Mental
From Page 18
cans, including women and children. Fortunately, rights granted to Alrican-
Americans after the Civil Wa^provides them with a voice that enables them
to address issues of confusion in a non-violent, creative manner.
The segment of African-Americans who display total resentment towards
the Marke^House are extremely angry and offended. They resent the fact
that so much emphasis was placed on the actual structure as opposed to its
historical value. The Old Fayetteville Association is the organization largely
responsible for the newly restored condition o£.the Market House. Sources
within the association revealed that it’s taken eight years and an undisclosed
amount of money to achieve the restoration process, and that the process
wasn’t limited to just the Market House, but all of Downtown Fayetteville.
Blacks state that no matter what time of day a person drives through the
downtown area, there’s always a sizable number of blacks seen hanging around
the immediate vicinity of the Market House, as if to imply that “the apple
doesn’t fall far from the tree.” In general. Blacks' feel they shouldn’t be
forced to look at the Market House on a daily basis.
African-Americans have “occupied space” in this country since the 1600s
and have participated, contributed, and positively effected every major event
in American History. African-Americans have also made original contribu
tions to technology, literature, and other arts. There’s always room for im
provement and positive contributions in society as long as its understood that
there are many racial and ethnic groups with their own distinctive culture,
and in order for those different groups to be functionally integrated, there has
to be mutual harmony, tolerance, and respect.
Fayetteville's Market House demands a response from all who are willing
to participate. While photographing the Market House for the purpose of this
article, the photographers and I were approached by a total stranger (black
male) who obviously felt it was necessary, as a Black American, to make
sure we understood exactly what the Market House represented and how
displeased he was about its very existence. It’s fair to say that the Market
House generates negative responses within the black community. It is also
fair to say that structures such as the Market House provide white society
with the fuel needed to perpetuate stereotypical thinking towards black soci
ety.
Susan Smith, a white South Carolina female who was recently charged
with the murders of her two sons, decided to cash in her views of stereotypi
cal thinking at the expense of the black race.
Because of Susan’s exposure to elements that promote mental segregation,
she rationalized that society would accept a Black-American on the “run” for
carjacking, kidnapping, and possibly murder as opposed to other ethnic groups
who are just as capable of committing crimes of this magnitude. Both Black
and White society shared mutual benefits from Susan’s confession of the
crime. For the sake of discussion, imagine the chain of events that an inno
cent black male may have encountered based on what Susan claims took
place.
This is just one of the many very real examples of how a structure such as
the Market House continues to influence how black society is viewed in the
eyes of white society. Does its dual representation as a historical landmark
and social stigma provide enough information to clearly define its meaning
and value? Or, does it add validity to the concept of Mental Segregation?
Society is my prison,
Racism are the chains which
hold me down,
Prejudices are the bars which
inhibit my growth....
And knowledge shall set me free.
5ronco«'Voice I U
November 1994
Bc«9
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Essence
From Page 18
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