I see many people speak about being on code, yet I have never seen said code be strictly defined and written down. This has caused me to question what even is the true code and who defines it?
- TMF
We often say Whites, Jews, Latinos, Asians are 'on code'. Do they have a written code? No. None of them have it.
A true code is cultural. You learn it just by being part of the culture and following cultural rules, etc.
For example, when you are somewhere where there aren't many black man and you see another brotha, you head nod and acknowledge, right? You weren't told to do it when you were young, it's been part of our culture. We already do little things that are cultural codes that are positive codes that build a sense of community.
During Jim Crow we were hella on code. No choice. My survival may depended on you, and your survival may depended on me. You are driving interstate and you end up in my town at sundown. I don't have to know anything about your background. You could be an excon as far as I know. You are a single black male, and I have a wife and daughters at home, but you were staying at my home for your survival. That's how strong our code had to be and that code was stronger than pretty much anyone else's. And why we survived.
When you are targeted systematically, and face poverty it erodes a code. The Irish killed each other more viciously than anyone else in the 1800s. Why? They were on the bottom of the white totem pole "No Irish Need Apply". Alcoholism was the norm. Fathers left and never came back. They formed vicious gangs that fought each other for turf, respect, etc. They had a fair amount of unwed mothers. Sound familiar?
We instinctively know what we should or shouldn't be doing to one another and what is generally considered by everyone as 'off code'. There are gray areas for sure, but the major stuff? It's a given.
The one thing about this whole B1, Black Empowerment, fight for reparations will do organically is develop a cultural code of conduct similar to our enemies. You can't fight a people with a code against you if your code of conduct isn't as strong.
The biggest barrier to us getting a code is our economics. Tulsa, Greenwood and Pine, had a very strong code of conduct. You didn't go downtown in the black area Saturday afternoon without a suit if you were a young adult and older.
Every single black movement simultaneously became a social movement of conduct. Eyes were on the Civil Rights movement so they tried to act accordingly. Was there any gully ish? Sure, but they checked each other and people knew eyes were on them and they did their best to act accordingly.
The Black Panthers had that code of conduct a few posts above. The Nation of Islam is probably the most socially conservative of any black group before or since.
My point being is as this grows, we will act more conservative. It's going to be hard for a brotha who is out there having baby mamas to have any kind of platform about black empowerment. Tariq is a family man,, it helps him. He's big with women. In large part because he talks about generational wealth, he is very publicly loyal and loving to his wife and kids. Dr. Umar was out there thirst trapping and it hurt him. His saving grace is he pushes black love harder than anyone else.
As this grows we will organically, naturally develop a strong code.
