I received this email from a friend of mine. It was attributed to a White woman, Dee Lee. However, when you get to her website, she makes it clear that she did not author this piece. Instead, a Black comedian–also named Dee Lee–who has a radio program in NY, is responsible for the article.
In either case, I’m curious to hear your thoughts on the statements made…
THEY ARE STILL OUR SLAVES. We can continue to reap profits from the Blacks without the effort of physical slavery. Look at the current methods of containment that they use on themselves: IGNORANCE, GREED, and SELFISHNESS.
Their IGNORANCE is the primary weapon of containment. A great man once said, “The best way to hide something from Black people is to put it in a book.” We now live in the Information Age. They have gained the opportunity to read any book on any subject through the efforts of their fight for freedom, yet they refuse to read. There are numerous books readily available at Borders, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon.com, not to mention their own Black Bookstores that provide solid blueprints to reach economic equality (which should have been their fight all along), but few read consistently, if at all.
GREED is another powerful weapon of containment. Blacks, since the abolition of slavery, have had large amounts of money at their disposal. Last year they spent 10 billion dollars during Christmas, out of their 450 billion dollars in total yearly income ( 2.22%).
Any of us can use them as our target market, for any business venture we care to dream up, no matter how outlandish, they will buy into it. Being primarily a consumer people, they function totally by greed. They continually want more, with little thought for saving or investing.
They would rather buy some new sneaker than invest in starting a business. Some even neglect their children to have the latest Tommy or FUBU, And they still think that having a Mercedes, and a big house gives them “Status” or that they have achieved their Dream.
They are fools! The vast majority of their people are still in poverty because their greed holds them back from collectively making better communities.
With the help of BET, and the rest of their black media that often broadcasts destructive images into their own homes, we will continue to see huge profits like those of Tommy and Nike. (Tommy Hilfiger has even jeered them, saying he doesn’t want their money, and look at how the fools spend more with him than ever before!). They’ll continue to show off to each other while we build solid communities with the profits from our businesses that we market to them.
SELFISHNESS, ingrained in their minds through slavery, is one of the major ways we can continue to contain them. One of their own, Dubois said that there was an innate division in their culture. A “Talented Tenth” he called it. He was correct in his deduction that there are segments of their culture that has achieved some “form” of success.
However, that segment missed the fullness of his work. They didn’t read that the “Talented Tenth” was then responsible to aid The Non-Talented Ninety Percent in achieving a better life. Instead, that segment has created another class, a Buppie class that looks down on their people or aids them in a condescending manner.
They will never achieve what we have. Their selfishness does not allow them to be able to work together on any project or endeavor of substance. When they do get together, their selfishness lets their egos get in the way of their goal Their so-called help organizations seem to only want to promote their name without making any real change in their community.
They are content to sit in conferences and conventions in our hotels, and talk about what they will do, while they award plaques to the best speakers, not to the best doers. Is there no end to their selfishness? They steadfastly refuse to see that TOGETHER EACH ACHIEVES MORE (TEAM).
They do not understand that they are no better than each other because of what they own, as a matter of fact, most of those Buppies are but one or two pay checks away from poverty. All of which is under the control of our pens in our offices and our rooms.
Yes, we will continue to contain them as long as they refuse to read, continue to buy anything they want, and keep thinking they are “helping” their communities by paying dues to organizations which do little other than hold lavish conventions in our hotels. By the way, don’t worry about any of them reading this letter, remember, THEY DON’T READ!!!!

January 24, 2007 at 3:37 pm
I don’t care who said it. If it’s true, then it’s just true. In this case, a lot of it is true.
January 24, 2007 at 4:51 pm
I agree but the email was circulated because the perception was that it came from a White person. And that became fuel enough to pass on the email and I believe the intent was to react to the person and not the truth.
Although the information hits home it is somewhat interesting how we as people view it now being that it came from a Black man.
Bottom line I agree, it was so true and it will still be true until a core of us wakes up to change reality, it is possible you know.
January 24, 2007 at 6:09 pm
A more appropriate title for the article would be “Poor people are still slaves”. It’s a class issue not one of race.
January 24, 2007 at 6:10 pm
For those that are concerned about possible root causes, I recommend Dr. Joy Degruy-Leary’s work on Post Tramatic Slave Syndrome
http://www.posttraumaticslavesyndrome.com
Check it out for yourself, but she asserts that:
Key Patterns of behavior reflective of PTSS:
·
Vacant Esteem
Insufficient development of what I refer to as primary esteem, and feelings of hopelessness, depression and general self destructive outlook.
Marked Propensity for Anger and Violence
Extreme Feelings Of Suspicion Perceived negative motivations of others. Violence against self, property and others, including the members of ones own group, i.e. friends, relatives, or acquaintances.
Racist Socialization and (Internalized racism)
Learned helplessness, literacy deprivation, distorted self-concept, antipathy for:
Members of ones cultural/ethnic group,
Mores associated with ones cultural/ethnic heritage
Physical characteristics associated with ones cultural/ethnic group
Cultural dissonance:
A feeling of disharmony and psychological conflict resulting from a loss of cultural identity and traditional customs, values and needs.
January 29, 2007 at 1:52 am
It’s hard to argue with a great deal of what has been said there. The numbers seem to back it up. There’s not a lot to say about this. It’s up to each of us who are capable to DO something – anything so that it doesn’t continue to be the truth for generations to come.
July 5, 2008 at 10:37 am
you guys are dumb. I’m only sixteen and I know this: what u say may be true, but is all of that a problem no? NO! blacks are different than other races, so don’t judge them. what may seem right to you may not seem right to others. and who made your standards everyone else’s anyway? the blacks are successful, and content with their way of life. if they had a problem with there way of life wouldn’t they change it? this is america, and we as a people have a right to the pursuit of happiness. with that in mind who actually is wrong when it comes to using your money and time on luxurious things? life is short, and im sure blacks are just enjoying. theyre much happier than us whites any way…
July 11, 2008 at 8:14 am
Dee Lee did not write that article! It was written by another person (possibly an african american to stir up the black community) While the author spoke truth we need to be careful that we do not point the finger. Forget Dee Lee, Harvard educator, and focus on the truth of the article. Are we still slaves to greed, selfishness, etc.?
October 22, 2008 at 12:53 am
After a little research below is what I found. For whatever reason someone is not telling the truth. However there is always a. “beginning to every end”. I am still searching for the real, “Dee Lee”, and this guy just is not the one who wrote it. (I just started looking an hour ago….because I rec’d the stupid email with the Dee Lee note)
Sunday, January 28, 2007
“BLACKS CAN’T READ” RUMOR
Current mood: crushed
I said this is no big deal, but I was wrong. I have been emailed , messaged and even aproached in person about this situation and false rumor . I was contacted by a close friend of mine regarding a professor who is tarnishing my name saying I wrote/read an article on NYC radio stating “Afro-Americans don’t read” This is when I finally realized what all this was about. I NEVER wrote nor read this article on NYC radio!! If there is anyone who has solid proof to stating otherwise please ,let me know.
I have in the past come upon this article through the internet with the author not being named but I didnt pay much attention to it as now I feel I shoud’ve .
I wanted to say to my family (fans) that I would in no way write or support such ignorance, especially degrading my own race. I invite all who have read this article to leave me a comment. I joke about a lot of things in the world. I’m known for my “Reality/Shock Radio & Stand Up Comedy” but this is gone too far. Especially when I was notified that someone is pointing the finger towards me!! Upset? Yes. Everyone wants the fame,but for me not in this fashion…..
October 22, 2008 at 1:06 am
I almost forgot Lee, above is the reply from Mr. Dee Lee. To the post that you put on here copied below. His web page is below as well. Thanks!
Black People are Still Slaves
January 24, 2007 — lrubin39
I received this email from a friend of mine. It was attributed to a White woman, Dee Lee. However, when you get to her website, she makes it clear that she did not author this piece. Instead, a Black comedian–also named Dee Lee–who has a radio program in NY, is responsible for the article.
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=111724451&blogID=223261484
Justwondering?
May 11, 2009 at 12:19 pm
The truth is the truth but I am glad to say that none of this relates to me.
Those who know me well know that I am in to designer clothes.
Most of the t-shits feature designs made by “Johnny!” (That would be me) , Featuring the trade mark names “Evanstock, John Nance Entertainment and StepNorth.”
Do these names sound familiar?
Most of the other t-shirts feature collections from The Bahamas, Playa Del Carmen, Cozumel and other ports visited on my JNE Funcruises. The next most prominant design is “Big Dogs” because if I was a K9 I’d be a St. Bernard which I guess goes to show that I am a t-shirt, khaki and sweat pants type of guy.
I have always invested in me starting my ventures with either unemployment checks or no monety at all! I have found that to be the best way because it makes me like Leon Spinks when he took the belt from Ali….”I aint got nuttin’ ta loose!”, and thereby have everything to gain as a result.
Hey people, the truth is that if we want people to stop saying these type of things about us as a people we have got to get our hustle on and I don’t mean by joining some multi-level get rich scheme, I mean by using our creativity and resources to not only see the opportunity but seize it as well.
The recent crash of America’s economic system shows me however that Caucasions are not immune. Millions of people who have worked to prepare for their financial security including retirement have lost trillions of their hard earned cash in institutions that were supposed to be legitimate investment opportunities.
That is a fact.
I have always been a maverick. You know that bull that goes his own way while the rest of the herd goes to slaughter? It’s a dangerous path, an adventurous one both challenging and if successful extremely rewarding.
Many times I have questioned myself when I have walked away from a corporate job (and I have done so many times) to persue my own direction (because it is always more of a direction than a dream) if I had made the right decision by walking away from a “secure” position into the “unknown.”
But I’ve been paying close attention to what is going on in this country lately and when I see people getting laid off, losing their retirement, pensions, 401k plans, homes, dignity by people and institutions that have basically “Bernard Madeoff” with their financial futures it make me feel a lot better about being who I am and the decisions that I have made.
But to make a long story short and to end this endless dissertation I guess I would have to say in response to this fool who is trying to secure her own financial future by playing the race card….I would rather wear it (if I could) than to loose it by having my precious few “sheckles” abscounded by the jerks who have wrecked the entire financial system and now are relying on a black man to bail America out.
And to quote my man Bill Mahr…”I don’t see what white people are so upset about…black people have been cleaning up after white people fo a long time!”
So I say wear what you want…do what you want…enjoy your life because tomorrow we could all be broke. And if that happens, you at the least can do like Fernando says, “LOOK MARVELOUS!”
May 27, 2009 at 8:10 am
neither wrote it…..google people …and while you’re at it buy
“read like your life depends on it” the actual book this ‘letter’ came from.
June 1, 2009 at 9:19 am
well whoever cook up that article should do such with caution next time.It was such an insult on the African continent which could make any individual rout in jail.We Africans are great people a great nation with deposits of sound brains(genius) for that matter.Though we are facing alot of problems now but whatever has a begining definately will have an ending.we are ticking time bomb when the African continent explodes the WHOLE WORLD CAN’T CONTAIN US. watch out we are taking over.
August 13, 2009 at 12:00 pm
I really want to know some thing, if were still your slaves THEN WHY IS OUR PRESIDENT BLACK DEE LEE! Huh I would like to know that?!?!?! I am a young African American soooooooo how in the world do I behave when a person still looking in the past (which is never going to come again ) writes some thing like this when you are in a world of strong culture, strong spirt, and most of all STRONGER IN THE MIND THAN WHITE PEOPLE (some people). So its not possible to try to as you say MAKE US GO IN TO SLAVERY AGAIN which will never happen because we are the strongest race in the world, our music is so inspirational which makes us over power white people that when I went to school a white girl was ALWAYS in our face to see if she was our friends everday 24/7. So from what I said was not what you expected. It’s a different era, deal with it you cant inslave us any more so don’t try it will be hard for you to. And an other thing books are the first place an africn american would look. The last place is in jail because african americans don’t go to jail black people do. And were not black were brown, all types of the color brown.
August 13, 2009 at 12:03 pm
As i will remind you this WE ARE NOT BLACK WE ARE BROWN ALL TYPES OF THAT COLOR! Learn it!
November 20, 2009 at 10:12 am
Rye,
I agree with your last comment. We are not negroes, negrid, negroid, niggers, or black. All of these terms derive from the word “black.” OUR SKIN IS BROWN. The “black” designation is something that was imposed on us. WAKE UP! Our skin is brown. Our origins are for the most part geographically from West Africa. We now reside in the Americas and the Caribbean. That’s it.
I feel “black” people are definitely suffering from widespread mental delusion. One clear moment of awakening for me was in high school. I was working on an assignment in class and a few friends of mine were struggling with the question posed. After a few moments of debate one said: “Ask David, he always knows the answers… he’s a whiteboy!”
I only wish I were joking. Simply because I did academically well I was considered to be a “whiteboy.” Our community needs to wake up. We hold on to so much BS it’s laughable.
“My nigga…?” Are you kidding me? We call ourselves niggers everyday with smiles on our faces, joy in our hearts, and with gusto. This is pathetic, lowly, and sickening behavior and we embrace it. We simply think by putting an “a” on the end of nigger, we are making it our own, a term of endearment in fact! This is purely ludicrous.
We don’t read. We give are kids ridiculous made up names that we pretend have some African connection. Shequita, Condiqua, Devontaye, etc. These are made up completely words. They are not names at all. If you want an African name crack open a book and find a real one. Don’t make up a word with a silly spelling. Don’t doom your children to obscurity.
We don’t speak English. The first time I visited my cousins in the south one of them asked me “how owe is you?” It took me several tries to figure out he was saying “how old is you?” or properly “how old are you?” None of my aunts or uncles from the previous generation speak this way. This generation for some reason has stopped speaking English. They have degraded into some sort of super ebonics that is barely intelligible. What kind of job can one expect to get with a name like Jaqueeza and grammer like “how owe is you?”
Do we think that so-called ebonics is somehow how “black” people speak, and proper English is how “white” people speak? Do we think that succeeding academically is somehow a “white” trait? That being bright makes us less “black?”
Broke Asian, Latin American, and African immigrants come to the US and consistently out perform us. They open stores in our neighborhoods, they send their children to college, and their children speak better English than us. THEY SUCCEED, while we languish.
To make this point clear. The most successful immigrant community in the US, with the highest incomes and the highest academic achievement are Nigerians. NIGERIANS! Not Asians, not Latinos, but AFRICANS. They come here and in one generation OUTPERFORM US AND ALL OTHER GROUPS!!!
I was one of the few African American graduates at my university. There were plenty of people though with my complexion… THEY WERE MOSTLY AFRICANS. Many years later I attended my youngest sister’s college graduation. Guess what? Same thing. A hand full of African American graduates but I saw tons of Nigerians, Somalis, Ethiopians, and Ghanaians. All of the so-called “black” people I work with at a financial services firm (except one) are ALL AFRICANS. Besides me and one other there are NO AFRICAN AMERICANS.
It’s time to wake up and take personal stock. The time is now. Our community seems to be devolving. Africans come to this country and outperform us.