Re: To Rootswoman and those who feel insulted
Posted By: ROOTSWOMAN
Date: Thursday, 28 August 2003, at 10:15 p.m.
In Response To: Re: To Rootswoman and those who feel insulted (Bantu-Kelani)

I would like to ask you to please point out where myself or anyone has made such a statement. Where have we denied that darker skinned Afrikans aren't "enemy number one"? Where have we promoted the leadership of light skinned Afrikans as opposed, or to the exlusion of our darker skinned Afrikans???? Where have we not admitted that of course, under a white supremist system, the darker you are, the more you suffer the injustices of this world order? Where have we ever said "Afrikan movements need to be led by lighter skinned AFrikans?"

Rootswoman: Quote

My point continues to be that for us to bicker about degrees of melanin as the measuring stick for INTEGRITY, LOYALTY is simply a direct result of Willy Lynchism and regurgitation of an Apartheid System and mentality.
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As was pointed out on numerous occasions, I defined a real black. On the 15th in a response to Selassielive and in several other posts I mentioned that a real black person meant an INFORMED/ ENLIGHTENED dark-skinned person.

INFORMED DARK-SKINNED AFRICAN PEOPLE in my opinion are suitably qualified to lead movements to end racism, gender discrimination and white privilege because,

a) it affects them the most, and

b) having the deepest experiences and being well informed through their own efforts and the efforts of others they thus become suitably qualified to lead such a move.

NOWHERE IN ANY OF MY POSTS DID I SUGGEST THAT PEOPLE SHOULD BE SELECTED OR INTEGRITY COULD BE ASSESSED BASED ON THE COLOR OF SOMEONE'S SKIN. I DEEM THIS AN ERROR IN READING ALL MY POSTS ON THE BOARD OR AN ATTEMPT AT DELIBERATE DISTORTION FOR ONES OWN UNREASON.

This is similar to the reaction of many whites that do not like addressing racism and their own privileges.

The point is it seems that some people are having real problems with real Black empowerment. They say it, but what they really mean is to fight for the material benefits of mixed race people some of whom feel they are closer aligned to Whites. Some try to conceal their privileges in the system; their 'racist' undertones and POOR conduct under their claim to being Black. All attempts to spin these issues will not change that fact.

Calling this reasoning divisive is similar to the reaction of many Whites who feel that discussing racism is being divisive. We should all say one love and move on.

My point is again, WHO FEELS IT THE MOST DIRECTLY, KNOWS IT THE MOST.

I am not clarifying this point any further while there is still much knee-jerk reactions to what is an indisputable fact and I see no need to respond to distortions and other attempts to distract from this issue.