Collective Geinus: The Naming Project

By Richard Willis

I ask two things of you: First, please consider this definition of 'black people'...

We are...

The race of people originated from Africa, the culmination of features, ancestry, experiences, culture and thought primarily originated from Africa and expressed throughout the world. A people characterized primarily by skin rich and deep in tone, with varying shades of browns, reds and tans. A people whose hair is naturally curly like wool. A people who have noses that can be broad or narrow, lips that can be very full, tall or short stature, along with diverse and unique physical characteristics.

From the Continental Root of Africa, this race branches out and is comprised of the full spectrum of color, hair, history and ancestry, bodies and inner beauty, experiences, thought, creativity, pain and potential, everything mentioned and unmentioned that encompasses this beautiful people.

The second thing I ask of you the reader, is this: Do the current names and labels used to describe 'black people' line up with the above definition? What if there was more? What if there could be more? I encourage you to join with me in not just reading a book, but embarking on a journey that has implications for society and more!

Collective Genius: The Naming Project by Richard A. Willis

• Language: English
• Publisher: Richard Willis
• Release date: Sep 27, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310449383

Book preview

Introduction

While we as Black people are deciding whether or not to call ourselves Black, African-American, Negro or nigga, one point seems to always escape us: those names and labels were given to us by someone else...

The labels used to describe us aren’t accurate in the true sense of color, and have many negative symbols attached to them.

What if we decided to come up with our own original names, definitions, labels and terms to describe our race? What would they be? What would they look like, sound like? How would we do it? How would others see us - and most importantly - how would we see ourselves?

If you think about the amazing history of all of us descended from Africa, and all of the amazing historical figures, writers, artists, scientists, academics and individuals from Douglas to MLK, from Malcolm to Maya, From Barack to Tubman, is ‘nigga’ really the best we can do? Is ‘Black’ even the best we can do? No.

In this book I’ll discuss issues surrounding the racial labels we use, and where we as a people can move forward. The issues surrounding race and ethnic labels will be dissected, including how labels used to describe people groups and races, the psychological underpinnings of such labels and the symbolism attached to those same labels.

I strongly believe that our collective genius is enough to examine how we look at ourselves and fundamentally change the language we use to describe ourselves! We can