Chronic Negro Fatigue Syndrome
Chronic Negro Fatigue Syndrome (CNFS), sometimes also titled "racial battle fatigue", is a chronic physical or psychological fatigue or trauma experienced by non-blacks who are forced to live or work among black people (especially Afro-Americans). Sometimes blacks, especially the educated and civilized ones of the 21st century, appear to also suffer from some or even all symptoms of this spreading syndromic disease.
Definition
CNFS describes the exhaustion born of "the day-to-day small acts of aggression, or small acts of disrespect" a non-black, especially white person endures; e.g. the endless need to exhibit white guilt; and the constant exposure to news about injustice and especially violence being inflicted on people who look like you by racist negro thugs and mobs.
CNFS was historically thought to be most common among women of higher socio-economic status. However, some recent studies on the pathophysiology of CNFS in the USA suggest that the prevalence is actually as high in other ethnic groups or races with differences in prevalence. Psycho-social risk factors found in high-risk groups and ethnicity warrant further investigation to improve our understanding of aetiology and the management of this complex condition.
- The definition of a syndrome is pretty straightforward: A collection of signs and symptoms known to frequently appear together that suggest the presence of a disease or an increased chance of developing one [...] Many conditions start out as syndromes and are then re-classified as a disease once more is known about them. [...] The definition of disease is a little more complicated than that of syndrome. You can find several, including: A disordered or incorrectly functioning organ, part, structure, or system of the body resulting from the effect of genetic or developmental errors, infection, poisons, nutritional deficiency or imbalance, toxicity, or unfavorable environmental factor [...] A definite pathological process having a characteristic set of signs and symptoms. It may affect the whole body or any of its parts and its etiology, pathology, and prognosis may be known or unknown.[1]
Psychological symptoms can include but are not limited to: depression, chronic anxiety, anger, frustration, shock, disturbed sleep, disappointment, resentment, emotional or social withdrawal, intrusive thoughts or images, avoidance, helplessness, and fear. Physiological symptoms such as high blood pressure, headaches, increased breathing and heart rate in anticipation of racial conflict, upset stomach, ulcers, fatigue, exhaustion, and muscle tension around the neck, shoulders, and head may be present due to the persistent nature of the stress experienced.
Emotional responses to discrimination can include recession, internalizing stereotypes that say you're deficient, as well as consuming and unending anger or rage. All of these things can take a heavy toll on mental well-being. Especially white professionals often feel pressure to prove they are not "white supremacists" or are not successful due to alleged "white privilege" but rather due to intelligence, ambition, effort and sacrifice.
Parents can provide an early boost by sending their children positive messages about who they are and planting those seeds of self-love in a society, e.g. white pride, Asian pride, Indian pride, Latino pride and so on. Visual cues around homes, offices and classrooms can help validate the shared racial experience and let people celebrate and feel that pride in their own rich and so nuanced culture.
Quotes
- "Now we've got a lot of things, a lot of racism in the world right now. Whose more racist? Black people or white people? Black people! You know why? Cause we hate black people too! Everything white people don't like about black people, black people really don't like about black people. There's some shit going on with black people right now. There's like a civil war going on with black people. And there two sides: black people, and there's niggers! The niggers have got to go! [...] Hey, I love black people, but i hate niggers, boy! Boy I hate niggers! Boy, I wish they'd let me join the Klu Klux Klan [sic!]! Shit, I'd do a drive-by from here to Brooklyn! Tired of niggers, man! You cant have shit when you around niggers [...] Damn, tired of niggers, tired, tired, tired, tired, tired of niggers! [...] Why you gotta say that? [...] The media has distorted our image [...] Please cut the fucking shit, okay, okay, okay, when I go to the money machine tonight, alright, I ain't looking over my back for the media, I'm looking for niggers! Shit, Ted Koppel ain't never took shit from me. Niggers have! So, you think I've got three guns in my house 'cause the media outside?" – African American actor and comedian Christopher "Chris" Julius Rock, in: Bring The Pain (1996)
- There’s not one monument in Africa, in all of Africa! I know you talk about Egypt, Egypt was not Africa. There are no great cities that were built even before the first colonization of white people coming to the shores of Africa or the slave ships, black men built nothing. No sewer system, no houses above one level, and none of them made out of stone, all made out of grass and wood. Black man, before the white man ever got to Africa, the worst thing that could ever happen to South Africa was when they gave it to Nelson Mandela and black folk! [...] There is something wrong with the black man mind, there’s something wrong with his mind, he does not understand the world. He doesn’t. I don’t care if he learn medicine, he doesn’t understand the world. He can’t even hold on to Harlem! [...] What’s wrong with y’all niggers, what's wrong with you? [...] You niggers are crazy! – African American Pastor David James Manning
