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A review by axmed
Rock My Soul: Black People and Self-Esteem by bell hooks
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
"Imagine how differently our lives would be as black folks if from the time we were first born we were taught to cultivate self-esteem as the foundation for success, as the first step on the path toward fulfillment, toward living a joyous life."
[...]
A radical recommitment to a love ethic is needed in diverse black communities, the return to living consciously and living purposefully that creates and sustains self-esteem.
[...]
In fact, as black people with healthy self-esteem, we often find we are more assaulted by racist attacks because we are not fitting the negative stereotypes that many white people know and feel comfortable with when engaging a black person who does not embody their version of black identity.
Often black people with self-esteem are told by unenlightened whites, even some individuals who are liberal, friendly, that we are not “really black.” Telling us this, they do not see themselves as expressing racism; they feel they are offering us a special place. They want to seduce us away from loving blackness because this in fact resubordinates.
In a subtle, covert manner they attack our self-esteem because its very existence eliminates white supremacist domination.
Let’s face it. If all black people were able to cultivate healthy self-esteem, even though institutionalized racism might continue to exist, white supremacist domination would no longer have a place in our psyches or in our intimate lives.
[...]
A radical recommitment to a love ethic is needed in diverse black communities, the return to living consciously and living purposefully that creates and sustains self-esteem.
[...]
In fact, as black people with healthy self-esteem, we often find we are more assaulted by racist attacks because we are not fitting the negative stereotypes that many white people know and feel comfortable with when engaging a black person who does not embody their version of black identity.
Often black people with self-esteem are told by unenlightened whites, even some individuals who are liberal, friendly, that we are not “really black.” Telling us this, they do not see themselves as expressing racism; they feel they are offering us a special place. They want to seduce us away from loving blackness because this in fact resubordinates.
In a subtle, covert manner they attack our self-esteem because its very existence eliminates white supremacist domination.
Let’s face it. If all black people were able to cultivate healthy self-esteem, even though institutionalized racism might continue to exist, white supremacist domination would no longer have a place in our psyches or in our intimate lives.