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Persecuting Albinos is Sickening and Needs to Stop Now

Colorism is a global issue that pits dark skin against light skin and places a value on people based upon skin color alone. In America, being lighter-skinned has historically been linked to advantages such as higher probability of receiving jobs, better pay, and an increased likelihood of getting married. Within the Black community, the idea of “passing” has been around for a long time, insinuating that those with light enough skin can virtually enjoy many of the privileges of being white. However, one group in particular complicates this idea and have actually been persecuted for having light skin -- Albinos. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Albinism is characterized by a lack of skin pigmentation or hereditary melanin deficiency. The presence of Albinos can be found on just about every continent, however they are most prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa. In fact, estimates show that 1 in 5000 Sub-Saharan Africans have albinism compared to 1 in 20,000 people in U.S. and Europe. Many people living with albinism suffer from vision impairment and are susceptible to developing skin cancer, but the biggest enemy they face is discrimination. False perceptions and a lack of understanding about their genetic differences have resulted in countless killings and mutilations of albinos all over the world. There are particular rituals and spiritual myths associated with albinos that assert that their hair and limbs bring good luck and mystical powers. These beliefs have led to these body parts being sold on the black market and used to create potions by traditional healers. In addition to fearing persecution, many albinos are struggling to understand their identity themselves. They experience a duality and form of “double consciousness” by being Black and not Black at the same time. While the outlook may seem bleak for albinos, there is a glimmer of hope in all the advocacy groups fighting to end their oppression. The Albino Foundation in Nigeria, the Salif Keita Global Foundation, and Asante Mariamu are just a few of the Black-led organizations on the forefront of albinism awareness and action. These groups are always welcoming donations of sunscreen, sunglasses, hats, and money to support their efforts. Also, support for people with albinism has also been on the rise particularly in the modeling community to show their beauty and promote inclusivity. All shades of Black are beautiful and we must embrace all our brothers and sisters no matter how much melanin is in their skin. Will you share this story with your friends?

White Folks Don't Want You To See This Film

Could blaxploitation films be the original FUBU? Maybe yes -- but maybe no. These films were made specifically for an urban Black audience and featured a majority - if not all - Black characters. They were often produced and directed by Black filmmakers, and - like them or not - they’ve had a prolonged influence on Black cinema ever since inception. From 1970 to 1980, blaxploitation films ranged in themes including martial arts/action, coming-of-age, comedy, musical, and more. They showcased a range of Black talent - but the characters were often latent with stereotypes and (arguably) caricatures on both sides. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The NAACP, Southern Christian Leadership Council and the National Urban League joined forces to fight against their production. The Coalition Against Blaxploitation staunchly advocated against their production and critiqued their choice of characters, settings and storylines. Ultimately, this powerful advocacy block would contribute to the genre’s demise. But was there an ounce of positivity that perhaps this group missed? The Spook Who Sat by the Door is a 1973 action-crime drama birthed out of a 1969 novel by Sam Greenlee. Through satire, the film and novel paint a tale of government insurrection - led by Black men - who used this country’s most hidden secrets against them for their people’s salvation. The film positions itself in the realities of the time: the influx of Black hires in the federal government to thwart off discrimination claims. But these hires were often for show -- and quickly lost or loosely held. In Greenlee’s portrayal, the main character is one of the first African-American officers in the Central Intelligence Agency. Greenlee couldn’t find a US publisher to issue the novel, so he opted to have it published in the United Kingdom. Even after securing a production deal, the film was stripped from theaters after just three weeks. But what was all of the fuss about? Check out the film here to see why this country may not want to see a Black man rescue himself.

This Woman Posed as a Black Man to Get in the Army

While today African-Americans make up close to 20 percent of the U.S. military, there was a time when that number was zero. After Congress enabled Black men to join the army in the late 1800s, creating the “Buffalo Soldiers,” it became a chance for many who had known nothing but enslavement to experience a new way of life. But what did this mean for Black women? Would you believe us if we told you there was, in fact, one female Buffalo Soldier? Although women were not allowed to join the military, the legendary Cathay Williams had a trick up her sleeve. She was destined to secure a spot in the army in spite of the law and her gender. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Shortly after the onset of the Civil War, her hometown in Missouri was raided by Union troops and all captured enslaved Blacks were forced into working as cooks, laundresses, and nurses. Unsatisfied with her role as a cook, Cathay experienced several battles from afar, grew particularly fond of military life, and dreamed of becoming a full-fledged soldier. It is hard to believe that anyone could sneak into the military, but that is exactly what Cathay did. After her stint as a cook ended, she had the bright idea to rearrange her name to “William Cathay” and pose as a man in order to enlist in the army. Given there was no medical check at the time, she, being healthy and tall (5’9”), was deemed fit for service. With this courageous and rebellious decision, Cathay became the first Black woman in the Army and the only one to be a part of the Buffalo Soldiers nearly 70 years before President Truman would sign the Women’s Armed Service Integration Act. Cathay’s reason for joining the forces is the most compelling and heartwarming part of her story. Coming from 17 years of enslavement and full reliance on her master’s resources, she refused to ever be dependent upon another person again. Tasting freedom in the military rid her of any “slave mentality” and led her to go as far as compromising her own identity to build a life for herself. As a community, we have a cultural legacy of fending for ourselves by any means necessary. Cathay Williams’ journey from plantation to distinguished soldier exemplifies the ethics of self-reliance and self-sufficiency that resonate so deeply within Black history and embodies our collective progress towards independence. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

The Way Credit Keeps Black People Unemployed Will Blow Your Mind

Credit rules everything around us. Obtaining a car, house, apartment, or a loan all starts with having good credit. And in some cases, getting a job depends on your credit as well. That sounds nonsensical, right? Because it is. Credit checks are sometimes used as a criterion for securing a job. For many Black folks, this presents a problem because we often don’t have the best credit. Some experts even point to credit checks as a reason for chronic unemployment among Black people. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("div-gpt-ad-1512094833018-0"); }); New America Foundation’s Hannah Emple says the rise in credit checks for jobs presents a race-neutral façade, calling it “operationalizing racial discrimination.” In other words, using systems and policies that perpetuate racism. In 2012, Demos National Survey on Credit Card Debt examined low and middle-income households. The survey showed that credit checks keep one out of ten workers unemployed. That rate is much higher for Black workers. In fact only a quarter of Black households have scores over 700 and only 44 percent would say they have good credit. While the Fair Credit Reporting Act does permit employer credit check, Demos says it’s not designed to be a screening tool. The Great Recession of 2008 hit Black people hardest, and we are still recovering from it. How can we repay our debts if we can’t get a job? Aunty Maxine came to try to save the day. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) introduced the Fair Credit Reporting Improvement Act of 2014. The bill’s goal was to reduce derogatory marks from seven to four years and remove settled debts, giving people a better chance to improve their credit. However, bills like this are hard to move through Congress. Equifax and Experian spent a combined $4.5 million in campaign donations and lobbying against the bill. If you’re looking to raise your credit score, check out this book by Constance Carter, Keeping Score: What You Need To Know To Make Your Credit Score Grow.

This Shocking Method Of Controlling Slaves Will Make You Sick

How Many Of The Best Black History Movies Have You Seen?

The Revealing Conflict between Baldwin and Wright

The legendary James Baldwin and Richard Wright notoriously never saw eye-to-eye on what it means to be Black in America. These two authors have fostered some of our most memorable, nostalgic, and liberating moments by telling stories that we emotionally connect to, however, they fundamentally disagreed on how to talk about the Black experience. Baldwin and Wright are both world-renowned best-selling authors who articulated the plight of African-Americans in their work. Each writer’s unique perspective has contributed to the diversity of voices represented within Black literature. However, these two had serious “beef.” Baldwin despised how Wright characterized the Black community in his famous novel “Native Son” so much so that he wrote an entire book of criticism called “Notes of a Native Son” detesting Wright’s work. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Baldwin’s main critique of “Native Son” was that it reinforced dangerous racial stereotypes about Black people. He argued that Wright used these disgusting depictions of Blacks to appease his white audience and sell more books. In essence, Wright “sold out” his own community by giving his characters stereotypical traits to make them palatable for whites in hopes to elicit their sympathy. Bigger Thomas, the story’s protagonist, was a murderer and rapist motivated by animal-like impulses while his supporting characters were petty criminals, mammies, and Negroes satisfied with an average life in the ghetto. According to Baldwin, “Native Son” stripped Black people of our humanity in a time when we needed to be affirming our humanity the most. Baldwin even compared the damage done by “Native Son” to Harriet Beecher Stowe’s “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” which famously degraded Blacks and made us appear subservient to whites. The difference being Wright is a Black writer perpetuating these negative images, which arguably is even more problematic. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Representation matters in more than just novels, and that is why Baldwin took the time to address Wright. He understood that these were more than mere words on a page; these words carried consequences. If Blacks are perpetually portrayed as urban, criminal, lazy, and aggressive, people may truly believe that all Blacks fit those descriptions. This leads to a public that devalues the lives of Blacks and sees us as expendable. And ultimately, Baldwin believed Wright contributed to these destructive narratives. Who was right – Baldwin or Wright? Were Baldwin’s criticisms warranted? Was Wright simply reflecting his authentic experiences? What we know for certain is Black people have a collective image that nobody is going to protect but us. Although this image is highly influenced by books, music, movies, and even popular culture, we as individuals each have the power to contribute to ensuring it remains positive. Our words and actions can either uplift or tear down barriers created by racial stereotypes so we must choose them wisely. The post The Revealing Conflict between Baldwin and Wright appeared first on PushBlack.