Tulsa wasn't the only Black community burnt to the ground by systems of oppression. There were at least 33 others. Thriving, independent and self-sustaining Black communities — terrorized and destroyed. Fire wasn't the only method used. Over 100 Black and poor communities were flooded, turned into lakes, or gutted to build railroads and highways. In fact, underneath manmade lakes near Central Park and in California, ENTIRE COMMUNITIES sit underwater, all in the name of progress. This week, Dr. Venus talks about systems of oppression for Black and poor Americans. She discusses how it's happening at the local and state level, and why we must educate ourselves and play at their level of the game in order to win.
Key Takeaways:
[6:34] If we don't tend to our wounds and learn from them, we will keep repeating the same actions. Dr. Venus explains that if we keep fighting and not winning, we may want to consider that we are fighting the wrong fight. There has been progress, yes, but what we haven't done as a collective is to take America on America's terms, capitalism. Yes, we talk about our experience, but we have to educate ourselves in a way our schools never did.
[9:22] Dr. Venus discusses the historical context where after President Lincoln freed the slaves to handicap the South, his assassination led to the federal government withdrawing the troops. This gave White Supremacists permission to continue acting in a way that proved they believe they are superior without feeling any consequence.
[10:14] Working-class White people have been paid not with money or land, but with the psychological wage of being "better", and this is how they stay controlled. That's how the Electoral College came about, and how America built itself through Black Women and on the backs of poor people.
[13:24] Marching and standing up for our rights is important and we should continue, but we also have to contend with the fact that the great equalizer in America is money. As long as we keep our attention off that, we will stay enslaved. It is when we change the structure to create a space that we are meant to participate in and be fully heard that real progress happens.
[14:42] Dr. Venus discusses why equality is not possible in America with the way our social, economic, and political structures are set up.
[16:17] Why would they put a lake over a whole town and displace people for highways and railroad systems? They call it gentrification, but Dr. Venus calls it development-induced displacement. The American way is to monetize, and these systems of oppression are built into everything from the federal and national levels to the state and local levels.
[18:30] They did the same thing with poor White men. If a White Man who was poor got land from Indigenous people and could not sign the agreement three years in a row, they took the land back. American history pimps out anybody who is not a rich, White, land-owning male. It has to do with class and a feeling that White Men are superior and above everyone else. It is a strategy to capitalize on that which will move America forward and make them rich.
[25:59] White Supremacists see themselves as so superior that they truly believe you are stupid if you don't agree with them. So when they do something like flood an environment, they know there is no structure in place to protect us. Even to this day, we have a number of mixed communities that are being pushed out because they can't afford the rent, so they are living in their car. It's not personal, but to them, progress comes at the cost of somebody. But NEVER rich White, land-owning Men.
[27:47] They can take a Black community and they can flood it with not only water but things like drugs and fast food. They can set it up so loans and real estate are hard to come by, and we aren't protected the way the rich are.
[30:04] What White Extremists don't mess with is commerce or money. All the structures in place in terms of capitalism are never touched. We have to create great products, services, distribution and platforms where we can move things and create with our own money, FOR us and BY us.
[35:10] There will be challenges, but the tech space that Dr. Venus and her brilliant team are working to create a safe space in the cloud without penalties for truth-telling.
[36:51] Structurally speaking, we are at a place where we can come together as a community and create wealth. Because the structures around capitalism are so clear, when we create on our own terms and commit to getting out of our feelings and help each other, we can thrive.
Quotes:
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