Philosophy of Progress

Today I want to talk about what I call oneTHING-itis and propose a new Philosophy of Progress (PoP).

What’s the one thing we can do to make progress as Black people? Some say, “Do for Self.” Others “Don’t give your vote to Democrats for free”. Focus on Economics instead of Politics. Why bother, the country doesn’t love us. We’re still in the struggle. As if all these ideas, feelings and more are mutually exclusive or have to be competing priorities/ideologies versus being complementary.

I propose that there is no one thing and we need to get over the oneTHING-itis. Instead, a philosophy for Black progress rests on multiple pillars. I propose four to encapsulate all efforts. Build Our Own – Acquire Fair Share – Hold Corrupt Accountable – Live in Prosperity

Build Our Own

Psst! Every country, ethnic group, race (even if it’s only a social construct) must Build Our Own. There is no way to convict all consciousnesses, shame, or beg individuals or some institutions into doing everything for you, even if they neglected and wronged you for centuries. Understand what makes a community or society successful and build up those institutions. Immigrant communities do this. Immigrant communities who partially integrate into the dominate society, but still maintain their own institutions are the most successful.

Acquire Fair Share

You are a citizen of the United States and are due what taxes through government services, Federal, State and Local afford everyone. Just because some other citizens feel you aren’t “true” Americans or don’t deserve these rights Even if they actively try to keep or take them from you is no reason to relinquish your rights to them. Are you saying your citizenship depends upon all of them liking and accepting you? That’s a self-esteem issue, not a platform or movement. They don’t want you to have self-esteem either, then you might start thinking you deserve things without their approval.

Realize the US’ two-party system of government will exist and make decisions about your life, whether or not you participate. At least use your vote, government participation and informed expectation of services as a backstop if not a vanguard.

Hold Corrupt Accountable

Have we been mistreated, yes. Accept as your right to hold those who behave deviously against us accountable. The danger is assuming recompense or compensation will make up the entire difference for the long past, or that we can’t progress before or unless this happens. Or even deciding that we won’t. The idea that we won’t make progress unless acknowledgment and/or recompense happens completely lets the enemy know the easiest way to keep us where we are. No light heartedness intended. Assuming they will take your plea as anything other than license to continue to oppress you means you still don’t understand who they are. Become as devious for justice as they are for injustice. You’re going to have to outsmart them when necessary, to overcome. There is no other way.

Keep in mind they will try to tear down what we build or obstruct us from knowing and building. Progress is an unavoidable ebb and flow even when there is backlash against our successes–if for no other reason than it’s worked to discourage us (trying to “keep” us in what they think should be our place) so far. Waiting until the backlash potential is low is not an option. Too many will needlessly suffer and progress will be forfeited. Justice is not about being liked, accepted or allowed, but obtaining what is our right despite what some may believe and how they behave.

Build the Future

Striving, even thriving isn’t enough. We must have an abundant vision in all areas and believe it’s possible to advance toward it. I can’t believe people say they can’t imagine what our lives would be like if we had never been enslaved or colonized. Really? Our lives and ancestors did not begin with either. How do these horrific events contain your imagination?

There is no one thing to do. This philosophy for Black progress requires all four simultaneous approaches. Realize that this is a combined effort, with different groups focusing on different areas, even at different times and ways. No one is good at everything. And most people naturally gravitate toward exercising their gifts. Instead of criticizing and competing with others, realize that together, people fulfilling these four areas are your allies. View them as such and work with them as if they are capable of seeing this ideal and doing so too until they embrace it fully.

Cancelled vs. Accountable

Cancel Culture is accountability taken too far. But it’s often rooted in justice too long delayed, righteous anger for the rapists or racists who have gone unpunished or unchallenged. If you post or appear on video on social media, the new town square, you have willingly stepped into an environment where anyone, anywhere can see and respond, sometimes inarticulately because their voice has long been silenced. Sometimes, even erroneously. But it is not the tv news or the letters to the editor, where the perpetrator of sexism, racism or just abject stupidity is long gone or far removed when a potential reply comes. It’s instantaneous, potentially anonymous and potentially retributive.

Should you live in fear of losing your job? Is the punishment commensurate with the offense? Many have lost or have lived in fear of losing their jobs being unable to respond to sexist or racist harassment. Are you just whining because the shoe is now on the other foot, and a taste of what you have meted out is now being fed back to you? What you thought was freedom of speech was just others cowering before you in silence because they had no safe recourse, and you, surrounded by your patriarchy of yes men, didn’t know any better. Cancelled? Silenced? No. Healthy fear of being held accountable? Yes. The rest of us have always lived this way, under your prior reign. You’ll get used to it.

Are we ready to make the new normal, permanent?

Hello far lefters, you were right. I’m someone you would label centrist, though I’m not beholden to Wall Street. I am a Boomer. I had no problem admitting lots of your goals are the right ones. What I never believed is that you had any clue as to how to bring them about. You couldn’t get your guy across the finish line. Without a real revolution, the only option is incremental progress, because it is at least progress and will work. Well…

Your revolutionary is here. It’s called COVID-19. In a manner of a few weeks, everything labeled far left became necessary. Healthcare for all. At least $15 an hour–actually a lot more, respect, even protective equipment for essential workers in many industries. Somehow it finally made sense to let unconvicted people out of prison. With all the humans indoors, the atmosphere is clearing and animals are reclaiming the land. Suddenly all the haves are knowingly at the mercy of the have less to keep society running. An infectious disease has no respect for “alternative facts.” Apparently the government could find the money for lots of things that four weeks before would have supposedly caused the collapse of civilization.

So here we are in the new normal. How do we stay here and continue to improve? Eventually, with the help of science we will all be able to move around again, except those we have lost. We’ll return to our pursuits, work, outside leisure and agendas. But we also need to adopt a “Never forget, never again” attitude before those who have lost millions, even billions, seek to recover their losses by herding us back into a pre-COVID-19 existence.

If you were truly essential during the pandemic, pre-COVID-19 socio-economic status is unacceptable. You need to be compensated now, prepared for the next pandemic, which will come, and receive the remuneration which should have always been yours. Those who are still with us. And the families of those who have lost an essential worker during the pandemic?

All those non-essential businesses, many which we all love. The ones that shouldn’t get a bailout from the government. Many of them will recover and thrive. They need not do so at the tax payers’ expense. Let’s see some of that hard work, pull yourself up by your boot-straps from the one-percenters. Sorry, far lefters. Capitalism is neutral. Our problem is we have abandoned our responsibilities and allowed sociopaths to run many of our corporations. We unfortunately also abandoned our responsibilities and have allowed sociopaths to run many of our bureaucracies. We no more need to tear down capitalism than we need to tear down democracy. We need to tend the garden, and call a weed a weed when we see it, rather than plow it all over.

Then we have our citizens who fear the government as much as others fear capitalism. Their solution has often been to focus relentlessly on money and power. Neither right or wrong, in terms of setting the agenda, that singular focus has worked. In most instances, with enough money you can move away from dissenting voices and with enough power, squash those voices if they manage to show up in your neighborhood. This bubble allows you to believe whatever you want to believe about yourself. Worse, it allows you to believe whatever you want about anyone who is not you. Or about those who seek to support those who are not you. And you have let us know that you are not changing. First, you will ban it, cage it, incarcerate it. But if it’s a choice between accepting the changes occurring in the rest of society or blowing it all up. You will blow it all up second.

I would simply say, COVID-19 really blew it all up. COVID-19 reminds you of your dependence on those not like you, the value they have to us all, and the consequences of shortchanging their lives for your convenience when a real enemy (COVID-19) appears. They are not takers, but the givers. And an equitable share is not socialism. But, you have told us you will not change (Democrats, stop begging, just act. Logic dictates that compromise can also be a combination of the worst from both the left and the right and then still be the wrong choice. Choose what works and is effective, despite ideology). I just hope that while you are rejecting expertise and seeing the Deep State everywhere you don’t become the Duped State.

How do we make the new normal permanent?

1) Taking care of essential workers means more money and services will flow into neglected communities, improving the lives and the communities themselves
2) COVID-19, like many other threats to humanity have, will spark innovation that will spread beyond the healthcare industry
3) Technology will expand and can be used to solve inequities for the less fortunate
4) Large corporations, states, communities see they have to and must by-pass roadblocks and roadblockers who either refuse to change or seek to inhibit change

Clues to a Democratic Platform

Clues to a Democratic Platform

A while ago I read an article (can’t find it, but it stuck with me) by a person who used to be a religious conservative and who wrote about the people who still support Trump. Regardless of your opinion of them, you have to accept that they support him because they are getting what they want. The evangelicals have a President and party that will confirm the judges and politicians who will support their anti-abortion, anti-gay and pro-gun goals.

Further, the rich have their tax cuts.

And those that fear the erosion of white power are comforted by seeing Latino immigrants deported and caged, Muslims banned (unless they have money and support the rich here), anti-Semitism, sexual exploitation of women and oppression of blacks — only strengthened by the intersection of each group where there are common interests.

Finally, nationalism and disdain for foreign intervention has taken hold to the point where military leaders are suspect, and dictators are held in high regard.

Whether you think this is racism, anti-Christian, or hate, they support it because they are getting what they want.

If the President uses his position to line his pockets, engages in crime and has uncivil discourse toward those who oppose him only to further his narcissism, it’s fine with them, because they are getting what they want. Some people are still looking for some other explanations to avoid accepting that the people who support him are really who they appear to be and want what they are getting.

The betrayal of Christian values particularly in regard to selling your soul for fetuses, gays and guns made me think of not just how democracy is being destroyed, but Christianity too — how many of the 10 commandments are being “rewritten”?

You shall have no other gods before Me, except fetuses
You shall make no idols, and sleeping with the same sex is idolatry and gay
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, and it is not Allah like the Muslims think
Keep the Sabbath day holy because we like Jews’ money, but not how they treat Christ
Honor your father and your mother, and the land of your birth where the military cannot act — dictators are good
You shall not murder, unless they are foreign looking and you “fear” for your life — you can use your guns
You shall not commit adultery, but you can grab women by the pu#$y and engage in “consensual” rape
You shall not steal, and tax cuts for the rich benefit everyone
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor, but immigrants do steal, rape and are lazy
You shall not covet like the blacks who want everything in the country for free, or they’ll steal it

I hesitate to post negative assessments because I really want to focus on solutions. And that’s the real purpose of this post. Really — I’m getting to it. But this exercise really crystallized in my mind why his support is so solid — every member of a large constituency is getting what they want. Sometimes you have to take a cold hard look at the bad in order to ask the right questions and find the solutions.

So, what about Democrats and their candidates? Do we have a platform where the major constituents are getting what they want? Haven’t seen it. Could we? Progressive, centrist, Blue Dog, LGBTQ, women and People of Color?

One digression. Republicans really do learn from their electoral defeats. I’m not sure Democrats do. Republicans’ biggest fear wasn’t Obama, but the Obama Coalition. A large coalition of diverse interests which if it stayed together, could have swept and kept conservatives out of power. Stopping Obama at every turn was the fastest way to discourage, disrupt and hopefully chip away at enough of that coalition so they could remain in power. It worked.

And the practical thing Republicans learned is to make their takeover of Government complete. Stopping President Obama and regaining Congress was not enough. The Judiciary still gave Obama wins. Notice the Republicans have a full court press on placing as many conservative and even unqualified judges in place as possible. Judges who will still enact their agenda long after Trump is gone.

The biggest and best thing that has happened on the Democratic side is the formation of groups that are doing smart, effective actions that should be performed by the party, but aren’t. Indivisible, Swing Left, Run for Something, etc. Obama won because he organized, not just mobilized (Marshall Ganz). Target specific seats to regain power. Have a bench of people who are willing to serve in office at all levels, not just focus on the Presidency.

But we really haven’t learned the lesson of Obama — it’s about power (of which representation is a tiny piece). And frankly, we haven’t learned the lesson of Trump either (people worry more about what you say than what you do. I’m glad Trump has a big mouth. Otherwise he’d be getting away with a lot more).

But a platform that brings that coalition back together, despite the candidate; just like the right has a platform that excites its voters, despite the candidate’s flaws…something for everyone to get excited about, or at least for which they’re willing to work. A start —

Religious Freedom and Women’s Choices
Equal Human Rights: LGBTQ, Environment
Foreign Policy: Middle East, Asian and African Cooperation
Separation of Big Corporations and State
Restore Government Checks and Balances, Voting Rights and Fair Representation
Safe Neighborhoods and Reduced Incarceration
Combat Sexual Predators and Target Traffickers
Livable Wages, Upwardly Mobile Jobs, and Education
Path to Citizenship
Healthcare, Maternal Safety, and Opioids

Continue reaching across the aisle on criminal justice reform

UPDATE *********************************************************************************

I sought out the 2016 Democratic platform.
https://equalizersunited.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/2016_dnc_platform.pdf
Not bad, need to make it pop! Maybe a graphic…

More detail from the document in 2 images

The Danger of a Single Solution

The article that spawned this post irritates for the very reason that I became more active in fighting for black progress. Everyone seems to have their one favorite solution. And unless you are on their bandwagon, you aren’t woke, aware, or a true warrior for black liberation. And any other effort, in this case the misnomer, “black capitalism” is a waste of time. Since it hasn’t worked, it can’t work. If that is the criterion, then the one true path to black liberation hasn’t worked either and therefore, can’t work.

The stupidity (and if that offends you, it’s meant to, leave if you need to) is in believing there is one true solution. No society or part of society overcomes its oppression with one approach. No community is being oppressed with one approach. That’s the cliff notes version. You’ve read as far as you need to.

The author’s one true solution –

Actually closing the gulf requires dealing with inequities in housing, employment, investment, and assets. This task requires recognizing black people not as consumers or entrepreneurs but as citizens—as members of a society with a national debt to which black people have claim. To access their citizenship, black people need not spend more money at certain stores. They need not start more businesses. They need not settle for tax breaks. The price of black Americans’ citizenship has been paid many times over, and the bill is past due.

*This paragraph shows that the author’s understanding of what he calls “black capitalism” is faulty if he believes it is about consumerism and not about the inequities he mentions. https://www.thenation.com/article/nipsey-killer-mike-race-economics/

News flash: Trump occupies the White House. The racist elements of society have let you know they have no intention of recognizing black people as citizens, dealing with the inequities or paying any bill that has come due. They will lie, cheat, steal, oppress, cage and kill to remain in power. Changing is not an option under consideration.

The problem is not with black people, but that believing the only approach is for racists to change denies reality, especially if they have told you point blank that isn’t going to happen.

There is nothing wrong with black people that warrants we be subjected to poverty, injustice and inhumanity.

However, our response to economic oppression, injustice and being treated inhumanely can be ineffective, stupid, even delusional – even, if justifiably so.

Knowledge, opportunity and growth have purposefully been denied us in many areas, not just economically. But begging white people to change as a solution or before we can move forward, is stunting our growth and progress as well. We have no choice but to develop our own agency economically, politically, in regards to community and family, the law, environment, and every area of oppression, even if white people were to become perfect.

Yes, I can hear it, some of you can only feel free, if the racism stops, if they stop at a soul level rejecting you, and blackness, and start accepting you in how they think about you. Sorry, don’t care.

What has always puzzled me is why so many black people get caught up in what racists think. It’s as if you can’t see yourself as an American until every last racist changes and accepts you – until then, America is not real. That day is never coming, at least not in your lifetime. I’ve never even thought it was a goal for which to aim. I don’t care what racists think.

I only need to consider (not worry) about the few who can obstruct me. But their racism does not negate any part of or my entire existence. The fact that some people hate me just because I’m black, makes me that much happier when my big, fat black ass walks past them unconcerned. Some of you worry too much about what white people think to no useful end.

Instead of waiting for them to change and the inequities to end, we’re going to have gain enough power to stop and reverse them. If you don’t think we are capable of doing this, or your psyche is so damaged that doing it in the face of how they think about you is too hard to bear, you’ll probably comfort all the liberal white people who overdose on black oppression porn and wonder why the poor little black people would ever think of turning things around without them leading the way. Because you see yourself the way they do.

I’ve thought a lot about how to deal with these black self-esteem issues and the need to be accepted by all white people, even racists. But it might be a waste of time. If begging white racists to change is your path to black liberation, we’ve had enough. It’s time to offer the people who are ready for it effective options.

Reverse Engineer Oppression

WEALTH

Financial Literacy, Credit

Reconstruction, Wealth

Buy Black, Create Jobs

Scale Black Businesses

ACCESS

Transportation

Enviro-racism

Fair Tax Distribution

Close Digital Divide

POWER

Organizing, Voting

PACs: Collective, Black

Ballot initiatives

Redistricting & Census

STATE ENFORCED

District Attorneys

Bail Reform, Reentry

Police Accountability

Sentencing Reform

COMMUNITY/FAMILY

Identity Project

One Black Teacher

Role Models, Genealogy

Safety

VOICE

Self-esteem

Mindset

Empowerment

Actions to Take

FREEDOM

Food / Clothing

Shelter

Skills

Healthcare

LITERACY

Reading

Writing

Basic Math

Critical Thinking

HISTORY

Africa’s Great Civilizations

Many Rivers to Cross

Black in Latin America

Black History Flashcards

In each of the nine categories, the most effective strategies are identified. As more effective strategies are found, the strategies will be updated. Links to more strategies will also be provided in future updates.

Never Enslaved Resistance

I think I heard a Wakandan say, the way white supremacy works is to play on your belief that everyone is rational, sometimes misguided and with the right arguments, possible to change.

Soon, you’ll be spending all your time responding to their comments about Wakanda instead of making Wakanda real everywhere.
Their ultimate goal is colonization, enslavement of the mind, even if not your country. The result is the same.
The desire to fix them will take over your mind like a virus, pushing aside your Black Panther Joy.
As computer malware slows down your computer until it uses all your resources, their goal is to make you exhaust all of your resources on them — while ensuring no progress AGAINST them is made. All the while they are making other moves against you.
What you see as necesarily defending yourself or position is falling into the trap that has been laid for you.
They have no intention of your arguments changing their minds, only frustrating you until your spirit gives out. #BlackPanther

DNC, RNC, whatever

Only one article, actually an interview with Marshall Ganz, has helped me really understand the 2016 election results.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/cafe/can-the-democrats-get-organized
Many of the causes have actionable solutions, but would any of them be acted upon. Let’s deal with one in this piece.

One difference Ganz points out between the left and the right is the prevalence of groups on the right which are active all year long not only in their recreational, religious or business area of focus, but also politically, and the dearth of such groups on the left. The right has evangelicals, think tanks, ALEC, Chambers of Commerce, PACs for multiple issues, etc.

The left’s equivalent has been the civil rights movement and labor unions. Conservatives have unleashed every effort to destroy unions and the civil rights movement has waned.

When the article was published the only groups seen with the potential to fill the void, were Indivisible, a group modeled after the Tea Party’s successful protests, as a reaction to Trump’s election and which quickly grew to have a group in every district in the United States, and Bernie Sanders Our Revolution.

Very quickly after the Women’s March, many other groups gained prominence, Flippable, Swing Left, Sister District, Run For Something, Let America Vote. But would they make a difference?

First, everyone must thank Indivisible for holding the line against the several attempts to repeal Obamacare.

The former lack of these groups on the left is only part of Ganz’ revelation, the other is that neither the RNC on the right or the DNC on the left is really responsible for winning elections. They have a campaign and election function, but neither the RNC or DNC really enacts policy or has an issue focus or groups which can sway an election, especially not on the right.

Footstomp: Stop expecting the DNC to do everything. It can’t and more importantly, it won’t. If there is a candidate to support, issue or strategy that you believe should be enacted, you must find others who are doing it and join with them or start the campaign, advocacy or organization yourself.

What led to the successes in Virginia 2017
— the general backlash against the Trump administration, but such backlash has to have concrete outlets
1. More people, especially women, decided to run for office at every level and even contest solidly republican districts
2. Civic related groups, enacting strategies the DNC wouldn’t touch, were successful at organizing volunteers and securing funding to implement their strategies
3. African Americans, especially women, despite gerrymandering and voter suppression in some instances and perceived apathy in others, voted in large numbers
4. Energy for candidates, issues and or organizations at every level boosted turnout and votes for the state-wide candidates (Gov, Lt Gov, Atty Gen)
Some just wanted to send a message to the Trump administration, but that by itself, is unsustainable and may not have made enough difference without these other trends

Takeaway: It never made sense to look for the DNC to do everything. Voting is the beginning of your involvement, not the end. Pick a candidate to support, advocate for an issue, join a civic group, hold elected officials accountable, and/or run for office.

White supremacists shouldn’t worry

Am I subscribed to the wrong Black publications and news sources? So our top concerns are an unemployed football player and taking down the confederate monuments. Yo, confederate monument, why did you disapprove my mortgage application? Both are taking a backseat to the March against White Supremacy even (tangentially related to the monuments, I know). No wonder no one takes us seriously. What about Baltimore Ceasefire as the lead story. Voter suppression? That’s right, Kap told us he doesn’t vote. Try taking a knee next election day. Donald Trump has some more friends he’d like to put in office.

Yeah, yeah, it’s about police brutality or the overall history of this nation. But you have to go through boycotting the NFL and blackballing a player to get to the issue. We allow our issues to get diluted and okie doked. Sure Kap is being blackballed. People may object to him protesting, but he’s still being allowed to protest. Stay on topic — police brutality.

And things you can actually do that are less emotional, but way more effective than kneeling during the National Anthem. Vote for District Attorney, the person who has lots of sway in who gets indicted and who doesn’t. Vote for your state’s Attorney General. Vote for judges, and where they are appointed, vote for who appoints them. Finally, serve on juries so our point of view can’t be totally eliminated. Not sexy, but way more effective.

Want something to do between votes. Protest for bail reform, donate to bail outs. Many folks are imprisoned simply because they can’t afford to pay their fines, fees and/or bail. There was a national campaign to get mothers out of jail on mother’s day and fathers out of jail on father’s day. Donate. Get these people back into their communities and to their families. Protest to end this unwarranted incarceration and wrecking of people’s lives.

By all means, kneel during the National Anthem, or whatever form your protest takes. But realize if every NFL player were to kneel during the National Anthem, there would be zero impact on any District Attorney to indict the next police officer who wrongfully shoots a Black person. These activities may move you emotionally, but alone they have no impact on white supremacy. Often we’re just letting the white supremacists know they have nothing to worry about.

Then you can watch football games without guilt, be a giver like Kap — where he’s most effective anyway, and root for a Black football team owner to come about so Kap can be signed.

Me

Wish President Obama had had time to reorganize the Government along these lines

https://usafacts.org/

Best thing I’ve read since the election
Can The Democrats Get Organized? An Interview With Marshall Ganz

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/cafe/can-the-democrats-get-organized

What to do now

Resistance…Rebuilding…Renaissance

Resistance School (with shout outs to Organizing for Action and Indivisible)

https://www.resistanceschool.com/ #ResistanceSchool

What I’m doing (with a shout out to Color of Change)

Honorable Mention

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BKYE6JA/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1