SUGAR AND CAPITALISM

“Sugar production in the New World was essential to the rise of capitalism. Rather than simply satisfying luxury consumption, a lot of the sugar produced under slavery in the Caribbean found its way into the daily diet of the growing European proletariat. With many peasants leaving the country-side to seek jobs in the cities, there was an increased need for food production and a shrinking rural labor force. The need for more food was neither met by increased cereal production (which would have required substantial transformation in production techniques) nor was it met by increasing meat production (which was basically intended for the bourgeoisie). Rather, sugar became–and remains today– a substitute for real food. Capable of producing increased energy output at the expense of long-term health, sugar is the opiate of the working class under capitalism.” – Susan Willis

REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM IS BLACK FREEDOM

I have long been concerned by the number of Black people who believe that reproductive freedom is somehow a threat to Black freedom. There have been various instances of conservative Blacks group who perpetuate the false notion that Black women exercising reproductive freedom is somehow antithetical to Black freedom, and the overall progress of the Black community. What I read within these conservative agendas is the notion that Black women’s reproductive freedom is a threat to Black patriarchy and White supremacy. These two entities conspire to relegate the Black woman’s reproductive freedom to a location of betrayal, simultaneously posing a threat to the control that patriarchal Black men and racists White want to hold over the Black woman and the Black community.

I have long believed that reproductive freedom is one of the primary ways in which we assert ourselves as free people. As the great-grandson of a Black woman who was forced to have an abortion, I have always known, or rather sensed, that there was something important and revolutionary in our ability to control our own bodies. Reproductive freedom is one of the main freedoms on which all other freedoms rest, and without it we are forever vulnerable to the forces of oppression. I speak openly about the fact that Black women’s writing has been one of my primary pathways to feminism and feminist movement. Enter Toni Morrison. In her foreword to Beloved, Toni Morrison outlines the questions that propelled her to write her critically acclaimed work. One paragraph stands out from the others in its articulation of the struggles that Blacks, in particular Black women, have faced within this racist and sexist society.

Toni Morrison writes,

“In the eighties, the debate was still roiling; equal pay, equal treatment, access to professions, schools…. and choice without stigma. To marry or not. To have children or not. Inevitably these thoughts led me to the different history of Black women in this country–a history in which marriage was discouraged, impossible, or illegal; in which birthing children was required, but “having” them, being responsible for them–being, in other words, their parent–was as out of the question as freedom. Assertions of parenthood under conditions peculiar to the logic of institutional enslavement were criminal.”

In one short paragraph, Toni Morrison poignantly articulates many of my own sentiments about the role, and necessity, of reproductive freedom in Black life. The powers who conspire to deny Black women of bodily autonomy don’t want us to remember the not so distant past in which Black women, and Black people, were the victims of their anti-choice institution. Sexist and racist America depends on Black people not understanding the degree to which they were denied reproductive freedom, and why our control of our own bodies, our right to make our own reproductive choices, is one of the most important aspects of any Black freedom movement.

In my mind, there is no question as to whether or not Black women, Black people, or any people should have control over their reproductive decisions. How could I look at the past and ignore the many ways in which this sexist and racist society thwarted Black reproductive freedom? It becomes clear me to me that aiding in the denial of reproductive freedom only furthers the marginalization of Black people. White supremacy and Black patriarchy have long been in cahoots. This becomes clear to me when conservative Whites and conservative Blacks unite in an effort to deny Black women reproductive freedom. Those Black people who are interested in Black freedom must think deeply about the ways in which their participation in the denial of Black reproductive freedom functions to further oppress Black people. Our notions of freedom in a White racist society should begin with our bodies. Reproductive freedom is Black freedom.

A “GOOD WIFE,” ACCORDING TO PATRIARCHY.

This item was brought in by one of my sixth grade media studies students. My students have been learning about gender stereotypes all year long, and they are keenly aware of the sexist messaging that takes place in this society. This particular item was spotted by one of my students’ parents, while at work, and they encouraged her to bring it in to share with me, and her media studies classmates. This advertisement is a prime example of the sexist expectations forced upon women in a patriarchal society. How awesome is it to have a parent invested in the critical education that their child is receiving? Very awesome.

Sexist 1950s Housekeeping Monthly Ad

THE ECONOMY AND HISTORY IN AMERICA

There is much talk about job rates and American debt. These things are used by politicians to score points and win elections, but I want to take a historical look at our nations current economic situation. America was really only able to succeed because it proved to be a perfect place for mass exploitation of human and natural resources. Those days are ending, and America is in decline. I’m not lamenting this because I know America only succeeded because of exploitation. I like to think of America as a benevolent criminal that tapped into lucrative areas. Increasingly, those areas are drying up. America is America largely because it exploited the free labor of Blacks, wiped out Native American populations, and exploited land/animals. Maybe that’s the story of most nations? I dunno. Either way, that can’t sustain itself, and if it can, not at the same level. The reality is that American corporations may be thriving, but America itself is not. The labor can now be outsourced. So, in the past a thriving American corporation meant a thriving America, but now only a few in a specific company will thrive.

WHY I WILL NOT BE VOTING IN 2012

I have thought long and hard about my not participating in American electoral politics. Please do not assume that I haven’t approached this decision with great care and consideration. I simply do not feel that voting, just to vote, is a revolutionary act, nor do I feel that my ancestors fought and died for me to participate, via ballot, in a government that has become behold to corporate interests and petty demagogues. There are many ways to participate in Democracy, and my way is through the  classroom as an educator. I am casting my ballot towards the future by guiding and training a generation of critical thinkers who can, through their critical and creative facilities, change and transform the American we know today. I have nothing against people who want to pursue change through voting, and I would hope that they hold nothing against me and my particular method of social change.

“UNDERSTANDING” AND “AGREEING WITH” SEXUAL ORIENTATION

The homophobe’s  first problem was thinking that another person’s sexual orientation is something that you need to “understand” or “agree with.” I don’t fully understand or agree with heterosexuality. A lot of it baffles my mind. Do I think heterosexuals should be stoned? No. Why are so many heterosexual relationships miserable? It’s not like they don’t have an entire society cheering them on. I remain confused. Does my failure to understand miserable heterosexuals, in spite of society privileging them, mean that I hate them? No. There are many things that I don’t understand about heterosexuality, but I don’t use that as an excuse to hate them. Maybe I should? Why do so many heterosexual men abandon their children? I ask these questions. Lack of understanding only equates to hatred when you are a hateful person. Stop using that as an excuse to be hateful.

ROLAND MARTIN AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF HOMOPHOBIA

Homophobia ALWAYS has consequences. The only thing different about Roland Martin is that the perpetrator also has to feel it. Gay people know that homophobia has consequences. It’s homophobic straight people who are waking up to this reality. When I think of the many gay people who have lost family, jobs, their lives to homophobia, Roland losing his speaking gig does not equate.