Would African American reparations be America’s stimulus package?

January 25, 2014 admin Leave a comment

Would African American reparations be America’s stimulus package?

By: Samori T. Swygert

What would you do if you opened your mailbox, and received a letter from the United States government? The letter read something like this, “a review of historical data by members of various levels of government and the treasury department concluded that being a descendant of African American slaves that were wrongly obtained, detained, forced to slave labor without wages or salary, and subjected to various forms of abuse, we would like to first apologize with sincere honesty and hope you accept the enclosed check for $100,000.00. We are aware that the reward is meager compared to the hardship, disadvantages, and disenfranchisement that has occurred over the years. However, due to rewarding numerous citizens that are eligible for this compensation, restitution, and reparation, we concluded this amount may help lessen the burden and show true contrition for the act of slavery.”

What would you do? The check is ready to be redeemed, cash money!!!

I pose this question because of a conversation a coworker and I had. What would be the best form of reparations? Would the best act of reparation lie in a check for a specific amount of money, free education, work and live as citizens without paying any taxes, or etc? My response to the question has a biblical basis. The book and passage of the bible I would rely on is; Romans 12:2- “and be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God”.

This is not a religious blog, but African Americans need a paradigm shift before receiving reparations. I may be accusatory or speculative, but I firmly believe that we have been groomed into an addictive consumer relationship with America. It’s not fair to paint the whole African American population with a broad brush, but you must concur that a great deal of us are groomed to be consumers and not producers. White Americans are large consumers also, but they differ from us because they are also largely the producers, owners and beneficiaries of various markets in the American economy.

I feel that $100,000.00 check would be a stimulus package to White America and other multinational groups. The music, music videos, commercials, magazines and billboard advertisements indoctrinate us to be gross consumers. This would be okay if we owned the majority of the products we consume or the sole proprietor of services we patronize. The truth is we do not own the majority of what we patronize. The contemporary culture overemphasizes and glorifies: luxury cars and aircrafts, designer clothes, top shelf alcohol, expensive electronics (new flat screens, Playstations, iPods, iPads, tablets, and computers), ostentatious jewelry, choicest restaurants, state of the art hotels and resorts, hi-tech fire arms, and then all the accessories, amenities and accoutrements to top off our purchases. Now this is not all blacks!! We must free our minds from consuming the symbols and byproducts of success, and really achieve true success! I am guilty myself, if this helps you settle into the honesty of these statements.

There are questions that need to be asked. How many black owned automobile and aircraft manufacturers exist? How many alcohol breweries and distilleries are black owned? How many cell phone, TV and electronics manufacturers are black owned? How many jewelers are black owned? How many black owned precious metals and diamond minds exist? How many choicest restaurants are black owned and franchised across the nation? How many gun manufacturers are black owned? What was the last black owned hotel or resort you’ve checked into? How many black owned fashion designers do you know and purchase from? What quantity of produce do you purchase from the black farmers? If you are being completely honest with me (keep it 100), your answers to these questions should be, few to none. I’m a pretty good dancer so I’m not trying to step on anybody’s toes, but this is done to force true introspection and self-evaluation. These questions also reveal where our hard earned money is squandered, and where we are creating millionaires by false visions of success and happiness they solicit to us via various mediums. These questions also reveal the various markets that we need to begin to compete in as owners and producers. Why should others take from the black community? Why must our dollars be everybody else’s stimulus package?

In the spirit of the Olympics, I would like to make a comparison of the Olympics to the African American community. In the Olympics, various countries compete for the gold medal in various sporting disciplines (boxing, track, gymnastics, swimming, archery, and etc). In our case, the gold medal translates into the “Black Dollar”. The various sporting disciplines translate into numerous industries (fashion, electronics, communication, recreation, entertainment, food, automobile, and etc). There are so many cultures from various foreign countries within and outside our neighborhood. They’re competing for the “Black Dollar”.

The conundrum is we are underrepresented in the competition for our own money. In lieu of the current economic, educational, and social conditions, we need to transform through the renewing of our mind. We need to begin learning these skills, technologies, business stratagems, and even create new markets and industries. This is the era of the inventor and entrepreneur. Unemployment is high, jobs are being outsourced, incarceration is increased, what are you going to do to get that gold medal? Do you have the innovation to create a new industry and market to captivate the black consumer, and command the black dollar? You have nothing else to lose if you’re already unemployed or underclass.

So we need to transform our minds to conserve our finances, pool our resources, plan and strategize. The chances of receiving reparations seem slim, but we can’t let our disposable income be everyone else’s stimulus package. We need to become more fiscally astute and financially scrupulous. If we do not read, apply our education, and think outside the box, we will be doomed to be permanent consumers, and cemented in the underclass. I’m starting by working on myself now. I just wanted to share my spirit with you, and God Bless!

Socio-Cultural Commentary

PROBLEMS WITH THE STANDARDS OF BEAUTY

January 25, 2014 admin Leave a comment

Standards of Beauty

BY: Samori Swygert

I do have a concern about the adoption and embracing of Eurocentric standards of beauty. This statement is not to downplay or disparage the physical attributes of European or White Americans. However, for blacks, I really enjoy embracing and endorsing our cultural beauty. There is nothing wrong with cultural pride. For centuries blacks had to conform to the norm that was forced on them. Time has progressed and the message of what are acceptable social standards has taken on a more subliminal undertone. This undertone can brainwash and condition unwitting patrons and consumers of pop-culture and ordinary citizens, if you’re not careful.

First, black people are black because of the pigment melanin. Second, by nature our hair has the true curls (however society downplays it as “naps”). When you turn on your television or log onto the internet, you will typically see an overwhelming number of images portrayed as beauty to sell a product. TV commercials will advertise products such as hair conditioner, shampoo, makeup, lipstick, and etc.

You can go to your local grocery store and look at the magazine stand and observe the various lingerie lines by Victoria’s Secret. When you’re driving down the street, it’s nothing to observe the side panel of a bus advertising the latest Calvin Klein, or Abercrombie and Fitch display. However, you rarely see an equal amount of advertisement of black women in this capacity. There are some, but the few are not representative of the majority.

Typically, when black women are portrayed in these ads and commercials, they are typically women of a lighter hue. The majority of commercials that have black women don’t have dark skinned women equally represented as their lighter sisters, and let alone the white woman. This is not me talking nonsense, just turn on the TV and observe. Why is that? I’m just keeping it ethno-statistically real!

Society has become indoctrinated with what is acceptable, but it’s based on a standard that the rulers of society dictate. When years progress to decades to centuries, it’s easy to become conditioned and not understand why you do what you do. Why must a man, especially a black man, shave is his beard or goatee? Why is it quietly expected that black women have straightened hair or a weave? Why must a black man cut his dreadlocks to have a job at an important business or law firm? These physical characteristics that may be cultural, religious, or plain taste, have nothing to do with job performance.

Would you rather have a clean shaved, crew cut person that mismanages your retirement account, or a black woman with a natural curly afro that can increase your portfolio worth by exponents? Why do we place so much on the external appearance, when it’s the intrinsic skills, ability, knowledge, and performance that ultimately counts.

How have we let standards of beauty equate to expertise or quality partners? How have we been led to deny our own cultural representation on a day to day basis to conform to what somebody feels is socially appropriate, or tastefully biased? I think as long as you are not offending somebody physiologically by your presence, or impeding the daily business operations, then you should be okay. This means be hygienic in your appearance and performance of your duty. Surgeons wear hair caps and scrubs to prevent accidental contamination or transfer of bodily matter during a surgery. Cooks wear hair nets to prevent long hair from entering their meals.

Why do women prefer a fake weave over their natural God given hair? I think part of this is subliminal brainwashing and acceptance of social norms in a Eurocentric culture. Many believe that their hair texture is not what beauty looks like. This is why Asians are making billions each year in the beauty product industry. Also, have you ever noticed that some black entertainers seem to have a certain skin complexion one day, and then you see them in an ad or commercial and they are a shade or two lighter? The change in skin tone is not the camera filter or lighting all the time. Many times these entertainers are festooned with makeup, and some entertainers even use skin lightening regimens.

I say be proud of who you are, whether black man or woman. A person should love you for you, point blank period! You should be hired, and given raises based on skill base and job performance. We all have natural beauty, and we need to get back to embracing it. I’m proud to say that I’m seeing a lot of my sisters going back natural and they look AWESOME! The irony is that pop-culture is mimicking what comes to us naturally. How many non-black women do you see have buttocks implants, and breast augmentation? How many non-black women are having Botox parties for fuller lips, and go to tanning spas and spend hours at their local beach for a tan? How many white men do you see walking around with dreadlocks? Not all whites and non-blacks want to adapt our cultural attributes but there is evidence of their interest in our beauty. Let not your psyche be tricked by commercials, movies, videos, magazines, ads, internet pop-ups, and bus or subway advertisements.

The take away message is self-pride, knowledge, and ownership! When you own a corporation, product, service, school or institution, you then dictate what you expect your advertisements to look like. This message champions the reason why we need more black owned businesses. We can complain all we want about not be hired or represented equally by non-black business, but until we start running our own companies, we will always be subjected to another person’s preferred perception.

Socio-Cultural Commentary

Revisiting the surge in pastor suicides

January 25, 2014 admin Leave a comment

By: Dr. Samori Swygert

Nigel Boys wrote an interesting article addressing the surge in pastoral suicides. He relayed the commentary that Bishop T.D. Jakes shared to the nation on this tragic phenomena. You can read it here.

T.D. Jakes attributes some of the suicides to a high stress, high demand position. Bishop Jakes said many pastors lack effective support systems. Bishop Jakes also said many are underpaid for their work. Furthermore, they deal with the fiduciary obligation to harbor secrets of their congregation.

First, to the family of these men, this is not an attack on you. However, much dialogue needs to be conducted on this topic of church leadership.

Career Vs. Calling

When I hear that pastors are overworked and underpaid, I get irritated. Who is the employer of a prophet of the word? Can you show me the human resources department responsible for hiring our pastors? What 401K and pension plan did the disciples have in the Bible? (Some pastors do have pension plans now)

These question seem like I’m poking fun, but I’m serious. Many pastors approach the gospel like a career. A prophet’s reward, pension plan, and retirement is in heaven with God.

Who promised that prophesying would be easy? Weren’t the disciples persecuted and killed in the Bible? Did not Jesus get crucified for preaching, teaching, exorcising, and healing? What criteria are our current pastors using to decide if they are called or just seeking a career? You retire from a career, but die a prophet.

If you can’t take the heat, get out the kitchen

Currently, we have pastors that adorn themselves in thousand dollar designer suits, have helicopters, private jets, Bentley’s, Jaguars, live in mansions, and preach prosperity all day. We’ve allowed Hollywood to monetize our faith with this Pastors of LA, and Preacher’s Wives reality shows.

This is all idolatry to be 100% real.

Why do you need a Bentley, Jaguar, helicopter, and Jet, when Jesus the Christ road into town on a donkey? Why do you need thousand dollar suits, when John the Baptist wore camel hair, and a leather girdle around his loins and ate locusts and wild honey? Why do you need a mansion when disciples dwelled in the wilderness? Roman 12:2 says, “be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind”. Mark 8:36 says, “for what shall it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul”. Now I’m not expecting pastors to ride donkeys in camel hair in the wilderness, but please explain how the necessity of luxury brings salvation.

Many pastors complain about the arduous task of pastoring and saving souls but if you can’t take the heat, get out the kitchen. Speaking of heat, let’s talk about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the book of Daniel. These three young men were thrown in a fiery furnace because of their strict faith and works for God. What government is actually threatening today’s pastors with death?

Why am I going so hard?

My father died when I was 6 years old, and my mother raised two young black males in New York City during the height of the crack era. She became a guidance counselor at Andrew Jackson High School, and August Martin High school in Queens while getting her Masters of Divinity. My mother got her hands dirty by choosing to do Prison Ministry at Wards Island (female prison) in New York, served as a hospital chaplain, and was a counselor to the children of incarcerated parents. So pardon me if I come off harsh but this new era of pastoral service and their complaints go in the wind to me, because not enough is being done!

Question of faith

Furthermore, this surge in suicides due to stress demonstrates a lack of faith in the message pastors are preaching to their congregation. How do you take the blessing of having the word and ears of the multitude and throw it away. This completely destroys parishioner’s faith in God. People shouldn’t worship their pastors, but people look to them for guidance. How does a person find direction when the tour guide is gone??

The prophets of yesterday spoke out to the government and ruling institutions of the day. You always heard about prophets speaking out against the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Sanhedrin, Moses going against Pharaoh, or Paul going against the Roman government? Preachers of today hardly speak up to the power construct that holds their very own congregation in subjugation.

Pastors of today have acquiesced and choose to partner with the government for tax exempt incentives, and faith based initiatives which have effectively neutered the church, and diluted the message. Rather than boldly confronting the real issues of their parishioners, many are choosing this luxury, smoke and mirrors ministry that is financially draining their parishioners through tithes and offerings. The congregation needs something more real and tangible.

Some pastors are now spreading HIV, impregnating teenage girls, sleeping with the wives of other men, molesting boys, misusing the churches “building fund”, and trying to get a star on the Hollywood walk of fame.

Pastors must understand that stress comes with the CALLING, because you are in direct competition with satan for souls. You can’t serve two masters. You can’t please man’s desires and seek to serve the Lord. You can’t be afraid to speak the word with unwavering faith despite what society, and the government says. If they killed Christ, what will they do to you? If you have a problem with that, then this position may not be for you. I have sympathy for the pastors that committed suicide, but these loss of lives brings a word of caution for individuals seeking to preach. I also know mental health is a serious issue, but it also underscores the eligibility for pastoring.

I also want to thank Dr. Nigel Boys for illuminating this topic. To the pastors that are doing their job……THANK YOU!

YOU CAN ASLO READ THIS AT: http://allchristiannews.com/dr-samori-swygert-revisiting-the-surge-in-pastoral-suicide/

Business & Financial News

How Corporate Christmas Celebrations are Hypocritical

January 25, 2014 admin Leave a comment

By : Samori Swygert

Corporate America could stand to sit down and watch, “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens. During this festive holiday, many Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus, embrace the blessings of family, and exchange gifts to show consideration of the wants and needs of family and friends.

Corporate America really milks and exploits this holiday season, as it proves to be the most lucrative in profit generation. Christmas themed music, decorations and motifs festoon galleries, atriums, hallways, and main entrances of buildings. Reindeers, stockings, cotton snow, Nutcracker arrangements, and shopping mall Santas pose with the children of mall patrons. All of the aforementioned accoutrements compliment a tradition, but many companies use them strictly as bait.

Many associate Christmas with the warmth of charity, good-will, love, and care. Well as much as this sounds spiritually enticing, there is a contradictory angle here.

Who is Ebenezer Scrooge

Those who are familiar with the movie, A Christmas Carol, remember how the main character, Ebenezer Scrooge was so obsessed with money that he had no regard for the spirit of humanity. He overworked and underpaid his employees. He penny-pinched to the point of insanity. His employee had a son, Tiny Tim that was forecasted to die from health ailments unless Scrooge relented his extra miser-like practices. Three spirits visited scrooge and revealed how his stingy, inhumane financial disregard for humanity resulted in the terrible demise of all he conducted business with. Does this sound familiar to you?? Hmmmm……

HUMBUG!!!

Although Walmart may have Salvation Army bell ringers on their premise, let’s not forget how they sought to deny increases in employee wages. Although McDonald’s may have Christmas themed ornaments on their establishment and food wrappers, remember that they also choose to deny increases in minimum wages. Despite the expected formalities in the greeting “Happy Holidays”, remember the furloughs that Grinch-like members of congress allowed to happen at the peril of the average tax paying citizen, as they received paychecks. Remember the companies that are raiding employee pensions in Michigan and across the nation. Think of Tiny Tim, by remembering the millions of children that remain uncovered by healthcare because employers choose to c*t healthcare benefits to curb expenses.

Remember to pray for the thousands across the nation that are being displaced to the dynamic of gentrification. Remember the poor and destitute as Wall Street Holiday parties flow with champagne, eggnog, mistletoe, and CEO’s receive million dollar year-end bonuses for downsizing.

The Gift Wrap-up

Allow me to keep this succinct and pithy, Corporate America, and members of the U.S. government are celebrating the holidays aesthetically, but internally, they are harboring the same gluttonous, greedy spirit of Ebenezer Scrooge. However, I would like to say Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all with no strings attached. Remember it’s not too late to donate to your local food bank, clothing drive, or give a few dollars to someone in need. As for Wall Street and the government, I hope you listen to the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future and develop a true spirit of humanity…….Fooey!!!!

Socio-Cultural Commentary

Resurrecting femininity in black females

January 25, 2014 admin Leave a comment

Dr. Samori Swygert: Resurrecting femininity in our black females

by Dr. Samori Swygert

We’re embarking on the unchartered journey of 2014. Every New Year multitudes of individuals make personal resolutions to improve themselves. I have a vision for black females.

I implore all female readers to be patient, receptive, and not prejudge what I’m saying until they’ve finished reading this article.

I want to see a renaissance of the current state of some of our black females. Female only indicates gender. I want to see more ladies and women. I’ve seen a generation of females that have lost touch with FEMININITY.

“When they reminisce over you my God!”

It’s my opinion that the entertainment industry has sabotaged our young black females. I remember when young ladies carried themselves with such grace, daintiness, and femininity. That encouraged and hearkened black male chivalry and catering. Young ladies walked and talked with elegance. They conducted themselves with impeccable savoir faire, and exuded finesse. These characteristics were like honey to us young men, it crafted an image that men wanted to protect and was worthy of cherishing.

Currently, femininity is on a decline. The lack of both mature parental involvement is responsible for the degradation of our young black girls now. Many parents are not operating in a cohesive manner to convey healthy and proper modeling for our youth. To complicate matters, the entertainment industry has reprogrammed the psyche of our youth.

“Theres a stranger in my house”

Magazines, movies, talk shows, reality shows, social media (youtube, world star, etc), certain books, videos, and music have reversed engineered the wisdom and lessons of the matriarchs of the black family. True womanhood is becoming an archaic lost science. Much of what these forms of entertainment convey are externally focused, and lack the substance that develops the intrinsic quality of today’s females.

It’s difficult to watch more than 5 minutes of reality shows like Love and Hip Hop, Housewives, and Badgirls Club because I see womanhood mutate to disrespectful barbarianism and shallow, ego driven narcissism. There is a difference between being strong/independent and being bossy, loud and dismissive. This is similar to women saying they like a confident man and not a cocky/arrogant/obnoxious man.

Rewarding bad behavior

Society and the entertainment industry perpetuate the incompatibility between the black man and woman. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED BY REWARDING BAD BEHAVIOR. Why are there TV shows that pay black women to be “ratchet”? Why do music videos objectify black women as strippers? Why do record labels encourage and endorse black female artists to basically strip in every video and pay them for raunchy dances and lyrics? Why must black females pose nude on front covers of King, GQ, Esquire, and Source Magazine to be considered “successful” or “empowered”?

Young black girls see the public attention and fanfare these superstars and video vixens receive. They then imitate it, in hopes to garner the same exact attention. The more lewd and provocative their behavior, the higher their pay and fame. This indoctrinates their psyche as the only method and means to get what they want in life. They either have to use s*x or annoy someone into submission via rambunctious, combative, and bellicose behavior. Ultimately, many young girls are either dressing like hookers or resembling street thugs, and that’s not attractive!

The results

The results are devastating. The black man and woman are being rendered socially and romantically incompatible. This is crippling black dating and the institution of marriage. The sanctity of marriage in the black community has been rendered dysfunctional and prone to divorce. We’re carrying hazardous subliminal behaviors that were skillfully implanted (like the movie Inception) in our subconscious into our marriages and households.

Our daughters are assuming the machismo, bravado, and brute character of men like: Sharkiesha, the girl that got an uppercut on the bus, Jerry Springer, or violent brawls on Love and Hip Hop. This bad behavior fuels female incarceration, because many are participating in acts considered criminal. Thus we are also fostering a generation of THE NEW JANE CROW!

A real woman knows how to smoothly mitigate conflicts and disagreements without “showing her a$s”. As a man, it is hard to even treat a female with chivalry, kindness, and respect when they don’t carry themselves in a manner worthy of chivalry. You can’t act like a man and be angry that I don’t treat you like a woman.

When a woman is super-independent (to the extreme), we don’t feel the need to treat, cater, woo, or bend over backwards because we assume you can do everything for yourself. Leave some room and work for us to do, allow us the opportunity to demonstrate our utility. Historically speaking, the only thing we’ve ever really had in America as blacks was that trustful bond between husband, wife, and children.

I envision a retreat back to that graceful paradigm to rediscover feminine allure, attraction, etiquette and beauty. Hollywood I’m not letting you dictate who my Queen is! We need our elder matriarchal leaders to re-install the software into our black females. Ladies you are more than a piece of A$S, you are an ASSET!

I’m just expressing my feelings. I don’t know the innate intricacies of the female psyche. I don’t like finger pointing, it never yields resolution. Thus to be fair to my female readers, I’ll share my open letter I wrote to young black males here: http://www.kulturekritic.com/2013/11/news/samori-swygert-letter-younger-black-brother/

what are your thoughts?