Instructor: Mba Mbulu Black Nationalism 201
Copyright 1996,1998, 1999, 2020 ASET, M. Mbulu All rights to everything on this web site are reserved.
Prerequisite Course: Failure to take Black Nationalism 101 will hinder your understanding of the issues dealt with in Black Nationalism 201. If you have not taken Black Nationalism 101, please do so. If you have taken Black Nationalism 101, please review it.
Class #9 [AudioVersion]
Read the information that follows on The Black Nationalist Vanguard, Elitist Black Nationalists and Non-Elitist Black Nationalists. Be able to expound on the following issues.
(1) Is the process of nation building likely to be an orderly process?
(2) Will there be variations in the Black nationalist vanguard?
(3) Will all forces in the forefront of the Black nationalist struggle be concerned about the well being of Black People?
(4) Wouldn't it be easy to lay out a plan in advance and carry out the Black nationalist process according to that plan?
(5) Will Black nationalist forces use white America as a model?
(6) How will the willingness of Black individuals to take on responsibilities impact on the success or failure of the Black nationalist movement?
(7) Do you think you have a greater understanding of the Black nationalist process as a result of reading this lesson?
THE BLACK NATIONALIST VANGUARD
The Black nationalist vanguard will be like all other vanguards that have overthrown a status quo; not as united or homogenous as one would want it to be. But that is par for the course. Hopefully We will be able to acquire a greater level of united-ness than most, but the important thing is that We do what is necessary to succeed. An important element to succeeding will be observing the general and specific consensus that was talked about in Class # 5.
There will be many elements to the Black nationalist vanguard. We will lightly touch on some of them here, and deal with this subject in more detail in the Advanced Black Nationalism course (Black Nationalism 301).
We must remember to think in terms of elitists and non-elitists. Those who make up an elitist structure will attempt to bring about conditions that will be of primary benefit to themselves and their ilk, and of non-primary (secondary) benefit to the masses. Those who make up a non-elitist structure will attempt to bring about conditions that will be of primary benefit to the masses. What this means is that some sincere Black nationalists will seek a Black nation that will carry out its business in somewhat the same way the United States carries out its business. Other sincere Black nationalists will seek a Black nation that will carry out its business in ways that are specifically designed to meet the needs of the masses of its citizens as efficiently and effectively as possible. Which group succeeds will be determined by which group is most about the business of effectively putting the critical parts into the proper places.
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The elitist Black nationalists might champion ideas such as "democracy,"* white America style, and economics/capitalism, white America style. However, even though their style will be pretty much that of white America, they will be prepared to deliver more to the masses than white America is capable of delivering. For example, they might attempt to make "democracy" open to a larger percentage of the population, and their version of "capitalism" might be closer to free enterprise and less sinister than white America's capitalism. They might want to provide more assistance to those who are victimized by capitalism than white America is willing to do, and be more sensitive to huge disparities in wealth than white America. In short, they will want to hold on to those elements of white America that they perceive as worthy and reduce the elements that are harmful enough to generate huge festering resentment among the masses. From the top of the slate to the bottom, they will present an image of a Black nation that is markedly better than white America, and they will be able to talk in terms that the mass of Black People are somewhat familiar with.
There will be some elitist Black nationalists whose purpose is entirely selfish; they will not care any more about Black values and Black well being than the staunchest white power advocate. Black individuals must be intelligent enough to determine which elitist Black nationalists are concerned about Black People and which are only concerned about themselves.
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NON-ELITIST BLACK NATIONALISTS
As was stated earlier, non-elitist Black nationalists will seek a Black nation that will carry out its business in ways that are specifically designed to meet the needs of the masses of its citizens as efficiently and effectively as possible. What this means is the following: Non-elitist Black nationalists will not use white America as a model! The principles of the Black nation will revolve around what will be of the greatest benefit to the masses of its citizens, and the business of the Black nation will reflect those principles to the greatest degree possible. For example, free enterprise will be encouraged, but free enterprise will not be allowed to digress into capitalism.
Does this mean that the Black nation will, of necessity, be the exact opposite of white America? No! The more the Black nation matures and the stronger it gets, the more it will be able to institutionalize its priorities. However, that institutionalization process will not revolve around making the Black nation the opposite of white America, it will revolve around making the Black nation capable of representing the needs of its citizens as efficiently and effectively as possible. Individuals who are accustomed to white America will have to make some adjustments; to acquire a deeper understanding of their role as an involved citizen and be willing to adjust to parameters that they will learn to appreciate with the passage of time, but they will be fully capable of making the required adjustments.
What the non-elitist Black nationalists build would be much more rewarding to the entire citizenry of the nation in the long run, but the initial sacrifices the citizens must make would be greater. Thus, the issue of responsibility will take front stage. Those Blacks who are not afraid of taking on responsibilities might be attracted to the nationalistic program of the non-elitist Black nationalists. Those Blacks who don't want to take on substantial responsibilities might be attracted to the nationalistic program of the elitist Black nationalists. Or, some other factor might come into play that changes the mix altogether.
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We can NOT determine in advance what will happen. The important thing, therefore, is that We start functioning; that those who recognize the need for Black nationalism start carrying out their programs. We don't need to waste time engaging in academic discussions. We have spent enough time debating and coming to conclusions that are speculative at best. We would be better off if We stopped talking and started carrying out the processes that will give Us actual answers that We can apply on the spot.
*Democracy does not exist in white America. The White American constitution calls for a republican form of government. Democracy was the last thing the white founding fathers wanted, and the thing they feared most. For that reason, the term democracy is in quotes.
Please review this lesson at your convenience and at your own pace. Afterwards, you can proceed to the next lesson.
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