Pure and simple, the 70’s generation was more interesting because they understood their culture and were BOLD. They didn’t have hang-ups–they embraced their culture, heritage and the language of Black culture. They also were funky.
From Soul Train to 70’s Soul music; the image of Black people transcended our experience in America and became the catalyst to many contributions in art, dance, fashion, literature and entertainment.
The 70’s generation were at a very serendipitous crossroad: on one hand, they were the benefactors of the Civil Rights movement, but also the face of Black Power. The could be everything that their parents had been denied.
Many young people today are still intrigued by the seventies.
I miss the closeness that existed in the Black community. Everyone knew their neighbor and were there for each other. There was a unity that was unprecedented. Black men and women were absolutely beautiful. When you saw Black couples–it was normal. Not a thing to be shocked by.
Black people knew who they were during this time. They knew who they were. Black women were naturally beautiful–Physically fit and NO HAIR WEAVE!!!
When Black men were seen, they represented MANHOOD. They were athletic, intelligent, strong, unafraid. They looked like men. When you looked at a Black man, his entire body language reminded you of where he came from:
Being Black was Cool.
When I was a little girl, I was proud to be BLACK. As a woman, I’m still proud, but I’m ashamed of what represents Black America today: thuggery, Black women sporting fake hair, too many babymommas, and Black men and women feeling that it’s better to marry non-Blacks as opposed to each other.
Who are we if we don’t remember where we came from?
This has been a public service announcement.
Learn from it.
From The Mind of Truthangel 
Hey luv, I just read your blog and I must say this is truly enlightening to here what the world was like for us black Americans back in the 70s, even as a kid growing up during the 90s I always noticed a significant difference between how blacks act during that era as opposed to how they were during the 70s, let alone the regression on how blacks are today, not all of us are like that, but a good majority of us in this generation have somewhat of a primitive mindset. Like a young lady said the black culture today is garbage compared to the 70s, 80s, and 90s, the music is garbage, many black males like sagging their pants, wearing tight jeans and lips piercings like homos, as well as degrading a strong beautiful black women, and simply thinking a white women is better in every aspect, which is a very cruel thing to say. Even celebrities of today pale in comparison to the ones during the 70s, they all just seem so phony and unreal, not to mention sellouts as opposed to guys like Muhammad Ali, Marvin Gaye etc, those were real role models back in those days not garbage like drake, chris brown, and shitty minaj, like the lady said. Truthangel107 me and a couple of friends of mine talk about this all the time as to how we believe that with the increase of technology as well as our reliance on it has regressed us tremendously. I also feel that the crack epidemic played a significant role in the destruction of our culture. Another big problem in this generation I believe is everybody is so reliant on money, which I understand that money is the necessity to a substantial living, but when you say things such as ‘money over everything’, or who needs friends or family, as well as saying things such as excuse my language luv but saying things such as “fuck relationships I don’t need a man or a women” adds on to that self hate and separatism that’s so strong within the black community. Also Like someone said earlier I agree as well that social media plays a role in this destruction as well, advertising negative influences as if its cool and good creates a problem as well, which causes this generation to be so caught up with being the tough badass, and if one is considered to be nice and generous their either weak or just full of it, the memes on things such as instagram only influences this problem even more, its like everyone in this generation is to caught up with thinking that being the badass and not loving just lusting is cool, at least until it happens to them. This generation I feel do the fact they weren’t in the same oppressed circumstances as individuals in the 60s going into the 70s, don’t have the same drive as your generation did the moment their faced with any kind of adversity they’ll fold up and run on Facebook or instagram crying about their problems as oppose to just being strong and facing those problems like a strong person would.
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What happened to the Black community is basically that Black people allowed white people in their minds, and then in their lives. Many started thinking that it was ok to co-mingle with these beasts. White people are not even human. Black people are 100% human. We don’t need them. However, our culture suffered because we stared valuing “nothing-ness.” As white folks do. They don’t have culture any longer. They imitate everything…but create nothing.
In a nutshell, we forgot who we are because we detached from our God-source and began to cling to materialism.
The only salvation is the Black family. Nothing on this planet matters more.
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I know this is a really old post, but I just happened across it today, and it really struck a chord. I just wanted to say I think your blog is amazing and thought-provoking. I wonder, what happened between the 70’s and now to create such a change in African-American culture? I grew up in (and am still in) Canada and black culture up here is very different – it’s more Island culture I think, with Jamaican and Trinidadian influence much more strongly felt. And while I can’t at all say that racism isn’t a problem in Canada, it seems that the societal ideal here is to be more inclusive and colour blind. I don’t really think I have a point, I really just wanted to say “keep up the good work!”
Thanks
Steve.
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Thank you. What you described is called, duality. And I’m a southerner (born in Georgia) but raised in the north. That type of behavior is a coping mechanism that many oppressed people adopt in order to survive. Even in 2016, I see it down south. The Black Power movement was a northern phenomenon. Although Civil Rights ratified many structural institutions of racism in this country; mental enslavement was not nullified. Black people today are even more blind to the power constructs of racism and white supremacy than ever. Education is one remedy but frankly, there must be a total change in consciousness in order to truly elevate as a people.
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I concur with most of the comments on here. But bear in mind the responsibility cuts both ways. We can’t say they are behaving badly yet claim no culpability in their upbringing and their behavior.
For starters there isn’t much church in black communities anymore. Many of the aforementioned singers from the 70’s have their roots in church. So lack of spirituality and a positive purpose in life are the first culprits. End result: Hopelessness and no end in sight, leading to apathy.
Also having both parents is not a bad thing despite what media would like to portray. Not all fathers are deadbeats who sit in prison all day and yet this image (one of many) is what is pushed out there. The result being kids growing up with no paternal influence to curb those hormones at a time when they are needed the most. Not to mention social media is everywhere, promoting their negatives and propagating them like seeds. Small wonder they grow up sexually confused and entitled but with a testosterone slant. End result: thugs unwilling to conform to decency for the betterment of the community – and themselves.
And to be honest the drug society really began in the late 60’s. And while blacks themselves did not create these drugs (whites had initially used them all as pharmaceuticals until it was discovered they were far from helpful, and they somehow found their way into the black community) It sure didn’t stop them from preying on one another with the pushing and selling of them. With jobs drying up and whites moving out of urban areas because of blacks moving in there weren’t a whole lot of opportunities for upward mobility for them. End result: far too many took the easy way out.
Although I mostly love the 70’s there were still plenty of misfires even then. I couldn’t glorify films like “The Mack” or even “Superfly” any more than I could “Menace II Society”. One romanticized preying on our own people with drugs while the other glorified murdering blacks who actually wanted to live the dream MLK envisioned for us. Today’s kids may only be seeing those aspects of the 70’s and using that to justify their own rebellious streaks, including (but not limited to) their relationship with weed.
I too am a 70’s baby but I felt more attuned to my grandfather’s roots. Well, my maternal one anyway. He was originally born in 1903 and passed away when I was a wee tike. He was a sharecropper so hard work was all he ever knew. His father was a sharecropper as well and of course his grandfather was a slave. He amassed a small fortune for himself as a result of that. But he didnt marry my grandmother until he was in his early 50’s (she was about 21 or so). He didn’t have my mother and uncles until he was in his 50’s/60’s. I have vague memories of him but they are pleasant ones. He never pushed me to do anything I didn’t feel comfortable with. He just allowed it to happen. Not to mention he was the only older person that never raised his voice when I was a kid! What child wouldn’t appreciate that? lol! In any case that mentality carried me thru 20 years in the military and I currently use that problem-solution mindset for IT troubleshooting. (Am an Aquarius so I took to servers/computers like a moth to a flame. It was also my job for 20 years in the service.)
Anyways I am glad I found this forum. It has helped restore some confidence in us as a people. It’s ok to show that you care. Most of the time we wear our emotions far too close to our vests and never talk about it. Then it builds until it can’t be contained anymore and comes out as graphic violence, usually towards one another. If we never show those emotions it’s far too easy for others to perceive (and subsequently treat) us as nonhumans. And we already know far too many white people DON’T care!
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I agree completely with everything you’ve said and I do believe I hit on many of the things you’ve mentioned in various blog entries over time.
And…WELCOME to my blog.
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I grow up in the 70’s. Black culture was a way of life. Life was all about taking pride in obtaining a good education, living in a respectful community, building close relationships with people in your community, keeping the community clean, and obtaining a good job that provided great benefits. Self Pride, Self Motivation, Self Development, and Self Discipline were the key components to the American Dream. Based on Black Pride, I was able to live a successful life by serving 20 years in the army and 20 years in the field of law enforcement. I’ve always tired to lead by example. I continue to encourage you people to take advantage of opportunities that life has to offer.
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I grew up in this type of community as well.
It’s a shame how some Black people have digressed into the stereotypes white people forced into their minds.
We must re-invest in our culture and stop allowing the negativity, depravity, and ignorance of white people to infiltrate our minds, spirits, and behavior.
African Americans are bigger than the history of this country. We are descended from Africans–the first race that parented all other races. There is no one we should feel inferior to.
Our great history is filled with reasons why we must continue to rise and become what God designed us to be.
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I am not black but I think black woman look so beautiful with natural hair. I love the 70s and the whole black power culture! Its so powerful! So much creativity in the dancing, fashion and attitude!
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Yes…that was a great time for Black culture and expression. I miss it myself.
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@TruthAngel07
Thank you for loving my comments. Dont give up on all of us millienial blacks TruthAngel. I think because my generation did not face extreme Jim Crown racism and gets easily fooled by the “We Are The Human Race” and “Racism is over” crowd, alot of us are asleep. I was asleep too, I thought integration was the way. However as I began to critically thinking about how this system of white supremacy affects African-Americans and other non-whites in every area of human life(from education to housing to employment), I really began to look at the situation differently. I regret that I fell for the racism is over stuff but I do believe everything in life is a teaching moment. Maybe I needed to have reality smack me in the face for understand it better.
So dont give up on all of us TruthAngel07,lol!
p.s. The Black Panthers were with white women. I mean other bloggers have said something similar but I did not know how true that was. Thanks for the info.
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No. I won’t give up on you TT. I work with a lot of Millenials and I educate as well as communicate with them on a regular basis. Knowledge is power. This is one of the most fundamental truths there is. Most young people DON’T READ and in college; you’re not taught to THINK CRITICALLY–you’re taught Rote Learning–which is basically just memorization. This is the point. At a later time, I will blog what books I feel young people, particularly young Black people need to read. I do have a book out on Amazon, entitled, A Journey Into The Mind of a Black Woman. The link is on the main page. Just click the image.
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Integration was the worst thing that happened to Blacks in AmeriKKKlan. They should have built their own communities after the Civil Rights Movement and relied on their strength and God to get by. Racial integration doesn’t work because you don’t integrate with your enemies aka the so called White devil
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That’s correct but for some unknown reason, many Black people assess success with white acceptance. That’s a slave mentality.
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When they tried to do that, Whites got mad and try and did destroy those communities that blacks wanted to have for themselves. Tried before and was destroyed immediately. Can not blame that on us as every time we try to build up, they bring us right back down.
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Thank you Truth Angel for respecting my comments. I agree with you but I think there were FIVE BAD and STUPID mistakes that the Black Power/post Civil Rights movement era blacks made and unless corrected, blacks will still be forever in this poor quality of living position.
1)Black people suffer from a Moses complex
While we needed individual leaders like Dr. King and Malcolm X to represent the different views on what African Americans should do(integrate or separate), black people are looking for one individual black person to save them and/or get them to the promised land as opposed to looking at our collective human worth to create change. Well, you are from Chicago TruthAngel right? The late Harold Washington became mayor in 1983. In my hometown of NYC, David Dinkins became mayor in 1989. Obama became president in 2008 and was re-elected in 2012. Has the collective position of blacks changed? No. In fact many of these black leaders are just puppets for the white supremacy system
2)The Black Panther Party focused on the issue of class
From my understanding, the Black Panthers developed a Marxist doctrine, which looks at class struggle(I could be wrong). The problem is that in America and any other country that has roots in European colonialism, race is a much deeper factor than class. How? A poor white, while suffering from poverty, has an easier chance of getting out of poverty than a poor black and when they do become middle class, they have an easier time maintaining their wealth than a middle class black person. For example, the housing crisis affected the black middle class very badly. From my understanding, your hometown of Chicago is the most racially segregated city in America and my hometown of New York is similar. There are many middle class blacks(e.g. nurses, teachers, accountants, social workers,etc.) yet they, unless they are lucky to move to a white area or are in an interracial relationship with a white person, mostly live with the poor blacks in South Side Chicago or for New York in Harlem, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brownsville, etc. While the Black Panthers were correct in looking at class structure, the racial system in countries that suffer European colonialism is more of a caste(e.g. In India, being born into) structure.
3)The Black Power movement lacked a sound economic plan
To be fair, the Black Panthers were crushed by the government(e.g. Counterpro, J. Edgar Hoover from the FBI, Fred Hampton killing, 1970s Philadelphia mayor Frank Rizzo) but since the Black Panthers were Marxist in ideology, they were anti-capitalism. While I agree that capitalism has many flaws(in fact, it is one of main reasons behind the African slave trade), you cannot be successful in a capitalist nation like America while advocating for another type of economic market. Thats why the only black person I really take seriously is Louis Farrakhan. I am not in the NOI and Farrakhan talks ALOT of crap(e.g. being in UFOs) but he is WISE to the fact, that if black people are to be taken seriously, MONEY has to talk.
4)Integration was nothing new as there were always a small number of blacks who assimilated into White America
I found these articles from Jet magazine. These are from the 1950s. I love how people believe that interracial marriage and assimilation cures racism. The irony is that people said the same thing in the 1950s(before the rise of the Civil Rights Movement)
Black Actress with her White Husband(1952 Jet magazine cover)-http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3019/2577627047_60e1531b60_z.jpg?zz=1
Black Women with their White Husbands/Families(sons & daughters)-http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3168/2578831096_215ba62111_o.jpg
German Women looking for Black Men(Some had children with black men,probably when African-American soldiers went to Germany in World War II)-http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3321/3409741492_ef7a591a23.jpg
5)Black people are very stupid, ignorant about how white supremacy truly functions
I’m not a conspiracy theory black nationalist but it blows my mind when black people are very dumb about this system. Think about this TruthAngel. Five different groups of people (e.g. us as black people, Native Americans, Aboriginal Australians, Maori in New Zealand, Native Hawaiians) from five different places on this Earth with five different cultural/historical backgrounds ALL suffer from the same exact problem since the rise of European colonialism(e.g. discrimination, internalized racism, poor education, high unemployment, poor housing via living on reservations or in inner city areas,poor health, higher mortality/death rates). And integration works? Black people,at least the ones that are conscious, need to stop relying on moralistic or utopian ideals and be more realistic about the given situation.
You could disagree with me TruthAngel07 but I think these things sent black folks to the cemetery(in some cases, literally)
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First of all, I’d like to thank you for your high-powered response. You really added some true intellectual TNT to this discussion.
I agree with you on all your points and I’ll add that in my opinion; cointelpro was given the fuel they needed to dismantle the Black Panthers because many of those brothers were secretly sleeping with white women.
Also, I too do not believe that interracial unions, friendships, or integration does anything to empower Black people. Only equals can be the truest friends. And white people have never been our friends nor have they wanted us to be equal to them.
It’s like the late Dr. Chancellor Williams said in his book, The Destruction of Black Civilizations: “Black people must decaucasianize.”
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Hands down one of my favorite times in Blackness. I was in the city (D.C.),and spent summers in the country (S.C.) during most of the 70’s so I had a view of Black people from a few different angles. It was so real being Black back then or so it seemed. I almost wanna weep at how far we’ve left our base. It was cool to be dark skinned and even celebrated.
I remember a neighbor on my block was the first one to get hair afro (not fro) dyed red, black and green. I couldn’t stop staring at her walk down the street, and she had them sista hips too. Damn she was fine ( I guess, I was just a little boy looking). That’s another thing that I miss; when Black women were just Black women. They weren’t trying to be anything but Black.
Okay sis I won’t go on and on.
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I hear you.
One of my favorite Spike Lee movies was Crooklyn. It just caught the spirit of the 70’s so well. And I really related to the theme of the movie and the kids. It reminded me so much of how I grew up in my neighborhood in Chicago.
It was a better time…
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My ex and I use to watch Crooklyn so much we knew the lines. That movie was excellent and got none of the credit it should have.
We were lucky, very lucky.
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Very. Spike isn’t making movies that much any longer. Maybe if he was; he wouldn’t have to criticize Tyler Perry so much.
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I’m no of Perry myself.
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Some people aren’t. But the nineties was a period where Black culture exploded. It was nice to have Spike Lee, John Singleton, The Hudlin Bros. et a. Today…name even 5 Black directors that have the impact those brothers had.
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That’s right sis I haven’t even thought about that.
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I miss that period.
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Honestly TruthAngel07, as a Generation Y black person, those brothas and sistas in the 1970s put us to shame. As Adeen said, the movies, the music was something
-The Wattstax movie(seeing the afros on the black men, black women, and black children at the stadium in Los Angeles), Marvin Gaye, Harold Melvin and the BlueNotes with Teddy Pendergrass, Good Times, the Sidney Poitier and Bill Cosby movies(e.g. Lets Do It Again). Those must have been the days!
In my opinion, the late 1960s and early 1970s period was a time for blacks to truly express themselves as human beings on a positive level. While they did benefit from the Civil Rights Movement, it was a time to break away from the conservative “integrationist” ideals and form something for themselves. And it was not just in America
-My family is Trinidad & Tobago(hence the TT in my username) and the Blacks in the Caribbean as well as those that went to England in the 1970s had expressed their version of Black Power with the dreadlocks, the politically charged roots reggae music(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roots_reggae) and “London reggae sound” of lovers rock-(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lovers_rock) and the growing Rastafarian movement(which has roots in black nationalism) as Bob Marley, and Peter Tosh came on the scene.
Honestly most other non-whites copied us to break away from the dominant white culture. For example, the Native Americans had a Red Power Movement(http://www.culturequest.us/munoz/redpower.htm) and even the Australian Aboriginals had a “Black Power Movement” in Australia. The younger Aboriginals, who were influenced by Huey Newton, Eldridge Cleaver and the Black Panther Party, wanted to break away from the “integrationist” mentality of joining White Australia. They realized that integration(they even had Freedom Rides in Australia modeled after the ones for blacks in the U.S.) had its limits-http://tracker.org.au/2012/04/little-black-duck-as-long-as-we-have-youth-we-still-have-hope/.
So yes TruthAngel07, the Generation Y(millienial) blacks from my personal observation are basically falling into two poles- “assimilate” and seek out non-black mates to prove we “made it” or just waste time in life by listening to pointless hip-hop, or hang out on the street corner.
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First, thank you for your comments.
My conclusion regarding the impact on segregation on the Black psyche has been one of dysfunction. The Black Power movement was more about affirmation and declaration; where it failed in my honest opinion was to not have an intellectual response. They should have had more foresight in understanding that there is no white person on this earth who can relate to the Black struggle; thus, what is the point of integration if it diminishes the mental empowerment of Black people? There are far too many Black people on this earth who view whites as superior. Intrinsically, they really do…and this has betrayed the rhetoric that was shouted in the 60’s and 70’s.
We as a people must stop making the presumption that in order to conquer whites; we somehow have to mimic them.
We are a creative people and for the last 15 years; I just haven’t seen Black people who are impressing me much nor advancing our culture.
When white folks are debating whether or not it’s racist to use the word Nigga as a term of endearment; then the Black Power movement was just a concept, if it is not demonstrated by correcting the ignorance that white people are known all too well to display, and possess.
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Times have changed, those pants those sisters are wearing look nice, what happened to black men wearing suits now a lot don’t even know how to tie a tie. Those brothas in that pic look fine, and have a certain presence about them I can’t put my finger on. nowadays I guess they’d call it swag but these brothas on a whole nother level.
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It was called: SELF-RESPECT, and add, SELF-LOVE. That’s the difference.
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I am a young, Black woman and I HATE my generation. The music is crap and Black culture is denigrate too. Most people in my generation listen to crap like Shitty Minaj, Frake and Lil Gayne. Many of the Black men in my generation are emasculate and homosexual and refuse to date Black women. It is ridiculous. That is why I am single. Plus most Black guys my age don’t value education and value Rap crap. And too many girls my age sport weaves too. I think my generation is anti Black and I hate it!
I love your generation. You are around my mother’s age too. I love 1970s so much like Marvin Gaye, Spinners, Jackson Five etc. I also love Led Zeppelin, Queen and 1970s Rock too. I love the 1970s culture and the TV shows like Good Times, The Jeffersons, What’s Happening etc.
I wonder how it was like to live in the 1970s and grow in it too? I love the 1970s so I want to hear everything about it.
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I wish I had a time machine to transport you back for a few months, Adeen. It was a fun time for the most part.
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And never come back to this time period ever until I grow up in the 1970s. I love the 1970s from the TV shows, music etc.
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Oh, I think you’d come back Adeen. There were no cell phones or HD television back then…LOL
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Do you suppose young people of our current era will have the same outlook a generation or two from now?
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Honestly, it’s not ethical to criticize young people today because somewhere…at the crux of the problem is HOW THEY WERE RAISED. Many Black parents today simply do not teach their children their history or their culture. They worship the material world, have no spiritual base; and don’t even think to teach their children about values.
Everything produces after their own kind; and if the parents are upset about young people; then many need to look in the mirror and ask: WHAT ROLE DID I PLAY IN THE DYSFUNCTION OF MY CHILD?
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I’m following that train of thought, truthangel. I’d go so far as to look at the “I” in your capped sentence and consider that “I” as equivalent to “one and all”. We are all “I” at some point, past, present and future. Here then, is our legacy. Ah, ‘the circle of life’.
On an entirely different note — and I should add I’m not ADHD — my cat is now hounding me (love a bad pun). I should change his name to Pesky.
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