21 Rules of Blackness

By Jason Clue and Sophia Nicole

This book is a roadmap for the African diaspora to navigate their way through a society in which they appear as a visible minority. It provides a set of rules that if followed correctly, will not only improve life within that society, but also reinforce relationships between black brothers and sisters.
These rules underpin the values that we have always strived to achieve, yet we sometimes forget to exemplify. We’ve all heard of the term getting on code; this book provides the codes which we need to move forward as a people.
The reader is challenged to do better simply because they know better. Just like any exercise, it is the stamina and continued effort that produces the greatest results. By exercising these twenty-one rules consistently, the reader will gain an internal strength and fortitude that will resonate with whomever they meet.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Nov 24, 2020
• ISBN: 9781665582308

Jason Clue

Born Howard Courtney Williams, son of Jamaican immigrants, Captain Howard grew up in Harlem, New York. His love of nature was nurtured through his decade-long association with the Boy Scouts of America. As his suburban and rural outdoor activities increased his observance and understanding of nature became as important to him as surviving life as a city dweller. When Captain Howard could not leave for the suburbs he regularly fished the local waters throughout all five boroughs of New York City, including the rivers surrounding Manhattan Island. He spent long hours in the large parks, such as Edgecombe Park in Washington Heights and Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx. He walked the trails and observed the abundant wildlife that most city dwellers never knew existed in their own backyards. Captain Howard was a New York City union plasterer and drywall finisher for over thirty years before becoming a commodity options pit trader at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. He was also an independent tractor-trailer driver for many years. Later, he became an independent charter fishing boat captain before retiring in south Florida. Captain Howard’s diverse work background and hobbies add flavor to his works, which include more than one hundred poems and short stories, seven children’s books, and two novels. He now spends most of his time on the water fishing and relaxing, and writing stories to entertain his grandchildren, great grandchildren, and any other little souls who happen upon his books.

Book preview

© 2020 Jason Clue & Sophia Nicole. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or

transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse  11/24/2020

ISBN: 978-1-6655-8231-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6655-8230-8 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or

links contained in this book may have changed since publication and

may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those

of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher,

and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

1. Know your worth

Description

The Computer Scientist

The Tailor

Summary

2. Don’t force yourself on people

Description

The Bouncer

The Little Black Boy

The State of Oregon

Summary

3. Never underestimate yourself

Description

Gannibal, the African

The Movie Script

Summary

4. Build on your physical advantages

Description

The Gym Buff

The Track Star

Summary

5. Don’t be a victim

Description

The Defeatist

The Chef

Summary

6. Eat foods intended for melanin rich people

Description

The Aunt and Uncle

The Island Man

Summary

7. Acknowledge your connection to Africa

Description

The Big Show

The Africa Advocate

Summary

8. Don’t sit on the fence

Description

The Athletes

The Protest

Summary

9. Never change teams

Description

The Flip-flopper

The New Neighbourhood

Summary

10. Always celebrate our successes

Description

The Rapper

The Man and His New Car

The Hammer

Summary

11. Never speak negatively of black people in front of non-black people

Description

The Fever

The Timekeeper

Summary

12. Choose the right partner

Description

The Chocolate-Vanilla Swirl

The Three-Piece Suit

The Clubber

Summary

13. Be an ambassador at all times

Description

The Ladies’ Man

The Office Politics

Summary

14. Never make excuses for racist behaviour

Description

The Actor

The Groundskeeper

Summary

15. Discontinue the use of colonial belief systems

Description

The Master Plan

The N Word

The Brazilian Grandmother

Summary

16. Love your hair

Description

The Baby with the Good Hair

The Little Black Girl

Summary

17. Don’t use stereotypes to quantify blackness

Description

The Brooklynite

The Mixed Race Girl

Summary

18. Take the teachings to the village

Description

The Rapper

The Billionaire

The Game Changers

Summary

19. Don’t hate on the youth

Description

The Pound Cake

The Kid with Big Ideas

Summary

20. Support black businesses and sustain intergenerational wealth

Description

The Civil War

The Hustler

The Sandwich Shop

Summary

21. Never apologise for your blackness

Description

The ATM

The Barber’s Chair

The Black Man’s New Clothes

Summary

Conclusion

Introduction

Firstly, this book is intended to strengthen and unify all people of the African diaspora. The words black and blackness are simply used as umbrella terms to signify anyone who identifies with African lineage in any part, percentage or whole. These terms are not meant to offend or exclude anyone. You see, to classify us all as just black is purposefully reductionist because it breaks us down into that which we all share. It removes the national additives and regional terms like African-American and Afro-Caribbean. By just being black, we delineate African lineage but don’t need to attach a country as that could be exclusionary, making it necessary to list all the hyphenated Afro + whatevers. Note that we also don’t feel the need to use the word African, as people born of the continent may feel a stronger connection to that title than those of us born of the diaspora. And let’s face it, black is just the best term to use. At the end of the day, when have you ever NOT been black? Never. Because you’re always blackity black, black, black, regardless of where you are born or what the current politically correct saying of the decade used to describe our people may be.

Secondly, the chapters of this book are reactionary, meaning they are the result of our present society. Sadly, this world is riddled with systemic racism that is often so subtle that it goes unnoticed by those participating. In a more perfect existence, there would be no need to list rules for people to follow to achieve the greatness they are clearly capable of – we would just exist and prosper. But as this is not the case, here’s our book, filled with both cautionary tales and cheerful triumphs to illustrate each rule we deem necessary. In fact, this list is based both on history and the sum of our personal experiences as people of colour living in the diaspora. These rules are the definition of PRO BLACKNESS and are not ANTI ANYTHING in any way, shape or form. If anyone misconstrues these rules to be ANTI somebody or something, then the true aim of this book has been lost on said person, and ultimately, this book may not be for him or her.

Finally, these rules are not meant to be taken as a personal attack against your current lifestyle or anyone else’s. They are merely suggestions as to how we can be stronger as a race of people in the greater context of global citizenry. If you feel personally attacked, please hear us out and understand that the rule is meant to exemplify a pride and standard of excellence in our communities that we aren’t all living up to now. We’ve got a long way to go but start first with this checklist. Which rules do you already subscribe to?

21 Rules of Blackness Checklist

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1. Know your worth

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"Your crown has been bought and paid

for. Put it on your head and wear it."

– Maya Angelou

Description

Even in today’s modern society where many of our people are in important positions within large organisations, we are still very much underpaid. The gap between black and white workers is an unwelcomed reality to many of our brothers and sisters. Ironically, the largest disparity is among folks with a bachelor’s degree or higher. More school will certainly increase salaries, but education alone is not enough to overcome racial discrimination in pay within the workplace

The Computer Scientist

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Ron finished school with a BA in computer science. Upon entering the workplace, he quickly discovered that many of the jobs he applied for required experience. Ron was a methodical person, but he also needed money, so he decided to look for entry-level jobs and work his way up in his chosen company. He quickly found a customer service job in logistics for a mid-sized company. Once Ron mastered his role, he spent the next several months finding out as much as possible about the company, establishing who did what and how they did it. Ron identified ways where he thought the company could benefit and approached his manager with his ideas. Ron was the only person in the whole of the customer service department with a degree and that also included his manager, Lyle. Lyle liked him as he was very conscientious. Naturally, Lyle was more than happy to hear his ideas. Ron pitched an idea for an app which their customers could use to track the movement of their goods in real time. Ron explained that over half of the calls they received were in relation to where and when the customer deliveries would arrive, so by using the app it would reduce customer service calls by fifty percent. The vehicles were already fitted with trackers; thus, the process of syncing it with a tracking system would be relatively easy to achieve. The only real cost would be the development of the computer system itself. Lyle took the proposal to