Self-esteem is the foundation of self image, independent thought, and individuality. It can encourage us to leap bounds beyond the grandest measure, or it can discourage us from pursuing a goal before it even has the ability to ripen into a full thought. Self-esteem is the result of one's own self-perception-the way one sees oneself in relation to their environment-and strongly reflects the level of self-value one attaches to self.
For years on end, the term "n**ger" has been used in the plight to keep black African-Americans oppressed and miles shy of achieving their God-given potential. Black African-Americans were taught to perceive themselves as something far less than human, and to devalue themselves-to be "n**gers". As a result of the plight's effectiveness, healthy self-esteem runs at a deficient level throughout the black African-American community.
Some black African-Americans have realized the ramifications of the term "n**ger", understand the significance attached to a healthy self-esteem, and refuse to be referred to as a n**ger. This is because they realize the term is an antagonist to a healthy self-persona, and will not permit their own self-perception and self-value to degrade so low that they to refer to themselves as such.
On the contrary, some black African-Americans feel an affinity to the word n**ger-this is what they were taught, so this is their truth. The humility of descending to the level of the n-word is unfeigned submission of one's mind having been overwhelmed with a weighty sense of their innate misery and self-contempt.
Many black African-Americans, unfortunately, are proponents for the self-inflicted use of the n-word. Fortunes have been made by spreading a culture of gangster rap-with its glorification of crime, disrespect for women, saggin' pants, and the perpetuation of a dysfunctional vocabulary. Although this culture has contributed some positivity to the African American race in proving to youths that African Americans can attain success and own God-given creative writing abilities, this "culture" also ensures that countless young Black people will never be able to perform successfully and professionally at a job interview, or function as a civil member of society.
Commentary has been made that gangsta rap is an avenue to vent one's anger. No doubt that anger can spark passion, innovation, and ingenuity. However, the passion and innovation must be communicated in a positive manner to stimulate quality and civility, rather than the glamorization of violence and crime, dolling up drug addictions and the degradation of one's self-perception.
Some gangster rappers argue that they have no impact on the actions of their listeners; however, words are powerful. Whether the story lines are true or not, the avid listeners will perceive them to be such and be influenced by the words of their favorite rapper. Rap can be used as a positive medium to build up a generation of productive society members, or, it can continue to be used as a way to make a buck off of degrading and continually contributing to the demise of the black African-American community. ...Perhaps, and almost apparently, these gangster rappers have a poor self-image.
The latest exhibition of a rapper's low self-esteem is Nas' soon-to-be released video entitled "Be a N**ger Too." In this video, Nas extends an invitation to the world to join him in reinforcing dehumanization, subjugation, and oppression in a supreme effort to keep this word alive. Unknowingly, due to Nas' lack of perception and failure to realize the level of influence he exudes, he is sabotaging the sacred memories of his black ancestry in this preposterous attempt at keeping the n-word alive.
There is a scene in Roots where Kunta Kinte is whipped mercilessly until he calls himself by the slave name, Toby-after which time the slave master says, "Alright, that's a good n**ger." This is a scene re-enacted in real life more times than can be counted. For centuries, the white world has impressed upon the minds of the black world that there is such a thing as a n**ger, and Blacks have bought it lock, stock and barrel.
A healthy self-esteem provides one the courage to try new things and the power to believe in self. Self-esteem promotes self-respect, and when one respects him/herself, the rest of the world will know that individual demands to be respected by them. With a healthy self-esteem, one doesn't look for excuses to endear themselves to a word that once was used to justify the dehumanizing, butchering and slaughtering of their ancestors. In fact, quite the contrary: They will, instead, find such a fiendish word as n**ger to be totally unacceptable.
Granted the common or modern day definition of the n-word is nothing more than a racial slur, however, the historical meaning as it is applied to ascendants of African Americans is etched in stone in the annals of history and can never be rationalized away. As James Baldwin once so succinctly said: "You can only be destroyed by believing that you really are what the white world calls a n**ger." Our ancestors did not fit the description of what was considered a n**ger, nor did they deserve to be categorized in such a manner. Once one truly understands what the description of a n**ger was-and still is, a sane person would come to realize that there is no such thing as a n**ger-at least not pertaining to them! One of the greatest powers in the world is the power to define reality and make others accept it, even when it's to their disadvantage. This is the devious strategy the white world deployed into the minds of the black race with the word n**ger.
Blacks can be and are complicit in maintaining white supremacy by giving into nihilism (the n-word) and immorality in the face of the endless struggle to surmount inequality, rather than proceeding through life on their own autonomy.
The n-word is a phenomenon crippling the black community and the civic will to fight it. Let go of the past. Stop breathing life into the n-word, which is killing off the black community's self-esteem and opportunities at ultimate success. Bury that sucka. Finally claim and live in full freedom. Blacks are NOT n**gers-there is no such thing! This anti n-word movement has nothing to do with the white man's use of the word, this is about the black race's pathetic acceptance of the word. This acceptance must be derailed.
A healthy self-esteem epitomizes personal responsibilities and holds one accountable for their actions. It entails the meeting of life's challenges through which a healthy state of mind enables one to break free from the restraints of an oppressed mental state. A healthy self-esteem provides the encouragement, refuge, and drive one requires to successfully persevere life's obstacles.
We, as black African-Americans, are powerful beings capable of creating joy and success, or pain and suffering in our lives and the lives of others. We are not destined to be victims. We have the power to choose. This power of choice is both the greatest responsibility and the greatest opportunity we have to re-build our African-American community.
Most people admire and respect strong individuals who have won great success by manifesting will power and self-discipline. People in all walks of life with sheer will power, self-discipline and ambition have learned new skills and improved their lives. Myriads of examples exist where African Americans have achieved ambitious goals without the need of referring to themselves-or audience members-as the n-word.
Day by day, the majority of African Americans experience a painful war raging within self-an everyday struggle that obscures one's vision of a healthy self-perception. It is a constant battle between seeing one's self as a high achiever-desiring to take the plunge toward ultimate success, and breaking free from the familiar and "safe" shackles of constant criticism, pressure, anger, sadness and endless cruel comparisons. One's self-esteem plays the greatest role in influencing one's thoughts, ideas and life decisions.
We are reminded time and time again about the importance of owning a high self-esteem, yet most African Americans tend to find ways to maintain reduced levels of self-esteem. African Americans must break those chains of familiarity and comfort to explore a world beyond compare. The first step in this journey is to understand the struggle and one's influence (note: everyone influences someone), attach high value to oneself and heritage, perceive oneself as important and worthy, and exude unparalleled levels of self-confidence-self-esteem-to synergistically benefit the black African-American society.
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