The Latest Face of The Exceptional Nigger

WEBDuboisQuoteAdd “Standing While Black” to the list of offenses which are apparently criminal acts when committed by black folks.  James Blake found that out recently.

I’ve said it before here, and I’ll say it again:

“If you’re a person of color in America, especially a highly educated and/or acomplished Black person, your exceptionalism does not exempt you from racial profiling, blatant racism and the subtle (and not so subtle) psychological stress of systemic oppression. Your exceptionalism is inconsequential to your one, immediately defining physical characteristic—your blackness.”

That is the classic Exceptional Nigger.  We are frequently reminded that America views us still as Niggers, despite our JDs, Phds, Ed.Ds, MDs, MAs, MBAs, MSs, and the plethora of other elite pedigree calling cards that open doors and provide entree into our respective communities’ inner circles, to mix it up in the “right” social circles and to hold sway with elected officials and to enjoy some modicum of influence with the “powers that be”.

But lest we get too comfortable, and think that the “collective we”, by virtue of our pedigrees and positions, are exempt from the fate of the likes of less influential black folks like John Crawford, Eric Garner, Mike Brown, and Freddie Gray, the “system”, that complex machinery that churns independent of, or in concert with, active racists (depending on the circumstances) comes bearing down on us with its massive oppressive weight, and reminds us that we, especially those of us who society deems “exceptional” are still, nonetheless, just Niggers in the eyes of the state.

So deeply ingrained is our status as NIggers, that a white man accused of the cold-blooded massacre of nine people who welcomed him into their bible study could be arrested peacefully, and the white man who convinced millions of people that Subway could aid us in our weight loss efforts, all the while allegedly molesting children, could merit a knock on his door in order to be arrested, while a Harvard-educated tennis star ranked #4 in the world at one time, could be violently tackled and taken down by not one, not two, but four New York police officers, all for the suspicion of having purchased a cell phone with a stolen credit card, while standing outside his swanky New York hotel.

But, Exceptional Nigger status has its perks over just being a nigger.  You see rarely will the “system” acknowledge that it called us out as a Nigger.  Rarely will it validate our state-induced psychic trauma with as much as a “we’re sorry” or “we messed up”.  Instead, it criminalizes the victims of its oppression.  We’ve seen this.  We know what this looks like.

But, James Blake is an Exceptional Nigger, so the NYPD Commissioner is trying to apologize to Mr. Blake.  He even placed the first officer who charged Blake on a “modified assignment”, removing his badge and gun while Internal Affairs investigates.  Blake’s money, pedigree, and celebrity status are the perfect trifecta for the illusion that justice will be served.

That’s certainly more than Mike Brown or John Crawford got.  Usually, police officers make money off their state-sanctioned abuse of unarmed black folks.  Donations to GoFundMe accounts overflow in support of the police, while those in charge clear officers of any wrongdoing.

But here’s what the “system” grossly misunderstands.  Exceptional Niggers won’t be bought, compromised or placated by illusory efforts at making amends.  We know that for every one of us, there’s dozens of others for whom no justice is forthcoming; not even illusory justice.

Instead, we’ll use our “Exceptional” status to shine a light in dark places and demand changes.  We didn’t acquire “exceptionalism” by being docile.  And we won’t allow it to be used for the manipulative purpose of silencing us.

 

Thanks to IZ Quotes for the graphic.

2 thoughts on “The Latest Face of The Exceptional Nigger

  1. Adrian O`Neal

    Great post! It’s definitely harrowing to think that if Blake was Eric Garner, he might have been killed and his death covered up. Glad his being exceptional is going to cause the NYPD to look silly. It is clear that regardless of your success, your blackness is still a hindrance in the eyes of some people.

    1. Ten Speaks Post author

      Exactly! Being black equals automatic “guilty” in this country. In that regard, black people are always considered “armed and dangerous’ just by virtue of our skin color.

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