On the outside chance you are not familiar with Bayard Rustin, or just a reminder to revisit, it would be good to mention his vocal opposition to the start of Black Studies programs. Of course, that followed from his criticisms of the Black Power movement betraying MLK's vision and while he never used the term "identity politics" which wasn't coined until 1973 by Todd Gitlin, he was expressing the same concerns that Gitlin raised later and created the term.
Rustin has been erased from history as his views did not follow the party line, still don't follow the party line, and he was dismissed as a neocon. There is no way to talk about him without revisiting his views on the betrayal of King.
Love the term "scholars of resentment" which appears to be an ever expanding field with specialties multiplying.
Thanks for your insightful comment. I should revisit Bayard Rustin. I am not an expert on Rustin but your recollection accords with my faint memory. No one should be erased from history due to non-conformity or dissident views. Like how is that honest history? History is organic and messy and nuanced and complex. As you already know, I take a dim view of the party line. It is striking to me how colonial forces of Black Studies displaced Black History lived by many authentic, genuine and real people.
Those who cry out for decolonialization might best start with the colonization of Black History by Black Studies. And thanks for loving the term "scholars of resentment." If the shoe fits....
I heard they may be making a movie about Rustin and will be interesting to see how they portray him, especially what gets left out. Next to Abernathy, he was King's closest advisor and I think the one most invested in keeping his vision alive which was far more inclusive than what happened afterwards. His 6 principles of non violence disappeared quickly and I think if presented today in such a way that they are not recognized as coming from King would be rejected by most self anointed activists.
He does great histories on the kind of people you were talking about. Don't know how far you can go back in the archives if not a subscriber. Would be worth paying for a month to access them. Pretty inspiring individuals for whom safe spaces and microaggresions were not a concern.
Those were the good old days before the full colonization commenced. I don't believe I ever took a black studies class in the early 1980s. I took a class on Southern History, Black American history and maybe Civil Rights Law but never a "Black Studies" class per se. To be honest, I learned more history through self-study and self-learning. Thanks for your comment.
Thanks for the heads up about the Rustin movie. What producers and directors and screen play directors may downplay is the power of authentic and profound depth. When one shadow bans inconvenient parts of an individual, one weakens the rich depth of a person's story. And that's where the authentic connection with the audience resides. Cardboard dimensions of epic figures are regrettable. Party line narratives don't make us feel the real Rustin as much as we could.
Maybe, the movie will blast through dogmas and slogan words. That would be nice to view Rustin as he understood himself.
On the outside chance you are not familiar with Bayard Rustin, or just a reminder to revisit, it would be good to mention his vocal opposition to the start of Black Studies programs. Of course, that followed from his criticisms of the Black Power movement betraying MLK's vision and while he never used the term "identity politics" which wasn't coined until 1973 by Todd Gitlin, he was expressing the same concerns that Gitlin raised later and created the term.
Rustin has been erased from history as his views did not follow the party line, still don't follow the party line, and he was dismissed as a neocon. There is no way to talk about him without revisiting his views on the betrayal of King.
Love the term "scholars of resentment" which appears to be an ever expanding field with specialties multiplying.
Thanks for your insightful comment. I should revisit Bayard Rustin. I am not an expert on Rustin but your recollection accords with my faint memory. No one should be erased from history due to non-conformity or dissident views. Like how is that honest history? History is organic and messy and nuanced and complex. As you already know, I take a dim view of the party line. It is striking to me how colonial forces of Black Studies displaced Black History lived by many authentic, genuine and real people.
Those who cry out for decolonialization might best start with the colonization of Black History by Black Studies. And thanks for loving the term "scholars of resentment." If the shoe fits....
I heard they may be making a movie about Rustin and will be interesting to see how they portray him, especially what gets left out. Next to Abernathy, he was King's closest advisor and I think the one most invested in keeping his vision alive which was far more inclusive than what happened afterwards. His 6 principles of non violence disappeared quickly and I think if presented today in such a way that they are not recognized as coming from King would be rejected by most self anointed activists.
He does great histories on the kind of people you were talking about. Don't know how far you can go back in the archives if not a subscriber. Would be worth paying for a month to access them. Pretty inspiring individuals for whom safe spaces and microaggresions were not a concern.
.https://substack.com/home/post/p-162941276?source=queue
I agree, though admittedly, way back in the early 80’s, I did learn quite a lot of history in black studies.
Those were the good old days before the full colonization commenced. I don't believe I ever took a black studies class in the early 1980s. I took a class on Southern History, Black American history and maybe Civil Rights Law but never a "Black Studies" class per se. To be honest, I learned more history through self-study and self-learning. Thanks for your comment.
Thanks for the heads up about the Rustin movie. What producers and directors and screen play directors may downplay is the power of authentic and profound depth. When one shadow bans inconvenient parts of an individual, one weakens the rich depth of a person's story. And that's where the authentic connection with the audience resides. Cardboard dimensions of epic figures are regrettable. Party line narratives don't make us feel the real Rustin as much as we could.
Maybe, the movie will blast through dogmas and slogan words. That would be nice to view Rustin as he understood himself.
Great hat, Winkfield!