Somewhere out there is a growing revolution, young black minds are breaking the chains of mental slavery, free yourself!
I am the kind of guy who has always valued uniqueness, a different perspective, and new ways of thinking as opposite to similar opinions or worldviews. To be honest the world would be boring if we were all the same. This does not necessarily mean that the others are less or more but it simply means I have learnt to value my originality, uniqueness and I hold such as a privilege, and see it as a gift, to others and the world altogether.
I have, through then grown to realise that our differences are what makes us special in a way and thus grow a certain interest in others (Male & female, Black & White, Christians & Muslims etc. )
This however becomes a paradox when it comes to equality or equal rights.
The whole notion of fighting for equal rights revolves around being ‘the same’ and yearning to be treated so, although we’re not. Yes, we live in a world that treat us different if you’re different, and unfortunately the world has been programmed so. The very notion of “same or equal state” involves’ having equal means to opportunities, and those who do not have such privileges continuously find themselves fighting for “the right to be the same and to be treated so”, but what about those who have the privilege?
Are they fighting to be the same, and thus equal to you?
Meet Steven Pienaar’s friend, Pablo (Not the real name obviously)
Pablo is a friend of mine I met a while ago through a casting agency. I couldn’t believe this guy when he told me but apparently, he used to chill with Steven Peinaar every bloody day in their youth. They’d sit at a street corner and get up to nothing of importance really. On an everyday account, Steve would disappear from the group, the friend says – and then come back to chill with them later in the day. What the friend also recognised was that he always carried soccer boots, but they knew little of what he was getting up to. As it turns out, Steve was going for soccer practices daily while they chose to chill, and they only realised this when he moved to Cape Town to play for Ajax.
This is also the same when you want to be the same with your friend – that dude or lady you look up to, who you to talk to about the same dreams, same ambitions with, yet for some weird apparent reason, your friend is always a step ahead of you. The problem with you is one. You’re fighting to be the same as him or her – yet he is not fighting the same thing, he’s probably fighting to be better at what he does and that makes him/her move a step ahead of you every time. So, if you want to be equal with him/her or the same, chances are that not only are you not on his/her level but you’re typically setting yourself a “low” standard and when you do that you’re setting a limit to your true potential are you not?
What if you could surpass him???
In Kanye West’s Late Registration album. Kanye featured a series of humorous skits that involve West joining a fictional black fraternity, “Broke Phi Broke,” whose members pride themselves in living a life without money or worldly possessions, despite the glaring disadvantages such a lifestyle brings (Being Broke). His character is eventually expelled from the fraternity after their leader discovers that not only has West been making beats for cash on the side but has also been breaking some of its rules, such as eating meals every day, buying new clothes and taking showers (imagine).
Picture for a moment now if Kanye decided that he will play to be an equal in the “broke” fraternity, would we have the real Yeezy today? Probably not.
The fraternity to West seemed to be a limit, a “broke mental slavery” that does not only limit you to your equals but shuns your talents, your greatness and obviously your true potential. None of those who played by the fraternity rules made it that far in life and I’d guess it’s for obvious reasons (limits, standards).
This again, is the same truth in the female transformation dialogues. Women who constantly want to be equal to their partners, men – fight a losing battle whether in relationships, careers or business. Women who are men, or act alike, become unattractive. This is because they have not fully understood what it truly means to be a woman who is empowered from within and realises that being a female alone comes with its own merits and powers. It is merely about discovering them, honing and owning them. No one has ever hated on a powerful woman who knows her story and has her sh*t together, as a woman – and not as an equal to man. And those who hold it together, like your Beyoncé’s have continually proven that females can run the world.
But why these stories though?
This is the same arguments that go on around race or racism (blacks and whites) and such arguments heavily constitute the very same terrain of thought and logic. Blacks want to be equal to whites, but who told them that whites want to be equal to them?
Hold that thought!
As a matter of fact, why do blacks want to be equals at all?
Why can’t we elevate the game just a lil’ bit?
Look around you, who’s fighting for equality – is it blacks or whites?
Open your eyes and don’t just look, you must see.
And while we’re marching on, what are they marching on to? I do not know but it is not to be equal, even if they want the same rights and treatment that’s not what they hold dear to their hearts like their black counterparts, I don’t believe that. They march, in a different way, to maintain dominance, superiority and probably their privileges as well.
Why do you think we still have Afrikaans and English on major prints? If we were all equals we’d be having English only, that simple. But No.
So, why then are blacks fighting to be equal, why don’t we fight for domination, superiority of Zulu, Tswana or Sotho in major prints too?
Why are we, and why must we fight to be equal with people who don’t want to be equal, and share the same privilege with us?
We’re fighting a losing battle.
Do you remember the lesson from animal farm or you simply skimmed through the book?
“All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.” Gorge Orwell
That is the logic held behind every effort to not be equal by our counter parts.
Someone must wake Jesse Williams and tell him to emancipate his thoughts. I congratulate him on his award, I’m sure he’s a great person but gone is the dream of being equal.
That state of equality is a barrier, a limit, a pipe dream that has been sold to us that one day we shall all be equal. A true state of mental slavery.
It’s like a trap, and we shall be stuck here for eternity if we do not free ourselves by realising this. If you want to be equal to your friend you will only be stuck there and only there I say – and one day, after a long while, you will realise – there is actually a better world that exists out there. A world which you can be far greater in. So here in, I sit in disappointments that an award winning humanitarian still wants to be an equal.
We should not be fighting for equal rights but for something far-fetched, something greater.
Why have we set such low standards for ourselves?
Kendrick Lamar keeps on singing about this: “One thing that we need to do is free our minds”
Why can’t we be greater?
Like fight to maintain dominance, superiority and probably privileges – what’s wrong with fighting for that?
Can someone explain?
To hell with such low standards upon ourselves.
If Steven Pienaar decided to chill in the very same corner and set himself a “limit”, a mental slavery, he would not have played in the English premier league.
If you decide that you will chill and become your friend’s equal you will be a total loser won’t you?
If Kanye West decided to chill in the “Broke Phi Broke” fraternity and decided not to make beats, he would have not been a superstar. He would still “Be Broke” right now.
But then, they decided to be greater, by not fighting for “equal rights” or to be equal but for something farfetched, something greater.
If they, Pinaar and West decided so, say to fit in with their equals, such standards would have not only limited them to their equals but would have shunned their talents, their greatness and obviously their true potential.
So then we must refuse setting up “limits” at all costs.
Why did we buy the equality dream in the first place – “the limit” “the mental slavery”?
Assuming we’re all interested in the same things “Equal rights, and being the same”?
Yeah right!
Assuming that the very same person we want to be equal to will approve?
Dream on!
Setting such low standards for yourselves?
Why?
Refuse to be equal!
Avoid trying to be the same!
Deny the need to set yourself “limits” and standards.
Cherish the beauty of your thoughts, your struggle, your ideas, your culture, your ethnicity and your uniqueness.
Value your originality, uniqueness and then hold such as a privilege, and see it as a gift, not only for yourself but also for others and the world altogether.
And so black child I shall preach!
Emancipate yourself, stop fitting in, you are far greater than what you have been told for generations. Somewhere out there is a growing revolution, young black minds are breaking the chains of mental slavery, free yourself!
#REVOLT
#AMANDLA
Article By By NELSON MOROPANA
Nelson is a writer, researcher at HDTV Network, founder of The Brand Studio. Highly devoted to building authoritative and trusted brands & businesses.
Connect with Nelson via:Twitter , Facebook or Medium
In a way you’re right but in the same breath I say you’re getting us a bit wrong or maybe it’s just me.
Fighting for equality does not necessarily mean we’re falling into the trap of limiting ourselves and setting boundaries, it means we’re striving towards being at a place where we’re afforded the opportunity to be great. To make the advances towards “overall domination” that actually matter and are recognized. Looking at the state of things in the democratic SA I’d say a number of people in the white community still see us the scum of the earth, to put it mildly. The fight for equality is a fight to be seen and your mind might go on to think “…but how people see us shouldn’t matter…” but if we’re being realistic it does. That is where respect comes in.
The aim is to get to a point where we’re recognized for more than our skin color, where we’re not just equal by words but by opportunity. Where you are allowed to progress because of your skills and knowledge and not just judged by your ethnicity. Where a white person will not look at you and see someone beneath them. That is how total domination will be achieved. These people exist, rising above them by sidelining or side stepping them, pretending the issues that are so apparent don’t exist won’t get us anywhere. What’s the point of leading or dominating people who don’t even recognize you? Where is that taking us? Wouldn’t we be becoming the same as them? And if that’s who you want to be then that is not an achievement.
The fight for equality is not a fight to be mediocre but to be recognized.
Hi Pumeza, Great insight.
But. Remember, it’s about fighting with regards to what our counterparts are doing. Why do they claim to be the privileged or mighty? What gives them the right to assumes to assume such.
Did they want to be equal with everyone else when they came to Africa, to be seen as people too? No! They came, the conquered, marginalized and claimed the Iron throne among other things, lets not forget the white “hero” in the movies, their media ownership – all so that they sell the white image . So they are seen.
It goes far beyond.
This does not mean we ought to do the same. We can do better without killing anyone. But understand this, if you want to be the same as your friend, you can’t fight your friend so that he/she recognizes you. It is your job alone to ensure that you are recognized (Worthy) and that requires a different game plan. A plan that will get you to a point where you’re recognized for more than your “skin color”, or friendship.
Be on the look out for my next post as I will unpack the rest.
I never looked at equal right as a fight for people to be the same. In fact i think equal rights means different people are fighting for their differences to be acknowledged . For resources and opportunities to let their cultures, gender, creativity and innovations to flourish. Equality to me is acknowledging that someone is different but giving them and their uniqueness the same respect, and opportunity as you would give to someone you think is normal. Everyone has the potential to be great. Kanye West is great because we know him but i bet there is someone out there who is better than him who we haven’t heard of as yet. That is the reason why need equality, so that people that are great are given the opportunity to showcase their greatness and most importantly to inspire and teach others to be greater. I agree with you in that people should be innovative and unique. That statement about women, i don’t , i hear it a lot and i don’t understand it.
Hi Tiisetso,
Thanks for the comment. The issue is one, fighting to be an equal to someone (who does not have the same interests) will not lead us anywhere. That’s the premise of whole thing. We are fighting it head on and we’re going about it the wrong way. In respect, to fight to be recognized, be appreciated requires a different set of a fight and this is not the one.
My follow up article will explain this but to brief you up. Kanye West is a music genius, hard worker and a lover of his own craft (Even Jay- Z once said this). That’s how you get awarded the recognition and be seen as being great -everything else follows up.
About the women.
Power comes from within. A lot of people find the concept foreign but it its the same problem. Women find themselves in the “male trap” and its all normal. At first you must aspire to be like someone “in power and in control” but, there comes a a time that requires your own recognition – to look for what’s inside and find what it is that makes you even greater. It’s a tricky one, a leadership dilemma.