Editors Note: Introducing The Sunshyne Expressions, a new feature on GeoClan.com. Here we get a look into the mind and thoughts of Josey Sunshyne, a multi-talented lady to say the least. Here she will look at topics all over the topic called life! This time she talks about The Willie Lynch Letter aka The Making Of A Slave...

Warning:   If you are not in the mood for change or "real talk" you may not want to read on.

I know that $293 isn't much to us today.   I could spend that on my cell phone bill in a month's time (boo to you, Verizon)...I could buy maybe 4 outfits (and that's a big "maybe")...or I could spend it on a nice dinner for two and ill bottle of champipple...

Point being:   I could spend $293 in no time.

So now think:   how long ago is 293 years ago?  

Seems like a lot of time when u look at it now, right?   But in breaking that same number down in terms of dollars and cents we realize that we really not dealing with that large a figure at all, right?

And the point is?

Wait for it...

I read The Willie Lynch Letter today.

William Lynch, a white slave owner, delivered this speech on the bank of the James River in Virginia only 293 years ago (1712).   I'll be the first to admit, obviously we are living in a different society now, but the question is:   how different?

In-so-much as to display the similarities between Willie Lynch's plan of action for "controlling your black slaves" and today's societal plans for, what I like to call, "maintaining your black ignorance," I have provided inserts from his speech. "enjoy"...

"I caught a whiff of a dead slave hanging from a tree a couple of miles back.   You are not only losing valuable stock by hangings, you are having uprisings, slaves are running away, your crops are sometimes left in the field too long for maximum profit...I do not need to elaborate. ...I am here to introduce you to a method of solving them."

"I have outlined a number of differences among the slaves and I take these differences and make them bigger. I use fear , distrust , and envy for control purposes ..."

".On top of my list is "age" but it is there only because it starts with an "a"; there is "color" or shade, there is intelligence, size, sex, size plantations, status on plantation, attitude of owners, whether the slaves live in the valley on the hill, east, west, north, south, have fine hair, course hair, or is tall or short.   Now that you have a list of the differences, I shall give you an outline of action - but before that I shall assure you that distrust is stronger than trust, and envy is stronger than adulation, respect or admiration."

This one is my own personal 'favorite':"... You must pitch the old black male vs. the young black and the young black male against the old black male.  You must use the dark skin slaves vs. the light skin slaves and the light skin slaves vs. the dark skin slaves.   You must use the female vs. the male, and the male vs. the female.  You must also have your white servants and overseers distrust all blacks, but it is necessary that your slaves trust and depend on us .   They must love, respect and trust only us ." (For your information: it really hurt me to even type this last insert)

The purpose of this rant is not to terminate alliances formed between races or even to arouse levels of distrust, but more-so to bring to realization the psychological influences on the "negro" that were set into movement as much as 300 years ago yet the ramifications are still very much alive to this very day.   The difference, however, is that today we have placed this psychological jargon on one another.   Just think, how many times have we said to ourselves and others that "light skin is out" or that "her hair is too nappy" (but coincidentally you never hear " his hair is (too) nappy". Ever thought about that one?).   We've been 'got', ya'll.   We've been taught to bid against one another.   Old vs. Young, man vs. Man, male vs. female, light vs. dark, and this list could go on.   Look at our broken families, our broken communities, and our lack for unity.   Does this seem coincidental to you?   It shouldn't.   It's all directly related.

In today's commercial and consumer based society we become easily blinded by all that glitters and all that's gold.   It's almost unfathomable that we are still, in a sense, slaves and products to a society that profits from our exploitation just the same as almost 300 years ago.   Our commercial music and lifestyle bids our youth against violence, our natural features against the opposite, our men against our women, our comm unity against material possessions, and our very nature against one another.   We have to realize this and be come unity again.

I once saw a movie (Everyday People) that broke down the brotha / sistah relationship perfectly: 'although u may not want to look to the next man and call him "brutha", if KKK members came around the corner on a horse yellin' "let's kill these *ninjas*, you'd turn to me and say "let's run, brotha."   In other words our looking out for one another need not be circumstantial.

So let's do this!   Let's change the way we think.   Let's greet one another properly.   Let's be one another's back bones.   Let's build together.   Let's build one another.   Let's learn our history.   Let's read.   Let's own.   Let's educate one another.   Let's provide good examples and role models for our youth.   Let's say 'f--k material shit'!   Let's be messengers.   Let's deliver these words throughout our communities.   Let's remember our historical leaders and social change-makers.   Let's not leave their work and lives sacrificed in vain.   Let's teach our kids outside of public school history.   Let's be good parents.   Let's be leaders.   Let's be accountable.   Let's hold government accountable.   Let's stop calling one another 'niggas' and 'ninjas'.   Let's tell one another 'I love you' or 'I got u' or even 'I understand you.'   Let's hug one another.   Let's do this!

Even an inkling of change is born from the simplest of thoughts and actions...

Today, do me these two favors:   as you go back out to face the world, whether getting on the bus, going the store, paying the parking attendant or simply walking down the street; say hello to your Brotha/Sistah, and call them just that.   Make direct eye contact with a person of color and say "hi/sup/hello/how u doin', Brotha/Sistah".   They may or may not look at you crazy, but it's a start either way.   And the second favor, remember the words in this rant as you reflect on your day and meditate into your next.

One luv, One world, One family,

A quote to remember: "I may not change the world.   But I guarantee I'll spark the mind of the person that changes the world." - Tupac Shakur

For any comments email Josey by clicking here