Black Jack And Jill Seat

Anyone that journeyed to America did so in pursuit of something better for themselves and future generations. Social organizations such were established as a way of easing assimilation into American culture while keeping their heritage intact. These groups such as as Jack and Jill provide a network of support, resources and encouraged civic duty. Within the Black culture, associations have been founded using a similar blueprint to level the playing field by having more opportunities and quality of life. The American dream is well-known and widely sought after, yet the paths taken to achieve it differ. In the Black Experience, the American dream is much harder to maneuver and attain.

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The Growth Of Black Organizations

As we all know, the backstory of how Black people came to America has a different, less gratifying narrative. Our passage was forced, inhumane and contained more than a century of horrific and traumatic details. The end of slavery was the gateway to the Jim Crow South and de facto segregation. We survived exploitation and gained our civil rights, by coming together and mobilizing ourselves. Organizations like the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and Black Panthers formed out of necessity; some still stand as pillars in the African-American community. Since the turn of the 21st century some Black people have started to see an amount of success and monetary gain that has been foreign to many of our ancestors.

In 1999 Lawrence Otis Graham authored Our Kind of People a tell-all highlighting Jack & Jill, an elite organization for “America’s Black upper class” whose members include many of the first Black millionaires, politicians, and generations of prominent Black families. Nothing would seem unusual about a group that was selective in its membership. After all Freemasons, the Order of Skull & Bones and Knights of Columbus are all societies that have specific requirements for members and reserve the right to exclude certain populations. Why should Jack & Jill be criticized for mirroring these practices? The YouTube documentary Social Class & Upward Mobility in Black America brings up the point that classism within the Black community is highly decisive. The idea of knowing our history of oppression and willfully carrying out a caste system is self-sabotaging; has the oppressed become the oppressor?

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Jack jill bench Jack and jill bench. VidaXL Solid Acacia Wood Bench Living Room Seat Hallway Shoe Bench Entryway Furniture Stand Industrial. The Jack & Jill Chair has 2 armchairs joined by 2 tray tables The tray tables have an umbrella hole predrilled This item must be oiled regularly by outdoor furniture oil and use of a furniture cover is recommended. Outdoor Garden Bench Seat Glass Table 2 Seater Jack & Jill Chair Furniture This black 2 seater steel chair is a perfect choice to enjoy a relaxing moment with a loved one. Built from strong textilene material, this double chair provides you with a safe and comfortable seating. The perfect duo for relaxing in this summer, the Miami Jack & Jill Garden Seat comes with two handy shelves. The chic blend of charcoal and black tones will really stand out in any garden,while the exterior grade textoline fabric offers extra comfort and support. Product specifications. Assembly RequiredYes. DimensionsW146 x D59.5 x.

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There are many admirable qualities that Jack & Jill possess: “instill[ing] a love for the Black race”, mentorship and the donation of millions of dollars toward resources for the Black community (CNN – Black in America 2). When it comes to certain aspects of socialization (marriage, business ventures, etc.), a seat at the table is out of the question for Black people with no money, new money or without longstanding family ties to the organization. Much like other cultural associations, Jack & Jill was instituted in response to being excluded from white social clubs and the resources they controlled. Jack & Jill became a safe space to feel good about being Black in America.[/media-credit]

Other races have a strong sense of identity, while the Black experience is seemingly a long life battle to find one’s true identity. During slavery, family members were separated. Black women were raped by slave owners as well as the implementation of the house slave and field negro mentality. The result was the lost of our identity, and a divided family dynamic based on what shade of brown you are.

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Post-slavery the prison pipeline was created, further disconnecting Black families. Both the slave and “free” men had to compete for opportunities and respect, not only amongst other Americans, but within our community. “Passing” as white became a thing whereby the brown paper bag and ruler test (Graham) determined who looked more-or-less like a negro. A darker complexion resulted in disqualification from resources and opportunities and being deemed as unworthy.

The civil liberties of Black people are not fully realized. We are not given the luxury of being judged by our character. Black people are fighting against police brutality, racial profiling, economic and educational disparities. The need to band together and support each other is needed as much now as it was in the past. As Black people we find ourselves having to choose to identify with the working class or unusually successful stereotypes. Our shortcomings are viewed through the lens of “poverty, failure, victimization, mediocrity”; our success, a result of “athleticism” or “affirmative action” (CNN – Black in America 2). Rather than go back and forth about the definition of blackness, what if we took a moment to consider who is defining us? Do we continue to mimic institutions we have idolized, only because we were denied access? Why do we give a side-eye to each other’s successes or perceived flaws? Surely, if one of us makes it all of us make it… right? And if we are not “making it” should we not empower and include one another?

The division that was molded into our thinking is surely eating away at the possibility of wholeness and acceptance of ourselves. Is Jack & Jill a positive influence on the Black community or just another means of discrimination? It depends on who you ask. For those opposed to Jack & Jill, the reasoning is that it is not all-inclusive, rather, invitation only. Nonetheless, there is no one-size-fits-all version of the Black experience. As people of color, we have much more to gain by finding ways to uplift one another rather than allow ourselves to remain in discord.