“Will this Ezine Not only Express Black Opinions but Dispell Prejudice?” – Part 2

Hi, I didn’t ignore your message.  There were 2 things going on – 1) I’m so into developing Idaberry, and 2) my brain had to wrap around a reply to your question.

I think the fact that I admitted my brain had to wrap is unusual for most people.  So that’s part of what Idaberry will do – be honest, even with the warts.

The goal is to have a weekly black news magazine, ezine and/or hard copy.  Currently, there are none.  Think Newsweek or Times with flava.  What some of the mag will include is already on the site, others are coming.  It’s a slow process.  Guess I could have waited until it was all together and then went, see!  But i’m enjoying this process + even after it gets to the see! stage, there will be growth changes.  So everyone gets to come along for the ride.  And since the site is averaging 600-1000 hits during the week I’m guessing we haven’t pissed off too many people.  Actually I hope we have.  When you’re pissed, you think.

Okay to the race issue.  I HAVE NEVER FELT FREE IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.  Never, ever.  And yes, that is a commentary to come. I have felt close to free, consider myself closer to free than most blacks, but 100%.  No.

Almost everything, and that is about 99.99999% of  our actions and reactions are raced base.  That’s hard for most people to understand, let along accept, but it’s true.  We act and react based on our experiences.  Our experiences are greatly influenced from what has come before us.  What has come before us is a systemic system of race and privilege.  What continues to come and will come is a systemic system of race and privilege.  YES, IDABERRY WANTS TO NIP SOME, IF NOT ALL, OF THAT IN THE BUD.  But it just one other person gets it, it’s considered a success.  Think pebble in the pond.

Most people of color get that what happens in the U.S. and other parts of the world is race and privilege based.  They see it when it happens.  They know it when it happens.  But the vast majority of what happens is subliminal and you don’t realize it’s happened or that you’re now affected.  You just react, unconsciously.  And the system continues to perpetuate.  Idaberry will continually put a light on the subliminals we’re exposed to.  Knowledge is power.

Which leads to the next Idaberry goal – We want that knowledge to empower.  When you know what you’re dealing with, it’s easier to deal.  When you know you’re dealing with more than you thought you were, you become more aware.  The more aware, the less times you have to deal.  So “putting it in the light” is the best defuser.  Takes away the power.

Unfortunately many people don’t want to be empowered.  Their lip service doesn’t match their real actions.  Why?  Two reasons.  One because it feels easier to stand still than move – in any direction.  Cuz with the former you can blame others for your lacks.  With the latter, you can only blame yourself – you made the choice to move and in what direction?  That’s a heady responsibility.  More so because it comes from fear and part of the fear is again subliminal instilled because of the systemic race and privilege in this society.  Two, you tired.  Every time you’ve tried you get beat down.  One step forward, three steps back.  No steps forward, two steps back.  Why try.  At least if you stand still you don’t lose the little ground you have.  Can’t really blame them.

I choose not, and Idaberry refuses, to not be empowered.  Analogy – you lose your leg.  It ain’t coming back.  You will always be without a leg.  You will always be looked at as a paraplegic.  Limited.  You will be discriminated against.  Your choice – accept society’s limited ceiling for you or say f’ that and create your own ceiling – Which may not be their’s or where you thought you’d be but something totally new.  And that’s okay cuz it’s your ceiling – from your design.  That’s freedom.

THAT’S WHAT IDABERRY WANTS TO DO.  Give freedom, especially for blacks.  It’s not always easy.  There’s too much against us.  But heck I still have to smile when I catch a new subliminal that made me react the old way.

So Idaberry’s message:  This society is racist.  Don’t get over, don’t get even, don’t ignore, GET UP.

Now does this dispel prejudice?  I believe so.  No, I know so.  Why?

1.                    The freer you feel, the less you blame others, especially whites, for limitations.  Doesn’t take the onus of their actions off – when they’re wrong, they’re wrong.  Just choose not to focus on their onus, but your own a##.

2.                   Although whites enjoy a position of societal privilege and, like most people in power, reluctantly give it up or share (now that’s the biggest affirmative action program), I naively also believe they don’t want to perpetuate racism, or that most people want to do that, regardless of color.  Probably is very naive, but que sera.  So exposing the subliminals also can influence a change for the better in not just blacks, but all of us.  Which in turn eventually makes a better society.  But if it doesn’t, and you’re empowering your thing, you’re taking care of yourself and thus improving your world and those in it.  That’s a good thing.

Next, to the last point, although Idaberry has flava it’s not just for black folks.  There will be a lot of general information in there.  And for other folks to not read it or choose not to do so because it has flava, is like me not reading Newsweek or time because it doesn’t.  It’s not just for white folks.  News is news.  Some folks are liberal, some folks are conservative, some folks are flavaful, some folks are tight.  It all is.  Just is.

Finally, a very important point for Idaberry is to call a spade a spade.  Just cuz we have flava does not mean, and will never mean, blacks are always right and everyone else is wrong.  NOT!  So our approach is hopefully balanced and fair, presenting both sides of issues.  Even when that stings.

Okay, that’s it.