While browsing at the National Black Theater Festival several years ago I happened upon a vendor selling greeting cards, posters and other visual artifacts. One of the cards she had on display struck my attention, it said, “Your Consciousness is Showing.”. What a profound statement! It is true, your consciousness always shows. The Dictionary of Psychology defines the word consciousness as: “state of awareness, totality of experience at an given moment, as opposed to mind, which is the sum of past consciousness, awareness of acts activities and reactions, the subjective aspect of neurological activities, self-knowledge, self-awareness.”. By that reckoning that greeting card was right on time. At any given moment, all the time our consciousness is showing. What the world sees as we go about our daily activities is our consciousness. What the world hears when we speak is our consciousness and what the world experiences with regard to our behavior is our consciousness. All too often what the world sees in us is our lack of self-knowledge and self-awareness as African people. unfortunately the world sees a people who hate ourselves, debases ourselves and disrespects ourselves because we do not know who and what we are. The world sees a people suffering from menticide; the deliberate attempt by our enemies to destroy our minds. Because we are defined by our enemies, they manipulate the images and message to make the world believe this is our natural state. The world sees the ongoing results of the horrendous legacy of slavery in the form of trans-generational post traumatic and current stress disorders but our enemies spin it to make is seem this is normal black behavior. We must become more conscious about what is going on around us and how these things impact us. We must develop proactive internal strategies to support ourselves, to effectively counteract and positively transmute this degrading reality.
Our consciousness is reflected in how we spend or invest our money, what we spend or invest it on and who we spend or invest it with. Are you doing anything with your money and your personal time and energy that will directly enrich you, your family or African people? If you are your consciousness is showing. If your aren’t your consciousness is showing. Are you engaged or involved in any programs that promote empowerment, self-determination, mental decolonization, self-respect or self-sufficiency? Whether you are or you aren’t, your consciousness is showing. Do you see AmeriKKKa as a place where the masses of people of African descent can flourish and thrive as it currently exists, based on our long term and immediate past experiences and our efforts to ameliorate our situation? No matter which way you respond, your consciousness is showing. If you believe white folks are going to alter their cultural patterns of their own volition, your consciousness is showing. If you expect fairness and justice within the AmeriKKKan system regardless of color or socio-economic status, your consciousness is showing. If you believe the only way AmeriKKKa will change for the better is through a massive grass roots push to overhaul the total system your consciousness is showing.
The totality of our experiences at the hands of Caucasians (Arabs and Europeans) , our awareness of acts, activities (like colonization, slavery and lynchings) and reactions (like the Compromise of 1877 and COINTELPRO) will determine our strategies and behavior. If we buy into the notions of white supremacy and African inferiority, this will influence our behaviors. If we reject these ideas our behaviors will be altogether different. If we determine we are in an all out war for our mental, emotional and physical survival, our consciousness and sense of urgency will reflect this perception and our options and behavior will be in accordance with this cognitive and empirical assessment. If fear permeates our consciousness we will cower in the face of opposition impotent to act in our true best interests. If lack of trust and confidence in black people has been embedded in our consciousness, we will never reach out to one another for help or galvanize like minded folks to resist our oppressors. On the other hand, if we have a consciousness of self and group love all our actions will reflect, validate and affirm this mind set. If we have a consciousness that affirms ourselves as sentient beings with awesome capabilities and potential we will naturally seek to actualize this power no matter what challenges and obstacles we face! It is critically important for us to realize, no matter what we do or don’t do, why we do it or don’t do it; our consciousness is showing.
Junious Ricardo Stanton produce and host a Internet radio programs titled The Digital Underground which airs live on Sundays from 12 pm- 2 pm eastern standard time on NewBlackCity.com Junious is also featured on Blakeradio.com with the program titled The Cyberspace Sanctuary A Safe House For Your Mind Harambee Radio.com and BlackMic Radio Relays The Digital Underground on Sundays tune into these powerful broadcasts and continue to support those who support you!!
