BAMBOOZLED

1. BAMBOOZLED How Internalized Oppression Is F.U.B.U.

2. WELCOME Brent W. Reeves Director of Multicultural Affairs McKendree College Lebanon, IL

3. THANKS! • To the University of Central Florida • The Office of Diversity Initiatives • YOU!

4. PRESENTATION GENESIS • I am an Internalized Oppression Survivor. • I am a Reformed Internalized Oppressor. • Approximately 10 years ago, my knowledge of this subject was non-existent but I “knew” about this social behavior! • I was a member of a racial harmony dialogue group……..(The Question) • My research began in earnest.

5. GOALS OF THE PRESENTATION • To raise awareness • To “hopefully” spark dialogue among all people • To help Oppressors and the Oppressed to break the cycle and begin to heal • To be able to understand a systemic behavior among African-Americans and help lead them to a more productive existence

6. Workshop Guidelines • I (we) will use derogatory terms as examples. • They will be used within the context of knowledge and education instead of defamation. • No character attacks or personality judgments will be made within this workshop. • We are here to learn more about African-Americans in order to better educate/mentor/lead them into the future. • This will be a “SAFE” environment.

7. Definitions • Oppression • Racism • The Fabric of Oppression • Various Forms Exist

8. Racism Sexism Ageism Class-ism Able-ism Look-ism Homophobia Religious Persecution The FABRIC

9. Levels of Oppression • Personal/Individual Racism • Institutional Racism • Internalized Racism/Oppression

10. Manifestations/Symptoms • African-Americans call each other “Nigger” • We use this word euphemistically • It is used as a “Term of Endearment” • Rarely do people of other cultures degrade themselves this way (White Example) • We have used other derogatory terms as euphemisms: Pimp, Hustler, Killa, Gangsta or “G”…………. (Examples)

11. More Symptoms • Degraded economic status as opposed to other immigrants to this country • Disproportionately fewer professionals • Disproportionately fewer African-Americans in college (especially males) • Even with the abundance of financial aid and scholarships available today • Those who are in college seem to exhibit a “Just Wanna Git By” attitude!

12. Symptoms Continued • We play the “Dozens” • Definition (Examples) • Yo Mama…….. • It was a form of survival training! • Now this game is used to insult a person’s family tree for fun! • Will Smith as the “Fresh Prince” • Many other Black comedians used this form of insult as a mainstay in their repertoire.

13. We practice very little philanthropy We sabotage our own efforts, actions, and movements on the micro and macro levels We never forgive our leaders if they perform less than perfect We don’t support our own businesses within our communities We exhibit “Crabs In A Barrel” mentality We rarely edify or uplift our own Do You See A Pattern?

14. More Painful Examples • Black-Greek sororities performed the “Brown Paper Bag” Test on their pledges • We treat our lighter skinned children better! • “She’s the pretty one!” • “She has “GOOD” hair! • “He’s a fine “High Yellow Man!” • We try to change our appearance to look more like the dominant society (perms, fade creams, plastic surgery)

15. Personal Stories • At one time in my life, I would shy away from other African-Americans because I didn’t want to be “guilty by association”! • I denied myself the pleasure of the company of sisters who were darker than me! • I would cover up in the summer to avoid from getting darker! • Other personal stories………

16. Clinical Analysis • Internalized Racism: A Major Breakthrough Has Been Achieved • Paper authored by Suzanne Lipsky in 1987 • Excerpts

17. Individual Relations Our Children Group Effort Leadership Isolation From Other Blacks Internalized Stereotypes Narrowing of Our Black Culture Mistrusting Our Thinking Needing to Feel Good Right Now Learning and Long-Range Goals How Does Internalized Racism Affect Us?

18. Historical Theory • How did all of this begin for Africans in America? • It is theorized that psychological conditioning of African slaves by their masters produced this Internalized Oppression • When did this occur and how was it implemented?

19. The State of Slave Management • It was circa 1712 • Slavery had existed in the colonies for approximately 200 years • In 1669, South Carolina’s constitution institutionalized “racial slavery” • In 1690, legislation was passed that limited the movement of African-Americans • Along with these legislative actions, more and more barbarism and atrocities toward slaves were committed by their masters

20. As these horrific acts multiplied, more and more slaves either ran away or participated in riots to escape their oppressors • Most of these “rebel” slaves were caught and subjected to even more atrocities • Lynching and mutilations became almost commonplace • This form of control was economically counter-productive

21. Enter-William Lynch • Mr. Lynch was a West Indies plantation owner who came to the colonies to observe slave processes and pass on his experience to his counterparts here. • SLAVE CONTROL CONSULTANT • He introduced a new way to manage slave populations • Excerpts from “The Letter”

22. The Willie Lynch Letter and The Making of a Slave

23. Final Analysis • This was a “How To” manual on enslaving the minds of the Africans to be beholding to their masters. • This psychological conditioning was established to last across generations at least 300 years. • We are the ONLY non-indigenous population in the Americas who underwent this type of generational psychological brainwashing. • As I have shown, its manifestations still linger on today!

24. Where Do We Go From Here? • We must make more Americans aware of this psychosis, virus, cancer and teach them how to identify it. • Understand where YOU are in the Cycle of Oppression • Break the cycle • Teach/Talk (Move away from denial) • Show causality in the manifestations • Release • Change your behavior and behaviors of others

25. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND PARTICIPATION!