Autumn Ashante and the Miseducation of the Negro
Interesting isn't it how browbeaten Americans have become by the PC police. We're quick to point the finger at Bill Bennett for using a racial example to illustrate and explain a concept but fill a seven year old girl with the racist hatred of her forebears and she's celebrated with appearances on HBO. Unbelievable!
As a person who experienced being a racial minority to some degree, I have an unusual perspective on the whole issue of race in America. I had my own Black. White. experience, only no one painted my face or colored my hair. I was a poor white kid who attended the only local college I could afford. A predominantly and historically black college. Most of my teachers were black, most of my peers were black and many of my required undergrad courses were racially based studies. My senior seminar, a required course to obtain my history degree, was a study of W.E.B.DuBois. African-American history was a required course for all students, not just history majors, and liberal politics was pushed with a decidedly racial emphasis. I stopped counting the number of times our student body president referred to "the man" once he hit the 500 mark.
Nevertheless, there were honest academics who spoke the truth without hatred and with a clear desire to lift young black people up into a better and more prosperous society. One such professor from the history department, who also, if memory serves, preached at a local AME Methodist church, made the pointed argument that black Africans sold each other into slavery. He explained the common practice among African communities of selling and keeping slaves, a group predominantly made up of people captured in war. The young black students, more interested in gangsta rap than the free education nearly all of them were getting, protested the lecture. Many shouted at the professor and instigated heated and hateful discussions that all but ruined the class. Did I mention the professor was an educated, well travelled, leader in the local black community? They showed him no respect or deference because they had already received an education via music videos and Sharpton soundbytes.
The point is that as a society, we have come to tolerate the miseducation of the African American community by demagogues who preach helplessness and create victims. And ,while all Americans pay a price in tax dollars for the perpetuation of the poor, black underclass, blacks themselves have become unwitting victims, paying the price in wasted, unfulfilled lives. If the cycle is ever to be broken, some tough love is going to have to be meted out. Merit will have to be rewarded and society will have to be completely colorblind. Otherwise, the black community is doomed to remain a sideshow of American culture.
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Comment by C-Mom— 2006/03/16 @ 05:00 AM — (Reply)
I guess racial discrimination will never be solved....How can you say that you were sort of a racial minority? Are you judged 24 hours a day 7 days a week, soley based on the color of your skin??.....
You could go home from the college and go into a store and based upon your skin you are accepted.....I hope one day that fear will not guide, and education prevails....
Comment by realsista— 2006/03/18 @ 07:17 PM — (Reply)
Don't assume because you read 4 paragraphs that you know me.
Comment by Cate— 2006/03/18 @ 07:38 PM — (Reply)
Comment by Cate— 2006/03/18 @ 07:45 PM — (Reply)
Real Sista (BTW, what's an unreal sister?), you show your own racist colors by suggesting that blacks are subjected to racism 24/7, but just as you claim Cate was able to return home to escape contact with blacks, so too you are able to return home to escape contact with whites. Are you suggesting that your momma is a white racist and you had to put up with her anti-black comments every time you entered the front door? Was your minister a race-hating white bigot? So don't pretend that you, or any other person or group, are subjected to racism 24/7. Also, please note that Cate said she "experienced being a racial minority to some degree" (emphasis mine) and she expounded on her meaning. Why do you take her clear use of the English language to mean her intent was "I was the victim of racism"?
Comment by TJ— 2006/06/19 @ 10:03 AM — (Reply)
you leave her alone....she doesn't need any lye soap...she needs a bigger platform.....we the New Black Panther for Self Defense NY Chapter support and defend Autumn and Melvin Bolden the music teacher that invited her......and no one better not touch her......why you devils got alot of nerve! here white america has a frequent lier program...just been telling us lies for years and years and you're mad because at least 1 black messiah is on the rise? the he** with you all......we are warning white america
leave Autumn alone !!!!!!
Comment by Khadijah— 2006/03/29 @ 03:07 PM — (Reply)
i support autum i belive she is very strong and iamglad she is in the struggle were i live we belive in spoken word and exposing lies of this racsist govorment we have i belive we have to be open to great things and expose the lies the gtovorment wont always tell us but this brave little girl will i support her and no iam not african american iam emxican
xavier aranda
17 years old union city california
Comment by xavier aranda— 2006/03/28 @ 06:01 PM — (Reply)
Estoy contenta que te interesa en asuntos tan serios a tu edad. Sin embargo tengo que preguntar, si sientes que el gobierno es racista y por que te quedas aqui?
Te dire porque. Porque en los EEUU, tienes una libertad economica que el pueblo Mexicano no conoce. Tienes libertades indivuales que casi todo el mundo ni puede imaginar.
Aqui vas a la escuela, aprendes, sin respeto al color de tu piel. Si hay gente que te trata mal, es deficio del ser human. Hay discriminacion en todo el mundo, pero decir que el gobierno no te ofrece todos los derechos (si eres ciudadano) que ofrece a los de piel blanco o negro es mentir. O significa que tu no conoces tus derechos.
Comment by Cate— 2006/03/28 @ 06:28 PM — (Reply)
Xavier,
I am happy that you are interested in such serious issues at your age. Nevertheless, I have a question. If you feel the government is racist, why are you here?
I will tell you why. Because in the USA, you have economic freedom that the Mexican people do not know. You have individual freedoms that most of the world can't even imagine.
Here you go to school. You learn without respect to the color of your skin. If there are people who treat you badly that is a deficiency of being human. There is discrimnation in all the world, but to say that the government doesn't offer you all the rights (if you are a citizen) that it offers to those of white or black skin is to lie. Or means that you don't know your rights.
Comment by Cate— 2006/03/28 @ 06:33 PM — (Reply)
Check out this poem by our little Islamafascist:
Even My F---ing Soup?
by Autumn Ashante
Honkey-ass crackers in my soup
Chad, Biff and Betty Boop.
Why'd you choose a black girl's meal?
Did you think I'd run? Did you think I'd squeal?
Try again mother-f***ers, I ain't leaving
Not so long as all you honkeys are breathing.
Damn right I'm angry, you want to know why?
Black history month is in February, what the f--- was wrong with July?!?
You know perfectly well my proud African brethren hate that white snow on the ground
That was just one more ploy to hold us down.
White, white, white
Everywhere I look... white.
The milk in my cereal is white and so are these here soup noodles
And don't even get me started on those yippee-ass poodles.
The French flag, all the presidents and Michael Jackson's nose
As well as the dots on my beloved Dominoes.
The clouds and the stars and the whites of my eyes
I'll be painting them all brown... you better recognize.
Comment by you go soccer mom— 2006/03/28 @ 08:44 PM — (Reply)
Comment by Susan— 2006/03/28 @ 08:48 PM — (Reply)
A racist, nasty piece of work this kid. The parents are to blame. She need more than Lye soap in her mouth. She needs her nasty little behind beaten. A shame any parent would bring up a racist little brat who will turn into a racist, hateful adult woman. What a little pig.
Comment by shushu fontana— 2009/06/19 @ 03:06 PM — (Reply)
Hey Comment #5 Sing your soap box elsewhere she is a child who should not be using that language period. Be it any child. Thats the point.
Comment by — 2006/03/29 @ 03:56 PM — (Reply)
Comment by Cate— 2006/03/29 @ 04:16 PM — (Reply)
Wow. That soup poem is just so awe inspiring. Is she angry at nature for making certain items white? You just can't please certain people. It's in certain people's nature to lay down and complain rather than stand up and strive in life. Pathetic.
Comment by Rich— 2006/03/29 @ 05:07 PM — (Reply)
Comment by Elmers Brother— 2006/03/29 @ 05:10 PM — (Reply)
lamb and lynx Gaede a.k.a "PRUSSIAN BLUE", they sing their hate filled songs and it is considered white pride. Now a little African Queen has expressed her poetic skills and you want to label her a racist.
I am laughing at you all!!
Comment by nat turner IX— 2006/03/29 @ 05:08 PM — (Reply)
Comment by Elmers Brother— 2006/03/29 @ 05:11 PM — (Reply)
Two rights don't make a wrong - none of these people are bettering society.
Comment by Cate— 2006/03/29 @ 05:22 PM — (Reply)
A 7-year old girl and her father doesn't have the power to be racists. Bigots yes! Racists no! Racism implies one group has the power to harm another group financially, mentally, or physically. That said:
The girl and her father is harmless. Just like any white bigot doing the same. NEXT ISSUE!!!
Comment by T-Steel— 2006/03/29 @ 05:14 PM — (Reply)
n.
The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others.
Discrimination or prejudice based on race.
big·ot·ry ( P ) Pronunciation Key (bg-tr)
n. The attitude, state of mind, or behavior characteristic of a bigot; intolerance
It's never harmless to preach hate.
Comment by Cate— 2006/03/29 @ 05:27 PM — (Reply)
She is a nasty, hateful little negro. Racist to the core and taught to be that way by her parents. She needs her ass beat.
Comment by — 2009/06/19 @ 03:09 PM — (Reply)
Not to mention I get the feeling that little Autum's *ahem* poetry may have been authored by her father...
Comment by Brooke— 2006/03/29 @ 05:48 PM — (Reply)
nat turner IX
Prussin Blue spews hatred. From what I have read of young Autumn's poetry, she too spews hatred. Neither of them have anything to do with pride in oneself, or in ones race. I can be proud of myself, my accomplishments, and my heritage without the need to put others down. If you need to put others down to make youself feel better, then perhaps you should take a look at your life, and see what is missing from it.
As Cate says " Two rights don't make a wrong - none of these people are bettering society."
Comment by Irish— 2006/03/30 @ 07:16 AM — (Reply)
I would like to say that there was only one comment of hers that I found disturbing. Everything else she stated was true. It seems that Western Society will never own up to its responsibility when it comes to race and racism. No one is in the dark about "white priveledge", that's why its a known term. Don't act like you don't know there is racism around. Racism continues through the people it is projected on, people of color. People of color have been demonized by western culture for too many years now. When a person of color tries to embrace the ancestry in which they came, western society gets up in arms calling them liars and racists and terrorists. Do people of color need westerm societ's permission to uplift our communities and teach outside of the well formatted educational system? Do people of color need permission to speak out about racism? Even if that young lady wouldn't have mentioned anything about whites, white america would have still been up in arms. Sooner or later, Western Society will own up to what it has created ie race and racism. Dodging the World Summit on racism won't work. Its already happening with China questioning America's treatment of its so called minorities. The Hispanics are getting wiser to what they receieved through colonialization printing shirts acknowledging who the real four fathers of this country are. Many Africans are waking up to the destruction that colonialization has caused. The aboriginals are fighting back in Australia. A lot of African Americans are starting to do some research about their ancestrial history outside of the educational system.
Btw, there were white writers such as Gerald Massey and Godfrey Higgins who wrote books concerning blacks with references of undeniable proof of their accomplishments in the world prior to colonialization. Would you call them racist?
Comment by confused— 2006/03/30 @ 09:08 AM — (Reply)
Oh yeah, I don't care about any typos or grammatical errors... That's just for future reference.
Comment by confused— 2006/03/30 @ 09:10 AM — (Reply)
Confused, Yes, racism exists, nobody denies that, however every one seems to think it is a one way steet, it isn't. Do I as a white person, experience it on the same level as a person of color? No, I will admit I don't, but nobody can tell me that I have never been judged by the color of my skin, or denied something because of the color of my skin, becuase it has happened, and when I tried to file a grievience, it was dismissed. I was told there is no such thing as Racism against White People. Sorry , but that in itself seems kind of racist to me.
So by all means speak out against racism, it is wrong, plain and simple, but don't be fooled into thinking that it is only relegated to certain groups of people. I have been hated for the color of my skin too.
I think the Autumn has every right in the world to say what she wants to say, and I have every right in the world to say I disagree with some of what she is saying. That is the great thing about this country.
By all means, be proud of who you are and where you come from! Celebrate your Heritage, teach your children about it, hell teach my children about it, because frankly I think that history taught in our schools, is taught almost entirely from the perspective of the white man. All of our children need to be taught to honor the heritage of our neighbors, and need to know the true history of this country, that is how we learn how not to repeat past mistakes. But teach to promote unity, not cause division. And frankly I think comments like some of those in Autumn's poems clearly promote division and not unity. Of course that could be exactly what she wants, I don't know.
Comment by Irish— 2006/03/30 @ 10:01 AM — (Reply)
I don't excuse anyone for using racial slurs. I hate the word race and racism because I have learned all about its conception. I blame EVERYONE for its continuance. But I don't blame everyone for its creation.
Do you know where the word "cracker" is derived from. Well, it's something the slaves used to call the folks who would beat them with the whips (whip cracker). It was not intended to demean a race like the word nigger, coon, spic, chink, gook, spear chucker etc... These are the words people of color use amongst each other, which were in fact created by Western Society.
Would you like to know how racism is a one way street? You're saying what the answer is but you're avoiding the finish. Again, racism was created in th 17th century. I think I said the 18th before but it's the 17th. Who created the term race and how the word would be used? No person of color did. Afterwards "race" became scientific. This is where your Darwinians, the creator of Planned Parenthood, and other folks "substantiated" superiority by means of race. During those times, you know what was going on. Even after being "free", slaves had to fight. It was difficult for them to by land. They couldn't vote. If they did build land, the land would be destroyed. Again, still they had no control over their own lives despite them being "freed". They were called less than human. The laws made it difficult for a so called free person who just happened to be black.
Moving to the 19th century...same scenario different times. Blacks are still "free" but are still not able to vote...IN OUR TIMES!! Lynchings became a normal activity for towns. Police brutality was nothing shocking. So, the black community decided to take matters into their own hands by creating organizations like the panthers. This put pure fear in the eyes of Westerners because these weren't your typical Martin Luther King Jr's or Malcom X's. No, no no, these black folks said "an eye for an eye". Those types of organizations were infiltrated and corrpted by planted agaents within the organization. And we can name other things that happened during that time.
Moving on to the 20th century...same scenario different time. Blacks were able to move into white neighborhoods, however they weren't able to move in and live there peacefully. White flight happens, the neighborhood no longer is supported, public services won't do what they did when the neighborhoods were all white...the neighborhood goes down. Now, the people of that community do have some responsibility but not all of it. Crack was pushed into the black community. How did it get there if it didn't start in the black community? The economic status and educational level of blacks were low. Rodney King??? Remember same scenario different times. Twenty first century, already started off bad. Same scenario different time. Just the other day in the newspaper and on cable news they spoke of the direction the black man is going. Some Duke students have been charged with attacking a black woman which they say and we all say was racially motivated. Blacks were still and are still suffering because of institutional racism since "freedom" was declared. The decendants of the creators haven't stopped it. What do you think the abusee will start doing to the abuser if nothing stops? That is how it IS a one way street. Until Western Society really faces what it created without excuses it will continue to be this way. It will have to start there before we see any improvement anywhere else. If no one sees that then... Prepare for this country and other colonized coutries across the globe to reap what they sowed. It's destined to happen. That is the cycle of life. It may not happen in our lifetime but it will happen...on a global scale. Some of you folks don't realize the damage that has been done. It's no where near minor.
Comment by confused— 2006/03/30 @ 12:03 PM — (Reply)
I just want to share an experience my husband had. He taught an officers' course at the JFK special warfare school which was for US and foreign officers. One day an African-American entered the room to give a briefing and immediately one of the African officers gathered his things, got up and left the room. As my husband was the course instructor he followed this officer out to ask if there was a problem. The black African said it would be degrading to sit through a lecture given by an inferior American officer. My husband explained that the officer was of appropriate rank to give the briefing. The African officer responded "My ancestors sold his ancestors into slavery. He is inferior."
Attributing the hate to skin color may have been a white man's invention but don't believe for a minute that hate was invented in America.
Comment by Cate— 2006/03/30 @ 01:19 PM — (Reply)
Comment by Cate— 2006/03/30 @ 01:24 PM — (Reply)
This is a lie. Either your husband is a liar or you are a liar, I hope you do not raise your kids as such.
But I do not blame you, like Autumn noted, your ancestors were liars and crooks, your whole existance is a lie. Go back to the Europe.
Comment by Albino Excuse— 2006/06/03 @ 11:26 AM — (Reply)
Comment by Cate— 2006/06/03 @ 12:08 PM — (Reply)
Go back to Africa.
Comment by — 2009/06/19 @ 03:12 PM — (Reply)
DUDES!!!
The soup poem is FAKE.
Yes, FAKE.
It's a spoof.
PLEASE learn to google and check facts before spewing.
Comment by anon— 2006/03/30 @ 10:45 PM — (Reply)
Here's the real thing:
White Nationalism Put U In Bondage
White nationalism is what put you in bondage
Pirate and vampires like Columbus, Morgan, and Darwin
Drank the blood of the sheep, trampled all over them with
Steel, tricks and deceit.
Nothing has changed take a look in our streets
The mis-education of she and Hegro — leaves you on your knee2grow
Black lands taken from your hands, by vampires with no remorse
They took the gold, the wisdom and all of the storytellers
They took the black women, with the black man weak
Made to watch as they changed the paradigm
Of our village
They killed the blind, they killed the lazy, they went
So far as to kill the unborn baby
Yeah White nationalism is what put you in bondage
Pirates and vampires like Columbus, Morgan, and Darwin
They drank the blood of the sheep, trampled all over them with
Steel laden feet, throw in the tricks alcohol and deceit.
Nothing has changed take a look at our streets.
Comment by Cate— 2006/03/31 @ 06:59 AM — (Reply)
I'm white and what I find the most disgusting thing is thast this is a 7 year old girl being raised by a single father who is inspring knowledge in his daughter and not one of you recognized. While your white child is playing nintendo this little girl is reading and grasping concepts and communicating in such a way that change could be possible. I will never sign onto your sight again, the comments I read turned my stomach. no doubt you are intelligent, but could you possibly stop and think you are writing about a child of God. Through her words and her knowledge she may change this world. I am off to the library with my son to begin his learning.
Comment by — 2006/05/13 @ 05:00 AM — (Reply)
Which comments specifically offend you? The ones where I condemn racism or the ones where I condemn parents indoctrinating their children with hate-filled ideology?
Comment by Cate— 2006/05/13 @ 07:09 AM — (Reply)
Comment by jim— 2009/06/20 @ 06:35 PM — (Reply)
Comment by jim— 2009/07/22 @ 03:58 PM — (Reply)
I am so overwhelmed by all of this, I usually stay away from this type of talk between people..
You know , the Truth HURTS! This little queen is speaking the truth. It doesnt matter where any of you are from, or what kind of education you have. If you cant except the truth then you have your own issues to deal with. Its so crazy when people stand up for what they believe in, and its right, that they are shunned away, and made out to be racist, or WHATEVER!! Get over it, Stop watching American Idol, and all that other bull, Stop being sucked in to this reality crap, stop trying to make excuses for what your folks did to us, there is a reaosn black folks are so mad, dont you get it,, especially that bit** who said little Autumns mouth needed to be washed out, While you are sittin up in your fancy house, driving your fancy car, just know that one day, the oppressed and angry will rise up and all that you have material will be worth nothing!!! Babylon is falling!!! Falling!!! All you racist pigs!!!! Accept the truth!!
My ancestors built this country, how angry would you be if your ancestor did, and got f-ing credit!! I hate IGNORANCE!! POWER TO THE PEOPLE!!!
Comment by Dionne Mcdonald— 2006/05/17 @ 01:15 PM — (Reply)
Comment by Dugg— 2006/06/03 @ 11:51 AM — (Reply)
I don't think people are looking for truth - I think people are using this post to vent their hatred. I have already removed several comments and debated seriously about removing the one just above yours.
So much for open and frank discussion of the issues, huh?
Comment by Cate— 2006/06/03 @ 12:05 PM — (Reply)
Comment by Dugg— 2006/06/03 @ 12:29 PM — (Reply)
Inherent in racism is certain presuppositions, sometimes referred to as stereotypes. This sounds like one. Without knowing anything about your social status it's assumed because you are white you must be rich (a relative term at best). And assuming you are rich you must have stepped all over somebody to get there..another stereotype. Wow..I think somebody has become that which they hate.
Comment by Elmers Brother— 2006/06/03 @ 10:50 PM — (Reply)
soccer mom, who are you to tell people what they need to be doing?
Comment by Gillette— 2007/09/14 @ 04:20 AM — (Reply)
I am the author of this blog. Who are you to stop by and start throwing flames without knowing any of the conversants?
Don't let the door hit you...
Comment by Cate— 2007/09/14 @ 10:22 AM — (Reply)
typical white "we can do no wrong" rhetoric. when you kills millions of people that basically makes you invlaid to talk about how they should feel.
white people are racist by NATURE. your track record speaks for itself
Comment by Soccer Dad— 2007/09/14 @ 06:13 AM — (Reply)
Isn't is cruel irony that you can't delete the evidence of your own racism, Soccer Dad?
Comment by Cate— 2007/09/14 @ 10:14 AM — (Reply)
mmm. i agree racisim is something that probaly will never flurish... there is quite a bitt of hatred in the world that probaly will be hard to demolish, but when you talk about African- American history as being a required course i don't feel any sharrow.... because every year of school scine the first grade i have been required to take American History.. only with about a page on African Americans and slavary... a topic that barely covers a day of class.. but instead of us all complaining about racisim and how we've experienced it why don't we do something about it???
Comment by Allie— 2007/10/25 @ 08:07 PM — (Reply)
Comment by riffran— 2007/10/25 @ 09:20 PM — (Reply)
Comment by riffran— 2007/10/26 @ 06:01 AM — (Reply)
Comment by riffran— 2007/10/26 @ 06:18 PM — (Reply)
Here's the difference folks.
When someone expresses white pride, they're expressing the good things about being white. When someone expresses black pride, they're expressing the good things about being black.
What Autumn Ashante is doing is NOT expressing black pride but rather attacking white pride. She's not showing the world how happy she is to be black, she's showing the world how much she hates white people. There's a big difference in showing what's good about yourself and showing what's bad about someone else. That's why people don't like her.
If she just wrote poems about black pride it would be fine. But she's not upholding her blackness, she's attacking my whiteness.
Comment by Jeje Morachi— 2009/07/22 @ 03:38 PM — (Reply)
Comment by genius— 2009/07/22 @ 05:44 PM — (Reply)
Comment by jim— 2009/07/22 @ 03:53 PM — (Reply)
Comment by jim— 2009/07/22 @ 03:56 PM — (Reply)
So this is what my tax dollars are paying for? It figures! Sending darkies to school is simply flushing money down the toilet. Anything a Negro needs to know can be taught by the tip of the bullwhip.
Comment by Kirik Jenness— 2009/08/07 @ 03:13 PM — (Reply)