Mark Gunn Media Inc. has launched “The
My N***a ? NO ! Initiative”. It’s designed to get people of all races to
examine the word "N***a", the stupid double standard employed by Blacks
and to end the vicious cycle of psychological damage it causes to all of us.
I want to direct this to my Brothers
and Sisters who believe that there is nothing wrong with referring to
each other as “n***as” and my White Brothers & Sisters who feel
entitled to do the same because of the 1st Amendment.
Let’s say that “n***a” is a term
of endearment and is meant with the utmost respect. Let’s say that
this “truism” reaches as far back as say, The Civil Rights
Movement and for the sake of this article, let’s say that it’s so
accepted within the Black Community, that it was commonly used in our
writings, and other forms of self - expression.
Can you imagine what some of our
greatest Civil Rights champions would’ve been like ? I’m old
enough to remember several speeches by Malcolm X. One of his most
impactful might’ve gone something like...
“We declare our right on this earth to be man my n***as, to be a human being, my n***as, to be given the rights of a human being, my n***as, to be respected as a human being on this earth, in this day,
which we intend to bring into existence by any means necessary."
How about in the midst of the “Black
Power/Black Is Beautiful” Revolution ? Millions of young, gifted
and Black men and women openly fought racism by showing us how
beautiful we really are. One of the most memorable protest chants was
about the leader of the Black Panthers, Huey P. Newton.
“Black is beautiful !
my n***as ! Set our warrior free ! FREE HUEY !”
How about a little more recent history,
when in 2008, Barack Obama became the first Black man to ever become
President Of The United States. I remember the acceptance speech he
gave that night. It raised the hopes of an entire nation, and some
would even say the entire world. What impact would that speech have
had had he said...
“We are the n***as
we’ve been waiting for ! Our time is now
my n***as !”
There are those in the Black Community
who continue to strengthen the chains of mental slavery by
identifying themselves with their oppressors. Academics call this a
part of “Post - Slavery Traumatic Stress Disorder”. I mean, this
has to be a part of a mental illness because who in their right mind
would CHOOSE to identify themselves with a word rooted in death
itself. A little history. The Greek word
“necro” means “death”. Do the homework for yourself.
Carter G. Woodson wrote that “The
Negro’s mind had been brought under the control of his oppressor,
and when you control a man’s thinking, you do not have to worry
about his actions.”
Having said that, some of are engaged
in a battle of self - delusion and self - destruction. They seem to
think that they can take a word with over 400 years of hatred and
horror associated with it and flip it’s definition within a few
generations.
W.E. B. Dubois spoke of a “double
consciousness” that exists within the collective psyche of Africans
In America. It speaks to the confusion experienced everyday while we
continue to search for our own history and identity. It speaks to why
we tend to adopt the worst aspects of our oppressors and embrace them
as being worthy of us.
How has the fictional character “Tony
Montana” become such a fixture in rap music. When did doing time in prison become a badge of honor for some of us ? The objectification
and glorification of Black women as “video vixens” being seen by
some as the epitome of Black Womanhood. Disrespecting each other by
portraying academic achievement “selling out” or “trying to be
White”.
Gershom Williams, Professor of African
- American History at Mesa Community College notes:
142 years after the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment, ending chattel slavery in this country, we’re still calling each other “n***as”.
85 years after Marcus Garvey, the
Harlem Renaissance and the “New Negro” consciousness movement,
we’re still calling each other “n***as”.
50 years after the landmark Supreme
Court Case, “Brown vs. Board Of Education”, Emmitt Till’s
lynching and Rosa Park’s bus protest, we’re still calling each
other “n***as”.
40 years after the assassinations od
Dr. King, Malcolm X and Medgar Evers, we’re still calling each
other “n***as”.
Speaking of Dr. King, let’s get back
to our little game. Shall we ? Remember, in this game, it’s
perfectly acceptable for Black people to refer to each other as
“n***as”. After all, it’s a term of endearment, right ?
What if on that day in 1963, Washington
D.C., Dr. King gave the most important speech of the Civil Rights
Movement. A speech that would open the hearts and minds of a nation
deeply tangled in the weeds of racial discord and force the world to
pay attention to the mistreatment of American Blacks. A speech so
important that to this day, it’s often quoted by school - aged
children who weren’t even thought of during King’s lifetime. The
one speech that is regarded as the greatest ever given by anyone,
ever.
What if that speech went like...
“Let freedom ring. And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last … my n***as !"
“The My N***a ? NO !
Initiative”... Because no matter who calls you one, it’s just not
cool !
Mark Gunn
President / CEO 
