As a grown man in 2014, the one thing that doesn’t surprise me at all is racism, no matter how outlandish it is. I’ve read about and witnessed far too much to pretend it’s not a serious issue, and to act like there isn’t tons of precedent for people’s intolerance. So when Belgian newspaper, De Morgen, published pictures of the Obama’s depicted as apes (days ahead of Obama’s expected visit to the country), I couldn’t help being bewildered by their audacity.
![uptown de morgen obama apes]( "de morgen obama apes")
Yesterday, the newspaper apologized for their actions, but I for one don’t want any apology from them because they knew what they were doing and they did it on purpose. But their actions have revealed something that should frighten most Black folks who believe our collective freedom can be achieved by respectable integration into a xenophobic society full of white privilege: No matter how high you rise, you can always be considered nothing but a low-class nigger.
Sometimes people think I’m into being a radical revolutionary, but I’m not that at all (at least I don’t think I am). I’m just a man who believes that power is something you don’t ask for, you fight for it. No disenfranchised group in the history of the world achieved socioeconomic autonomy simply by asking their oppressors to be nicer. This doesn’t mean that physical confrontations must be had, but it means that you definitely have to be willing to independently build your own power structure.
But if you listen carefully to the Don Lemon‘s and the John Ridley‘s of the world, they will attempt to convince you that the reason Black folks haven’t achieved social equality is because we haven’t become “respectable” enough as a community. Some of us still sag our pants, litter, listen to rap, complain about police brutality and have babies out of wedlock (all things these people claim are “holding us back” from inclusion). If we cleaned up our act as a collective group, we would be welcomed with warm hugs into the inner-circles of polite, white society. Not only would we start getting the careers we want and living in the neighborhoods we desire, but we would see racism disappear because we would be good people – not niggers. While Ridley and Lemon represent the extreme of that view, there are many Black folks who feel that our frowsy actions almost justify the racism we face – and it’s those people who should be SCARED TO DEATH to see the Obamas’ faces and this kind of racism.
Barack Obama is the President of the United States and Michelle Obama is the first lady. They are supremely educated, refined, down to Earth and “polished” – yet no First Family has had to deal with prejudice on the level they’ve faced at any time in history. We can chalk it up to the belief that birthers aren’t racist – they are just concerned citizens, and attempt to think that Obama’s policies are the sole reason he gets criticized – but people with sense know better. As long as your skin is Black, you are liable to be seen as nothing more than a criminalistic, bottom of the barrel nigger. And no matter how much we believe we can change people’s minds through our “proper” behavior, the truth is it doesn’t matter what music we listen to, how we dress, how we talk or what letters we have after our name – our Black skin will forever unite us in being on the receiving end of pathetic and systemic prejudice.
LAB
Lincoln Anthony Blades blogs daily on his site ThisIsYourConscience.com, he’s an author of the book “You’re Not A Victim, You’re A Volunteer” and a weekly contributor for UPTOWN Magazine. He can be reached via Twitter @lincolnablades and on Facebook at This Is Your Conscience.