Nappy Headed Black Child

Sellout By Randall Kennedy



An excellent book. I found myself enjoying it much more than what i thought i would. In this text Kennedy explores the meaning of racial solidarity with respects to how we go about labeling those who betray that solidarity.

One of the key points of this text is how do we go about determining who is a "sellout" rigorous. Often times the term sellout is tossed around arbitrarily used often a derailing tactic to reduce if not outright ruin a persons credibility over what amounts to disagreements (which are far too often petty ones) or folk who are just wrong.

Given the weight of that term, we should do better. When used sloppily, the threat of sellout stigma functions as a muzzle on criticism and commentary as well as creating the false notion of black people existing as monolithic whole.

Lets be honest here if we as a people are going to move up as a group we must plan and take action based upon who we are where we are. Given the breadth of the black experience when we try to enforce our piece of the black experience on others and ostracize (particular as sellouts and traitors) those who choose to do different things we become more about our particular cliques than about our people as a whole.

Kennedy makes it clear that being a sellout hinges on intention. Meaning purposeful action to subvert or sabotage. And that intention is the bar that must be cleared if we are accurately interested in preventing false accusation. In his presentation of Clarence Thomas arguably the most visible sellout in contemporary memory due to his vehement opposition to Affirmative Action. While Kennedy declines to label Thomas he essentially lays out the facts surrounding Thomas regarding his affirmative action stance which is what earned him is "sellout status" , his other jurisprudence, his philosophy with respects to a judges duty, and the mindfuck race card he pulled (<--my emphasis) in his confirmation hearing regarding the allegations levied by Anita Hill which revealed just how patriarchal the concept racial solidarity is and the culture of black protectionism as well (obama stans). In presenting the case Kennedy is saying if we are going to label someone a sellout we must fully investigate it.

Kennedy also investigates who is black and the phenomenon of passing for white as selling out in addition to the slave catcher house negro informant option.

its an excellent read. check it out. and as you know if i can provide it here i will