You might rightfully wonder what is he doing on BlackPlanet.com?
(joined in '04, actually spent time since Sep. 07) I wouldn't go to
a Black church social or hang around in a Black barbershop, salon,
or beautician. There are two principal reasons. The first is that I
have grown up and gone to school in majority Black settings, in the
US & UK, through high school. I have then worked and socialized
with Black folks for longer than I can remember. To be frankl, I
feel more comfortable around most Black folks. I have also been
dedicated to total Black liberation for many years and my education
in Black history and culture began when I was in high school in the
UK (there, the high schools teach a *lot* of black history!) then
getting a BA in Black Studies and am now getting a Ph.D. in the
same field. I am a very active in the Black Reparations movement,
and a member of N'COBRA. I teach classes for whites on the evil of
white supremacy and how whites can understand their own white
privilege and begin to unlearn it. I am also an active anti-racist,
anti-white supremacist and anti-homophobia activist.
I am an active, freelance music journalist and critical writer; as
well as writing erotica. With regard to reading, another of my
passions, I read a lot of Black feminism, womanism, critical race
theory, and Afrocentric scholars.
Another reason I am here is that I find the Eurocentric model of
so-called 'beauty' to be totally unacceptable. I feel that the West
African concept of beauty is the truer one. A Black Woman must be
respected by all and treated with dignity, never be insulted,
abused, or degraded--and not viewed as a mere sexual object. I
understand that some will consider this to be akin to "jungle
fever". As a white man, it is not for me to judge Black peoples'
various opinions about that.
I am very much hoping to meet and connect with politically
like-minded folks who I otherwise might not meet, and in general
meet people and broaden my social world.
I am NOT here for the following
reasons (these are all heard or overheard and said by white men
& women):
"I love Black music. Black people are cool. If I join, I can be
down with the sistas and brothas, dude"
"I wanna hook-up with a hip-hop honey like the ones in Ludacris
videos."
"I've always wanted to try being with a Black chick, just to see
what they're like."
"Nowadays, it doesn't make any difference if you're white or black,
not like with segregation"
"Black women have it made now, with affirmative action, they can do
anything they want."
"I know a black woman and I just wanted to touch her hair, but she
was offended. It's no big deal, what's her problem?"
