentally enslaved. These negative and unsavory traits were not the characteristics of those initially brought to America in chains and shackles. So what happened?
During a span of 300 plus years, something terrible occurred to reciprocate this change in the African American’s mentality: the African American Holocaust. No one cares to discuss the controversial topic in fear of revealing the devious plot and reasons behind the immoralities perpetuated upon African Americans. However, in order to resolve the many prevailing issues that have plagued our beloved community for so long, the topic must be discussed. Unless we—all people—thoroughly dissect the root cause for today’s dastardly conditions and learn to accept the cold hard truth, no resolve or true progress will ever be attained. Like it or not, the effects of mental slavery still lingers heavily in this 21st Century, but both black and white America, albeit for different reasons, stubbornly refuse to embrace the integrity of this reality.
The greatest task the devil ever accomplished was convince the world that he does not exist; one may not be able to see him with the naked eye, but his existence is manifested in heinous crimes and acts. As with mental slavery, it is the most sickening and crippling evil among the African American community. We are convinced that we are free and mental enslavement does not exist; but if mental enslavement does not exist, why do African Americans refer to one another—and even their children—as “n**ger”? Why do African American black males comprise more than 30% of the prison population, yet African Americans only account for 13% of the U.S. population? Why do many African Americans limit themselves to low-paying, back-breaking jobs and place education on the back burner? Why do African Americans refuse to conduct business with black businesses, and allow our communities to continually demise? It’s not hard to see that mental enslavement is still alive and well.
People all around the world are taking strides to eradicate slavery and help re-build the lives of those who were formerly enslaved. In America, we attained physical freedom in 1865. High time has come for African Americans to refrain from making excuses for their current situations, see truth for what it really is, and leap into action—take back our mental freedom.
H. Lewis Smith is the founder and president of UVCC, the United Voices for a Common Cause, Inc., and author of Bury that Sucka: A Scandalous Love Affair with the N-Word. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dP2U0jmZjec
One’s level of self-esteem—whether healthy or unhealthy—is a direct result of the environment and is deeply influenced by daily interactions with family, school, peer group, work place, and community.
Self-esteem is the foundation of self image, independent thought, and individuality. It can encourage us to leap bounds beyond the grandest measure, or it can discourage us from pursuing a goal before it even has the ability to ripen into a full thought. Self-esteem is the result of one’s own self-perception—the way one sees oneself in relation to their environment—and strongly reflects the level of self-value one attaches to self.
For years on end, the term “n**ger” has been used in the plight to keep black African-Americans oppressed and miles shy of achieving their God-given potential. Black African-Americans were taught to perceive themselves as something far less than human, and to devalue themselves—to be “n**gers”. As a result of the plight’s effectiveness, healthy self-esteem runs at a deficient level throughout the black African-American community.
Some black African-Americans have realized the ramifications of the term “n**ger”, understand the significance attached to a healthy self-esteem, and refuse to be referred to as a n**ger. This is because they realize the term is an antagonist to a healthy self-persona, and will not permit their own self-perception and self-value to degrade so low that they to refer to themselves as such.
On the contrary, some black African-Americans feel an affinity to the word n**ger—this is what they were taught, so this is their truth. The humility of descending to the level of the n-word is unfeigned submission of one’s mind having been overwhelmed with a weighty sense of their innate misery and self-contempt. Many black African-Americans, unfortunately, are proponents for the self-inflicted use of the n-word. Fortunes have been made by spreading a culture of gangster rap–with its glorification of crime, disrespect for women, saggin' pants, and the perpetuation of a dysfunctional vocabulary. Although this culture has contributed some positivity to the African American race in proving to youths that African Americans can attain success and own God-given creative writing abilities, this “culture” also ensures that countless young Black people will never be able to perform successfully and professionally at a job interview, or function as a civil member of society. Commentary has been made that gangsta rap is an avenue to vent one’s anger. No doubt that anger can spark passion, innovation, and ingenuity. However, the passion and innovation must be communicated in a positive manner to stimulate quality and civility, rather than the glamorization of violence and crime, dolling up drug addictions and the degradation of one’s self-perception. Some gangster rappers argue that they have no impact on the actions of their listeners; however, words are powerful. Whether the story lines are true or not, the avid listeners will perceive them to be such and be influenced by the words of their favorite rapper. Rap can be used as a positive medium to build up a generation of productive society members, or, it can continue to be used as a way to make a buck off of degrading and continually contributing to the demise of the black African-American community. …Perhaps, and almost apparently, these gangster rappers have a poor self-image. The latest exhibition of a rapper’s low self-esteem is Nas’ soon-to-be released video entitled “Be a Nigger Too.” In this video, Nas extends an invitation to the world to join him in reinforcing dehumanization, subjugation, and oppression in a supreme effort to keep this word alive. Unknowingly, due to Nas’ lack of perception and failure to realize the level of influence he exudes, he is sabotaging the sacred memories of his black ancestry in this preposterous attempt at keeping the n-word alive. There is a scene in Roots where Kunta Kinte is whipped mercilessly until he calls himself by the slave name, Toby—after which time the slave master says, “Alright, that’s a good n**ger.” This is a scene re-enacted in real life more times than can be counted. For centuries, the white world has impressed upon the minds of the black world that there is such a thing as a n**ger, and Blacks have bought it lock, stock and barrel. A healthy self-esteem provides one the courage to try new things and the power to believe in self. Self-esteem promotes self-respect, and when one respects him/herself, the rest of the world will know that individual demands to be respected by them. With a healthy self-esteem, one doesn’t look for excuses to endear themselves to a word that once was used to justify the dehumanizing, butchering and slaughtering of their ancestors. In fact, quite the contrary: They will, instead, find such a fiendish word as n**ger to be totally unacceptable. Granted the common or modern day definition of the n-word is nothing more than a racial slur, however, the historical meaning as it is applied to ascendants of African Americans is etched in stone in the annals of history and can never be rationalized away. As James Baldwin once so succinctly said: “You can only be destroyed by believing that you really are what the white world calls a n**ger.” Our ancestors did not fit the description of what was considered a n**ger, nor did they deserve to be categorized in such a manner. Once one truly understands what the description of a n**ger was—and still is, a sane person would come to realize that there is no such thing as a n**ger—at least not pertaining to them! One of the greatest powers in the world is the power to define reality and make others accept it, even when it's to their disadvantage. This is the devious strategy the white world deployed into the minds of the black race with the word n**ger. Blacks can be and are complicit in maintaining white supremacy by giving into nihilism (the n-word) and immorality in the face of the endless struggle to surmount inequality, rather than proceeding through life on their own autonomy. The n-word is a phenomenon crippling the black community and the civic will to fight it. Let go of the past. Stop breathing life into the n-word, which is killing off the black community’s self-esteem and opportunities at ultimate success. Bury that sucka. Finally claim and live in full freedom. Blacks are NOT n**gers—there is no such thing! This anti n-word movement has nothing to do with the white man’s use of the word, this is about the black race’s pathetic acceptance of the word. This acceptance must be derailed. A healthy self-esteem epitomizes personal responsibilities and holds one accountable for their actions. It entails the meeting of life’s challenges through which a healthy state of mind enables one to break free from the restraints of an oppressed mental state. A healthy self-esteem provides the encouragement, refuge, and drive one requires to successfully persevere life’s obstacles. Most people admire and respect strong individuals who have won great success by manifesting will power and self-discipline. People in all walks of life with sheer will power, self-discipline and ambition have learned new skills and improved their lives. Myriads of examples exist where African Americans have achieved ambitious goals without the need of referring to themselves—or audience members—as the n-word.
The Nas Legionnaires—a herd of misguided, pea-brain sycophants melodically influenced when Nas strums his flute of musical ignorance—are absolutely ecstatic about the new rapper’s single, “Be A Nigger Too.”
“Be A N**ger Too” is co-produced by Salaam Remi and Big Jack. The song explores the media’s impact on peoples’ perception of the n-word; pardons Eminem for using the idiom in his rhymes; and sustains and invites listeners to “be a n**ga too”—despite the historic plight of black people and the satirizing nature the term reflects upon the African-American community. The song prefaces Nas’ CD—with an expected July 1, 2008, release date, “Nigger.”
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” In line with the great Reverend’s ideology, the idea that blacks can use the n-word and non-blacks cannot is nothing more than an unjustified double standard—as is any other double standard—that must be immediately discarded. For an African American to utilize the term says that they do not respect themselves or the constant struggles of their ancestors; for a non-black to use the idiom expresses their disrespect for the African-American culture, and keeps alive the inferior mindsets that have oppressed the black community for centuries. No benefit comes from the use of this term. If it is not good for one group, it is not good for anyone.
However, Nas and supporters seem to disregard the “double standard” and its true effects. With the leaked preview of his new song, Nas is “officially” extending an invitation to the world—black or non-black—to use the word and continue contributing to the demise of the African-American community. This is the epitome of imprudence.
African-American ascendants were robbed of heart, mind, body, soul and manhood. Violent mental abuse was perpetuated upon them, and—although they were the complete counter of the ideologies thrust upon them—they were forced to accept a self-image of being lazy, sex fiends, thieves, drunks, irresponsible, moral degenerates, stealthy and cunning, mindless, heartless and inferior scum—something to be despised and considered worthless.
The ascendant male was further coerced into having lack of love and respect for self, and to show no love or respect towards his woman or child. Even though the black woman was included in this vindictive conspiracy, she was allowed to have a little more self-esteem than her counter-part black male. For the black male was viewed as the most intimidating and greatest challenge to the white male. The white male knew that if he could manipulate and erode the black man’s self-image, the black man would not view himself as a superior or equal, but as an inferior. The white male bruised the black male’s self pride and dignity by constantly referring to him, his wife, and child as nothing more than low-down, useless, filthy “n**gers”, and treating them as such.
Under the jeers of “n**ger, n**ger, n**ger,” African-American victims were mutilated, castrated, skinned, roasted, burned, hanged and shot. Under the laws of the land at the time, this conduct was acceptable since the victims were considered to be nothing more than n**gers.
This is truly the intent of the n-word: It is a self-destructive mind control that simply and continuously beats up one’s perspective of him/herself. Its use maintains the image and meaning that was browbeaten and physically beaten into the hearts, minds and souls of African Americans for more than 300 years.
The use of the n-word is a 400-year-old practice that is still charging full-steam ahead, and must come to a screeching halt. For more than 300 years, “n**ger” was a metaphor for a race of people considered to be sub-human and three-fifths of a person. The slur owns an abominable history that, for all intent and purpose, is etched in stone—regardless of its present day metamorphosis into a term of endearment, or representation as a by-product of “the struggle.” Whatever the new-age justification, the n-word’s very use is inappropriate and counterproductive to human relations; the term devours any level of respect—given or received, cultural pride and dignity, and dehumanizes whomever the term is used toward.
In 1986, a rap group called NWA (N**gaz With An Attitude) formed. From that point up to present day, the imprint of the self-destructive nature of the n-word has become most apparent. Rap lyrics debased women—characterizing black women as nappy headed ho’s, b*tches and tricks; humiliated the black race; and glamorized violence, reinforcing the historical intent of the image of a “n**ger.” Rap music, pop-culture celebrities, and most often poverty-stricken fans combined to create an alluring "cool-pose culture” of self-destructive behaviors.
"N**ger" cannot be sanitized in any form to make it an acceptable term because of its malevolent history—not unless it is possible to undo all of the violent and wanton atrocities perpetrated upon the subjugated, all of which is embedded in and communicated through this term. Since returning to the past is not likely, the possibility of undoing the term’s intent is impossible. "N**ger" is a symbol certifying that brainwashing has worked, that if an ideology is continuously stamped into the psyche of a people, they will voluntarily apply it to themselves.
Nas certainly has the freedom and right to name his album whatever he wants; however, back in the mid-l990’s when Michael Jackson attempted to use the word “kike” in one of his songs, he quickly discovered the difference between the Jewish community and Black community: respect and self-respect is imperative in the Jewish Community. Michael quickly removed the word from his song and issued an apology.
Because the Jewish and Black communities have faced a great deal of discrimination alike, the two communities basically face the same issues of fighting hard to gain back their cultural respect. Thus, one can’t help but to pose the question: Is it likely that a Jewish person would come out with a CD entitled “Kike”? Possibly! However, with the uniting and sternness of the Jewish community in demanding cultural respect, one could unequivocally answer this question with a firm “NO”! This is because the Jewish community would never be moronic enough to support the sells of such an album. As well, record companies would never be naïve enough to publish something of this nature because they know that the Jewish community would fight them every step of the way, sending them through hellish litigation.
Artists along with the record companies are making ungodly sums of revenue from these types of albums. Bear in mind these very same recording companies are making mega millions off the n-word but would never consider doing the same with the k-word or other more pressing issues: Back in the early 90s Ice-T came out with a song entitled Cop Killer making police brutality the center of attention. So much pressure was placed on Warner Bros. that Ice-T had to remove the song from his album Body Count.
So why do Black people such as Nas and some others think lesser of themselves and their race? Why are they selling their souls? Why do some in the Black community support such conduct? The debasement of blacks has always been an acceptable commodity that sold; whereas, disparaging remarks about any other ethnic group and/or government institution is held to a different standard. Like it or not, the actions of the black participants in this machination reinforces the psychological true intent of the n-word—mental enslavement.
It must be recognized that Nas and all the others who contribute to the
debasement of the black race serves as evidence to a last link in the chain of a subjugated past. This link will never be broken until association with the n-word is obliterated.
It’s most unfortunate that some African Americans have allowed themselves to be bamboozled into thinking it’s okay to relate to a word which served as a metaphor to crucify, castrate, torture, murder, maim and rape their ancestors. They have elected to sell their souls for thirty pieces of silver, never realizing they are “the inside man” carrying out the 400-year-old plight to undermine the African-American race—their own people.
The ancestors of African Americans have never been able to rest in peace. Instead of continually spitting on their graves and canonized memories, it is time to let go of the very word that kept them gripped in terror and fear. Time has come to show them some respect, dignity, honor and pride. In doing so, we extend the same to ourselves, helping to eliminate the ever-present self-hatred. It is time to break that last link to an ominous, dark and dastardly past by eliminating the use of “n**ger.”
Language has been and remains an effective means to marginalize minorities. Consider the persistent and incessant use of the n-word, America’s swastika to the African American. The term is a discreet, deceiving form of psychological, social, and spiritual abuse; the n-word desecrates the sacred memories of hard-fighting African-American ascendants. After almost 400 years of conditioning, a community of people have become immune to, or accepted, the adverse implications and negative effects the term, and all it encompasses, imposes on their mind state, and ultimately their life’s success.
The word n**ger was not embraced willingly by ascendants of African Americans, no quite the contrary, for more than 300 years they were terrorized, dehumanized, brutally assaulted, maimed, killed and wantonly raped. All because they were looked upon as 3/5 human, sub-human unfit to be treated as human beings, in other words they were a n**ger; the very word which African American descendants—today— embraces with tender loving care.
What kind of twisted minds would take such a diabolical word and embrace it? especially such a word that justified the dehumanization of their ancestors. The sacrifices, struggles and honor of our black ancestors we will not defend nor respect; but yet we will defend and respect those who desecrates and defiles their memories by embracing this word and making it a part of their everyday language. There is absolutely no rational excuse for such untoward behavior.
This month of October, Machiavellian Aaron McGruder, creator of the Boondocks plans to release myriads of videos laced with the n-word. Returning from a hiatus, Mr. McGruder—through a premeditated, diabolical scheme—plans to saturate America with heavy doses of the n-word. McGruder will prove to be a true emissary of the Prince of Darkness, becoming the most dangerous and greatest threat—psychologically—to the black community in all of America.
Several hip hop stars will be lending their voices to the program this season such as Snoop Dogg, Mos Def, Ghostface Killah, Cee-lo, Lil Wayne, Aisha Tyler, Tichina Arnold, Mo’Nique, Tavis Smiley, Cedric the Entertainer, Xzibit, Charlie Murphy, and a few others. Ironically, the voices enshrining and glorifying the sacred memories of our ancestors are deafeningly silent, whereas the n-word is taken and praised to the high heavens.
At some point the African American community must learn to start holding one another accountable for the debilitating conduct and actions of those who think nothing of trampling on and dishonoring the memories of our black ancestry. African Americans have been conditioned to hold nothing sacred about themselves, this need to change. We must learn how to acknowledge the rich and rewarding heritage of our ancestors and it isn’t done by spitting on their graves, slapping them in the face with the very word that was used to dehumanized and crucify them.
The actions of Aaron McGruder and his band of disciples who are doing the voice-overs are a discredit to the millions of each and every black man, woman and child who for more than 300 plus years, had to endure the indignation of atrocious acts, such as brutal rapings, maiming, sodomizing with hot pokers, hangings, being boiled and burned alive. If these very same acts were being perpetrated upon your loved ones today, such as was the case in a recent isolated incident in West Virginia, all because this is what you do to n**gers I don’t think you would find any humor in it.
Not unless of course you find the following humorous: In l904 black sharecroppers Luther Holbert and his wife were chained to a tree and a audience of 600 white spectators enjoyed treats like deviled eggs, lemonade and whiskey in a festive atmosphere while Mr. and Mrs. Holbert had first their fingers chopped off one by one, followed by their ears, followed by a severe beating that left Mr. Holbert with one eye dangling from it's factured socket, followed by "spirals...of raw, quivering flesh" being extracted from both Holberts via corkscrew before the couple were finally burned alive. And as they were drawing their last breath the last words they would hear were the jeers of n**ger, n**ger, n**ger…a word that is today condoned, tolerated and embraced by descendants of people such as the likes of a Mr. & Mrs.Holbert.
There is however, a light at the end of the tunnel, slowly but surely, like a sleeping giant some of us are starting to wake up, two years ago Earl Graves probably would not have pulled the plug on Eddie Griffin, but today is a new day, more and more blacks are starting to awake from their deep slumber of almost 400 years of sleeping.
H. Lewis Smith is the author of Bury that Sucka: A Scandalous Love Affair With the N-word and the Founder/CEO of United Voices for a Common Cause, Inc.
On August 5, 2007, a few residents of the small Louisiana town, Amite City, called the police. They complained that a man was cruising through the town with an indecent word prominently displayed on his car. The African-American man, Mr. Johnny Duncan, was stopped by authority figures, and ticketed for the obscenity. Mr. Duncan claims that he was simply advertising his book, You Might be a N**ger, and ticketing him is a violation of his First Amendment Rights.
In an interview with WAFB Channel 9 News anchors, Mr. Duncan revealed that he had been riding around town for two months with the promotional sign displayed on his car. He contends that the n-word, though offensive, is not a legal obscenity; therefore, the ticket is obsolete. Mr. Duncan believes he has the right to earn a living by advertising and promoting his product as does anyone else. Mr. Duncan plans to appeal the ticket on his Oct 3 court date, and challenge whether the n-word, displayed in a book or as part of a title, is lawfully obscene.
The interview, which can be viewed at http://wafb.com/Global/story.asp?S=6894396, further addresses Mr. Duncan’s feelings regarding the alleged violation, the basis for his argument, and the reasons why he performed this seemingly offensive and illogical act. Because of all the other recent controversy surrounding the use of derogatory terms in reference to African Americans, interviewers believe that an army of reporters from around the country will attend the proceeding to see, first hand, the outcome.
The outcome and ramifications of this situation are uncertain. H. Lewis Smith, Founder & CEO of the United Voices for a Common Cause, is concerned about the prospect of a black man seeking the legal use of a degrading racial slur rooted in negative connotations toward the African-American community. Mr. Smith believes that Mr. Duncan’s actions may very well support other races’ use of the term, and cause confusion within the African-American community, adversely affecting progression from the use of the mind-controlling idiom. As well, Mr. Duncan’s “freedom of speech” angle, if upheld in court, may validate or justify freely using the term—another step backward.
If Mr. Duncan’s argument prevails during the October 3 showdown, the “Kramer” Richards and Don Imus’ of the world will creep up from the woodworks in droves. They will openly use the derogatory terms in reference to African Americans, unhindered, and graciously thank Mr. Duncan—an African-American man—for unequivocally upholding his right to “freedom of speech,” just so he—and anyone else—can use the n-word.
H. Lewis Smith, along with being the founder and CEO of the United Voices for a Common Cause, Inc., is the author of Bury that Sucka!: A Scandalous Love Affair With the N-word. Mr. Smith’s goal is to expose the magnitude of negativity the use of the n-word has on the subconscious, one’s self-perception, and lifetime success; promote the benefits of education; increase mind power; and end the use of the n-word. He has been a guest on numerous radio shows, some of which include Dennis Snipes’ `FOCUS`; XM 169 The Power; and Da Breakfast Club, hosted by Tessa and Baby J.
