Sensationalism
There has been a lot of hype surrounding the current release of Black Panther. Before I saw the movie, I watched as blackamericans posted slogans of “Black Power”, “Black Revolution”, “Power to the People”, “It’s Time to Wake Up”, blah, blah, blah. As I sat through the movie, I started to question my “blackness” because I just didn’t see or feel what blackamerican social media had told me I should. I saw something totally different. Then I realized that the problem wasn’t me. It was them. They had fallen victim to sensationalism!
This is not new. The same thing happened when Spike Lee’s Malcolm X was released in 1992. People left the movie theater like they were going to march to the Capitol and demand long overdue rights and compensation. It wasn’t long before most went right back into their slumber. It was just a case of sensationalism.
What is sensationalism and how did this happen?
After Hoover‘s 53 year systematic war on black consciousness and progress from Garvey to the Black Panther Party, blackamericans have been left wandering in the wilderness of the US without direction. Hope has come in the form of modern-day gladiators and court jesters — sports and entertainment. No offense meant, the use of these titles illustrate the effect on the spectator rather than the intentions of the entertainers. Don’t get me wrong, I indulge in a game and movie every now and then, but I don’t fall into the hype that progress has been made because of the rising presence of blackamericans in entertainment and sports.
After the Black Panther Party was finally crippled in the early 70’s, sensationalism was introduced. It’s no coincidence that movies, music, and sports took off to new and more sensational levels. There was no turning back; blackamericans, just like the rest of America and later the world, were hooked. Soon a slumber set in and this later led to zombification. Going into a movie about Malcolm X or about a black superhero with an all black cast is just a vigorating two-hour escape from the realities of the dark abyss of blackamerican existence.
Yeah! I really think it’s that bad and the worst is on the horizon. If you don’t believe me, come take a view from the outside looking in and you will see.
Why are some affected while others are not?
It simply boils down to what you bring to the table in terms of knowledge and condition. It should be stressed that knowledge is not synonymous with education nor is condition with wealth or status. In my travels, I have come to understand that wealth, status, and education have little to no relevance in one’s understanding of reality.
Did you come with an empty glass, half full glass, or a full glass? Are you dying of thirst, ok, or well hydrated?
On one end, the one who is well hydrated with a full glass is not going to need much and will most likely stay rooted in reality.
However, on the other, the one dying of thirst with an empty glass will take whatever is given to him just to survive. Unfortunately, this is the condition of way too many blackamericans.
I would venture to say that the vast majority of blackamericans fall between ok to dying of thirst and between half full to empty glass; thus, sensationalism has taken a firm grip over our imagination and has blurred our focus on reality.
Heck! Just a month or so later, I’ve already seen blackamerican social media support for Superfly. SMH
