It Be Your Own People
Undoing Centuries of Self-Sabotage Imposed by the Likes of Willie Lynch
"I HAVE OUTLINED A NUMBER OF DIFFERENCES AMONG THE SLAVES, AND I TAKE THESE DIFFERENCES AND MAKE THEM BIGGER. I USE FEAR, DISTRUST, AND ENVY FOR CONTROL PURPOSES." – Willie Lynch
Willie Lynch was a plantation owner in the British West Indies who colonizers in Virginia invited to speak at a conference and help them get their "businesses back on track." In other words, teach them how to maintain control over their Black slaves.
Despite the practice bearing his name, Lynch warned American slaveholders against the long-term effects of tree hangings. He saw people's bodies lined up along the highways and explained to his fellow White men that this method resulted in a terrible waste of "stock." Not to mention the risk of uprisings and runaways.
So, he suggested a more covert plan.
The plan was to sew discord among the Black community by exploiting our subtle differences. Whether it was age, shade, size, intellect, or hair texture, Lynch proposed that our society used these distinctions to determine a Black person's proximity to privilege.
Willie Lynch believed the concept of community had the power to incite a revolution. Therefore, he enacted a mission to divide us and crush our will to fight for freedom.
You've gotta give it to the guy. Brilliant. Because the effects of this strategy can still be felt to this day.
In American media, there is a widespread agenda to discredit and dehumanize Black people by pitting us against each other. You hear it in every hyped-up rap beef from Biggie and Tupac to Drake and Kendrick Lamar. You see it with every Vh1 reality show or Hollywood movie screen. I've even experienced it myself, in the underground of the "Historically Black elite" while navigating sorority culture. I still remember a time before dreadlocks and Jesus when I would use my long press-and-curl and caramel complexion to compete for opportunities and cut other sistas down with gossip and judgment.
We've got to do better in entertainment, our homes, our jobs, and on the streets. To do that, I propose a new plan that invites the gospel's hope of true forgiveness and reconciliation as brothers and sisters in Christ.
The Bible shows many examples of sibling rivalry and internal cultural feuds. The first murder ever committed was when Cain killed his brother Abel out of jealousy and resentment. As a result, God marked Cain and condemned him for life. Due to rebellion and greed, the once-great nation of Israel was split in two. Fear, distrust, and envy within the community context give way to sin and division that's difficult to shake.
But God offers us a way forward by instructing us to restore our broken relationships.
Because fear, distrust, and envy were the ingredients Willie Lynch and the founding fathers used to control and enslave us, we must combat that by cultivating a spirit of genuine faith and friendship.
What better way to start than following Jesus' example and looking to the Scriptures to learn how?
In Matthew 5:23-24 Jesus teaches us that before we can serve God and operate in the world with our divine giftings, we must first recognize when we have wronged a fellow brother or sister and make thing right. We are no good to God if we're not good to each other. To release the power of forgiveness requires us to take the first step and make amends. If we want to break away from the long-standing effects of oppression and division, we must come together.
That means learning how to really be a Christian—crucifying our sins, taking accountability, apologizing when we're wrong, and reaching out to repair fractured connections with those God calls us to love.
It ain't easy work, but it's necessary for the kingdom of heaven.
We can no longer continue to partner with oppressors to participate in each other's suffering. Instead, it's time to recognize our need for harmony and actively work towards it regardless of our subtle and often insignificant differences.
It's the Godly thing to do and the key to finally achieving collective liberation.
