Thoughts from a Black Mind

Being black is not a matter of pigmentation - being black is a reflection of a

mental attitude.
~ Steven Biko

To be a human among human beings, and remain one forever,no matter what
misfortunes befall, not to become depressed, and not to falter – this is what life is,
herein lies its task.
Dostoevsky: His Life and Work by Konstantin Mochulsky

It was Hugo Munsterberg who published a number of essays on psychology and

crime in the New York Times magazine (1908), who said “my only purpose is to
turn the attention of serious men to an absurdly neglected field which demands
the full attention of the social community”. As one of the pioneers of Applied
Psychology Munsterberg, marveled at solving problems concerning the human
condition. He even wrote several articles concerning legal aspects of testimony,
confessions and courtroom procedures, which eventually developed into his book,
On the Witness Stand; which found out reasons for unreliability in the
testimonies of eye witnesses. In a similar vein I too marvel as the psychological
and forensic reasoning of American Justice that claims to have the scientific
knowledge to the legalities of black America.

The only retort to Black indifference shouldn't be prison, murder, character

assassination, or death. America has broken rank as thinking that they are the
Forensic Experts concerning our psychological approached to social injustices. By
law an expert can only give opinions in law related settings rather than merely
reciting facts gained from the senses. The real mystery then lies in our youth as
defenders of the faith that has no more scientific, technical or specialized training
that an expert many possess; yet carries a distinct genius that threatens the
establishment daily. We are the expert wittiness who can only testify or give
related opinions at a dispute resolution trial or hearing by way of the specialized
knowledge that we possess. Our Youth, must be judged by the thoughts and
attitudes of the heart versus there upbringing, social settings, behavior miscues,
lack of educational access and cultural misfortunes.
It was James Baldwin that stated “Not everything that is faced can be changed,
but nothing can be changed unless it is faced”. We live in a world that overlooks
and often neglects the plight and genius of “Black Youth”. As if their
circumstances, surroundings, upbringing, educational attainment and urban
vernacular disqualifies them as human beings. It's no secret that the Founders of
American Democracy regarded blacks as three-fifths of human beings. Although,
this three-fifths narrative was supposedly about getting the constitution passed
those on the opposite side of the tracks know what it was really all about. Yet,
there still exists a strong narrative that somehow we can continue down the same
path as in how we educate minorities of color. A revolutionary stance needs to be
taken concerning Black Pedagogy and the promise of an era yet to be seen.

I' am talking about a Freedoms Journal (1st African-American Owned

Newspaper), mixed with Negro Digest, couples with a few pinches of First
World (an International Journal of Black thought) and a dose of “Chicago
Defender”. The basic ideology is creating an educational narrative that carries
the sense of pride concerning our humbled “Black Press” beginnings into a more
elaborated digital media scene that occupies majority of our youth's time. They
already had short attention spans based on curriculum that was never tailored to
their benefit. Now, you add social media, mobile apps and a new digital means
for expressing their art and you have a situation on your hands. What will
education, libraries, and Black media look like 10, 20 or even 30 years from now?
It will become more of a humanistic approach towards a machine and data driven
technological society.

Noted author of “ 48 laws of Power” Robert Greene In this Latest Book “The Laws
of Human Nature”, expresses that “Human Nature is stronger than any individual,
than any institution or technological invention. It ends up shaping what we create
to reflect itself and its primitive roots. It moves us around like pawns”. What lies
at the heart of our these youth is a dimension of sensibility that has to be
understood. America must be able to appreciate and respond to complex
emotional or aesthetic influences from all walks of life. In the end, the black
narrative concerning our youth must be allowed to flow naturally. Guided by the
storm clouds it just makes more sense to progress naturally instead of being
forced to comply to the beat of someone else's drum.

“When a man is denied the right to live the life he believes in, he has no choice
but to become an outlaw.”
― Nelson Mandela