The most powerful weapon in the hands of the oppressor is in mind of the oppressed. That’s aSteve Biko quote in one of his writings in the book I write what I like. It’s a powerful line. It encompasses everything that’s wrong with today’s world. Past injustices on black people are still ripe because of this very phenomenon. I keep reading and hearing white people and even some black people talk about reconciliation, what’s done is done, and we should let go of the past. Such statements are much easier said when you got the right end of the stick and the indiscretions weren’t committed against you. It’s much easier to get forgiveness than to get permission.
This brings me to the point of my article. Where are our black heroes? A few years back, I watched with disgust and embarrassment when Sean ‘Puffy’ Combs was campaigning to be the first blackJames Bond. James Bond is a white hero, he always has been. How dare he even attempt to take that away from white kids? Whatever his reasons were it still concerns me that he even attempted such stunt? I admit that to some extent I get where he is coming from. This is because there are very little black heroes depicted in cinemas and TV. All we have to look up to are the white heroes depicted in all our favorite movies. I’m a big fan of Iron Man, Spartacus, 300, Batman, Achilles and even James Bond. I didn’t have much of a choice in the matter. The heroes have been shoved down my throat from birth and I had no choice but to acquire the sour taste and swallow with pleasure. Again, the most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is in the mind of the oppressed.
What saddens me most is that black heroes are everywhere. Whether political or not they are there and just waiting to be depicted. The problem is that our fathers and grandfathers are too content with their new found physical freedom that they have forgotten to free their minds and therefore ours. At times I can’t help but imagine what South Africa would be like if one of the greatest minds to ever walk the earth was alive. Reading his pieces on I write what I like I get the sense that only he knew and understood that in order for any of to ever be free again we have to rid ourselves of the mental chains that keep us in a perpetual jail of hatred and admiration of the westerners.
South Africa has a deep history. A history of people that rid themselves of one of the most blatant atrocities imposed on humans by humans. I remember hearing stories from my father and uncles of the wit they used to keep from being arrested as activists. These are real stories of bright young men who devised covert operations to keep themselves safe from the jaws of the system. The intelligence of these men is of a far higher standard than that of imaginary secret agents such as Bond, far more clandestine than the Corleone mafia family and means far wittier than the ways of MacGyver. In films and series depicting Europe’s golden age they always speak of honor, chivalry, bravery and humility. In most of these films the cause is usually inspired by greed, power and just plain stupidity which for me is neither honorable, chivalrous, brave nor containing any humility. What could be honorable, chivalrous and braver than to forsake you own life for the emancipation of your people?
It’s a very sad affair how things have worked out. Our heroes are not honored. They have been forgotten as if they never existed. Real people, real stories, real consequences and worst of all, real blood. It’s as if all that blood was all in vain. All we do is pour liquor and goat-blood to the ground as an excuse to gather and drink in the guise of honoring our ancestors. No wonder blacks around the world are in such a terrible state. The ancestors must be cursing us. Even the people with the means to portray our heroes neglect them. One of the most successful black movies to date is of a cross-dressing man in the Tyler Perry series Madea. Are those the black heroes our children should look up to?
Where are our black heroes? Do we not have any? Are they so scarce that all we can do is steal white heroes like Jesus and Bond and paint them black?
It’s a sad day in Africa. We are far from being free. There’s still so much to be done. The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is in the mind of the oppressed. There’s so much to be done.
KANYE WEST POWER REMIX: THAT'S WHAT WE NEED
KANYE WEST POWER REMIX: THAT'S WHAT WE NEED
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