Ever since our ancestors were brought to these shores, we've been encouraged not to think and encouraged to react.
We should act, not react & think to the point where our actions are only instinctual.
Today, mind control is very apparent. Think about it: young people succumb to whatever the latest style or trend is. The want to fit in and not be ostracized by their peers.
Previously in an earlier podcast, I mentioned the power that peer groups have in our lives. They have become more and more influential each generation, even rivalling family's influence, which was formerly the biggest influence.
In the past, a thinking black man was called an "uppity" negro. Being uppity was not allowing oneself to be categorized a dumb, ignorant and low-life. Whites in the South hated uppity negroes, because gave inspiration to their slaves and could cause them to riot.
This is why they created the slave codes, which morphed into Jim Crow laws post-slavery. The neo-Jim Crow laws used today are far more insideous and deadly than their previous forms.
Back then a thinking black man or woman was considered very dangerous to the slavery agenda to the slavemasters and their children.
Today, a thinking black man or woman is very dangerous to the agenda of the wicked geo-political structure that the powerful are assembling.
Here are 5 tips to become a sharper and more informed Thinking Black Man or Woman:
Get your paper and pen ready-I'll wait...
Are you ready?
1. Read more-remember the old line: if you want to hide something from black folks, put it in a book. Unfortunately, this is true for far too many of us.
If you want knowledge, go and get it. The library is always open, so take advantage of it. Online research is ok, but it's more for short attention spans and for shorter articles, not for longer books as much.
Read a book, because you can expand your knowledge as well as improve your vocabulary, speech and even improve your writing skills.
Any knowledge is somewhere in a book, all you have to do is go there and look.
When you read more, you begin to develop a philosophy, and philosophy is love of wisdom. Read more to become wiser.
2. Know thyself. Understand all the good points and bad points about yourself. Take stock of yourself and take self-inventory. : "Who am I" is a question you must ask yourself and you should be able to answer it fully.
If you can't then you need to know more about yourself and dig a little deeper.
3. Learn all about your opponent. If you have an opponent that is keeping you from achieving what you need toachieve, make it your business to do your homework and learn all that you can about them.
In the book 'The Art of War', master warrior/strategist Sun Tzu says that if you know all about your opponent but know nothing about yourself, then you have a 50% chance of winning the battle.
If you know all about yourself, but nothing about your opponent, you also have a 50% chance of winning the battle.
If you know nothing about yourself or your opponent, you have lost the battle, period.
If you know all about yourself and your opponent, victory is assured even before you reach the battlefield.
4. Know your power and believe in yourself. Knowing yourself is just the beginning. Knowing your power means:
* knowing your history and respecting how you got where you are. Want to change things? Know how you got where you are, then you can begin to change.
* understanding that your potential is limitless. Don't accept the limitations others seem to try to put on you. You're greater than that!
* knowing how to influence others and get them to work with or cooperate with you. I'm not talking about manipulation, I'm talking about influence. Persuade others and create better working relationships with others.
5. Take decisive action. Knowing is only half the battle, as the old G.I. Joe cartoon tv shows used to say.
If you don't take decisive action-and I mean quickly, then you go about half-assing whatever you do.
Make the decision. Then take action. It's simple 1-2 punch that's for too often overlooked and passed over.
This is why I'm telling you about them today....
Last year alone, there were over 4,000 new laws passed in the U.S., and I'm pretty sure you don't know all of them by heart. They vary by city, county and state.
Be wise and realize that these new laws can put you at a big disadvantage!
The first great black heavyweight, the immortal Jack Johnson was once considered unbeatable. He was once knocked down by an opponent.
Johnson stood on 1 knee for a moment, and once the referee could get out of his way, leap and punched his opponent in 1 powerful motion and knocked him out cold. He brushed his glove on his thigh to knock off several teeth from that devastating punch...
Anyway, Jack Johnson was alway challenged by the next "Great White Hope". They were constantly looking for a white man who could defeat Johnson. A blak man as heavyweight champion? Unthinkable!
However, Johnson was a big, bald proud man who drive his car with white women in it, smiling as he went, further infuriating these folks, who felt he HAD to be stopped!
So Johnson was arrested in violation of the Mann Act. This law forbade any man from taking a woman across state lines, even though Johnson claimed that the white woman with him was his wife. However, many states did not recognize or respect interracial marriages. Some places and preachers still don't today!
Johnson was foiled by an unjust law, and his reign as heavyweight champion soon ended. He was so arrogant and strong, that there wasn't a black heavyweight champion for several years....Until Joe Louis came along, and he was coached to please nervous white folks by being docile and quiet outside the ring. Inside the ring, he could be vicious to his opponent, however.
Do you know all 4,000 of the laws passed last year? I'll wait.....
Since you don't, here are 4 tips, supplied by an attorney, of what to do when you're driving and being stopped by the police: 1. Be respectful. Be calm and address the police in this manner. Disrespect is seen as criminal behavior, and gives racist cops something to escalate a simple traffic stop into an arrest, or worse.
2. Have both hands on the steering wheel when he stops and approaches you. If you have a passenger, it might be a good idea if they put their hands on the dashboard. Many police cruisers have 2 cops, and the partner will approach the passenger's side of your vehicle. Be careful-if your friend is acting stupid or foolish, he could get the both of you arrested, beaten or even killed, so tell them to do what you say!
3. If the police ask to search your vehicle, you can't stop him, but if he asks, respond by saying: "I don't have aything illegal, but I don't consent to searches."
Even if you say this, he still may search your vehicle-which you can't stop him from doing so, but you are positioning him if the situation gets worse.... Make sure you tell your attorney if you're arrested.
If he searched your vehicle without your consent, you can help position them and help yourself get off on a technicality, if you can....
4. If you are arrested, SHUT UP! When they read you your Miranda rights (make sure that you hear them read you those rights. If they don't, tell your attorney!)
Only speak to your attorney. Period. Space. Space.
I realize that the deck is stacked against us as black men and women. Even following these rules can't necessarily keep you from being framed or arrested, but if you're innocent, you can give your attorney more ammunition to fight for you. The criminal justice system is filled with criminals, but no justice.
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