Time to redefine black culture

St Petersburg Times ^ | Novembeer 23, 2003 | Bill Maxwell

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Each week, I receive several correspondences from black people calling me an Uncle Tom, a race traitor and that sort of thing.

The most recent epithets came as a result of my column asking Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Warren Sapp to shut his mouth, stop acting like a child and get back to playing the exemplary football that made him a repeat Pro Bowler.

Weeks later, I am still being accused of dissing not only Sapp but African-American culture itself. So, the question is: Exactly what is African-American, or black, culture?

According to my critics, the likes of Sapp and the late rapper Tupac Shakur epitomize African-American culture. If they are right - although I believe that some are simply venting out of anger - then I primarily dislike their brand of black culture.

What do I mean?

Although I appreciate Tupac's poetic genius, I dislike his gangsta persona. Remember, Tupac was a violent brother, and he died in a hail of automatic weapon rounds. I like Sapp's work ethic (which I would advise all youngsters to emulate) and his love of the game, but I dislike the nasty image, on and off the field, he has faithfully cultivated.

Again, if these two men represent African-American culture, then I have major concerns with my culture.

Now, to the essential point of this column: We - African-Americans - should strive to be admired for all the right reasons. I obsess over who we are as a people, about how we fit into a nation that continues to treat us as outsiders after all this time. I obsess over our survival. Sure, we will survive like everyone else. But what will be the status of our collective health in another 100 years, or 50 years even?

These are questions I ponder daily. I have convinced myself that the time has come for mature African-Americans to redefine black culture. Mature blacks must wrest back from the Sapps and Tupacs the values that sustained our people during the long years when de facto and de jure practices guaranteed our third-class citizenship.

We must relearn the sentiments of self-determination and introspection. We should not tolerate another black-on-black killing, another neighbor's house being invaded, another ounce of cocaine being sold on our streets, another adult luring a boy into a deadly confrontation with the police, another child lollygagging and never opening a book.

Mature blacks should unapologetically teach the values their elders taught them. Earlier generations of blacks were taught, for example, the practical power of simple politeness. A "yes, sir" still opens doors of opportunity. A "thank you" still commands respect from others. An "I apologize" still forges trust. Allowing someone else to "go first" in line still paints a smile on the other person's face. "Please forgive me" still elevates the worth of everyone involved in a given conflict.

Blacks nationwide plead for economic development, and we complain of discrimination in the workplace and elsewhere. Well, I have a radical solution for many of our complaints - at least where we have control: We, as a people, need to apprehend the subversive efficacy of the intellect and formal education.

The most subversive act an African-American child can commit in school is to demonstrate a mastery of standard, formal English. Imagine a boy mastering algebra and chemistry. Suppose the same boy completes all of his assignments with excellent grades? Suppose he stays on top of current events? Suppose his teachers and principal like him?

This boy would take away every excuse for whites to legitimately deny him anything. At the same time, he would be admired for at least one good reason: He values learning.

Being intellectually capable is black people's most important possession. Acquiring knowledge and using our intellect to better ourselves are the most powerful and most useful acts we can commit to subvert a system that has kept us down.

My fraternal and maternal grandparents were quiet, determined subversives. I loved listening to them talk about the "days before welfare." I remember how these unflappable people put their families before everything else; how children dared not insult an elder inside or outside the home; how doing well in school was taken for granted; how "cutting up" in public and "shaming the family" were not tolerated.

Calling me old-fashioned and an Uncle Tom does not change this simple truth: If African-Americans are to succeed and enjoy the benefits of this rich culture, mature adults must persuade our children to strive to be admired for all the right reasons.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

A cry in the black education wilderness

[jocon307]

"lollygagging" One of my very favorite words. Good post.

MH, submitted for your approval, as always.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

My fraternal and maternal grandparents were quiet, determined subversives. I loved listening to them talk about the "days before welfare."

Education is the foundation everyone needs to succeed. It's time to put the train back on the track.

[Socratic]

"lollygagging"

I hear the the Heimlich maneuver is effective in cases like this.

[mhking]

Black conservative ping

If you want on (or off) of my black conservative ping list, please let me know via FREEPmail. (And no, you don't have to be black to be on the list!)

Extra warning: this is a high-volume ping list.

[Solamente]

Attitude is the foundation everyone needs to succeed.

[Tax-chick]

I remember how these unflappable people put their families before everything else; how children dared not insult an elder inside or outside the home; how doing well in school was taken for granted; how "cutting up" in public and "shaming the family" were not tolerated.

Good article. More white people should have these standards, too.

[gunnedah]

Needless to say this Gentleman will never be accepted by the Democrat Party and a lot of those of his color.But his article should apply to all races and then these problems would be minor. We should all strive for that of which he speaks.Excellent article.

[freeangel]

White culture and white Americans, Eminem, and a host of other substitutions could be made for the authors reasons of why this country as a whole needs to wake up and get back to basics before the sound of a toilet flushing can be heard 'round the world.

[T'wit]

>> The most subversive act an African-American child can commit in school is to demonstrate a mastery of standard, formal English.

Amen to that! I've long been convinced that language is a far more important factor than racial appearance in belonging to the group. To put it another way, people identify others with their ears far more than with their eyes.

[FrankR]

"Again, if these two men represent African-American culture, then I have major concerns with my culture. "

Not only these two men, but it seems that every African-American who has a microphone thrust in front of his/her face, attempts to re-define the Black culture in American, in his/her own, personal definition.

Just like the white culture, the black culture is divided into many groups, from the rich, to the ne'er-do-wells. The only problem is, our media lumps all of them into one big category, for their own purposes.

There are many self-described "black leaders", but they usually wind up being just another "Jesse Jackson", the poverty pimp we all know. It seems that the main purpose of a "black leader" - as we know it in today's society, is to cry "discrimination" and extort as much money from companies and the government as possible using this age-worn ploy.

There will ALWAYS be pockets of discrimination in the world, it goes on every day, between races, religions, national origins, sexes, and even between age groups. It's a natural, human, (and other species) phenomenon for people to gravitate towards people who are similar to themselves, or have similar interests.

In my experience - in the workplace, for instance - in work-social situations, such as parties, picnics, etc., it is more often than not, the black people who tend to "group up" first. They seem to prefer to be with each other, rather than group with the white people. This is perfectly normal, and, it shows prejudice runs both ways.

Defining the Black culture?

Why?

They don't need "defining"...they are alreay DEFINED...they are AMERICANS. Until we all start acting like Americans, as a united group, NOTHING IS GOING TO CHANGE.

Defining the "Black Culture" is a wedge between already strained race relations, and it just segregates even more. As, as human nature would have it, a culture defined as exclusive unto themselves, will only cause other race-based cultures to re-define and become more exclusive to themselves...thus widening the divide.

I think the question should be, are we all going to be Americans...or will the 48 contiguous states eventually become another "Europe" with 48 little countries, each with its own etnic population?

[G.Mason]

"There is no room in this country for hyphenated Americanism...The one absolutely certain way of bringing this nation to ruin...would be to permit it to become a tangle of squabbling nationalities." (Teddy Roosevelt speech, New York, 1915)

That was the wisdom then.

The wisdom now is, the _ _ _ _ _ race cannot be challenged in any way, shape or form, or those that do are racists. Even if the accuser is _ _ _ _ _.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Excellent points. A polite society is a civil society. We've become very course and it shows.

[WomanofStandard]

All I can say is that I sure admire Mr. Maxwell's intelligence!

[Cincinatus' Wife]

The pendulum is swinging back.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

The author has Warren Sapp wrong. As a football fan, I don't see his "nasty image, on and off the field". Intense yes, nasty no. And I see no evidence that Sapp has been an influence on anyone other than defensive linemen and quarterbacks.

As for black culture in general, I think he also has it wrong. I don't know the difference between Tupac and a six-pack, but to measure a given culture by a singer and an athlete seems a bit of a stretch. If you want to pin blame on a given individual or group, I suggest you look at the real "leadership" in the black culture. In my view Jesse Jackson, the NAACLP, and the Congressional Black Caucus have far more influence over the state of affairs in the black community than Tupac and Sapp.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Defining the "Black Culture" is a wedge between already strained race relations, and it just segregates even more. As, as human nature would have it, a culture defined as exclusive unto themselves, will only cause other race-based cultures to re-define and become more exclusive to themselves...thus widening the divide.

I think the question should be, are we all going to be Americans...or will the 48 contiguous states eventually become another "Europe" with 48 little countries, each with its own etnic population?

The LIBERALS penchant for grouping people to manipulate them, has grown old. Maxwell is one black American, among many, calling for an attitude adjustment regarding education because of its effect on quality of life.

[yankeedame]

...More white people should have these standards, too.

Oh, folks of all colors will once it starts to pay. But right now the money, and attention, comes from being a victum. As always,it's a case of "Follow the money".

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Worship of celebrity in our culture is very evident. The main theme I see repeated in articles similar to this one (LINKS at Post #1) is a call to parents to turn this around.

[Aeronaut]

The pendulum is swinging back.

I pray this is true. There seems to be a sub-culture of white youth that strives to be like the Tupacs and the Sapps.

[Wonder Warthog]

"..."lollygagging" One of my very favorite words. Good post."

Well, if we would stop mollycoddling the blacks with "affirmative action" (aka "quotas") and let them stand on their own two feet, there would be less lollygagging.

[johnny7]

“I remember how these unflappable people put their families before everything else;”

So do I Mr. Maxwell... so do I.

[zebra 2]

Very good post. You are absolutely right, of course. I would only point out that you black leaders are going to have to do the heavy lifting to effect corrective action in the black community. In today's PC climate, for a white to comment on, much less be critical of anything "black", gets him labeled racist. Perhaps that's the first problem you need to work on.

[bert]

....Defining the Black culture?......

Within the broad American culture there are numerous subtypes.

How about noting some Black cultural attributes?

From TV news I see:
There seem to be two very noticable black female political subtypes..... those with very short hair, and those with very large hats.


I Have occassion to visit with black male and female truckdrivers. They frequently wear T shirts celebrating a large annual family reunion.

These identifiers are fairly common, specifically black and intended for some reason to differentiate the individuals. They seem to have some cultural subtype identification purpose.

[SamAdams76]

I agree with this column. People are judged - black or white - by their behavior. More specificially, their attitude, the words they use, their ability to interact with others in a civil manner, even the way they dress.

I know young white men who similarly place themselves at a socio-economic disadvantage. You know the type, the ones who are always copping an attitude, wearing a baseball cap backwards with sneakers and baggy ill-fitting pants, spewing obscenities, "talking trash" and showing no mastery of the English language whatsoever. Well this is the way that many young black men are perceived as well, and this, not race, is what is holding them back.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I say those politicians are LIBERALS first, last and always. It's time for people to look at the track record of these representatives not their color. It will serve everyone in the end.

[jocon307]

You are correct, sir! Indefatigably correct.

[JoeSixPack1]

Personally and socially, I am an American.

If I was grouped by my skin tone and heritage I would be repressed in my day to day thoughts and actions, hyped and hyphinated by my peers and disassociated with by those not like me because of a social stigma. So celebrating my "group" would be my only cover.

But being it's BLACK America we are discussing, we are given a pass on mindlessness to celebrate an ethnicity who describes themselves as only half American and endure endless racial overtones of inequality.

There is no other ethnicity that is even allowed the celebritory alignment of rejoicing. Let alone improvement as a culture.

When ethnic leaders remove the ethnicity from their argument they become little more then American citizens.

Aren't we lucky.

[djf]

But there is a dynamic there. Many blacks continually and repeatedly portray themselves as being separate from mainstream America.

Then whine and bitch when someone treats them as being separate from mainstream America.

A self fulfilling prophecy, wearing discrimination like a badge of honor.

[lainde]

bttt

[lainde]

bttt

[Mark was here]

Immigrants used to come here in an attempt to leave their old world behind them, to start new fresh lives for themselves and their children.
Now they want to drag their culture over with them, to replace our culture, and anyone who say's this is wrong, is labeled a bigot...

[cyborg]

Why is it so important to define black culture? The minute it's defined, then that's what people will think black people should only do. Then there will be black people doing things not enumerated within that culture who will be seen as doing things 'not black'.

[cyborg]

thanik you... very good post

[cyborg]

Black Americans have always been here. Where does immigration enter into this picture?

[IronJack]

It is not Whites who are denying any of these things to Blacks. It is the enablers, the race pimps, the gilded guardians of failure who ensure that Black culture is defined not by what it IS, but by what it is NOT, not by what it achieves, but by what it rejects.

Someone -- anyone -- please show me where Blacks are routinely disenfranchised SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF RACE. I contend that that is a myth, and hasn't been true since Martin Luther King awakened our slumbering morality.

I've said it before ... As long as Black culture is founded on rejection of the White definition of success, the former is doomed. Now ask yourself who benefits if that remains true. [Hint: it isn't Blacks in general.]

[cyborg]

Jesse Jackson would be out of a job. Al Sharpton would not have his peanut gallery of followers.

I agree with you about institutionalized racism existing. There is racism by individuals but I hardly think there is a conspiracy, otherwise how would black people from other countries come here and succeed?

The footballer from Ghana is black, he's also fourteen and going to COLLEGE, aside from being a genius on the football field he's a genius in the classroom. Routine discrimination?

[cyborg]

I want to also add that black people in this country were succeeding before they had self appointed leaders and snotty white liberals. The libs have a lot to answer for I'd say. They can't explain who blacks from other countries come here and succeed with all this atrocious racism around every corner.

Frankly, I've noticed how people deal with situations differently. I could have turned around and sued someone for blatant anti-white discrimination, but I didn't. Sometimes it's better to privately smooth things over than get loud about it. I also have to listen to people complain about how white people are prejudice against them, when it more sounds like them being an a$$ on the job.

[Carry_Okie]

I think the question should be, are we all going to be Americans...or will the 48 contiguous states eventually become another "Europe" with 48 little countries, each with its own etnic population?

Actually, allowing people to associate into different groups with laws that suited them was the purpose of Federalism. Pennsylvania was Quaker, New England was Protestant, Maryland had large numbers of Catholics...

Very good post, BTW.

[yankeedame]

I know young white men who similarly place themselves at a socio-economic disadvantage. You know the type, the ones who are always copping an attitude, wearing a baseball cap backwards with sneakers and baggy ill-fitting pants, spewing obscenities, "talking trash" and showing no mastery of the English language whatsoever. Well this is the way that many young black men are perceived as well, and this, not race, is what is holding them back.

Amen,sir! Thou hast hit the nail square on the head. Clothes - and language - have, does, and will always make the man.

When push comes to shove, when it comes to their money, their lives, their families, their whatever, even the trash-talkers (if left to their own devises and not pressured)will trust the Milburn Drysdale-type over the Emeniem-type hands down.

[wizardoz]

I hear the the Heimlich maneuver is effective in cases like this.

My Grandma had a maneuver I call "the circle dance" that she sometimes used. It involves grasping the child firmly by one arm and applying a paddle to the behind, following it diligently wherever it attempts to escape to.

[yankeedame]

I've said it before ... As long as Black culture is founded on rejection of the White definition of success, the former is doomed. Now ask yourself who benefits if that remains true. [Hint: it isn't Blacks in general.]

LOL! No, but it is certain Blacks* in particular sure as heck would.

*(Why is the "B" in the word Blacks capitalized? Tradition? Proper grammar? PC-ism?)

[wizardoz]

But there is a dynamic there. Many blacks continually and repeatedly portray themselves as being separate from mainstream America. Then whine and bitch when someone treats them as being separate from mainstream America.

Canadians do this too. Hate that. "We're a whole different country! You people act like we're just an extension of you, well, we're not!"

Ten minutes later "And then they stopped me at the border and I'm like, 'Come on, I'm Canadian! It's practically the same thing!'"

[section9]

Excuse me?

I'm supposed to accept this

hypocritical steaming pile

from a black liberal who called the Republican Party an instrument of racism and criticized Colin Powell and Condi Rice in almost these same terms for serving President Bush?

From his column of last week:

The Republicans' racist inner core repels blacks, many seeing the old beloved party of Lincoln as their contemporary enemy. Far from taking African-Americans for granted, the Democrats long ago made our quest for civil rights the bedrock of many policies. The Democratic Party is black America. You do not take for granted that which you are. You simply are. Blacks are Democrats. Yes, yes, J.C. Watts, Clarence Thomas, Condi Rice, Colin Powell and others have cast their lot with the devil, but their action does not mean that the rest of us should lose our minds, too. We know who our real friends are. And they are not in the GOP.

Blacks did not become Yellow Dog Democrats accidentally. They found a home, a place where they knew that bleeding hearts would do the decent thing - even if the decent thing had unintended negative consequences. I cannot recall a single time that Democrats planned how to abuse blacks. Without trying, I can think of many ways that Republicans have been intentionally cruel to blacks and other groups.

No one should be surprised that most blacks are Yellow Dog Democrats.

Is the vituperative propaganda of a lawn jockey for the Democratic Party to be excused by one good column in which this intellectual Three-Card Monte dealer burnishes his social conservative credentials? Bullsh#t. A race baiter is a race baiter. Pure and simple.

No excuses. A broken clock may be right twice a day, but it remains broken just the same. I have two rewards for this writer: contempt and slight regard.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[wizardoz]

I want to also add that black people in this country were succeeding before they had self appointed leaders and snotty white liberals. The libs have a lot to answer for I'd say.

Yes. Marxists have infiltrated the African American community deeply since the 1920s. Most of the pathologies they now think are inherent to their culture are actually remnants of Marxism deliberately injected by Communists intent upon using minorities as a wedge to injure American culture.

[jmaroneps37]

As a young cop on the streets of Bedford/Stuyvesant 35 years ago, I noticed that Black "culture" was ALWAYS determined by 12 to 25 year olds,they in turn dictated it to the rest of the community. The way of dressing, talking and acting was that of pre teens.Since welfare took care of most needs and drugs could make them forget the ones it couldn't, acting child like was fun and care free. It seems that for large segments of the Black community little has changed. In DC they are perfectly content to have the government's schools fail the needs of 90% of the children. This is just fine with most of the community because at least the damage is being done by democrats not the hated Republicans.

[AgThorn]

The most subversive act an African-American child can commit in school is to demonstrate a mastery of standard, formal English.

Amen to that! I've long been convinced that language is a far more important factor than racial appearance in belonging to the group. To put it another way, people identify others with their ears far more than with their eyes.

This part of the post caught my attention as well. Efforts to promote such things as "Eubonics" will never help the black child succeed, where excellent language skills will.

The oratory skills of Ambassador Alan Keyes are an excellent example. Beyond his highly commendable moral leadership one cannot but appreciate listening to him for his "command" of the language, whether you agree with his conservative views or not (and I greatly do!!). Now compare the respect and appreciation for the demonstrated "learning" of an Alan Keyes to a Rev Jesse Jackson for example .... no contest!

I always want to "correct" African-American's (in private of course) when they say "Axe" instead of "Ask" ... but never knowing how they might take such correction, I never do. Cry's of Eubonics or being called a racist always cross my mind. But this one word and it's misuse are what stand out the most as an example of learning that this well writen piece makes me think about.

Excellent writeup and discussion ...

[Cincinatus' Wife]

In DC they are perfectly content to have the government's schools fail the needs of 90% of the children. This is just fine with most of the community because at least the damage is being done by democrats not the hated Republicans.

There are a lot of changes happening on this front. Enough is enough.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

When ethnic leaders remove the ethnicity from their argument they become little more then American citizens.

And that unity makes America a very powerful commodity.

[FITZ]

Within the broad American culture there are numerous subtypes.

I think it is subtypes -- just like there is no "White" culture that all whites belong to and are successful because they do --- to me it seems more that there is a "welfare" subculture that affects people of whatever race or group they're in the same way, there is a "professional class" subculture, a "military" subculture, "democrat politician" subculture, and so on,