Homework due Tuesday, Feb. 5, is to in Big James voice, 2013, write a letter in response to Uncle James. Post it here. 250 words or so is fine. Site a few of his arguments in the letter.
Bring a copy of the letter to class electronically or on paper. I got a chance to look at Writing Logically, 7th edition. If you want to rent it, it will work (smile).
Reading homework is to read the Emancipation Proclamation. http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/featured_documents/emancipation_proclamation/
Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, September 22, 1862
A Transcription
By the President of the United States of America.
A Proclamation.
I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States of America, and Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy thereof, do hereby proclaim and declare that hereafter, as heretofore, the war will be prosecuted for the object of practically restoring the constitutional relation between the United States, and each of the States, and the people thereof, in which States that relation is, or may be, suspended or disturbed.
That it is my purpose, upon the next meeting of Congress to again recommend the adoption of a practical measure tendering pecuniary aid to the free acceptance or rejection of all slave States, so called, the people whereof may not then be in rebellion against the United States and which States may then have voluntarily adopted, or thereafter may voluntarily adopt, immediate or gradual abolishment of slavery within their respective limits; and that the effort to colonize persons of African descent, with their consent, upon this continent, or elsewhere, with the previously obtained consent of the Governments existing there, will be continued.
That on the first day of January in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State, or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free; and the executive government of the United States, including the military and naval authority thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons, and will do no act or acts to repress such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make for their actual freedom.
That the executive will, on the first day of January aforesaid, by proclamation, designate the States, and part of States, if any, in which the people thereof respectively, shall then be in rebellion against the United States; and the fact that any State, or the people thereof shall, on that day be, in good faith represented in the Congress of the United States, by members chosen thereto, at elections wherein a majority of the qualified voters of such State shall have participated, shall, in the absence of strong countervailing testimony, be deemed conclusive evidence that such State and the people thereof, are not then in rebellion against the United States.
That attention is hereby called to an Act of Congress entitled "An Act to make an additional Article of War" approved March 13, 1862, and which act is in the words and figure following:
"Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That hereafter the following shall be promulgated as an additional article of war for the government of the army of the United States, and shall be obeyed and observed as such:
"Article-All officers or persons in the military or naval service of the United States are prohibited from employing any of the forces under their respective commands for the purpose of returning fugitives from service or labor, who may have escaped from any persons to whom such service or labor is claimed to be due, and any officer who shall be found guilty by a court martial of violating this article shall be dismissed from the service.
"Sec.2. And be it further enacted, That this act shall take effect from and after its passage."
Also to the ninth and tenth sections of an act entitled "An Act to suppress Insurrection, to punish Treason and Rebellion, to seize and confiscate property of rebels, and for other purposes," approved July 17, 1862, and which sections are in the words and figures following:
"Sec.9. And be it further enacted, That all slaves of persons who shall hereafter be engaged in rebellion against the government of the United States, or who shall in any way give aid or comfort thereto, escaping from such persons and taking refuge within the lines of the army; and all slaves captured from such persons or deserted by them and coming under the control of the government of the United States; and all slaves of such persons found on (or) being within any place occupied by rebel forces and afterwards occupied by the forces of the United States, shall be deemed captives of war, and shall be forever free of their servitude and not again held as slaves.
"Sec.10. And be it further enacted, That no slave escaping into any State, Territory, or the District of Columbia, from any other State, shall be delivered up, or in any way impeded or hindered of his liberty, except for crime, or some offence against the laws, unless the person claiming said fugitive shall first make oath that the person to whom the labor or service of such fugitive is alleged to be due is his lawful owner, and has not borne arms against the United States in the present rebellion, nor in any way given aid and comfort thereto; and no person engaged in the military or naval service of the United States shall, under any pretence whatever, assume to decide on the validity of the claim of any person to the service or labor of any other person, or surrender up any such person to the claimant, on pain of being dismissed from the service."
And I do hereby enjoin upon and order all persons engaged in the military and naval service of the United States to observe, obey, and enforce, within their respective spheres of service, the act, and sections above recited.
And the executive will in due time recommend that all citizens of the United States who shall have remained loyal thereto throughout the rebellion, shall (upon the restoration of the constitutional relation between the United States, and their respective States, and people, if that relation shall have been suspended or disturbed) be compensated for all losses by acts of the United States, including the loss of slaves.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the City of Washington this twenty-second day of September, in the year of our Lord, one thousand, eight hundred and sixty-two, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty seventh.
[Signed:] Abraham Lincoln
By the President
[Signed:] William H. Seward
Secretary of State
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Dear Uncle James,
ReplyDeleteFirst and foremost I would like to genuinely thank you for taking the time to write me a letter and voice your concerns. Hearing any type of insight about my father always brings a smile to my face and further insight for myself.
Uncle James even though I am young in age I feel as though I have witnessed and felt what you meant by "You were not expected to aspire to excellence: you were expected to make peace with mediocrity". I can feel the tension and the deceit for me not to succeed, even today as a black man. But it is in may best will to make sure I do not meet their standards of what they believe I should be.
And that is why I do make sure as you stated "know whence you came. If you know whence you came, there is really no limit to where you can go". This will forever be engraved and with me on my journey.
As far as accepting white people this has been something that I am still having a difficult time with. Even though they try their best to hide how they really feel about us they still try and lean a helping hand. But not in the ways that matter most. The new ghetto's are the government assistance they offer us. Welfare, WIC and housing are government programs that are in place to help families but in the black community it is made to keep us down. We are required to meet these poor standards. If one tries to succeed and or reach a greater income it snatched beneath them. And the most unpleasant part about it is that black people are okay with these standards. And allow the government assistance to keep them restrained exactly where they are and where they want them to be. And this saddens my heart the most. That a mas majority of black people would rather be content and still.
Your letter has opened my eyes in many ways. I appreciate the wisdom in which you given me.
With love & Blessings.
Dear Uncle Baldwin,
ReplyDeleteThe letter that you have written me was very thoughtful. Your statements were insightful, and the statements you stated may have been very true in your time. Now, in my time, things are slowly getting better. The way society is living isn’t as bad as it used to be. Things aren’t perfect here, but the society is definitely progressing.
You wrote to me that, “the limits of your ambition were, thus, expected to be set forever.” Uncle Baldwin, now, we are not expected to do so less as in the past. We are capable of getting the same education as everyone. In reality, the steps of being just as successful may be more complicated, but there are more successful black Americans who are greatly appreciated. For one, we now have a black president as the president of the United States.
I agree with you when you wrote to me that I, “cannot be free, til mentally free.” You were trying to inform me that I have to not allow others’ negative comments and hopes of failure for me actually define who I am. No one else defines me but myself. If I didn’t allow my thoughts to be free from how others viewed me, then I wouldn’t be free. I would still be a prisoner in the white man’s cage. I am becoming more open to my own thoughts, and I am not allowing others belittle my ambition and dreams.
Uncle, I thank you for sharing your knowledge with me. I hope my response to your letter will give you an insight of how things are now. Some things are still the same, yet things are also getting better.
With all my heart,
Nephew James
(Sonytha Bun)
Dear uncle,
ReplyDeletethe country today has been far more ignorant to the issue
of inequality. It seems as though the captures of our forefathers have
designed an effective plan and have succeeded in destroying the
foundation of our strength that our ancestors built, for us to remember
who we are and where we came from. Although during your time racial
separation was mostly between blacks and whites, the country has
become more open to other races, but only to repair the bridges that the clever white leaders of America have burned, due to their selfish, egotistical ways. As you said, about destruction and death, “for this is what mankind has been good at since we have heard of man.” This is apparent to the wars that we have been fighting for 12 years and the lives that we have been losing in return. Our monster of destruction and death has spilled over into other countries around the world and I’m afraid that it may be true that this is all of mankind.
Today the
issue of racism still exists. It is not just discriminatory to
blacks but to all foreign races in the country. For some reason our
white counterparts still think it necessary to feel superior to all
others. One would say that the white man’s plan to make other
races inferior has turned against his own, but another would say that this
country has overcome the digression of discouragement and now, it has
become a land of freedom where only those who can perfect the ability
to resist the influence of the negativity and discouraging struggle of
those who have been weakened by time and the acceptance of inferiority,
will be able to find peace within and acceptance of himself while
realizing and proving that he can do whatever his mind can grasp
morally. I read your letter over and over so that I did not miss one important message and it strengthened me. It helped me realize that I am as great as I think I am. I will never forget that you love me. From your nephew Big James
To my Dear Uncle James,
ReplyDeleteIt has been some time know, in which I have been reading and rereading your letter, trying to decipher all the messages and many pieces of advice you have written for me. I thank you, for taking the time in giving me all you have given me in this letter. The way that you look and remember the many great times you have had with my father, only fill me with happiness in preparing to one day be the great man that both you and him have become.
Your letter described a world of which I am currently living. On still filled with the constant look down upon on all people of color. Even though I am still young at age, I can see with eyes wide open the world of which you say, “You were born into a society which spelled out with brutal clarity, and in as many ways possible, that you were a worthless human being.” This society in which I live in has created challenges of which I have to keep over coming, of which each and everyday becoming a little harder. The challenge of making myself believe that I am more than just another human being on the earth is one that I will one day have to overcome.
I will surely overcome this challenge with the words you have given me, “Know whence you came. If you know whence your came, there is really no limit to where you can go.” Having had these exact words instilled in my mind will lead to limitlessly overcoming any challenge.
Even in this new generation, a generation where it seems that most people around the nation are accepted no matter of skin color, race, or sexual preference, it is still, at times, hard to accept the ‘white man’. In many cases, it seems that the ‘white man’ still believe they are superior while people of color are still under them. You state, “I know that your countrymen do not agree with me about this, and I hear them saying, ‘You exaggerate.’” It is not that anyone one exaggerates, it is plainly the truth. Over the years, there have been government programs which have been created to help people of color or people of low income; Welfare, WIC, Dream Act. While these programs were created to help people who are struggling for some reason and give them a sense of ease, in reality make things sometimes harder. The ‘help’ of today still needs a lot of work, work which has to be done by both sides. Work with which someday will take us all out of hatred, poverty, and unease.
Thank you Uncle, for all you have given and continue to give me.
Much love.
Your nephew, James
(Fernando Barragan)
Dear Uncle James,
ReplyDeleteI am writing this letter because there are so many things that I have to notify you of. Many historical events have happened, since you sent me that very meaningful letter. Through time I have learned to ignore people without respect. I believe that people who do not have a deep understanding of what life is are the ones who never want to associate with one another. They have come to a state of mind where they think they are better than others. Thus, they will disrespect, offend, and put you down. What do I do about this? I do not let them insult me, nor have patience for them like you once advised me to. I defend myself, and I fight. I fight with my knowledge and show them what they thought to be impossible back then. I show them that not only can a white man be the smartest, but that I, a black man, am more intelligent, and handsome than he is.
Time has passed, and let me tell you. Today, I live a better life than you did. Yet, my struggle doesn’t end here. We are still being targeted at, and we are still put into the same living conditions we used to live many years ago. This society does not want to us elevate. So, I will fight and fight because I want to see a brighter future for the next generations to come. I am doing the same thing you did for me.
And time has passed! We now have the first black president of the United States, Mr. Barack Obama. You have to be here uncle, to see the progression our country and our people have made. Work needs to be done, but at least the hardest part has passed by.
Yours truly,
Big James
(Evelyn Gameros)
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteDear Uncle James,
ReplyDeleteI thank you for taking the time to write me a letter that made me understand the world better. I also appreciate the fact that you have given me a glimpse of who my family was.
I get that during this time period we live in a world full of hate that’s driven by petty differences. I understand that I have to learn how to live in a white man’s world and your advice about not becoming what white people think I am. I will not let what people think “Nigger” is to define who I am. I am a man driven to become more than what is expected from me to break the norm and set a new standard.
Uncle James I do believe what you said which was “You must accept them and accept them with love.” I must learn to be patient with the people that hate me because they are threatened by how far we have come as a people. It has been a long time since the emancipation proclamation but I see that we are no longer fitting into what whites call a “nigger” we are above the hate , we are moving into the right direction.
You are an inspiration to me and I will not let you down uncle not even for one minute. I will be what I define myself as and not settle for anything less because of you. Again I would like to thank you for the knowledge you have passed down to me Uncle James.
Sincerely,
James
(Pablo R. Hernandez)
Dear Uncle James,
ReplyDeleteI just want to start off by saying I truly appreciate you taking the time to write me this influential letter, I will forever cherish your words of wisdom. Although your choice of words were a bit too much for me to comprehend, I know that everything you wrote me was said out of love and knowledge. It was a nice journey you took me on with your words regarding our family history and how things were before and when I was born. I learn about the issues you've spoken about in school, however, to hear it from someone who personally experienced these experiences and also identifies as a black man makes me look a my surroundings a bit differently.
Although the times are different compared to how you grew up, I can still identify with some of the issues you tried to warn me of. For example, you mention how the world that i'm living in will be filled with a constant look down upon all people of color. Growing up, I was blind to color, but as i began to notice us African-Americans are treated differently when it comes to certain situations and reading your letter, I got a better understanding why. I for one will not let the word "Nigger" interfere with my future and it does not define who I am as person.
And I am proud to say, that even though African-Americans still suffer from stereotypes, we have come a long way Uncle! We have a black president and a lot of positive black role models that are making differences and continuing to open doors for young people like myself. If progress continues the way it has been, we will get to continue our freedom Uncle that you spoke of! I hope one day to speak about our history and progression in person!
-James
(David Atchison)
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteDear Uncle James,
ReplyDeleteI would like to start off by saying that I appreciate you taking the time to write me such a thoughtful letter, considering that no one really writes letters these days. I also appreciate your advice and intention to look out for me especially since my dad isn't around anymore. I miss you very much and am thankful to still have you in my life.
You're right, I am apart of another era, different from yours. In your time, I know that slavery and racism were extremely touchy subjects to discuss because the pain from both was still very fresh at the time. Things are different now though. I would have to disagree with you when you say that I really am a nigger. Yes, being African-American is in my blood, but there is much more to me than that. I go to school, and I have a lot of friends of many different races. My peers don't judge me by race and nor do I to them. I'm sure that there are still plenty of people these days who will only view me as a nigger and nothing else, but times are different, and people are different now. They are more respectful and understanding these days and I am truly grateful for that. At least now, they usually won't openly express racism against me, but who knows what goes on in the heads of white people or other races of people who are indeed racist. I understand that you are just trying to look out for me, and I know you give your advice endearingly but dealing with racism now is completely different from how it used to be back in the day. As time has gone on, people have been showing less and less racism to one another, I guess for the simple reason that more and more people are starting to have open minds about others. Many people are also in interracial relationships, and it's no longer frowned upon or seen as inferior to marrying within the same race. Trust me Uncle, times are different. We even have a black president now! I also do not agree with you when you say that black men are inferior to white men because both men now hold the same types of jobs and work side by side in different industries, and are even neighbors. I'm sure the reasons for all of this stemmed from black men finally realizing that they must not stay within the expectations of the white man, like you said. I'm also sure that when that happened, the heaven and earth were shaken from their foundations, but we have recovered from that quake, and are even past the point of picking up the pieces and putting them back together. Yes, there's still some work to be done, but the human race is progressing well when it comes to racism. It still exists, it's still out there, but I live with an open heart and an open mind and can only hope that others will do the same. Thank you for your advice. I will always remember your inspirational words. Just always know that I will be okay.
Sincerely,
James
(Kaezi Datuin)
Dear Uncle James, I was very pleased and moved by your letter. It brought to light many good points. No matter what they say, or how many times they say it, I will not believe what the white people say about us, for as you said, that is our destruction. I had a certain type of anger when I read parts of your letter, but it was not a violent anger. I did not feel the need to hurt anybody, just the opposite actually. As you said, the country did stick me in a ghetto, certain I would perish, and they did it for no reason besides the color of my skin, but thinking about it makes me want to change the policy to prevent more people like us being thrust into these cities. But I am pleased at the progress we have made. After all, not only do we have a black president now, but we also reelected him. In the time you were reporting, the very idea was scoffed at by most, even our own people. Even though he is president, however, the opposing party is always trying to bring him down for something, whether it is policies they normally would favor, or his own American citizenship. I believe this is the phenomenon you described where the whites fear him, because he is the first black president. They have never seen or comprehended the fact that this could even happen. In reference to the comments you made about celebrating one hundred years of freedom one hundred years too soon, I believe while we have made progress, the whites still have subtle holds on us, and it is still too soon to celebrate.
ReplyDeleteYour loving and proud nephew,
James (Sam Salisbury
Dear Uncle James,
ReplyDeleteReading the letter you wrote you had a lot of consideration and concerns you may have throughout this letter. Choices have been made to everyone and what each person has for their future. Knowing what goals and achievements that I wanted to succeed in my life is an accomplishment and hearing about my father as well.
Uncle James, when achieving the goals you want to succeed in, you must know what you are aiming for and what you want to achieve for. “The limits of your ambition were, thus, expected to be set forever” (Baldwin 4). Gaining what you want to do in your life is showing the goals you want to succeed in. Such as what college you want to go to, what major or what type of job you want to do. Having your goals completed shows some limits on what you wanted to do now and what goals you want to set later.
Understanding what we want to achieve and preserver towards the goals for our future. “You were not expected to aspire to excellence: you were expected to make peace with mediocrity” (Baldwin 4). When putting effort that you know you going to succeed or trying to do your best towards something shows the achievement that you want to do. Regarding on accomplishing your intension towards making peace and mediocrity with aspire to excellence, you can establish your goals for your future.
Being knowledgeable of what you want to pursue in for the future, you must show ambition of what achievement that we planned for has no limits to any person. “If you know whence you came, there is really no limit you where you can go” (Baldwin 4). You have to know what you want to do for your life and what you want to do to succeed in your life for your future. Our future and journey can wait where we go to and going to the right direction. Accomplishing one goal to another of what you are aiming has no restrictions in your life if you only try your best.
Achieving the goals that I know I want to achieve in and what our future brings when our goals is set. There are no limitations when it comes to accomplishment, and what journey will bring us now and for the future.
Sincerly,
Nephew James (Michelle Nam)
Dear Uncle James,
ReplyDeleteI understand that what you told me. You mentioned that we should not give up our life easily because of our skin color. For now, we have a black USA president. It shows that Black people's right has raised a lot than before.Everyone has a dream and they all have rights to chase. I have a faith that no matter what kinds of people they are, only if they are working hard and be confidence; they can make things happen. Everyone is equal, we should make the America to be a real America; no more discrimination. I still remember that you want us to have a happy family, and teach me how to handle the situation like people using special sight on me because I am black. You gave me confidence to live longer. All the American should change their value that black men is not inferior than white men. You ever said that'' Great men have done great things here and will again and we can make America what America must become.'' Great man can refer any color of men, and the America has the most races country. People sometimes have conflicts, if we can be generous and kind, they can feel it. People always think us are poor and we only can get money by robbing people. Most of the blacks are losing confidence and they gave up themselves. They do crimes, jobless and blaming the world. We also need to change our attitude, if we want people to accept us; we have to do better than everyone first. Knowledge can change ones destiny. No one can take away from you. Only working hard at school and find a good job in the future can be respected by another people. I will promise you that I will do my best in the future, and my family will proud of me forever. I will keep getting rights for my people. Thank you.
Love ,
James(Lawrence Fong)
Dear Uncle James,
ReplyDeleteI am writing to you on a cold January in the year of 2013. It is a time of relative peace, recovery, filled with ubiquitous technology, and outcry for the strife and violence that have plagued the United States in the past year. The world has vastly changed since the words you imparted with me and yet they still hold truth in these times of obscurity.
Up until this point in my life, I am glad I was able to face the tribulations set out for me as a black man. It was your message of “you must accept them” that rung so strongly when bitterness and the storm of anger welled up inside me for the countrymen that degraded my color. These feelings still linger, as I know the look of distain has been burned into my mind and I find it difficult to openly accept the white face that has rejected me and my ancestors for many years. Surviving prejudice has been a long arduous journey for me and not one I could’ve walked alone or have been prepared for.
There have been many great strides in civil rights including your own pursuits to encourage young readers and blacks to analyze their situation and how they can change or improve it. To that I must congratulate you and thank your work as they have not only helped black Americans find acceptance, but inadvertently helped other minority groups as well as my own life. I’m proud to call you my uncle and a paragon to those who can achieve despite coming from a poor upbringing. The mere thought of you and my father who both endured unfair realities have consolidated my beliefs in freedom and unshackle me from the chains of limitation and mediocrity that were forced upon by my countrymen. I know now more than ever than I’m better than what the world labels as “nigger” and have come to realize that no one is. The word nigger is simply has no meaning unless we give it meaning. I don’t believe any man falls under the definition of this word.
We are all people, human beings that must unify together to ensure prosperity and equality. No one should live under the conditions you, I, and my father have lived with, as we are all a part of mankind with dreams and aspirations that deserve the opportunity to achieve them. While I can assure you I know these things for myself, I can’t say the next generation of black Americans will be aware of these truths as well nor other minorities that are stricken with poverty. It disheartens me to say this or perhaps this is to be expected, but we are far from the country where the people are free.
There are many acts of crimes and violence recorded in low income places with a resounding majority of black victims. Perhaps you could overlook their skin color and say they are just poor people and that we live in a capitalist society in which one must fulfill the role of the lower class. Though is it fair if it’s a majority of blacks? Or could this just be coincidental because of history and where blacks have come from.
I ponder whether this is simply a matter of whether our brothers and sisters are unmotivated to improve their situation or another factor is holding them back. Could another factor be enforcing the mindset of that we must “perish in the ghetto” and keep us there? I myself am quite unsure of the circumstances of our people and the uncertainly that lies ahead. I wish to hear your comforting words and pray for your continued guidance through the rest of my journey.
God Bless,
James (Stephen Tang)
Dear Uncle James,
ReplyDeletethank you for the letter. I was happy to hear from you. Aside from the fact your letter is around one hundred pages long, it is inspiring. As you know, things here have not been easy, as white people have not changed and it is hard to believe they will ever accept us as more than inferior beings, but simply as equals.
I have had some encounters with the law, usually as their amusement, but I try not to let it bother me. As you said, they are lost. while they try with all their might, to subdue me in their world of lies, I see them as children; throwing tantrums when they do not get their way.
While they are children, we are just as ignorant. Some friends are planning to attack some officers, and they want me to go with them. At first, I was going to stay out of it. Let them do what they wanted and hope they did not get killed. Now, after reading your letter, I feel I should try to stop them, by telling them what you told me. When you say we are not inferior and we too have the potential to become something more, I see this as an opportunity to take the first step. It will be tough, but I will attempt to spread your wisdom so that one day we can all be at peace.
Sincerely,
James(Anthony G.)
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteDear Uncle James,
DeleteWell, it certainly has been a long time since I’ve written back to you! Its 2013, I’m 15 years old, and what’s worse…you’re dead; dead from the neck up, dead from the neck down, dead, deader, deadest. That of course will not stop me from writing to a dead person; despite the fact that everyone I know thinks it’s rather morbid. But I don’t care what everyone else thinks, I’m’ going to do what I want to do, unless what I want to do hurts myself or other people.
And I highly doubt that writing to my dead uncle is any sort of violation between the living and the dead.
Now, please overlook my dark sense of humor and let us focus on the matters at hand. The world has changed a lot since you left uncle, for better or for worse is still a mystery to me. For one thing, we don’t have to watch that gray scale crap you called “television”. We’ve got Blu-Ray and 1080p! Anything else makes me want to rip my eyes out. We also ended up electing a black president! Yeah, I know right! Like you said, we would get a black president…just in a different America.
But there is one thing that hasn’t changed much at all. And that’s the fact he black people are still cast underfoot. We are still treated like trash…and we’ve become the niggers the white man once called us. Sure, I don’t have to worry about being dragged down a jacked up freeway. I can go wherever I please without being paranoid and I can date my Anglo-Saxon girlfriend with (almost) no hassle!
But amongst my black friends I hear that word nigger being thrown around so ignorantly. It’s almost as if we’ve forgotten our roots…and forgotten what that word really means. My best friend Raphael tells me that it could be turned into something positive. Feh, I beg to differ. You want to make the word nigger into something positive? Then eliminate it from your vocabulary all together. Raph also says that we should let the past stay in the past. To some extent I do agree. But Raphael is a white guy…and he dosen’t…and will never fully understand what that word means and the type of weight it carries.
Now I know I’m not a nigger. But when the word has become an accepted part of black vocabulary, and when we start “acting” like niggers I can’t help but involuntarily twitch. The bottom line uncle? We need another hero…like you. We need someone who is ready to pull it together, button up their short, roll down their sleeves, and save the world. Let the world know that a black man is just as equal to the white man.
I fell like, I have to be that hero…I’m ready to follow in your footsteps and lead the world to a better place. So, uncle? Where should I begin? Whats your advice?
With Love, your favorite nephew (don’t deny it, you know I’m the favorite) Big James