The Color Purple Photo Album

Motherf***er

If you’ve ever seen the movie Baby Boy you can remember the images of Tyrese’ good lookin’ self submerged in what looks like liquid in a uterus. But I bet most of you don’t know the meaning behind it. In the beginning of the movie he speaks of a psychiatrist, Dr. Francis Cress Welsing and her theories of the black man in America. How he refers to things closest, most comforting, and meaningful to him as “momma”, “crib”, and “boy.” In the excerpt following this short introduction you see the way language and words play a part in the mind of an individual. How it can cripple us or make us stronger, and how by using the language we do reflect on how we view ourselves. We understand that after reading this excerpt controversy will be stirred, naturally. The things Dr. Welsing says in this excerpt does not reflect directly on Sagal or I or any of the other Harayans. We simply thought it was interesting and thought it could grab your attention and make you think.

Chapter 9 of “The Isis Papers”, by Dr. Francis Cress Welsing

“The term “mother fucker” is a pattern of speech used with extremely high frequency among Black people, specifically Black males in the U.S. In my attempt to decode and understand this particular pattern of high frequency behavior of language use, it was necessary to begin with the knowledge that all Black people, like all other non-white people, are relatively powerless victims of the white supremacy system, irrespective of their income levels.

I then examined certain other specific patterns of language used by Black males within the white supremacy culture. To begin with, Black males in particular, but also Black females, refer to the white male as “The Man”. Once this term “The Man” is thought or uttered, the brain computes that inasmuch as there are only five major categories of people (“man”, “woman”, “boy”, “girl”, and “baby”), if the white male is “The Man”, meaning logically “The ONLY Man”, then any other male must be one of the four remaining people categories – “boy”, “girl”, “woman”, or “baby”.

Historically, Black males have fought being referred to as “boy” by white males and females. Only recently has the use of this degrading appellation ceased to some extent, although there is a current television series called “Chico and The Man”. The title implies “the boy” and “The Man”. “The Man”, of course, is white and “Chico” is a non-white male.

Because the use of the word “boy” in reference to Black males ceased, it only meant that Black males could then refer to themselves as any one of the remaining three categories of people: “baby”, “woman” or “girl”. It certainly did not imply that Black males would be referred to as equals of white males. This never could occur under the system of white supremacy domination.

When the use of the word “boy” was no longer the term of common reference for Black males by whites, Black males began referring to themselves as “baby”. For until most recently, with the changes in dress and clothing styles, most Black males deeply resented any reference to themselves as “girl” or “woman”. But the recent style changes towards high heeled shoes, curled hair, hair curlers, braids, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, pocketbooks, midriff tops, cinch waisted paints, etc., that many Black males have adopted now suggest that there is a developing tendency, widespread among Black males, to not mind (consciously or unconsciously) being mistaken for a “girl” or a “woman”.

However, at present, the term “baby” is a fully accepted appellation for Black males in reference to one another. It is thus not uncommon to hear one Black male say to another, “Hey ‘baby’, what’s happening?” in addition to Black males frequently referring to one another as “baby”, many Black females often refer to their Black male peers and companions as “baby”. Black adult females refer to Black adult males as “baby”, Black adult males often refer to Black adult female peers and companions as “momma”, often expecting those “mommas” to provide food, clothes, and shelter for them. It is not uncommon to hear “Hey momma, can I ride with you?” further, Black adult males also refer to the place where they sleep as a “crib”. The brain thus computes: an adult male who refers to another adult male as “The Man” (meaning, the only man), to himself as a “baby”‘ to the woman that he sleeps with as a “momma”, and to the place where he sleeps as a “crib”, will call himself or any Black male reflection of himself a “mother fucker”.

Please be weary of the time period in which Dr. Welsing wrote this novel. The slang terms that she speaks of may not be completely pertinent to our generation, but it makes you think nonetheless. Language is powerful. Is it safe to say that we are the way we speak?

Service Opportunities

Community. We are all a part of one, so why not make it better. Getting involved in community service not only helps those in need—it also makes the area you live in a better place.

Through Haraya, the opportunities to serve the public are endless. Every Wednesday from 9 am- 12:30pm, there is a program called Generation Success, at Teachers Prep in Brownsville, NY. Where members of our organization mentor at risk youth. The goal of this project is to help the students build a plan for their college and professional careers. I had the opportunity to participate in the program and it was a beautiful experience. Being able to talk to the students and inspiring at least one person is the most rewarding feeling.

The Community Service Committee has a variety of endeavors coming up this month. An especially important service opportunity is the Homeless Outreach Population Estimate (HOPE). This program sends out thousands of volunteers to the streets of NYC to create a census of the people in need. HOPE helps the city estimate how many shelters, food kitchens and other outreach programs are needed. The event takes place this Monday, January 30^th from 8:30pm- 4am. Find out more here: http://tinyurl.com/78hl7pv.

 Another program that can help you here at St. John’s is called the Student Alliance for Financial Aid. Through this opportunity anyone who receives financial aid, Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) or anyone who cares about higher education and financial aid can attend. It’s a trip to the New York State Capitol Building in Albany. You can sign up through St. John’s here: http://tinyurl.com/7ad9o2j. Registration ends on February 3^rd, so do not miss out on this opportunity!

If you want more information about the service opportunities listed contact Joel Scott, the VP of Services or stop by the Haraya office!  Help your community and help yourself succeed! 

Intro to Black History Month

Every February since we were kids we’ve been celebrating the history of African-Americans during the month known as Black History Month.  As we studied the challenges and history of Blacks in America very few have studied the origin of Black History Month. Before there was an entire month recognizing the strides of African-Americans there was only a week. Carter G. Woodson the child of two slaves started what was once known as Negro History Week. After realizing that Blacks were rarely mentioned in history books, Woodson founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History in 1915. Shortly after, in 1926 he decided to bring national recognition to the contributions of Blacks through the establishment of Negro History Week. Starting in the 1940s cities began making the shift from Negro History Week to Negro History Month. Finally in 1976, 50 years after the first celebration of Negro History Week, Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History managed to institutionalize the shifts from a week to a month and to change the name from Negro History to Black History.

Many often wonder why Black History month is in February, the shortest month of the year. Truth is, Woodson originally chose the second week in February because it marked the birth week of both Fredrick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln, two influential people in African American history. Woodson always felt that a race rather than two people truly make up the history of Blacks. Woodson was right and February serves as an important month for many other things in Black History such as the birth of W.E.B. DuBois (Feb. 23), the passing of the 15^th Amendment (Feb. 3), the NAACP  was founded (Feb.12), and the assassination of Malcolm X(Feb. 21)  among other things. Carter G. Woodson died April 3^rd, 1950 but his contribution to Americans specifically Black Americans will never be forgotten.

After learning a brief history of Black History Month, Haraya invites you to come celebrate and learn about African-American History. We encourage you not only to come out and support Haraya events but also the events of our umbrella and partner organizations. Learn things you didn’t know, discuss issues you feel are important and most importantly make friends and become a part of something bigger than yourself.