I'm serious, I think we need to collectively pull a "Dubois" and get the fuck out of America. granted the United States has created an environment that has been beneficial to a select group of African American men....but in general I think that African-American males would benefit from a few years abroad.
I'm not saying that we need to leave for good, we just need to leave for a while. The purpose of this is to establish a sense of self that is sorely lacking in our community. Regardless of what people say there is a stigma associated with being a black male. In the public's eye you are either in a suit or in an orange jumpsuit. Certainly the average middle class black man exists, but this segment of the community is often ignored. The psyche of the Black man is so burdened by a system that is racist or presents an illusion of racism, that I can't really see the majority of Black males advancing beyond a certain point in society.
The advancement I speak of isn't simply material. In fact I often believe that people make the mistake of measuring success in material wealth. David Horowitz and his ilk often claim that the existence of the black middle class negates institutionalized racism. Well to quote a rather cliched aphorism "Money Can't buy happiness". For too long African Americans have tried to fill the emptiness in our lives with "things". The true measure of success should be how well adjusted you are, how comfortable and secure you are with your own existence, how you value yourself and how you evaluate your self. I'm sad to say that I don't know that many well adjusted black males, and I'm sure that if I analyzed myself enough I would come to the conclusion that I'm not all that well adjusted either.
Where should we go? Africa...not on a Dave Chappelle style soul searching vacation, but as a way to come to terms with our own existence. The reason I suggest we move to African nations is this, in America we are BLACK. That is the first description that pops into people's minds regardless of their race. They see us and they see black, black men to be specific. And the idea of Black men in America registers one of a few stereotypes. The problem is that we register these same stereotypes. In Africa you aren't Black...because everyone is Black. I'm only Black because there is something else to compare me to, ie white, Hispanic, Asian, etc. Moving to an area where race can't be a factor, can't be a crutch, and can't be an excuse is vital to the betterment of African-American males.
Now, I know most of you are thinking, well if we were to move to African nations we would be automatically labeled as "American". And of course you are right, nationality would distinctly seperate us from the population. The difference is that I'm calling for a mass exodus orchestrated by both African-Americans and the governments of African nations. At the very least it would foster brotherhood between the African American expatriate so that they develop a sense of unity and community by being together in a strange environment, and at best the nationality barriers slowly erode and we find a sense of kinship with our African brothers.The idea would be that an African nation makes an agreement with a group of emigratings African Americans. The government agrees to allow them in to the nation as legal residents, helps them find jobs, and embarks on a program to help acclimate the expatriots to the new nation. In return the African American emigrants agree to work, abide by the nations' laws, etc. The nation gets the added revenue of new residents, and African American men get a chance to start off in a society where the stigma of the American Black man doesn't exist.
Now let me end by saying a few things. 1) I'm aware of the fact that there are many successful black men in America, but the prison and education statistics are bleak at best. 2) I'm advocating such a program specifically for African American men mainly because African American Women are doing better than African American me. 3) I understand that logistically this is pretty much an impossibility, I mean if Marcus Garvery couldn't do it, I'm fairly sure I can't either.
Saturday, March 25, 2006
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Black & Buddhist: Why Buddhism is the best alternative for African Americans
While it would be irresponsible of me to deny the importance of Christianity in the history of African Americans, I have come to the conclusion that at this time Buddhism would offer the greatest benefit to the Black community. Certainly Christianity, and any other religion for that matter, can serve as a positive force in the social, spiritual, and mental development of any group, however it has become increasingly obvious that Buddhism can satisfy the current needs of the Black community in a way that no other religion can. The following will outline why I believe that Buddhism would be a good fit for African Americans.
Before I begin let me just say that in no way do I believe that Buddhism is a cure all for African Americans, or any other ethnic group. Different religions satisfy the needs of different people, I just happen to feel that the majority of African Americans would benefit from Buddhism.
1. Buddhism promotes personal responsibility and empowering.
While I'm certainly no fan of Bill Cosby's finger waging diatribes, it is difficult to argue with the idea that individuals need to assume a degree of responsibility. However, I differ from Mr. Cosby as to the source of this lack of responsibility. While he asserts that it is derived from a general sense of apathy, I believe it stems from a lack of empowerment.
One of the reasons that people find it difficult to improve their situations is that they do not believe that they can...or because there are actual institutional barriers stopping them from doing so. Either way Buddhism offers a remedy to this problem. The answer can be seen in the example of the Buddha himself.
Unlike other religious leaders, the Buddha never claimed to be a god, he never claimed to be divine, and he never claimed to have been inspired by a god. The Buddha was nothing more than a man that utilized tools available to all human beings. He relied on his own intellect and efforts to achieve enlightenment. The Buddha was no more divine than anyone reading these words, rather he understood that he had the potential to accomplish great things, the same potential exists in all of us.
In Buddhism humans are in a supreme position, not in an all powerful "god" sense, but because they are in a position to control their own destiny. There is no supreme being that runs the show, a person is responsible for their own spiritual, mental, and social growth. The reason for this is that within every person is Buddha nature. This means that one does not need to rely on anyone else to achieve enlightenment. As the Buddha once said, "You should do your own work, for the Tathagatas(Buddhas) only teach the way".
Similarly the Buddha stressed a personal search for truth. He did not want people to become solely reliant on his teachings, instead he urged others to seek the truth for themselves. This prevents people from becoming constrained by dogma and convention. Dogma prevents people from adapting to new situations and learning from new experiences that might not fit with what they previously believed.
This concept allows people to free themselves from this idea that the forces of the world can bar them from achieving a better life. There is a greatness in all individuals, it is simply a matter of tapping in to this greatness. Granted the journey will be filled with obstacles, but Buddhism will allow African Americans to see these obstacles as speed bumps instead of mountains.
2. Buddhism will allow African Americans to come to terms with their suffering.
The very first teaching of the Buddha was "The Four Noble Truths". In these truths, the Buddha summarized the totality of Buddhist philosophy. The Truths are:
I) Dukkha: All life is suffering*
II) Samudaya: The cause of suffering is desire/attachment
III) Nirodha: The cessation of suffering
IV) Magga: The way to the cessation of suffering
*While Dukkha is translated to mean suffering, it is done purely out of necessity. Dukkha merely refers to the impermanence in life, what ever is impermanent is Dukkha, there for happiness (which is impermanent) is Dukkha just as pain is. The experience of happiness is impermanent, when we are happy we wish to hold on to this sensation, but it eventually goes away, when it is away we want it back, as a result we suffer.
Upon first glance, the Four Noble Truths appear to be pessimistic, however they are in all actuality realistic. Buddhism does not sugar coat life, nor does it assume that life is an inescapable pit of despair. It simply puts life into its proper context. This is what the African American community needs to do with its own suffering.
historically African Americans have been the victims of reprehensible offenses and to this day are subject to injustices. However, we can not allow this to paralyze our progression. This isn't to say that Blacks need to "stop acting like victims" as so many conservative pundits have stated, rather it means that we as a people need to understand that suffering can not rule our lives.
One of the main reasons that we allow suffering to rule our lives is that we do not seek out the cause of our suffering. Obviously the source of our aggregate suffering during slavery and the Jim crowe era arose from institutionalized oppression. During those times it was easy to blame "the white man" because he was the one aiming the fire hose and releasing the police dogs. Today however, the source of many of the Black communities problems is not so easily identified, and what's worse is that many of us don't even seem all that concerned with discovering the source. We seem content with suffering and being surprised that it isn't magically disappearing.
What we need to do is take a Buddhist approach to both the general suffering that we experience from day to day life, and the overall suffering that we feel as a community. Then like the Buddha we can accept suffering as a part of life, discover the root of this suffering, realize that we can end this suffering, and discover a way to end this suffering.
3. Buddhism can strengthen community
While the Buddha emphasized the need to discover personal truth, he also stressed the importance of community. One of the three jewels of Buddhism is Sangha which means community. The idea of an individual path to enlightenment does not mean that we ignore others, to the contrary this approach encourages individuals to share what they have discovered with others because everyone is trying to reach the same goal. The difference is that Buddhism does not require that an individual accept what someone else has said unless they can find it to be personally true.
It is very important in Buddhism to learn from and teach others. Since we can not all see the world in the same way, it is important for us to share our knowledge with others so that we may come to a better understanding of those around us.
A great problem in the Black community is our desire to follow demagogues. Instead of being a community of followers, we need to be a community of leaders. Since Buddhism has an individual approach to seeking knowledge, every member of the sangha has something to offer the other members. Personal insights, understandings, and interpretations can help encourage others to seek out new ways to tackle old problems. In addition, since we share knowledge with others, it is important that the community be inclusive, something that can be difficult at times.
4. Buddhism can eradicate rampant materialism
The second Noble Truth states that attachments and desires lead to suffering. This certainly applies to material goods. Since the Black community is finally in a position where upward mobility is a possibility for many people, we have become obsessed with materialism. Buddhism teaches that all things are impermanent, and trying to derive lasting joy out of impermanent things causes us to suffer.
While I am not against people owning things, we as a people must take a serious look at what we place value in. The average Black person (or any person for that matter) places more value in a piece of jewelry than in a book. Black youths would rather have money than knowledge. This is a dangerous trend, money is perhaps the most divisive creation in human history.
We must learn to let go of our attachments lest they drive us apart.
To conclude let me say that I do not wish to imply that other religions can not serve the Black community. Simply that the Buddhist example when applied on an individual and aggregate level would be of tremendous benefit to African Americans. The beautiful thing about Buddhism is that it does not force people to submit, Blacks have submitted for far too long. It is time we began to take charge of our own futures.
Before I begin let me just say that in no way do I believe that Buddhism is a cure all for African Americans, or any other ethnic group. Different religions satisfy the needs of different people, I just happen to feel that the majority of African Americans would benefit from Buddhism.
1. Buddhism promotes personal responsibility and empowering.
While I'm certainly no fan of Bill Cosby's finger waging diatribes, it is difficult to argue with the idea that individuals need to assume a degree of responsibility. However, I differ from Mr. Cosby as to the source of this lack of responsibility. While he asserts that it is derived from a general sense of apathy, I believe it stems from a lack of empowerment.
One of the reasons that people find it difficult to improve their situations is that they do not believe that they can...or because there are actual institutional barriers stopping them from doing so. Either way Buddhism offers a remedy to this problem. The answer can be seen in the example of the Buddha himself.
Unlike other religious leaders, the Buddha never claimed to be a god, he never claimed to be divine, and he never claimed to have been inspired by a god. The Buddha was nothing more than a man that utilized tools available to all human beings. He relied on his own intellect and efforts to achieve enlightenment. The Buddha was no more divine than anyone reading these words, rather he understood that he had the potential to accomplish great things, the same potential exists in all of us.
In Buddhism humans are in a supreme position, not in an all powerful "god" sense, but because they are in a position to control their own destiny. There is no supreme being that runs the show, a person is responsible for their own spiritual, mental, and social growth. The reason for this is that within every person is Buddha nature. This means that one does not need to rely on anyone else to achieve enlightenment. As the Buddha once said, "You should do your own work, for the Tathagatas(Buddhas) only teach the way".
Similarly the Buddha stressed a personal search for truth. He did not want people to become solely reliant on his teachings, instead he urged others to seek the truth for themselves. This prevents people from becoming constrained by dogma and convention. Dogma prevents people from adapting to new situations and learning from new experiences that might not fit with what they previously believed.
This concept allows people to free themselves from this idea that the forces of the world can bar them from achieving a better life. There is a greatness in all individuals, it is simply a matter of tapping in to this greatness. Granted the journey will be filled with obstacles, but Buddhism will allow African Americans to see these obstacles as speed bumps instead of mountains.
2. Buddhism will allow African Americans to come to terms with their suffering.
The very first teaching of the Buddha was "The Four Noble Truths". In these truths, the Buddha summarized the totality of Buddhist philosophy. The Truths are:
I) Dukkha: All life is suffering*
II) Samudaya: The cause of suffering is desire/attachment
III) Nirodha: The cessation of suffering
IV) Magga: The way to the cessation of suffering
*While Dukkha is translated to mean suffering, it is done purely out of necessity. Dukkha merely refers to the impermanence in life, what ever is impermanent is Dukkha, there for happiness (which is impermanent) is Dukkha just as pain is. The experience of happiness is impermanent, when we are happy we wish to hold on to this sensation, but it eventually goes away, when it is away we want it back, as a result we suffer.
Upon first glance, the Four Noble Truths appear to be pessimistic, however they are in all actuality realistic. Buddhism does not sugar coat life, nor does it assume that life is an inescapable pit of despair. It simply puts life into its proper context. This is what the African American community needs to do with its own suffering.
historically African Americans have been the victims of reprehensible offenses and to this day are subject to injustices. However, we can not allow this to paralyze our progression. This isn't to say that Blacks need to "stop acting like victims" as so many conservative pundits have stated, rather it means that we as a people need to understand that suffering can not rule our lives.
One of the main reasons that we allow suffering to rule our lives is that we do not seek out the cause of our suffering. Obviously the source of our aggregate suffering during slavery and the Jim crowe era arose from institutionalized oppression. During those times it was easy to blame "the white man" because he was the one aiming the fire hose and releasing the police dogs. Today however, the source of many of the Black communities problems is not so easily identified, and what's worse is that many of us don't even seem all that concerned with discovering the source. We seem content with suffering and being surprised that it isn't magically disappearing.
What we need to do is take a Buddhist approach to both the general suffering that we experience from day to day life, and the overall suffering that we feel as a community. Then like the Buddha we can accept suffering as a part of life, discover the root of this suffering, realize that we can end this suffering, and discover a way to end this suffering.
3. Buddhism can strengthen community
While the Buddha emphasized the need to discover personal truth, he also stressed the importance of community. One of the three jewels of Buddhism is Sangha which means community. The idea of an individual path to enlightenment does not mean that we ignore others, to the contrary this approach encourages individuals to share what they have discovered with others because everyone is trying to reach the same goal. The difference is that Buddhism does not require that an individual accept what someone else has said unless they can find it to be personally true.
It is very important in Buddhism to learn from and teach others. Since we can not all see the world in the same way, it is important for us to share our knowledge with others so that we may come to a better understanding of those around us.
A great problem in the Black community is our desire to follow demagogues. Instead of being a community of followers, we need to be a community of leaders. Since Buddhism has an individual approach to seeking knowledge, every member of the sangha has something to offer the other members. Personal insights, understandings, and interpretations can help encourage others to seek out new ways to tackle old problems. In addition, since we share knowledge with others, it is important that the community be inclusive, something that can be difficult at times.
4. Buddhism can eradicate rampant materialism
The second Noble Truth states that attachments and desires lead to suffering. This certainly applies to material goods. Since the Black community is finally in a position where upward mobility is a possibility for many people, we have become obsessed with materialism. Buddhism teaches that all things are impermanent, and trying to derive lasting joy out of impermanent things causes us to suffer.
While I am not against people owning things, we as a people must take a serious look at what we place value in. The average Black person (or any person for that matter) places more value in a piece of jewelry than in a book. Black youths would rather have money than knowledge. This is a dangerous trend, money is perhaps the most divisive creation in human history.
We must learn to let go of our attachments lest they drive us apart.
To conclude let me say that I do not wish to imply that other religions can not serve the Black community. Simply that the Buddhist example when applied on an individual and aggregate level would be of tremendous benefit to African Americans. The beautiful thing about Buddhism is that it does not force people to submit, Blacks have submitted for far too long. It is time we began to take charge of our own futures.
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