Dr. Amos Wilson on Roots of White dominance

White domination of Blacks in our current social context is primarily by the fact that Blacks think of themselves and of reality in terms created by the self-serving interests and perspectives imposed on them by Whites, and act on the basis of biased and false information provided by Whites without realizing it. They therefore contribute to their powerlessness and domination by Whites simply by thinking of themselves and reality in a manner that allows them to be subjugated. Thus, White domination of Blacks is, to a significant degree, covered by ideology, beliefs which Blacks have been conditioned by Whites to unwittingly accept. To this degree their domination and powerlessness is self-imposed. Blacks obscure their unnecessary domination by Whites and contribute to that domination by their own gullibility and too-ready acceptance of Eurocentric ideology and their obsequious willingness to think and act only within the confines of White generated ideas, social definitions, relations and ethics (not often honoured by Whites themselves). Hence, the minds of Blacks are used to forge links of their own mental chains.

When Africans in the Americas and the world over choose to critically examine the “received” ideas and biased perceptions of “reality” imposed on them by Europeans and choose to know reality for what it is – to create themselves through gaining a thorough knowledge of self, knowledge of the world, and through studying and acquiring power they will then have attained the keys to their liberation. – taken from What is Power? (pg 24-25) (in Blueprint to Black power by Dr. Amos Wilson)