Among political-minded circles of Black people, in Facebook discussion groups,  on collrge campuses, street corners, study groups, community centers, workplaces and everywhere else we congregate, you will come across the term “consciousness.”

Those of us to whom the term applies (accurately or otherwise) use this term so often, widely, and with such variation that it has become cliché and has therefore lost meaning, I aim in this article to bring more clarity to the expression although I must confess at the beginning that “consciousness” is more fluid and dynamic than it is static, and my attempts to define or describe it are just that- attempts. Moreover, I enthusiastically welcome your own comments on this subject; indeed, Teamwork makes the dream work.”

Join me then in this ambitious journey to define perhaps the most overused term in the English language.

Literally Speaking

In a literal sense, people that are conscious are awake and aware, as opposed to being “put to sleep”by societal propaganda. “Conscious” folk are presumed to be more knowledgeable than most about certain conspiracies or information than most of their peers who are more likely to believe what they’re told by establishment agents. For example, conscious people refuse to believe the murders of Malcolm X, Dr. King, and John Kennedy were “coincidental or arbitrary acts of deranged lone gunmen, but rather carefully orchestrated assassinations ordered by government elites to protect various self-interests.

You will find that conscious people tend to process information in certain ways. Our research and understanding of  powerful societal institutions naturally makes us distrustful of mainstream news outlets, which is understandable given that six corporate giants own and control most of our news that American citizens hear and read. That’s right, Time Warner, Walt Disney, Viacom, Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp., CBS Corporation and NBC Universal, own almost all the radio stations,television stations, magazines, books and movies from which we make most of our decisions!

The Power Behind the Power

Conscious people attempt to identify the power behind the power we see everyday and make connections between various corporate/power interests. Just examine the monopoly power of the big six corporations:

Time Warner

Home Box Office (HBO)
Time Inc.
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.
Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
CW Network (partial ownership)
TMZ
New Line Cinema
Time Warner Cable
Cinemax
Cartoon Network
TBS
TNT
America Online
MapQuest
Moviefone
Castle Rock
Sports Illustrated
Fortune
Marie Claire
People Magazine

Walt Disney

ABC Television Network

Disney Publishing
ESPN Inc.
Disney Channel
SOAPnet
A&E
Lifetime
Buena Vista Home Entertainment
Buena Vista Theatrical Productions
Buena Vista Records
Disney Records
Hollywood Records
Miramax Films
Touchstone Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures
Pixar Animation Studios
Buena Vista Games
Hyperion Books

Viacom

Paramount Pictures
Paramount Home Entertainment
Black Entertainment Television (BET)
Comedy Central
Country Music Television (CMT)
Logo
MTV
MTV Canada
MTV2
Nick Magazine
Nick at Nite
Nick Jr.
Nickelodeon
Noggin
Spike TV
The Movie Channel
TV Land
VH1

News Corporation

Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
Fox Television Stations
The New York Post
Fox Searchlight Pictures
Beliefnet
Fox Business Network
Fox Kids Europe
Fox News Channel
Fox Sports Net
Fox Television Network
FX
My Network TV
MySpace
News Limited News
Phoenix InfoNews Channel
Phoenix Movies Channel
Sky PerfecTV
Speed Channel
STAR TV India
STAR TV Taiwan
STAR World
Times Higher Education Supplement Magazine
Times Literary Supplement Magazine
Times of London
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
20th Century Fox International
20th Century Fox Studios
20th Century Fox Television
BSkyB
DIRECTV
The Wall Street Journal
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Interactive Media
FOXTEL
HarperCollins Publishers
The National Geographic Channel
National Rugby League
News Interactive
News Outdoor
Radio Veronica
ReganBooks
Sky Italia
Sky Radio Denmark
Sky Radio Germany
Sky Radio Netherlands
STAR
Zondervan

CBS Corporation

CBS News
CBS Sports
CBS Television Network
CNET
Showtime
TV.com
CBS Radio Inc. (130 stations)
CBS Consumer Products
CBS Outdoor
CW Network (50% ownership)
Infinity Broadcasting
Simon & Schuster (Pocket Books, Scribner)
Westwood One Radio Network

NBC Universal

Bravo
CNBC
NBC News
MSNBC
NBC Sports
NBC Television Network
Oxygen
SciFi Magazine
Syfy (Sci Fi Channel)
Telemundo
USA Network
Weather Channel
Focus Features
NBC Universal Television Distribution
NBC Universal Television Studio
Paxson Communications (partial ownership)
Trio
Universal Parks & Resorts
Universal Pictures
Universal Studio Home Video

Therefore “consciousness” refers to one’s level of knowledge and understanding concerning sites of power and power dynamics in society, and the manner in which various people and institutions work to oppress and subjugate others. Oppression of course manifests itself in various forms including but not limited to racial, gender-based, and class-based oppression. In this respect, conscious people operate at different degrees of consciousness. A person might have a deep  environmental consciousness,but almost no class or racial consciousness to speak of.

Even within specific types of consciousness, various levels exist. Two college student leaders have a strong racial consciousness, but one has a much more developed understanding of political movements and leadership.

how does a person become “conscious?”

Everyone’s path to consciouness is unique; some experience and are personally affected by injustice or discrimination. Others become conscious as a result of his/ her studies. Many reach a level of consciousness from a combination of these factors or by observing/participating in an incident that profoundly moves them.

Consciousness has analytical and corrective dimensions

A brother or sister that has become conscious in  a particular arena will by definition become analytical of people and developments in that arena, and ultimately, become involved in improving conditions, articulating the problem, exposing those

responsible for oppression, or organizing the oppressed. There are many roles to play,and room enough to accommodate people with different skill levels interests and opinions. Everyone is empowered to become involved as they deem fit and to become agents of change in his/her community. We must also recognize that all analyses are not accurate, all strategies are not effective, and all conscious people or projects are not genuine!!

A good way to think of consciousness is to think of it as a keen vision or ability to see power and oppression clearly and the willingness to become active in movements, projects or organizations to produce constructive change and social justice. The movie clip from”They Live” below provides an excellent scene for our purposes. Notice the glasses the character finds and how they change his vision, causing him to literally “see things differently” from many people around him. When he wears the glasses, he can see how propaganda influences everything in his world. This is similar to how one feels as he/she develop consciousness and begins to see with new eyes….. In fact, consciousness leads people to change eating, spending, and other habits due to the new ways they see themselves and the world..

I hope this was helpful…

Agyei Tyehimba is a former NYC public schoolteacher, co-founder of KAPPA Middle School 215 in the Bronx, NY, and co-author of the Essence Bestselling book, Game Over: The Rise and Transformation of a Harlem Hustler, published in 2007 by Simon & Schuster. Agyei has appeared on C-Span, NY1 News, and most recently on the A&E documentary, “The Mayor of Harlem: Alberto ‘Alpo’ Martinez.” Mr. Tyehimba is a professional consultant and public speaker providing political advice and direction for Black college student organizations, community activist groups, and nonprofit organizations. If you are interested in bringing Agyei to speak or provide consultation for your organization, please contact him at truself143@gmail.com.