Creole INC. Friend or Foe!
By Takuna Maulana EL Shabazz
At the peak of the resistance movement and fight for self- determination by the Uncajun Committee, a group of mis-educated, fearful, and opportunistic sell-out negroes formed Creole INC. The organization consisted mainly of business men and women, a variety of highly skilled Black professionals and so-called spiritual leaders, that advocated and proudly embraced the concept that a segment of Black people in Southwest Louisiana are Creoles. They ignorantly held in high esteem a perceived kinship with the children of the former White slave masters of their foremothers and fathers of French ancestry. To publicly solidify their perception of a worthy kinship with French Caucasian people, they collaborated with Caucasian exploiters of the Black community to make and then erect a so-called Creole flag in front of City Hall.
Most of these same Negros are unaware of their own history and are too afraid of White people to acknowledge the Red, Black & Green Liberation Flag given to us by the Honorable Marcus Garvey. Needless say, they would devalue any research regarding the work of Marcus Garvey, much less embrace the tremendous contributions and impact his movement for self-determination had on Blacks in Louisiana, Haiti, Caribbean Islands and the family of Black people throughout the Afrikan Diaspora. I suspect most of them could not be at ease acknowledging the Black Liberation Flag in the presence of Caucasians, even if it was hidden away in their back pocket ! Certainly, most members of Creole INC could not possibly conceive of embracing the Crescent -The Sun- Moon - and Star, the real universal flag of the original Black Man and Woman.
In addition, some members of Creole Inc. frequently and contradictorily, make references to the Black Haitian warrior Toussaint L'Ouverture with high esteem when advocating for Creoleism. Toussaint L'Ouverture was a self-taught Haitian slave who successfully led the Black slave insurrections of 1802 against the French in the Caribbean islands. The Haitian Revolt was so successful that it forced the French to sell territory to America, what is now known as the Louisiana Purchase.
Brother Toussaint was not interested in integrating with his French oppressors, nor was Toussaint L'Ouverture leading his people to seek some symbolic historic commonalities with the French oppressors to pacify a political agenda! Toussaint's army with strong warriors like Jean-Jacques Dessalines, fought against and successfully defeated an 18,000 to 20,000 strong French army for self-determination. When Napoleon sent in additional military forces to recapture Haiti, they were defeated as well. So, how then does Toussaint L'Ouverture become the celebrated icon for Creoleism? The Haitian Revolution, led by Toussaint L'Ouverture, actually represents for Black people throughout the Afrikan diasporas, a historic victory for self- determination, self-reliance and Black self governance. Historically, the Haitian Revolt marked the only successful revolt, by kidnapped Black Afrikans, for independence over their European oppressors. The one time Toussaint trusted the French leader, Napoleon Bonaparte, it cost him his life. After Haiti won its' independence from the French, Toussaint agreed to meet with Napoleon to discuss details of their agreement but was trick and captured. Napoleon ordered that Toussaint be put in prison where he was murdered by way of starvation and mistreatment. At that point Jean-Jacques Dessalines stepped in as commander and completed the quest for Haiti's independence from the French.
The notion that so-called educated Black individuals can think that there are cultural and historical parities worth embracing, between the children of former enslaved colonized Blacks and the children of the former White French slave colonizers, at the expense of denying or rejecting their own rich Black culture, is a gross mis-use of brain matter. Note, one group represents the children of enslaved victims who were robbed thoroughly of the knowledge of self, beaten, raped, and killed and the other group portrays the children of the victimizers who benefited from it.
Nonetheless, Creole Inc. chose to hold hands with the proponents of Cajun Mania, the open enemies of Black people in Southwest Louisiana, at the height of their cultural genocidal plot against the Black community. Their primary rationale seemed to be rooted in improving their status as house Niggers. They hypocritically presented themselves as the positive alternative to the actions and principled position of self-determination by the Uncajun Committee.
In other words, these sell out, scared to death Negroes met in secret with White power brokers, who were feeling the sting of the Uncajun Committee, and sold out the collective interest of the Black Community on the promise of trickled down economics from the promotion of Cajun/Acadian, that supposedly would benefit all. At least that's the popular propaganda they used to sell some Black people on being Creoles.
However, closer observation would reveal that it was more about taking the path of least resistance, to further personal economic and political gains of a few, while simultaneously quelling the thirst for self-determination among the masses. Many so called high profile Black figures, such as impotent politicians, spiritually bankrupted church leaders, and tap dancing Chicken George wannabe Negroes, were often publicly show cased on television, radio, and print media, to propagandize the acceptance of Creole among Black people. On many occasions members or supporters of Creole INC have passionately expressed to me , that Black people should not be upset with White people for promoting Cajun/Acadian. They said, "Let's take a proactive position and promote our Creole Cultural and be in a position to receive some of the state and federal dollars from the promotion of tourism." Another popular euphemism frequently use to hide their deceitful intent was," It's not what people call you that matters. It is what you answer to!" On occasion, this particular remark enraged me to the point where my response was often sharp and bitter. I would reply, "Shut up scared Negro! You will answer to any name White people chose to call you, if for no other reason to make them feel safe. Your slave mentality is motivated by a need to convince White people you don't think of yourself as being Black and Worthy! "
To suggest and then actively promote the concept of "Creole" as a viable cultural and historical template that accurately identifies and describes the best of cultural and historical values of the majority of Black people in Southwest Louisiana is cultural and historical butchery. It is laughable to hear some of these mis-educated Negroes talk about being "Creoles" as though they are decedents of a blessed experience from Creole heaven. The term Creole at its root meaning implies mixture of something. The obvious question is mixture of what and whom! Specifically, in Black communities in South Louisiana, the term Creole historically applied to some foods, a so-called broken French language and light skinned Blacks who rejected their kinship to darker skinned Black people.
In New Orleans, before Katrina, the term "Creole" was shunned by most darker skin Blacks in the indigenous poorer Black communities largely, because many felt that they were being rejected and oppressed by a system of government that was run mostly by "Creoles" and their beloved White French ancestors. I lived in New Orleans for five years in the late 80's early 90s. The negative perceptions about the concept "Creole" among many residents located in economically stressed Black communities were glaring. If you were Black and poor it was not uncommon to hear the assertion, "Unless you are White or Creole and dam near White, a Black skin brother or sister can't get equal treated in this system".
Currently, in Lafayette, Louisiana, and some surrounding parishes, pockets of so-called Mulattoes and Creoles have separate communities based on light skin color. Although it's not openly spoken of as in recent past, the brown paper bag test still has value in some of those communities for acceptance. For those readers not from the South, the brown paper bag test refers to the skin color one could not exceed to be acceptable within that community.
Let me reiterate my remarks from chapter two. At best, "Creole" represents a sub label or second class citizenship status that resulted from the outgrowth of a repressive European French Colonial experience. In particularly, in the southern states of America the term Creole was used mainly to identify the offspring of repressive White slave owners of French ancestry who systematically engaged in sexual exploits and the raping of innocent enslaved Black Women and young Black girls.
To enhance your understanding of "Creole life" in New Orleans from a grassroots and real perspective, I strongly suggest you purchase the little paperback book written by Aline St. Julien, titled "Colored Creole - Color Conflict and Confusion in New Orleans"! The operative word in the above mentioned literature is confusion! If you visit the various websites on "Creole" you will find an array of confusing opinions as to who is considered a real Creole. Opinions range from describing themselves as light skinned with French ancestry with a touch of Black and/or Native American blood. Some groups don't recognize their Black ancestry at all! Then there is a segment of professed Creoles, most of them extremely light skinned, don't consider themselves White, Black or Native American. They perceive themselves as a unique group all to their own. However, it appears that some exceptions are made when the opportunity to pass for White presents itself, especially, if it means taking advantage of privileges usually afforded only to White people.
Here in Southwest Louisiana members of "Creole Inc " added to the confusion surrounding the concept of Creole in their attempts to recruit from the Black community . They strongly advocated that some Black people are Creoles because of their distant White French ancestors. They further claimed, that all Creoles are not light skinned but there are many Creoles of darker hue. As a result of their mis-guided conclusions they robustly campaigned that Black people should value their whole history by embracing their White French ancestry as well.
Ironically, those Black individuals who promoted such a position could not have known the truth of their own Black history. If they were aware of their Black History, based on their behavior, one must surmise that they were too cowardly and/or too mis-educated to embrace it. For instance, in an attempt to positively connect Black people's history to the concept of Creole for greater acceptance, members of Creole Inc. repeatedly pointed out that there are Black Creoles in Haiti, Brazil and even South Africa. Yes, that is true! However, what is also true in each case, those who are considered Creoles are the lighter skinned Blacks who are the immediate or not so distant offspring of White European invaders, who were conceived under sexual exploitative circumstances as found in America. The lighter-skinned Black population of those countries are made to feel more valued or privileged than their Black skinned brothers and sisters. Like here, light-skinned Blacks are consciously labeled Creoles and Mulattoes to induce self-hatred against darker skin Black people and proliferate class divisions within the indigenous Black families to the delight of Caucasian exploiters.
This manifest truth became evident to some members of Creole Inc after a period of time when they observed that in their zeal to market "Creoleism" for Masa, some members of the Black community began to disassociate themselves from being Black all together. This alarmed a number of Black citizens in the community and prompted Creole Inc to remind the Black community that being Creole does not mean you give up on being Black! You just become a Black Creole, they exclaimed! That's like expecting a chicken to quack like a duck because they both lay eggs and belong to the family of fowls.
Nevertheless, some amongst us regarded an absurd and distorted cultural and historical connection with Caucasians to promulgate Cajun mania appealing for several reasons. The main reason was, the lure of an elusive financial windfall that supposedly would profit the Black community by being closely associated with the promotion of Cajun/Acadian. Some, saw it more as an opportunity to prove to Caucasian people that there are still some good "House Niggers" in the community that do not support the Un-cajun Committee's platform of Self-Determination.
Regardless, after more than 25 years later, the Black communities in Southwest Louisiana are politically, educationally, culturally, and economically worse off than before, with an added vicious escalating identity crisis. This identity crisis has shredded the views of many Black children to the point in which many think they live in Acadiana and see no value of nurturing a Black identity that denounces a Creole and/or Cajun connection.
In spite of millions of our tax dollars that are spent annually to promote Cajun/Acadiana , "Creole Inc" has been relegated to a defunct status as an organization with little or no funding. Certainly, they did not receive funding in the amount of millions as was allocated to promote Cajun/Acadiana under the advancement of the Francophone heritage. For instance, proponents of Cajun Mania has claimed over 250 cities and towns throughout Louisiana with a multi-million dollar annual budget, sustained with public funding to proliferate Cajun madness. This include multi-millions of tax dollars earmarked to transform downtown Lafayette into a Cajun cultural wonder land, specifically, to benefit a predominately Caucasian owned and controlled business community. Other targeted sites are also in the planned development. This massive real estate venture is associated with the 'I-10 corridor and the Ambassador Caffery Loop' around the city of Lafayette.
Approximately, over the same time period, Creole Inc. received less than $75,000 dollars of public funding that remained dormant due to the inability of the organization to operate autonomously from the controlling tentacles of the proponents of Cajun Mania. The funds were eventually returned for non-use. In brief, the sell out mis-educated Negroes representing Creole Inc. were hood-winked by their modern day slave masters at the collective expense of the Black community's vital interest. Perhaps, since the printing of my book 'Black I am Cajun/Creole I am NOT!', "Creole Inc." may receive an un-expected influx of funding to assist Caucasian people in helping to dumb down Black people. I am certain that it will become a priority for some Caucasians and their domesticated Negroes to oppress the sustenance of information in my book, to prevent the manifestation of its content from entering the hearts and minds of Black people.
Currently, White folks are in search of sell out Negroes to propagandize a token representation of the Black community's interest in the forthcoming multi-million dollar real estate development designed to glorified Cajun history and culture. At best, the culture and history of the indigenous Native Americans and Black people of African descendants will be pacified and minimized. Chances are any depiction of the historical and cultural contributions to Southwest Louisiana by any other group, other than Cajun people, will most likely be incomplete and falsely represented as a sub-group of Cajun Colonialism.
It is paramount to understand, that it is conducive and non-threatening to the psyche of most Caucasian people for Black people to promote themselves culturally and historically by any label except as, the original Black Man and Woman of the human family. One of the most stressful times for Caucasian people occurred during the latter 50's and 60's when Black people shouted out "I'm Black and Proud." The spirit of Black power was so intense and influential in getting Black people to accept themselves as Black and beautiful people from the continent called African, that it scared local Caucasians into resurrecting and cleaning up their historical slur reference of Cajun. As Black people proudly shouted, "I am Black and Proud", Caucasians began to seed the idea of being 'Cajun and Proud'.
In general, White people all over America were captivated with fear by our brief awakening! The wickedly wise Caucasian leaders knew then that if Black people every linked up their real history and culture with those words "I'm Black and Proud" the cumulative psychological effects would cause them to lose control over their voluntary mis-educated slaves. Still, today the allocation of some public funding are made more readily available to those so-called Black organizations and businesses in Southwest Louisiana, who demonstrate the willingness to succumb to sub-labels or sub-classes, created for us by Caucasians, to promote their businesses or organizations. To identify our talents, businesses and organizations under sub- labels such as minority, Acadiana, Creole, or Ragin Cajun, etc, only verifies the victory of our colonizers over us. It further negates the inherent values, which emanates from the accomplishments of talented Black individuals, organizations and businesses, to be conceptualized by future generations of Black children from an authentic Black and Afrikan perspective.
Finally, let me share a few words on this subject regarding the Lafayette Chapter of the 100 Black Men Organization, that is not so Black! How can you claim representation as a 100 Black men organization when chapter members went out and recruited two Caucasians. To be more politically correct, perhaps the Lafayette chapter of the 100 Black Men needs to consider renaming itself "100 Black Men Plus Two." Intuitively, what is more interesting to explore at this juncture, are the possible reasons why Caucasians were recruited in the first place! Is it because White men are needed to legitimize the organization and its Black membership? Is this a political strategy to convince Caucasian people that members of the organization still love them even though they call themselves 100 Black Men? Does the organization feel that a firm and honest defense of the ideals of why the 100 Black Men Organization was created in the first place would appear to be inappropriate or racist? Does the organization believe acting Black is proving to White people they are not a threat to the status quo? Did the Caucasians come camouflaged as a Black men and the organization was tricked? By recruiting Caucasians, is the intent to be understood as "A public service message of universal love" in which the Lafayette Chapter of the 100 Black Men Organization is the latest and greatest tool to facilitate the failed concept of integration in the name of a White Jesus? Why would Caucasians feel the need to join an organization called The 100 Black Men? Are the cultural, economic and overall philosophical views of the 100 Black Men Organization, the same as Creole INC.? I don't know what the answer is! I am merely asking questions. Maybe it is not as difficult as all that! Perhaps, it is as simple as it appears. The Lafayette Chapter of the 100 Black Men Organization, as a group, does not have the strength of character or vision to stand firm on principle issues advocating Black values.
There are some members of the 100 Black Men who are good brothers, and I genuinely consider them my friends. Because, they know better yet go along with this madness, they become guilty collectively as an organization. A number of them belong to Creole INC as well! Therefore, if a man is observed daily, standing on the corner with "Crack Heads" and all seem to be happy and well, then that man negates his rights to be upset, if he too is assumed to be a Crack Head! Unless, his presence on the corner brings about reform of the crack users, he has no legitimate argument for being there in the first place, much less get upset about the perception he has created for himself.
Brothers and Sisters, how can a Black person not represent confusion if he is a member of the 100 Black Men Organization and a member of "Creole Inc.", which seemingly espouse simultaneously incompatible ideals. How can one represent the ideal goals and objectives of the 100 Black Men Organization, as stated in their charter, and devalue the essence of their Blackness under the concept of Creoleism, which reduces Black people to a sub-class, second class citizens, or a freak of nature. This cultural identity paradox can only stem from a voluntary self-imposed slavish mentality rooted in fear and mis-education, illuminating the highest level of artistic expression of self-hatred.
When all is said and done the Black Man and Woman are the Alpha and the Omega! The Beginning and the End! Black people are the Mothers and Fathers of the entire human family. That includes White people too! We are not from them! They are from us! Their own genetic scholars can't deny that fact today.
If Creole INC. and/or members of the 100 Black Men Plus Two, would research that fact along, perhaps their perspectives would be different. I suggest reading the books Message to the Black Man and The Theology of Time by The Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad, for answers and clarity on the origin, purpose, and maker of the Caucasian Race. It would be wise to take heed to the instructive voice of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam. Also, try reading the little paperback book, Making of The Whiteman by Paul Lawrence Guthrie. I encourage both organizations to at least attempt to avail themselves to the studies and works of other noteworthy Black Scholars and lecturers such as Dr. Yosef ben-Jochannan, Dr. Imari A. Obadele, Brother Anthony T. Brower, Brother James Turner, Dr. Ivan Van Sertima, Dr. Amos Wilson, Brother Tariq Nasheed, Dr. Na'im Akbar, Rev. Dr. Ishakamusa Barashango, Brother A.J. Rogers, Dr. Umar Johnson, Dr. Frances Cress Welsing, Brother Irritated Genie, Dr. Claude Anderson , Dr. Neely Fuller, Dr. Wade Noble, Brother Attorney Chokwe Lumumba, Dr. Cheike Anta Diop, Dr. Booker T. Coleman, Sister Shahrazad Ali, Dr. Wesley Muhammad, Brother Chancellor William, and Dr. Henry Clark just to name a few.
People of color represent 89% of the world population! It is the Europeans/Caucasians who are the real minorities with only 11%. Caucasians divided us into sub groups all over the world to hide this truth. Make no-mistake, regardless of the wide range of skin colors in the family of Black people from a dazzling sunrise yellow to a sweet midnight Blackness, our history and culture flows from the original Black Man and Woman!
Black I am - Cajun and Creole I am NOT! "It is time to Rise Again Black Man, Woman, and Child and reclaim our original Greatness!"
Cajun, It Just Ain't Us!
By Takuna Maulana EL Shabazz
At the peak of the resistance movement and fight for self- determination by the Uncajun Committee, a group of mis-educated, fearful, and opportunistic sell-out negroes formed Creole INC. The organization consisted mainly of business men and women, a variety of highly skilled Black professionals and so-called spiritual leaders, that advocated and proudly embraced the concept that a segment of Black people in Southwest Louisiana are Creoles. They ignorantly held in high esteem a perceived kinship with the children of the former White slave masters of their foremothers and fathers of French ancestry. To publicly solidify their perception of a worthy kinship with French Caucasian people, they collaborated with Caucasian exploiters of the Black community to make and then erect a so-called Creole flag in front of City Hall.
Most of these same Negros are unaware of their own history and are too afraid of White people to acknowledge the Red, Black & Green Liberation Flag given to us by the Honorable Marcus Garvey. Needless say, they would devalue any research regarding the work of Marcus Garvey, much less embrace the tremendous contributions and impact his movement for self-determination had on Blacks in Louisiana, Haiti, Caribbean Islands and the family of Black people throughout the Afrikan Diaspora. I suspect most of them could not be at ease acknowledging the Black Liberation Flag in the presence of Caucasians, even if it was hidden away in their back pocket ! Certainly, most members of Creole INC could not possibly conceive of embracing the Crescent -The Sun- Moon - and Star, the real universal flag of the original Black Man and Woman.
In addition, some members of Creole Inc. frequently and contradictorily, make references to the Black Haitian warrior Toussaint L'Ouverture with high esteem when advocating for Creoleism. Toussaint L'Ouverture was a self-taught Haitian slave who successfully led the Black slave insurrections of 1802 against the French in the Caribbean islands. The Haitian Revolt was so successful that it forced the French to sell territory to America, what is now known as the Louisiana Purchase.
Brother Toussaint was not interested in integrating with his French oppressors, nor was Toussaint L'Ouverture leading his people to seek some symbolic historic commonalities with the French oppressors to pacify a political agenda! Toussaint's army with strong warriors like Jean-Jacques Dessalines, fought against and successfully defeated an 18,000 to 20,000 strong French army for self-determination. When Napoleon sent in additional military forces to recapture Haiti, they were defeated as well. So, how then does Toussaint L'Ouverture become the celebrated icon for Creoleism? The Haitian Revolution, led by Toussaint L'Ouverture, actually represents for Black people throughout the Afrikan diasporas, a historic victory for self- determination, self-reliance and Black self governance. Historically, the Haitian Revolt marked the only successful revolt, by kidnapped Black Afrikans, for independence over their European oppressors. The one time Toussaint trusted the French leader, Napoleon Bonaparte, it cost him his life. After Haiti won its' independence from the French, Toussaint agreed to meet with Napoleon to discuss details of their agreement but was trick and captured. Napoleon ordered that Toussaint be put in prison where he was murdered by way of starvation and mistreatment. At that point Jean-Jacques Dessalines stepped in as commander and completed the quest for Haiti's independence from the French.
The notion that so-called educated Black individuals can think that there are cultural and historical parities worth embracing, between the children of former enslaved colonized Blacks and the children of the former White French slave colonizers, at the expense of denying or rejecting their own rich Black culture, is a gross mis-use of brain matter. Note, one group represents the children of enslaved victims who were robbed thoroughly of the knowledge of self, beaten, raped, and killed and the other group portrays the children of the victimizers who benefited from it.
Nonetheless, Creole Inc. chose to hold hands with the proponents of Cajun Mania, the open enemies of Black people in Southwest Louisiana, at the height of their cultural genocidal plot against the Black community. Their primary rationale seemed to be rooted in improving their status as house Niggers. They hypocritically presented themselves as the positive alternative to the actions and principled position of self-determination by the Uncajun Committee.
In other words, these sell out, scared to death Negroes met in secret with White power brokers, who were feeling the sting of the Uncajun Committee, and sold out the collective interest of the Black Community on the promise of trickled down economics from the promotion of Cajun/Acadian, that supposedly would benefit all. At least that's the popular propaganda they used to sell some Black people on being Creoles.
However, closer observation would reveal that it was more about taking the path of least resistance, to further personal economic and political gains of a few, while simultaneously quelling the thirst for self-determination among the masses. Many so called high profile Black figures, such as impotent politicians, spiritually bankrupted church leaders, and tap dancing Chicken George wannabe Negroes, were often publicly show cased on television, radio, and print media, to propagandize the acceptance of Creole among Black people. On many occasions members or supporters of Creole INC have passionately expressed to me , that Black people should not be upset with White people for promoting Cajun/Acadian. They said, "Let's take a proactive position and promote our Creole Cultural and be in a position to receive some of the state and federal dollars from the promotion of tourism." Another popular euphemism frequently use to hide their deceitful intent was," It's not what people call you that matters. It is what you answer to!" On occasion, this particular remark enraged me to the point where my response was often sharp and bitter. I would reply, "Shut up scared Negro! You will answer to any name White people chose to call you, if for no other reason to make them feel safe. Your slave mentality is motivated by a need to convince White people you don't think of yourself as being Black and Worthy! "
To suggest and then actively promote the concept of "Creole" as a viable cultural and historical template that accurately identifies and describes the best of cultural and historical values of the majority of Black people in Southwest Louisiana is cultural and historical butchery. It is laughable to hear some of these mis-educated Negroes talk about being "Creoles" as though they are decedents of a blessed experience from Creole heaven. The term Creole at its root meaning implies mixture of something. The obvious question is mixture of what and whom! Specifically, in Black communities in South Louisiana, the term Creole historically applied to some foods, a so-called broken French language and light skinned Blacks who rejected their kinship to darker skinned Black people.
In New Orleans, before Katrina, the term "Creole" was shunned by most darker skin Blacks in the indigenous poorer Black communities largely, because many felt that they were being rejected and oppressed by a system of government that was run mostly by "Creoles" and their beloved White French ancestors. I lived in New Orleans for five years in the late 80's early 90s. The negative perceptions about the concept "Creole" among many residents located in economically stressed Black communities were glaring. If you were Black and poor it was not uncommon to hear the assertion, "Unless you are White or Creole and dam near White, a Black skin brother or sister can't get equal treated in this system".
Currently, in Lafayette, Louisiana, and some surrounding parishes, pockets of so-called Mulattoes and Creoles have separate communities based on light skin color. Although it's not openly spoken of as in recent past, the brown paper bag test still has value in some of those communities for acceptance. For those readers not from the South, the brown paper bag test refers to the skin color one could not exceed to be acceptable within that community.
Let me reiterate my remarks from chapter two. At best, "Creole" represents a sub label or second class citizenship status that resulted from the outgrowth of a repressive European French Colonial experience. In particularly, in the southern states of America the term Creole was used mainly to identify the offspring of repressive White slave owners of French ancestry who systematically engaged in sexual exploits and the raping of innocent enslaved Black Women and young Black girls.
To enhance your understanding of "Creole life" in New Orleans from a grassroots and real perspective, I strongly suggest you purchase the little paperback book written by Aline St. Julien, titled "Colored Creole - Color Conflict and Confusion in New Orleans"! The operative word in the above mentioned literature is confusion! If you visit the various websites on "Creole" you will find an array of confusing opinions as to who is considered a real Creole. Opinions range from describing themselves as light skinned with French ancestry with a touch of Black and/or Native American blood. Some groups don't recognize their Black ancestry at all! Then there is a segment of professed Creoles, most of them extremely light skinned, don't consider themselves White, Black or Native American. They perceive themselves as a unique group all to their own. However, it appears that some exceptions are made when the opportunity to pass for White presents itself, especially, if it means taking advantage of privileges usually afforded only to White people.
Here in Southwest Louisiana members of "Creole Inc " added to the confusion surrounding the concept of Creole in their attempts to recruit from the Black community . They strongly advocated that some Black people are Creoles because of their distant White French ancestors. They further claimed, that all Creoles are not light skinned but there are many Creoles of darker hue. As a result of their mis-guided conclusions they robustly campaigned that Black people should value their whole history by embracing their White French ancestry as well.
Ironically, those Black individuals who promoted such a position could not have known the truth of their own Black history. If they were aware of their Black History, based on their behavior, one must surmise that they were too cowardly and/or too mis-educated to embrace it. For instance, in an attempt to positively connect Black people's history to the concept of Creole for greater acceptance, members of Creole Inc. repeatedly pointed out that there are Black Creoles in Haiti, Brazil and even South Africa. Yes, that is true! However, what is also true in each case, those who are considered Creoles are the lighter skinned Blacks who are the immediate or not so distant offspring of White European invaders, who were conceived under sexual exploitative circumstances as found in America. The lighter-skinned Black population of those countries are made to feel more valued or privileged than their Black skinned brothers and sisters. Like here, light-skinned Blacks are consciously labeled Creoles and Mulattoes to induce self-hatred against darker skin Black people and proliferate class divisions within the indigenous Black families to the delight of Caucasian exploiters.
This manifest truth became evident to some members of Creole Inc after a period of time when they observed that in their zeal to market "Creoleism" for Masa, some members of the Black community began to disassociate themselves from being Black all together. This alarmed a number of Black citizens in the community and prompted Creole Inc to remind the Black community that being Creole does not mean you give up on being Black! You just become a Black Creole, they exclaimed! That's like expecting a chicken to quack like a duck because they both lay eggs and belong to the family of fowls.
Nevertheless, some amongst us regarded an absurd and distorted cultural and historical connection with Caucasians to promulgate Cajun mania appealing for several reasons. The main reason was, the lure of an elusive financial windfall that supposedly would profit the Black community by being closely associated with the promotion of Cajun/Acadian. Some, saw it more as an opportunity to prove to Caucasian people that there are still some good "House Niggers" in the community that do not support the Un-cajun Committee's platform of Self-Determination.
Regardless, after more than 25 years later, the Black communities in Southwest Louisiana are politically, educationally, culturally, and economically worse off than before, with an added vicious escalating identity crisis. This identity crisis has shredded the views of many Black children to the point in which many think they live in Acadiana and see no value of nurturing a Black identity that denounces a Creole and/or Cajun connection.
In spite of millions of our tax dollars that are spent annually to promote Cajun/Acadiana , "Creole Inc" has been relegated to a defunct status as an organization with little or no funding. Certainly, they did not receive funding in the amount of millions as was allocated to promote Cajun/Acadiana under the advancement of the Francophone heritage. For instance, proponents of Cajun Mania has claimed over 250 cities and towns throughout Louisiana with a multi-million dollar annual budget, sustained with public funding to proliferate Cajun madness. This include multi-millions of tax dollars earmarked to transform downtown Lafayette into a Cajun cultural wonder land, specifically, to benefit a predominately Caucasian owned and controlled business community. Other targeted sites are also in the planned development. This massive real estate venture is associated with the 'I-10 corridor and the Ambassador Caffery Loop' around the city of Lafayette.
Approximately, over the same time period, Creole Inc. received less than $75,000 dollars of public funding that remained dormant due to the inability of the organization to operate autonomously from the controlling tentacles of the proponents of Cajun Mania. The funds were eventually returned for non-use. In brief, the sell out mis-educated Negroes representing Creole Inc. were hood-winked by their modern day slave masters at the collective expense of the Black community's vital interest. Perhaps, since the printing of my book 'Black I am Cajun/Creole I am NOT!', "Creole Inc." may receive an un-expected influx of funding to assist Caucasian people in helping to dumb down Black people. I am certain that it will become a priority for some Caucasians and their domesticated Negroes to oppress the sustenance of information in my book, to prevent the manifestation of its content from entering the hearts and minds of Black people.
Currently, White folks are in search of sell out Negroes to propagandize a token representation of the Black community's interest in the forthcoming multi-million dollar real estate development designed to glorified Cajun history and culture. At best, the culture and history of the indigenous Native Americans and Black people of African descendants will be pacified and minimized. Chances are any depiction of the historical and cultural contributions to Southwest Louisiana by any other group, other than Cajun people, will most likely be incomplete and falsely represented as a sub-group of Cajun Colonialism.
It is paramount to understand, that it is conducive and non-threatening to the psyche of most Caucasian people for Black people to promote themselves culturally and historically by any label except as, the original Black Man and Woman of the human family. One of the most stressful times for Caucasian people occurred during the latter 50's and 60's when Black people shouted out "I'm Black and Proud." The spirit of Black power was so intense and influential in getting Black people to accept themselves as Black and beautiful people from the continent called African, that it scared local Caucasians into resurrecting and cleaning up their historical slur reference of Cajun. As Black people proudly shouted, "I am Black and Proud", Caucasians began to seed the idea of being 'Cajun and Proud'.
In general, White people all over America were captivated with fear by our brief awakening! The wickedly wise Caucasian leaders knew then that if Black people every linked up their real history and culture with those words "I'm Black and Proud" the cumulative psychological effects would cause them to lose control over their voluntary mis-educated slaves. Still, today the allocation of some public funding are made more readily available to those so-called Black organizations and businesses in Southwest Louisiana, who demonstrate the willingness to succumb to sub-labels or sub-classes, created for us by Caucasians, to promote their businesses or organizations. To identify our talents, businesses and organizations under sub- labels such as minority, Acadiana, Creole, or Ragin Cajun, etc, only verifies the victory of our colonizers over us. It further negates the inherent values, which emanates from the accomplishments of talented Black individuals, organizations and businesses, to be conceptualized by future generations of Black children from an authentic Black and Afrikan perspective.
Finally, let me share a few words on this subject regarding the Lafayette Chapter of the 100 Black Men Organization, that is not so Black! How can you claim representation as a 100 Black men organization when chapter members went out and recruited two Caucasians. To be more politically correct, perhaps the Lafayette chapter of the 100 Black Men needs to consider renaming itself "100 Black Men Plus Two." Intuitively, what is more interesting to explore at this juncture, are the possible reasons why Caucasians were recruited in the first place! Is it because White men are needed to legitimize the organization and its Black membership? Is this a political strategy to convince Caucasian people that members of the organization still love them even though they call themselves 100 Black Men? Does the organization feel that a firm and honest defense of the ideals of why the 100 Black Men Organization was created in the first place would appear to be inappropriate or racist? Does the organization believe acting Black is proving to White people they are not a threat to the status quo? Did the Caucasians come camouflaged as a Black men and the organization was tricked? By recruiting Caucasians, is the intent to be understood as "A public service message of universal love" in which the Lafayette Chapter of the 100 Black Men Organization is the latest and greatest tool to facilitate the failed concept of integration in the name of a White Jesus? Why would Caucasians feel the need to join an organization called The 100 Black Men? Are the cultural, economic and overall philosophical views of the 100 Black Men Organization, the same as Creole INC.? I don't know what the answer is! I am merely asking questions. Maybe it is not as difficult as all that! Perhaps, it is as simple as it appears. The Lafayette Chapter of the 100 Black Men Organization, as a group, does not have the strength of character or vision to stand firm on principle issues advocating Black values.
There are some members of the 100 Black Men who are good brothers, and I genuinely consider them my friends. Because, they know better yet go along with this madness, they become guilty collectively as an organization. A number of them belong to Creole INC as well! Therefore, if a man is observed daily, standing on the corner with "Crack Heads" and all seem to be happy and well, then that man negates his rights to be upset, if he too is assumed to be a Crack Head! Unless, his presence on the corner brings about reform of the crack users, he has no legitimate argument for being there in the first place, much less get upset about the perception he has created for himself.
Brothers and Sisters, how can a Black person not represent confusion if he is a member of the 100 Black Men Organization and a member of "Creole Inc.", which seemingly espouse simultaneously incompatible ideals. How can one represent the ideal goals and objectives of the 100 Black Men Organization, as stated in their charter, and devalue the essence of their Blackness under the concept of Creoleism, which reduces Black people to a sub-class, second class citizens, or a freak of nature. This cultural identity paradox can only stem from a voluntary self-imposed slavish mentality rooted in fear and mis-education, illuminating the highest level of artistic expression of self-hatred.
When all is said and done the Black Man and Woman are the Alpha and the Omega! The Beginning and the End! Black people are the Mothers and Fathers of the entire human family. That includes White people too! We are not from them! They are from us! Their own genetic scholars can't deny that fact today.
If Creole INC. and/or members of the 100 Black Men Plus Two, would research that fact along, perhaps their perspectives would be different. I suggest reading the books Message to the Black Man and The Theology of Time by The Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad, for answers and clarity on the origin, purpose, and maker of the Caucasian Race. It would be wise to take heed to the instructive voice of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam. Also, try reading the little paperback book, Making of The Whiteman by Paul Lawrence Guthrie. I encourage both organizations to at least attempt to avail themselves to the studies and works of other noteworthy Black Scholars and lecturers such as Dr. Yosef ben-Jochannan, Dr. Imari A. Obadele, Brother Anthony T. Brower, Brother James Turner, Dr. Ivan Van Sertima, Dr. Amos Wilson, Brother Tariq Nasheed, Dr. Na'im Akbar, Rev. Dr. Ishakamusa Barashango, Brother A.J. Rogers, Dr. Umar Johnson, Dr. Frances Cress Welsing, Brother Irritated Genie, Dr. Claude Anderson , Dr. Neely Fuller, Dr. Wade Noble, Brother Attorney Chokwe Lumumba, Dr. Cheike Anta Diop, Dr. Booker T. Coleman, Sister Shahrazad Ali, Dr. Wesley Muhammad, Brother Chancellor William, and Dr. Henry Clark just to name a few.
People of color represent 89% of the world population! It is the Europeans/Caucasians who are the real minorities with only 11%. Caucasians divided us into sub groups all over the world to hide this truth. Make no-mistake, regardless of the wide range of skin colors in the family of Black people from a dazzling sunrise yellow to a sweet midnight Blackness, our history and culture flows from the original Black Man and Woman!
Black I am - Cajun and Creole I am NOT! "It is time to Rise Again Black Man, Woman, and Child and reclaim our original Greatness!"
Cajun, It Just Ain't Us!