think black-it's okay-the manifesto

8/10/2019 Think Black-It's Okay-The Manifesto

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Acknowledgements

Let me begin by acknowledging the Creator and An-

cestors for instilling in me the intellectual curiosity to

question and search for truth. For my parents in which I

have two sets, Jasper Martin and Paula Mims for giving

me life, Annette Dicks and Harvey Blount for nourishing

my curiosity and allowing me to use my God-given tal-

ents that have become the lifeblood and foundation that I

stand upon today as a person and as a man. I also expressmy deepest gratitude to Kai Nkosi and Russell Ligon for

convincing me to continue to explore, develop, and write

about a topic that I am deeply passionate. To my beauti-

ful wife Robinette, thank you for putting up with me for

all these years as Ive gone through my transformation.

The road may have been tough but the future is bright.There are many other people along the way whove been

encouraging me and have helped me to fulll my pur-

pose. I also thank Ronnie Burnett Sr., the producer of

my Urban Politician radio show, who has never let me

quit. Think Black, is a concept much bigger than myself,I dont own it, but I lay claim to it every single day. I

pray that you may nd inspiration and wisdom in this

manifesto.

To all my family and friends, who have encouraged

me along the way You know who you are

Photo and Cover designed by Mokari Photography

Asante Sana


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Introduction

As far back as I can remember I never fully embraced

the formal education that I received and neither did my

spirit, since there was something unsettling about it al-

though I never really understood why. Today, I am grate-

ful for that uneasiness and what was once confusion and

a lack of identity with what I had been taught has turned

into a lifelong journey, my journey for truth. Who am

I has become the underlying question in all that I beganto seek.

Today, as an older, much more mature man who under-

stands a bit more concerning our history, two key over-

whelming thoughts come to mind concerning the sur-

vival of our people. The rst point is to understand thatyou cant separate our history from our spirituality. The

second point is that once we understand that our histo-

ry and spirituality are bound together, we know that the

walls that divide us must crumble into tiny little pieces.

We dont have to agree on every point; however we areforever connected by our mere existence on the earth.

Therefore, we must forge together as one. Franz Fanon

denes it this way,

Each generation must out of relative obscurity discover

its mission, fulll it, or betray it.


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Think BlackIts Okay, the manifesto is also the begin-

ning of Think BlackIts Okay, the book, which will

detail the benets of changing our present destructive

habits and adopting a culturally conscious concept andworldview that some might nd revolutionary. Think

BlackIts Okay, the book, will include insights and a

discussion on what it means to Think BlackIts Okay

in the vital disciplines such as economics, communica-

tions, media, law and justice, politics, nance, education,

belief systems, the arts, history and health systems.

Donald Blount


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Think Black

Its Okay~

The Manifesto

Written by:

Donald Blount


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To be political in an Afrikan-centeredmanner is to be concerned with the

group interest, not individual gain orambition~Mama Marimba Ani

Collective self-preservation is not a new concept. Fromour earliest beginnings people have organized into dis-

tinctive social groups for protection, survival, and per-

petual self-preservation. While there are distinguishing

differences between clans, tribes, ethnicity, and cultural

practices, the single thread that binds them together is

their common racial identity. This shared racial identitytrumps all else when it comes to the survival and growth

of a people. A collective racial identify is not random,

but is God given, and should dictate how a people edu-

cate their children and build their economies. To Think

Black is to adopt a worldview or perspective of viewingones reality rst and foremost with respect to race. The

7 Guiding Principles in the conceptualization of Think

Black are represented by Truth, Justice, Righteousness,

Order, Harmony, Balance, and Reciprocity.

First, the development of a Black Afrikan worldview iscritical to the fostering of a great pride and awareness of

the historical achievement and therefore the future of our

distinct cultural intelligence in the minds of all members


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of our race, particularly our children. Secondly, the es-

tablishment of a Black Afrikan worldview is necessary

to ordering the foundation and pillars of our healthy and

thriving black communities. Thirdly, the development ofa Black Afrikan worldview is necessary to establish and

to maintain vital disciplines such as economics, commu-

nications, media, law and justice, politics, nance, edu-

cation, belief systems, the arts, history and health sys-

tems, thereby creating a veil of protections and security

around the advancement of our communities and soci-ety. Lastly, the promotion of a Black Afrikan worldview

identies the resting potential of our people to empower

themselves through cooperative and collaborative part-

nerships and business enterprises, while building infra-

structure and unlimited possibilities for urban strength

and vitality.

We live in a multicultural society, one that espouses di-

versity on one hand, while racism on the other. Diversi-

ty is an interesting word since it implies inclusion and

equality among the parts that make up the whole. All rac-es are encouraged to participate in this faade of diverse

equality, however, for Blacks, equality is never fully re-

alized. While multiculturalism in American society is en-

couraged, for most groups the ideals of diversity do not

demand total assimilation or the abandonment of racial

traditions. Neither does this American diversity demanda rejection of a unique racial culture or worldview. Nev-

ertheless, Blacks have voluntarily abandoned solidarity,

dismissed traditional cultural awareness, have chosen


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materialism and the unreality of racial equality over a

collective effort toward the self-preservation of our com-

munity.

Various races have ourished in this nation by banning

together, protecting their interests, and building strong

community economies. For instance, Jewish, Chinese,

Korean, and Latinos have not only brought their culture

into this diverse society; but they have also built their

own cultural economy inside the overall economy. Eachof these racial groups teaches and maintains the unique

history of their people to their own children. They main-

tain their cultural continuity through economics, history,

education, and the arts. These acts of cultural self pres-

ervation are not seen as radical or deant. The tactics of

these racial groups are not seen as threatening, but are

viewed as practical means of uplifting their race. This is

common sense.

The concept of Think Black was adopted to address these

issues within the Black community both in America and

throughout the Diaspora. Why is it that we fail to see the

world through our own racial and cultural lens? What

do we do to further the cause of our collective survival

and viability? These are the questions we must begin to

address moving forward as a people. We have turned our

backs on the Afrikan traditions of collectivism. We haveopted for gross individualism and consumerism. We have

deserted our inner cities and dismissed any responsibili-

ty to the overall wellness of our people. Our indifference


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is an indication of the depth of our disconnection from

our people, our history, and ourselves.


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Think Black

Its Okay~

Afrmations


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THINK BLACK AFFIRMATIONS

Since my stability, freedoms, and future are tied to-

gether with my Brothers and Sisters, I will view them

as a reection of myself. We will only be as strong as

our weakest link.

I will commit to learning and studying the history of

our people and cultures. I will pass this knowledge on

to my children and their children. I will not allow anyoutside group to invent the story of our people.

I will adopt a collective value system of self-help,

self- worth, and self-determination, and will teach our

children accordingly, breaking the cycles of despair,

self-hate, and shame.

I will stop supporting entities that dont have our

higher collective interest at heart including music, tele-

vision shows, political factions and ideology, business-

es, organizations, and individuals contributing to thenegative images and perceptions of Black men, women,

and children. I will reject entertainment and images that

diminish Black genius, Black families, and Black love.

I will stop making excuses for failing to spend moneyin our communities.


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I will be intentional in seeking out viable Black owned

businesses in my community in an effort to support and

encourage them to grow and expand.

I will set aside a portion of my assets to support Black

nonprot organizations heavily invested in building peo-

ple and infrastructure in our community.

I will support our Independently Black owned schools,

since they are doing a yeomens job educating our chil-dren. I will take the time to research what an Afrikan

Centered education means and how it benets our chil-

dren. I will discover ways to offer my professional ex-

pertise, gifts, and talents to support Black owned schools

in my community.

I will encourage my church, mosque, or social orga-

nization to nd ways to support the black community. I

will encourage leadership and membership in such or-

ganizations to contribute nancially and practically to

addressing the needs of homelessness, drug abuse, HIV/AIDS, violence, domestic violence, unemployment, ne-

glected seniors, teen pregnancy, fatherlessness, illitera-

cy, crippling poverty, hunger, mental illness and other

deeply rooted and complex issues in my community that

need our collective and immediate attention.

I will daily check myself of my indifference and dis-

missal of the acute conditions plaguing our community,

and hold myself accountable to take action and to


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encourage others to do the same.

Now its time for us to emerge from the racial, cultural,economic, sociological and psychological captivity of

the past 500 years and move towards the inauguration of

a new and forward-thinking perspective on what it means

to collectively and progressively Think Black.

Its Okay, It really is

Two men in a burning house must not stop to argue.

Ashanti Proverb


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