LM Arnal fights for equality for black people through his writing and work

Written by Gloria Peebles

LM Arnal is a biracial writer who grew up without his family in Europe, at a time when mixed relationships were still taboo, He migrated to the United States after training as an HIV Prevention Counselor LM worked primarily within the black community. He is the author of several books Third World USA, Fun and Fright in Africa, MetrOmpolis: Empire of Greed, Broke in L.A., Brownstone: Resurrection and he has also written some in the French Edition. LM brilliance is beyond measure.

Where were you born and raised? 

I was born in France, but my grades permitted me to attend a US Ivy League University. And thanks to this I was able to be acquainted with great revolutionaries-the Harlem Renaissance writers, the civil rights leaders, and many people in the trenches that tried to make a difference. This was an awakening. Had I stayed in France, I would have become dead inside. Living in Europe kills us inside… Most brothers and sisters dissociate themselves from being black—although lately, it has been changing, despite the repression of the BLM movement (and we have failed in the Courts-just check the recent “Ian Wright Patrick O’Brien” case). The legal system in Europe seldom sanctions racist behaviors.

What was it like growing up biracial?

What I can say about growing up biracial is that no one prepares you for the brutality of this world; for the failed tries, the betrayals, and the pain of being different. But it is not a reason to give up. As you grow into the world and work, you discover new, hard-won tools to win. The biggest challenge is to learn to build bridges where conflicts arise quickly and to find strength in yourself. What you need to know is that you will be betrayed, sometimes by your own people, but if you keep your mind at the right place you will grow from it, become smarter. I was lucky to always reject drugs, which for me is a form of slavery. This quest for freedom gave me the strength to always learn so that I would never be dependent on the white community. I read medical, legal, and at times technical documents so that I can always defend myself against hardships. And this is needed in the fight against racism. Children must be taught self-reliance: this is the priority. Toss the video games, cellphones, tablets, or TVs. They mess up the brain anyway. And teach your kids to read everything—that will save them from many troubles. How many artists have stolen the fruit of their hard work by not looking at their contract, before signing? Teach them to read so that they can remain free always. Before being a tool for power, a book is first a tool to remain free. Why do you think slaves were forbidden to read?? I was saved by the wish I had to become a philosopher—but to become a philosopher as a black person is a European contradiction as political philosophy teaches you first about freedom. You cannot grow black and free in Europe. That is impossible unless you want to sell your soul one way or the other.

What inspired you to write the books?

I had to learn on my own the tools to survive and thrive in this life. I’ve put in my books the lessons I’ve learned. We are at a turning point in our history. War is still being waged on us, silently, at many levels-educations, drugs, homelessness, joblessness, and the continuous mediatic lynching of people of African descent. For every movie “Get out” you have hundreds of “Hancock”, “Prime” or “The Edge” and other idiotic movies that have great actors yet make black folks look bad. It is infuriating to me to see that there are so few movies that treat us like smart individuals. Even if there is a new trend out there, TV channels play the old flops, reality shows, or series that assassinate our self-esteem. Recently, I had to write to the media because the English channels kept playing that terrible movie “The Toy,” and repeatedly to ARTE in France that kept playing that racist abomination “Gone with the Wind”. My books were written to give another view of our people. They are a testimony of what it’s like when you want to play the game – as an equal, and not in a subservient role. How to turn bad experiences into successes. There is no way that we are going to progress if we keep playing their game at the place they have assigned to us. You have just heard from the mouth of LM Arnal. You can purchase his books on Amazon.