What's the matter with Mammyism?

When the above photo popped up on my news feed, I was gob-smacked.I couldn't breath for a second, and then anger, shame, laughter and disgust rolled over me.

Followed by pity and perplexity.  What motivated Sis to climb down from her bench and embrace a convicted murderer? Theories abound and I have heard the term 'mammyism' bandied about. What ever her honor's motivation, I am sure she regrets that impulsive gesture now.

Since 1619 Black Folk have had to shuffle and shuck and jive in the midst of unbearable sorrow for the lands they were stolen from.  Under the tremendous weight of chattel slavery relief was rare, and our Ancestors did what they had to to survive.  For that I salute them.

Our enslaved ancestors had to find copping mechanisms.  Singing and dancing were all that was available under the yoke and the whip.

And with that brief history lesson I will get to my point.  This judge has ruined her career for what was an really bad mistake.

Judge has not revealed her motive in climbing down from her bench and embracing a murderer, and there is no argument she could present that I would accept.  Yet, I needed to find out more about this 'mammyism.'

After a little research, I happened upon the knowledge nugget below;

Mammy-ism: A Diagnosis of Psychological Misorientation

for Women of African Descent

Afi Samelia Abdullah

First Published May 1, 1998 Research Article

https://doi.org/10.1177/00957984980242009

Article information

Abstract

AfricanAmerican women can experience somefeelings of self-hatred to the extent that they evaluate and then devalue their physical characteristics (facial features, skin color, hair texture, personal behaviors) referencing beauty standards set by European Americans who imbue White supremacy. These same Black women may find themselves acting out certain behaviors in historically defined and ascribed roles dictated by individual and institutionalized racism, roles that help to maintain the dependency and oppression of Black women. One such role ascribed to a Black woman is that qfmammy. This article addresses the concept of mammy and the maintaining of the mammy cultural image. The diagnosis of Mammy-ism is discussed as an example of one way thatAfricanAmerican women historically assume the role and acquiesce to this socially determined inferior status, demonstrate attitudes of self-alienation, and display mental confision. As a result, African social reality and survival thrust are displaced with European social reality and survival thrust. African women who display the above characteristics suffer from the mental disorder of Mammy-ism. The Azibo nosology categorizes Mammy-ism as a subcategory of Psychological Misorientation (genetic Blackness minus psychological Blackness)."

Sarah Baartman was kidnapped, enslaved and displayed in public venues in England and Europe.  This role was thrust upon her, she did not choose her situation, but she has become a symbol of black womanhood in the eyes of white folks.  They chose to perpetuate this myth to degrade and embarrass an entire race. I will not be embarrassed by the sacrifices she made to survive.

But I will be inflamed and outraged by a modern-day judge slipping back 300 hundred years to comfort a convicted murder.

I think shaving 12 years off the jury-mandated 22 year sentence for shooting a man in his own home in cold blood is plenty comforting enough.

The inequality in American justice has been documented to death, but this demonstration beats every last one of them.  Does her 'honor' hug every murderer on every murder case she has presided over?

We all know the answer to that...hell naw.  What is it that was so compelling about the heinous bitch?  I will not type her name, will not speak it but I will drag her character and murderous intent every chance I get until one of us dies.

But what about '''''forgiveness""?  What about it?  In order to forgive someone, that person must exhibit regret and remorse and not one whiff of either has the perp displayed.  I have not heard or read of an apology issued by her or any representative of the murderer. But I did read somewhere that she wants to appeal her sentence.  How much remorse does that demonstrate?

I am not gong to speak about the light sentence, the conduct of Botham's brother or the hairdressing deputy.  What I do wish to address is the need some black folks have to overlook the racist climate we are living in.  Pretending that great strides have been made, while knowing any advances that the American Descendants of Slaves achieved were not done out of love, compassion or equality but the repeated pressure from US citizens to 'do the right thing'.

As simple as that, and as complex.