I understand why "regular" people hate "conscious" people sometimes

[rebelAfrika]

I'm posting this because I would like to consider myself a "conscious person," and yet, at the same time, I've encountered "conscious people" who make me sick. Many times it has nothing to do with the information that they possess (and are able to articulate to "regular" people). It's more of the attitude. Recently I have been very much "withdrawn" from the conscious community. I'm really not feeling like attending cultural events, or programs, or rallies, or demonstrations, or whatever. The levels of arrogance are too much for me to deal with at times. Alot of conscious people aren't even "objective". They only like the truth WHEN IT IS CONVIENIENT FOR THEM. They only acknowledge the truth as they see it...but they cannot acknowledge their own mistakes...nor can they even "entertain" the idea that they may hold mistaken notions. At any rate, I've been spending alot more time on the block. So much so that some of my people's think I may be "backsliding" from consciousness. Thats not the case, but I'm really starting to feel why it is so hard to get people to get down with the movement. I guess I'm just venting. Anybody else here feel where I'm coming from?

[Jahness]

Originally Posted by rebelAfrika

I'm posting this because I would like to consider myself a "conscious person," and yet, at the same time, I've encountered "conscious people" who make me sick. Many times it has nothing to do with the information that they possess (and are able to articulate to "regular" people). It's more of the attitude. Recently I have been very much "withdrawn" from the conscious community. I'm really not feeling like attending cultural events, or programs, or rallies, or demonstrations, or whatever. The levels of arrogance are too much for me to deal with at times. Alot of conscious people aren't even "objective". They only like the truth WHEN IT IS CONVIENIENT FOR THEM. They only acknowledge the truth as they see it...but they cannot acknowledge their own mistakes...nor can they even "entertain" the idea that they may hold mistaken notions. At any rate, I've been spending alot more time on the block. So much so that some of my people's think I may be "backsliding" from consciousness. Thats not the case, but I'm really starting to feel why it is so hard to get people to get down with the movement. I guess I'm just venting. Anybody else here feel where I'm coming from?

Greetings rebelAfrika!

I feel you 1000% on this one. I have been there to the point now where I just do what I can for my people and just move on.

If I stop to think about those arrogant, self righteous, no common sense, head too damn hard, won't budge an inch, have not one objective bone in their body brothers and sisters, I will be a recluse and never deal with people. I have withdrawn myself seriously. I will still distribute flyers, go to a rally every so often, and even hold meetings once in a while, but I cannot and will not do it as much as I used to because they simply drain my energy to a point of utter physical sickness.

At one time I never thought I could get physically sick from the drain it causes to my spiritual, mental and physical self but I had to be honest with myself and recognize what it was doing to me. I had to stop, and stop immediately.

I am a people person. I sincerely love my people, and usually there is literally nothing I do not try to do to help when I get involved." people have tried to take advantage of my good will so many times" especially when they think you are stoopid (that is how stupid they think you are LOL, you have to spell the word wrong) Well meet miss help to start orgs, youth groups, family groups, written constitutions, by-laws, fundraiser, Organizer of space, parties, rallies, lectures, give all her money for the cause, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, house the homeless, not only in amerikkka, but in other countries, I have lived and visited, because I feel and hurt for my people sincerely. I have done it all and then some. Now, I just keep being my humble, easy going, but hard working self. I just find alternative ways to reach out directly to the people that need real help and services. I pass out the info and share what I can with those who are willing to listen and share with me as well.

Warrior son rebelAfrika, You don't know the can of worms you have just opened, by starting this thread. I can go on for months with the madness I have been through and seen in the dirty, stinking self righteous, egotistical, force feed down other people's throat I am more black or more conscious or more spiritual, more afrikan clothes wearing than you mentality with some of our people.

This type of behavior turns so many of our people away from the movement. There are people who honestly want to be a part of the movement, but they will tell you it is because of people like who we are speaking about who makes them think we are all bullsh*ters.

I will stop here cuz it might be too hard to stop otherwise...LOL

Much, Much respect for taking the time to share this gem of your thoughts and sincere feelings. This is what being real is all about.

Peace, Much Love & Blessings Warrior son!

[Elisa Keisha]

oh yes definately. Sometimes its not even arrogance, but the simple feeling of "I have reached another level", like when somebody from a little village moves to the big city and when he comes back no matta what he says or he does people gonna be reactive, coz "now he thinks he too much". Which is already a natural reaction to it. So if to add on, the other person do have this feeling (whether he is aware of it or not), you have it.
I also spent sometime on "the block" somtime ago... and i learnt many things.

Truly this is a very very difficult task and I still dont have the answer.. I think that being humble about your opinions and passionate about them at the same time (which is not contradictory) could be a good combination.

[Sun Ship]

Originally Posted by rebelAfrika

I'm posting this because I would like to consider myself a "conscious person," and yet, at the same time, I've encountered "conscious people" who make me sick. Many times it has nothing to do with the information that they possess (and are able to articulate to "regular" people). It's more of the attitude. Recently I have been very much "withdrawn" from the conscious community. I'm really not feeling like attending cultural events, or programs, or rallies, or demonstrations, or whatever. The levels of arrogance are too much for me to deal with at times. Alot of conscious people aren't even "objective". They only like the truth WHEN IT IS CONVIENIENT FOR THEM. They only acknowledge the truth as they see it...but they cannot acknowledge their own mistakes...nor can they even "entertain" the idea that they may hold mistaken notions. At any rate, I've been spending alot more time on the block. So much so that some of my people's think I may be "backsliding" from consciousness. Thats not the case, but I'm really starting to feel why it is so hard to get people to get down with the movement. I guess I'm just venting. Anybody else here feel where I'm coming from?

LOL…I hear you my Brother...I find these comments by my good brother rebelAfrika very honest and revealing.

Brother I think you are going through a period of growth, as in another rites of passage as your socio-political ideas mature, and this is a good thing. This is where naïve enthusiasm and romanticism of “what’s going on” changes into the reality of “what’s truly going on”! As you will see, everybody has to go through this, and some will survive it and still function, and others will quickly jump ship.

I commend you my brother as you make your revelations known about what you’re experiencing, for there are many who take forever to get there, or when they finally see the confusion, backwardness, inconsistencies, or short-sightedness of their fellow comrades they suffer almost a reverse-culture shock and eventually develop an extreme case of apathy.

I use to say, “we have a tendency of taking that negro everywhere we go”. The negro many of the so-called conscious swear they have fully conquered and defeated in themselves. What I mean by this is, if I read what you have observed and mentioned in your post in another context, it sounded like you were talking about “dye in the wool church folks” or “bible thumpers”; basically the same mentality with a different message.

Brother anyone who has been around for a while can tell you, though a lot of people come out of the conscious and revolutionary “gates” fast (especially in their youth) only a handful of serious sojourners are left halfway down the track.

I believe your transition is just part of the way it has always been, and you should eventually take your understanding and message back to those who it suppose to help (THE PEOPLE). Knowledge and truth should be naturally and culturally connected to the community, not just in a glass bubble shared, debated, and repeated only between those of “supposed” like-mindedness. At some point, it’s got to fully integrate itself into the experiences of the common man and woman on the block that you where born from and are surely still part of.

So Brother being on the block is not a contradiction at all, it’s all about purpose. Action, truth, and knowledge along with who we are as everyday black people should be seamless, for this is how it was amongst the elders. The term “conscious” is something relatively new as it applies to the knowledge, wisdom and understanding of Black people, and as you can see, this term or concept can be easily exploited in many ways. No matter how conscious a person is, if they can’t apply what they know to everyday life, or the common woman or man than it’s useless.

This may be hard for some to swallow, but remember, “our people have rotted from the "so-called conscious" top on down, not from the grassroots bottom on up.”


Peace

[Pain]

Originally Posted by rebelAfrika

I'm posting this because I would like to consider myself a "conscious person," and yet, at the same time, I've encountered "conscious people" who make me sick. Many times it has nothing to do with the information that they possess (and are able to articulate to "regular" people). It's more of the attitude. Recently I have been very much "withdrawn" from the conscious community. I'm really not feeling like attending cultural events, or programs, or rallies, or demonstrations, or whatever. The levels of arrogance are too much for me to deal with at times. Alot of conscious people aren't even "objective". They only like the truth WHEN IT IS CONVIENIENT FOR THEM. They only acknowledge the truth as they see it...but they cannot acknowledge their own mistakes...nor can they even "entertain" the idea that they may hold mistaken notions. At any rate, I've been spending alot more time on the block. So much so that some of my people's think I may be "backsliding" from consciousness. Thats not the case, but I'm really starting to feel why it is so hard to get people to get down with the movement. I guess I'm just venting. Anybody else here feel where I'm coming from?

I'm reading all of the characteristics that you lay out for them and I can't help but to think that maybe, just maybe they aren't conscious people.

[Moorish Rebel]

Warrior son rebelAfrika, You don't know the can of worms you have just opened, by starting this thread. I can go on for months with the madness I have been through and seen in the dirty, stinking self righteous, egotistical, force feed down other people's throat I am more black or more conscious or more spiritual, more afrikan clothes wearing than you mentality with some of our people.

RA and Jahness, I feel and hear you both loud and clear. I am sick and tired of many conscious people with this "holier than thou, I'm more Afrikan than you" attitude. Some of our own can be some of the most judgemental, condescending people on this planet. Judging a person because they do things that doesn't fit into one's myopic view of what is "African" or "Conscious". I have been into so many debates with these people that it has drained me. Now, I don't even bother with these types, I just surround myself with like-minded or open-minded brothers and sisters who aren't stagnant in the sense of what's conscious or not. I still love my hardcore conscious folks but I refuse to build with one who bashes another because they dont practice an ATR, don't wear Afrikan clothes, still eats meat, doesn't have a natural hairstyle etc etc. This thinking is counter-productive and will turn many potential people away from the movement.

[rebelAfrika]

Thank you very much Jahness, Elisa keisha, Sun Ship, Pain, and Moorish Rebel. All of yall have made points that if I was to go further into, I would end up spending alot more time on this subject than I want to...but you all said some things I consider to be very significant and I'm glad yall understood where I'm coming from.

Forward Ever!
rA

[Kefentse_Bandele]

For the record

I am conscious. I am an African. I am holier than thou.

Peace!

[Nefertiti]

Yeah I've ran into those types RA...that's why now I hold exclusive meetings with 1or 2 close conscious friends in the privacy of my home people who are down to earth and possess common sense and who respect my surroundings without arrogance...Peace

[rebelAfrika]

Originally Posted by Nefertiti

Yeah I've ran into those types RA...that's why now I hold exclusive meetings with a 1or 2 close conscious friends in the privacy of my home people who are down to earth and possess common sense and who respect my surroundings without arrogance...Peace

Thats good! That constitutes a level of organization and organization is MOST NECESSARY for African people as far as I'm concerned.

[BlackQueen]

"Regular" or as I like to call them,enslaved people hate us because they cannot hold us prisoner like they are. Conscious people are fearless and free to speak their minds about the plight of our people,while the slaves still believe that whites are friends. So sad,wouldn't you say?

[JOSIE]

Originally Posted by rebelAfrika

I'm posting this because I would like to consider myself a "conscious person," and yet, at the same time, I've encountered "conscious people" who make me sick. Many times it has nothing to do with the information that they possess (and are able to articulate to "regular" people). It's more of the attitude. Recently I have been very much "withdrawn" from the conscious community. I'm really not feeling like attending cultural events, or programs, or rallies, or demonstrations, or whatever. The levels of arrogance are too much for me to deal with at times. Alot of conscious people aren't even "objective". They only like the truth WHEN IT IS CONVIENIENT FOR THEM. They only acknowledge the truth as they see it...but they cannot acknowledge their own mistakes...nor can they even "entertain" the idea that they may hold mistaken notions. At any rate, I've been spending alot more time on the block. So much so that some of my people's think I may be "backsliding" from consciousness. Thats not the case, but I'm really starting to feel why it is so hard to get people to get down with the movement. I guess I'm just venting. Anybody else here feel where I'm coming from?

I feel u too 100%! This is a hinderance because we become separated and it's sad to have to withdraw for reasons as such. You can't tell some people anything. It's one thing to have an opinion and to voice it, but it's another thing to be close minded and to think you're always right. You must always give people a chance to state their side of the story before tearing them down. Also, it is safer to agree to disagree or if u desperately want someone to understand ur point of view, being rude and insulting to ones intelligence is not the way to get someone to listen. Even if u are right, you must humble urself. I see this happen on both sides of the fence. Conscious people do it to the non-conscious while the non-conscious do the same to the conscious. This is the meaning of conscious, u must always be aware. Not just of urself but others and the world around u. This is how I operate. I try my best to treat others as I would like to be treated and spoken to. And, a lot of times u can see why a person would feels the way they do about certain things just by trying to put urself in their shoes. We must eliminate any obstacle that keeps us from unifying. Humble urselves.

[rebelAfrika]

Originally Posted by JOSIE

I see this happen on both sides of the fence. Conscious people do it to the non-conscious while the non-conscious do the same to the conscious.

You know what? You're ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. Cause I DAMN SURE know some unconscious people who are just as "dismissive" of anything conscious people have to say. I guess my beef is with people who aren't "down to earth" moreso than it is with conscious people. The sad part is that EVERYBODY can't be "down to earth." It's just the way a person is. And you are right...it transcends levels of consciousness.

[rebelAfrika]

Originally Posted by BlackQueen

"Regular" or as I like to call them,enslaved people hate us because they cannot hold us prisoner like they are. Conscious people are fearless and free to speak their minds about the plight of our people,while the slaves still believe that whites are friends. So sad,wouldn't you say?

I guess the point flew right over your head.

[The Illuminated Monk]

This is a refreshing topic in all most twenty years of resistance, the one thing that harms conscious Africans is hypocrsy (1). Constant theorizing and not joining or creating a movement. (2). Using your scholarship to intimidate or yield persons to the point of submission, both the conscious/unconscious. (3). Some enlightened Africans truly are poor listeners, and have not matured to the point to understand in the end 'time' proves who is right. Lastly, some in the African- centered community forget irrespective of your knowledge base you still went through the public school system, mind control via t.v. and mass media and still are in America: as Haki Madhubuti rightly remarked "it takes more then desire and will to be African it takes a total reeducation", we in the Diaspora sometimes forget that.