Our Behaviors Didn't Start Out As Destructive - They Were Protective

A recent discussion with friend proved to be rather eye-opening.  When looking at others within our culture, we are quick to point out "ratchet" behaviors and shy away from them.   Actually, I look at these same cultural irregularities and try to reason with myself as to why these things exist in our neighborhoods.

Have you ever seen a mother belittle her child when he/she is praiseworthy and wonder why?

Think about the fact that the smarter, more agile, stronger children were often taken away from their mothers for hundreds of years during the slave trade. As a natural parenting instinct, slave mothers who wanted to keep their families together would only speak poorly of their children although they wanted to praise them. If they spoke highly of them or if they were seen as smarter, faster, or stronger, the slave masters saw more work, more money, and capital gain from their “stock”. Naturally, we learned to belittle one another as a way of securing family ties; not destroying them. However, this learned behavior now has no place in modern day society but old habits are hard to break.

Have you ever wondered why we speak in slang / broken English? 

Slaves would sing songs that would tell each other where to meet, what time to be there, and what was happening after the master went to the “big house”. Many Negro spirituals are actually songs about running away, secretly meeting, or relying on the strength of others. Much of the colorful language we continue to use is “our own language” and it keeps others around us from knowing what we are saying – just long enough for us to accomplish a new goal. These colorful terms continue to change because (once they become mainstream) we have no use for them.

Black Woman: Choose The Struggle That Will Benefit You Most

A picture speaks volumes.  What do you see?

Please realize that each time the black community does something to create cohesion and unite, the efforts are dismantled by the old "divide and conquer" tactics. 

In the 1960s, the Civil Rights Movement was overshadowed by a Women's Movement that seem to come at a time when national focus was finally being devoted to our cultural struggle.  When the Black Panthers were at their height of effectiveness, it was largely run by women.  Women ran the free lunch and WIC programs.  Women outnumbered the male membership as many of the males were incarcerated or slain.  Sadly, these same women would be enticed to abandon our movement in order to join their voices with yet, another Women's Empowerment Movement.  When the buses were loaded and the Million Man March took place in Washington, almost immediately, a Women's March took place and removed the focus from the plight of African Americans and the accomplishment of the dialogue created that could begin to heal our communities. 

A Black Mother's Milk

Recently, I was looking through my InstaGram account and I stumbled across what I thought to be an interesting picture.  Putting aside the obvious celebrity factor of it being a photograph of Blue Ivy and Beyonce, I saw a poetic transition of wealth, power, and might.  Because of this, I was immediately inspired to write this poem.  

You see, a picture speaks volumes, but it's interpretation is always up to the viewer.

Please enjoy this observation in iambic pentameter, but be sure to  let me know your thoughts as well....

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A Black Mother's Milk

Sean C. Robinson

A Black mother's milk is an amazing thing;

It nurtures the soul, it empowers the brain.

It is a natural, sweet nectar of pure DNA,

It connects the past to the future, don't give it away.

For 2.5 centuries, this black nectar was used

To feed master's children: making them strong, wise and infused.

But, at the same time, we were told to stop feeding our own;

Leaving young minds to be altered as enslavement built clones.

You see, our captors knew the importance of connections through health;

How vital those stem cells are to strong mental wealth.

Instead, they convinced you that drugs in chalky, white paste

Can replace your true nurturing when you're consumed with haste.

But still, the most beautiful thing that there ever could be

Is the passing of knowledge to a branch from a tree,

So, let's return to old ways and nurture our seeds

Because a Black mother's milk is all this world needs.