Broadening your Horizons

As is well known to many, we live in a global economy where people of all backgrounds do business or interact with each on a daily, and sometimes yearly basis. Everything that goes on in the United States affects other regions which is why the word "globalization" has been used constantly. As you all know, last week I posted an interview the "Breakfast Club" radio station did with Afro-Latina singer Amara La Negra. Since the interview, members of the breakfast club (Charlemagne and DJ Envy particularly) have justifiably been criticized for their ignorant and often times dismissive approach in understanding the plight of La Negra's experiences as an Afro-Latina. Unfortunately, the type of ignorance Charlemagne and DJ Envy exhibited during the interview is a testament to much of the close-mindedness many black Americans have towards other blacks across the diaspora.

I say this not as a way to belittle black people, but to say that we must understand White Supremacy is a global phenomenon that affects blacks in America as well as blacks in Africa, Puerto Rico, South America, etc. Look at the Mugabe coup in Zimbabwe. Whether or not you believe that Mugabe was a dictator whose removal from the presidency was long over-due is up for debate, but the fact remains that he was trying to make Africa a sovereign nation. With that, experiences such as La Negra's should not be something unfamiliar to Black Americans. Although she was not born in the U.S., she is still black and is treated as such in her native country as well as the United States. I believe that trying to dismiss her plight as the 'Breakfast Club" interviewers attempted to do really showed their ignorance. If you are not sure about what she is saying, do your own research. Better yet, travel. Traveling is the easiest way to gain first-hand experience of the world and will help destroy all the propaganda that is shown on television regarding the conditions of non-U.S. regions. In this day and age Black Americans must travel, if possible, in order to see the conditions of other black people. Limiting White Supremacy to the U.S. is not enough. Being willfully ignorant will do us no good either.

If there is any time to connect with those outside our borders, the time is now. Do not be dismissive of black people from other countries who have had experiences similar to La Negra's. Just because they were not born in the U.S. does not mean they do not understand racism. Be curious and broaden your horizons. At the end of the day, there is one thing that all Black people across the diaspora have in common: We are all dominated by White Supremacy and must fight to replace the oppressive system with a system of justice.

Also, if your curious about the history of global racism, buy the book"Racism: A short history" here