‘The name that you respond to determines the amount of your self-worth. Similarly, the way a group of people collectively respond to a name can have devastating effects on their lives, particularly if they did not choose the name.’ Race and History.com, ‘The Creation of the Negro’.
Per the request
of the Mercer County Community College’s Head Basketball Coach, I was asked to
research the N-Word and present it to his players. I should include that the coach
is a ‘white’ man of the Jewish culture, who has been coaching for over 20
years. He advised that although he has heard the word used by his players
throughout his years of coaching, this group uses the N-Word excessively,
especially within the music to which they listen. I should point out that 16 of
the 18 players are African American and the other two (2) are European American
(‘White’).
During my workshop, I focused on three (3) areas: the Science of Sound – how words become physical matter manifested, the history of the word Negro and lyrics from one of my songs to illustrate a higher-level vibration.
The Science
of Sound
I recited a passage from the original version of the movie ‘Dune’, gave an explanation, then had them perform a simple breathing exercise. The exercise allowed them to feel their bodies vibrate. I explained that all physical matter is created from the Source (the Creator, God, Allah, etc.), one’s spirit/will, their mental to the physical. I explained that the easiest way for words to enter one’s being is through music. When one continuously repeats the lyrics, they become mantras/sutras. These words then become matter manifested…Those who identify as N-Words, manifest the essence of N-Words and other self-deprecating manifestations…Conversely, those who identify as scholars, kings, queens, gods…
The Creation
of the Negro
I chose the article because it was not too technical, and I did not want to lose the players. Additionally, I wanted to spark their mental to find value with the information. The article highlighted how the Greeks called the African ‘Necro’, which means ‘Dead’. It further presented how Spanish was derived from Latin and Latin was derived from Greek. Many want to start the conversation of the N-Word from Spanish and that Negro means ‘Black’. They do not go to the root. I digress…The article further highlighted that the Greeks studied under their African masters (Educators) in Africa. It should be mentioned that at this time, the Africans had already built the Great Pyramid of Giza and the Sphinx. While studying at the feet of the Africans, the Greeks did not understand the significance of the African’s purpose of honoring our ancestors. They thought that the Africans had a preoccupation with death, hence the name Necro. The Greeks spread their misunderstanding throughout Europe. Once the European returned to Africa as conquerors, they destroyed the cities, temples and libraries, enslaved the African and claimed the knowledge as their own. (See Stolen Legacy by Georg G.M. James)
To further stigmatize and demean the African, the European conquerors continued to promote that the Africans were a ‘Dead’ people.
I completed this area with the following passage from the article, ‘The Negro – a race of dead people with a dead history and no hope for resurrection as long as they remained ignorant of their past. This was a triple death – the death of the mind, body and spirit of the African’.
I told the players that in essence, they are manifesting the behavior of zombies…The walking dead.
The article
concluded with ‘Knowledge of self is the key to unlocking the door to the future.’
Lyrics
I concluded the workshop by reciting the 1st verse of a song that I’m in process of recording. During the recitation, I explained the meaning of the lyrics. I provided them to bare witness to lyrics and flow from a higher vibration than they were used to hearing. I was blessed that they asked me to do the song to my music, which I did. Additional blessings came when they enjoyed the song. Prior to the recitation, I explained that in simple terms there are three (3) levels of man/woman - animal, man/woman and God, where animal is the lowest level. We should be vacillating between our man/woman and God levels consistently. I told them that their ways/actions reveal that they are vacillating from below animal level and man consistently.
Conclusion
I would be remised
if I didn’t include that I had my big brother, who is a professor at Mercer, to
provide more substance on the topic. Lastly, I was blessed to have the players
find value with the workshop. This was evident by their questions – What is a 3rd
Eye? What is the meaning of the Ankh symbol? Would I give more
detail/information on my African name? The biggest evidence came from the
extended conversation that I had with the players regarding today’s popular Hiphop
artists. I exposed them to Rakim and told them that he is considered the ‘God
MC’, which they thought was crazy. Then I played his song ‘The Punisher’…They ALL
then bore witness to his title…If only I took a video of their faces as they
listened to the song…lol…The exclamation point came when one of the players
played one of their favorite artists, ‘Drake’ and wanted to compare him to
Rakim…I played Ra first. The player than played one of Drake’s songs…During the
1st verse of Drake’s song, his teammates told him to stop the song…Hotep
