After all of these years and all we have been through together, we think it's appropriate for us to show our gratitude for all you have done for us. We have chastised you, criticized you, punished you, and in some cases even apologized to you for your never-ending allegiance and support to our cause. This is our open letter of thanks. We will always be in debt to you for your labor. You built this country and were responsible for the great wealth we still enjoy today. Upon your back, laden with the stripes we sometimes had to apply for disciplinary reasons, you carried our nation. We thank you for your diligence and your tenacity. Even when we refused to allow you to even walk in our shadows, you followed close behind believing that someday we would accept you and treat you like men and women. We publicly acknowledge Black people for raising our children, attending to our sick, and preparing our meals while we were occupied with the trappings of the good life. Even during the time when we found pleasure in your women and enjoyment in seeing your men lynched, maimed and burned, some of you continued to watch over us and our belongings. We simply cannot thank you enough. Your bravery on the battlefield, despite being classified as three-fifths of a man, was and still is outstanding. We often watched in awe as you went about your prescribed chores and assignments, sometimes laboring in the hot sun for 12 hours, to assist in realizing our dreams of wealth and good fortune. Now that we control at least 90 percent of all of the resources and wealth of this nation, we have Black people to thank the most. We can only think of the sacrifices you and your families made to make it all possible. You were there when it all began, and you are still with us today, protecting us from those Black people who have the temerity to speak out against our past transgressions. Thank you for continuing to bring 95 percent of what you earn to our businesses. Thanks for running out to buy the latest Hilfigers, Karans, Nikes, and all the other brands you so adore. Your super-rich athletes, entertainers, intellectuals, and business persons (both legal and illegal) exchange most of their money for cars, jewelry, homes, and clothes. What a windfall they have provided for us! The less fortunate among you spend all they have at our neighborhood stores, enabling us to open even more stores. Sure, they complain about us, but they never do anything to hurt us economically. Allow us to thank you for not bogging yourself down with the business of doing business with your own people. We can take care of that for you. You just keep doing business with us. It's safer that way. Beside, everything you need, we make anyway, even Kente cloth. You just continue to dance, sing, distrust, and hate one another Sincerely, Your savior and master Whitey
