According to Wikipedia, the New Afrikan Black Panther Party is a revolutionary Maoist (aka Communist) organization largely based in prison. The party is built as a modern-day continuation of the Black Panther Party, which was a revolutionary socialist political organization founded by Marxist college students.
Earlier this month, the New Afrikan’s held a rally in Manhattan. Rioting ensued and several of the groups purported members were arrested for smashing storefront windows in the upscale Flatiron District. The NYPD released the names and mugshots of seven of the arrested members.
Clearly, given the philosophy of the New Afrikans, it is beyond safe to say its members would advocate for redistribution of wealth to create a society void of class disparity and financial superiority. This being the case, then why do NYPD records from the New Afrikans’ arrests show the aforementioned members living extravagant lives which utterly defy the socialist, even communist values for which they rioted? The answer is simple: they are little more than lost hypocrites. One wouldn’t be wrong to say they all possess New Afrikan Privilege.
If you look into the backgrounds of arrested rioters, their purported social justice concerns are in opposition to every facet of their otherwise charmed lives. For example, one member was a fashion model and actress who’s work took her to Montreal and Dublin. An egalitarian society would have no tolerance for the promotion of such superficiality and excess. Yet another socialist sympathizer is a twenty-year-old student at $57,000 a year Sarah Lawrence College and a musical performer at an elite yacht club. I guess neo-Marxists endorse facilities with strict subjective rules of entry, hefty financial membership dues and extremely formal dress codes . . .and by the way, this college price tag doesn’t exactly jive with free college for all.
Another detainee comes from a wealthy family with a second home in Connecticut. The society that the New Afrikans seek to promote would have sick, homeless or poor cohabitating in both houses. According to the New York Post, Frank Fuhrmeister was charged with rioting and possession of a graffiti instrument. Perhaps he honed his graffiti skills as a freelance artist for high-end, high profile brands such as Pepsi, Samsung and The Glenlivet, as his LinkedIn portfolio boast.
There is nothing wrong with privilege. American’s should never have to apologize for being born into a certain family or having certain rare opportunities. However, the true measure of an American is what he or she does with the privilege and opportunity. In the instance of these looting rioters, they effectuated no social change. They didn’t start a productive conversation, raise money for the less fortunate or help a fellow citizen in need. They destroyed property, created fear, and spread division. This is a waste of privilege and a squandered opportunity.
