The following is Blog post number thirteen; it is part of the Racial Reconciliation in America Series in honor of Black History Month. It is entitled: The Conscience of a Nation.

RACIAL RECONCILIATION

THE CONSCIENCE OF A NATION

Many years ago my beloved friend and business mentor: the honorable “Godfather of Xerox” Mr. Eugene S. Ruffin, used to tell a great story when describing a discovery process that was in trouble. You may have heard the same story. It’s the story of a lone man driving down a country road. After many hours of searching: being lost and at the end of this long road, this traveler found himself at an old farmhouse.

He told the farmer sitting on an old well-used tractor, where he had come from, and how he had started out. He shared his story of travel. Seeking help the traveler asked the farmer how to get to where he was trying to go. The farmer thought long and hard and even spoke out a number of different suggestions.

But with each suggestion the farmer continued to reflect and would just shake his head, saying: “Daingit Mister that won’t work either.” Then in complete and total exasperation, after long reflection and many suggestions the farmer simply threw up his hands and said, “You know what fella I think you just need to turn around and start all over, cause you just ‘cain’t get close to thar’ from here!”

And so it is with racial reconciliation in America, and we ask the question can we get there from here? Can we at least travel the road and give it a go? Can we for once just try to get to a place to which we have never been as a nation? In this quest we ask the question can we refresh our national conscience and find ourselves at a new starting point. If perhaps an egalitarian society, a truly more perfect union is the place to which we want to arrive. Can we get there from here?

Well where are we? In the Predicate of Fear we are presented with a lens through which we can witness ourselves as a human being. We have a conscience. As a collective people we have a collective conscience. Through this lens we will view the development of Western Civilization which brings us to America. We will now explore through the lens of conscience how we have become who we are – a nation in need of a collective conscience refresh.

At this writing this nation suffers from a seared conscience. Now, what is that you ask? Let’s discover the thought. A seared conscience is sorted out thusly: Webster’s Online Dictionary defines “sear” in this fashion:[ “to cause withering or drying 1 : to make withered and dry”]

Now conscience is defined by Webster’s in this fashion: [1 a : the sense or consciousness of the moral goodness or blameworthiness of one's own conduct, intentions, or character together with a feeling of obligation to do right or be good b : a faculty, power, or principle enjoining good acts c : the part of the superego in psychoanalysis that transmits commands and admonitions to the ego.]

Putting the two words together i.e., a “seared conscience” we get this definition: “a withered sense of moral goodness or blameworthiness of one’s own conduct.” As we consider race in our discovery process; applying this definition to the conscience of America, we see a nation having fallen short of the description: “a more perfect union.” A nation that has failed (seared conscience) to do right as it relates to addressing her race based divisions. America’s conscience is seared. What seared this collective conscience? What caused the nation’s desire to do right, to wither and to dry up in race based endeavors? What caused the withering national conscience? These questions lead us into our next level of discovery of Racial Reconciliation in America.

We have discussed the importance of two very compelling concepts of racial disparity that affect the conscience of the nation, they are: 1) Sharing – The Resource Bundle and 2) The Concentric Circle of Peace in America. Going forward both of these topics will help us as we view the impact of Western Civilization’s development on race relations. These two concepts revealed the importance of the individual in labor and the participation in the development of assets.

We have discussed the need for freedom to achieve and the absolute importance of work. We have also discussed the importance of bias and equality in the economic system. Regarding the race question further, our next area of discovery has to do with the: “how we got here” and later we will discuss the question: “can we get there from here?” Get to there meaning: a place of racial reconciliation.

So let’s get started. A seared conscience develops over a process of time; as a result of doing that which is expedient rather than morally prudent or what the conscience knows to be good moral and right. Over the process of time and developing various human desires such as security, comforts, wealth and the like, the human being developed life systems of order and ways of controlling human interactive conduct.

A dominant male figure developed a system and methods were formed to establish the control over large human populations. These systems became governments that established order. Individuals and their governments developed desires of conquest with a greed for the possessions of other governments and nations of people. So we see man as recorded in the Book of Genesis “subdue the earth.” We see through the lens of conscience – a history of man and what we now know of as civilizations. One of those civilizations is today referred to simply as The West.

Over the process of time there have been many great civilizations from antiquity: African and Asian come to mind. Frankly, as one of the West, we hold a view that no civilization has been more world conquering or greater than Western Civilization. Though that is not a necessary distinction in this discussion we believe it worthy of stating. Western Civilization has become known, as one of the most individual centered and power of the individual focused systems of order that the world has ever recorded.

Although this is perhaps changing in the mind of some folk, Western Civilization over the process of time has become synonymous with the White race. This is certainly the case as it relates to the “Controlling Norm.” The controlling race so to speak of the West is a White human being and more specifically a White man. When other nonwhite nations refer to the West they speak of the White man essentially in their referencing.

In this regard and through the lens of conscience we consider the development of Western Civilization. Through this lens we see the record of race, particularly the record of White and Black interaction. One must look through the lens as it relates to economic systems, and their impact on race. One must consider The Resource Bundle in this regard and the notion of the development of the West. The goal in developing the West we believe is rooted in what we refer to as a “Just Us Philosophy” of the White human being in the forward march of the West. It is in this contest that our assessment of a seared conscience is established. This is a matter of the order and control of Western Civilization and we therefore ask the question: What does the White human being control?

Well, this is certainly an interesting area of discovery. The coming answer to this question is not to suggest that nonwhite folk are powerless, nonparticipants in the economies of life; it is to clearly establish a framework of discovery that some will find unappealing. Now, the answer to the question includes, but is not limited to, the following examples of what we contend are amazing accomplishments of a magnificent human being: though, like all humans, in possession of a sinful nature. I posit that the White human being is in control of anything that is contained within The Resource Bundle:

■The conquest, control, greed, and dominance over all of the resources of earth and there is no resource, that is not in reality dominated, controlled or influenced by White folk. An argument could be put forth, we believe, successfully that every source and methods of controlled power over resources, needed by the human species, even the quality of the air breathed by all, is to some degree White influenced and determined. This a matter, of  law and public policy implementation. Both of which, i.e. law and public policy are dominated, influenced or controlled by White folk.

■Whether the power or resource is the law and justice; capital, banking, finance and debt of all types, as well as the most significant majority of all unearned income; all methods of transportation – all vehicles, trains, planes, buses and automobiles manufactured and sold for that purpose; manufacturing of all types; all building products steel, iron, cable, aluminum, timber, lumber, concrete, asphalt, and rock quarries; all energy electrical, wind, nuclear power and natural gas, ethanol and all bio-products necessary for energy production, all waste products and their management; all oil and all products made from oil; all forms of technology, education, all news and information media, all advertisement, and every method and form of communications, including, the most important delivery system for it, all apparatus that delivers any type of information and social indoctrination, all framing of the information that is purveyed and its context for debate, and control of the debate are influenced, if not dominated or controlled by White folk.

■All aspects of the healthcare economy, and healthcare delivery systems; all systems of education delivery; all systems of governance; all farming and agriculture, commodities and foodstuffs; all ores and precious metals; all copper, coal, platinum, diamonds, gold and every mineral type; all aggregated water sources and clean water distribution; distribution of all consumable and non-consumable products, all shipping and shipping lanes, all narcotics, be they pharmaceutical, legal or illegal narcotics; all liquor and tobacco products; every form of entertainment – theaters, performing arts venues, movies, television production, music production, record labels and museums, every form of art and its distribution, all armaments whether legal or not legal are influenced controlled or dominated by a White human being.

■Consequently, all essentials of any valued material or non-material such as, historical record keeping, profiling and purveying are controlled, dominated or greatly influenced unto the height of inured benefit toward a White human being. As well, some might, with great success, argue that the communications of spiritual values: Bible printing, Biblical interpretations, translated publications and concepts might fit within this estimate as well.

■As one looks at the universal history of both the Catholic and Protestant Church in Western Civilization, and the hidden availability, or the prolific provision of the Holy Bible, over centuries, it has principally, been accomplished under the leadership control and influence of a White human being.

■Values: as such, certain values may have been retained; therefore may affect, current day understanding of spiritual and biblical matters; though this is not totally the case with the Black-American Church, one might successfully argue that there is White influence upon it as well. Particularly, this is true as one considers the picture of a White Jesus with long hair and blues eyes that for years hung in Black Churches all across America. In many remain hung today.

This level of control, most certainly, carries with it tremendous responsibility of stewardship; while, performance against that responsibility, must be measured by the conditions of those who have either prospered, or suffered because of that stewardship. The fruit is the ultimate measurement; in that God will be the final judge.

The process of developing Western Civilization is fraught with consequences as a result of the “Just Us Philosophy.” The principle outcome of this philosophy is what is known as White Privilege, a difficult topic of conversation for many who are White. Many White people reject the notion out of hand and believe that all White achievement is a function of individual performance and therefore earned. Believing also that all benefits that to some are a result of White preference is individually based and therefore earned as well.

The conflict is derived from the actual proven result of a known existence of a Just Us Philosophy that endures today. So we explore White Privilege. What is it? We contend that White Privilege is defined in this fashion, it is our definition: “An in breaded, social indoctrination of a ‘Just Us Philosophy’ that has, over the process of time, become ‘a natural state’ within the subconscious psyche of the White human being. It is a fundamental underpinning of Western Civilization. At times this is a very top of mind event within some White people.” This “Just Us Philosophy” is the principle by which White human beings created: centralized power, control, dominance and influence over all resources on earth. The “Just Us Philosophy” is by description, a philosophy of exclusion that is demonstrated in all manner of aggregating and then the segregating unto the White human; all aspects of The Resource Bundle.”

The beginnings of White Privilege are rooted in Colonialism: particularly the colonization of India, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Australia, New Zealand, and all of the Americas by the Empire of England. It is the belief that one’s Whiteness is by genetics superior to all other peoples. Further, that by this so-called: “genetic purity” the White human being is above all other races of people in supremacy of intellect and humanity. Therefore, all other racial groups are sited as inferior to White folk; thereby, they hold a rightful place of subordination.

The “Just Us Philosophy” historically, therefore demands, and indeed, is deemed a righteous cause for the White domination of the entire world and its resources; which, essentially was the early goal of Western Civilization. For some, this delusion of righteous cause, on some levels still remains in this present hour. White Privilege, is indeed, embedded in the “Just Us Philosophy.” In American history, not too distant: White Privilege was manifested as a White banker, plumber, accountant, sharecropper, rancher; or a barber living in spiritual and practical subversion. The “terrorist subversion,” of a respected member of the Ku Klux Klan.

In the darkness of the night: wearing a hood over their head to not be identified; while carrying out, heinous acts of terror on the weak, in order to maintain control of The Resource Bundle. Or today, White Privilege is simply: being able to be a shoplifter, without suspicion; while a legitimate shopper of color is challenged, for being present in the same store that a White person, is stealing from. It is being a middle-aged White man feeling comfortable abusing a young Black athlete who must apologize for his response to the abuse. Or the continued shooting and lynching of young Black men with impunity.

White Privilege is, to be, accepted as the preferred candidate for a position, of any kind; when in competition with someone who is not White. Even, when, the nonwhite person: is in possession of superior skill sets, education and demonstrated moral character. The clearest example of this is the preference by some that a Mitch McConnell type is a better more preferred leader than a President Barack Obama type. White Privilege is, to be perceived as the best fit; when, only skin color is the only possible determinant factor of final decision.

White Privilege is to be listened to. While someone, who is not White, has said the identical thing and is not heard. White Privilege is, to be of the West as a nation; doing acts that are counter to the Will of God. Dominating, other nation’s, with impunity; thinking that it is acceptable when it really is not, in the eyes of an Almighty God. White Privilege is, to be a member of the controlling class. The controlling class is the White race of Western Civilization!

Western Civilization, from an historical context, has created a burden borne by White folk today, indeed in some ways one might measure that White Privilege is a burden. Certainly one, who achieves and is White, could indeed be judged by nonwhites as not deserving of the success that one has been fortunate to achieve. Just as some Blacks, who have achieved are often considered as unqualified, because they may have received opportunities through say, an Affirmative Action program. It does not mean that one is necessarily qualified, simply, because they are of White Privilege or less so because of Affirmative Action.

Now White people of today have had absolutely nothing, at all, to do with the methods for accomplishing the initial: conquest, control, greed and dominance of resources tools and methods that were used to develop Western Civilization. However, millions of White folk are certainly charged with the perpetuation of the tools strategies and the philosophies that maintain Western Civilization. Their progenitors have, absolutely, created the systems that undergird Western Civilization from beginning to now. With or without their accepted agreement, all White human beings of today, because of race systematically benefit from the methods of control and dominance.

Without choice, but by the nature of their birth: the burden, like the benefits of a White human being, is yet borne, like it or not. The historical events that occurred during the development of Western Civilization are an offence to the soul of some if not all nonwhite people wherever they may live today. As such for White folk, we contend that the burden or benefits, depending on one’s outlook, have to do with and are not limited to historical events perpetrated by Western Whites; these include the following:

■On the stage of world history a White human being has brought forth a degree of violence and brutality worldwide and in scope unequaled by any race of people. This is represented by and not limited to the following:

1) The Catholic Crusades against the Muslim world, although centuries ago, the affects and hatreds remain unto this very day,

2) The brutal slavery of the African peoples by the White European people: of Portugal, Spain and Britain, beginning in 1485, in the African Kingdom of Benin; then, spreading throughout the European Continent was first supported by the Catholic Church of Portugal. It then moved to all portions of the Americas, including the U.S. Colonies in 1618 until 1864.

3) The conquest and genocide of the Native peoples of America, and the Aboriginal peoples of Australia and New Zealand.

4) The brutal oppression of the Black human being under Post-Civil War Reconstruction, and the Jim Crow Laws of the Southern and Midwestern states of the U.S. from 1864 unto the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Through these acts, of the State and Local governance, and through the legal terrorist organization known as the Ku Klux Klan, tens of thousands unjustly suffered.

5) The Napoleonic Wars.

6) World War I.

7) World War II and the Holocaust of the Jews.

8) The A partied White Rule over the South African Black peoples.

9) The continued subordination today of the Black, Brown and Native American people, through inferior schools, healthcare; voting rights, unequal justice, and inferior quality in work, that for most men also equates to one’s self-worth.

■The elimination of the bonds of ancestry of the Black human being of the United States, which has had an enduring negative impact on this racial group unto this very day. Most Black Americans have limited to no knowledge of their progenitors prior to the 1900’s.

This would suggest limited knowledge beyond the third or fourth generations, if they were birthed into the generation that is sixty years of age, or above. As a tool and strategy for control and dominance over resources this was an intended act with an intended consequence of destabilizing this racial group.

Whether the intent was for the effects to carryover unto this hour or not, there are consequences that are experienced today as this particular racial group has been marginalized, particularly by the early centuries (1600's-1950's) destruction of the Black family which is yet to recover.

■The facilitation, of a continued “Mark of Oppression,” that is held within the psyche of many Black Americans, resulting from Slavery; the insidious nature of White Privilege in America, with the suggested superiority and or supremacy of the White race. This is proven by held positions of historical leadership within all Seven Establishments that affect the soul of every human being in America. Another topic for another day.

It is not by talent, intellect, the best fit or superior moral character that the ownership of positions of authority and power exists with such vastness; rather, it is by birth that such positions are so held. Historical events that are maintained by White Privilege make certain that this reality continues.  The “Mark of Oppression,” as it relates to the uniquely American born Black person, is characterized by, though it is not limited to, the following:

1) The historical event of oppression that is contained within the conscience and memory of the oppressed whether the oppression is either current or past.

2) A diminished nature of the self whether it be concept, value, and worth to their community, or to the broader society.

3) The affect of the sense of guilt, shame, fear and resentment within the conscience of those considered as the oppressor either current or past, whether or not it is agreed to exist. One such affect is the way some White people communicate whenever a race based dialogue occurs. There is a bristling and this is subconscious more than a top of mind awareness. There is certainly a hesitancy to engage.

4) A Black worldview that is more often than not racially based.

5) A sense of entrapment within a so-called underclass that is not contained within the expression “mainstream” of American society,

6) A reality of poverty entrapment within a low quality existence whether it be related to healthcare, employment, nutritious affordable/available food, clothing, income, housing, transportation, education, access to credit, political influence, or real power, and

7) A sense of victimization that flows from the tremendous difficulty associated with the necessity for achievement in the face of a sense of oppression and unfairness whether real or imagined. While, still somehow, managing to not only stay alive and not locked up in jail or prison, unlike so many of their brethren, but to achieve in a competitive self-reliant and “individual” focused society. Though we contend that Capitalism is the best economic system we believe that it is riddled with racial bias. We contend further that Capitalism can be far more efficient than is implemented.

            The strategies and methods that were employed to create and to develop Western Civilization; the strategies implemented today by a self-perpetuating apparatus that ensures the continued existence of Western power has resulted in a national collective conscience that is seared. We will not be able to get there from here without these revelations. If we are unable to accept revelation we must learn how to better communicate their realities if racial reconciliation is our quest. 

             Through the lens of conscience let us see clearly that our past can be reconciled. In so reconciling let the past be revealed as truth not wishes. But in truth not impurity. For in so doing as the past requires a reconcile; though it be unclaimed, let the past be forgiven and the present if unworthy be repented of. In this let fear shame and guilt with all resentments die and love prevail. This being accomplished let the Conscience of a Nation be refreshed.