The Glory of Africa Part 8

For long millennia, humans have lived in the world. Africa is the Mother of human civilization. This is why
we all love Africa. Africa not only has beautiful fauna and flora. Amazing human beings, who are among
many nationalities and backgrounds, live and proper in Africa too. No amount of oppression and any other
evil can stop the revolutionary, inspiring spirit of the Motherland of Africa. We live in the 21st century.
Massive technology, economic development, trade, and the rights of women are very important issues in
Africa. We have to address not only economic and political issues in the world. We have to promote the
total human rights of women in Africa (and throughout the Earth). We believe in the right of all Africans to
believe in spirituality or not. There have been massively historic changes in the world during the year of
2015 alone. Yet, one thing remains the same, which is wisdom. Also, the truth is stoic and it is
unchangeable. The truth remains the same from the days of the earliest civilizations of Africa to our
modern times. We ought to acknowledge our heroes like Lilian Ngoyi,, Margaret Ekpo, Patrice Lumumba,
Kwame Nkrumah, and Harriet Tubman. Not to mention that we must give respect to the courageous,
young conscious individuals who are making a real difference in the world too. History is being made now
from efforts to help the poor to community development programs in the globe. Back consciousness is
always sacrosanct. I am a black American person. I AM BLACK AND BEAUTIFUL.

There is a lot of good news in Africa as well. There is a program called GiftedMom based in Cameroon. It is
Central Africas first mobile health platform. It was established to improve the health of pregnant women,
new mothers, and their children. It has saved lives too. Alain Nteff was the founder of this group. He
created Gifted Mom and it offers a comprehensive amount of services to women and families. They have
free SMS services to help women handle their pregnancies. Many young people are involved as well. Ellen
Chilemba is a Sister from Malawi who has her Tiwale community based organization. She and her team
have trained 150 women to be entrepreneurs. Her team is offering grants, loans, and lessons that can lead
into empowerment and independence. Olumide Adeleye of Nigeria has created the Twin Academy in
Idaban, Nigeria. This is a school to offer media and creative arts services for young people, mostly who are
typically 18-35. There are courses there on basic computer skills, photography, video production, web
design, and visual effects. So far, the Twin Academy has provided comprehensive vocational training to
more than 100 young people with graduates going on to become professional photographers,
videographers, or small business owners. The 28 year old Hado Nicaise Sawadogo is working on a program
to get young men and women back to work in Burkina Faso, His program is called AEPT-Detenus et
Entrepreneuriat. These actions are done by young African people. The mainstream media doesnt readily
report on these stories, yet these stories should always be displayed in the world. Africa is made up of
courageous human beings who are doing what is right.

Our Great Heritage

Our heritage is long. We are the first humans on Earth as black people. Humanity was birthed in Africa.
There is the Ishango bone which appears to be a lunar calendar between 23,000 and 18,000 B.C. People in
Africa during that time ate food, domesticated animals, and cultivated wheat and barley. In the steppes and

savannahs of the Sahara and the Sahel, the Nilo-Saharan speakers and Mande peoples started to collect
and domesticate the wild millet, African rice, and sorghum between 8,000 and 6,000 B.C. There were
Omotic speakers who domesticated enset in ca. 6,500-5,500 B.C. in Ethiopia. East Africa, West Africa, and
North Africa developed greatly in the early times of human history. Most of southern Africa back then was
occupied by the Khoisan people and other human beings. There was the Saharan desertification which
caused the Sahara to transform into a heavily desert region that it is today. During the Neolithic revolution,
ancient Egypt, ancient Nubia, and other cultures were grown in the world. The Nabta Playa is known for its
elaborate design.
Basil Davidson wrote, "Egypt was not born into a void; it emerged from a Neolithic womb, and this womb
was African. The peasants of the Fayum Lake, those who laid the foundations of old Egyptian society, were
not without their own ideas about like and the cosmos; the provenance of these ideas, or of most of them,
was undoubtedly more African than Asian. "God's Land" with all it great ancestral spirits lay, for dynastic
Egypt, neither in the east nor in the north, but far to the south and west. There is nothing to show that the
earliest forms of ram and sun worship or of other cults made famous along the Nile did not take their rise in
this obscure "God's Land" of "upper Africa." (Davidson, Basil. The Lost Cities of Africa. Boston: Little Brown,
1959, 75).
Ancient Nubia and Egypt later used cooper, bronze, and lead
during the fourth millennium B.C. Ancient Nubia and ancient
Egypt grew into massively advanced civilizations. Ancient Nubia
has been divided into Lower Nubia, Upper Nubia, and Southern
Nubia. Lower Nubia is in the north near Egypt. Upper is in the
south and Southern Nubia is the southernmost region. Upper
Nubia
is called Kerma or Kush. Southern Nubia is often called
This is the Meriotic
Meroe, because that is the region where the advanced and
Alphabet of the
powerful Meroe Kingdom would later develop. Many women
Ancient Black Nubians.
were rulers in Nubia. There were governments in ancient Nubia
too. Nubia had great wealth. In the age of Meroe, the kingdoms
It was developed in the
royal court had palaces, audience chambers, stores and domestic
Napatan Period (about
quarters for the palace staff. Nubia-Meroe had an advanced and
efficient agricultural system that generated large surpluses.
700300 B.C.)
Meroitic pottery was very excellent. The Nubians conquered
Egypt in 747 B.C. in the 25th Dynasty. Nubian King Piankhy ruled
Egypt along with his brother Shabako. Many people know about
Taharaqa, who was a famous Black Nubian King too. The ancient
Nubians used chariots, horses, and elephants in the battlefield. Nubia defeated Roman troops who wanted
to conquer Nubia.
The Nubians also developed their alphabet called the Meriotic script. It was made up of 23 different signs
including vowels. During the reign of King Nastasen (328-308BC) Merotic-Nubia experienced fabulous
culturally enrichment; new and improved indigenous styles in architecture, art, pottery, and religious
practices took place. Queen Amanirenas was a well-known Black Nubian Queen too. Punt existed in
modern day Somalia too. Metal working in West Africa has existed in 2,500 B.C. at Egaro in Niger and Iron
working has existed in 1,500 B.C. We know of iron smelting between Lake Chad and the African Great Lakes
between 1000 and 600 B.C. The Nok culture in the Jos Plateau started in ca. 1,000 B.C. It was an Iron Age
culture based in mostly Nigeria and parts of Niger. It was for its terracotta sculpture and it lasted to 300

A.D. Nok had an advanced social system. The Kingdom of Aksum came about in Ethiopia. It was filled with
leaders, advanced government, and trade too. North Africa was filled with the Carthaginian civilization. The
Bantu peoples traveled from West Africa, to Central and Southern Africa as well. The Sao civilization was in
Cameroon and Chad. It existed from the 500s A.D. to the 1500s. There was cooper, sculptures, jewelry,
pottery, spears, coins, and other
objects. Ghana, Songhai, Luba, Bornu,
Kongo, Zimbabwe, Mapungubwe, and
Mali were great Empires in Western
Africa, Central Africa, and Eastern
Africa. as S.M. Cissoko or the Professor
at the University of Dakur in Senegal
has said: "(The) Songhay state
encouraged the flowering of a brilliant
intellectual civilization and
considerable economic and social
development." There were people in
South Africa who created great
civilizations too. European imperialism
harmed Africa with their colonialism,
imperialism, and racism.
Another source talks about African
history too:
"The Niger River system flows
more than two thousand miles
through West Africa from the
highlands of the Republic of
Guinea to Mali, Niger, Benin and
finally empties into the Atlantic
Ocean along the Nigerian Coast. The river actually splits the Republic of Nigeria, one of Africa's
most important nations, into two halves and is the source of its name. During the Medieval Period
from 1,000 A.D. to 1,600 A.D., the Niger River Valley was the center of African Islamic Civilization
that produced the great Empires of Ghana, Mali and Songhay which were famous for their gold
trade across the Sahara with the Mediterranean world. This Sudanic Civilization with its mixture
of traditional African cultural systems and Islam was based on agricultural development
combined with extensive commercial activity in several city-states, such as Kumbi-Kumbi, Gao,
Mopti, Djene, Kano, Sokota, Zaire and Timbuctoo which was famous for its trading and its
University of Sankore. Several Arab scholars visited these empires and wrote about their
prosperity, the peace and safety throughout the land and the fairness of their systems of justice
and administration. The Empire of Ghana, Mali, and Songhay rose to prominence during the
period of the Middle Ages when Europe was suffering from the chaos and confusion of the
Crusades, feudal wars and the Dark Ages. The Congo River system is one of the World's greatest
watersheds and rivals the Amazon River Valley. It is the center of the great rain forest or so-called
jungle that is located in Central Africa. During the slave trading era the Africans of the Congo
River Valley and adjacent areas were the victims of a double attack by slave raiders. They were

initially victimized by the Arabs raiding from the North and East and later by the Europeans
raiding from the West and South. These events triggered continuous warfare among Africans. On
the international scale they triggered conflicts and wars among Europeans. This period represents
a very sad chapter in African and World history."
- Dr. Leonard Jeffries, Jr.s "The African Americans Search for Truth and Knowledge"
*Black people and others fought back against imperialism to stand up for freedom and justice. There was
Kwame Nkrumah who fought for Ghana to have independence. There was Lilian Ngoyi who loved black
people, fought to end the evil system of apartheid, and wanted women to have human rights globally.
There was C. L. R. James whose great political analysis of Africa and the Diaspora has been excellent. There
was Malcolm X who promoted pan-African unity. There was Sister Margaret Ekpo, who stood up for women
rights in Nigeria. There was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who stood up in favor of the anti-colonial movements
of the world by name and he told the truth that there should be a revolution of values. Also, we should
always remember Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Ella Baker, Septima Clark, and so many other black
people who did so much for our people. This represents our heritage and were blessed as black people.

African Politics
In Africa, there is tons of political development. Many areas of Africa have seen massive economic
development. Other places of Africa have wars, corporate exploitation, and a power struggle (between the
West and China over the various mineral and other resources in Africa). There are countries deals with
issues of civil liberties, womens rights, the freedom of the press (when Ethiopian government officials must
stop its harassment of Ethiopian journalists. For example, Sister and journalist Reeyot Alemu and four
bloggers were recently released from prison in Ethiopia without explanation), and other important issues

that all Africans hold dear too. There should be not only progressive governance in African nations, but
economic inequality must be fought against too. We see this economic inequality in many nations like
South Africa (which is fighting against xenophobia too which must be eradicated completely in the Earth).
Reeyot Alemu to the Voice of America- Amharic Service on July 9, 2015, a few hours after she was literally
thrown out of the infamous Meles Zenawi Prison in Kality (Ethiopias Robben Island), on the outskirts of
Addis Ababa:
I will continue to fully struggle to make Ethiopia a good place where democracy and justice prevail. Until I
can see such an Ethiopia, I will continue my struggle. So, Africans will continue to fight for a real
progressive democracy all over the continent from Ethiopia to South Africa. Also, citizen participation is
very important. It is found in the Kenyan Constitution too.
First, South Africa has changed since the end of apartheid. The white supremacists couldnt use overt
apartheid against black people by the 1990's. Apartheid being gone is a good thing. Now, South Africa still
experiences police brutality, economic inequality, and huge hikes in college tuition rates. Students have
every right to make their voices heard. Their actions are similar to what college students did in the States
during the 1960s when American students opposed the Vietnam War, wanted black studies in universities,
and wanted a more progressive educational environment. Also, in South Africa, the ANC has become more
neoliberal and bourgeois. Once, tons of ANC members fought apartheid in legitimate confrontation
decades ago. Now, many ANC leaders are allies of the same capitalist forces that continue to economically
exploit the region. South African students and the EFF should be commended for their courage and for their
activism in fighting back against massive tuition hikes. Students experiencing tear gas and other form of
oppression by some of the police is unjust. A few years ago, the Marikana massacre in South Africa was
when cops killed black striking workers. Soweto was about kids being shot and killed by apartheid forces. I
wish the best for the movement and women should be given credit in leading this movement for social
change. South Africans are always filled with conscious-filled, courageous human beings. We want South
Africa to be filled with justice and the student activists are showing the world how real activism is done.

The Afro-French
Black people have lived in France for a long time. For centuries, Afro-French human beings have made
excellent contributions to the human race. Today, there are millions of Afro-French people today (in about
5-6 million people). Large portions of the Afro-French have mostly Afro-Caribbean ancestry or they have
black African ancestry. The nation of France bans the collection of data based on ethnicity and race, even
for the reason of research or the measurement of discrimination, which is highly wrong. The story of the
Afro-French deals with slavery. France was an evil slave Empire globally. Afro-French human beings came

into France after 1632. This was the time when France established colonies in Martinique and Guadeloupe.
Plantation slavery was found all over Africa, the Caribbean, etc. by France and other European nations.
Some slaves in France had training in many fields. The 1777 Police Des Noirs law in France forced black
people in France to be registered. Slaves could not marry without their owners consent. They could not be
freed unless by will. So, the Police Des Noirs was a very evil decree. It was an unjust, evil law. By the late
1790s, Boukman and others formed the Haitian Revolution. This caused the liberation of Haiti from white
supremacist oppression in 1804. France abolished slavery in 1794 and then the evil man Napoleon reinstituted slavery in 1804 in France. Haiti defeated Napoleon and France. Black people fought for France
during the French Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars as well. Julien Raimond, who was an AfroHaitian, founded the Black Legions and defended Paris from attacks of Prussians and the Austrian in 1792.
Haiti was later forced to pay tons of money to France unjustly.
The first Afro-French journal of black culture called Revue Des Colonies existed in 1834. It was founded by
Cyril Charles Bissette. Black anti-slavery advocates included people like Adzee Louisy, Lois T. Houat, and
Mondesir Richard. France would never ban slavery in France and in all of its territories until 1848. Still,
France had massive colonialism. Many people came to France as a way for people to accept scholarships.
France, during the 19th century, continued to steal resources and oppress black people in Africa.
Colonialism and imperialism are evils that have no justifications at all. Many Afro-French scholars lived in
France as well like Julien Girard (who was a Guadeloupian scholar of Latin and Greek) and he became a
professor of philosophy at the Lycee Louis de-Grand.
Henry Ossawa Tanner became a resident of Paris too. African American leaders visited France too like
Frederick Douglas, Ira Aldridge, WEB DuBois, Booker T. Washington, and others. They were treated better
than they were treated in America, but some folks promoted the myth that France was totally color blind
or free from race prejudice when we know that isnt case then or now. Racism is found heavily in France
then and now. During the early 20th century, French and American culture merged with Afro-French and
African Americans. The 1919 Pan-African Congress was held in Paris. The social gathering of the Nadal
Sisters and the publication of Revue Du Monde Noir, a mouthpiece for the Ngritude Movement, which
explored the meaning of blackness in the form of literature, etc. The movement was founded by Leopold
Senghor, Aim Csaire, and Claude Mckay.
In 1921, Martinican writer Ren Maran won the Prix Gon Court, a very prestigious prize in literature. AfroFrench scholars like David Diop created great literature. James Baldwin, Richard Wright, and Chester Himes
were famous African Americans who visited or lived in France for a period of time.

The image on the far right is Josephine Baker shaking hands to Lena Horne. Both Sisters were
active in the struggle throughout their lives. The image to the far right is found in the 1963
March on Washington.
Words mentioned about the black experience in France can never be complete without showing
information about Sister Josephine Baker. She was born in June 3, 1906 in St. Louis, Missouri. She
performed in Harlem during the Harlem Renaissance and she went to Paris in October 2, 1925 at
the Thtre des Champs-lyses. She was an instant success and her popularity in France was huge. During
WWII, she aided the French Resistance (who fought the Nazis). She joined the French Counterespionage
Service and she was a counterespionage agent. She was awarded the Croix de Guerre and the Medal of
Resistance with Rosette by the French government for her effort against the evil Nazis during World War II.
After the war, she continued to fight for civil rights for black Americans. She supported the NAACP. She
opposed Jim Crow apartheid and she spoke at the 1963 March on Washington. While wearing her Free
French uniform emblazoned with her medal of the Lgion d'honneur, she introduced the "Negro Women
for Civil Rights." While wearing her Free French uniform emblazoned with her medal of the Lgion
d'honneur, she introduced the "Negro Women for Civil Rights." Rosa Parks and Daisy Bates were among
those she acknowledged, and both gave brief speeches. After Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s assassination, his
widow Coretta Scott King approached Baker in the Netherlands to ask if she would take her husband's place
as leader of the American Civil Rights Movement. After many days of thinking it over, Baker declined, saying
her children were "too young to lose their mother.
After WWII, during the Fourth Republic (1946-1958), many Afro-French served in the French legislature.
The President of the Chamber was the Marinican Gaston Monnerville. The French black population grew. In
1947, Prsence Africaine, or a literary journal was created in order to promote black culture. Anti-black
sentiments increased after 1961. There were anti-Arabic attitudes too especially after Algeria gained
independence from France during the early 1960s. The white reactionary backlash came also in the rise of
the National Front Party (whose founder is Jean Marie Le Pen), who obviously forgotten that the Franks are
not the first people who lived in France. The NFP are xenophobic and use racist rhetoric to blame
immigrants (or a code word for black people, North African Arabic people, etc.) for the problems of
France.

The Sister to the left is the Afro-French politician Rama Yade. The other human beings are
Omar Sy, Gal Sbastien Monfils, and the 2 track stars of Vronique Mang and Myriam
Soumar.
In 1984, SOS-racisme was formed by Blacks, Jews, and Arabs. Led by Martinican, Harlem Dsir, the
organization staged anti-discrimination, anti-police harassment rallies. There had been a massive migration
of black people from the Caribbean to France as well. In 2005 and 2007, Paris has had rebellions in
response to police harassment and profiling. The cops would routinely stop anyone with just a suspicion
and request ID. Black people and Arabic people in the suburbs were disproportionately checked. Today,
Afro-French are French citizens, but they are still fighting for liberation in France. Organizations like the
Council Representative of Black Associations (CRAN), Au Del Des Mots (Beyond the Words), and Devoir De
Mmoire (To Have Memory) have emerged as a voice of the Afro-French people.

Afro-Germans
As the 21st century comes into 2020, we have to learn more about the Black African Diaspora. We are an
international people. The Afro-Germans have long history. There are about 500,000 Afro-Germans
worldwide. They are heavily found in locations like Berlin, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Munich, and Cologne. They

speak a diversity of languages like German, Niger-Congo languages, Nilo Saharan languages, English, etc.
Many Afro-Germans have increased their populations since the end of World War II. Their populations have
flourished in Germany as a product of trade and migration. About 70,000 Afro-Germans live in Berlin. The
first black Africans in the modern era came into Germany during the 17th century. We know about the
Ghana born Anton Wilhelm Amo. He was sponsored by a German duke to become the first African to
attend a European university. He completed his studies and he taught plus wrote in philosophy. Germany
was heavily involved in slavery and Afro-Germans were oppressed by white racists. Many Germans were
involved in the extermination of the Nama people in 1907. The racist German director for colonial affairs,
Bernhard Dernburg, stated that "some native tribes, just like some animals, must be destroyed. Germans
were involved in the colonial period and some Afro-German fought back for freedom and justice. Africans
founded the bilingual periodical that was published in German and Duala: Elolombe ya Cameroon (Sun of
Cameroon). A political group of Africans established the German branch of a Paris-based rights organization
called: "The German section of the League to the Defense of the Negro Race.
Afro-Germans endured the Great Depression in Germany. The Nazis killed not only Afro-Germans, but
Americans soldiers (which included Black Americans) who fought the Nazis too. Naturalized Afro-Germans
lost their passports. In continued discrimination directed at Afro-Germans including biracial people in
Germany. Nazi officials subjected some 500 Afro-German children in the Rhineland to forced sterilization.
The Nazis placed Blacks were placed at the bottom of the racial scale of non-Aryans along with Jews and
Gypsies. The truth is that Black people are the first humans on Earth and the Nazis evil didnt prevail. For
an autobiography of an Afro-German in Germany under Nazi rule, see Hans Massaquoi's book called
Destined to Witness. Dr. Firpro W. Carrs book entitled, Germanys Black Holocaust 1890-1945: The
Untold Truth: Details Never Revealed Before is a very important book. It shows the history of how German
colonial forces (from 1890 to 1945) decimated the Herero people of Namibia who once numbered 85,000.
German forces murdered and tortured 60,000 Herero men, women, and elders including children in the
prison camps. They were subjected to unspeakable medical experiments that were eventually used in
Hitlers concentration camps during WWII. Many of the death camp doctors sent decapitated Herero heads
to Germany in support of their racist, false theories on eugenics. Eugenics is always a philosophy of white
supremacists. In 2011, Germany agreed to return the skulls to Namibia.

The person in the left is Adegoke Odukoya. The person in the center is singer Ivy Quainoo. The person to the
right is Theodor Wonja Michael. Hes one of the oldest Afro-Germans in Germany. After WWII, more AfroGermans, Afro-Caribbeans, Africans, African Americans, and biracial people lived in Germany. Also, a
massive amount of U.S. soldiers were stationed in German soil, especially after WWII. My father was
stationed in Germany for a time decades ago (during the Vietnam War era). Audre Lorde sought to break
stigmas and taboos. She is a Black American writer and activist. She taught in the Free University of Berlin
from 1984 to 1992. She helped to push the coining of the term Afro-German into a powerful movement
that addressed the intersectionality of race, gender, and sexual orientation. She encouraged black German

women like May Ayim to write and publish poems including autobiographies (so people can get writings
into a higher sense of visibility). Audre Lorde was a strong black feminist. Since 1981, Germany has had
immigration from African states, mostly from Nigeria and Ghana, who were seeking work. Some of the
Ghanaians also came to study in German universities. John Ehret is Germanys first elected Black AfroGerman mayor.

Dama by Nzifu Mawakha is a collection of selected black and white photographic portraits of inspiring
Black women who live and work in Germany. There are images of 2 ladies confiding in each other and a
group of Sisters enjoying life together. There are many beautiful portraits in the picture which capture their
own interacting in many settings. Brother Adegoke Odukoya, better known as Ad Bantu, is a NigerianGerman musician. Hes also a producer, and activist. He is best known for being the founder of the AfroGerman musical collective and NGO Brothers Keepers and as the front man of the Bantu & Afrobeat
Academy Band.
Afro-German musicians include Ayo, Denyo, Lou Bega, Mamadee, Mark Medlock, Nneka, Rob Pilatus, Samy
Delux, Jessica Wahls, etc. Steffi Jones is the Afro-German President of the Organizing Committee of the FIFA
womens soccer World Cup 2011 and the German Football Association Director. The SFD - Schwarze
Filmschaffende in Deutschland (Black Artists in German Film, literally Black Filmmakers in Germany) is a
professional association based in Berlin for directors, producers, screenwriters, and actors who are AfroGermans or of Black African origin and living in Germany. They have organized the "New Perspectives"
series at the Berlinale film festival.

Afro-Australians
Afro-Australian people have not been talked about a lot. Now, it is time to describe about these human
beings. I first heard about Afro-Australians recently. These are human beings who are Australian citizens
and residents of Australia (in or with recent ancestors form Africa). It is has been a recent event where
large scale immigration from Africa to Australia has taken place. There have been thousands of black
people coming to live in Australia from South Africa, Sudan, Somalia, etc. African Australians speak a
diversity of languages. They are diverse culturally, religiously, ethnicity, and in terms of employment
backgrounds. They mostly live in the large cities of Australia like Melbourne, Sydney, and Perth. Their total
population is almost 250,000 as of 2005. Many of the recent African migrants come to Australia as skilled
migrants, refugees, scholars, and other human beings. There were modern Black African people coming to
Australia during the late 18th century. In 1901, people from Mauritius came into Australia. Numerous
students from Ghana and other African nations came to Australia during the mid-1960s. A massive
increase of black people immigrating to Australia came about since the 1990s. Well known people who are
Afro-Australians are Heritier Lumumba, Dorinda Hafner, Dr. Chika Anyanwu (he is a senior academic at the
University of South Australia. He was the founding Head of the Universitys Department of Media from
2002 to 2006), Tim Omaji, Kofi Danning, Anton Enus, Janice Petersen, Sheela Langeberg (who is an
internationally renowned and multi award winning artist).
Rosemary Kariuki is a great organizer of African events in Australia. Dr. Casta Tungaraaza (from Tanzania)
has promoted social justice and racial equality for years in Australia. Leticia Omankoy is a young African
Entrepreneur who has established her own Product Empire. Originally from Congo (Kinshasa), she has been
living in Australia for 21 years and performed in the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games opening ceremony. She
has sold children products and other products for years in Australia. There is also a great, interactive
website called, Africa to Australia. It shows stories of Afro-Australians and their lives. It is also very
honest to destroy how these Brothers and Sisters fight racism, racial stereotypes, and other economic
problems in order for them to live their lives and be free as human beings. Sister Fadzai Matambanadzo has
worked in Australia to help the poor in Africa. She works in a charity to give a scholarship fund and

educational projects in Kenya. The African Dream Benefit is created to do just that. Also, she is involved in
helping a childrens orphanage in Zimbabwe. There are discrimination and other problems in Australia, but
there are other people in Australia who are standing up against racism, economic injustice, and other
prejudices, so society can be better.

Afro-Peruvians
Afro-Peruvians are not discussed a lot in many circles. Yet, their stories are valuable and their humanity will
always be respected. The evil of slavery existed in Peru and Africans were brought into Peru as slaves
centuries ago. Also, there were the conquistadors who believed in the evils of slavery and imperialism,
which is in contradiction to the great principle of loving your neighbor as yourself. The Afro-Peruvian
population today is about 589,928. They live mostly in Lima, Callao, Ica, Piura, and Lambayeque. Most of
them speak Spanish and they are part of many creeds like Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, Islam,
Animism, etc. The first Africans came to Peru during the modern era in 1521 with conquistadors. Most who
came were slaves and some returned with colonists to settle in 1525. There were slaves who came from
Africa directly or slaves who came from the Spanish Indies or from other Spanish colonies. People of African
descent worked in Peru as cooks, they worked in the shipyards, many were maids, many were laundresses,
some were handymen, many were gardeners, and many were in construction projects. There were black
artisans who worked as tailors, blacksmiths, swordsmiths, and silver smiths. The Spanish formed an evil
color caste system where people of black African descent were heavily discriminated against, the biracial
people or mestizos were in the middle, and the Spaniards had most of the economic and political power in
Peru. Black people fought to end slavery. In 1856, President Roman Castilla y Marquezado declared
freedom of the Afro-Peruvian ethnic groups and abolished slavery. Today, Afro-Peruvians communities
celebrate the decision of Castilla with a popular saying. One of the greatest contributions made by AfroPeruvians involves music. Afro-Peruvian music has been influenced from Africa and from Andean including
Spanish traditions. Black people back then used a simple box, a tea chest, and other objects to create
sounds for Afro-Peruvian music when slave owners banned musical instruments (since these evil slave
owners wanted to crush the spirits of the slaves). Peru Negro is a famous music group that shows AfroPeruvian music. Gabriel Algeria performs Afro-Peruvian music too. Most Afro-Peruvians live in the Callao,
which is an area that received many of them from the north and the southern coast historically. Today,
most Afro-Peruvian communities live in farming areas where mango, rice, and sugarcane production in
present. Professor Aguirres research is excellent in studying about Afro-Peruvian history and culture. In
November 2009, the Peruvian government issued an official apology to Peru's Afro-Peruvian people for
centuries of racial injustice. It was the first such apology ever made by the government. It was announced
by Women's and Social Development Minister Nidia Vilchez, and initially published in the official newspaper

El Peruano . The apology said: We extend a historical apology to Afro-Peruvian people for the abuse,
exclusion and discrimination perpetrated against them since the colonial era until the present
We have to remember that one person who was involved in getting that apology made was
Congresswoman Marta Moyano. She was an activist and she promoted human rights. Her Sister named
Maria Moyano was assassinated in February 15, 1992 by members of the Maoist Shining path movement.
This doesnt mean that racism is gone in Peru though. Racism is very strong in Peru. Afro-Peruvian activists
today are courageously fighting for racial justice. There is the group called: LUNDU Centro de Estudios y
Promocion Afroperuanos or the Center for Afro-Peruvian Studies and Empowerment. One of the great
young Afro-Peruvian activists today is Monica Carillo. Monica is fighting the good fight for racial justice.
Theres no other place in South America that has the same levels of offensive, aggressive racism as Peru,
says Carrillo. The other day I left my house...and counted the number of insults I received in 20 minutes:
12. People say these things and they dont run away, because they feel theyre in the right. She has told
her story of experiencing racism and she is the founding director of the organization LUNDU, which is a
Lima-based human rights organization that fights to improve the conditions for Afro-Peruvians. To this very
day, the Afro-Peruvian Sister Monica Carillo is fighting against HIV/AIDS, poverty, sexism, racism,
discrimination, and other injustices.

Bless the Afro-Peruvian people.

The Afro-Mexican people

Afro-Mexican people are great human beings. Many people dont know about them, so now it is time to
show great information about them and their cultural experiences. There are strong communities filled
with black people in the areas of Veracruz, Costa Chica of Oaxaca, etc. Many black people played a
leadership role in the Mexican Revolution. There are the casta paintings that showed the ethnic diversity of
Mexico from centuries ago. Mexico, itself, is a land filled with African influences. Even the song La Bamba

was sang by the black people of Veracruz for centuries. The heroic Brother Gaspar Yanga led the slave
revolt in Mexico back in 1570. Gaspar Yanga was so successful in his actions that at one time, the Spanish
gave him his own area in order to try to stop him. There is a celebration of him in the town of Yanga too
that remembers him. We should never forget that the first President of black African descent was Vicente
Guerrero from the 19th century. Vicente was raised in the mountain town of Tixtla and spoke many
indigenous languages. During the 16th and 17th centuries, Spanish colonizers sent about 200,000 to
500,000 African slaves into Mexico. They were forced to work in silver mines, sugar plantations, and cattle
ranches. Some were runway slaves. Also, many Afro-Mexicans are strongly saying "Soy Negro" or I am
Black. The Afro-Mexican experience is a beautiful experience. Afro-Mexicans are also found in Guerrero.
Costa Chica (which is found in the Mexican Pacific Coast) has the Museo de las Culturas Afromestizos or a
museum which documents the history and the culture of African/Indigenous people of the area. The town
of Yanga is in the area of Veracruz.

UnivisionTV -- the largest Spanish speaking television network has a documentary on Afro-Mexicans called,
Quienes son los Afro-Mexicanos? (Who are the Afro-Mexicans?). Co-produced by Arizona based, husband
and wife multimedia/photography team, Hakeem Khaaliq and Queen Muhammad Ali, the two-part
documentary is a compilation of photos and video footage from their many travels to Mexico. The
documentary also features commentary from journalist and historian, Luis Manuel Ortiz. We know to learn
more history. Its a fact that Mexico back then harbored Black fugitive slaves who wanted freedom. This act
was related to the Mexican-American war. Many black people in Mexico have their ancestry from Angola
and other parts of Africa. Afro-Mexicans are still fighting racism and discrimination in Mexico today. We are
in total solidarity with all Afro-Mexicans. "What we want is recognition of our basic rights and respect of
our dignity," Rodolfo Prudente Dominguez, a top Afro-Mexican activist. Benigno Garcia de la Rosa, of the
organization of Afrodescendents in the Costa Chica of Guerrero, explained that the afro-descendent
communities have not been recognized by neither state nor federal governments and have therefore sued
the next president of Mexico and the governor Angel Aguirre Rivero demanding constitutional recognition.
He noted that Afro-Mexicans, like the indigenous communities of Guerrero, similarly face government
discrimination, live in poverty and extreme poverty, and do not receive adequate attention from state and
federal governments. The struggle continues.

Afro-Iranians
Afro-Iranians have a long history. For centuries and for thousands of years, black people have lived in Iran.
There are darker features shown in the ancient images of Persepolis. There were Afro-Arabic merchants
during the 9th century trading in the region. There are Afro-Iraqis, Afro-Pakistanis, Afro-Kuwaitis, AfroOmanis, Afro-Saudis, etc. Today, most Afro-Iranians are found in Hormozagan, Sistan, Baluchistan, and
Khuzestan. Most of them are Shias, Sunnis, and some follow the religion of Zaar. Many Afro-Iranians
voluntarily traveled into Iran. Many Africans wanted to go into Iran in search of being paid as sailors. Many
Afro-Iranians came to Iran as slaves who were captured by Arabic salve traders (in the Indian Ocean slave
trade). Many black people traveled into Saudi Arabia, India, the Far East, the Indian Ocean islands, etc.
During the Qajar dynasty, many wealthy households imported Black African women and children as slaves
to perform domestic work. They came from the Zanj or the Bantu speaking peoples that lived along the
coast of Southeast Africa (i.e. from Tanzania, Mozambique, and Malawi). Mohammad Shah Qajar (under
British pressure) issued a firman which suppressed the slave trade in 1848. Afro-Iranians back then worked
as stone breakers, woodcutters, and bodyguards. Many worked in royal courts. Afro-Iranians fought against
slavery as activists, as abolitionists, and some used pressure in Iran. Slavery was completely banned in Iran
by 1928. Afro-Iranians have their own culture and traditional practices. Afro-Iranian Beeta Baghoolizadeh

said that many lighter skinned Iranians from Tehran are surprised at the Afro-Iranians since Afro-Iranians
dont make up a majority of the population of Iran. In 2007, a documentary film, Afro-Iranian Lives, was
released and examined the Afro-Iranian experience. The documentary talks about the socioeconomic
activities, performances, and rituals of the Afro-Iranians in rural and urban communities of Sistan,
Baluchistan, Hurmuzgan, and Khuzestan. Afro-Iranians celebrate their African heritage, clothing style,
music, dance, and their oral traditions plus rituals. Iranian scholar Dr. Behnaz Mirzai has done excellent
research on the culture of the Afro-Iranian people too. He has made the Afro-Iranian Lives documentary
in 2007 and the African-Baluchi Trance Dance documentary in 2012. Los Angeles born Afro-Iranian Beeta
Bahoolizadehs research deals with constructions of race and the transition from subject to citizen during
the late Qajar period, particularly concerning the legacy of slavery and racism in Iran. She penned an in
depth article complete with pictures and videos in June 2012. Today, many well-known Afro-Iranians are
Abdolreza Barzegari, Ali Firouzi, Malika and Khadijah Haqq, Mehrab Shahrokhi, and other people.

Fighting to End Misogynoir

One real problem in our black community is misogynoir. Misogynoir is misogyny directed against black
women. Any form of misogyny is evil and wrong, but misogynoir is a great evil that must be confronted and
ended totally in our community. Misogynoir is a word coined by Moya Bailey. We know that misandry
exists, but misogynoir is so much more evil and pervasive in our society than misandry. Misoygnoir is not
just shown by white racists. It has been shown by some black people and other people of color too. This
disgraceful evil is antithetical to the authentic truism of gender equality. Gender equality has nothing to do
with causing tensions among males and females. Gender equality is about males and females being
liberated and all human beings having their human autonomy respected. In other words, our bodies are
own own and no one should violate our bodies or our human dignity period. Black women suffer racism,
sexism, and classism too. All people can't be free unless black women are free. The system of white
supremacy has used racism, sexism, capitalist exploitation, and patriarchy to oppress the black community.
We know how Western capitalism from the Maafa to the present has been racist and sexist. Black slaves
were forced to labor without pay (on rice, sugar, and cotton plantations) and they were filled with injustice
in the Americas.

Jane Brown, Louisa Pacquet, and other black women of the 19th century exposed the evil of black female
sexual exploitation. One of the greatest black women champions of black women's rights was Frances Ellen
Watkins Harper. She was born in Baltimore of free parents in 1824. She was an activist, she wrote poetry,
and she helped black people for decades. She passed away in 1911. Zora Neale Hurston, Mary McCloed
Bethune, and other Sisters have stood up for the truth. It is a known fact that many cultural nationalists
(then and now) exploit the necessity of establishing justice for black people as an excuse for them to
promote evil, reactionary, and sexist views. For
example, cultural nationalist Maulana Ron Karenga is
well known to promote patriarchal views. Progressive
black women then and now stood up for their interests
and for their human rights as black women. Black men
too (not just black women) must be involved in
uprooting and ending the patriarchal oppression that
dominates our society today. Historically, black women
have carried the greatest burden in our communities
worldwide. On many occasions, the contributions and
efforts of black women have been ignored, minimized,
She is a glorious human being and she
or ridiculed. That should change.
Also, many Black Sisters stood up against patriarchal
oppression like Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Ida B.
Wells (she not only opposed lynching and racial
injustice. Ida B. Wells exposed the racism found among
some white suffragettes), and so many Sisters in our
generation.

is an insightful, courageous black

woman.

Lupita Nyongo once again eloquently

has shown the world how beauty is
wisdom. She has shown women and
girls in the world about their values and
about how their lives plus aspirations
matter. She made the great speech to
outline the truth that dark skin is
beautiful and that black women
should always continue to shine their
gifts in world society. She is deserving
of all of the positive superlatives to
describe her. She is worthy of that. She
is not only a role model. She's a
blessing. Her words of self-reflection
and of humility plus her words of
strength and gracious insights just
inspire people in a progressive fashion.
We are all thankful of her presence, of
her intellect, and of her personable,
human compassion. Yes, she looks very
gorgeous in the cover of Essence.
Bless her.

In our time near 2020, the evil of misogynoir is very

present. 60% of Black girls are sexually assaulted before
their 18th birthday in America, mostly by black males.
Black women are murdered at 2.5 times the rate of
white women. Compared to a Black male, a Black
female is far more likely to be killed by her spouse, an
intimate acquaintance, or a family member than by a
stranger. Where the relationship could be determined,
94 percent of Black females killed by males in single
victim/single offender incidents knew the men who
murdered them. Ninety-three percent of the homicides
of Black females were intra-racial. Black women are
only 8% of the population of America but represent
29% of ALL WOMEN who are victims of intimate
partner homicide. Black women are facing DISPROPORTIONATE levels fatal, life threatening, and severe
gender based violence and domestic abuse. A 2000 US Department of Justice report showed that AfricanAmerican women experienced intimate partner violence at a rate 35 percent higher than that of white
women. "In 2007, African-American female victims of intimate partner homicide were twice as likely as
white female homicide victims to be killed by a spouse," according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. A

study conducted in 2002 by Tufts University found that 40 percent of African-American women report
coercive contact of a sexual nature by age 18, as cited by the American Bar Association. The same study
found that the number one killer of African-American women ages 15 to 34 is homicide at the hands of a
current or former intimate partner, and that only 17 percent of African-American women survivors of
sexual assault report the assault to the police.
This is a real, serious problem. Some people on the Internet want to troll black women forums with overtly
despicable misogynistic comments. That should change and end as well. No black women and no human
being period should be degraded, harassed, assaulted, or disrespected of their human dignity and their
human autonomy at all. I disagree with the misogynistic views of Tommy Sotomayor, Tariq Nasheed, and
others. We live in white supremacist, capitalist, imperialist, classist, and patriarchal society. Many of these
misogynists follow the same ideologies express by white supremacist men. Some of them love the sexist
Moynihan report of 1965 which blamed black single mothers (not the system of racism/white supremacy)
for poverty and other forms of oppression going on in the black community. The truth is that the prison
industrial complex, health issues, poverty, and other problems are issues that we must deal with as a
people and as a community.
The Moynihan offered no solutions or explicit recommendations. We have to keep it 100. The report
blamed not just black culture (which is ignorant since black culture is diverse). It also blamed matriarchal
society (which is code language for single black mothers when matriarchal, progressive societies have
existed for thousands of years throughout human history) for the problems in the black community. This
report has slandered single black women and the Moynihan Report has been used by conservatives and
other folks who love misogynoir as a means for them to promote the myth that forcing all black people to
have nuclear families will somehow cure poverty and racism. Now, Moynihan became bitter and he allied
with the reactionary Richard Nixon (who wanted to hurt black poor people as admitted in his secret tapes.
Nixon used the FBI to oppress the Black Panthers and other progressive movements for change). Also,
Moynihan even wanted black males to have jobs even if it meant that black women lose theirs in some
measure. Thats sexist. Black people of both genders have the right to have a job. The view that black
culture in poor communities inherently leads into pathologies is racist period. I dont believe that black
culture is inferior to other cultures.
I dont believe that the suffering poor should be neglected. They should be empowered with resources and
investments from all levels of government. The stereotypical lie of the black poor as solely seeking welfare
dependency, violence, and social nihilism is the height of overt racism and classism. The vast majority of
black people don't get welfare, but there is a massive amount of corporate welfare received by big,
multinational corporations. There is a lot of talk about personal responsibility, but the report lacked to
emphasis the social responsibility of society to promote the general welfare. The conservatives talk about
welfare, but in the past 40 years, the social safety net has been depleted in communities nationwide (via
deindustrialization, our civil rights gains being rolled back, urban renewal of the 50's and the 60's, bad trade
deals, discrimination, and other reactionary neo-liberal policies from both major parties). There should be
no deification of the free market. We know that we should oppose the lies spewed from the corporate
media and from the military industrial complex. We are opposed to the unjust surveillance from the
intelligence community as well.

3 Black Women Heroines

Dr.Yaba Blay is a professor, a

scholar, a publisher, and a
great author. She has worked
in her life to educate black
people on issues of Diasporic
matters, fighting colorism,
and
promoting
black
consciousness. She founded
the independent publishing
company called BLACKprint
Press to give black artists and
authors a platform to show
their ideals in a progressive
fashion.

Claudia Jones was a heroic black

woman who fought for liberation
for black people in the Americas
and in the world. She worked in
England to fight for economic
and racial justice. She wanted the
British
Afro-Caribbean
community in England to have
equal rights. By 1948 she had
become the editor of Negro
Affairs for the party's paper the
Daily
Worker.
She promoted womens rights
too.

Harriet Tubman was one of

the most courageous black
women in human history.
She freed about 300 slaves
via the usage of the
Underground Railroad. She
fought for justice for black
people. During the Civil War,
she worked for the Union as
a spy. She passed away in
New York in 1913.

What can be done? The solution is diverse. Now, we do need to improve ourselves. I have no problem with
self-determination and building more of our institutions. There is nothing wrong with us using grassroots
programs in our community to help us as a people (from mentorships, apprenticeships, and other social
actions). There is nothing wrong with advancing integrity, and a more communal spirit. Yet, I also believe
that the mass incarceration state must end. There is a consensus in this country that the prison industrial
complex as it is must go. It has ruined families, promoted more discrimination, and ruined so many lives of

our Brothers and Sisters. There should be a nationwide increase of the minimum wage, so living wages can
be established. Economic justice must be established for the poor and working class. There should be an
end to the War on Drugs with alternatives like investments in drug treatment programs, ending mandatory
minimum sentences, etc. Community based programs to help families must be increased. The Kerner
Report also documented that the rebellions of the 1960's were caused by racism, economic deprivation,
and other bad conditions in poor communities. The Kerner Commission of 1968 accurately showed the
truth that structural inequality came about via white racism and structures of oppression. I agree with the
Kerner Report and especially its conclusions.
We want our families to be strengthened. There are strong nuclear, single, and extended families. A strong
family doesnt have to be a nuclear one. There should be job creation programs in especially poor areas.
We have a structural problem of oppression that must be addressed. In essence, there must be federal,
state, and local social policies to address racism and economic oppression.
We know that black men and black women are never responsible collectively for the evil system that we
see today. We know a lot of black people among both genders who are upright, standing up for the truth,
and helping their families as well. Only a coward would throw stones at black women.
Every time black women express her dreams and her stories, some folks want to say that her words are
divisive and they want to break up unity, which is not the case at all. If we want to get solutions, then black
women have every justification to express their feelings and their experiences. There are many
organizations that geared to black boys and black men, which I don't have a problem with. These
organizations are never treated with the same amount of skepticism, harassment, and vitriol as black
organizations geared to black girls and black women are. I have no issue with organizations geared to
represent the Sisters. Centric is a network whose goal is to promote the humanity of black women. That's
great. We have an epidemic of misogynoir in our land and many folks deny the existence of male privilege.
Black women are never responsible for the Maafa, the War on Drugs, the prison industrial complex, for
gentrification, and other evils in our world. Expressing emotions legitimately is never about promoting
division and misandry. There is nothing wrong with black marriages and black families, but single black
women should never be disrespected of their human dignity. Single black women are human beings. It is
about giving Sisters a space to express themselves, etc., so the end result will be of benefit for all black
people irrespective of their gender.

A very important point is to be made. Today, there are many black women fighting for justice now like
Brittany Ferrell, Zakiya Jemmott, Johnetta Elzie, Ashley Yates, etc. Many black men and black women are
fighting back against misogynoir and all injustices. We have to educate people, so many folks can wake up
and change their lives for the better. We want criminals, who abuse women, to be held accountable and be
locked up. We want street harassment to end. This is not about being vicious. Its about being real and
helping people to be better human beings. We want healing in our communities. We want black males and
black females to have happiness, peace of mind, autonomy, truth, and justice. This is about promoting our
BLACKNESS without compromise. This is about fighting for liberation for black men and black women. Here
is a quote from a Strong Sister that sums up this issue perfectly:

At this time Id like to say a few words especially to my sisters: SISTERS. BLACK PEOPLE
WILL NEVER BE FREE UNLESS BLACK WOMEN PARTICIPATE IN EVERY ASPECT OF
OUR STRUGGLE, ON EVERY LEVEL OF OUR STRUGGLE.
-Assata Shakur

50 Years After the 1966 Mississippi March Against Fear

Today is the time which was 50 years after the Meredith March against Fear. This event is one of the most
important events of the black freedom struggle. It represents the ideological diversity of the black
community which persists in our generation in 2016. Also, this time outlined the new era of the civil rights
movement in amazing detail. That is why we should study information about that period of history since
history repeats itself. Additionally, what has happened decades ago can show us how we can move forward
as one community. In 1966, different factions of the civil rights movement debated on where to go next.
Some wanted to focus on advancing full employment. Some wanted to deal with voter registration, and
others wanted to focus solely on improving the black community. Such debates transpired as early as 1964.
The Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964 and the Voting Rights Act was passed in 1965. These were
legitimate reforms came about by the sacrifice of courageous human beings who fought against the
oppressive system of legalized apartheid. Yet, more work was needed to cause true equality and justice in
society. Organizations involved in the March against Fear occurrence were SNCC (or the Student Nonviolent
Coordinating Committee), the SCLC (the Southern Christian Leadership Conference), CORE (Congress of
Racial Equality), MCHR (the Medical Committee for Human Rights), and the Deacons for Defense and
Justice (DDJ).
Many places of the South still had poverty and voter disenfranchisement. Many black people in the North,
the Midwest, and the West Coast still suffered de facto segregation (which means that segregation and
discrimination that dont happen by law, but by the current reality of discriminatory policies), police
brutality, and economic deprivation. Therefore, civil rights leaders and other black freedom activists
wanted to figure out a way specifically to move forward. There was the 1966 Civil Rights bill in Congress
(which promoted fair housing legislation and fair juror selection). Urban rebellions existed in Harlem,
Philadelphia, and Rochester in 1964. Then, in 1965, a massive rebellion happened in Watts, Los Angeles. In
1966, a rebellion happened in Chicago. Therefore, many people didnt like the slow pace of the civil rights
movement, which was a legitimate concern. People wanted power. People wanted political independence,
because SNCC legitimately criticized the Democratic Party establishment for its disgraceful response to the
MFDP (or the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party. The MFDP was created to fight back against the
white supremacist Democrats in Mississippi) participating in Atlantic City, NJ during the 1964 Democratic
Convention. The Democratic leaders wanted Fannie Lou Hamer and other MFDP members to have token
representation in 1964 and they refused. So, SNCC became more revolutionized after the betrayal in the
1964 Democratic Convention. SNCC leaders like Forman and others started to overtly reject pacifism. Many
SNCC members traveled into Africa (in 1964) and were influenced by African liberation movements, Black

Nationalism, and the views of the late Brother Malcolm X. SNCC worked in Mississippi since 1961. SNCC was
also involved the Mississippi Summer Project, which caused hundreds of youth to work on voter
registration in Mississippi while building up the independent Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party. SNCC
members were crucial in the 1965 Selma to Montgomery march. The Lowndes County freedom
Organization or the LCFO) was created to help African Americans in Lowndes County, Alabama. The LCFOs
symbol was the black panther.
By 1966, SNCC elected the new leader Kwame Ture (who was from Howard University) and Floyd McKissick
of CORE was another leader in the Black Power movement too. John Lewis resigned from SNCC in early
1966, because he disagreed with the direction that SNCC was taking. President Lyndon Baines Johnson was
promoting the Great Society and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. publicly wanted a negotiated settlement
between American forces and the Vietcong involving the Vietnam War in 1966. LBJ distanced himself from
Dr. Kings views on the Vietnam War. Even moderate civil rights leaders (like Roy Wilkins, Whitney Young,
and even Bayard Rustin) didnt agree with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s heroic views on the Vietnam War too.
It wouldnt be until 1969 when moderate civil rights leaders like Wilkins and Young would publicly oppose
the Vietnam War.
The civil rights movement had political, generational, and organizational differences. First, one main person
of the March against Fear was James Howard Meredith. He was known as the first black student to attend
the previously segregated University of Mississippi (or Ole Miss) in October 1, 1962. James Meredith
believed in self-defense and had a combative relationship with the traditional organizations of the NAACP
and even the SCLC. He was a man with a lot of determination. For years, he wanted to march from
Memphis, Tennessee to Jackson Mississippi to oppose white oppression and promote a counterbalance to
the view of nonviolent reformism. James Meredith wanted to march from Memphis to Jackson, Mississippi
overtly in Monday, June 5, 1966. He wanted to march against the bigotry and racism of white racists. On
his second day of marching (on Highway 51 near Hernando), he was shot in the back on June 6, 1966. He
desired to promote black voter registration in Mississippi (which was a state filled with massive racism.
Mississippi was where Emmett Till was lynched in 1955, where the heroic NAACP organizer Medgar Evers
was assassinated in 1963, and where the murders of civil rights workers Andrew Goodman, Michael
Schwerner, and James Chaney transpired in 1964). White racists were cursing at the highway that he was
walking on. The white racist shooter was James Aubrey Norvell. An ambulance sent James Meredith to the
hospital. He recovered in Memphis, TN.

This is the press conference about the June 1966 march in Mississippi. The men there are Kwame Ture,
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Floyd McKissick.
Immediately, civil rights leaders came to James Merediths aide and promised to continue with the march.
Civil rights leaders condemned the shooting. Meredith was in a Memphis hospital where Dr. King,
McKissick, Roy Wilkins, James Lawson, Kwame Ture, Cleveland Sellers (a famous leader in SNCC), Dick
Gregory, and others spoke with James Meredith (on Tuesday, June 7, 1966). On Tuesday afternoon in June
7, 1966, Dr. King, Kwame Ture, McKissick, SCLC Education Director Robert L. Green, and others marched in
U.S. Highway 51 near Hernando. Mississippi highway patrolmen wanted the marchers to travel on the
sidewalk and not on the road. Officer L. Y. Griffin said to the marchers to get off the road. Dr. King told
Griffin that it is the duty of the cops to protect them. Sellers was pushed into the mud by the police. The
marchers were assaulted by the police. Kwame Ture had legitimate anger at this treatment and tried to
lunge at one officer in the realm of self-defense since Kwame Ture was pushed by one officer first. Then,
Dr. King held onto Kwame Ture's arms to prevent Kwame from defending himself. Then, the marchers
continued to march and they joked with each other.
Kwame Ture had a private argument with both Roy Wilkins and Whitney Young (who came to the South
from New York City). Ture viewed Wilkins and Young as right wing or too moderate to participate in the
march and when they left, he was satisfied. He wanted Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to overtly advocate Black
Power. Roy Wilkins of the NAACP later pulled out of the march, because the pro-self-defense group of the
Deacons of Defense and Justice would be there to protect the marchers. Whitney Young of the Urban
League didn't participate in the march, because he didn't like Kwame Ture criticizing the Johnson
administration. The NAACP had many progressive members back then, but their leadership was heavily
anti-Communist, and some of them supported the Vietnam War. The NAACP leadership wanted to use the
courts and legislation primarily to get social change. The Urban League wanted to work with corporations
to give black people job or economic opportunities, so justice can come about for black people.
Black and white people would march to Jackson, Mississippi. The march would last for 19 days from June 6
to June 25, 1966. In the beginning of the march, 20 Mississippi state troopers provided some protection.
Half way in the march, only 4 troopers remained to protect people. White racists were near the marchers
can gave them middle fingers and cursed at them with profanity and racial slurs. The marchers camped at
night and they were protected by the Deacons of Defense with weapons. The March against Fear was a
march against oppression and injustice. During the march, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Kwame Ture and
had a friendly, important debate on nonviolence and Black Power.

Both men (of Dr. King and Kwame Ture) agreed with developing economic and political power among black
people. Dr. King felt that nonviolence was the only progressive means to solve problems while Kwame Ture
supported self-defense if necessary to cause black liberation. Dr. King and Kwame Ture would expose
racism, poverty, and capitalism as a detriment to black progress. Kwame Ture felt that the federal
government betrayed black people so much that Black Power was the necessary solution to the problems
of black people. Many SNCC leaders during this time rejected white liberal involvement, rejected a nonviolence alone approach, and rejected reformist politics. Also, it is important to outline the youth
component. It was the youth primarily in control or having a massive influence of SNCC and the Black
Power movement in America back then. As this was going on, Dr. Martin Luther King was working in the
Chicago campaign simultaneously, which fought against poverty, racism, housing discrimination, and
economic injustices in the city of Chicago.
In essence, Black Power wanted self-determination, self-defense, and many of its adherents expressed
strong opposition to the Vietnam War. Roy Wilkins rejected Black Power as equivalent to white racism,
which is ludicrous. In the NAACP Convention in July 1966, Roy Wilkins said that: No matter how endlessly
they try to explain it, the term Black Power means anti-white powerIt is a reverse Mississippi, a reverse
Hitler, a verse Ku Klux Klan Those, who support Black Power, opposed white racism while rejecting to act
like the Klan or other white supremacist organizations. Dr. King took a nuisance position about the concept
of Black Power. He believed in black people organizing resources economically and politically, but believed
that some people may misinterpret Black Power and erroneously place negative connotations to it. Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr. also rejected separatism. Willie Ricks of SNCC helped sharecroppers and other black
people to register to vote and he promoted Black Power views around the area.

Kwame Ture gave his famous June 16, 1966 Black Power speech in Greenwood, Mississippi. At first, Kwame
Ture was arrested and taken to jail in Greenwood, because he refused to obey a police order. Law
enforcement officers forbid marchers from erected tenets at an elementary school where activists planned
to say overnight during the March Against Fear march. During the evening in June 16h, many marchers
tried to erect a temporary camp at the segregated Stone Street Elementary School. Kwame Ture was
arrested again for trespassing on public property. He was taken into custody for several hours. Later, he
rejoined the marchers at a local park. They established a camp and held an evening rally. At that place,
Kwame Ture famously said from the podium that: This is the twenty-seventh time I have been arrested-and I ain't going to jail no more!...The only way we gonna stop them white men from whuppin' us is to take
over. We been saying freedom for six years and we ain't got nuthin'. What we gonna start saying now is
Black Power!..."Black Power!"
Kwame Ture said that we want Black Power in a strong fashion. Kwame Ture (who took influence from the
anticolonial movements from Africa, and Asia) fully explained what black power meant. Black Power is
about black people creating their own independent, autonomous black powerbase, so black people can
have independence against an evil white supremacist society. In essence, Black Power was about black
people controlling their own communities on their own terms politically, economically, and socially. Black
Power has been interpreted in many different ways and there are progressive and conservative factions of
the Black Power movement. What unified the Black Power movement are the promotion of Black selfdetermination, love of Blackness, and the love of black community growth. SNCC promoted the Black
Power slogan in the march while SCLC promoted Freedom Now slogans. The police used tear gas against
marchers in Canton, Mississippi. Kwame Ture and Dr. King were in Canton. Kwame Ture, Andrew Young,
and other marchers experienced tear gas and breathing problems. People were crawling around. Later, the
police kicked people on the ground. Still, the March against Fear continued.

James Meredith was part of the last part of the march by June 26, 1966. On that date (which was the time
that about 4,000 black Mississippians were new registered voters), about 15,000 mostly black marchers
came into Jackson, Mississippi where Kwame Ture, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Floyd McKissick (who said
that black people want to be called black people not "Negroes" anymore), and others gave powerful
speeches in favor for justice for black people. The march inspired many black people to vote in high
numbers. The 1966 Civil Rights bill unfortunately failed in Congress. The Black Power era was a new era of
the civil rights movement that inspired America and the world forever. We learn lessons from the March
against Fear to oppose racism, white supremacy, and capitalism. The 1966 March for Freedom was the last
massive march of the Southern civil rights movement during that decade and it represented an end of era
(and the beginning of a new era of the freedom struggle). SNCC would embrace Black Nationalism strongly
by the late 1960s. Ironically, CORE would be more conservative while Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would be
more progressive. Many CORE leaders would support Richard Nixon as President while Dr. King opposed
the Vietnam War & opposed the agenda of the system itself. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. also opposed the
Presidency campaign of Richard Nixon in 1968 too. Many CORE leaders would support black capitalism
while Dr. King questioned capitalism and wanted a radical redistribution of economic and political power to
help the poor and the oppressed in America. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. plainly said the following words:
I want to say to you as I move to my conclusion, as we talk about "Where do we go from here?" that we
must honestly face the fact that the movement must address itself to the question of restructuring the
whole of American society. (Yes) There are forty million poor people here, and one day we must ask the
question, "Why are there forty million poor people in America?" And when you begin to ask that question,
you are raising a question about the economic system, about a broader distribution of wealth. When you
ask that question, you begin to question the capitalistic economy. (Yes) And I'm simply saying that more
and more, we've got to begin to ask questions about the whole society. We are called upon to help the
discouraged beggars in life's marketplace. (Yes) But one day we must come to see that an edifice which
produces beggars needs restructuring. (All right) It means that questions must be raised. And you see, my
friends, when you deal with this you begin to ask the question, "Who owns the oil?" (Yes) You begin to ask
the question, "Who owns the iron ore?" (Yes) You begin to ask the question, "Why is it that people have to
pay water bills in a world that's two-thirds water?" (All right) These are words that must be said. (All
right) (Final speech to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in its 11th Year Annual which was
delivered in Atlanta, Georgia on August 16, 1967).
Today, there is high income inequality, many of our leaders are assassinated, imprisoned, and even coopted. We witness the growth of Western wars of occupation and regime change in the Middle East, Africa,
Asia, and Latin America. The Pentagon budget is larger than the combined military expenditures of the next

seven at least highest spending nations on Earth. Many reactionary political forces have reverses many of
the gains of the black freedom struggle (from parts of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 being gutted and the
growth of gentrification). The epidemic of police terrorism continues in the world (with crimes readily being
unpunished. We will forever remember the stories of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Sandra
Bland, Rekia Boyd, and other human beings). In 2015, 1,134 people have been killed by the U.S. police.

The Black Lives Matter movement is one fruit of the Black Power movement too. Even now, the forces of
corporate America and the liberal establishment (who endorse imperialism and capitalism. There is a
distinction between the liberal establishment and true progressives who are fighting for justice. So, I want
to make that clear) want to co-opt and control the BLM movement. The FBI has monitored the BLM too. So,
the Black Lives Matter movement should always maintain its political independence. This is also a class
struggle as we want the poor and the working class to be liberated. We can learn the lesson of the Black
Power Movement which deals with grassroots community organization, the development of class analysis
(which deals with workers solidarity and compassion for the poor), the eternal love of black humanity, and
inspiring the youth to form independent power to cause revolutionary change. We want racism, class
oppression, xenophobia, and patriarchy to be eliminated, so black people can be liberated too.

The Documentary of The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution

The greatness of the Black Panthers was that they not only talked about revolutionary concepts and
liberation. They actually did something about things. They organized community based programs to help
the children of the community, the elderly, the sick, and other human beings. First, it is important to
understand the social conditions during 1966, which was the year when the Black Panther Party was
established by Bobby Seale and Huey P. Newton. After World War II, there was the post capitalist economic
boom. Yet, that boom left out millions of workers and the poor. There were still high poverty rates in many
areas of America back during the 1960's. Also, the 20th century Great Migration existed. This massive
migration was about African Americans going from the South to the North, Midwest, and the West Coast
(like in California, etc.). African Americans involved in the Great Migration wanted jobs, equality, and other
opportunities. Many workers were in industrial factories, etc. The civil rights movement (via struggle, civil
disobedience, boycotts, marches, protests, other resistance against injustice, etc.) caused the Civil Rights
Act and the Voting Rights Act to be passed in 1964 and 1965 respectively. Yet, there was massive class
exploitation and other forms of inequality. Dr. King exposed this truth during the late 1960's especially. The
oppressive conditions of economic deprivation, poverty, police brutality, etc. influenced the rebellions of
the North and the Midwest including the West Coast, which started in a high level by 1964 (like the
rebellions of Harlem in 1964, of Watts in 1965, of Newark, Cleveland, and Detroit in 1967, and the massive
ones in over 100 cities in 1968). The Northern ghettoes in many instances already banned legal apartheid,
but they had bad housing, educational discrimination, police injustice, and other problems. In essence, the
Black Panther Party existed in response to the failure of the mainstream civil rights movement to make a
serious dent into the bedrock of black oppression.

The Black Panthers' anti-imperialist, anti-police brutality, and pro-community views appealed to the black
youth who wanted a change in the world. The black youth felt that the actions of the civil rights movement
didn't go fast enough. The Black Panther Party was influenced heavily by Malcolm X who advocated selfdefense not violence. The Black Panthers were 10,000 strong by 1970 during their peak. Their 10 Point
Program outlined many legitimate grievances that black people had (in opposition to racism, police
terrorism, imperialist wars, economic exploitation and other forms of injustices going on). They
acknowledged accurately that self-defense, and community development are ways for any oppressed
people to enact. African Americans sincerely fighting for justice being slandered as a hate group is a
common occurrence. Then and now, the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense have been slandered by
extremists. Right wing extremists abhor any black person standing up against oligarchic oppression, white
racism, and racial injustice. FOX News never targets Neo-Nazis, the Klan, and other real hate group with the
same fervor as they as do to sincere movements for social change like the Black Lives Matter movement
(who want civil, human, economic, political, and democratic rights for all black people).

The heroic Black Panthers executed one of the greatest forms of resistance against oppression done by
Black people of African descent in American history. The BPP also executed over 30 Survival programs
in helping the black community.
There is a new documentary called The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution which talks about
the history of the BPP. Stanley Nelson is the director of the documentary. It has been shown in many places
the entire world including in America. The documentary talks about Eldridge Cleaver with great glorification
heavily without much mention of Huey P. Newton's revolutionary politics. Cleaver was in the party for a
temporary period of time and he left. Cleaver would later support the arch reactionary Ronald Reagan
(Reagan was one person that Cleaver ironically opposed during the 1960's) and be against many of the
stances that the Black Panther Party (who admitted that they were influenced by revolutionary black
nationalism, Maoism, and the liberation movements of the Third World) originally stood for. Cleaver would
be a radical anti-Communist by the 1980's. The documentary also shows the BPP as a non ideological,
disorganized, and infantile group, which isn't the case at all. The BPP was organized, it existed nationwide in
numerous chapters, and it grew in great power. To be fair, the documentary does have exciting, interesting,
and accurate parts in it as well. The documentary was very lively and powerful in many ways. Huey P.
Newton and Bobby Seale invented the Party. Women and men participated in the march to the state

legislature in Sacramento on May 2nd, 1967 to protest the Mulford Bill. The bill would prohibit the carrying
of unconcealed firearms in public. This was law was an overt, direct attack on The Black Panthers selfdefense efforts. The Black Panthers had a revolutionary socialist political tradition.

The United States government not only orchestrated the murder of Fred Hampton and Mark Clark in 1969.
They also had a role to play in the murder of LA Black Panthers back in the same year of 1969 too (and the
1969 LAPD raid via the newly form SWAT Team happened in the Partys Los Angeles office as well). The
Black Panther Party was one of the greatest expressions of resistance against an oppressive, capitalist
system done by people of black African descent in human history. The Black Panther Partys free Breakfast
for Children program and the Free health Care clinic actions helped thousands of lives. Bobby Seale was a
great BPP leader as well. The FBI slandered the Free Breakfast for Children program and the FBI in 1968
considered the Black Panthers as the greatest threat to the internal security of the United States. As we
know, the FBI committed as massive amount of terrorism against black people and other oppressed people
in America. The FBI's COINTELPRO program was used explicitly to try to harm the Black Panther Party
(causing splits in the New York City and the Oakland factions of the BPP) and other progressive movements
for social change. Also, the Department of Homeland Security today has done corruption and monitored
unjustly activists from peace groups to the Black Lives Matter movement.
One source on this time period (of the late 1960's) is the following:
"...Though explicitly calling themselves "Marxist-Leninists," the Panthers tended to focus their attention not
on the Black working class, but on what Karl Marx called the "lumpenproletariat"--the class of permanently
unemployed "brothers off the block," to use the Panthers' words--as the leading force for revolution in the
U.S. Where Marx and Marxists after him argued that the lumpenproletariat's disconnection from the
economy made it an unstable and relatively powerless compared to the organized working class, the
Panthers argued that since they had no stake in capitalist society, they would be the most willing to
overthrow it. Thus, while the Panthers did form caucuses and organizational networks at the General
Motors plant in Fremont. Calif., and in a few other factories, they lacked a systematic working class

orientation that might have provided the party with a more stable membership and a powerful political
force. As the experience of militant Black autoworkers in Detroit showed at the time, Blacks could and did
take their militant nationalism into the workplace...But despite the brief length of its heyday, the
importance of the Black Panther Party can't be underestimated. Whatever its weaknesses, it was the first
openly revolutionary organization in 40 years to achieve anything close to a mass following in the U.S. As
such, it provided a model for people moving from protest to radical ideas to revolutionary action. Given the
barbaric repression used against the Panthers, that is no small achievement..." ("The Black Panthers" by Lee
Sustar and Alan Maass).
Also, another point must be made. Many Black Panthers were sexists and sexism is wrong. No movement
should embrace sexism and many women Black Panther members stood up against sexism and misogynoir
in the organization. So, those women should be commended for advocating gender equality.
The Black Panthers served the people in the action of fighting for the establishment of political and social
revolution. The Black Panther Party was targeted by the United States government, because they wanted
independent community development and they opposed the imperialist policies of the West overseas (i.e.
The BPP rightfully opposed the Vietnam War). They wanted liberation without capitalism and without
compromise. That is why they were targeted by the FBI, etc. Huey P. Newton was constantly harassed by
the government and he died in 1989. The BPP ended by many factors. There was the state using repressive
measures against the Panthers from slander to outright murder. There was the end of the Vietnam War and
the growth of neoliberal policies that cause U.S. imperial interests to have diplomatic relations with many
of the nations that the Panthers had solidarity with. "Black Against Empire: A History and Politics of the
Black Panther Party" is a great book written by Joshua Bloom and Waldo Martin used interviews with
members and archived Panther newspapers to present a narrative of the Party's rise and fall. In it, one can
find entire chapters dedicated to the historical context that gave rise to the Party, as well as the conditions
and efforts that led them to choose Marxist thought as their guide. Former Black Panther leader avid Hillard
wrote the book entitled, "This Side of Glory" which details the history of BPP too. Many Panthers worked in
electoral politics. The conditions of state repression and other social conditions caused the Black Panthers
to decline in power. Alliances made with the working class are critical in forming real change. We are
against capitalist exploitation, imperialism, racism, and sexism. We know that the capitalist ruling class then
and now has used the police, the military, the courts, the schools, and the mainstream media to dominate
society. The Black Panthers were heroic to stand up against state repression and imperialism.
The names of George Jackson, Bunchy Carter, John Huggins, and other Party members should never be
forgotten. Also, the strong, intelligent black women in the Black Panther Party should always be
remembered and respected like Kathleen Cleaver, Angela Davis, Olive Morris, Barbara Easley-Cox, Afeni
Shakur, etc.

Nina Simone
Nina Simone was a heroic, strong black woman. The documentary film on Nina Simone (1933-2003)
entitled, What Happened, Miss Simone? is certainly amazing. I do recommend it for anyone. It has been
recently released on Netflix. It is informative. It is important to understand the life and times of the great
singer and civil rights activist Nina Simone. Nina Simone was more than a singer. She was a songwriter and
a famous pianist. She performed jazz, folk music, and other forms of music that dealt with racial and social
justice issues. She knew about classical music, gospel, blues, and folk. The documentary was exquisite in
showing her many compositions and renditions like Mississippi God__, Backlash Blues, Strange Fruit,
I Loves You Porgy, Aint Got No/I Got Life, My Baby Just Cares for Me, and other works. Her talent
was supreme in every measure. The documentary has interviews from Simones family members, friends,
and musical colleagues. Lisa Simone Kelly is Simones only child. She worked closely with the documentary
effort. Al Schackman is Simones longtime guitarist and musical director. Al Schackman has shown respect
for her for over four decades. Nina Simone was born in the segregated city of Tryon, North Carolina in 1933
as Eunice Waymon. She played the piano at 4. She went into revival meetings in the church and her mother
was a Methodist preacher.
Her mother's name was Mary Kate Waymon. Simone's father, John Divine Waymon, was a handyman who
at one time owned a dry cleaning business, but also suffered bouts of ill health. Nina took piano lessons
from the Englishwoman Muriel Mazzanonvich. Muriels husband was the painter Lawrence and they lived in
Tryon. In her autobiography, Simone speaks highly of the Mazzanoviches. Her teacher not only gave her
lessons, but embraced her talent and provided warmth, kindness and respect. Every weekend, Eunice
would cross the tracks to the white part of town to study the music of Bach, Beethoven and Liszt. Nina

Simone suffered racism and discrimination in the Jim Crow South. At a piano recital, she insisted that she
would not play unless her parents were brought to the front row, from which they had been removed to
make place for whites. Subsequently, a local fund was set up to assist in Simone's continued education.
With the help of this scholarship money she was able to attend Allen High School for Girls in Asheville,
North Carolina.

At the age of 17, Nina Simone left North Carolina. She came to study in a summer program at New Yorks
Julliard School and then she went to Philadelphia. At Philadelphia, she was expected to enroll in the famous
Curtis Institute of Music. Her application was rejected. So, she continued to work as a young performer. She
performed music in an Atlantic City, New Jersey bar in 1954. She was paid $90 a week. She used the named
Nina Simone (Nina meaning little girl in Spanish. Simone was from the surname of the French left wing
actress Simone Signoret). By the late 1950s, she made more well-known singles like I Loves You, Porgy in
1958. She sang at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1960 the song Little Liza Jane. By the early 1960s, she
performed at New York Citys Greenwich Village. Nina Simone was a strong activist in the civil rights
movement. She was into political activism. She wanted to use her art to give notice to the times that she
was living in.

This took place in July 6, 1963 at an impromptu song-session at a SNCC fundraiser at the homes of
actor ad activist Theodore Bikel. The people there included Avon M. Rollins, Lorraine Hansberry, Theo
Bikel, Nina Simone, Marion Barry Jr., John Lewis, Ella Baker, and other people.
She associated with many great African American artists and intellectuals like Langston Hughes, James
Baldwin, and Lorraine Hansberry. She was especially a close friend to Lorraine Hansberry. Hansberry was a
progressive activist and her play Raisin in the Sun had become a Broadway hit and was nominated for
several Tony Awards in 1959. Simone later wrote, intriguingly, that when she and Hansberry got together,
It was always about Marx, Lenin and revolutiontypical girl talk. In 1964, she changed record
distributors, from the American Colpix to the Dutch Philips, which also meant a change in the contents of
her recordings. Simone had always included songs in her repertoire that drew upon her African-American
origins (such as "Brown Baby" and "Zungo" on Nina at the Village Gate in 1962). On her debut album for
Philips, Nina Simone in Concert (live recording, 1964), however, Simone for the first time openly addressed
the racial inequality that was prevalent in the United States with the song "Mississippi God___"

The evil 1963 bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, which killed four Alabama
schoolgirls, angered many people. She wrote her well known song Mississippi God___ soon after the
incident (the song was addressing the evil killing of 4 little girls in 1964 and the assassination of Medgar
Evers in 1963). The lyrics were true. They exposed Southern racism (Alabamas got me so upset,
Tennessee made me lose my rest, and everybody knows about Mississippi, god__!) was later sung by
Simone at the conclusion of the March 1965 march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. To mark the
occasion, she changed the lyric slightly, to Selma made me lose my rest. Nina Simone spoke during the
Selma to Montgomery marches. She publicly believed in self-defense while maintaining that she and her
family believed that all races are equal. She married New York City police detective Andrew Stroud in 1961.
They divorced in 1970. Later, the growth of the anti-Vietnam War movement and the Black Power
movement existed. There were great achievements of the civil rights struggle, but economic inequality
persisted. There was the strike of the working class. There were the rebellions of 1964 to 1968. A new era
came about after the assassinations of Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Simone rejected reformism
and embraced more Black Nationalist ideas. Many of the old school civil rights establishment leaders
integrated into the capitalist Democratic Party while many of the Black Nationalist leaders like once SNCC
leader Kwame Ture legitimately exposed white racism. Also, some black nationalists were hostile to the
working class when we need the working class for liberation. She was influenced by Kwame Ture. She exiled
voluntarily during the 1970s because of the racism and oppression found in the States. She went into
Liberia, Switzerland, and finally France. She had mental illness and frequent psychological breakdowns,
which was said. She has to take a break from music at times. When her friends and colleagues found her in
appalling conditions in Paris, they helped her out. They gave her medical treatment.

Schackman was a true friend for helping Nina Simone out. She was able for periods to continue performing
both in Europe and occasionally in the US. She made many live performances in the early 1990s. After
being treated for breast cancer for a number of years, she died at her home in Carry-le-Rouet, France, near
Marseille, in April 21, 2003. She passed away in her sleep. Her funeral service was attended by singers
Miriam Makeba and Patti LaBelle, poet Sonia Sanchez, actor Ossie Davis, and hundreds of others. Simone's
ashes were scattered in several African countries. She is survived by her daughter, Lisa Celeste Stroud, an
actress and singer, who took the stage name Simone, and has appeared on Broadway in Aida. Nina
Simone's life was filled with tragedy and strength. Her life was complex and long too. Nina Simone was an
intellectual genius who used her music to show what was happening in the 20th century. Art must reflect
the times and we must know about the social parameters of the times too. Nina Simone was an excellent
musician and her music was against oppression, racism, and injustice.

RIP Sister Nina Simone.

Our Generation
We live in a new generation. The power of the youth should be never be underestimated. This is an
important issue to mention and discuss. People in our generation are asserting themselves intellectually,
politically, economically, and socially. Many young people are in the streets now standing up for racial
justice, for our civil liberties, and for progressive, legitimate changes in our communities. The courageous
efforts of these young Brothers and Sisters ought to be acknowledged and respected. These human beings
are not only protesting against police brutality and economic injustice. They are forming community related
programs that are helping the youth, adults, the elderly, women, and other human beings. It has been over
a year after Eric Garner was murdered by the NYPD and we are still fighting for justice. As the family of Eric
Garner has said, a $5.9 million settlement with the Garner family is not justice. "The victory will come when
we get justice," said Garner's mother, Gwen Carr. "Justice," added Garner's daughter Emerald Snipes, "is
when somebody is held accountable for what they do." In our generation, we witness the Black Lives
Matter movement which was created during the Presidency of Barack Obama. We are opposed the
agendas of white racists and reactionaries like Ted Nugent, WND, Bill O'Reilly, Michael Savage, Donald
Trump (who said bigoted statements about black people before), Ann Coulter, and other characters.

The murder of our Brothers and our Sisters by crooked cops has inspired this new generation to take
action. In 1999 Amadou Diallo was killed in a hail of 41 bullets. Oscar Grant was killed by an armed transit
cop. Trayvon Martin was killed by George Zimmerman and the modern Black Lives Matter movement was
created. The murder of Michael Brown in 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri grew the young peoples motivation
to fight for change. The murder of Michael Gray in Baltimore has inspired more people too. Black women
have been murdered by the police (and by others too) too like Rekia Boyd, Shelly Frey, Alberta Spruil,
Michelle Cusseaux, Miriam Carey, Kyam Livingston, Eleanor Bumpers, and other Sisters. Their stories and
their lives matter. The #SayHerName Movement has shown the world that the lives of black women
matters as black women are the mothers of human civilization. Black women must be liberated just like
anyone else. There are so many young peoples names that are showing the truth like Patrisse Cullors, Alicia
Garza, Opal Tometi, Ashley Yates, Tef Poe, and others.
I hope that the documentary of Generation Soweto is fully funded and comes out. The documentary shows
the world that African people are diverse and South African Millennials want progressive change just like
other demographics. Also, I like how the documentary project refutes the racist stereotypes that some
people have of Africa. I do find South Africans have a great sense of resiliency and the documentary shows
how we, as a people, are still fighting economic inequality and others evils in the world. The Millennials in
the film are dedicated in accomplishing their goals too. We should never forget about the struggle. White
supremacists murdered children in Soweto during the 1970's and they killed black people in Sharpeville
during the 1960's. The more that we learn about our Brothers and our Sisters in Africa, the more we realize
how much we all have in common as black people irrespective of our nationalities. Bless the project.

Some use the phrase of personal responsibility as a

way to scapegoat black people instead of telling the
whole truth about our situation and about our lives as
black people. As the words from this following Sister
says:

"...The emphasis on personal responsibility,

culture, and opportunity does more than just
assign blame to individuals it also deflects
attention from a sharper focus on an American
economic order that produces eight of the top ten
richest people on earth while twenty-five million
Americans struggle to feed themselves and their
families on less than ten dollars an hour. The focus
on the individual also works to deform a public
debate about the latest iteration of urban crisis
without referencing how racially discriminatory
public policies and private practices have
compounded economic inequality so that the brunt
of evictions, foreclosures, unemployment and
underemployment, crumbling public schools, a
dysfunctional health care system and an immoral
criminal justice system are borne on black and
brown urban communities across the nation..."
-Sister Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor's "Poverty and
the Tailspin of Culture

Serena Williams gave an excellent, magnificent

speech in December 2015 (of being awarded by
Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year). It was
filled with eloquence, power, truth, and love. She
loves us and we love her as a Sister, and as a great
philanthropic black woman. Her words enrich our
souls since they speak the truth that a black woman
has the right to play tennis, a black woman has the
right to fulfill her aspirations, any black woman has
the right to rise. Our history is filled with stories of
resiliency, hope, and inspiration. Serena is
passionate about her principles and she has stood
up for herself, black women, black people in general,
and anyone else who desires to fulfill their dreams.
She is a very beautiful black woman and she is the
GOAT. She is the greatest of all time. Her quoting
Maya Angelou sums it all. Serena is shining her light
and she isn't done yet. She will continue to win
tennis matches. She will continue to make a
difference in society.

The pictures from Left to Right show Sojourner truth, Sgt. William H. Carney (of the Union side of the Civil War.
He was the African American to be awarded the Medal of Honor), Lupita Nyongo, and Muhammad Ali. I have
great admiration for all of these black human beings.

I do acknowledge the elders and their contributions in the struggle for black liberation as well. Our eyes are
on the prize. That prize to see capitalist exploitation, imperialism, and all injustices end, so humanity can
have justice. It is about seeing a world where an unarmed, innocent black person will not be murdered and
universal health care is available for all (not some, but for all). It is about witnessing real educational
opportunities for our people without the prison to pipeline system (which has ruined the lives of so many
of the black youth). It is about witnessing not only the end to the war on Drugs, but the end to the prison
industrial complex. It is about seeing a world where bigotry and intolerance are gone and where black
people in our communities can flourish worldwide (as Africans, Afro-Brazilians, Afro-French, Afro-British,
Afro-Caribeeans, African Americans, etc. are one. We are one people).

*So, this is our generation and this is our time for real change. We want justice and we will
express our voices. We will never give up and we will be victorious.

Solutions
For years, people have talked about solutions. The truth is that a solution will never be monolithic or one
thing. A solution will be a combination of multiple, collective actions. Collective power is stronger than just
individual power. The following is not all that we must do. We have to do more than these actions. They are
many important things that we can do in order for justice to come for our people and for our communities
in the world. We want the system of white supremacy to end, so a system of justice can come about for all
human beings. Therefore, here are some solutions (not all solutions) that we can do in order to form the
same goal, which is the total liberation and justice existing among black people worldwide.
1). THE KNOWLEDGE OF SELF: This is very important. There can be no solution unless people know about
their identity, respect their identity, and treat people as they would have be treated themselves. Black is
Beautiful and being Black is a Blessing. Our ancestors come from Africa. Accepting our Blackness is not
about promoting hatred. It is about honoring our heritage and acknowledging how strong black people
have stood up for the truth throughout the ages of time. We have to especially teach black youth about
how Black is Beautiful and how their physical and spiritual image is valuable in the Universe. We must do
what is right, promote integrity, and promote morality so all people can benefit and be blessed in a
multitude of ways. Our melanin, our eyes, our bodies, our hair, and our human value in general are
beautiful. Greatly understanding about the Knowledge of Self increases confidence in people and it will
motivate others to see their value in themselves. So, we have the responsibility to tell black people about
the great qualities of Blackness without apology, especially to black youth. Blackness is here to stay.

2). COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: There is no liberation without us working in our communities. Some
people want to receive money via capitalistic exploitation while the poor of our people suffer the greatest.
That is not a solution and more Brothers and more Sisters are realizing how wrong that approach is. With
depression level unemployment and underemployment rates in some communities across America and in
the world, we have to work in black communities to be part of the solution. This doesn't mean that we
worship the police. This does mean that we get involve in neighborhood meetings, go out and participate in

anti-violence initiatives, and support mentorships. We have to accept policies and programs that work and
reject anything that doesn't work. There is nothing wrong with cooperative programs and other progressive
actions as the late Brother Chokwe Antar Lumumba has advocated. There should be the advancement of
cooperative democracy. Communities need investments, respect, and collaboration among black people
worldwide.
3). JOIN INDEPENDENT ORGANIZATIONS: Like always, there is nothing wrong with us joining organizations
as long as they are legitimate, independent, and real. Only so much can be done individually. Yet, massive
action can be done by us joining real organizations who are dedicated to freedom and justice. There a lot of
them internationally focusing on economic justice, social justice, pan-African unity policies, help to women,
help to the youth, environmental justice, and a wide spectrum of causes. I believe in mental or intellectual
independence. I dont ally with the Boule and I dont agree with the agenda of the Boule. YOU HAVE
EVERY RIGHT TO THINK FOR YOURSELF AND TO ANALYZE INFORMATION.

4). EXERCISE AND HEALTH GROWTH: One of the greatest ways to build up the human body and the human
soul is by exercising and eating healthy foods. Exercise can improve the human immune system, improve
intelligence, develop emotional strength, grow confidence, extend life expectancy, and cause enumerable
other benefits. Cardio, strength building exercise, plyometrics, and other forms of exercise are very
important. Eating fruits, vegetables, and other healthy foods can improve the skin and health in general.
We have the right to eat meats and to not eat meats too. After I exercise, I do feel more confident in my life
and I just feel good in general.

5). PROMOTE PAN-AFRICAN UNITY: We, as black people, are an international, interdependent people.
Therefore, we should study about Africans and all black people of the Black African Diaspora. We should
make it our duty to learn about the diverse cultures, cities, towns, languages, and other aspects of Africa
and the rest of the African Diaspora. Black unity is a great blessing. Afro-Brazilians, Afro-French, Africans,
Afro-Caribbeans, etc. are our Brothers and our Sisters. We are one. Pan-African unity does not just mean
that we have economic, social, and political collaborations with black globally. It will also deal with the
formation of economic endeavors. It will include conferences, community meetings, cultural exchange
programs, and other forms of communities with our people from around the world.
6). SELF-DEFENSE AND SELF-PRESERVATION: I believe in nonviolence. I have no problem with nonviolent,
peaceful resistance against evil. Yet, I do believe in self-defense too. If someone is attacking me unjustly,
then I have the moral right to defend myself. If someone is attacking my relative in an unjust way, then I
have the moral right to use legitimate actions to stop that. Self-preservation is about maintaining us as a
people. Self-defense is not domestic violence. Domestic violence is evil and it is wrong. No innocent human
being of any color or background should experience violence at any circumstance. We have the right to
defend our people, to learn self-defense techniques, and to educate people on survival techniques.
7). SUPPORT FELLOW REVOLUTIONARIES AND REVOLUTIONARY POLITICS: During this age, reactionary
movements have been widespread (even among some who call themselves conscious, but arent). That is
why it is necessary for us to believe in revolutionary change. The status quo doesn't work. Revolutionary
politics is about advancing politics that transforms society, so the masses of the people can benefit. That
means that we believe that economic justice is a necessity, universal health care is legitimate, and capitalist
exploitation must end. We have every right to demand change, protest, and develop our infrastructure via
self-determination. There is nothing wrong with promoting workers' rights and believing in liberation
either. Grassroots movement should be supported and nourished.
8). HELP THE POOR: There can be no solutions in our communities without helping the poor. Poverty is an
evil scourge that has harmed the lives of so many men, women, and children. The poor certainly doesn't
need scapegoating or disrespect. The poor need respect, dignity, and justice. Poor people don't need
patronize, but fair wages, resources, investments, and love. Love is not just an emotion. Love is the
expression of how you really care about fellow human beings. Charities, food banks, and other resources
should be invested in helping the poor. Also, a living wage and job creation programs must be advanced to
reduce income inequality and combat poverty. It is important to acknowledge the fact that honorable
people for a long time have used their time and effort to assist the poor in our communities. They should

be respected. As the late Dr. Martin Luther King has mentioned: "If the society changes its
concepts by placing responsibility on its system, not on the individual, and guarantees
secure employment or a minimum income, dignity will come within reach of all."

9). BUILD AND SUPPORT OUR INSTITUTIONS AND INFRASTRUCTURE: Our leaders and our elders have
promoted this policy for decades and centuries. We need institutions to grow our resources and maintain
our resources. For example, we not only need economic development. We need programs whereby help is
sent to the poor, where assistant is given to the sick, and where we have international cooperation with
black people all over the Earth. So, owning legitimate businesses is fine, but those businesses should have
the responsibility to help those in the community. If a business doesn't do that, then they should never
receive our support. We should never follow laissez faire capitalism where we form businesses, but our
businesses exploit workers or solely seek profit. We seek power and the wealth to be fairly distributed to
the masses of the people.

10). DEVELOP AND IMPROVE OUR FAMILIES: Without strong families, communities won't grow. Therefore,
we should advance strong families in a voluntary fashion. We know that not all black families will be a
nuclear family, but any black family (regardless if it is nuclear or not) should have the resources and the
power to help black children and others in the community. That is why supporting family aid programs,
family counseling, various programs that help families are necessary. I have no problem with universal child
care either as this is found in many industrialized nations. Black fathers and Black mothers who are doing
what is right must be respected and supported. Fathers and Mothers should be honored.

11). ADVANCE BLACK UNITY AND BLACK LOVE: Black Unity is a necessity. Showing solidarity and unity with
each other is a prime example of loving our black people. We are in this today as one people. Black Unity is
one of the most important concepts in our community. I believe in Black Unity wholeheartedly. Black Unity
was used to fight social injustices back in the day and to stand up for the truth. So, we need more Black
Unity. Unity never means condoning evil. Unity never means that we agree with the views of reactionaries
or those who sell out their people. Unity deals with solidarity. Unity deals with reciprocity. Unity deals with
undying love and allegiance to the interests of black people worldwide. That means when a black person is
unjustly abused or murder, we stand up for that black persons family. That means when black girls or black
women are degrading online or offline, we stand up for that black girl or black woman. That means that we
should love for our black people. We want black people to be free and have happiness.
Black Love is special. Without Black Love, we wouldn't be here on this Earth literally. Therefore, Black Love
is Beautiful and strong. Black Love doesn't only deal with romance, marriage, or sex. Any form of love
should be voluntary. All human beings have the right to their human autonomy. Black love can be
expressed among relatives, friends, and colleagues in the form of respecting each other as black human
beings (and acting as friendly allies in the cause of justice). So, Black Love is a powerful force in the Universe
that will always be respected.

#Black Lives Matter.

12). TEACH AND HELP OTHERS: We are blessed to know a lot of information about Africa, black culture,
melanin, and the Black Diaspora. So, we can teach and help others to learn about black culture and to see
that the fight against the evil system of white supremacy is a necessary one. We shouldn't be arrogant or
egocentric. We must be progressive and understanding as human beings. Many black people are waking up
and that's great news. We have a long way to go, but we will have faith and do action in order to come into
the land of freedom.
13). TRAVEL: For anyone who can afford it, traveling is great. It can open one's eyes to different cultures. It
can cause people to be more progressive on international issues and it can improve one's human soul. That
is why many black Americans are traveling to Africa, Brazil, Europe, the Caribbean, Asia, and other parts of
the world where there is a high number of people of black African descent. I do encourage people to travel,

make connections with black people globally, and to realize how interdependent we are as human beings.
We should always respect different cultures that black people express worldwide and get more
understanding about our great value as humans in the world picture. Any human being of any background
should be treated with dignity and with respect.
14). CULTIVATE WISDOM: Wisdom is always important to now. Learning is a life long journey. That is why
we have every right to learn different languages, to learn about STEM fields (as these fields relate to the
development of human civilization. Math, technology, engineering, computer science, political affairs,
sociology, and science have been with our people for thousands of years and many black people are great
scholars involving STEM fields. Black youth should be encouraged definitely to master STEM fields,
economics, etc.). Wisdom is diverse. It can deal with sociology, anthropology, biology, history, music, the
arts, etc. Understanding wisdom and applying it in helping society as a whole is a blessing. Black people
then and now are a strong people.

15). RESPECT AND COMBATING MISOGYNOIR PLUS OPPOSING ALL INJUSTICES: The elders have said it
best. To be pro-black is to respect black people period. We should always treat all black people with dignity
and with respect irrespective of a black persons nationality, gender, class, skin hue, age, etc. Also, no black
person should be oppressed or murdered because of the black persons gender, age, nationality, sexual
orientation (people have the right to agree or disagree with lifestyles but no one has the right to oppress or
murder any human being of any background), or class. Some black people want to degrade other black
people based on someones hue or physical appearance. That is wrong and that should end completely.
Colorism is evil and misogynoir is evil too. A black persons natural features should never be degraded. Our
dark skin, or hair and our noses are beautiful parts of our black image. There is nothing wrong with a black
woman wearing her hair natural. Also, there is nothing wrong with a black woman wearing a weave if she
wants to. A black woman wearing weave should never be called out of her name and disrespected. We
should always stand up to people who are spewing misogynoir lies. Also, no means no. A black person has
every right to say No if he or she is not interested in a relationship. No one has the right to police what a
woman does with her own body.
Respectability politics is wrong, because that deals with arrogance and an elitism (which relates to classism
too. Classism is another evil that must be eradicated in our community). Classism is despicable, because it
falsely blames poor black people for the capitalist system oppressing the poor. We want a real,
revolutionary change in society where black people of any class have liberation. We may not agree on every
issue, but we can agree to stand together in fighting to end the system of racism/white supremacy so the
system of justice can exist. We will fight against evil. We live in an imperfect world, so you have no choice

but to fight against oppression. This is a straight up for war for our liberation. This is real. Thats real talk.
We are opposed to any injustice.

We will always promote the empowerment of

We have hope for the future.

black people.

Conclusion
We're blessed to learn books about Africa and black culture. We know about history, anthropology,
sociology, and other important subjects. Its a shame that many of our own black people have this selfhatred and just lust after degrading each other. Since, we know better, we have precious gift and
responsibility in helping others. That is what the Creator would want us to do while we're here. We both
love black people a lot. We love our heritage and we want the best for our people. Unity and respecting
plus loving our identity is key for us to have liberation. There were tons of black people who lost their lives
by evil people during the Maafa, during slavery in the America, during Reconstruction, during Jim Crow, and
today in our generation. Also, it is important to note that our people fought back. There were hundreds of
slave revolts in America alone. The Deacons of Defense, the Black Panther Party, and other groups used
arms to defend their communities from white racists who wanted to attack black people. The terrorism
inflicted on black people should always be remembered including the sacrifice that our people made in
building up their communities too. We are inspired by our ancestors' courage in the midst of oppression
and we will continue to live on the tradition of unity, solidarity, and resistance.

By Timothy

Appendix A: Inspiration and Wisdom from Brothers and Sisters

As we enter 2020, the more things change, the more that they stay the same. Our people have fought and
shed blood for voting rights and human rights. Worldwide, our people have steadfastly opposed
imperialism, misogyny, and economic injustice. Today, we live in a more globalized society. In this
society, we see the super rich have unimaginable access to technology, political power, etc. while the poor
still suffer poverty, lax infrastructure, and other problems. Also, when we fight for our liberation and
finally get victory in the future, then the victory will be so much more rewarding. We are always
fighters. We a'int descended from weak people. That's real talk. No weak people survived the Maafa. No
weak people survived Jim Crow. No weak people created Black Wall Street, the Chicago Renaissance,
and the Harlem Renaissance. No weak people survived other injustices.
From the most conservative to the most progressive of our people, we all agree that things must change,
that we need more self-determination in our lives (or Kuijchaguila), we are against police brutality, we
are against imperialism, we love our Blackness, and we want to build more of our institutions (that we
control and own). Some people believe that solutions will be a specific action or one magical procedure.
Yet, history has taught us that this will not be so. In the final analysis, we have to execute a diverse
amount of actions. The development of grassroots, bottom up, and democratic organizations are key
instruments of change. We should be more organized in our communities and ally with independent
political and economic organizations. We believe in education via great schools and political educational
classes that teaches the communities about our real history. I have no problem with African centered
schools to help black children as well. Liberation always deals with Land (as Malcolm X has outlined
accurately. Imperialists stole the lands of the Americas via conquest, theft, and rape. That is why the
Christoper Columbus Day should be banned worldwide as Columbus was a terrorist). I do believe that

we should use the land to develop more community programs and other actions to help our people. Our
safety is very important. That is why I do advocate self-defense, CPR classes, first aid promotion, etc. in
our communities. Boycotts should be strategic and target organizations especially who have a long
history of discriminating against us as black people. Also, another point is to be made. The socialists are
right that we have to think in an international context. Black people live internationally. We should
have social, political, and economic collaboration with our Brothers and our Sisters globally.

Political independence (and not following bourgeois parties and slick politicians) is the way to go too.
So, this is a racial struggle for justice and this is a class struggle too. In other words, we have to create
independent policies to fight poverty and other socioeconomic issues in our communities. A class
consciousness is very important to maintain. It is not right in America for the top 1 percent to receive so
much wealth at the expense of the poor and working class. One Harvard study found that 95 percent of
all income gains went to the wealthiest 1 percent of the country between 2009 and 2012. We have
massive economic inequality. Capitalist exploitation has been brutal and evil in the lives of the masses of
the people. So, there should be the political independence of the working class and a radical
redistribution of political and economic power (as Dr. King has said). I have no issues with a living
wage and with the elimination of the unfair loopholes and allowances that huge multinational
corporations have. Women should never be called out of their names too, so we must eliminate racism,
misogyny, classism, lookism, the system of white supremacy, patriarchy, ageism, and other evils from
the face of the Earth. We also have to understand about our unsung, revolutionary heroes like Robert F.
Williams, Claudia Jones, Paul Robeson, Septima Clark, and Marion Stamps. We know that we have a
long way to go, but we should discuss about these issues, form strategies, and implement them. We all
want the same goal. We want black liberation. We want justice.
The following words below are from Brothers and Sisters who have shown great wisdom about life and
about the black experience. These black human beings are mothers, fathers, workers, activists, and other
contributors to society. They are young and people of diverse age demographics. They exist in America
and throughout the Earth. So, these words from them inspire us to keep the faith and carry onward on
the road to Freedomland. A'int nothing will turn us around. Health rights are important to advance too.
Sister Alondra Nelson's book entitled, "Body and Soul: The Black Panther Party and the Fight against
Medical Discrimination" proves that the black freedom struggle was heavily involved in combating
medical discrimination, eugenics, lax health infrastructure, and other evils. So, we want a strong mind,

body, and soul for our people. It is a historical fact that many Black Panthers used free breakfast
programs, ambulance services, health services for the elderly, and other actions to help black
communities nationwide. We have to advance a stronger ecology. A better environment is key in having
a strong society in general.

Now, here are these words from Brothers and Sisters showing the truth and Enjoy:
We are beautiful people and we need to embrace all of our beauty. I am glad for the movement of
blackout day. Hope it catches on and stays.
-Sister Mary Burrell

_______________________
Yes and yes. Waves fan and say amen.
Mentorship and building together is the only way we will be able to build politically, financially,
educationally, etc, and be free.
-Sister Mico
_________________________
I watched Spike Lee's "When the levees Broke" again and every time the scene of dead bodies comes
up, I get mad as hell. For a country such as the US, with it's wealth and power, to stand by while dead
bodies float down the streets, is not only an extreme tragedy but also a complete disregard for human
life. The Bush/Cheney gang as well as FEMA should have been held accountable but that was far
fetched since they made millions off of the disaster.
Although hurricane Katrina was a freak of nature at its peak, with 175 mph sustained winds, I still
believe that the storm was manipulated some how (NASA referred to it as an electric hurricane).
Whats even more disturbing is the Koch Industries involvement before and after the storm. There is an
article on the Huff revealing the evil manipulation of the Koch brothers.
-Brother Chazz A

_______________________
"Protest peacefully," they say. Be good little Negroes because we cannot upset the sensibilities of
White folks. "Be respectable and show some manners, Nicki Minaj." Respectability doesn't work with
these Neanderthals. We have to fight fire with fire and THEY are firing up. It's time to start arming
OURSELVES because if we don't protect ourselves, no one else will. The good ole boys in blue cannot
be trusted to "protect and to serve" us because they are killing us. They most certainly won't "protect"

us against the assaults, verbal and physical, of the cowardly beasts whose rage is clouding their ability
to act like human beings.
There's such a sense of helplessness because we are coming up against a demonic system that
celebrates their evil - a system that will always support White supremacy and its long-standing history
of degradation and abuse of Black people.
-Sister Noirluv45
_____________________
10 years later and in some aspects it still feels like yesterday physically and personally. This week we
had a lot of ceremonies, celebrations, second lines, presidential visits, etc. but I hope people take away
what was highlighted that we still need assistance to thrive especially the black community within the
city and the surrounding areas. The storm not only highlighted federal issues but a lot of local issues as
well. I am personally still shocked how certain parts of Louisiana has been built up but the biggest and
major money maker that is New Orleans is still lacking in many ways as highlighted. I love this damn
city and I think it isn't reaching its level of potential to rival other majors cities personally I would LOVE
to see an explosion of a Black Renaissance and Mecca and young educated people (native or
transplants) within the city again.
-Sister binks
____________________
The BLM is forcing them (whites such as Bill O'Reilly & other whites who think the way he does) to look
at the ugly truth that they choose not to accept/deal with. For centuries & decades of egregious actions
& for enforcing their belief they are the superior/master race thru slavery, oppression, and violating the
civil rights of many non-white citizens. They don't like this movement because it threatens their security
(white privilege, the modern day enforcement of their domination over all others). And of course they
don't like it, this is just them fighting back by trying to tear down the BLM movement by any means
necessary (by questions the race of the brother that founded or co-founded it, & also by trying to get
BLM defined as a hate group, and Bill O'Reilly's vow to put BLM out of business.).
-Sister *NmySkynn70*

___________________________
I believe that every person who thinks we are in a post-racial society, with a fair Justice system, needs
to view this documentary. It will definitely shine light on that myth.
The Justice system needs to be dismantled and rebuilt. As a matter of fact, the blindfold needs to be
removed from "Lady Justice" all together!
Anyone can see the injustice when a person convicted for drugs serves more time than a person
convicted for a violent crime such as rape.

In 2014, around 95 percent of the 2000-plus elected state and local prosecutors across the country
were Caucasian, and about 79 percent were Caucasian men.
In Shreveport Louisiana juries, more people are sentenced to death than any other jury in this country.
77 percent of people sentenced to death over the last 40 yrs were black! This may seem shocking but
with a racist DA like Dale Cox, who once was quoted saying, "we need to kill more people", it should
not be a surprise.
Whats even worse, 15 states in this country do not have one black prosecutor.
These numbers indicate a grime reality. No matter how many police brutality incidents have been
witnessed and video recorded, a rogue cop getting convicted and sentenced to prison is extremely
unlikely.
Corruption, racism, racial disparities and prisons for profit are all signs of a broken, one dimensional
justice system.
The Minister Farrakhan once said, " a system cannot fail those it was never designed to protect". That
was in the 80s during the crack explosion and the "system" remains the same to this day.
The n word has become the most widely used racial slur ever. It has existed in every fom of media,
even children's books. There was even a tobacco company that marketed and sold its product under
the name "n****r hair.
Richard Pryor made millions using the n word and was one of the reasons Caucasians attended his
shows. It wasn't until he almost blew himself up doing drugs and travelled to Africa, that he finally
stopped using the word in his acts.
Perhaps the Most High spoke to him through the spirit of his African ancestors.
Those who continue to use the word, by tricking themselves into believing the foolishness that replacing
the "er with an "a" will some how rid the n word of its racist origins, are drowning in ignorance.
They must understand that It is a by-product of the "cultural conditioning" of black people.
I don't use the word, it wasn't allowed in my household and it doesn't exist in my vocabulary.
-Brother Chazz A
____________
It is not about a difference of opinion. People being killed by cops and people killing each other are all
part and parcel of the same corrupt system of injustice. There is no difference in the outcome but the
results are still not the same. At the end of it all Black people are dying at the hands of others BUT
Black killers often go to jail, Police who kill, do not. In the end, we all suffer. The causes come from the
same source. Criminality is part of capitalism, in fact it is one of the arms. I wish some of you would get
that this is serious across all fronts. Why can't we talk and focus on different ways to attack this beast?
Why can't the first tier focus on changing policing in America? That has been something that has been
needed for at least the past 50 or more years. The system needs an overhaul. You can't keep putting
bad in (corrupt cops, failing schools, weak and low wage jobs) and expecting good to come out. Why
can't we address this aspect without bringing the other immediately into it?
Additionally, HOW DO YOU GET PEOPLE to stop KILLING each other when it is accepted practice
from the police on down? When this nation was founded on the backs of First Nation people with the
guns/knives held to their throats? When you sell guns like candy? When you glorify guns? When you
celebrate with guns?
The point is Criminals with guns will use them, and criminals are not of one race. Criminals usually get
involved with crime for a variety of reasons, and some of the biggest ones surround lack of resources.
Crime goes down when a nation's health goes up. Politicians HAVE to instill change from the root.
Crime has to be rooted out, it cannot be protested out. Black does not equal criminal. Gangsters are

criminal. Gangsters take over communities that societies abandon. They have to be rooted out.
Perhaps if the police focused on arresting actual criminals instead of killing Black folk at will, some of
the so-called Black on Black crime would cease.
The other point is this Society needs to change. If the police are allowed to be judge, jury and
executioner, then (not you specifically) don't say we live in a Democracy, call it what it really is...
-Sister elle D.
_________________
The GUARDIAN, a British publication, published some info a couple of months ago which indicated that
there may have been more killing of civilians by police in the USA during the previous few weeks as in
the UK in the past CENTURY! No wonder some foreigners think America is uncivilized. Oh, as for the
necessity of police terror in reply to anti-police violence? I doubt it. A researcher on this made a report
on MSNBC this past Sunday in which it was show that as of that time there were 24 American cops
killed by civilians, but over 800 people killed by cops. And we can go on and on: Our prison industrial
complex, militarization of police, etc. My country may be "exceptional ", but not in the way imagined in
our myths of "American exceptionalism ".
-Savant
______________________
GOOD FOR THEM!!! "Political Endorsements" is the equivalent of selling your soul. Once any
candidate/party has the vote of a major movement that movement becomes a pawn to get constituents
on board w/whatever political agenda is the flavor of the day. I hope BLM stays non-partisan b/c I
believe that's the only reason both sides are paying attention to these activists. This is our opportunity
to prove to both Republicans AND Democrats (and all other parties) that the black vote is not a silent
given. Black lives do matter, and it's time to hold our government officials to that truth.
-Me (A Sister)
__________________
2 Most IMPORTANT bits of info from this article to store in OUR memory banks for GROWTH as Planet
Earth Citizens:
1) STEAM:
Science,
Technology,
Engineering,
Arts,
Math
~~~~~~~~~~~~
2) INVESTING for Financial GROWTH ----> Self-reliance
-Sister Raise the Bar
______________

Yep, esp, your last paragraph. You know how many older Black people feel some of the results of
integration have hindered us as a people--too many Black people have a 'i got mine, get yours'
mentality when it comes to other Blacks.
Re: this thread I will add it goes beyond who someone is attracted to, marry, etc. If someone is of the
anything but Black mindset in their home life, there is a chance this mentality persuades all of their
interactions.
-Sister vintage3000
__________________________________
There is no black supremacy dear. You can only have Black supremacy if not only your people believe
it but others believe it too and there is no danger of that. Black power/black is beautiful is a valid
response to hundreds of years of being told and treated as if we were barely human. Remember this,
we were in slavery longer than we've been out of it, then add peonage, share cropping, separate but
equal and on and on. Have a good day.
-Sister Staci Elle
________________________
The documentary was interesting the different perspectives and how whites feel about race. The Lakota
tribe (Native Americans) referred to whites as "wasicu" meaning one who takes or greedy. That is very
true of whites in this country in respect to First People nations. In Bensonhurst, New York, a place i
have always thought of as racist especially in the early 80's with it's Italian community and from Spike
Lee movies. Asians now are living in that community and they referred to them as "c__." I also found it
interesting that the whites were insulted about the word white privilege. White privilege is a real thing
but they feel attacked. Hmm.... Well that one white guy was having a workshop for white privilege and
many white folks would benefit greatly from them. I see that pus bag Bill O'Reilly getting all butt hurt
about that word "white privilege " and they even mentioned how some of them were Fox News
consumers. This explains why they have so much apathy about the black lives matter movement and
why they like to derail the discourse. But this documentary didn't really get to the crux of the matter of
racism and whiteness in America. I doubt if whites will ever acknowledge their privilege in America and
see the disparities in American society in regards to other non white people.
-Sister Mary Burrell
_____________________

Great points, as usual, Truth. I'll always refer to building our own infrastructure as the change we've
desired for so long. It starts with loving ourselves. I believe that unification, edification, and a vision will
bring us to a place where we don't have to rely on others to build our brands. There are so many ways
to build our brands, but how many have the vision to step out. For example, Black people are talented,
yet Whites take our talents, use them, abuse them and make money from them. Case and point, there
was this elderly White woman on Ellen DeGeneress show last week teaching hip-hop dance. She
wanted to open a studio and get the most deserving children into her classes --those children were all
ASIAN. While I applauded her for doing such a noble thing, I wondered, "Why aren't we doing this with
our own culture and our children. Truth, there are so many Black children who need a place to shine,
but the spotlight is dimmed. All the while Asians, Whites, Mexicans, and the Japanese are robbing us
blind and using it for their benefit without apology. Hip-hop, dance, and other innovations are not
bringing us financial gain, but filling the pockets of others. We are selling them to everyone else and
applauding their success. My sister said something very pointed to me yesterday. She said, "A lot Black
people want White people to like us." Therefore, when they "admire" what we do, many of us feel
honored because many don't know what their motives are. Solution: Why can't more of us use
YouTube or the web as a means of broadcasting the tremendous talent in our communities? I realize
there are many who have started to do so, but this needs to be monumental to our people. Videos we
create can be monetized, and BAM! There you have it. We need to showcase our stuff! What's more,
as I've brought up countless times in before, why aren't rich Black celebrities and athletes collectively
thinking of the good of their people? They have billions to under their belts and can build whatever they
choose. Why don't we have a Black Hollywood? Why don't we own hotels and businesses to where we
can mentor and hire unapologetically, our people to work in them just like other ethnicities do? They did
it during the worst time (or perhaps, in hindsight, the best times in many ways: read unification) during
segregation, so why can't we do it now when we have more technological advances at our fingertips.
The scripture, "My people perish for a lack of vision" sums up to me, the reason why we continue to
battle poverty and dependability on a system that has denied our humanity since we got here.
-Sister Noirluv45
_______________________

No. It's not the same thing.

The difference with that scenario and most of all of the scenarios with the descendants of European
colonizers in Africa, is that even though those individuals are minorities, those White people still benefit
from the legacy of European colonization and White supremacy within those African countries.
Now a non-Asian person traveling in Asia may experience different obstacles depending on what TYPE
of non-Asian they are. You can read up on plenty of travel blogs and bloggers who've travelled and/or
are living in Asia and are non-Asian.
A White person's experience in Asia, whether it be in the Far East or South East will be VERY different
from a Black person's experience in Asia; also, gender should not be ruled out as a factor either.
-Sister PrimmestPlum
_____________________

truth, remember all the faux outrage about Obama's accurate "they cling to guns and religion" during
his first campaign? When they know this is exactly what they do? The difficulty is the hypocrisy in this
country. We are not supposed to talk about racism and the love for violence that comes from so much
of White America, when we see it on a daily basis.
And yes American whites have turned that z person into a folk hero simply because he murdered an
unarmed Black teenager--I am waiting for the day karma knocks on that demon's door.
ps I like the "hue-mans" term, have never heard that before.

-Sister vintage3000
_____________________

One solution could be not blindly following politicians and parties. And I don't mean that as a slam
against you--I know next campaign I am looking more closely at ALL the candidates, even the ones
considered vote splitters.
-Sister vintage3000
_______________
Just look at the pictures of bloodthirsty audiences of white savages - white men, women and children that GLEEFULLY gathered JUST to view (and participate in) barbaric acts of white terrorism like
lynchings. There has ALWAYS been a robust market for WHITE CONSUMPTION of BLACK PAIN.
Whites LOVED burning black people alive at the stake in lynchings and cutting off their bodies parts for
SOUVENIRS while they were STILL CONSCIOUS. This included women who they gleefully GANG
RAPED first. Pregnant women? Still tortured, raped, and murdered by HAPPY white savages.
Hanging someone from a tree really doesn't describe the soullessness of the white DEGENERATES
who participated in and condoned lynchings - and that was the MAJORITY of white Americans in
EVERY part of the country. What kind of 'person' keeps a murdered human being's KNUCKLES as a
'keepsake' and THEN passes it down from GENERATION to GENERATION within their trashy white
'family'? We are dealing with sociopathic, thuggish white GHOULS - that INCLUDES the women.

-mmmdot

__________________________

There must be a strong correlation between being stupid, racist, and arrogant. By this time in the next
3-4 months we will be hearing about another white person writing something racist on twitter. It is like
they are so racist, they don't know when and where to keep their mouths shut or when to keep their
thoughts to themselves. Furthermore, I don't even understand the vitriol that some of them have
against Black Children. Even babies are not off limits. As Yuri stated, some of them are just soulless.

-Sister Tajmarie
__________________________
These rednecks and repugs will not stop at anything to disenfranchise select voters. I remembered how
in North Carolina, prior to the last year election, officials moved the polling places in areas inaccessible
to people without transportation in liberal leaning areas such as Asheville, NC in the western part of the
state and Elizabeth City in the eastern portion of the state. Texas had even made districts that were
populated heavily by Latinos vote-at-large districts while other surrounding districts populated mostly by
Whites were restricted to those residents. Rachel Maddow used to report on those developments as
soon as they broke. However, I had fallen out of favor of MSNBC in terms of the direction that they are
currently taking. Even her program seemed "obsessed" with the polling of the Republican Race and
less about what is affecting localities. With all of the progressive shows going by the wayside or taken
off, there is no one to report on these issues. It seems like the corporate media are too busy trying to
develop Hillary Clinton's coronation while entertaining Trump's antics in order to protect the status quo
of inequality and rigged elections. It is all disheartening.

-Sister Tajmarie

________________________

I don't know all of the legal parameters that the federal government can take against the unlawful killing
of Blacks by police officers and civilians through the stand your ground. However, if Obama is serious
about this issue, he needs to whittle down on the speeches and start taking some action through policy
with or without the help of Congress. The whole police department is corrupt and they are out of
control. The state department and State Attorney General are only going to cover for the force and are
not going to do their due diligence. This is just as important if not more important than immigration

reform. Without any measures going to the root causes, he is only paying lip services. For example, it is
well known that some people associated with the KKK, Aryan Nation, and Neo-nazi have gone in the
military and police force to assert their power over other minorities. If it was known that someone was a
member of Al Qaeda, ISIS, or some other Middle Eastern terrorist organization they would be ban from
the country altogether if not hunted down. Yet, the US lets these domestic terrorists have positions of
authority. I don't know whether that is the case in Ferguson. However, it would be a start.
-Sister Tajmarie
_________________
I know I am late to this discussion. However, I feel that the issue/problem starts long before boys grow
into men. To be more specific, I was harassed several times in middle school and a number of times in
High School. Some of the antics that occurred in the hallways at High School were in the realm of street
harassment and school administrators did very little to discourage this behavior. When boys that age
get away with it for so long without admonishment from their parents, administrators, or teachers, it is
no wonder why they feel entitled to that behavior once they have grown up. Moreover, older relatives
like uncles, fathers, and cousins also encourages and cosign this behavior (although television is an
influence). The only way I see any type of mitigation is if the mothers or matriarch relatives drill the
notion into their sons that women are not to be disrespected or coerced into appealing to them.
However, personally, I have seen aunts and uncles on both sides of my family who have enabled the
bad behavior of a number of my cousins.
-Sister Tajmarie

Very true brother. We have to make the most of the time we have been given in this life to draw others
to the love of God.
Thank you very much.
-Sister Grace Esedeke
___________________________

That problem that makes me angry is that, there's one thing to love our culture, but there's another for
copying and making money off of it. Now, I do blame US for not doing it first. If you listen to Uptown
Funk, you can hear James Brown all up in there. They replicate some of the music, make it theirs, and
then make millions. Why aren't Blacks doing the same thing? It's as if we are so happy that they imitate
us (the illusion of inclusion), because they think it's a sign of "love," when it really is a sign of their
greed. That's my problem with it.
What's more, WE sell our networks and magazines (BET and Essense magazine) and our musical
libraries. Why is Time Warner selling our classic R&B music. I don't know how it all works, but someone
must've sold the rights to the library in order for them to profit from it. I think Don Cornelius sold the
rights to Soul Train; thus, yet again, it's being sold by Time Warner.
-Sister Noirluv45
___________________________

Black Panther Party Operated less than 20 years. Social group to oppose police brutality in black
communities. No record of lynching, rapping, pillaging white people or white communities - Labled
Racist.
KKK - Operating for 150 plus years. Terrorized, bombed, lynched, rapped, murdered Black People Labeled as Social Club.
Confederate / Neo Confederates - Existed soon the country was founded 239 plus years. Terrorized,
tortured, lynched, rapped, murdered Black People - Labeled as Patriots, true Americans.
There is no comparison. Grasping for straws.
-Brother John Henry
_________________

Thanks for sharing. I would have never guessed that they hand an African Cultural Center in Uruguay!
The African Diaspora is bigger than what we understand or have been taught in schools. As part of the
healing process of our peoples, it is good to pick up the pieces and reconnect them so that we can
become whole again.

-Brother John Henry

_______________

I am actually surprised by the number of african americans who have cameroonian roots.
I think i will take the time to learn the history of my native country before colonization to know exactly
how it happened.
-Sister eve-audrey
________________
Sister mmmdot:
"Anytime black people make up real arguments about the conditions in the world, we're slandered as
"race-baiters" and "extremists."
That's b/c once it became clear that humans came from Africa, not Europe or North Eurasia, white
scientists, academics, and laypeople didn't trade their white supremacy for Black supremacy. Instead it
was: Race does not matter! Despite what whites PUBLICLY claim they're not ACTUALLY colorblind
they still use the SAME 200 year old, imbecilic white supremacist stereotypes they've ALWAYS used to
explain everything under the sun. Not only do they regularly use race to explain peoples behavior, they
use race to rationalize and protect their their unearned power and resources.
As Professor Derrick Bell said: Black people will never gain full equality in this country. Even those
herculean efforts we hail as successful will produce no more than temporary peaks of progress, shortlived victories that slide into irrelevance as racial patterns adapt in ways that maintain white dominance.

This is a hard-to-accept fact that all history verifies. We must acknowledge it, not as a sign of
submission, but as an ultimate act of defiance."
Most whites will NEVER *voluntarily* give up white supremacy. It has to be TAKEN from them.

Black Love is always Beautiful

Forever
and
Black Lives Matter
God Bless Africa