[CT-NFB] Let's Talk Philosophy: Self-Sufficiency and BIPOC

[Justin Salisbury]

Hi everyone,

I have been thinking about bringing up a philosophical discussion point in a group setting, and I've decided that my home affiliate in Connecticut is the right group. I'm going to bring up a point of confusion in the Federation philosophy that I would enjoy discussing with others in our movement. It is not something I can remember encountering in Connecticut, but this does not mean that I am asserting any kind of assumption that it does not exist in the minds and hearts of anyone in Connecticut. (In my opinion, whenever a group of people declares that some form of prejudice does not exist within its boundaries, that is dangerous because the group lets its guard down.) I've been away for a few years, but growing up in a 5,000-person town in northeastern Connecticut and attending high school on the UConn campus has surely shaped my worldview.

To be extra clear, this is not a passive-aggressive attack on anyone. I'm not hoping that this leads to the crucifixion of any particular person. There are problems in American society that can corrupt how people understand Federation philosophy. I believe talking about them can help us reflect on them.

I have heard a line of logic that has been repeated many times, in various forms, which goes something like this:

  1.  The NFB says that blind people need to be self-sufficient.
  2.  [Black and Indigenous People of Color] are not self-sufficient.*
  3.  Because [Black and Indigenous People of Color] are not self-sufficient, we need to get them to (and this part is always said the same way) "find somewhere else to go."

*I put the BIPOC label in brackets because, as you can imagine, various words are used for that label.

I know there are some people who still live on farms, grow their own food, make their own clothes, etc., but how many people do their own dental work? How many people are really and truly self-sufficient? I think any married person can tell you that they have needs that their spouse fulfills for them, like a wife who prefers that her husband cook the clam chowder with his special recipe.

If we want to talk about economic self-sufficiency, I think that might be closer to the ideas in NFB philosophy, but I don't think that our philosophy does shame or cast out anyone who is not living without some kind of financial assistance from the government. In some ways, we all benefit from that, too, because the government pays for the national defense that protects us all, the roads on which we all travel at some point, and many other things that benefit us all.

If we want to talk about independence, I don't think that's the same as never getting anyone to help you with anything. In my thoughts, independence is about having the freedom to make choices for yourself, which gives you greater flexibility and control in your life. If someone doesn't have much independence, then they very much need the Federation, and we should be actively trying to help them, not trying to drive them away.

I think it may be possible to quantify economic self-sufficiency and come out with a ranking that does in fact show that Black and Indigenous People of Color are less economically self-sufficient, but I do not think this is the fault of the BIPOC community. I am mixed, but I group myself in BIPOC. The oppression that Black and Indigenous People of Color have faced and still face has made and continues to make it harder for us to achieve the level of economic self-sufficiency that is enjoyed by White and Asian American communities. If we want blind Black and Indigenous People of Color to become more economically self-sufficient, I support that desire, but I don't think the path to get to it can include casting people aside for the fact that they're already oppressed. We have to help our blind brothers and sisters of all colors to get over the hurdles and continue on our march to freedom for the blind.

In summary, I think the Federation philosophy, when properly applied, actually says that blind people are not free until blind Black and Indigenous People of Color are free.

What do you all think? Whether or not you agree, can you add anything to this discussion?

Aloha,

Justin


Justin Mark Hideaki Salisbury
he/him/his

Phone: 808.797.8606
Email: President at Alumni.ECU.edu<mailto:President at Alumni.ECU.edu>
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-salisbury
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Justin_Salisbury


"Once social change begins, it cannot be reversed. You cannot un-educate the person who has learned to read. You cannot humiliate the person who feels pride. You cannot oppress the people who are not afraid anymore."

Cesar Chavez


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