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Babylon Decoded's avatar

I agree with your ultimate point. However there’s the fact that a lot of black people aren’t quite “there” yet. Pride and confidence in their own endeavours has been measured by Eurocentric standards for over 400 years. Also post traumatic slave syndrome is REAL. Black folks in America ain’t gonna just “wise up” overnight. They’ve had centuries of conditioning. To progress our people will need to be met right where they are not just where we expect them to be.

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The Merc's avatar

This is all true but the issue now is not about meeting them where they are but about highlighting what Malcolm warned us about in the 60's. The black celebrity is not there to help us, they are there to maintain the status quo. There is literally no difference between what they are doing now and what they were doing 60 years ago. There has been almost NO progress. The only 'progress' anyone can point to is how much white massa has allowed the black man to participate in massa's game. Until we listen to what Malcolm warned us about, we aren't going anywhere and that goes for Africans and black Americans. If you want to see mental damage you need to take a look at what has happened to Africans as a result of colonialism and the exaltation of 'whiteness' and white culture. In my opininion it is time to move and whoever is ready to go with us should go and those who are not ready can stay behind otherwise we are doomed

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Babylon Decoded's avatar

But this is exactly the point I’m making bro. Why do you think it is that no one listens to Malcolm? You may remember Iconic jamaican reggae artist Bob Marley sang, “how long shall they kill our prophets while we stand aside and look”. Turns out that not even JAMAICANS listened to him and are still worshipping white Jesus and have an English King as our head of state in 2025. We can’t keep doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result. Sure black revolutionary icons like Marcus Garvey, Malcolm X, MLK, Fred Hampton, Bob Marley were ALL absolutely right but as they themselves learned right does NOT make might. As the minions of Babylon can attest its actual MIGHT, i.e political, economic, military that makes Might. Most black folks haven’t been ready for that message and are still labouring under the white gaze and desperately feeding off the scraps from Babylons table. As the story goes, In West Virginia in 1859, white abolitionist John Brown and his sons tried to incite and support slaves to a large scale slave rebellion. Much to their surprise few if any slaves bought into this rebellion idea. Spoiler alert, there was no rebellion and John Brown and his sons were all hung for their troubles. They too learned the hard way that black folks need to be first sold and then bought in before they’ll actually move. Any strategy for liberation has GOT to start THERE!

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The Merc's avatar

Do you have a substack? Or able to speak on the live video feature? If so this is a topic worth discussing

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Babylon Decoded's avatar

I do bro. It’s called Babylon Decoded.

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P”dr.Kiaxi's avatar

Powerful & I believe it to be true. I was under this entertainment illusion years ago when I was in art school, then one day it dawned on me; This is not entertainment.

It’s your culture soul, this why it must be controlled and the by the way the control leaks to the young generations. It is my belief that this entertainment thing are gifts, an ancestral gifts, gifts are given to people with purpose to uplift, serve, move and aspire the community that why the art form reaches so many.

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MimiRose's avatar

Yes, yes and yes!!!!

I see my family in the US getting grey hairs about the death of DIE as if it were a family business. While on the government gravy train.

Chomsky's summary is on point.

30 years ago we had busineses and some leaders. Today, it reality rv and entertainers on leashes.

My people perish for lack of vision.

Thank you for pushing us to think and act differently and casting vision as you do.

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The Merc's avatar

It is difficult for millions of black Americans to accept what I'm saying because the conditioning and the damage is so deep. However all that matters is a few can

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The Merc's avatar

It is difficult for millions of black Americans to accept what I'm saying because the conditioning and the damage is so deep. However all that matters is a few can

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c h i's avatar

knew i wasn’t the only one who wasn’t 100% down for it even if i enjoyed the show

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Shadiya's avatar

Agree. You can't change the system from within, you make it irrelevant. I mean, let's face it, it's not like it works for the average white person either. They want to carry on accepting occasional crumbs from their masters table, that's up to them. Don't see any good reason to join them.

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Cltdale's avatar

Enslavement of the mind is the worse form of slavery!!

In order to have complete autonomy our people must free their minds!!

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Leon Brown, Jr.'s avatar

Wisdom. Totally on point. The great challenge is finding a way for Black people to learn, accept, and internalize these truths; to Unite; to shake off the chains of fear, passivity, and brainwashing; and to move effectively to pursue their liberation by any means necessary.

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MJ's avatar

This truly resonated with me. I’ve been doing everything I can to vote with my dollar and encouraging others to so as well. But I’ve never thought about how this can be done by those in the highest tax brackets. While I still believe in speaking our truths, this article explains how that which is NOT spoken can be even more powerful. We all need to start asking “what if…?”

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The Merc's avatar

It is the trick played on black people all over the world. The idea that they have no choice but to participate in the game rigged against them

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Samira Writes's avatar

Yes yes yess

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Mark McNulty's avatar

“Imagine this: No Black artists perform at the Super Bowl. No Black players take the field. No black people buy tickets. No black people watch the game. What happens next?” Real! Great points throughout.

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dio mad's avatar

I agree. I'm not black, latin american, I love music and I have seen that black people have created their own music, and then the white people take it to themselves. It happens

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Adika Butler's avatar

You’ve made an excellent case brother. Great work!

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catherine emmanuella's avatar

yeh you had my from the moment you quoted chomsky—so happy ppl are getting it. this was all jus capitalism baby

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The Merc's avatar

It is and the mirage is being collapsed

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Elijah's avatar

Deep points, I think it also speaks to the general culture of American entertainment though. Compare Warren Buffett YouTube videos views to those of Mr Beast or Justin Bieber and you see a similar thing; so my loose thoughts are that - “rap” is often a subset of the commodification of culture through entertainment and media. There are many examples of African American and African business and societal leadership, executed through self determination and ownership; and even that many uphold and promote, personally and through media. It simply often doesn’t receive the same degree of attention in the media / entertainment complex. Bread and circuses.

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The Merc's avatar

The only factor that matters to me is control and power. Whatever is going on black people have absolutely no agency or power when protesting and asking

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Henry Twagirayezu's avatar

Omg this is insane because I just published something similar! Please check it out here: https://open.substack.com/pub/henrytwagirayezu/p/uncle-toms-grandchildren?r=1ix7vb&utm_medium=ios

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