_Is it an Advantage or Disadvantage being Black?_ It is a question that invites further questions, and one we would try to dissect today as we celebrate Martin Luther King day.
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We begin our discussion by entertaining Nina Simone song "Blackbird".
https://youtu.be/0LLkn-KLatY

Such a powerful and beautiful song and one I often reflect on.  It gives great depth and analysis to our question 'Is it an advantage or disadvantage being Black?' Nina Simone like Martin Luther King are familiar with the struggle that so many people of color face but others fail to comprehend. As we shave off the hair to begin our dissection we first must understand the dilemma that black people face and context of our present day struggle. 

Our dissection starts off in Africa, a continent of abundance and extremes. A continent bless with the abundance of resources and one that is most relevant to our discussion is 'Human resource'. Varying scholarly work accounts for what led to the "Transatlantic Slave Trade" and the "Colonization of Africa". Both subjects I believe plays a role in the present state of most post-independent black nations. To summarize both subjects it was a tale of 400+ years of being servants, 'slaves' to use a "colorful" word. 400+ years of self-denial (still happening), mental clutter (still happening), religious stupidity (still happening), and idolization of everything _White_. Such systemic and cyclic programming causes epigenetic change and the psychological grave that is still present today. It was this reality that birthed the 'neeeeeed' for change.  At this stage lets take in some soulful medicine by Aretha Franklin
https://youtu.be/k6YCxXQ6Scw
It was this continued struggle that led to the August 1st, 1834 Abolition of Slavery on _paper_ in the British Colony. Of course we have 'abnormal' situation of Haiti that fought and went on their own. The movement did not stop there, it led to the independence of many countries in Africa, the Caribbean, Central and South America. What is important to note, _the damage had already been done_. The economic ball was firmly in the hands of the oppressor and the black man was left to play a game he was not prepared for but wanted to be his own. 400+ years of longing to go back home  (Africa), to place where his bloodline finds itself in the same predicament. Robert Nesta Marley better known as Bob Marley articulate essence of this situation in his song "Buffalo Soldier"
 https://youtu.be/S5FCdx7Dn0o
What is important to note, the black man has always been fighting whether among themselves or the oppressor. 400+ years of fighting, that's why the story of David and Goliath is so powerful among the black community, its a psychological trigger, a mental jump and the view of seeing himself on the same level or above the oppressor. _But the damage had already been done_, their varying leaders left to build a country that lost its identity, lost its culture and suffering from the ills of imperialism and religious nonsense. The ploy of the 'House Negro' and 'Field Negro' is evident among black families and most black economies. A sad reality, the 'House Negroes' mentality is the basis of most African and Caribbean countries, a select few protects and enjoy the labor of the vineyard while the vast majority is left to their own devices. 

It's great being Black, I am proud of it. Nonetheless, being black and poor is a fuck up combination. You have to first deal with those of your own skin color that is already mentally fuck up and gone and those who hold the strings of progress that can't see beyond the color of your skin. It is a fool's game to deny that racism does not exist. My hope is that we would embrace that sweet brotherly and sisterly love, that we help and nurture the best of us and appreciate each other's difference. 


Another question I ask myself "are my perception valid or is it years of media/ education influence shaping my thinking?" Am I lock in my own self fulfilling prophecy, in that case, I hope that my beloved 'sh......' countries would get it together and elevate themselves to a level of respectability. If this post offended anyone it wasn't my intention, One Love.
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