tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23428832.post8910689406437694284..comments2024-03-28T21:27:14.626-04:00Comments on field negro: House Negroes?field negrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15411743587725023134noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23428832.post-70169711201155874752007-09-13T00:25:00.000-04:002007-09-13T00:25:00.000-04:00I think it has something to do with the conditioni...I think it has something to do with the conditioning and brainwashing of Black law students to be lawyers. Many start off in school perhaps with the idea that they will learn the master's tool to take down the master's house, but in the process of learning the master's tools, adopt it for themselves. Also, there were those who always were sell outs and I think higher education institutions are able to screen and hand pick for these students. What better way to oppress people, then to get us to hate ourselves and use us against one another? So in many arguments by blacks for the benefit of diversity in lawschool is that law firms need to recognize that we will bring them more money. That argument is basically that we are useful to be pimped out to get more money. A distortion of our power. Other arguments that I hear is that black students need to befriend white students so that one day when they are heads of firms, they will see black young adults and give them jobs, yet again assuming that we are not the ones that will be doing the hiring. I was at a black law students conference two years ago, and one of the students there was a white guy who came for a legal competition paired with another black person. All of these black students were flocking to him, handing them his resume because his whiteness rendered him powerful enough to give jobs. The white guy found it funny that people were coming up to him trying to hustle a job. I was at an internship this summer with a black girl, who couldn't wait to say to me how I shouldn't name my kid a "ghetto" name or else that would ruin their chances of getting a job (from a white person) and she couldn't wait to say something like that in ear shot of two supervisors, and then I proceeded to argue with her about trying to assimilate to appease white people is too much of a sacrifice and she is assuming that will be the only type of employer our children will have. <BR/><BR/>That being said...I think your radar was on point. People are so trapped in trying to please white people, they do not even know that they are doing it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23428832.post-37779735381683685882007-09-11T16:10:00.000-04:002007-09-11T16:10:00.000-04:00LOL at cush :) "..Cr...OOh ya'll...see thats when ...LOL at cush :) <BR/><BR/>"..Cr...OOh ya'll...see thats when field or house jumps in coverin' so we don't all get arrsted, or throwed out, or beat down (read dramatically.."Oh pleez Massa..he don't know (no)...he just a ole' dumb......(u fill in da blanxs)" <BR/><BR/>Now that was some funny shit :0)field negrohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15411743587725023134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23428832.post-58251974936340289562007-09-10T23:45:00.000-04:002007-09-10T23:45:00.000-04:00We have to go to these events where the possibilit...We have to go to these events where the possibility of House and Field will be enmass, just to keep our chops honed. If we are away from them for too long, we are destined to become them. Besides they do have some skills...No one covers for us better than they do when we are lookin' at W's with that look of repugnant stankin' Cr...OOh ya'll...see thats when field or house jumps in coverin' so we don't all get arrsted, or throwed out, or beat down (read dramatically.."Oh pleez Massa..he don't know (no)...he just a ole' dumb......(u fill in da blanxs)Uigeihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01701308044280678361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23428832.post-8600887447300968602007-09-10T08:12:00.000-04:002007-09-10T08:12:00.000-04:00liz, you are too much of a nice person. Your convi...liz, you are too much of a nice person. Your convictions obviously run deep. Thus, your problem with being around phonies. <BR/><BR/>cool will...,thanks for the dap. I am feeling your writing style too. I don't necessarily agree with everything you said about uplifting ones own race first, but I understand where you were coming from. <BR/><BR/>Keep checking in, all views are welcome.field negrohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15411743587725023134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23428832.post-90043720849484101382007-09-10T01:17:00.000-04:002007-09-10T01:17:00.000-04:00Damn...this is some serious conversation in the wo...Damn...this is some serious conversation in the works. It's this verse that keeps me reading (lightly posting). <BR/><BR/>Here's one thought that disturbs me, the "you must lift up YOUR people/stay true to YOUR people." <BR/><BR/>The reason? While the struggles and tribulations that must be dealt with can be generalized on a large scale, it is rare that said generalizations begin to approach the specifics of said issue at hand. Case in point - why should anyone expect George W. Bush to be the spokesperson for whites, Jessie Jackson or Al Sharpton to be for blacks or Osama Bin Laden to speak for all muslims? Well, two of those three aren't. <BR/><BR/>If you want to play politics, then do it. The world may appear nicer, but it just means a knife in the back instead of a fist to the face. If you want to lift someone up, then do that. But when you want to lift them up based on the color of their skin, are you really any better than the ones who would ignore another based on the color of theirs?<BR/><BR/>Field, I am inspired by your writing. And to this community, I am inspired by your conversation. Congrats on the award. Much love.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23428832.post-62695694262511048592007-09-09T12:02:00.000-04:002007-09-09T12:02:00.000-04:00I don't do too well at events like this, no matter...I don't do too well at events like this, no matter what race they are. It's not that folks can't have nice stuff or that I'm uncomfortable around folks with money. I'm not at all. I've been around rich folks my whole life. It's just that I get to thinking about my grandma who worked as a maid serving food to rich folks who didn't give a damn about her. I get to thinking about how many people are homeless and could use somewhere, anywhere clean and decent to lay their heads. I'm not a fan of ostentatious displays of wealth and even if I'm paid one day, you will not see me trying to floss. We leave it all here when we die so I'd rather spend my time making sure someone else has food instead of making sure I have a damn theatre in my house. True, folks can do whatever they want with their money, but do we really need all the crap we think we do?Liz Dwyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17794296990587989214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23428832.post-12757077220884094422007-09-06T22:53:00.000-04:002007-09-06T22:53:00.000-04:00Field,Every once in awhile it is good to feel the ...Field,<BR/><BR/>Every once in awhile it is good to feel the cool minty breeze, sip the sugar-sweet lemonade, and taste the refreshing appetizers afforded those in the House.<BR/><BR/>You were invited into the House for a reason and it ain't just because you were within earshot at your usual position in the Field.<BR/><BR/>It is what it is and I would presume from your writing (and your guilt at having left the party prematurely) that you have more in common with those HN's than you'll ever want to admit. <BR/><BR/>Discomfort aside, remember to keep it real, my brother. Keep it real!<BR/><BR/>plez...<BR/><BR/>OH YEAH... CONGRATS on knocking it out of the park with your Black Bloggers Award! I'm so proud to have you on my BlogRoll! *smile*plez...https://www.blogger.com/profile/03637930826560736172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23428832.post-44135541691453748302007-09-06T17:53:00.000-04:002007-09-06T17:53:00.000-04:00lajane galt,I see you have twisted my meaning too....lajane galt,<BR/>I see you have twisted my meaning too. There may be more than one person here that may live in a neighborhood which includes everyone. I do, and in this city of neighborhoods, your hood is your identity, just listen to David Brenner. "The hood" is an urban word and it is <B>still used</B> in the context of where you live without any negative connotation.<BR/><BR/>You know your pseudonym says so much.Hathorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12657524404057819428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23428832.post-57384946755811565132007-09-05T21:53:00.000-04:002007-09-05T21:53:00.000-04:00"I also think some of your aversion to the wine & ..."I also think some of your aversion to the wine & cheese set might be based on your insecurity around "rich" folk (upper middle class). "<BR/><BR/>lajane, nothing could be farther from the truth--- My background says otherwise. I will leave it at that;) <BR/><BR/>I think you are guilty of sterotyping now. We have all acknowledged that being wealthy is not synonymous with being a HN and vice versa. <BR/><BR/>As far as the Africans go, I hear that complaint from Af. Americans all the time, but I don't get that vibe. Maybe it's because I approach them (Africnas) from a different perspective. I don't think they sense that, "I am better than you" demeanor from me.field negrohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15411743587725023134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23428832.post-71683639222144072002007-09-05T13:54:00.000-04:002007-09-05T13:54:00.000-04:00She says that they use the House N's to get rid of...<B><I>She says that they use the House N's to get rid of the FN's, and then turn on the House ones for being so lowdown as to help them. </B></I><BR/><BR/>Rikyrah, if you and your sista friend are in DC during CBC Weekend, I must buy both of you a drink. She is spot on target, but how <I>sick</I> is it that whites use the House Negro to get rid of the Field Negroes, and then <I>turn</I> on the House Negro who did their dirty work?The Christian Progressive Liberalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04445662404937684518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23428832.post-39665027472281843472007-09-05T12:57:00.000-04:002007-09-05T12:57:00.000-04:00Old boy who made that pool remark sounds like HE w...Old boy who made that pool remark sounds like HE was the one out of place.<BR/><BR/>I love hors d'ouevres, but if there is a pool, what was on the grill???<BR/><BR/>I also think some of your aversion to the wine & cheese set might be based on your insecurity around "rich" folk (upper middle class). <BR/><BR/>Why must we have the HOUSE/FIELD dichotomy?<BR/><BR/>What about those of us who just ran off from the plantation?<BR/><BR/>note: about the community thing.<BR/><BR/>I used to believe in the "community" until I actually lived there. My community is where I currently live (which includes everyone). I'm not from the hood. Contrary to the popular hardscrabble narrative, we are NOT all from the hood (what about rural folks). Not being from the "hood" does NOT make you less black/house material. Trick Daddy is from the hood (Overtown?), yet he is a coon of the worst variety.<BR/><BR/>As for the pan-Africanism mentioned above: I'm going to need for Africans (usually west Af) to cut the disparagement of American Blacks before I give another thought to their problems.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23428832.post-41479729738656752442007-09-04T22:26:00.000-04:002007-09-04T22:26:00.000-04:00Hope I'm not repeating something that's been said ...Hope I'm not repeating something that's been said ad nauseum but just want to remind that there is another stereotype, the one that goes rich people are fake and avoid "dirt," and poor people are authentic and savour the dirt.<BR/><BR/>Temperment-wise I abhor the fake and veneer. However it can be just another way of interacting with people. Is there a way of code-switching to get to authentic interaction with rich folk? I have no idea, I guess only those folk know for sure.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23428832.post-45485188305573296042007-09-04T22:08:00.000-04:002007-09-04T22:08:00.000-04:00It is obvious that the man who remark is an ignora...It is obvious that the man who remark is an ignorant fool and a House N. as for the other folks at the party , the verdict is still out on them.<BR/><BR/>I must say that I have a problem with our people equating being black or keeping it real to being poor or living in the hood. While going to school, speaking proper english or moving into a wealthy neighborhood is deemed, acting white. Isn't the idea of having money is the freedom to be able to live anywhere you want, and to use your wealth to help others in need?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23428832.post-55659561839183054532007-09-04T21:33:00.000-04:002007-09-04T21:33:00.000-04:00The House Negro should realize that when he's bein...<I>The House Negro should realize that when he's being a House Negro, the white person has less respect for him than he does for a plain-speaking, no-holds barred Field Negro like Chuck D, or any of us on who post here.</I><BR/><BR/>I have written about my closest Sistafriend, who is a FN from her head to her toes....and she says this all the time. She says that they use the House N's to get rid of the FN's, and then turn on the House ones for being so lowdown as to help them.rikyrahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10982657053583534299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23428832.post-70911532556653048282007-09-04T19:52:00.000-04:002007-09-04T19:52:00.000-04:00Anon said:We are almost 2 generation since the civ...Anon said:<BR/>We are almost 2 generation since the civil rights movement. Many middle class and upperclass blacks never lived in a "black community" and that number increases ever year.<BR/><BR/>What do they have to give back to some place they never came from? You seem to assume all blacks came from "the hood" but that is hardly the case. If this was 1977, you might have a point, but in 2007...?<BR/><BR/>7:51 PM <BR/><BR/>@ anon 7:51pm - What type of ignorant stuff is that to say?! That's the problem now. You help YOUR PEOPLE, regardless if you are from those parts or not. These are the same people that feel like they shouldn't care about what's going on in Darfur. They are still of African decent so you should care. I couldn't read anymore comments because I had to comment on that. I sure somebody ripped you a new asshole for that shit.<BR/><BR/>FN - I'm from Philly and know & work with people who live out there in Huntington Valley. I am of field negro mentality too, so I know I wouldn't have felt comfortable there, especially with the remark that that asshole made.(Even though I can't swim, but so what!)Besides goat cheese stinks. <BR/><BR/>The way I see it, if it walks, talks & act like a duck, then you know...hottnikzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12503915681942338163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23428832.post-50484907438859788932007-09-04T18:23:00.000-04:002007-09-04T18:23:00.000-04:00this brother comes over to make small talk. "Don't...<I>this brother comes over to make small talk. "Don't get too close to that water bro, you know we can't swim." </I><BR/><BR/><B><I>I'm not saying people should not help, but I don't believe it is a duty, for example, as it is for a man to care for his children.</I></B><BR/><BR/>Sometimes one duty is to be silent.Hathorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12657524404057819428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23428832.post-23927467663843033142007-09-04T17:03:00.000-04:002007-09-04T17:03:00.000-04:00You can have tons of money and still be a Field Ne...You can have tons of money and still be a Field Negro just as you can be all types of poor and still be a House Negro. It's not a money thing, it's an attitude thing. You can even give back to the community and be a House Negro. They are the ones that give just so that their friends know they give and will pat them on their little House Negro heads.Foofahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11490919763408427647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23428832.post-38022242810879570242007-09-04T12:29:00.000-04:002007-09-04T12:29:00.000-04:00Hathor: I'm the one who talked about the hood? Ho...Hathor:<BR/><BR/> I'm the one who talked about the hood? How many generations out. 2. My father moved out when he was in Junior High, maybe elementary.<BR/><BR/>I also didn't mean it as deorgatory.<BR/><BR/>So is it Donald Trump's duty touplift poor white scotch-Irish hillbillies because his grandfather or great grahdfather was one? There are still a lot of poor backward Guido Italians on Coney Island...I don't see Robert Dinero or Al Pacino lifting them up out of that "you know who I'm wifff" nonesense...<BR/><BR/>I'm not saying people should not help, but I don't believe it is a duty, for example, as it is for a man to care for his children.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23428832.post-42421724290669947942007-09-04T08:22:00.000-04:002007-09-04T08:22:00.000-04:00Hathor:Thanks for clarifying my post to anonymous ...Hathor:<BR/><BR/>Thanks for clarifying my post to anonymous - I didn't grow up in "da hood" as he/she/it described it. I've always lived in pretty diverse neighborhoods out in California, but the normalcy of those neighborhoods were that they were all full of working-class people who put family first, and looked out for their neighbor.<BR/><BR/>That's what I was talking about. You can live in a gated community and still be a "Field Negro"; you can live in Anacostia section of DC and be the biggest House Negro there is. Like Rikyrah said up thread, Clarence Thomas had the House Negro mentality when he didn't have a pot to piss in or a window to throw it out. He rode in on the coattails of Affirmative Action all the way - and denies it by passing laws to eviscerate it.<BR/><BR/>He demonstrates that House Negro is a state of mind and if one has it, it matters not where they live; they're still going to be House Negroes, looking down their noses at everyone else.<BR/><BR/>Field's friends obviously know he's a Field Negro - maybe they invited him to the party to counter the House Negro telling the pool joke, in the hopes that Field would call him out on his "House Negrosity". We'll probably never know - but Field went with his instinct, made a polite excuse to his hosts, and got the hell out of there.<BR/><BR/>I'm touched he was thinking about us, because that means Field gives to us, and we gave back to him in terms of support. That's what real friends do. Most times, I know when I'm being a Field Negress (which is every single day) and as an active member in DC politics, you meet all kinds. But they already know I'm a Field Negress, and you know what? I get more respect from white people because they know they're not going to hear BS from me.<BR/><BR/>The House Negro should realize that when he's being a House Negro, the white person has less respect for him than he does for a plain-speaking, no-holds barred Field Negro like Chuck D, or any of us on who post here.<BR/><BR/>Even though it's scary to keep it real, white people with knowledge prefer the keepin' it real, except when keepin' it real goes wrong.<BR/><BR/>You know what happens after that...;-)The Christian Progressive Liberalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04445662404937684518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23428832.post-77588222655392589932007-09-04T05:59:00.000-04:002007-09-04T05:59:00.000-04:00Brotha Field,I have mixed feelings about this post...Brotha Field,<BR/><BR/>I have mixed feelings about this post. I'm going to comment now. But I may indeed swing back through here later after having a chance to think about this a littl more.<BR/><BR/>The reason why I have issue with the post is because it seems as if you are annoyed by these people because they have money. It seems that you are assuming that they are uppity. Now, here's the catch... A brotha from the hood may think the same of you because of all the little perks and/or behaviors that one has from being a college educated law professional.<BR/><BR/>In my family, I find it so hard to fit in. When I'm hanging around some of my more uneducated family members, I often feel out of place. And I think they think of me as an intelectual snob. <BR/><BR/>But when I'm around my folks that have money, I feel a little strange as well. I think they think of me as a broke black, who wishes I had what they have.<BR/><BR/>It's almost like I'm judging them, while they are judging me. I think that a lot of blacks are guilty of this. This is yet another item/issue to divide us. <BR/><BR/>Here's the facts... I feel much more comfortable with college educated, well-traveled, well-read blacks that are one generation away from the hood. Much like your girl... **wink** I'm a pretty educated black woman. But I am literally a parent away from the hood. My dad didn't even graduate from high school. Both my mama and daddy were raised in shot gun houses in 5th Ward. <BR/><BR/>Field, I have a confession... I was almost at a party like yours this weekend. Nice house, nice cars, black folks with money... Black folks that own businesses... Black folks that own houses that are over 3000 sqf... But these folks were all my family.<BR/><BR/>And when I tell you that all of us are a generation away from5th Ward, Texas. And a couple of us are a generation away from the cottonfields of Louisiana. So, I think that's what keeps us grounded.<BR/><BR/>I love to be around black folks that have succeeded, but still have a down way about themselves.<BR/><BR/>Yes, I know this was a long post. But I'm thinking as I write. .<BR/><BR/>BTW: I think it was cute that you were thinking of us when you were at the party. You must have been really bored. LOL<BR/><BR/>Angie<BR/><BR/>P.S.<BR/>Excuse the spelling errors. I haven't been sleep yet. I've been up working on my school stuff. **sigh**Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23428832.post-19753348496124586142007-09-04T01:17:00.000-04:002007-09-04T01:17:00.000-04:00"That is over and we are normalizing".Normalizing?..."That is over and we are normalizing".<BR/><BR/>Normalizing? Whhether or not it's normalizing depends on what you think "normal" is. It's like some young black folks who find traditional black values appealing and figure they must be political conservatives because they buy into the Republican/media framing of what political conservatism is. It's just that they were either not born or are too young to remember the time when those virtues weren't dishonestly forced into a right-wing frame. I'm old enough to have a different frame of reference regarding what's normal.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23428832.post-44382583294590499292007-09-04T00:40:00.000-04:002007-09-04T00:40:00.000-04:00Nothing wrong with wealth. Especially if you gene...Nothing wrong with wealth. Especially if you generated it via your own business and employ black folk.<BR/><BR/>Though I can't stand it if Negroes start hamming it up for the benefit of present white folks. <BR/><BR/>You are a lot more polite than I. I might have pushed that Negro in the pool.<BR/><BR/>Yeah, I woulda rolled, too.Michael Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14542253904917878025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23428832.post-90070317987972999782007-09-03T22:47:00.000-04:002007-09-03T22:47:00.000-04:00FN,I think our mayor asked the frat boy to stay in...FN,<BR/>I think our mayor asked the frat boy to stay in DC. He was putting too much of a strain on resources. I think he came here 22 times during his campaign. Couldn't he have landed at the military airbase in the burbs, where they liked him.Hathorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12657524404057819428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23428832.post-62864031748311549632007-09-03T22:34:00.000-04:002007-09-03T22:34:00.000-04:00To anonymous'I wish you would pick some other pseu...To anonymous'<BR/>I wish you would pick some other pseudonym so that we could tell you apart. It is not hard to do.<BR/><BR/>So anonymous who said this<BR/><BR/><I>What do they have to give back to some place they never came from? You seem to assume all blacks came from "the hood" but that is hardly the case. If this was 1977, you might have a point, but in 2007...?</I><BR/><BR/>Did you ever consider "the hood" as community or ancestry, not as some derogatory place as you implied. You may not have been born in "the hood," but how many generations are you out. There are very few blacks that are the descendants of the wealthy 18th century mulatto slave owners or black merchants.Hathorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12657524404057819428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23428832.post-62164448805098753122007-09-03T22:11:00.000-04:002007-09-03T22:11:00.000-04:00Ahhh yesss. I forgot all about the Patio... LOL. T...Ahhh yesss. I forgot all about the Patio... LOL. Thanks Rikyrah.<BR/><BR/>That was a stroke of genius by FN.<BR/><BR/>And I think it's a State of Mind also... But to play devils advocate that's how I wanted to present the question.<BR/><BR/>However, I do believe that a certain income level makes you predisposed to a certain outlook that tends to lead you into the House state of mind. That's why well-to-do folks always have to be concerned about staying grounded (at least those who care about not becoming arrogant snobs).Brian https://www.blogger.com/profile/07872444863142531165noreply@blogger.com