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The Chronicle www.charlestonchronicle.net July 27, 2016 - 5 www.doschersiga.com Shop SUMMER SIZZLING Specials! Specials! for I SI SI SI S S S S Z IZ IZ IZ I I I IZZ ZZ ZZ ZZ Z Z ZZL ZL ZL ZL Z Z Z ZLI LI LI LI L L L LIN IN IN I I ING NG I I L Z Z I NG U SU SU S S S SUM UM UM U U U UMM MM M M MME ME M M M M ER ER ER E ER E M M U Sh Sh S S S S S S Sh Sh E E N N E or for fo G G ER ER ER G R R R for for op hop ho o o o op op p p ho ho o o R G G R R hop Fa F ly amil Pa y P ak ea tea Ste St Stea T T T on Bo -Bo - - -Bon ef ee Bee Be Beef I SI S SIZ I Z Z ZZ Z Z L ZL Z ZLI L LIN ING NG I L Z Z I S NG I Pa Pack ks ks ks ne ne Beef ne G G 3 o Ro Ro Ro hu Chu C Chu n on Bo Bo on 29 3 st ast oas o oast ck uc uc uck ess s le ele ne ne nele Porterhouse Steaks Fa F Pa amily Pack lb. 4 99 4 9 ... lb 99 4 orterhouse Steaks y P lb ............ 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Coca-Cola Products All produc iga_0725_ftpg_20 sig Product il r lustr uc a ts may not be available in al o l stores Quant y Rig r i ations do not necessar l ily sho e w sale items. ig www ing E www.doschersiga.com .doschersiga.com How to Be Less ‘Dangerous’ to White People Or how to survive as a black person—even though none of these suggestions really matters because some people’s perceptions will never change. By Anslem Samuel Rocque Black men are under attack. There may have been a time when that statement might have sounded like an exaggeration, but with headlines about men of color being shot, killed and falsely accused of crimes becom- ing almost daily occurrences, the reality of that declaration slowly begins to sink in. While women of color are not exempt from ex- periencing these same atrocities, brothers are becoming victims at a more alarming rate. It all boils down to fear. Since Reconstruction, the African- American man has been painted as the “big, black brute,” an exces- sively violent, strong and sexual- ized abomination that poses a threat to white America. This stereotype is at the root of many of the racial discords we see in the news today involving men of color. I’d be hard-pressed to pinpoint exactly when I became aware of how my blackness could impact how I’m perceived by those out- side of my community, but the fact that it does have an impact has shaped the way I move through the world. It’s sad, but I, like so many other black men, don’t want to become the next RIP hashtag. While I’ll never let outside forces change the core of who I am, I have to admit that I’ve made both conscious and sub- conscious adjustments in my be- havior just to try to ensure that I make it home to my family safely every night. Although there are countless stories of brothers like Philando Castile and Charles Kinsey who said and did the right things, to no avail, here are a few of my own personal mantras that, for better or for worse, have allowed me to ap- pear less “dangerous” to white people as a black man. I Dress My Age as Much as Possible The only downside to “Black don’t crack” is that when dressed down, I could pass for someone almost half my 39 years (OK, maybe not 21, but 29-ish). That’s part of the reason I typically don’t shave off my beard often and wear button-up shirts and slacks most of the time. It’s just as much protective presentation as it is personal style. I feel most vulner- able when coming home from the gym because in basketball shorts, I can easily “fit the de- scription” of any black male. While my white counterparts may not have to be as concerned with casual dress and being per- ceived as “presentable,” as a per- son of color, I don’t always have that luxury. I Don’t Walk Behind (White) Women After Dark This really isn’t necessarily race- specific because, as a rule, I try to The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro PART IV Need I remind you that a simi- lar thing is being done all over this country to-day? Need I tell you that the Jews are not the only people who built the tombs of the prophets, and garnished the sepulchers of the righteous? Washington could not die till he had broken the chains of his slaves. Yet his monument is built up by the price of human blood, and the traders in the bodies and souls of men shout-"We have Washington to our father."-Alas! that it should be so; yet it is. The evil, that men do, lives after them, The good is oft interred with their bones. Fellow-citizens, pardon me, allow me to ask, why am I called upon to speak here to-day? What have I, or those I represent, to do with your national independ- ence? Are the great principles of political freedom and of natural justice, embodied in that Decla- ration of Independence, ex- tended to us? and am I, therefore, called upon to bring our humble offering to the na- tional altar, and to confess the benefits and express devout grat- itude for the blessings resulting from your independence to us? Would to God, both for your sakes and ours, that an affirma- tive answer could be truthfully returned to these questions! Then would my task be light, and my burden easy and delight- ful. For who is there so cold, that a nation's sympathy could not warm him? Who so obdurate and dead to the claims of grati- tude, that would not thankfully acknowledge such priceless ben- efits? Who so stolid and selfish, that would not give his voice to swell the hallelujahs of a nation's jubilee, when the chains of servi- tude had been torn from his limbs? I am not that man. In a case like that, the dumb might eloquently speak, and the "lame man leap as an hart." But such is not the state of the case. I say it with a sad sense of the disparity between us. I am not included within the pale of this glorious anniversary! Your high independence only reveals the immeasurable distance be- tween us. The blessings in which you, this day, rejoice, are not enjoyed in common.-The rich inheritance of justice, lib- erty, prosperity and independ- ence, bequeathed by your fa thers, is shared by you, not by me. The sunlight that brought light and healing to you, has brought stripes and death to me. This Fourth July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn. To drag a man in fetters into the grand illuminated tem- ple of liberty, and call upon him to join you in joyous anthems, were inhuman mockery and sac- rilegious irony. Do you mean, citizens, to mock me, by asking me to speak to-day? If so, there is a parallel to your conduct. And let me warn you that it is danger- ous to copy the example of a na- tion whose crimes, towering up to heaven, were thrown down by the breath of the Almighty, bury- ing that nation in irrevocable ruin! I can to-day take up the plaintive lament of a peeled and woe-smitten people! "By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down. Yea! we wept when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon the wil- lows in the midst thereof. For there, they that carried us away captive, required of us a song; and they who wasted us re- quired of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. How can we sing the Lord's song in a strange land? If I forget avoid walking behind any woman after sunset. The reason is, I understand that just my being a man—black, white or other—can be intimidating to a woman. Add in a desolate side- walk and I imagine her nervous- ness increasing tenfold. Whenever I find myself in this scenario, I make a concerted ef- fort to walk in the street and try to get ahead of the woman so that she has the luxury of keeping me in sight as opposed to having a pair of footsteps looming be- hind her. This personal space is as much for her safety as it is my own, because the last thing I need is a scared white woman pointing the finger at me. I Call Everyone “Sir” and “Ma’am” My mother taught me to use these terms as a sign of respect. Whenever interacting with po- lice, I deploy them just as I would with an elder. While I’m doubtful that simply saying “sir” or “ma’a”m will ultimately save me from being arrested, put in a choke hold or shot, my hope is that by addressing authority fig- thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth." read part 6 of “The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro” in next week’s edition ures as such, I will at least set the tone for cooler heads to prevail. Plus, you have to give respect to try to get respect, right? I Smile at Strangers in Tight Places One place where I immediately become fully aware of my black- ness is in a cramped space, like an elevator. There’s an unspoken tension that exists when a person of color enters and the occupant or occupants are white. While I don’t go out of my way to make eye contact, in the event that I do, I smile and give the person his or her space to signify that I’m no threat. I might even mind- lessly look at my phone to illus- trate that I’m not focused on anyone. If we happen to get off on the same floor, I maintain a safe distance so that the person doesn’t feel as if I’m following him or her. I Use (Proper) Language as the Great Equalizer While I don’t give much cre- dence to the idea that people can talk “black” or talk “white,” I have no problem displaying my educa- tion through my words. I don’t make a habit of using the n- word, especially in mixed com- pany, and I speak proper English in public for the most part. Ulti- mately, no matter how I look or what I’m wearing, I use my words to make the greatest im- pact on those who don’t know me so that they can get a glimpse of my worth and intelligence and why my life matters. Anslem Samuel Rocque is a Brooklyn, N.Y.-based writer who previously ran the popular relationship site Naked With Socks On. Follow his thoughts in 140 characters or less on Twit- ter and on Instagram. The local union has some 800 members, but about 500 others have work permits and regularly work the docks. Nearly 1,000 re- tirees, dependents and benefici- aries receive benefits on a monthly basis through the union’s retirement plan, Riley said. “With all that being said, it’s not hard to make the case that ILA jobs promote an economic boost to the local economy and are valuable jobs within the African American community,” Riley said. “With up to six weeks paid vacation, 16 paid holidays and container royalty payments annu- ally, the benefits are worth mil- lions in spending power.” And that worth is going to in- crease as well. Spurred by the success of the inland facility at Greer near Greenville, the SCPA April 20 announced it hopes to build a second inland port facility in Dillon near Flo- rence. And by 2020, bigger ships coming through the Panama Canal and into Charleston’s deepened harbor translates into increased volumes of cargo. The union’s approximately 800 mem- bers log about 1.5 million man- hours at a base salary of $32 per hour. “We anticipate that the volumes will continue to increase,” Riley said. “Soon Charleston will be- come the deepest port in the south. This will allow the Port of Charleston to handle the larger vessels that already have begun transiting the new locks at the Panama Canal. Charleston is poised to capitalize on these serv- ices,” Riley said. PORT... - cont. from page 1

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.doschersiga.com

How to Be Less‘Dangerous’ toWhite People

Or how to survive as a blackperson—even though none of

these suggestions really mattersbecause some people’s

perceptions will never change.

By Anslem Samuel Rocque

Black men are under attack.There may have been a timewhen that statement might havesounded like an exaggeration,but with headlines about men ofcolor being shot, killed andfalsely accused of crimes becom-ing almost daily occurrences, thereality of that declaration slowlybegins to sink in. While womenof color are not exempt from ex-periencing these same atrocities,brothers are becoming victims ata more alarming rate.

It all boils down to fear. SinceReconstruction, the African-American man has been paintedas the “big, black brute,” an exces-sively violent, strong and sexual-ized abomination that poses athreat to white America. This

stereotype is at the root of manyof the racial discords we see inthe news today involving men ofcolor.

I’d be hard-pressed to pinpointexactly when I became aware ofhow my blackness could impacthow I’m perceived by those out-side of my community, but thefact that it does have an impacthas shaped the way I movethrough the world. It’s sad, butI, like so many other black men,don’t want to become the nextRIP hashtag.

While I’ll never let outsideforces change the core of who Iam, I have to admit that I’vemade both conscious and sub-conscious adjustments in my be-havior just to try to ensure that Imake it home to my family safelyevery night. Although there arecountless stories of brothers likePhilando Castile and CharlesKinsey who said and did theright things, to no avail, here area few of my own personalmantras that, for better or for

worse, have allowed me to ap-pear less “dangerous” to whitepeople as a black man.

I Dress My Ageas Much as Possible

The only downside to “Blackdon’t crack” is that when dresseddown, I could pass for someonealmost half my 39 years (OK,maybe not 21, but 29-ish). That’spart of the reason I typically don’tshave off my beard often andwear button-up shirts and slacksmost of the time. It’s just as muchprotective presentation as it ispersonal style. I feel most vulner-able when coming home fromthe gym because in basketballshorts, I can easily “fit the de-scription” of any black male.While my white counterpartsmay not have to be as concernedwith casual dress and being per-ceived as “presentable,” as a per-son of color, I don’t always havethat luxury.

I Don’t Walk Behind (White) Women After Dark

This really isn’t necessarily race-specific because, as a rule, I try to

The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro

PART IVNeed I remind you that a simi-

lar thing is being done all overthis country to-day? Need I tellyou that the Jews are not theonly people who built the tombsof the prophets, and garnishedthe sepulchers of the righteous?Washington could not die till hehad broken the chains of hisslaves. Yet his monument is builtup by the price of human blood,and the traders in the bodies andsouls of men shout-"We haveWashington to our father."-Alas!that it should be so; yet it is.

The evil, that men do, livesafter them,

The good is oft interred withtheir bones.

Fellow-citizens, pardon me,allow me to ask, why am I calledupon to speak here to-day? Whathave I, or those I represent, to dowith your national independ-ence? Are the great principles ofpolitical freedom and of naturaljustice, embodied in that Decla-ration of Independence, ex-tended to us? and am I,therefore, called upon to bringour humble offering to the na-tional altar, and to confess thebenefits and express devout grat-itude for the blessings resultingfrom your independence to us?

Would to God, both for yoursakes and ours, that an affirma-tive answer could be truthfullyreturned to these questions!Then would my task be light,and my burden easy and delight-ful. For who is there so cold, thata nation's sympathy could notwarm him? Who so obdurateand dead to the claims of grati-tude, that would not thankfullyacknowledge such priceless ben-efits? Who so stolid and selfish,that would not give his voice toswell the hallelujahs of a nation'sjubilee, when the chains of servi-tude had been torn from hislimbs? I am not that man. In acase like that, the dumb mighteloquently speak, and the "lameman leap as an hart."

But such is not the state of thecase. I say it with a sad sense ofthe disparity between us. I amnot included within the pale ofthis glorious anniversary! Yourhigh independence only revealsthe immeasurable distance be-tween us. The blessings inwhich you, this day, rejoice, arenot enjoyed in common.-Therich inheritance of justice, lib-erty, prosperity and independ-ence, bequeathed by your fathers, is shared by you, not byme. The sunlight that broughtlight and healing to you, hasbrought stripes and death to me.This Fourth July is yours, notmine. You may rejoice, I mustmourn. To drag a man in fettersinto the grand illuminated tem-ple of liberty, and call upon himto join you in joyous anthems,were inhuman mockery and sac-rilegious irony. Do you mean,citizens, to mock me, by askingme to speak to-day? If so, there isa parallel to your conduct. Andlet me warn you that it is danger-ous to copy the example of a na-tion whose crimes, towering upto heaven, were thrown down bythe breath of the Almighty, bury-ing that nation in irrevocableruin! I can to-day take up theplaintive lament of a peeled andwoe-smitten people!"By the rivers of Babylon, there

we sat down. Yea! we weptwhen we remembered Zion. Wehanged our harps upon the wil-lows in the midst thereof. Forthere, they that carried us awaycaptive, required of us a song;and they who wasted us re-quired of us mirth, saying, Singus one of the songs of Zion.How can we sing the Lord'ssong in a strange land? If I forget

avoid walking behind anywoman after sunset. The reasonis, I understand that just mybeing a man—black, white orother—can be intimidating to awoman. Add in a desolate side-walk and I imagine her nervous-ness increasing tenfold.Whenever I find myself in thisscenario, I make a concerted ef-fort to walk in the street and tryto get ahead of the woman sothat she has the luxury of keepingme in sight as opposed to havinga pair of footsteps looming be-hind her. This personal space isas much for her safety as it is myown, because the last thing Ineed is a scared white womanpointing the finger at me.

I Call Everyone “Sir” and “Ma’am”

My mother taught me to usethese terms as a sign of respect.Whenever interacting with po-lice, I deploy them just as Iwould with an elder. While I’mdoubtful that simply saying “sir”or “ma’a”m will ultimately saveme from being arrested, put in achoke hold or shot, my hope isthat by addressing authority fig-

thee, O Jerusalem, let my righthand forget her cunning. If I donot remember thee, let mytongue cleave to the roof of mymouth."

read part 6 of “The Meaningof July Fourth for the Negro”

in next week’s edition

ures as such, I will at least set thetone for cooler heads to prevail.Plus, you have to give respect totry to get respect, right?

I Smile at Strangers in Tight Places

One place where I immediatelybecome fully aware of my black-ness is in a cramped space, likean elevator. There’s an unspokentension that exists when a personof color enters and the occupantor occupants are white. While Idon’t go out of my way to makeeye contact, in the event that Ido, I smile and give the personhis or her space to signify that I’mno threat. I might even mind-lessly look at my phone to illus-trate that I’m not focused onanyone. If we happen to get offon the same floor, I maintain asafe distance so that the persondoesn’t feel as if I’m followinghim or her.

I Use (Proper) Language as the Great Equalizer

While I don’t give much cre-dence to the idea that people cantalk “black” or talk “white,” I haveno problem displaying my educa-tion through my words. I don’tmake a habit of using the n-word, especially in mixed com-pany, and I speak proper Englishin public for the most part. Ulti-mately, no matter how I look orwhat I’m wearing, I use mywords to make the greatest im-pact on those who don’t knowme so that they can get a glimpseof my worth and intelligence andwhy my life matters.

Anslem Samuel Rocque is aBrooklyn, N.Y.-based writerwho previously ran the popularrelationship site Naked WithSocks On. Follow his thoughtsin 140 characters or less on Twit-ter and on Instagram.

The local union has some 800members, but about 500 othershave work permits and regularlywork the docks. Nearly 1,000 re-tirees, dependents and benefici-aries receive benefits on amonthly basis through theunion’s retirement plan, Rileysaid.

“With all that being said, it’s nothard to make the case that ILAjobs promote an economic boostto the local economy and arevaluable jobs within the AfricanAmerican community,” Rileysaid. “With up to six weeks paidvacation, 16 paid holidays andcontainer royalty payments annu-ally, the benefits are worth mil-lions in spending power.”

And that worth is going to in-crease as well. Spurred by thesuccess of the inland facility atGreer near Greenville, theSCPA April 20 announced ithopes to build a second inlandport facility in Dillon near Flo-rence. And by 2020, bigger shipscoming through the PanamaCanal and into Charleston’sdeepened harbor translates intoincreased volumes of cargo. Theunion’s approximately 800 mem-bers log about 1.5 million man-hours at a base salary of $32 perhour.

“We anticipate that the volumeswill continue to increase,” Rileysaid. “Soon Charleston will be-come the deepest port in thesouth. This will allow the Port ofCharleston to handle the largervessels that already have beguntransiting the new locks at thePanama Canal. Charleston ispoised to capitalize on these serv-ices,” Riley said.

PORT...- cont. from page 1