Denmark Vesey: OBSCURE BULLSHIT ISSUE DU JOUR

Monday, June 18, 2007

OBSCURE BULLSHIT ISSUE DU JOUR

DV.

Put This one up on your site, please. I'd like to see what your friend II has to say about it.

About a year ago, one of my uncles wrote to me from Egypt, quite bitterly. He said: People are so busy discussing and fighting over whether or not the ancient Egyptians were "black"---that they forgot we're still here.

We still exist. The Arabs who claim to be Egyptians have not exterminated ALL of
us yet. Kola, you live in America, you're somebody over there. Why don't you say something?

You're only claiming SUDAN. But that's not right. Your father was an Egyptian.

And he's right. Because of my own bitterness...my hatred and loathing for my father's country...I have been remiss to mention anything about the country.
Intellectual Insurgent said...

Fisher,
"I read through it. I don't know what to tell you and I don't know what you want me to say. It's obvious this woman is in a lot of pain and that there are many sources of that pain." ...

"I know how racist Arabs are and I've witnessed it first hand. The word "abd" means slave (like in the name Abdallah, i.e. slave of God). When Arabs in America refer to Blacks in Arabic, they refer to them as "abeed" (plural of slaves). ...

I want to understand why, throughout the world, dark is seen as bad and white as good."

Denmark Vesey said ...

Au Contrare Mon Frere -

I can not agree with your characterization of the Light v Dark phenomena. In fact. I've experienced and witnessed the exact opposite of what you describe.

Looking beyond the caste system connotations, historic media distortion and popular myth, one can see a world fascinated by and drawn to dark.

Especially women.

If you're already good looking. Dark is a plus.

As far as Arabs using derogatory words for blacks - So what?

All people have derogatory words for others. Arabs don't hold a monopoly on racism. You should hear my cousins in East Baltimore talk about Arabs.

Brother Fisher. Why the lame group identity politics? Why the foot stomping outrage regarding a spin-doctored non-issue like the "Plight of Egyptian Blacks?"

You had to skip over the plight 300 Million other Africans before you got to them. What's next, the "Plight of Tall Black Chinese Midgets"?

10 comments:

Intellectual Insurgent said...: DV,

I've seen the light-dark dichotomy in all kinds of places. In Hong Kong, I watched the most disturbing commercials about skin whiteners. "My friends are so jealous of me because my skin is so White". In Thailand, you pretty much can't buy a facial cream that doesn't have a skin lightener in it. Japan has a similar hang up. In Indian personal ads, the standard of attractiveness is to be the color of wheat, i.e. "wheatish".

The phenomenon is fascinating and I don't think I'll ever understand why people put so much energy into making such distinctions, but they do. The problem, however, is often more egregiously perpetrated by the darker-toned people themselves after they have internalized a sense of inferiority.

That's what's up with ol' girl's website. She's angry about being Black because somewhere, deep down, she believes what her mother told her. All that anger has nothing to do with racism but with her inability to transcend it.

But all this I suppose is beside the point. Those who transcend the bullshit that society rams down their throats, whether it be consumerism or colorism, generally have peace of mind. Those who don't live in constant reactionary angst.; Jun 18, 2007, 10:00:00 AM
Intellectual Insurgent said...: BTW - can you put my entire comment up there so it's in context?; Jun 18, 2007, 10:02:00 AM
Michael Fisher said...: "Brother Fisher. Why the lame group identity politics? Why the foot stomping outrage regarding a spin-doctored non-issue like the "Plight of Egyptian Blacks?""

LOL

It's a Black Thing, DV. You just wouldn't understand...

In any case, thanks for putting it up.; Jun 18, 2007, 10:17:00 AM
Denmark Vesey said...: Michael Fisher said...
"It's a Black Thing, DV. You just wouldn't understand..."

Actually, Mike.

I propose to you that it is not at all a "black" thing.

No offense. But seeking empowerment by playing the victim game is a "chump" thing.

It's a "bitch" thing.

It's a "lame hustle" thing.

Suggesting poor black Africans are exploited and deprived human rights by poor brown Arabs is "an over simplistic and intellectually lazy" thing and a punk ass attempt to validate personal prejudice.

If you want to hate Arabs Mike, do that on your own two feet. Don't hide behind "Blacks".; Jun 18, 2007, 11:18:00 AM
Denmark Vesey said...: "I watched the most disturbing." Insurgent

Nah, Insurgent. I hear you. That's very true.

However, there is a duplicity to that sentiment. True some people consume "skin whiteners". But also millions of people lay out in the sun everyday, risking skin cancer attempting to get darker ... uh ... excuse me. Attempting to get "tan".

First thing Paris Hilton did when she got out of jail was call a Sun Tanning service.

Asians and Europreans may value light skin but they also consume blackness packaged as "Hip Hop".

American men worship like fawning cult members the God of Blackness packaged as "Professional Sports".

Duplicity.

Dark people doing fine.; Jun 18, 2007, 11:24:00 AM
Intellectual Insurgent said...: This entire exchange is duplicitous. :-) This is a line of argument that leads to a dead end. There are those who want to be lighter. There are others who want to be darker. There are racists.

And, we still end up at the same place. So what?; Jun 18, 2007, 12:49:00 PM
Anonymous said...: I went and saw the King Tut exhibit when it came to Los Angeles. One thing that struck me was a walking cane that Tut used. The semi-circle handle depicted a Black Sudanese being bent backwards, demonstrating the dominance of the Egyptians over their southern neighbors.

I struggle to understand why so many black people are so intent on claiming the ancient Egyptians were "black." I'm sure some were and some were not. Sadat sure looked black to me. So does Mbarak. So do many of the Saudis. The fact is that Arabs in that area enslaved black Africans and everyone mixed. When I was in college, students who never even came to class would get all huffy if a professor challenged them on this issue. Who cares? What difference does that make to me now?

As far as the light/dark thing, hot is hot to me. I don't care what color someone is. As for myself, you best believe I floss my fully-blown melanin tone with pride. "I'm dead sexy, baby."; Jun 18, 2007, 1:05:00 PM
Intellectual Insurgent said...: The problem with the entire approach is that race is a false construct. Ask an Arab who is Arab. No one will agree. If there is a definitive answer, it lies in cultural connections, not racial ones. As you point out J, 99.9% of people on earth are mixed.

Black folks in America have different origins. One of my girls who is Black has recently discovered that her father really isn't Black. Mostly Creole and Native tribe of some sort.

Race is a construct for those who want to play master-servant in the world.; Jun 18, 2007, 1:22:00 PM
Michael Fisher said...: DV said...

"Suggesting poor black Africans are exploited and deprived human rights by poor brown Arabs is "an over simplistic and intellectually lazy" thing and a punk ass attempt to validate personal prejudice."

Ok. Then why don't you take this up with Dr. Clarke...

"Now, I challenge Farrakhan to march on the Arab embassies that have re-started the slave trade in Africa - the Sudan and Mauritania. If he and the rest of the Muslims are not ready to deal with the slave trade in Africa, they are cowards and hypocrites. In the new slave trade in Africa they are not only killing African men, they are working African women in the field during the day and using them sexually at night. The children are being trained as prostitutes and concubines. The young men, mutilated. Africans are being driven out of Mauritania who are Muslims. Because they don’t only want this to be a Muslim country, [but] an Arab Muslim country. Farrakhan has not said one word about this because he is bought and paid for by fundamentalist Arabs. And tell him to prove me wrong. Tell anybody to prove me wrong. Why, he had nothing to say about that."

So, DV.

Was Dr. Clarke a "Punk Ass" trying to validate a personal prejudice?

http://assaultonblacksanity.blogspot.com/2007/03/john-henrik-clarke-on-louis-farrakhan_21.html; Jun 18, 2007, 1:37:00 PM
Michael Fisher said...: DV. What happened?

Cat stole ya keyboard?; Jun 19, 2007, 2:55:00 PM