Why we are even debating the displaying of the Confederate flag on public buildings... but here we are. It is 2016, and I came across this classy t-shirt design:

We fixed their typo.

Lest we forget:

I don't want to take anything away from Hitler and his Nazis, but I want to give credit where credit is due.

“...the concept of a white, blond-haired, blue-eyed master Nordic race didn’t originate with Hitler. The idea was created in the United States, and cultivated in California, decades before Hitler came to power. California eugenicists played an important, although little-known, role in the American eugenics movement’s campaign for ethnic cleansing.”

— SFGate, "Eugenics and the Nazis - the California Connection"

Gives new meaning to "California blonde"... I'm not sure if the American pioneers of eugenics branded their movement so, I suppose the swastika and the confederate flag will have to do for now. [Source: SFGate, November 9, 2003]

[In an effort to make sure some folks #neverforget, all images are available at high res for non-commercial use. If interested, tweet @MultiPATRIOT. Please share.]

So, let's talk heritage. I read this on @aboutdotcom about the origins of the Transatlantic Slave Trade:

*Unreliable* Native Americans. Unsuitable climate for Europeans & lazy Africans... *correction. Africans that could be "worked very hard." Damn Natives kept dying of European diseases. [Who wrote this mess?]

I read that prenatal care included digging a hole in the ground to accommodate pregnant bellies during whippings (If my memory serves me correctly, Toni Morrison wrote about this). And "special needs" children were abused [even more than the average enslaved baby and child] (e.g., used as alligator bait). #childcare And what happened to the people who "aged out" of slavery? #eldercare? At least our ancestors could rest in peace after death, right? #africanburialgrounds

Some female slave owners only whipped female slaves because it was seen as "unladylike" for them to whip male slaves. Oh, these Southern Belles... #legacy #mindyourmanners #butnothumanity

The decision to abort or to give up one's child for adoption is hard for any parent. And to sell your own child into slavery? I can't. And before there was "take your child to work day," there was "take your child to a lynching." I guess it was work for the lynchers. #Howarethechildren?

EJI documented 3959 racial terror lynchings — EJI documented 3959 racial terror lynchings

Is it true that the origins of "policing" were rooted in American slavery? So any person with Black skin was targeted to protect the ruling class...back then... #massincarceration

But why focus on race, some argue. Why's it gotta be about being Black or anti-Black? Don't other efforts to combat the ISMs of the world include the fight for the rights of Black people?

Ok. It's just a few misguided but well-meaning actors, you say. Not a good example to use as evidence of an agenda to invalidate our movement or in general as "people of color," right? [Prince of Persia, Exodus, Gods and Kings, Goku: Dragonball: Evolution, Akira (no, a backlash after the leaking of a whitewashed cast made Hollywood reconsider)... *sigh... more at ScreenRant]. #oscarssowhite #itsnotdiversification #itsnormalization (h/t Shonda Rhimes) [And for the white supremacists, "diversification" is not code for "white genocide"... one of few instances where "white" is not the default...]

Message heard, but not always loud and clear. Erasure from history, the present and the future... signed #multimedia

And what's that popular presidential slogan? "Make America Hate Again"... Yeah... that's it. #2016

Similar to other deniers/revisionists, I am tired of having to prove the continued impact of our dark histories. Many would like to move on to discussing solutions but it must begin and continue with acknowledging the truth(s). Some say we inherit trauma in our DNA (here and here). Black history did not begin in America, however, 400 years of "trauma" in one of the most powerful countries in the world must have a lasting impact... #neverforget

“Until lions have their historians, tales of the hunt shall always glorify the hunter.”

— African Proverb

I will not be silent no matter how much it pains me and I will try and support those who do it everyday. #notmad #woke #teachthebabies

As my friend, Corey Godwell would say, "It's hate waiting for an excuse." #spreadLOVE #stayWOKE #noEXCUSES

~ Onjena Yo

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Zoe Saldana on race:

“I literally run away from people that use words like ethnic. It’s preposterous! To me there is no such thing as people of color cause in reality people aren’t white. Paper is white. People are pink, it’s a bit ridiculous when I have to explain to a human being, that is an adult like I am, that looks intelligent but for some reason I have to question his intelligence and explain to him as if he was a two year old, my composition in order for him to say, ‘Oh I guess I can chill with you, I can work with you.’

I will not underestimate a human being and I will not allow another human being to underestimate me. I feel like as a race, that’s a minute problem against the problems we face just as women versus men, in a world that’s more geared and designed to cater towards the male species.”

— Zoe Saldana

So being referred to as "Black" is an underestimation of what she is or has become... and then, problems "we" face as "women versus men"...
"... minute problem..."

Didn't she grow up in Queens?

What happened to this sister over there?

When you say that race is a social construct does that imply that it is insignificant?
Language can be described as a social construct.
To say that there is no such thing as a black race is actually inaccurate. The terminology of "Black Race" is a description that means that you can be readily defined as having indigenous African roots. While the biology, the genetic classification can be debated, one's family lineage is significant... as significant as being able to see yourself in the face of your children.
After the construction of race as a term to separate Blacks from the rest of society (that is why the other classifications take on different meaning) the descriptions of those that fell under that classification, in an attempt at invalidation, were ridiculous. The cultural practices that have been built based on those attempts ( ie: the biblical curse of Ham, Darwinish classification of Blacks as a lessor evolved species) were just psychological tools of war... and as such, as successful as they were, can never be called ridiculous.
Centuries later that classification "Black Race" is still being distorted and used as a war identifier.
The classification, meaning the defining and separating.. and the subsequent treatment of those that fell under that category, created a culture in response. Culture being another social construct that has existed at the foundation of civilizations for tens of thousands of known historical years.
Therefore Black culture becomes as significant as any "religion"... and therefore lies the danger.
That is what those are on both sides are frightened of and align themselves against. They are afraid of being persecuted by, or for being part of a "religion".
Historically powerful... and dangerous.

Saying race is nonsense becomes just one more tool to dilute that power and invalidate a people, in the same way the Australian aborigines were driven toward extinction.
It is not just how the world sees us and treats us but is as real as any identification of "family"...
... Which I admit can sometimes be ridiculous.

~ grey

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