So I was talking with Aaron the beginning of Spring Break, and he put me on to this website that promotes the positive images of Black Americans and basically getting in touch with our home continent of "Africa". The website is dangerousnegro.com, I love it! Finally apparel that you can be proud to wear as a Black individual, no more hood-ish spray painted shirts with cartoon characters or the infamous "Stop Snitchin" merchandise. Here you have quotes displaying Black pride. I have fell in love with two of them The first shirt is the definition of a "Dangerous Negro", http://www.dangerousnegro.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=DEFBT. The second is called a message from Mother Africa, check that out as well.
http://www.dangerousnegro.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=MMABT
But here is the real deal breaker and something I had to struggle with before I finalized my order. Is the term Dangerous Negro identical to calling myself a Nigger or Nigga (same thing). Wasn't the word Negro used offensively just like Nigger? So I did further research on the company, looked at its blog, facebook page, etc. and I was pleased with what I saw. I may not agree with everything that I saw, but the message and empowerment of Blacks that was displayed sold me on the idea.
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I am curious how they defined "negro" as the term of choice. I failed in my attempt to watch the video, because the motion/looping music/scripted attempt at being unscripted made me have to stop. Blame it on age.
So, please fill me in about the word choice. Mostly I'm interested in your thoughts and your interpretation.
Yeah the video is a bit much, I should try to find another one. In regards to the usage of "Dangerous Negro" The website stated:
1. an individual of African Descent whose educational background and assertive disposition pose an imminent threat to the current state of affairs
2. identified by an acute sense of SOCIAL AWARENESS, non-complacency, and a relentless commitment to the African community
3. ANTI-APATHETIC
4. committed to the social, political, and economic EMPOWERMENT of the African community
I completely agree with the definition, that maybe we as Black individuals need to be more in touch with and aware of our surroundings. And we also need to pay some sort of homage to our "native" land. Although I stated in my blog that I understood the usage of the phrase, I still battle with the idea that maybe something else could have been used. But then I think what? It's a toughy. I personally don't have an issue with it, but I can see how this can be a bit controversial.
After reading your post, I did some googling. I thought that maybe the company may have gotten the phrase "dangerous negro" from somewhere else.
I found this, in a website on Martin Luther King, Jr. and his relationship with the federal government:
"[O]n February 3, 1962, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover wrote: "King is no good" on his copy of a memorandum from James Bland to William Sullivan, division directors in the FBI. That was the earliest evidence of a lifelong vendetta which the FBI conducted against King in the name of national security.
Within the next year (in an August 30, 1963 memo), King was branded by William Sullivan, head of the FBI's Domestic Intelligence Division, as "the most dangerous Negro to the future of this nation from the standpoint of communism, the Negro, and national security""
So I guess it's not clear that this is where they got the phrase, but if it is, then I think it makes sense, considering the website and message in general is concentrated on a similar spirit positive, proactive, collaborative resistance.
(here's the site, too. It's not super credible or anything itself, but the dude obviously did research: http://www.sodahead.com/question/67772/did-you-know-martin-luther-king-was-branded-the-most-dangerous-negro-to-the-future-of-this-nation-from-the-standpoint-of-communism-the-negro-and-national-security/)
Dangerous Negro is a great website for apparel. I love it as well. As to how they define Negro. I believe they only named it that because of the conflict that it might raise, which for them may be profitable. I think they were trying to take this term that has a negative connotation and own it. By that I mean, transform the word to a positive meaning. What other words could they use to promote controversy but still change the meeting. Couldn't use the N-word, its too far gone from being positive. Couldn't use Dangerous Black Man/Woman. That is not catchy nor will Dangerous black man be positive in the black community because black men have struggled for years to get rid of that idea. Dangerous Negro was perfect, because people in these times don't really know the origins of the term not do they use it that ofter. Look, these people are business men just like any other business men. They chose the most marketable name to the black community and has been successful. (I bought two shirts)
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