BLACK PATRIARCHY IS NOT BLACK FREEDOM

If Black freedom means Black patriarchy then let us never gain it. In this case, I don’t care if we never “overcome.” If you are fighting for Black men to gain White patriarchal power, say that, don’t sell me Black freedom when you want Black patriarchy. I fight to make the world safer and more humane for Black people. I am not fighting for Black men to “regain their rightful place.” We should just ignore Black women so Black men can feel equal to White men? What part of the game is this? I want nothing to do with it.

I’M A FEMINIST… I GOT A REASON *in my Remy Ma voice*

I’m not a feminist that you used to
I’m out of the ordinary, unusual
I got a mind state like I’m so great without patriarchy
Ain’t no patriarch in here stopping me
I show no love to patriarchy cause I know what’s up
Don’t care if the patriarchs can’t stand me
Because my mind resting on ending sexism

Number one, I don’t need patriarchy
Conforming to gender rigidity means you ain’t like me
I’m way too informed to be a patriarch
I’m too well read to promote sexism

All I need is a library with some bell hooks and Toni Morrison in it
I’m a feminist… I got a reason

INTRO TO FEMINISM

Blaming Feminists for problems between men and women is like blaming Civil Rights activists for problems between Blacks and Whites. Foolish. Feminism simply brings much needed attention to the issues that patriarchy creates. It does not create the issues. Without feminism, patriarchy would still create the conditions for men to exploit women and “weaker” men. Feminism merely sheds light on it. The voice of feminism whispers to us all: you have a choice.

WORD-WORK

I like the challenge of using the most humane language possible. As Toni Morrison says, “word-work is sublime.”

GUILTY

A lot of people are using Christian indoctrination to numb the pain of their guilt ridden lives. Nothing makes people hate themselves quite like White supremacy, patriarchy, religion, and homophobia. They in a class all their own.

NO FREE PASSES

Dear Atheist Man: you no get free pass because you no believe in god. I still call that ass out for patriarchy. Sincerely, Anti!

 

HOARDING KNOWLEDGE

Everything I learn I share, because otherwise what is the point? No one benefits from hoarded knowledge.

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. ON SCHOOL PRAYER

Playboy: One of the most controversial issues of the past year, apart from civil rights, was the question of school prayer, which has been ruled unlawful by the Supreme Court. Governor Wallace, among others, has denounced the decision. How do you feel about it?

King: I endorse it. I think it was correct. Contrary to what many have said, it sought to outlaw neither prayer nor belief in God. In a pluralistic society such as ours, who is to determine what prayer shall be spoken, and by whom? Legally, constitutionally or otherwise, the state certainly has no such right. I am strongly opposed to the efforts that have been made to nullify the decision. They have been motivated, I think, by little more than the wish to embarrass the Supreme Court. When I saw Brother Wallace going up to Washington to testify against the decision at the Congressional hearings, it only strengthened my conviction that the decision was right.

Read More: http://www.playboy.com/magazine/playboy-interview-martin-luther-king/2

TONI MORRISON ASKS, WHO SOLD THE DREAM?

“Since the murder of Martin Luther King, new commandments had been sworn, laws introduced bust most of it was decorative: statues, street names, speeches. It was as though something valuable had been pawned and the claim ticket lost… Question was, who pawned it in the first place and why.” – Toni Morrison

AN OPEN LETTER TO ODD FUTURE’S SYD THE KYD

Dear Syd the Kyd,

Let me begin by commending on you for speaking openly and honestly about your experiences as a Black gay woman. I would also like to commend you for pursuing a path that has been difficult for gender non-conforming women like yourself. Unfortunately, there aren’t many prominent Black gay women who are singing and DJ’n, so that deserves credit unto itself. I truly welcome your entrance into the mainstream, but I do have some reservations.

Earlier this week, I came across an interview you did with the LA Weekly Blog, and I have to admit that I was disappointed by many of your views. I am not one to deny one of their opinions, as everyone has the right to one, but I was disappointed with the reasoning in which you constructed those opinions. As a Black gay man, I share your frustration with the lack of role models Black gay youth are afforded, but I think that is a separate issue from what you conveyed in your interview.

I understand that there are certain stereotypes that we use to determine someone’s sexual orientation, and usually masculinity in a woman is one of those things, but I think we do ourselves, as Black gays, a disservice when we try to force others out of the closet, or suggest that someone is a certain sexual orientation based solely on their gender expression. Yes, it is highly possible that Alicia Keys, Missy Elliott, and Queen Latifah are gay women, but they could also be bisexual women. You fail to challenge the heterosexist thinking that sexuality is either straight or gay. Sexuality is more than the dichotomy that such thinking relies upon.

In a society that promotes heterosexuality at every turn, being comfortable with a sexual orientation that goes against that will be a work in progress. Would I love for all gay, bisexual, and pansexual people who are in the closet, to come out and live their lives openly, honestly, and free from shame? Yes, but that is easier said than done when people are being shamed and attacked for being who they are. As a Black gay, I would expect you to be sensitive to this fact.

During the interview, you stated, “Do I look straight to you?” in response to a question on your sexual orientation. While I understand what you are trying to convey in your response, I think it is dangerous to suggest that sexual orientation has “a look.” Stereotypical thinking suggests that there are certain behaviors or looks that reveal a person’s sexual orientation, but this is simply not true, and if it is it certainly isn’t true for all cases. There are “masculine” women who are heterosexual, bisexual and homosexual; just as there are “feminine” women who are heterosexual, bisexual, and homosexual. There is more to sexual orientation than how we look and act.

I will continue to watch your career, and I wish you the best in your efforts. This letter, if it finds you, isn’t about attacking you, but rather understanding where you are coming from, and hopefully helping you navigate the often difficult road of being a Black gay person in the mainstream media. Your experiences are valuable, and I would never try to deny you of them, but I would like to challenge you to be mindful of the language that you use, and the ramifications of that language. As a Black gay who is gaining in prominence, you have a responsibility to challenge conventional thinking, but also be mindful of the ways that your words can support it. I wish you the best in your personal and professional pursuits.

Sincerely,

Anti-Intellect