COMMENTS FROM READERS

From: PINCKNEYMARCELLA@aol.com
Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2001 20:30:22 EST
Subject: (no subject)
To: blackceo99@yahoo.com

well, I have finally finished your book. I must say,that you have enlightened me on slavery its purpose and how it's intimidation and mind manipulation is still very much alive today. It all makes alot of sense to me, it answers alot of questions I'm sure many African Americans, including myself have asked Why do we treat each other the way we do? I have told everyone that I have encountered about your book and its contents and like your experiences they all seem to think that we are past the era of slavery. Many African Americans seem to think that we have come to
the point of equality because whites and blacks laugh,talk, work and even marry, but no matter how many white friends or relatives a black man/woman have they(whites) can not began to understand what it is to be BLACK, Oh sure they can express their views about the inhumane actions of their ancestors and display dissappointment, but in reality they can never understand what it feels like to be in bondage for a day let alone 400 years. Although we, meaning you and
I have never physically been intoduced to slavery we as African Americans can only image the pain that our ancestors must have endured which makes us more susceptible to mourn and at times become angered at the treatment of a race of people in which we were born from. I can only hope that one million people will read your book and become more aware of the our past and understand how it's actions relates to our future. I was talking with the other social worker in my office about your book, I started by explaining to her that you were not a racist and that you were trying to educate African Americans about our history
so that we can have a better understanding how
important unity is among our people not only for the present but for future generations. Well she began telling me about how she was poor and how she decided to make a difference in her life by dating the right man and furthering her education to insure a more secure future, and how her friend chose to date a different class of men and ended up with no teeth and I assume very poor, well this had no relation to the topic at hand, but I let her continue. After she finished her story I asked her if her friend was black and she stated that she was not , well I could not understand how she related the two women's experiences with being black. I guess she was trying to say that choosing the right man and planning for a higher
education is the key to not being poor, but she missed one important element to my story and that was being black, sure she rose up from "poverty" but no one stood on the steps of the school and tried to prevent her entrance, and although her friend, who says that she was not happy with her life style, she still was not BLACK. The whole point was missed and the point she was trying to make was irrevalent to the point I was trying to make. Many African Americans have become to comfortable, they believe that because we are offered jobs, promotions, and increases in our salary that we have finally been excepted in the eyes of our oppressors, but in reality a higher price has been
placed on us for our labor in helping someone else get rich. Let me explain what I mean, I have managed to complete four and a half years of college and planned
to return in January for my Master's in Social Work,now I have mentioned to several people that once I receive my Master's I can, in many aspects write my own ticket meaning I can choice to except one companys salary or deny it and search for a higher wage offer, but what am I really saying is that I have worked hard for seven years to obtain these degrees, now I am auctiong myself off to the highest bidder so that I can work for them for twenty five years and then
retire with hopefully a comfortable nest, but if I think about it those degrees can bring me a lot more then a comfortable nest. I know how to write a proposal for a grant, I even know how to write the grant itself and in my field of study, clinical social work, which I can also become licensed if I choose to have a private practice, gives me an opportunity to open a home for seniors, which is greatly needed due to the rapid growth of the elderly population which is expected to be about 24% of the population by 2030.

After reading your book I must quickly and seriously reconsider my plans for the future or I will be in "bondage" for the next twenty-five years. I thank you
and your soilders for beginning your mission and hope
that you will continue the fight for UNITY.

Thank you,

Marcella