Learning Curve - Lupe on "Black in America"

By Ingrid

I have been really excited about Soledad O’Brien’s series Black in America (shown on CNN 7/23 and 7/24 @ 9pm EST). I am curious to see how many on her panel and interviewees share my view of the state of Black America. I have also been watching some of the interviews she conducted of various media personalities on CNN on demand in anticipation of the actual airing of this series.

My focus is on her interview with rapper Lupe Fiasco. I am a fan of Lupe. I think his rhymes are not only intelligent and (as The Child puts it) “hot”, but he also has a creativity I find lacking in 95% of today’s rap artists. Lupe is the definition of real Hip Hop in my book.

What struck me about this interview was his awareness of the history and the community that formed us as a people. At one point in the interview he explained (and I am paraphrasing) that people regardless of their race have an innate ability to think, nurture and care for themselves. There is an innate drive and ambition that causes human beings to strive for a better existence and not just float around haphazardly waiting for permission to do well. He goes on to explain that African Americans were systematically stripped of this innate ability. Whether it was through the actual act of slavery (which he states didn’t really end until the 40’s or the 50’s and I agree) or through the systematic refusal of equal rights up and through the 60’s and 70’s. He said then, once that shadow was lifted we were supposed to forget those centuries of conditioning. Lupe went even further to say that because of all those years of conditioning African American people are playing catch up and one cannot expect a level playing field after only 40 or 50 years of true freedom. He took pains to explain that the black experience is unique from other races who suffered degradation at the hands of America.

Unlike the other ethnic groups who fell prey to the US, Black people had no homeland to turn to, we had been sold into bondage by our own people and had any real connection to the African homeland beaten then bred out of us. We are uniquely American. We will never be African. We were neither emigrants nor willing participants in our captivity. We were stuck in a purgatory that offered little protection and even less comfort, but because things have changed we are now expected to move forward at the same speed and level as everyone else.

I sat back and thought about that sentiment. Was that just another excuse as to why black people don’t do better? Was it a cop out to point the finger at slavery and Jim Crow as the reason we as a people are not further ahead? Is it our fault or “theirs” that playing field is not level? Personal responsibility is a hot catch phrase right not and it is receiving applause and boos across the gamut of the Black spectrum. I am on the fence. In one hand I understand that every morning you wake up there is a choice you make. You decided whether you are going to do what’s right or what’s easy. We all do. For some of us; however, that choice is a choice of life or death. I am not sure I fall lock stock and barrel in with Lupe’s assessment of Black America, but am positive that all he has said holds an undeniable truth.

My take is this, while condition plays a role in everything we are today so does personal responsibility and parenting. You cannot know what you are not being taught. Often times we will remove ourselves from “the hood.” This is where positive role models and examples of people living well AND legal are most needed. In turn moving into “safe” suburban areas where our tax dollars go to better educate an already wealthy white population. I understand all the reason we move. Better schools, less crime, better shopping, safer parks, better houses, etc… I get all that, but what about those left behind?

We are no longer our brother’s keeper. This is the price of assimilation and desegregation. We don’t look out for each other the way we should. I am by no means suggesting that we have to live in an environment that is unfit to raise children in order to remain “down”. What I am suggesting; however, is that as we move up and move away we remember the community we left behind. Many of our brother’s and sister’s “make it” and never take a second glance back. They raise children who have no identity with the black community and are essentially white kids with tans. I am not discussing proper English or style of dress. I am talking about a real honest working knowledge of the history of black folks and a sense of community, service, and stewardship to the community that fostered their roots. How can you bitch and moan about the terrible state of Black America, its ghettos, and the ghetto mentality of some of its residents if you are a black person who refuses to put your hands in the fight?

If your success is not followed up by the mentoring of at least one person who is embroiled in the situations that make us cringe, then your blessing is wasted. If in your family you have young men and women who are struggling to cast aside the ghetto mentality but you chose to step on their necks rather than show them how to “be better” then your blessing is wasted.

This is my problem with those of us who will move as far away as possible to cast aside who we are that we forget that progress come with a price. You either pay it willing with service to the community that raised you or you pay it unwilling with a community of people who don’t know any better embarrassing you in front of the white folks. Just think if we all took the time to recreate the village that raised us maybe we wouldn’t have to hang out heads in shame every time we scroll past BET.

Lupe Fiasco said one more thing in this interview that I would like to share. When asked about his choice to do intelligent Hip Hop versus gangsta rap he said that his conscious wouldn’t allow him to do gangsta rap. He said that somewhere, some child is listening and emulating everything he does or says, and he knows that if that one child went wrong because he didn’t care enough to set a better example his conscious couldn’t handle that. Hmmm… Rapper or not, maybe we would all do good to take that into consideration.

Mentoring is sometimes just as simple as setting a better example and showing a people a different road. It’s saying to that young mother, you know children do better in school if we read to them; I have books left over from when my child was a baby. I’d like to give them to you but you need to promise me you’ll read them. It’s asking that young brother, when was the last time you hung out with your kids and saying to him me and my son play basketball on Saturdays why don’t I swing through and pick up you and your kids and we can shoot hoops together. Its as easy as seeing a little child misbehaving and saying no, sweet pea (or little man or whatever), we don’t do that AND be bold and firm enough to say it in front of the young black parent who doesn’t know better either. If you can do these things from a sincere heart rather than a judgmental one it will make a difference. God honors that effort. And if you don’t believe in God believe that your effort does make a difference.