Your Prejudice is Showing.

We were out at a function together, my brother in Ebony shades of Black and (I) me...when he met a White woman who declared her surprise that he was so well put together. A Black man who was very well spoken. She quite emphasized the fact that he was well spoken. As if to say, that there are not that many beautiful Black men who are well outfitted and well spoken. I may be repeating myself...but the situation requires it.

He said...

Just because some Black men don't mimic the styles of White men...does not mean that they are not well spoken and well put together in their own way. Black men have their own style. We don't go around arbitrarily insulting white men, it shows a lack of class.

She said...

He obviously was not the idle kind of Black man who sat around on every ghetto corner forever waiting for handouts for Reparation.

Oh...Hell No! She did not just start this train a'ridin'.

He said...between gritted teeth

You mean for what happened way back when my people were being beaten, raped and murdered by white, black and every other color who saw gain from human suffering. But mostly by white money hungry fuckers.

Needless to say, my brother in God and I, were instantly put off by her...as she continued her tirade and maligning of the character of Black Men. For obviously, men of her race were all upstanding citizens of society, who never complain about anything or do anything wrong.

He asked...

And...when did she visit these Black men hanging out on corners...how does she know that they are not intelligent and productive...

She further said...

That nobody owes the Black race anything...why should they - Slavery was eons...well, maybe centuries ago...

He said...

Yes...But does it not still exist today in some form...Maybe not the The Transatlantic slave trade, which forcibly trafficked over 12 million Africans to the Americas and beyond...spanning across the early 16th century to the late 19th century - (circa 1519 to 1867).

Slavery still exists within ever race and creed...racism and bias are everywhere...have you not been reading the news...for what that is worth.

Yes...he knows that our own people played a great part in the capture of our own Black people and so greatly helped the white fuckers in filling up the ships over there in our Original Homeland.

Yes...my brother was insulted. So he busted out the Banana Man Song.

Let's get Jamaican here lady - In this case, you represent the 'tourist, white man wiping his face'.

Now...Listen as I Rap for you the:

Song of the Banana Man (Evan Jones)

Tourist, white man, wipin his face,

Met me in Golden Grove market place.

He looked at m’ol’ clothes brown wid stain ,

An soaked right through wid de Portlan rain,

He cas his eye, turn up his nose,

He says, ‘You’re a beggar man, I suppose?’

He says, ‘Boy, get some occupation,

Be of some value to your nation.’

I said, ‘By God and dis big right han

You mus recognize a banana man.

‘Up in de hills, where de streams are cool,

An mullet an janga swim in de pool,

I have ten acres of mountain side,

An a dainty-foot donkey dat I ride,

Four Gros Michel, an four Lacatan,

Some coconut trees, and some hills of yam,

An I pasture on dat very same lan

Five she-goats an a big black ram,

Dat, by God an dis big right han

Is de property of a banana man.

‘I leave m’yard early-mornin time

An set m’foot to de mountain climb,

I ben m’back to de hot-sun toil,

An m’cutlass rings on de stony soil,

Ploughin an weedin, diggin an plantin

Till Massa Sun drop back o John Crow mountain,

Den home again in cool evenin time,

Perhaps whistling dis likkle rhyme,

(Sung)Praise God an m’big right han

I will live an die a banana man.

‘Banana day is my special day,

I cut my stems an I’m on m’way,

Load up de donkey, leave de lan

Head down de hill to banana stan,

When de truck comes roun I take a ride

All de way down to de harbour side-

Dat is de night, when you, touris man,

Would change your place wid a banana man.

Yes, by God, an m’big right han

I will live an die a banana man.

‘De bay is calm, an de moon is bright

De hills look black for de sky is light,

Down at de dock is an English ship,

Restin after her ocean trip,

While on de pier is a monstrous hustle,

Tallymen, carriers, all in a bustle,

Wid stems on deir heads in a long black snake

Some singin de sons dat banana men make,

Like, (Sung) Praise God an m’big right han

I will live an die a banana man.

Den de payment comes, an we have some fun,

Me, Zekiel, Bredda and Duppy Son.

Down at de bar near United Wharf

We knock back a white rum, bus a laugh,

Fill de empty bag for further toil

Wid saltfish, breadfruit, coconut oil.

Den head back home to m’yard to sleep,

A proper sleep dat is long an deep.

Yes, by God, an m’big right han

I will live an die a banana man.

So when you see dese ol clothes brown wid stain,

An soaked right through wid de Portlan rain,

Don’t cas your eye nor turn your nose,

Don’t judge a man by his patchy clothes,

I’m a strong man, a proud man, an I’m free,

Free as dese mountains, free as dis sea,

I know myself, an I know my ways,

An will sing wid pride to de end o my days

(Sung)Praise God an m’big right han

I will live an die a banana man.’

.....

Well, it's fair to say that she hardly understood most, if any of the words or significance of the poem...she seemed quite stunned and lost.

She said...

That White people had been slaves too.

He said...

Yes...Slaves to their own race...slaves to Black people and every other people as well. We do not wish to belittle that fact. Slavery is wrong all around, no matter who or what pigment of the skin. But on what scale is it even closely related to the African Diaspora of suffering and inhumanity of the slave trade...That is our cross to bear...We have earned the right to our rage and silent acceptance...we cannot change history - But we remember.

If white folks enslaved white folks, those descendants of the white folks are free to demand what they please.

FRTHERMORE WHAT ABOUT THE Native Americans...America should, in point of fact, belong to them.

The scattering or migration of a population from their established or ancestral homeland by force, no matter who or where...is an injustice that cannot be forgotten.

Her prejudice and resistance to the feelings of the true history of a people who still feel the anger of slavery was alarming.

He said...

My dear lady...In the future, try not to speak about the thoughts, feelings or entitlement of a people whom you know nothing about. I suggest you look more deeply into the poem that I just quoted. Not all jobs are white, or even blue collar jobs. Some jobs are far beyond even blue - backbreaking field work, sweaty and dirty...yet satisfying to the owners of such toil.

So maybe if you see the brothers taking a breather after...it does not make them worthless...Every race has its share of slackers...don't brand my race as exclusive to any aspect of society's lack.

For my part...I may be as pissed off as I want to be. It is my right. I do not go around waving my pity in the faces of anyone. But when other people encroach upon my rights...upon what they believe that I should or should not do...upon how they arrogantly believe they can stuff their narrow opinions down my throat...they have another guess coming.

I am descended from the suffering of slavery and flung across continents with no choice in the matter.

Slavery never really ended...it lives on in the hearts of people like her. People who live their lives on the gain from the murder of my ancestors without thinking that their ancestors should pay for their crimes against humanity.

They may be dead...but we are not. Neither are their descendants.

Hell...Yes. REPARATION IS DUE. Return what belongs to Native Americans...Make a start.

Lots more to say.

Just look at what they did to poor Henrietta Lacks. They Stole her Immortal Cells, her legacy, they used it for research, saving the lives of many and getting filthy rich. All this, while her family suffered in poverty. Her cells are still saving lives today. Only recently, although they have been using her cells from the 1950's, only recently have they considered including her family in their stolen riches. Fuckers.

Look her up.

..............................................

Truth wrapped in fiction.