The New House Negroes: Loyal Opposition (a.k.a. Kestedemena Bandas)

"Back during slavery, when Black people like me talked to the slaves, they didn't kill 'em. They sent some House Negro ("like Kestedemena") along behind him to undo what he said.  You have to read the history of slavery to understand this.

There were two kinds of Negroes.  There was that House Negro and the Field Negro ("like yeAndinet Hailu people").  And the House Negro always looked out for his Master ("like woyane").  When the Field Negro got too much out of line, the House Negro held them back in check.  He put 'em back on the plantation. 

The House Negro could afford to do that because he lived better than the Field Negro.  He ate better (what his Master left), he dressed better, and he lived in a better house.  He lived right up next to his master-in the attic or the basement.  He ate the same food his master ate and wore his same clothes.  And he could talk just like his master-good diction.  And he loved his master more than his master loved himself.  That's why he didn't want his master hurt.

If the Master got sick, he'd say, "What's the matter, boss, we sick?"   We sick! He identified himself with his Master, more than his Master identified with himself.  When the Master's house caught a fire, he'd try and put the fire out.    The House Negro would fight harder to put the blaze out than the master would.  He didn't want his Master's house burned.  He never wanted his Master's property threatened.  And he was more defensive of it than the Master was.  That was the House Negro.

This modern House Negro loves his master. He wants to live near him. He'll pay three times as much as the house is worth just to live near his Master, and then brag about "I'm the only Negro out here." "I'm the only one on my job." "I'm the only one in this school." You're nothing but a House Negro.

 But then on the same plantation you had some Field Negroes, who lived in huts, had nothing to lose.  The Field Negroes - those were the masses. There were always more Negroes in the field than there were Negroes in the house. They wore the worst kind of clothes.  They ate the worst food.  And they caught hell.  They felt the sting of the lash.  They hated their master.  Oh yes, they did.  If the Master got sick, they'd pray that the master died.  If the Master's house caught afire, they'd pray for a strong wind to come along.  This was the difference between the two.  That house Negro loved his master, but that field Negro - remember, they were in the majority, and they hated the master."

Well!!! Check this new kestedemena's house negro interview done yesterday Sunday April 2, 2008.  This House negroe still talks about "Collective Leadership"!!!!  He is fighting hard to be a loyal lap dog like Lidetu!! 

http://www.ethiopianreporter.com/content/view/1372/54/