Chad Boseman

That's how I knew him.

To me and so many from my home town that is how we knew him. Chad Boseman.

The great thing about this man though was that it's not who he ended up. Not that being Chad was a bad thing. Chad was a great guy but his evolution to being loved by the world as Chadwick was a brilliant and beautiful journey.

Let me stop here make sure I don't front and come off as a close friend. I knew him from the shared community of the Westside and T.L. Hanna High School drama family. From my perspective that group of young adults was a special thing in the early 90's brought together through the mentorship of teachers like Rick Mascaro and Diane Lee.

I've been trying to make sense of how I feel about the death of Chadwick Boseman since I heard the news last night. I've been quiet about it. I haven't rushed to Facebook or Twitter to offer a memorial. So many are doing that much more eloquently that I can. Leaders of our nation are commemorating the life of this man and the work that he did.

It's amazing.

I know I am mourning a loss but it's not like we were close. I remember him. We shared a love of theatre and performing. We found ourselves in the same early organization learning the basics of our craft. We didn't hang out other than in functions related to drama. I know for a fact I was too focused on girls at the time when I probably should have been focusing on fostering relationships with souls such as his. It was high school though. Who can't look back and shake their head at what we thought was so important at the time?

I honestly think the loss I am feeling is so much more than Chad himself. I think it is more about what he represented. He rose from similar beginnings as I did from the same area. What he was and what he became was and continues to be such a powerful force that the loss is poignant at this moment and time.

I feel enormous pride in his success from the perspective of a drama student from district 5.

I'm so proud of the role he plays in representation of black actors on the screen.

I feel the strength and the humanity of the character he portrayed in The Black Panther.

I'm pissed that overaggressive reproducing cells spelled the demise of this great force and influence in our world at a time when we desperately need it.

I'm mad that Anderson SC sent a bright light into the world that was snuffed out way too early.

I sit here wishing I had even the smallest percentage of positive influence on the world that he had and feeling like it's unfair that I sit here typing when he can't.

I don't know if I've really worked through all my feelings yet but I did feel compelled to write something. For me it means more to sit down and write a blog entry on my own site that will live on. A post on social media would tumble into history but I know this post will at least serve as a reminder to me.

Chad, I'm sorry I missed the opportunity to work to be closer to such an amazing human being.

I also want to say thank you for your work and inspiration. You were taken from us way too early. My heart aches for the good I know you would have continued to do. However, my heart is also grateful for the undying legacy you created that will continue to inspire us all.

Rest well my friend and thank you for everything.

The Unfair Labeling of Black Lives Matter as a Marxist Movement

The first thing we have to ask ourselves is “What is Marxism?” I would venture to guess that most people who would throw around this claim regarding Black Lives Matter don’t even understand Marxism. We are programmed to conjure up fear of Communism and Russian invasion at the mere mention of Karl Marx and the Marxist Philosophy.

I have been doing some reading to educate myself on Marxist Philosophy. In general I am making a concerted effort to pull back and educate myself before posting online. I wish more people would do this. It would lead to more educated and thoughtful conversations. Many people would actually open their minds and learn something to boot. Imagine that! I digress.

First of all we have to understand that “there is currently no single definitive Marxist theory." (Marxism) At its core Marxism seems to focus on the means of production and class struggle. It seems in general that a marxist would argue that capitalism exploits the worker (the proletariat) to the benefit of those who “own the means of production.” (the bourgeoisie)  (Marxism) The belief is that this imbalance is unsustainable and eventually leads to heightened class struggle and revolution. 

Based on the core of this definition I can see the parallel one might draw. Black Lives Matter could be seen to push the narrative that the black community in America is the proletariat. They are the exploited working class that works to produce for the benefit of he bourgeoisie, our white controlled system. Our country was certainly founded under this principle. 

The difference is that I do not see any indication that Black Lives Matter is claiming that capitalism doesn’t work. What the movement seems to be seeking is equity. They want representation in the bourgeoisie. The conditions that generated this exploited working class have existed since the inception of our country and now we are seeing the signs of revolution to pull power from the bourgeoisie. If you are going to subscribe to this interpretation then you have to acknowledge the class in our society that owns the means of production. The numbers for racial imbalance of this class are not hard to find. Only about 3.2% of this class is black.

The real problem with labeling Black Lives Matter is that the conversation stops there. It is a tactic from the institution that is working to maintain the status quo and uphold white supremacy. Delving deeper into that conversation would force you to face the claim that there is an exploited working class. That is hard to defend given the statistics of racial imbalance in the controlling class that makes up the executives of production and our governing bodies. 

Claiming Black Lives Matter is Marxist is a fear tactic used to label the movement as a danger to America. It’s the same tactic that has been used for many years to label black men as dangerous and violent. It is the same tactic that has programmed the minds and reflexes of our peace keepers to default to shooting first and asking question later when faced with a person of color. This claim of Marxism is not based in sound political or economic theory. It is a racist claim that is working to keep America white.

Please Challenge my Racism

It is far too easy for me to sit on my “enlightened” pedestal and challenge the racist world around me from on high. My ability to do this is in and of itself an example of white privilege. 

I also worry about my part in externalizing the forces of systemic racism without looking internally. If I only focus outside myself I am really creating a microcosm of a protected white system that maintains the status quo. By linking my innocence to the greater system I help to reinforce the current white power structure.

What I would like to do is open up the challenge for those who have noticed and do notice things that I say and do that are a problem. My first inclination is to say that I don’t want to hear from white people on this but I’m not sure if that is what I should do. I want to work to enable the black voice. Honestly, I think that the only true way forward is to really listen to the group that has been subjugated for so long. However, I don’t want to close off conversation. If there is a white ally who can speak to a problem where a black voice doesn’t feel comfortable then I don’t want to shut that down. That white voice must actually be speaking for the black community though. I have no interest in listening to any claims of reverse racism. That’s simply another tactic to maintain white supremacy. 

What I will commit to though is that if I am challenged by a white voice I will verify the issue with the black community. It is their perspective, pain, guidance, and wisdom that is truly important right now. I want their recommendation on a path forward and not the recommendation of the white community. As a community in power the white perspective is way too skilled at proposing a course of action that seems to honor the black community while keeping the power exactly where it has been for hundreds of years. 

That’s it. Please challenge me. If I say or do something that you think is problematic please let me know. Also, if you have a memory of something I may have done in the past I invite that too. If I have done something or not done something in the past that has stuck with you I would like to be made aware so that I can face it and seek reconciliation.

There is plenty of judgement, accusation, and apology in our world today. What we need a lot more of is active reconciliation. 

Feel free to reach out to me and I will do my best to approach what you say with an open mind.