Rashard Zanders: The African-American community suffers from Stockholm Syndrome

"Stockholm syndrome, or capture-bonding, is a psychological phenomenon in

which hostages express empathy and sympathy and have positive feelings toward their captors, sometimes to the point of defending and identifying with the captors. These feelings are generally considered irrational in light of the danger or risk endured by the victims, who essentially mistake a lack of abuse from their captors for an act of kindness. "de Fabrique, Nathalie; Romano, Stephen J.; Vecchi, Gregory M.; van Hasselt, Vincent B. (July 2007). FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin (Law Enforcement Communication Unit) 76 (7): 10–15. ISSN 0014-5688."

Rashard Zanders --Twin Cities, MN -- Is capture bonding, or as it is better known, Stockholm Syndrome, is it a pandemic among African Americans?  Do Blacks in the United States give a damn about their own liberation or do they consider themselves already full stakeholders in the American Dream, which is less about home-ownership than empire? In light of the plethora of American police brutality and torture on our nation's behalf, why do so many of us damn everyone else (everyone else in this case being folks who still demand justice and equal rights, human rights and a strengthening of the bonds in the African Diaspora)?

Is it something worse?  Can a greedy, homicidal and racist enterprise make it's subjects fall in love with it?

Unfortunately, yes.  We are proof of that. I'd even say 40-80 percent of Black people hate Blacks who are about Black empowerment.  Those are people who suffer from  Stockholm Syndrome. Nicely played whitey (the condition, not the person!), nicely played.

"Stockholm syndrome, or capture-bonding, is a psychological phenomenon in which hostages express empathy and sympathy and have positive feelings toward their captors, sometimes to the point of defending and identifying with the captors. These feelings are generally considered irrational in light of the danger or risk endured by the victims, who essentially mistake a lack of abuse from their captors for an act of kindness. "de Fabrique, Nathalie; Romano, Stephen J.; Vecchi, Gregory M.; van Hasselt, Vincent B. (July 2007). FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin (Law Enforcement Communication Unit) 76 (7): 10–15. ISSN 0014-5688."

http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/2784572?sid=21105725681303&uid=2&uid=4&uid=3739256&uid=3739736

Urbanintellectuals.com:

http://urbanintellectuals.com/2013/04/01/does-the-african-american-community-suffer-from-stockholm-syndrome/

From thyblackman.com:

http://thyblackman.com/2014/05/23/most-black-folks-suffer-from-stockholm-syndrome-like-missing-california-woman%E2%80%8F/

From diaryofanegress:

http://diaryofanegress.com/2012/11/15/stockholm-syndrome-the-negro-madness-disease/#

The Final Call's reporting on the subject:

http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/sisterspace/article_100779.shtml

Islandmix.com offers:

http://www.islandmix.com/backchat/f6/stockholm-syndrome-slavery-244590/

There really is a lot of research on this subject, which kinda popped into my head last night, but had been percolating for a while.  I have had Black friends and family tell me that I am angry because of my own lack of material success,  personal failures in work and relationships, etc.  And indeed I can honestly say that yes, I have lost most of the great battles for love and wealth an happiness,career and fame.  But I have gained some modicum of WISDOM, or as the our ancient ancestors in Egypt referred to it, SBA, the divine wisdom that is the gift of M'AAT.

As social media continues to become more and more of a "necessary" evil in our lives I became aware of my friends' responses, or lack thereof, to my posts.  They range from deafening silence to out and out hostility from 4/5ths of my approximately 200 Facebook friends.

Sometimes they won't even comment or respond to my posts directly, but on their own page offer a rebuttal  without mentioning my name.  If I post something critical of the president, because presidents should be criticized for their mistakes, I get replies such as "I stand with the president!" or "unfriend me" if I don't think like they do.   But the worst is the silence, the abject numbness to current events.  If I were posting pictures of my current deep-friend meal, Chicago stuffed-crust pizzas, or posts of my favorite childhood tooth-rot candy, or anything else "ratchet", I would get dozens-maybe-hundreds of hits, likes, comments and laughs.  Post something about 340 plus inmates dying of unnatural causes in Florida's penal system in the span of one year...nothing...crickets.....5 minutes later some idiot or idiotess will post something akin to "I choose to be happy," essentially transmitting that denying the light of truth is a form of happiness.

As much as I hate the scourge of White supremacy, racism, favoritism, the myriad deceptions built into all of their institutions and their attendant obfuscations,  I fear those sickened with this form of Stockholm Syndrome even more. Election 2016 has born this out, not that anyone should ever vote for Donald Trump, but the Clintons and the modern Democratic Party should not have a monopoly on the Black vote.Neither the Republicans. We should be birthing new parties and/or joining forces with our Green and Independent allies.  At a time when we should be boycotting their parties and businesses,  our votes will put either one of their worst two choices for POTUS at the theoretical head of this nation.

How does one try to educate or otherwise communicate with a population where 53 percent of them think God has favorite football teams and players?

Rashard Zanders' articles have appeared in the MN Spokesman-Recorder, The Madison-Times, The Capital Times, City Pages, DNAInfo and others spanning 25  years as a journalist. Rashard and his cat, Thrilla, may be reached via email at rashard.zanders@gmail.com 

Enthusiastic killer of Brown People elevated to Amerikkkan sainthood thanks to Clint Eastwood film "American Sniper"

Rashard Zanders, Twin Cities, MN -- This month, the beginning of the new year we witnessed two Hollywood productions, which by default means propaganda but that's for another story, that reflect the myriad divisions and the central dichotomy  between whom white Americans perceive to be heroes, and the heroes of African Americans.  African Americans aren't permitted violent, assertive masculine assassins for their cause. Maybe athletes, singers, or men of status without substance who have successfully imitated the oppressor's dress, style and values that only skin tone helps tell them apart.

What we have been spoon fed as the African America form of heroism is defined by the most passive and meek interpretations of Civil Rights warriors, many of whom were, and are bona fide radicals.  However, the radical legacy has been so squeezed out of modern Civil Rights celebrations in America  you have to wonder who the celebrations are actually for, in a nation that doesn't live up  to Kings' Dream.

On the other (white) hand, from George Washington and Andrew Jackson, Davey Crockett and Theo Roosevelt and the Rough Riders, mainstream America has heroes who are men of bloody action, and they're bloody for good reasons. They're only bloody because they want to protect us (not "us", but you know what I mean) or establish a nation of freedom and protect little Johnny and Suzie from the hordes of non-Aryan people who just hate hate hate our (not really "our") cherished way of life.  

The film "Selma" and the film "American Sniper", released in close proximity to each other, reflect the dichotomy apparent in what kind of hero Black children will look up to, contrasted with the paradigm of violent global domination that is apparently the birthright of civilizing white children. That is my main problem with films like Clint Eastwood's American Sniper  the film bio of one of America's most lethal -- verbose killers.  Even the logo for the company Kyle erected stateside references the Crusades.

A logo styled after the cross of the Knights Templar takes some premeditation.  Reading some of the quotes attributed to Mr. Kyle makes you suspect he probably had no sense of irony.  To hate people that much whilst someplace you don't belong....sheesh.  What gave you the right to hate that deeply?  Iraq wasn't responsible for 9/11 and the US were the uninvited guests anyway.  And why aren't we talking about prosecuting Bush/Cheney administration officials for their myriad crimes that led us into war and economic collapse?

Amazing racial arrogance.  I don't think racists even perceive that victims of racism hate racisim, and racists.   What is even more frustrating is that Black people likely contributed close to half of the box-office bonanza.  Another bigot elevated to sainthood.  Absurd times, these.

http://www.alternet.org/tea-party-and-right/cut-her-head-shocking-death-threats-you-can-receive-mocking-eastwoods-american

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jan/06/real-american-sniper-hate-filled-killer-why-patriots-calling-hero-chris-kyle

https://twitter.com/ZaidJilani/status/548257524504621056/photo/1

https://willyloman.wordpress.com/2013/02/03/chris-kyle-shot-the-devil-is-dead-in-texas/

http://www.blacktalkradionetwork.com/tag/sniper/


Rashard Zanders is freelance writer living and working in these American Twin Cities, MN.  He is not a sniper, but he has battled the h.pylori bacteria to a temporary draw, and been known to take the last beer at otherwise friendly gatherings.  He can be reached via alex.zandersIV@gmail.com or at 872-228-4179 

Invitation to an International Conference African Philosophical and Intellectual Responses to the Development Crisis in Africa June 10-14, 2015 Abakaliki, Nigeria in cooperation with Ebonyi State University

http://www.crvp.org/conf/2015/nigeria.html

Invitation to an International Conference

 African Philosophical and Intellectual Responses to the Development Crisis in Africa

                                                             

June 10-14, 2015                                                                Abakaliki, Nigeria

in cooperation with

 Ebonyi State University

Theme

                        

This conference focuses on evaluating the responses of the African intelligentsia to the current development crisis in the continent as well as encouraging reflections on the recurrent issues in the development crises such as the need to evolve a viable indigenous development oriented ideology that would adequately address such issues as identity and its construction in the context of globalization and cultural pluralism, determinism, freedom and responsibility, the individual and the collective, justice in plural, multi-cultural and international contexts, faith and reason in the public sphere, etc.   

Subthemes

Classifcations of Responses such as: Afro-pessimism; Re-colonization thesis; Nationalism; Afro-constructivism

African theories of Development

Ideology and Development

Justice and Development

Freedom and Responsibility

Ideolgy, Determinism and the Mechanisms of Change

Globalization, Pluralism and the State

Faith and Reason in the Public Sphere and Development

Application

There is no registration fee. Participants will cover their own travel costs and hotel. 

The application should include:

1) a vita that specifies the applicants educational background, professional positions and affiliations, and publications;

2) a letter of intent; and

3) the abstract of the paper by April 1, 2015; full paper by June 1, 2015.

Please send all the information to Joseph C. A. Agbakoba (jcaagbakoba@gmail.com), Jerry C. Chukwuokolo (jerrychidozie@yahoo.com) and cua-rvp@cua.edu.

Contact

Joseph C. A. Agbakoba

jcaagbakoba@gmail.com

Jerry C. Chukwuokolo

jerrychidozie@yahoo.com

HEY BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES -- YOUR ADS GO HERE! YES HERE, RIGHT HERE --872-228-4179

CALL 872-228-4179 TO ADVERTISE OR EMAIL alex.zandersIV@gmail.com 

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The Obama Betrayal: A Trojan Horse gallops away further from his base

July 13, 2013 by Rashard Zanders –Princeton Park, Chicago Disclaimer: I voted twice for Barack Obama. The day after the November 2012 election I overheard two senior African American women quietly celebrating the President's re-election at a bus stop on the corner of 75th and Michigan Ave. Both ladies were smiling ear to ear, and exuded a peace reminiscent of Buddhist monks, and a satisfaction of those who'd been through a harsh, bitter battle and had emerged victorious. “That was worth growing old for,” said one woman to the other. Indeed, I too had been caught up in all the vitriolic, “my side is better than your side” election year distractions. Too often, and in 2013 too crucially, Black electorates are still preoccupied by the novelty of achieving “firsts”. Every February schools trot out the tired old curriculum of Blacks who were the first to do this or that thing in whichever institutions our fellow Americans have erected. Every sport has it's “first” black player, the first black champions, the first black to graduate, the first to serve, ad infinitum. Let's admit it, 2013 is a little late in the game to be celebrating firsts. President Barack Obama seem an ant-progressive Trojan horse, is seems political progressives in general, and Blacks voters in particular can't bring themselves around to this admittance. He has embraced the empowerment of the shadow state as well as the the crimes and misdemeanors of the previous administration: th0se of his cousin George W. Bush. But through the prism of reality, progressives in particular and Blacks in general have a paper champion in President Obama. And we can't blame it all on obstruction. He has willfully expanded and rubber-stamped policies straight out of the twisted minds of the COINTEL loving, Watergate thieving, Iran-Contra planning PNAC architects; as the NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden's leaks to the GuardianUK and Washington Post reveal. And that is worth rigorous critique at the least, and outright resistance otherwise: At present there are myriad distressing probabilities uncovered by the recent revelations of an out of control shadow government. The tacit complicity of the big, “cool” tech companies that have become indispensible in many of our lives displays the merger of government with the corporate in stark relief: During this Administration's watch there is not one item produced by the tech world, not one gadget, operating system, webcam, laptop, pad, desktop, hardware, software, app...etc that isn't suspect for contamination with a back door. There is no one's word we can trust from the government or google or microsoft or skype or apple, (small caps intentional) to give honest answers regarding our privacy. “I believe Barack Obama was put into office to do what no Republican could ever have gotten away with. Obama has extended the wars, created new wars, extended the Bush tax cuts for the rich, given additional bail out money to the banks, allowed the health insurance industry to write the healthcare bill, extended the Patriot Act, and signed the NDAA...under his watch not one member of the Bush Administration has been accountable for leading us into wars built on false evidence and lies, not one banker has been held accountable for the fraud and corruption that brought down the global economy, and the final nail in the coffin, [he] signed the NDAA bill...the National Defense Authorization Act makes America the battlefield and allows indefinite detention of U.S. Citizens suspected of “terrorist” leanings without due process.” From the article “Is Obama a Trojan Horse, a Psychopath, a Bad Boyfriend or all Three?” by Jill Dalton that appeared in the HuffPost September 20, 2012. Solomon Commissiong, in an October 9th 2012 article in The Black Agenda Report.com, wrote that: “It is painfully distressing to witness members of my community so willfully complicit with the lethal war policies simply because they are coming from a brown-skinned man. African Americans' honorable legacy of opposing Euro-American imperialist wars is quickly eroding.” No doubt, Obama has given great tacit authority to the military corporate-industrial complex forewarned by Pres. Eisenhower upon his exit from office. In the same article Commissiong writes: “Barack Obama has been more than willing to do the bidding for the Euro-American Empire, regardless the expense to humanity. He does it willingly. And unfortunately, many Black people in America continue to follow his march of destruction, willingly.....It is like they have thrown out much of the African legacy and made a mockery of our solidarity with other oppressed people throughout the globe.” One of the most psychologically disingenuous and damaging phenomenons of the Obama paradox are the constant, false associations between him and the great Black leaders of past generations: T-shirts and framed print posters, along with other baubles and trinkets, split between a pensive looking Obama and an equally deep in thought MLK or Malcolm X. Pan African unity is still the top priority for the global African Diaspora’s agenda, not the temporary starring role of puppet-in-chief. Decades ago Lani Guinier warned us against putting too much hope in Black electoral success: it rarely translates into real community empowerment. The reluctance on the part of politically active Blacks to criticize or even critique our current President's right leaning tendencies is because “firsts” are so important to the generation active during the late Crow-Civil Rights eras. The symbol trumps the substance, or lack thereof; as if occupying a nations presidency is a substantial trade off for centuries of global African subjugation. There is less concern with reversing the damaging effects of a four decades long war on drugs on Black youths than in preserving the false notion of a post racial society; less concern about the flight of living wage jobs from our cities, and more enthusiasm in maintaining the myth that Obama's election victories and attainment of the US presidency in some way meets the criteria as the fulfillment of MLKs vision. That would be the penultimate fallacy -- One man had a dream, the other has drones. Futher suggested reading: “How Microsoft handed the NSA access to encrypted messages” http://m.guardiannews.com/world/2013/jul/11/microsoft-nsa-collaboration-user-user-data “Anger Mounts after Facebook's 'shadow profiles' leak in bug” www.zdnet.com/anger-mounts-after-facebooks-shadow-profiles-leak-in-bug-700017167/ “Obama's Destructive Foreign Policy and Black Disillusionment” www.yourworldnews.org and www.Black AgendaReport.com 10/9/2012, by Solomon Commissiong “7 Ways the Obama Administration Has Accelerated Police Militarization”, July 10, 2012 by Radley Balko writing for the HuffingtonPost. “Is Obama the Trojan Horse, a Psychopath, a Bad Boyfriend, or all Three?” Jill Dalton, September 20, 2012 in www.nationofchange.com “Why Obama Hearts Reagan: And what he's [Obama] learned from him [Reagan]” February 7th 2011 Time Magazine: www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,20110207,00.html Time Magazine Cover story featuring photoshopped image of current President being cuddled by bigoted dead president.” “As Black President Barack Obama is a Bust”, by Dwight Hobbes, Minnesota-Spokesman Recorder, May 16, 2013 Rashard Zanders is a freelance writer based in the Midwest; 872-228-4179. Email contact pending: He is currently seeking alternatives to Gmail. Thoughts on another judicial travesty: Much has been written already, and more will be, about the judicial travesty that resulted in the stalking murderer of unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin. I am still trying to process it myself as once again my worst fears about America have been confirmed. But I did find an interesting quote on Alternet.org, which ran a piece entitled "Zimmerman Verdict Declares Open Season on Black Boys," by Gary Younge, July 14, 2013: "Appeals for calm in the wake of such a verdict raise the question of what calm there can possibly be in a place where such a verdict is possible." -- Something to think about. Ciao for now.