Are you an American or are you pretending?

Red, white and blue, these colors are now linked to the collective consciousness as America’s colors. Now to anyone who studies history should be familiar with different cultures and societies use of these colors.  However this is not a point by point breakdown of these colors.  No, this is a question of loyalty.

          It is no secret that an atrocity was committed against our people on a global scale.  This unfortunately, in the realm of human experience is nothing new.  Our red brothers were systematically wiped out. 

The Kurds—gassed.  The”Jews” holocaust rings bells everywhere.  We also have “lesser” versions of this same phenomenon: discrimination against Muslims, Christians, Gays come to mind.  Sometimes—quite often actually—these expressions galvanize, unite a group of people to create various proactive measures to ensure this never happens again.

          In fact power grabs often occur after these life/civilization altering events happen.  So, where is our united, sustained effort to seize and hold power over ourselves?  From the time after the so called emancipation of our people, a dual consciousness, created by the divide and conquer tactics employed on the psychological battlefield, emerged. 

          On the one hand, we desired and made real a life in which we determined our own existence.  Then on the other hand we wanted to sit at our oppressors tables as equals.  In a way this was to be expected.  As a people something unique was forced upon us.  We were made out to be less than human, we had our story wiped out and replaced with a pale imitation of our true glory.  Our social system completely decimated, bombarded with images and words depicting us as inferior beings, so we latched on to the only image of success we had—our captors. 

          See we really have been tricked.  We have been played by one of the oldest psychological ploys in the book.  It is human nature to desire inclusion.  The group mentality is the reason why nations are formed.  From numbers arise strength, isolation breeds vulnerability.  Factor in this, for centuries we have been mocked, ridiculed, told our culture made us less than human.  We were defeated by an enemy with superior firepower, not intellect; only a nature more viscous than our own.  Once captured, each resistance was met with force.  Force of deed, force of words and force of polices conspired to drum any sense of self determination out of our people. 

          Of course such things are temporary and incomplete, and our struggle continues. Nat Turner transforming into Garvey and the like show our resistance to social engineering. 

Yet here we are, subject to laws restricting our right to self rule, while being held to standards of worth not our own.  See it clearly, by destroying the warrior class by incarceration, chemicals and separating man and woman in terms of solid values a void in our culture defense was opened. Simultaneously providing the bare necessities (and an opportunity for a few to achieve riches) –food, clothing, shelter, transportation, communication and outlets of entertainment-we slowly assimilated to the “American Dream”.

          So now here we are 2013.  Many of our brothers and sisters chase the American dream or the African nightmare.  European capitalistic dreams of wealth, status, and society have corrupted our people!  An authentic African society is the farthest thing from many of people’s mind.  Even the token Black Nationalist sentiment expressed by Booker T Washington, “In all things purely social we can be separate as the fingers, yet one as the hand in all things essential to mutual progress.” This small seed of a Nation built for us and by us has been mutated into a fake brand of co-operation between the human races.  How can we truly co-operate on an equal playing field when we do not speak our own language?  When we do not make nor enforce our own laws and customs?  How can we be equal when pertinent education regarding manufacturing, distribution and economics have been sucked out of our community? And we haven’t even touched on the disparity in political education!

          No, we must seek the root and be not afraid of the bitter taste of separation. A psychological trick being played on a socio-political economic stage is occurring now.  But let us backtrack for a little context. The Atlanta compromise, spoken by Booker T Washington, spoke volumes about the state of the African, then called Negro shortly after slavery.  Booker t was a brilliant man.  His ideas should continue to be studied and implemented. But he was just a man.  In 1895 he was lauded as the leader of the African –American masses.  This template of the dominate structure raising an “acceptable negro” as the spokesperson for our people continued for quite sometime. Indeed in more recent times, one needs to look no further than Jesse Jackson vs. Khalid Muhammad to see what is meant by acceptable vs. uncomfortable!

          In Booker T Washington’s case the psychological trauma of slavery can be seen all throughout his work.  Subservience, humility, and general policy of “don’t rock the boat” are key themes throughout his work; no fire, no anger, no real wish to separate and carve out a nation to rival our ancestors.  If I may, allow me to go slight off point; ask your brothers or sisters: Are you an American or a descendant of African born prisoners? Listen to the answers and don’t be shocked at what you hear.

          Now, the by product of generations of rape, literally and metaphorically runs deeps.  Deep within our genetic code, and deep within the recesses of our mind we know something is just not right.   We are not perfect, nor are we collectively without blame.  But the lack of desire to do for self does not balance well with the desire to adhere to the standards of people who are not us.  This is beyond color.  This is a matter of principle, of culture.  America and her allies are the worst hypocrites.  They profess equality, yet undermine any attempt at self rule.  Division, war and intolerance are the overt weapons of her polices.  A nation founded on the backs of the Original Man, the blood of humans cannot last.  African, wake up and claim your birth rite!

          A nation built by you, run by you for the benefit of humanity is our right to claim. The choice is yours.  So, in closing I ask that you study our story, their story and then answer this:  Are you really or an American or are you pretending?

          Peace. 

Revolution and the Imbalance of power

    
  Power-

1

a (1) : ability to act or produce an effect 

(2) : ability to get extra-base hits (3) : capacity for being acted upon or undergoing an effect

b : legal or official authority, capacity, or right

2

a : possession of control, authority, or influence over others

b : one having such power; specifically : a sovereign state

    In any movement power is of the utmost important.  There is no reason to start a movement if it cannot be completed. An endeavor without tangible objectives usually leads to a misappropriation of power and time.  A revolution is no different. The power to shape thought into reality is at the center of a revolution.  In that regard, revolution mimics the process of child birth and rearing.  Thought made flesh by virtue of the semen and egg joining to transform. 

      At least in the authors’ history, males have traditionally been on the forefront of social change regarding our community. Noble Drew Ali, Marcus Garvey, Malcolm X, Huey p. Newton are just a few of the name synonymous with the revolution of the socio-political economical status of the Black nation. To be sure woman such as Rosa parks, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Angela Davis played a huge part of progress gained.

    Yet and still the man acted as a lightning rod and a galvanizing agent for the minds of the people.  Warriors on the front line taking the brunt of the negative attention as well as the accolades from the movement accurately describe the situation faced by the brothers.  So the question comes to the mind: Is there an imbalance of the distribution of power in the revolution, in regards to men and women?

    After all in Africa, definition and delegation of the various roles played by the genders are paramount to the survival of culture.  Yet in the corporation known as the United States the roles commonly attributed to a specific gender are being blurred if not reversed. Yet in the black power movement or revolution men are still at the forefront; and tangible gains are negligible. 

    Cause for concern? Consider this:

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/race/news/2012/03/13/11351/the-top-10-most-startling-facts-about-people-of-color-and-criminal-justice-in-the-united-states/

 According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, one in three black men can expect to go to prison in their lifetime. Individuals of color have a disproportionate number of encounters with law enforcement, indicating that racial profiling continues to be a problem. A report by the Department of Justice found that blacks and Hispanics were approximately three times more likely to be searched during a traffic stop than white motorists. African Americans were twice as likely to be arrested and almost four times as likely to experience the use of force during encounters with the police.

    Now, if 1 and 3 black men are expected to see life behind bars, who is rearing the next generation? Women of course.  The time needed to raise a child is astounding. The mental and physical energy exerted without proper outlets for social change often leaves no room to pursue progressive lifestyles.  Kids have to eat, and the lights must stay on.  

    However, the impetus for political, social and economic progress is an insatiable beast.  So it typically falls to men to lead, and by lead I mean to be in the spotlight, a movement.  Recall:

a: possession of control, authority, or influence over others

b: one having such power; specifically : a sovereign state.

In regards to control and influence is where the imbalance occurs.  The image of women in society at large is not of one fighting and shaping a new world.  Yes, to be certain there are specific movements in which women are at the forefront empowering minds, the feminist movement for one.

    But, in the Black community this sphere of influence pales in comparison to the psychological reprogramming of the black youth, specifically young men, to see women as strictly sexual objects. Powerful women such as Michelle Alexander, and Abundance Child are needed to offset that image by providing relevant information and services for the next generation. Only by a balanced manifestation of information, representatives (activists, speakers) can the inherent power of the Nubian people be realized.   

    Peace.

My fair ladies

To the ladies, to the ladies.... Peace and blessings.  Just taking some time out to express my appreciation for all that you have given in terms of inspiring generations of Kings, and Queens, even though it seems a bit bleak at the moment.  I know sometimes it may look like we(men) do not appreciate you or respect what you mean to the world, but we do.  Well the ones who know and act  anyways,  I can't speak for the rest.  The only thing is, please take control of the image you  portray.  Falling victim to the brainwashing techniques of this current regime only undermines your allure and power to shape reality.  Your sexy, blessed with immaculte features, I get it. We all get it.  So why put it out so blatant?  Think about it: Is dressing and acting in an overly sexual light really your decision or is it a reaction to being boxed into a physiologically sexually repressive culture that uses sex a a marketing tool?.  Just saying.
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