**NIGGERDOM**

*By Allen L. Johnston – The Music Specialist*

[www.asha.com](www.asha.com)

The entertainment industry today is strategically influencing the minds of young people within the African Diaspora, leading to a concerning shift in values and perspectives. My ongoing interactions with youth, both online and in person, confirm the severity of this global issue.

**Success has been and can be manipulated.**

For years, I've spoken about this issue, but it was my friend, Reje Showers, who aptly named it: "NIGGERDOM."

**What is Niggerdom?**

Niggerdom represents a state of mind that has been programmed into our youth worldwide. It provides them with misguided information about behavior, ethics, morals, and daily decision-making. This isn't a random occurrence but a carefully crafted plan to maintain the status quo, keeping wealth, power, and land ownership out of the hands of people of color.

Instead of creating a product so skillfully and authentically that people naturally desire it, the current entertainment model promotes and markets products to generate artificial demand. The art presented to the masses has become devoid of genuine emotion, often filled with lyrics that glorify sexual exploitation, criminal behavior, low morals, gender bias, and fantastical concepts. Today’s youth are increasingly drawn to sex without love, materialism, and perceived power through violence. Money has become their ultimate conviction.

Historically, this mentality was cultivated when European royalty devised the idea that non-white people were intellectually inferior to white Europeans. This notion became widespread after Europe encountered the wealth of knowledge and resources—such as gold, spices, and advanced sciences—brought back by merchants from non-white continents. Over time, this concept justified slavery, colonization, and the creation of oppressive systems like townships and concentration camps. Today, this same strategy has evolved into a modern methodology, with entertainment and mass media as its primary tools.

**Common Terms in Niggerdom:**

**Haters**

This term, virtually unheard of five years ago, is now widely used to describe anyone with differing viewpoints. A "hater" is someone who openly criticizes or tries to sabotage another, often out of resentment. Instead of addressing everyday challenges, people now dismiss critics as "haters," developing a false sense of security. The term has become a way to diminish others rather than constructively engage with differences.

As Maya Angelou once said:

"When you make your mark, you will always attract some haters... That's why you have to be careful with whom you share your blessings and your dreams because some folk can't handle seeing you blessed... You never know what people have gone through to get what they have."

**Herd Mentality**

One of the most potent tools of Niggerdom, herd mentality, leads people of color to believe they are individuals while they unconsciously follow mass trends in fashion, entertainment, and consumer habits. The Hip Hop generation, for instance, sets new trends that quickly become necessities, overshadowing basic needs like health and education. If a new style is introduced, everyone rushes to adopt it, often at the expense of their well-being or personal growth.

**The System of Degradation**

This cycle of self-degradation and hatred is fueled by the major labels, television networks, movie studios, mass distributors, and media outlets that primarily market and release negative content. Many decision-makers in these industries view the world through a lens focused solely on wealth. Recently, Queen Latifah expressed frustration with the lack of positive roles for people of color in the industry, highlighting a long-standing issue.

However, there is hope. We must take control of the production, distribution, and communication of entertainment and educational materials. This means developing independently owned schools, studios, distribution centers (both online and offline), and banks to support positive content creation. Niggerdom is not just an American problem—it’s a global issue that must be eradicated before it fully erodes our potential to effect change.

I urge you to take the first step with me. Create something that positively represents you, your family, your community, or your beliefs. Connect with like-minded individuals, share your projects and ideas, and actively reject the negative narratives being pushed into your life.

It only takes a few committed people to make a difference.