“Lysistrata:...Never underestimate the power of a woman.
Commissioner: Power? You mean capacity.”
Introduction
In Aristophanes'’ Lysistrata one has to be in awe of the portrayal of the women, who, in a society where they are seen as of a lower class than their male counterparts, there is within them an audacity to challenge the powers that be; to end a senseless war by withholding sex from their husbands or lovers. One must by now be aware of the above quote, which I will paraphrase, one ought to not underestimate the power of women…to which it is said, “Power? You mean capacity.”
While I spent time to ponder on this powerful statement, there comes to my mind my ancestors–and also my contemporaries, my brothers and sisters, who are seen as subordinate, and at one point were viewed as 3/5ths of a person–though it seems we are now 4.9/5ths of a person–continue to struggle under the powers that be. Once upon a time we were packed like sardines, and shipped off to America, the Caribbean and other places; in another time, we were barred from being educated in the same institution as our white brothers and sisters, barred from sitting on benches designated “for whites only,” and many other ridiculous demands; and now?...We seemed stunned. For it seems in this age that racism and its fruits are no more, that with all the progress we have made—all of it, renders the black man and woman to finally be free, to be equal (though by nature we were always such). I disagree, it seems as such, but it is not, reality often plays tricks on us, it often does not align with what is objectively true. We are in the same plight, though it is more mental than physical. I wish to further argue if the saying, “As a man thinketh so he is,” remains true and if the field of psychology, which states that the mind affects behavior and behavior likewise affects the mind, is true then we have not moved at all–we are simply in chains but with less restriction. Mental slavery is the worst form of slavery there is. Many would argue that antebellum slavery saw the brutalization of black women men and children; rape, murder, hanging, flogging, discrimination, and many other brutalities that we do not now experience, if we choose to believe that. Further they say, how dare one compare such a reality with one we live in now, we should be grateful that we do not now experience what they experienced. That the cup of suffering they drank has passed from us. I concede to this point, but I say that there is nothing more brutal than the semblance of freedom, slavery “ended” in 1865, but we are still not free. It took over 100 years after that fact for a black person to be allowed to enter a white institution, and even during the event of the Civil Rights Movement (from 1954-1968) where many of our leaders spoke against racism and its fruits, saw their assasination–how is that for a country that has moved on from racism? Granted we are also accomplices in killing our own, most notably Malcom X. Still, the semblance of freedom is like falling in love with a purely abstract thing, ridiculous is it not? In days current we are in a farm, with a large grazing ground, loose chains and are told to roam. The reality remains the same, we are bound, still.
Responses
The common response to the black situation seems to be a variation of the following sayings: “ You have opportunities now, so work, nothing is freely given,” ; “ Why do you guys claim to be a victim so badly, my goodness, slavery ended in 1865,” ; “ There are black people who are rich, and we even had a president, so why all the fuss,” and even many Uncle Toms who scream that, “I never experienced racism, therefore it does not exist.” However, it is wise to understand that beneath these statements there is something of value, which is hard work and responsibility, which ought to be recognized and we ought to foster within us. One which I daily embark to implement within, for I am by no means perfect. Cornel West in Race Matters speaks of the “conservative behaviorist,” being those who emphasize that the situation that Black America faces will change if they change their behavior, adopt Christianity, work hard and cease to complain. However, Cornel West notes, “They [conservative behaviorists] rarely, if ever, examine the innumerable cases in which black people act on the protestant ethic and still remain at the bottom of the social ladder.” It seems as if working hard has its limits, though I do not in any way shun that advice, but try we may, and may we indeed try, but nothing will have greatly changed. There indeed is a need to be moral, or to seek to be, however I do not see this as the solution to the problem. It is similar to cutting the branches of a tree then claiming, “we have cut down the tree, worry no more.” There are indeed numerous opportunities available to the black community; we have numerous black PhD holders, black graduates—there are also blacks in the ghettos suffering, mothers working 2-3 jobs simply to get by. Again, I speak not here of withholding accountability, but in this society, it is ironic for both the one who takes a hold of the opportunities, and the ones who do not are seen in the same light. Malcolm X puts it beautifully, more than I can ever do, when he said, “Do you know what they call a black man with a PhD? A nigger.”
To Maximize
When many individuals speak of taking hold of opportunities, what they speak of is to maximize one’s capacity, and indeed many of us do, or are doing. We celebrate when a black woman receives a degree, we celebrate when black men and women attend Harvard, or Princeton, Columbia etc. We exclaim that we now have power in this society. Alas! How further from the truth are we, for we mistaken power with capacity. Power refers to the ability to control one’s state at will, one’s livelihood without interference. Capacity is merely an ability innate, something that flourishes within one’s power. For example, intelligence is a great example of capacity. To maximize it by education of the self is to maximize one’s abilities. The more learned one is, the more one is able to produce a great literature or attain the level of Genius that we admire in the likes of Immanuel Kant, Leibniz, Einstein, and many others. There is also another consequence of maximizing one’s education, which is the ability to see, to observe–to realize the truth. I proclaim that the biggest mistake made by this society is allowing the education of the black man, and woman, for it allows them to reach the mountaintop—and when one looks past the abstract of freedom, and one blow…disperses it, which reveals its physical manifestation. Nothing, and I repeat, nothing—can hinder one’s desires to attain it.
Further, there is a qualitative difference between capacity and power. The mistake often made is to believe in the existence of a quantitative difference between the two. For example, to maximize one’s capacity, or to be more moral, educated, and otherwise, leads to power and freedom. No amount of education can free a man from a society that has him bound. The stoics speak of things within our power and things without, and that what we ought to consider are things within our reach, but so too power is within our power. Thus, power to be in a society and to make our livelihood is and should be within our grasp, not mere ability. For as the declaration of independence, hypocritically stated by this country, says, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Equal in capacity we may be, and SELF-EVIDENT it indeed is, but why has it been that the expression of these obvious truths to be hindered in expression within the black body? That though we are intelligent, and many prominent black academics have risen, and continue to do, like the likes of James Baldwin, Cornel West, Toni Morison, W.E.B Dubois, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Howard Thurman and many others still proclaim that there is a reality present, one which still tramples underfoot. Our enslaved ancestors had capacities of their own but were hindered by that power…so too are we hindered. Try as we may, but no amount of hard work, nor intelligence, nor knowledge that we gather will, if we do not realize the qualitative difference between power and capacity, render this society to view us as equals.
Flee from Egypt
Many proclaim, and boldly preach that we must flee from Egypt, that we can indeed escape mental slavery–that black is beautiful, indeed we are; that black is intelligent, indeed we are. Once we realize this they say, we will escape. Freedom. However, I say, how can we leave Egypt when Egypt is omnipresent. The Israelites did not move from one part of Egypt to another. They completely removed themselves from it. For if they moved from one part to another, Pharaoh would still have power over them and thence cometh subjugation, however form that is. We can loosen the chains, but so long as we live in this society, or rather, so long as the society remains as it is, we can never escape the brutality–yes black is beautiful, but the society will (if it does not change) not see that. Yes, black people are intelligent, but the society will not see that–hilarious as even in this age where many black people are graduating college, there are many who claim that our IQ are less than the exalted class (I care not for IQ as to me it is meaningless, but it shows that while we escape Egypt, it does not escape us). Many probably feel as if I speak in the tradition of Marcus Garvey, however I believe we have no need to go anywhere. The problem is not a matter of moving from one place to another, going to Africa means we go to another sphere of Egypt’s influence. We are already integrated in society, though physically, for we cannot live without one another–and it seems as if there are patches of welding…but on a spiritual level we are more divided than ever.
The black body in America and in many places around the world is not fully ours to call. To draw from Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Between The World and Me, “I knew from my portion of the American Galaxy, where bodies were enslaved by a tenacious gravity, was black and that the other, liberated portion was not.” The black body is indeed a wonder–crafted were we too by the very palms of God almighty, though many believe us to be otherwise, a pariah, an experiment gone wrong. It remains that the powers that be are, not that they will be, but they are. It is not a question of to be or not to be, but one of is being. Until we cease to want to prove our capacity, and not fight for our power, we will move nowhere. I do not speak here that we do not maximize our abilities, but conflate it not with power.
The Fight
A caution, I do not speak that we abandon the fight, nor do I wish to sow seeds of nihilism…for I believe we should first and foremost deal with the nihilistic issue. We should indeed maximize our abilities; we should be aware that we are indeed capable. Cornel West exclaims in Chapter 1 of Race Matters that unlike the ongoing debate between Liberals and Conservatives, “we must delve into the depths where neither liberals or conservatives dare to tread, namely, into the murky waters of despair and dread that now flood the streets of black America.” I agree fully, and this is why the likes of a Malcom X should be followed–for he showed us that black is capable, that mentally we are enslaved. He “broke” free from mental slavery, but did he? For he remained still in Egypt, and was often denigrated, still in chains. WE MUST FIGHT…WE MUST EDUCATE THE SELF, but let us not be foolish, for we are still in a society that has taken our power from us. There is hope, but hope can be delusion also–these two are not separate, if and only if we separate it from reality. We ought to have faith, but so too faith can be delusional if placed in the wrong place. I have no faith that Satan can cleanse me of my sins, make me whole and despite my sins, accept me as his Child…if my faith were in him, I would be the most delusional on Earth. However, as the song goes:
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name
On Christ, the solid rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand
Thus, continue as we have but we must be aware, that is my call. Awareness of the fact that our bodies are still enslaved, that we are not progressing in the way we think, if at all. Many would raise this argument: There is a distinction between radical change and gradual change. That we ought to realize that we are making progress though indeed not in the way we would like, but it is progress, nonetheless. I can understand this sentiment, that indeed we have come a long way, we are indeed no longer enslaved, brutalized, being hanged, discriminated against as we once were. I however exclaim, dealing with the nature of change, indeed change can happen gradually or radically, for example:
Gradually, in the Christian tradition there is the concept of sanctification, that gradually, the sinner that I who write to you is–wretched and ignorant too, becomes better. Like the addict who gradually overcomes their addiction.
Radically, the change in weather seen in New York. Or, the change in mood. Suppose one is smiling and joyous, the way they interact with another reflects that. At once when they are bothered, annoyed or angry, they act a different way, instantaneously.
There underlies within these two types of change a thread which is commonly known as disposition. In the first example, though not stated, there is repentance, a disposition that (1) realizes the state of one’s nature,(2) the will to change and (3) dedication to do so. Though that too can come to happen gradually or radically, as a later realization which leads to steps 2 and 3. In the second there is a disposition that resides in the emotion, one’s mood leads to a disposition to act a certain way, but a changed mood leads to a disposition to act otherwise. Thus, in one case I am laughing and in another frowning: shaking the hands of a person or preparing myself for combat. Where am I going with this you're asking? In this society there is a semblance of change, or a semblance of realization if at all, and so too there is a semblance of disposition to act. The disposition leads to a certain action and leads to a commitment to accomplish, in a society where there is no realization (or there is a continual blinded realization) and no disposition to change, how can one claim there to be change? I will not accede to that. Saint Augustine once said, “an unjust law is not law at all,” following that sentiment I say, “a disposition-less change is no change at all.” Change is indeed radical in its overall sense, though its means are either gradual or also radical, it is overall radical in the sense that it calls from a shift in one state to another. There is to me the realization that indeed there can be a gradual leading to repentance, like the story of Saint Augustine, whose life he states, was marred by his sins and ignorance, till one day crushed by them he called onto God. The story of John Newton, the composer of Amazing Grace, after realizing his sins he also repented. The story of I, with all my defects and ignorance as well proclaim Amazing Grace. The radical overall nature of change is the realization, and as Malcom X beautifully stated, “If you stick a knife in my back nine inches and pull it out six inches, there's no progress. If you pull it all the way out that's not progress. Progress is healing the wound that the blow made. And they haven't even pulled the knife out much less heal the wound. They won't even admit the knife is there.” There are also two things to consider when it comes to change in this country, (1) a matter of the singular man versus the collective man and (2) gradual repentance to what end?
James Baldwin once said that until we come together, as should be our duty, and fix the issue of racism in America then justice will run its course, and with the beautiful voice he has he stated, “God gave Noah the rainbow sign, no more water, the fire next time.” To deviate for now let us speak thus of the singular man and the collective man. Of change, in the aforementioned, there is often in singular men, a story pertaining to the self and not others. That the burden is theirs to carry, thus relatively few are affected greatly by their ignorance, and reluctance to change. However, in the case of the gradual change for the collective, there is a different urgency, for there are greatly affected many individuals, across time. William Shakespeare said it once, “If you prick us do we not bleed,” this society has pricked us and we have indeed bled, but we are not merely farm animals, nor unresponsive beasts, yes! We bleed, but continual pricks lead to a reaction. For those who seek to be comfortable with the gradual change there seems to be, there must be a realization that there is the case of reaction from the ones oppressed, the urgency that if not dealt with, will indeed lead to the fire next time. The rainbow sign is merely the time and chances given, it is as well the flashes of anger seen, which expresses a fire that will soon come if nothing is done. Of gradual repentance to what end, to now pick up from Baldwin, I continue with the concept of divine justice. Justice comes when it will, and when it finds us there is no stopping it, even if one chooses to not repent–there is always a time to reckoning. While it tarries, or while we remain pacified by this society, and they tarry it seemingly, let us work, to build–for when it comes it demands our due, and gives unto us what we deserve. As a personal realization I have realized this and seek to live life never forgetting this statement: whatever you sow, you shall reap. In this society and in this situation this holds true. Many implements “change” to delay the fire–for a time it works, but the camel will eventually break the camel’s back. What lies beyond the mountain becomes apparent to many of us, for it is not a matter of remaining at the mountaintop, it is a matter of going further to capture what is beyond, for as Dr King said, “I have seen the glory of the Lord,” we too see it, and we too wish to take it. The society we live in has implemented an amazing strategy, removing the knife slowly with no intention of fully removing it nor bandaging the wound. If they refuse to believe the knife is not there, then we too refuse to believe there is change. Continue to fight, for there is a better tomorrow–one day indeed we can dream like Dr King, “that one day little black boys and girls will be holding hands with little white boys and girls.”
In The Nature of Change
When it comes to the nature of change in black America two prominent figures present themselves, Malcom X (early Malcom X) and Martin Luther King Jr. Many often view their philosophies as being diametrically opposed to one another, however, I disagree. Perhaps it is an act of fortune, but they are a warning to this society–in two ways. (1) The reaction that one receives when they oppress a group, could either result in non-violent action or in the case of an early Malcom X, total revolution. (2) The order of the fire to come. I see their ideas as stages; one cannot integrate into a society where you’re viewed as 3/5ths of a person, only when one is an equal can there be a mutual consideration of togetherness. It’s either one dominates the other, or the other dominates the one. Stage 1 which is Malcom X: fostering and the development of the black race (the ability to be educated the same as the white children), to defend the self it need be, have an understanding that we are not subservient, nor do we lack intelligence (for there is no inherent difference in intelligence between black and white). Only then do we know how to become a people, worthy and forged, with pride and security, capable of standing up for ourselves and removing from the minds of many, the prejudices which they hold (granted everyone has them). Step 2 Martin Luther King Jr’s ideas, which I adore for when I consider mankind, I see each and every one as a brother and sister, black or white, or Asian, handicapped, Muslim, Atheist, Jew, Palestinian, and etc. Only when we are equals can we recognize this truth, which is elusively present, or fickle…for we know this to be true, but due to the natural desires we do harbor, coax it as untrue (the use of arguments is how we shape it to be so, “statistics show blacks to have less IQ than whites and etc.”) There is also the reversal of this which comes about in the application of wanting justice, where Dr Martin Luther King Jr’s voice is the voice of reason, the one who delays the fire to come–telling us that change can come when we realize that we are one in the same, that a black man is no less than a white man. The fire next time takes the form of an early Malcom X, one who is filled with rage and realizes that freedom is taken by force, so too is the heaven we see when all has failed, “the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force.”
Conclusion
Racism and its fruits are alive in American society, though we seem to have progressed greatly. However, we ought to realize the difference between capacity and power, we are maximizing our abilities, but still, we are without power. Hence, since there is a qualitative difference between the two, it is the case that power can limit the expression of one’s capacity—and therefore, in our fight we must not forget to fight for our power, for if not we will be pacified and led astray.
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