Enigma In Black is one man’s opinion about matters primarily involving politics, education, and race. I suppose I should also add history because, without an understanding of the past, we’re doomed to repeat those mistakes. On the 7th of each month, I’ll publish a segment called, “Shadow Warriors” where I’ll focus on an individual/group that is doing significant work for good and is perhaps slightly unheralded. Blog posts will appear at least once a week, likely more often because I find I have a lot to say.
Trolls are welcome provided you comment with more than just memes. You must use your words in order for your comments to be approved. After your first comment is approved, all others will be automatically posted. There will be no censorship except for those unwilling or unable to remain civil to those who participate here.
Topics bound to keep coming up are Voter Suppression, Politics, and Systemic Injustice. On a lighter note, there will be posts about family, some poetry, and social commentary on whatever strikes my fancy.
My name is William Spivey. I’m a graduate of Fisk University which I credit for much of who I am. I reside in Orlando, Florida. I write to be heard and make a difference. Stay tuned for information about soon to be released books; “Strong Beginnings” and “Letters to Amber.”
ENIGMA IN BLACK 
Thank you! I appreciate the input and the change was made.
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Very honorable of you to list your full name on here, not that I’m terribly afraid of being hunted down for my political opinions (more my crassness and poor attempts at humor). I didn’t start blogging until last summer, which was at least partially motivated by the presidential campaign. Excited to share thoughts and maybe even disagree once in a while.
Blog on, blogger.
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It’s in the disagreeing where learning takes place. Looking forward to more conversation.
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How influenced are you by the work of Dr. Gerald Horne, and what is your opinion of his stance on communism?
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I had never heard of him but he sounds interesting from what I’ve just read. That communist have tried to influence black Americans by suggesting they offered more freedoms is true. They supported the Scottsboro Boys in Alabama when the NAACP offered no help. Communists tried to recruit influential black thought influencers like Langston Hughes and Ralph Ellison. Ellison’s “Invisible Man” was partially about his disillusionment with the Communist Party.
I was an Economics major and view Communism more through economics as opposed to philosophy. I think America has more in common with communism than it would like to think, not is a socialism way but more of the actual control by the rich as opposed to the propaganda about the power of the people/proletariat.
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Bill,
Not sure how to reach you. You helped me buy a house in 2010. I would like to purchase a new construction and sell my current home. Do you still work in the Orlando area?
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Hi Staci, E mail me at spiveywilliamf@gmail
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good comments on Turley’s blog. You are a smart fellow with much to contribute. I am a Trumpist btw.
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Thanks, sometimes I wonder how much of my time and energy I’m wasting among people with no interest in truly communicating, only being heard without the listening part. It is giving me a view of how existential the “Trump think” is, even among the highly educated.
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The is an essential book on slave breeding in the US. It’s called: The American Slave Coast: A History of the Slave Breeding Industry by Ned & Constance Sublette published by Lawrence Hill Books. Very detailed and contextualized that should be required reading for all public (and private) school teachers who teach any form of history/American History or US economics (Remember, our ancestors were capital producing capital with their brawn and brains and wombs).
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Thank you Sam, I’ll track it down!
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I think you’re wasting your time, trying to convince to the bogans on that website…
https://jonathanturley.org/2021/11/06/public-scapegoat-michigan-pays-out-300000-to-only-official-fired-over-flint-michigan-water-crisis/
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I’m not completely wasting my time. While true I won’t likely convince anyone here. I hear their baseless arguments and talk about them elsewhere.
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By the way, the Australian slang word bogan is probably equivalent to the American term for poor white trash.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-26/the-origins-of-the-word-bogan/10937284
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I would disagree with the use of the words “white trash” as I understand the term when applying it to this group. Unfortunately, these people are largely upper class, many in the legal profession, most would resent being called white trash. Ore man bolstered his racist argument by saying he was a lawyer therefore he is in the position to judge the claims of racism of others as illegitimate. I might just incorporate “bogan” into my vocabulary though. It might come in handy.
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Hi Bill, I enjoyed your comment about the communists’ attempt to influence the black populace. Much of what you say is ‘spot on’. I am a historian and I agree that our system is designed to be one sided toward the people that already have the lion share of the money.
I am interested to hear your feelings regarding the democrat party’s decades long commitment to breed of modern-day ‘slaves’ through programs and entitlements that are created and designed to keep the black population under their control, such as …1) controlling safety-net programs for example; dropping or reducing health insurance, rent and food assistance if a person obtains a meaningful job, 2) discourage seeking skilled jobs in the blue collar sector
3) lessening educational standards by replacing subjects such as History, geography, an higher mathematics with ridiculous subject matter such as ‘gender studies’ sabotaging chances of finding quality employment. There is a lot more but YOU are the man !
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jmcnpapa,
While i have little good to say about Republican policies of the last four decades as they relate to race, that doesn’t mean I favor all Democratic policies. I disagree with your characterizations of some Democratic programs as being designed to breed “modern-day slaves or control Black people. Many of the programs you mention like dropping or reducing health insurance, work requirements and “replacing History” sound more Republican than Democratic. Both parties have worked together to “control” Black people which I fully recognize.
Keep in mind that Black voters once supported the Republican Party with good reason in greater percentages than what is now considered the “Democratic Plantation.” Republicans earned that reversal more than Democrats deserve it. Present day Republicans set such a low bar that it’s impossible for Democrats not to clear it. Because the bar is so low, Democrats do no more than they have to to please Black people, they have several constituencies that are better at getting their needs met such as the LGBTQ and unions.
I agree with what I think you said about the US traditionally being class based, sometimes the racism is a means to an class dictated end but does that make the result any different? When the Supreme Court justifies race-based gerrymandering and redistricting by saying it was merely partisan without a proven racist intent, I call bull***t.
If you go back decades enough, Democrats were far worse than Republicans and if you omit starvation and disease probably still have a higher death count. Again, the Democratic Party has much to be ashamed of, but their current configuration is miles ahead of the Party who sees voter suppression, erasing Black history, and eliminating diversity programs as progress.
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