Friday, March 18, 2011

"As a man thinketh": Slave Mentality?

My husband & I have the privilege of enjoying a friendship with a very active Conservative named Mr. Ken Raymond. We met Ken several years ago, when I was active with Young Republicans. Mr. Raymond was President of the group. In more recent years, Mr. Raymond & Mr. Susannah were impromptu 'bouncers' at an Elizabeth Dole event when some strange characters menaced the proceedings.

These days, writing for his 'cause' is one of the many fields that Mr. Raymond plays. He actively engages the African American community (& any who wish to follow) through venues such as Facebook and face/face involvement with local organizations. (And every so often, he comes by GTBI!) I'm grateful to have his permission to present the following article to you, which was recently published @ Yahoo.

Thanks, Ken!

The Slave Mentality
Do African-Americans Think like Former Slaves?
Ken Raymond, Yahoo! Contributor Network
Mar 16, 2011

Are There Any Similarities found in the Mindsets of Southern Slaves and Today's African-American Americans?

Many within the African-American community continue to talk about a phenomenon called "the slave mentality." It's a very controversial topic that's discussed during African-American forums, in African-American media outlets, and at just about any gathering where the attendees are all African-American.

The reason is likely because both blacks and whites feel very uncomfortable talking about this in racially mixed company--especially and when you consider America 's history of slavery.

But is it real? I believe it is and a clear definition is needed. But I was never a slave. And neither was anyone else that's tried to define this term in modern times.

But this mindset that needs to be examined and understood by all, but especially by those in the African-American community if certain issues are to be dealt with.

And I think the most qualified people to define the term are people who were former slaves themselves—Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman.

Both Douglass and Tubman escaped slavery and spent their lives helping others do the same. As outstanding members of the Abolitionist Movement, they contended with the slave mentality on a regular basis. And they walked among those that had this mindset. As far as I'm concerned, that makes Douglass and Tubman leading authorities on the subject.

What is the Slave Mentality?

Frederick Douglass documents his experience with other slaves in his autobiography, "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass." And among the many things he says, we find this statement: "I have found that, to make a contented slave, it is necessary make a thoughtless one. It is necessary to darken his moral and mental vision, and as far as possible, to annihilate his power of reason. He must be able to detect no inconsistencies in slavery; he must be made to feel that slavery is right...."

Harriet Tubman, who led many slaves to freedom through the Underground Railroad, said this about the slave mentality; "I freed a thousand slaves. I would've freed a thousand more, if they only knew they were slaves."

Based on Douglass and Tubman's experience, we can define the slave mentality as follows: A person conditioned to quietly, and without objection, accept harmful circumstances for themselves as the natural order of things. They're also conditioned to accept their master's view and beliefs, about themselves, and strive to get others, within their group, to accept the master's view.

I think this definition summarizes a slave's way of thinking. But is this phenomenon thriving in African-Americans today? If so, where is it clearly seen?

Do People with Enslaved Minds Act Alike?

Nowhere is it seen more clearly seen than in the relationship between the African-American community and the Democrat Party. Let's take a closer look and see if our definition accurately applies.

For decades, black people have supported the Democrat Party at every level of government. As a result, the Democrats have maintained control of inner cities across America . And, until the 2010 elections, they maintained control of many state governments.

But let's examine the results of this alliance. According to the U.S. Department of Justice Department of Criminal Statistics, African-Americans account for more than 45 percent of all murder victims in 2007. And about 90 percent of those murders are committed by other African-Americans. And this trend has been going on for decades.

And consider the trend of the African-American population itself, which is in full reverse! Statistics from the U.S. Department of Health show that three out of five African-American pregnancies, in New York , end in abortion. And nationally, African-Americans account for 36.4 percent of all abortions but account for only 13 percent of the country's population.

On the education front, many African-American children, in junior high and high school, are unable to read at their grade level. This has been going on for a long time also. And with the Democrats in charge of education, the literacy rate for African-Americans has been on a downward spiral.

And according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, African-American unemployment was at 12.6 percent in January of 2009. It now stands at 15.3 percent as of February 2011. Yet the Democrats will, undoubtedly, receive over 90 percent of the black vote in 2012.

African-Americans never express their dissatisfaction Democrats in general. In fact, African-Americans reward them by voting them back into office each election year.

This behavior meets our definition of the slave mentality, in which African-Americans appear to accept harmful circumstances quietly and without objection.

The same can be said about the African-American murder rate. However other aspects of the slave mentality apply here also. Many of today's African-Americans appear to accept the 19th century slave owner's view of themselves. During that time, a slave's life was worth little or nothing. In fact it was not illegal to kill a slave whether the murderer was black or white.

And can the Democrats argue that they value the lives of African-Americans when they support and promote the abortion industry, which has most of their facilities in minority neighborhoods?

Frederick Douglass' statement about "a contented slave having his moral and mental vision darkened" clearly explains why the African-American community tolerates extremely high murder and abortion rates.

It also explains how the African-American community can embrace the use of the N-Word within its culture. The N-word carries every horrible, degrading concept used, by their oppressors, to justify the enslavement of black people. And no matter how hard black people try to justify its use among them, it'll always carry those meanings. And when African-Americans use it to describe themselves, it's very destructive.

Slaves also nurtured a concept that told them they were completely dependent on their slave owners. They believed they couldn't survive without them. And no one can dispute that the same thinking was planted in the minds of African-Americans by the Democrats since the Lyndon Johnson era. And whenever the government talks about cutting programs, many black people don't believe they'll survive.

And recently we've seen the slave mentality work through Rev. Al Sharpton. When pro-life groups placed billboards in New York 's black neighborhoods, Sharpton led the charge to have them removed. This places Sharpton in the role of the slave who strives to get other slaves to accept their master's viewpoint and accept their circumstances.

Based on all of this, we can conclude that many within the black community make decisions according to the judgment of a slave.

But is this type of judgment exclusive to black people? No, it's not. The slave mentality is the result of conditioning that's been learned and passed down from generation to generation. And since it was the black race that was enslaved in America , this mindset is easily found in their descendants.

However, if you look and compare eastern European races to their ancestors that experienced the same thing historically, it's very likely that you'll see the same behavior.

What Can We Do About It?

Constitutional amendments cannot abolish the slave mentality. So how does someone stop thinking like a slave? For the answer we must, again, consult Frederick Douglass who said "I prayed for freedom for 20 years and received no answer, until I prayed with my legs." Douglass also said "To educate a man is to make him unfit to be a slave."

Black people must find the courage to assert their independence and individuality in the face of their peers and their slave masters. While living in Maryland , Douglass was constantly warned, by other slaves, to stop reading for his own safety. Other slaves told Douglass that he must sound and act like them. As a slave, Douglass was also denied reading and writing material by law. But he used rocks, lumber, and anything that would make, or leave, a mark as his pen and paper.

Douglass understood that other slaves were concerned for his welfare, but knew that he couldn't accept his master's view of him. Douglass accepted God's view. And after he found the inner strength to resist his peers and his master, he educated himself and became a free man.

Today, that translates into African-Americans asserting their independence from Democrats, who were the supporters and practitioners of slavery anyway.

Black people must also resist the self-destructive aspects of their culture even when other African-Americans, like Al Sharpton, say they must accept them.

"As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he,"—Proverbs 23:7

Ken Raymond is a member of the Frederick Douglass Foundation
~~~

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Amen It is sadly so true.

Susannah said...

Fuzz~ Thanks for reading Ken's article. He has so clearly articulated his 'thesis' & deserves a lot of credit for confronting the issue. He's a real warrior in the community.

Danny Wright said...

This is a very very thought provoking piece. I love it and will be referring back to it on occasion.

BTW, I highly recommend picking up this DVD by David Barton of Bridge Builders called American History in Black and White. He shows little skit with Douglas speaking the original words of Douglas and man others. It is not taught today because Democrats own the schools and Republicans own rubber spines, but there was a very strong civil rights movement after the Civil war that was shut down when southern democrats were allowed back into congress. Now democrats are using that very reprehensible part of their own history to cast a pale on America so that they can use hatred and race warfare for the purposes of gaining power. This is a must have video. here is a You Tube sampling.

Jim said...

“And consider the trend of the African-American population itself, which is in full reverse!”

The African American population is declining? Um, I don’t think so. Any number of Googled sources will show that it isn’t.

“And nationally, African-Americans account for 36.4 percent of all abortions but account for only 13 percent of the country's population.”

This has what to do with the Democratic party? And if the "slave mentality" was rampant among this population, wouldn't they be less likely to have abortions so that they could supply more cheap labor for their masters?

“On the education front, many African-American children, in junior high and high school, are unable to read at their grade level.”

“Many”? How many? Many non-African-American children also are unable to read at grade level.

“Yet the Democrats will, undoubtedly, receive over 90 percent of the black vote in 2012.”

It’s no secret that unemployment is typically higher among African-Americans than other groups. What does that have to do with Democrats? US unemployment rose from 7.2% in January of 2009 to 9.6% late last year, trending very similar to the numbers cited by your author for African-Americans.

“Many of today's African-Americans appear to accept the 19th century slave owner's view of themselves.”

There’s that word “many” again. How many? 100? 200?

“promote the abortion industry”

This is a meaningless conservative talking point.

“And no one can dispute that the same thinking was planted in the minds of African-Americans by the Democrats since the Lyndon Johnson era.”

Umm, actually I think one can dispute that.

“many black people don't believe they'll survive”

There it is again! “Many”. How many? 100? 200?

“This places Sharpton in the role of the slave who strives to get other slaves to accept their master's viewpoint and accept their circumstances.”

Or maybe people didn’t like pictures of bloody fetuses around their neighborhoods.

“Based on all of this, we can conclude that many within the black community make decisions according to the judgment of a slave.”

You conclude, not “we”. And look again. “Many”. How many? 100? 200?

“Democrats, who were the supporters and practitioners of slavery anyway.”

As were other political parties in the slave states at the time.

With all due respect to your friend, I think “many” people won’t buy his argument.

tha malcontent said...

Look at the bright side, in two years this nightmare will be only a bad memory.

Danny Wright said...

The African American population is declining? Um, I don’t think so. Any number of Googled sources will show that it isn’t.

I didn't interpret that to mean in population but instead in overall well being.

This has what to do with the Democratic party? And if the "slave mentality" was rampant among this population, wouldn't they be less likely to have abortions so that they could supply more cheap labor for their masters?

Ac according to the article blacks vote overwhelmingly for the Democrat Party. Their crime ridden neighborhoods are run by Democrats. The point I got out of the article was that even though the Dems have not delivered on their promises of deliverance but instead have enslaved them to a mindset of dependency.

"It’s no secret that unemployment is typically higher among African-Americans than other groups. What does that have to do with Democrats?"

again, they vote Democrat with no result.

Most would not quibble with the word many. It means not all. Would you make the argument that most black's don't vote for Democrats and experience poverty levels that are similar to their white counterparts?

"This is a meaningless conservative talking point."

Only to a liberal. The dismemberment and destruction of millions of unborn children are not meaningless in reality however.

"Umm, actually I think one can dispute that."

One could by he would fail.

"Or maybe people didn’t like pictures of bloody fetuses around their neighborhoods."

Perhaps, but would that logic not apply to Jim Crow not wanting pictures of bloody lynchings around the neighborhood?

"You conclude, not “we”."

Yep, Democrats are not going to conclude this for they have blacks right where they want them.

"As were other political parties in the slave states at the time."

This is weak. With this logic we can make the case that Republicans are just as much to blame for abortions as Democrats. But still if you meant the Whigs when you said "other parties" you are probably correct, but the Republican party was born out of this issue and the Democrats were slavery's champions.

"With all due respect to your friend, I think “many” people won’t buy his argument."

One correct, though invalid, point out of twelve or so? Not bad.

Susannah said...

Dan~ I thought Ken's article was indeed thought provoking. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Please do refer to it, or go over to Yahoo & comment. That way, you can dialogue w/ Mr. Raymond himself.

Jim...see Dan's comment...

Dan~ Well done. (Thanks for saving me some trouble...)

Anonymous said...

I also see the described mentality in the union members here in Wisconsin.

Susannah said...

Mal! My head hit the pillow last night & I realized I hadn't responded to your comment. Sorry! Let's hope & pray that what you've said is correct, & that not too much damage gets done until then.

Anon~ Interesting observation...wonder if they could ever be persuaded to believe it?

Z said...

Susannah, what an excellent bunch of thinking on your friend's part; would that more black Americans would think this way. I think a lot do, but not enough.

My black friends laugh when they hear that Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson are "Black Leaders"..."they don't LEAD me' is what they say!

I got tears in my eyes when I read that Sharpton actually favored getting rid of pro-life billboards in black areas........I guess the leftwing Margaret Sanger mentality STILL reigns? impossible to consider....how AWFUL.

I wish Ken lots of luck and a big platform to get this thinking OUT THERE...this is EMPOWERMENT!

Susannah said...

Z~ Ken is fighting an uphill battle, but he is gaining ground - as are others like him (Mason Weaver, etc.). Thing is, he is such a calm, deliberate person - no anger (like Sharpton/Jackson) or blaming. He knows his mind & he speaks it, unapologetically. You're right - "this is empowerment!"

DUTA said...

One doesn't have to go so far as to call it 'slave mentality'. That's just african mentality; one sees it in Africa.
Mentality can be changed only by God, not by Democrats or by Republicans.

Jim said...

"That's just african mentality; one sees it in Africa."

Does that make it ethnic, racial or geographical in origin?

Susannah said...

Duta~ Mr. Raymond's thesis claims 'slave mentality' b/c his context is the slave history of the US.

In a broader sense, & in my opinion, this 'slave mentality' is simply an unattractive facet of human nature, regardless of the continent we live on. I've never been to Africa, but you're probably right: there are people(s) there who fit this mold. I HAVE been in more 'affluent' circles in the US, & witnessed this kind of ugly, selfish, self-pitying, greed-based, entitled mentality first hand. Human nature is human nature, no matter where it lives.

Jim~ See my comment to Duta.

Z said...

Sus, did you see the STAR PARKER piece down a ways at my place? Very similar minds...bravo to them both!

Susannah said...

Z! No, I didn't see it, but I'll go back & look. Star Parker is quite a lady, & has been on both sides of the issues.

(I've been out of town since last Sat. -- still out of town. Will be back on the blogs next week.)

Joe said...

Black Americans think like former slaves when they blindly follow their new slave owners, the current crop of black "leaders" like Jackson, Sharpton and others.

Susannah said...

Joe~ You're so right...Glad to see you 'round these parts. Hope you're doing okay! Hurry back~