The recent denigration of the lifestyles and personal protocols of low-income Blacks has disclosed more than just "ghetto laundry," but has torn open age-old animosity between the house Negro and the field Negro populous of Black America. While mainstreamist suggests that this "airing" may have been needed to address some problems of the Black community, the first problem that needs addressing is the one the "airing" surfaced: the division of Black America.

The object of the "house Negro, field Negro" strategy was to divide the slaves in order to discourage revolution during slavery. Because one sector of slaves supposedly enjoyed the good life beneath the master's wings, this bred animosity from the other, less fortunate, more defiant sector of the slaves, which in turn instilled into the house Negro a type of auspicious snobbishness.

This snobbishness led the house Negro to believe he was better simply because the master favored him; however, this was a mere assumption on the part of the house Negro. The master's elevation of the house Negro made the house Negro no better than the field Negro except as defined by what the master resolved to be acceptable. This is the psychological mindset by which Black America lives to this day proven by the recent "airing" of low-income Black's business.

For over 400 years, Blacks have been divided by this same strategy: exalt some and let the others fend for themselves. Not everyone can be successful, not in a capitalist society. That is against the rules of capitalists' theory. Capitalism is a structure that rewards the strong and diminishes the weak. It is not meant to be fair at all because life is not fair. Thus, we cannot conclude that everyone has an equal chance at success; after all, every society has to have the poor.

Yes, poor people live a certain way and talk a certain way, and they are not as polished in high society and social etiquette as those who have experienced high society, higher education, and higher incomes; so why should the poor be reminded of this? Condemning the poor and less fortunate is not wise, and when it comes from a people who were foreordained to the high end of the social order, it stinks like vomit.

Elitist Blacks should never speak against poor Blacks because they are both one in the same people birthed into the same subjugation and scared by the same travails, especially if a now elitist Black lays claim to how they overcame a ghetto childhood. They should have more understanding of the difficulties in overcoming hardship than someone who is born holding a silver spoon.

Closing the gap in the division will not work by condemnation; it must work through understanding of the many problems Blacks face. It is easy to say that people should pull themselves up by their own bootstraps and that there is plenty of opportunity to succeed, but reality says different. Many people attempt to overcome but obstacles come in many shades and colors, and it is twice more difficult for Blacks to overcome those obstacles than whites and some other minority Americans.

The truth must be acknowledged, which is racism still thrives. It may not be as blatant but it is there and cannot be ignored nor overcame by individual effort alone. What must be done is to identify the areas in which racism targets Blacks and address them first before condemning Blacks for not succeeding.

However, many elitist Blacks would rather ignore the realities of racism, and they do this only after they succeed. But this is an illusion because it is not because of their individual efforts that they succeeded entirely, but because of the house Negro, field Negro strategy that continues to be played against the Black community.

This division is apparent in society today because of the "airing" of low-income Blacks' business; thus, it cannot be counted out as a weapon formed against Blacks, but must be dealt with. Reality says that racism is and always has been a hindrance in the attempted achievements of Black America. Many Blacks see this, know this, and are discouraged from going any further. It is a reaction to an action.

A person can do as much as possible to achieve their goals and still come face to face with the reality of racism. Though this encounter should not dictate their next reaction, it is an added obstacle for the Black person to overcome. And whether or not that person is at their limit where it pertains to racism in the social structure, it calls for a sense of dignity and principle within that person to overcome. Moreover, we all know that since the breakdown of the family and traditional values in American society, not much can be expected from that person concerning a positive reaction.

We must recognize the strategy that continues to be used against us and purge it from our inner-beings. Not only must we face the truths about the lifestyles of low-income Blacks but also we must address the problem with an honest analysis of why the problems exist. If we cannot face these truths, the division will only get wider and the animosity will only grow stronger, and that is something for the strategists to laugh about at his dinner table.

Black elitist must establish a dialog with low-income Blacks in an open forum, not undermine them in the public one. This will not solve the problem but increase it. Low-income Blacks must challenge the elite to prove their loyalty to the Black community and to understand their ideology, and vise-versa. If elitist Blacks can claim success from the ghetto, then they can communicate in the same language, if not, then that elitist should keep their mouth shut.

© 2004 By CR Hamilton