How are we moving?
Black people are not engaging in mass protests or street rebellions, of which previously we've been the face or at least on the front line of danger. We're letting other people take the risk and do the work. We're tired of not being heard and being taken for granted. So, we've stayed home and no specific person is telling us to do that. We're just moving on cue, almost by silent instinct.
Black folks successfully boycotted Target. No particular person told us to boycott Target, it just spread throughout the community that we were not shopping at Target and that's what we did. We didn't shop at Target.
Target tried to use Jamal Bryant to reign us back in. That didn't work so Jay Z rose to the task of leading "his people" astray. Shame on him and anyone else who supports tearing down any steps of unity or progress being made by Black people. His moves, seemingly made entirely in his interest, not that of the community at large, justify why his invitation to the cookout is in jeopardy. He seems motivated at lining his pockets at the expense of the community. Again, shame on him.
Black people, keep boycotting Target and anyone else you think disrespectful or undeserving of our dollars.
Enter, the Asian community, another target of boycott by the Black community as we collectively embrace supporting Black owned businesses. Again, the boycott cannot be stopped because it is an unspoken directive commanded by no one person in particular. It's just the way we are moving.
Keep moving Black people, keep moving...
The response to the Converse/Nike klan imagery controversy was swift and decisive. I expect that they, too, will see a decline in sales, certainly from the Black community.
Another sign that we're moving in unison without specific direction, is the overwhelming response to the release of Melania Trump's documentary earlier this year, Melania. Black folks received the message to go to Netflix and re-watch the 2020 release of Michelle Obama's six-year-old biographical documentary,
Becoming, during the opening weekend of Melania. We heeded the assignment and smashed the ratings.
Becoming enjoyed an astronomical 13,300% surge with more than 480,000 views globally (330,270 US) and a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 93%. Melania's cinematic project reportedly sold an estimated 600,000 theater tickets and received a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 5%. It didn't matter that we'd previously seen Becoming. Absent instruction from any one person, Black people heard the assignment and responded accordingly. No matter how symbolic, the mission was accomplished.
What is significant about this new way that Black folks are moving?
As stated, typically, the Black community moves at the direction of a person or an organization. We are the only community coerced or bullied into having a "leader", someone not always chosen by us, but designated to represent or speak for us.
Typically, Black leaders are easily identifiable and ripe for manipulation or control by powers not operating in the best interest of our community. Leaders who do not comply or who cannot be controlled, will be taken out physically, financially, have their credibility killed, or their reputation smeared. By any means necessary, an unmanageable or uncooperative leader in the Black community will be destroyed or discredited.
Conversely, compliant leaders are publicly rewarded with empty promises of powerless, but very visible, golden carrots or shiny goose eggs, intended not only to sway or impress the recipient, but more importantly, the Black community, enticing Black folks to "behave", yearn for, and sell one another out for, the same "reward".
Significant of late, is that we are moving in such a way that there is no easily identified leader of our community. That's unusual and likely off putting for those who watch and study us as they grapple with new ways to infiltrate, derail, manage, or manipulate us as a community. Still, Black folks are seen as an archenemy, as maverick "property", and they want their "property" back. You too, white women...
Black folks and the way we move will forever remain under staunch surveillance by those looking to oppress or exploit our community. That which opens the door for us to prosper and move successfully, independent of control, approval, or manipulation external to our community, will be compromised or destroyed.
Again, I am loving the way we move.
We are moving in quiet unison, and we need to keep moving this way. While you may read this and say, "yes, those are victories, but they are small and insignificant". Do understand the power of first acknowledging even our small moves as victories and then, be propelled by the cumulative effect of our small victories to realign your thinking to imagine the possibility of our collective moves to impact our thinking, our spirit, how we see ourselves, and ultimately, our understanding of the power of moving in unison rendering us less vulnerable for attack, be it from within or outside our community.
Celebrate small victories to empower us, to keep the dream and momentum alive, to be reminded of the Way We Were to Inspire the Way We Move...
Midterm elections are today. Move in unison Black people. Get to the polls and Vote!
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