The Battle of N's Pt II

Correction: Nas' album will not be titled "Nigga", but "Nigger". It makes no real difference to the conversation, but I wanted to make that correction from the Battle of N's Part I.

The conversation around the “N” word has caused much debate and healthy conversation. I ran across some information that may shed more light on the topic. In my original post I said that the term nigga comes from the Spanish word negro. I was only partly correct. The Spanish word for the color black also has a history that I was not aware of until now. Below is information taken in pertinent part on the topic of the infamous "N" word.

"Thou shall not take the name of the Lord, thy God in vain," is one of the ten commandments, yet, the racist term "Nigger" a derivative of the original name for God, "N-G-R"(pronounced "Net-ger") is continually used and taken to insult. The term "Nigger" has its origins in the sacred and divine title for "God," and came from the Egyptian WORD FOR GOD. That word is "Net-yer" or "Net-ger" from which the English terms "nature" and "nurture" came from. The idea of God being nature and nature being God, comes from the African and Egyptian idea of what God is which shows down to the similarities in the terms used to describe aspects of the Godhead.

The ancient Egyptians called their Pharaohs "N-G-R" (Net-ger) because the Egyptian Pharaoh was seen as a representation of the sun and the Sun God. The original Pharaohs who were pure Black Africans SAW BLACK SKIN AS SACRED AND A DIRECT BLESSING FROM THE SUN GOD, ATEN. In fact Blackness and black skin became associated with God and the sun. BLACK PEOPLE WERE POWERFUL, CULTURALLY ADVANCED, MILITARILY SUPERIOR, BLACK/DARK BROWN IN COMPLEXION, STRONG STATURE, TALL AND DESCRIBED AS A "HANDSOME" RACE , (SEE HERODOTUS, "THE HISTORIES, DESCRIPTIONS OF "ETHIOPIANS" OF AFRICA AND SOUTH INDIA).

The recognition of the Pharaoh as a living God and the black skin as a blessing spread worldwide to other cultures. In fact the term "Net-ger" became the Ethiopian "Negus" or "Negashi."

The term "Ngola" (Angola) means "King" in the Angolan languages. This term was mistaken by the Portuguese to mean the DESCRIBE "Ndongo," the kingdom.

The first people to corrupt the term "N-G-R" were the Roman invaders of Egypt who may have heard the term used to describe the leader of Egypt or Nubia. The term "Niger" was later used to mean any Black/Negroid person that the Romans saw in Africa or anywhere else.

The Romans colonized and spread the Latin language to Europe. Due to this linguistic influence, the Latin term "Niger" became "Negre" in French and "Negro" in Spanish.

The English colonialists and slave entity borrowed the term "Negro" from the Spanish. The term for Black people in England before Shakespeare was "Moor" or "Black-a-Moor." The English slave owners degraded and defiled the entire name by turning the Negro into a slave and turning the original term "Ned-ger" or "God" into the racist term "Nigger." One can say that they have insulted the sacred name for "God" and have oppressed the original people created by God. This phenomenon is due to their sense of inferiority.

http://africanamerica.org/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/19370808/m/2301023941

I find it interesting that the sub conscious of the youth have taken a word back to its root in an obscure way. Is it a coincidence that the Bastards of the Party have begun to call the finest marijuana Cush? Is it a coincidence that some of the dances created by the youth are very similar to that of Africa? I don’t think so, I think their minds have suffered the worst type of torment, resulting in a twisted sense of reality. Yet, they still find ways to get back to their root. The sad part is that there is no one to explain this to them. Consequently, they grow up and become adults, with a world view similar to that of a kaleidoscope. They need to be educated around this information, instead of being criticized and blamed for every thing under the sun. Nas calls himself the "N". The letter "N" is one of the most important prefixes in many African languages, and dialects that have arrived from those languages. The letter "N" is also the word that denotes any title pertaining to human beings. In fact in Bantu or Niger-Congo and Cushic languages, the letter "N" is found as the first letter in many names. For example the name "Ndaba," = "consil" while the name "Ndabaningi" is the first name of Africans in region thereof. In short, Nas has a plan around his album, but he hasn't been given an opportunity to present his material. Read the lyrics to I Know I Can, http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/nas/ican.html . Nas is very familiar with the theft of African culture. We were robbed, and many of us refuse to take what is ours back. The white power structure has done a number on the minds of all of us. It is our responsibility to engage in a process to take our minds back.
Stolen Legacy, by George GM James, speaks in large detail about the theft of African culture. The information provided sounds similar to the reality discussed in James’ book. I would suggest that all of you do more research around the topic In order to come to your own conclusion.

Marvo

PS

I changed the settings to allow anyone to post to the blog. You no longer have to be a member of Google. Let me know if it works without a log in.

PSS

This is a story about the EIGHTH noose found in the NY area, this is the most recent, this one at a high school in Brooklyn. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/23/nyregion/23noose.html Another noose found in GA (http://www.politicalgateway.com/news/read/109913), tied around the neck of Tupac, at the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts. This didn’t get much press, I guess because he was a rapper. Most people don’t know about this Tupac http://youtube.com/watch?v=KM6MwXZ84gc or this Tupac http://youtube.com/watch?v=5gRlnxSey2s. All they know about Pac, is that he was a rapper, and according to most people that means criminal, misfit, drug dealer, etc etc. They fall for all the same BS the media spits about young Black males. I say Pac is a N-G-R of my generation.

I'm smarter than what you look! Why Jim Watson is an IDIOT.

Ok folks, time for another round of the world according to Marvo. I first want to start with the police. There have been a couple of mishaps that are clear evidence of the role the police play in our community, and their connection to the white power structure’s struggle to maintain it’s existence.
In Chicago there was a gentleman that was sodomized with a screw driver by two officers during an alleged drug violation. (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-screwdriver_alloct17,0,6801143.story?coll=chi-elections-utl) The young brother was not in possession of any narcotics, for all of you that may need some sort of assurance that the young brother didn’t bring this assault on himself. I think it sad, that some of you may need this kind of assurance. Some of you may think the sad part about me is that I wouldn’t care if he had a kilo of coke in his trunk, raping someone with a screw driver is ridiculous and in human.
Another sad note is that the cops didn’t receive any jail time, but the courts did award the young man 4 million dollars. I don’t know if you can put a price tag on taking a man’s manhood. I guess the police are keeping up the long tradition of the white supremacy system attempt to steal the manhood of Black men. Remember the plunger incident by the NYPD, what about the castration of Black men during a lynching? It isn’t a far stretch to understand that the incarceration rate, the level of police brutality, and the over all antagonistic behavior toward our community by the police as an institution, not necessarily as individuals, is an attempt to squelch the spirit of the Black male, and the community as a whole. This case out in Chicago is an extension of that history, and just one of the millions examples that could have been referenced. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abner_Louima & http://www.usm.maine.edu/crm/faculty/jim/Lynching.htm) On a side note I guess cops have resulted to doping in order to keep up their job (http://www.newsday.com/news/local/newyork/ny-nycops185419226oct18,0,4276079.story ). I wonder will this be all over the news like they did Marion Jones. But, I digress.
Today’s main topic is dedicated to a story that I read on one of the major news outlets web page. (http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/10/18/nobel.apology/index.html, http://www.theage.com.au/news/in-depth/race-hate-and-dna/2007/10/20/1192301099165.html ) The story is about Jim Watson, the individual involved with “discovering” the double-helix structure of DNA. DNA is the part of ones body that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms. Understanding the role of DNA in relation to Jim Watson and the “discovery” of the double helix is essential to the conversation.
Jim Watson represents the upper echelon of the scientific wing of the white supremacy structure. These individuals are charged with the responsibility of scientifically justifying the annihilation and oppression of non white people. This reality is not an over exaggeration and their existence has repeated it self time and time again throughout history.
The attempted extermination of the indigenous population of America is an example of this occurrence. Thomas Jefferson, one of America’s forefathers and premier scientist (he is primarily known as a statesmen, but also was a scientist), engaged in a genetic experiment dedicated to the removal of the indigenous population from America In an attempt to prove that the indigenous population had smaller brains and where genetically less intelligent than whites, he would kill members of local tribes, then measure and weigh their brains. His experiments in relation to the indigenous population of America resulted in domestic legislation. The so called Trail of Tears, (http://www.powersource.com/cocinc/history/trail.htm ) is a prime example of the domestic policy of Thomas Jefferson put into practice based on conclusions he made during his experiments.
Jim Watson’s scientific conclusions fall into the same category as Thomas Jefferson’s, potentially and currently have the same affect on public policy. Watson won the Noble Prize for his work in genetics; he is a world renowned scientist and his opinion on topics influence the science world in a huge way. His opinion about Blacks, reflect the opinion of the white power structure, and policy will be reflected by his opinion. Watson is by far not the first well known scientist to come to the conclusion that whites are intellectually more astute than Blacks. In 1994 Charles Murray, a historian, and Richard Hernstein, a behavioral psychologist published the Bell Curve. The Bell Curve argued that Black people, on the whole, are of lower intelligence than whites as a whole. (http://www.indiana.edu/~intell/bellcurve.shtml ) I could give hundreds of example of whites making this claim.
I believe that the white supremacy structure focuses on the topic of there genetic superiority, to the degree in which it does, in order to justify their brutal maintenance of the world in which they created. If you convince the public that Blacks are genetically inferior to white, then it becomes easier to create an environment where the white power structure can oppress others. (Most specifically, Black people, who have the most dominate genes on the planet, consequently making Black people the number one threat to the white power structure.) It makes it easier to wonder if the young man in Chicago was guilty of a crime before the cops sexually assaulted him. It makes it easier to ask yourself if Sean Bell and his friend were shooting at the police, which resulted in the police shooting their car 50 times. It makes it easier to blame the incarceration rate on the “bad decisions” of young Black males. It makes it easy for a family to sit around the table at dinner time, watch the news and hear the thirty innocent people in Iraq where killed, and think nothing of it.
The mistruth of genetic white superiority is also designed to make you feel as though, one personally, is inferior to whites. Many people inside of their own mind, consciously and subs consciously, have been convinced that white people are superior to their own existence. Consequently, they accept the oppressive reality in which they live. It makes it real easy to not care that little Tyrone's teacher believes from the first day of class that he is incapable of doing the work because he is genetically incapable of absorbing the information. The subtleties of this reality have ramification in every sector of our lives. WE NEED TO TAKE THIS CONTROL BACK!!!!
The white power structure has created a world where Black people are looked at as savages. To a large degree, Black people look at themselves as savages, based in the reality imposed on them by the white power structure. This entire train of thought has been contrived by the white power system, in order to maintain its existence. They understand quite clear, that if they don’t maintain this level of mistruth, their existence, GENETICALLY, is in jeopardy.
I don’t make this argument with the implication that Black people are genetically smarter than whites. I believe all individuals have a capacity to learn given an environment where their potential is allowed to develop properly. I do not believe that this development can happen among the masses of Black people and other people of color as long as the white power structure is allowed to continue its effort to maintain itself. Many whites support the structure, consciously and sub consciously, resulting in their loyalty to the structure, which in their mind maintains their existence: socially, physically, emotionally, economically etc. That doesn’t mean that all white people must cease to exist in order to stop this process, it simply means the structure that currently has the world under its control must end. This must happen in order to properly introduce a world where the equality of all humans is able to be maintained. Many people: white, black, brown, yellow, and green, will fight to the death to avoid this from happening in support of the white power structure.
Jim Watson comments simply reflect the consciousness of the white power structure as a whole. The fact that he won the Noble Prize deepens my belief that the white power structure is a live and continuously trying to find way to insult our intelligence, end our existence, and continue to oppress Black people all over the world. I believe we need to defend ourselves in a world where we are constantly being attacked, a world where the alleged “highest level” of academic thought, plainly states that Blacks are less intelligent than whites. This is a system that we all need to be working diligently to dismantle; all of our effort should be concentrated on creating a world where we can exist without attack. A world where we have the power to establish freely our own future.

Marvo

The Battle of N's Pt I

I have been kind of busy the last few days and haven’t been able to write as much as I would like. I really don’t have much time today, but there are a couple of issues I would like to write about. The first two issues are relatively brief, and will be expounded upon future blogs. Issue number one: there was another noose found in NYC. The third noose was found at the post office near ground zero. (http://www.newsday.com/news/local/newyork/ny-nynoos1013,0,779650.story, http://www.wnbc.com/news/14326081/detail.html?rss=ny&psp=news ) This is the THIRD noose incident in the NYC area in the last month. NYC is becoming more racially charged by the day as the Sean Bell murder trail gets closer, the racial tension is increasing. I think the concentration of noose incidents reflect the consciousness of many white people in NYC. The consciousness of many white people in NYC, times the disenfranchisement of the Black and Latino community is going to equal a peculiar situation for New Yorkers in the very near future. On a side note if you look at this clip http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-columbia-noose,1,1351457 at the very end the media guy tries to imply that the noose at Columbia University may have been put there by one of the "non- white" faculty members at the teachers college. This sounds eerily similar to the fourth person story the media tried to float around after the murder of Sean Bell. There was also a noose incident in the Chicago area (http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=local&id=5701065 ) the madness is spreading!!!
Second: Mychal Bell has been sent back to prison (http://www.dogonvillage.com/blogs/african_american/archives/33-Mychal-Bell-of-the-Jena-6,-sent-back-to-jail-for-prior-charge.html ) The POWER that initially caused his released needs to be sustained in order to properly allow justice to transpire. The white power system down in Jenna and all around the world is in full gear, we also have to be in full gear in order to combat the insanity involved in this situation and others.

Now for today’s topic…

The word “nigger” evokes emotion in the hearts and minds of Black people. The word historically, in the Americas and beyond, has been used to express hate for a race that has been deemed, in many circles, inferior. The institution of racism has contributed greatly to the impact this word carries and creates fervor among people when it is used. Before we get into the dialog I want to make a couple of references:

A. When I write “nigger” I am writing about the racial slur
B. When I write “nigga” I am writing about the slang word
C. When I write the “N” word, I’m referring to both “nigger” and “nigga” simultaneously

As I was reading a popular Hip Hop website today I ran across an article that said Nas AKA The “N” (not N word, just “N” for the first letter in his name) is going to name his forthcoming album Nigga. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_odC1tYHmw&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fnahright%2Ecom%2Fnews%2F ) For those of you that are not familiar with Nas, he is arguably the most socially conscious and influential rapper within the last ten years. Although recent media outlets have slammed him for his title, they clearly are not familiar with his music, because if they were they would understand that Nas wouldn’t name his album Nigga, out of ignorance. The media assault on Nas further deepens my understanding that “they” just don’t get. But I digress.
After reading the article I thought it would be a good idea to explore the use of the word nigger v. nigga. I think to move forward as a community we need to examine whether nigger and nigga are the same word, do the words carry the same meaning, should the either word be used at all, and how we as a community can more forward as a whole around this issue.
The NAACP recently held a mock burial for the “N” word at their national conference. No disrespect to the NAACP, but they haven’t connected with my generation at all. In fact they often represent views contrary to what I believe to be the proper stance on certain issues, I’m sure my sentiment can be echoed by many. This disconnect is demonstrated clearly by Jessie Jackson and the NAACP’s response to Nas’ album title. Jackson said “The title using the 'N' word is morally offensive and socially distasteful," Jackson said via a statement. "Nas has the right to degrade and denigrate in the name of free speech, but there is no honor in it. Radio and television stations have no obligation to play it and self-respecting people have no obligation to buy it. I wish he would use his talents to lift up and inspire, not degrade, making mockery of racism," he added. "We will not support and we will not continually be assailed by other individuals who want to use that type of term in our presence," stressed national NAACP spokesman Richard McIntire. "This has gone on long enough".
How can you be familiar with Nas’ music and claim that you represent the masses of Black people and think that Nas would do anything but up lift and inspire Black people? Is the use of the “N” word in any capacity wrong? Nas may very well be trying to make a prolific point, but he has not only been immediately attacked by the media, but by some Black folks as well, namely the NAACP.
No disrespect to Dick Gregory, but he wrote an excellent book titled Nigger. Dick Gregory was a comedian, and has served our community as a social activist for years. Does the same connotation around Dick Gregory’s autobiography, exist as it relates to Nas’ album title? NO! The question I raise then is why not? Nas’ is a musician and a social activist as well. The only difference between the two, is that Nas is a part of the “Bastard of the Party/Hip Hop generation”. This explains why, before Nas has the opportunity to explain his position on his album title, he is being attacked. The disconnect between groups like the NAACP and sectors of the Black community is clear. The white power structure will use this division to further, manipulate and control our community. Jackson and others should be ashamed, that they are contributing to this reality!!
A very good friend of mine completely disagrees with the use of the word nigger, nigga or any other variation of the “N” word. She stands whole heartily against its use. She stands on the grounds that the word is degrading to Black people and, most importantly, our use of the “N” word opens the door for its use to white people. She doesn’t buy the most recent separation of nigger v. nigga and believes that using either variation of the word is a sign of hatred, whether it is self inflicted or external. She believes it is a contradiction to say that “we” can use the word, but white people can’t. She also argues that the use of the word by Black people today shows a complete disregard for the struggle that many of out forefathers had to bear in our interest.
My good friend is not alone in her distaste for the word. There are whole organizations dedicated to the abolishment of the “N” word in all forms (http://www.abolishthenword.com/ ). I believe that all the individuals who take this position have a righteous point of view and should be encouraged to complete their goals and objectives. My only concern is the motivation behind, why certain organization and groups take such a hard line position. The same shackles that are said to be on the minds of people, who use the “N” word, may have the same grip on individuals working to abolish the “N” word, depending on their motivation.
I grew up in a world influenced heavily by Hip Hop. Hip Hop is the voice of a generation post the Civil Rights Movement, and post the Black Power Movement. There is a very interesting documentary on HBO about this generation of Black youth called the Bastards of the Party, the documentary highlights the experience of the youth that live in the aftermath of both historical time periods. (http://youtube.com/watch?v=JOPp-Y0AupE ) The Hip Hop generation took words like bad, fresh, and cool and changed it to meet the culture. Nigga as opposed to nigger doesn’t fall into the category, completely, of words just mentioned, but it has definitely been embraced by the “Bastards of the Party”. (see earlier blog The Church is as much to Blame as Hip Hop for a more detailed explanation of the Hip Hop generation)
Many born in the Hip Hop generation have taken the position that it is acceptable for Black people to say nigga, but if a white person says it, in any capacity, the line for a fight has been crossed. This point is clearly demonstrated in white rappers who would never use “nigga” in their lyrics for fear of backlash from their fans. The Hip Hop generation claims that they have taken a word that was NOT created with the intent to degrade Black people, and made it into their own. Some argue the word nigger comes from the Spanish word negro, which means black, not necessarily Black people but simply the color black. The word Negro became a term used to describe Black people, similar to Caucasian for white people. White Southern’s couldn’t pronounce the word Negro properly, and eventually settle through accent on nigger to describe the African slaves. Through the white peoples usage of the word negro, negative stereotypes have developed over time around the word nigger, resulting in the feelings around the “N” word today. Because of the recent history (Trans Atlantic Slave Trade forward) of the word nigger, many have come to the conclusion that white people simply cannot use this word. This conclusion also applies to the new usage and spelling of the “N” word, nigga.
I don’t think it is completely ridiculous for today’s generation to come to this conclusion. The “Bastards of the Party” understand quite well that white people can do anything they want on this earth. The same youth also understands that most people of color cannot do what they want on this planet, due to the influence of the white power structure. The sentiment of the youth is also reflected in the broader sectors of the Black community. Ask any one on my block what would happen if a Black man or women was elected president. 9 out of 10 people would say that he/she would be assassinated. I’m sure this is not only the truth on my block; I’m sure this same understanding is true in most neighborhoods around this country.
Based in this reality I believe some Black people have come to the conclusion, both consciously and sub consciously, that the use of the word nigga is one thing we can do, that white folks cannot. I believe this to be a POWER move made by the “Bastards of the Party”, independent of them realizing this or not. That same resistance can be found in the ass whooping those young men in Jena put on that white boy. I’m sure those young men didn’t know they were fighting for POWER, but they were.
Many white and Black people cannot understand the concept of seizing POWER. They say things like “There is something that white people can’t do? Why not, we’re all equal aren’t we? Why can you say it and not them/us? What’s going on, I’m confused!! You guys are saying that white folks can’t say nigga, but you can? How can this be?”
These reactions show me that many people cannot remove themselves from the white wash that has transformed their mind. The NAACP and Jessie Jackson are victims of this phenomenon, based by their reaction to the title of Nas’ album. I am not saying I agree or disagree with using the word nigga in any capacity, or that I agree or disagree with Nas’ naming his album Nigga. I’m simply stating that if we shouldn’t use the word nigga, a better argument needs to be made than, because we say it, white folks will be more inclined to say “nigga” also. This argument states in short, if Black folks want white folks not to use the “N” word, we shouldn’t use it either. I think that this conclusion is ridiculous, and has the potential to create deeper misnomers of disunity in our community. If you listen to this interview about Nas (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_odC1tYHmw&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fnahright%2Ecom%2Fnews%2F) the commentator clearly says, “I thought their was a memo stating that ‘we’ wont be using this word anymore.” Where does this we come from? What we have decided is that you can’t say the word, and we will continue to have dialog in our community around whether or not we will continue to use the “N” word. My not using the “N” word is not a prerequisite for white folks not using the word.
In NYC there is a neighborhood in Queens, named Howard Beach. Howard Beach is infamous for its treatment toward Blacks, and their upfront racism of their neighborhood, as it is related to anyone who is not white, and specifically Italian. Outside of the racist undertones that exist in the neighborhood they openly use the terms “ginny” and “guido” in reference to each other. Both terms were created as an ethnic diss to the immigrant Italian community. No other group of people would dare go into Howard Beach and call an Italian ginny or guido, without expecting a fight. The broader sectors of the Italian community may not use ginny or guido, but they understand the strength of their community won’t allow anyone else to use the terms. I’m not trying to compare the historical framework of ginny and nigger, it is quite clear that nigger has a longer, deeper, and more inhumane history than ginny. I make mention to this situation in order to bring forward the argument of community reaction. Our reaction to the “N” word is splintered, not because a sizable percentage of us use the word, but because we feel we have to justify our usage of the word, to “them” the white community at large. This is a backward logic, in my opinion.
Many will rebuttal my argument by saying that the history of the word as it relates to Black people is so deep that using the word in any capacity revisits that era. My answer to that would be I agree. I would go on to say Black people’s greatness reach far beyond the length of time that white folks have been referring to us as niggers. Making the above mentioned comments about the history of the “N” word, in my opinion, belittle the strong history of the African presence and spirit. Does that mean that white folks should be allowed to use the “N” word in any capacity, whether it is friendly or antagonistic? Absolutely not! I believe that it speaks volumes if the African community stood firm in the position that regardless of whether we choose to use the word or not as individuals, you cannot use the word any longer. And in the event that you do use the word, friendly or antagonistic, you should be prepared for the repercussions.
I wrote in “Tell Them Why You Mad Son, Tell Them why you Mad!”, an earlier article on the blog, that one thing that pisses me off is the fact that white power structure tries to find any way to blame their hatred for Black people on Black people’s behavior. I want to extend that to say that it pisses me off that some NEGROS defend the white power structures, hatred of us, on Black people behavior. They almost make it seem like, “You see, you guys use the word”, this is why they hate us so much. You are degrading yourself by saying nigga, because that’s what white people used it for. Like it is impossible for us to use nigga the way we want too. To reiterate I’m not saying that we should say nigga, lets find a better reason why we shouldn’t. Power is what the white power structure is all about; you start taking the power away from them, even if its something as simple as a word, you will see them get up in arms. The sad part about every time we try to take some power away from the white power structure we got NEGROS who defend it!! Hopefully, one day, both ends of the conversation will understand that we have a bigger problem out here than beefing with Nas.

Marvo

An informed Community is a Ready Community! The tragedy in West Virginia and why we didn’t know.

I have been trying to wrap my mind around the attack in West Virginia for a couple of weeks. It was hard to get information on the topic initially because it got very little press in the national media. I didn’t want to write about it until I got all my facts together, and could properly facilitate my opinion on the matter. For six days these people raped and beat a young lady named Megan Williams. When I saw the faces of the people who did this I couldn’t help but think devils. http://blackandmissing.blogspot.com/2007/09/megan-williams-tortured-by-6-people-for.html click link and scroll down to see their pictures.

When I look at these people I see nothing but pure evil. One of the guys looks like Timothy McVeigh, the guy that killed those people out in Oklahoma City. If I had to put a face on the devil, it would be one of these six, and if not one of these six I’m sure he/she would look similar to the bunch. Maybe a little more cleaned up, with a middle name like Walker, I don’t know, just trying to draw a picture here.

They pulled this poor woman’s hair out of her head, sexually assaulted her, made her eat rat dropping, and forced her to drink from the toilet, these are just a few of the horrendous things that made the news. I’m sure the reality of the week long ordeal was much worst than what was reported in the papers. Between the six of them, they have had 108 criminal charges filed against them. That equals about 18 charges a piece, if you do the math. It baffles me how these people where even in the “free” world anyway with that type of history. The most serious of the crimes committed was murder. Frankie Brewster only served five years after pleading guilty to manslaughter. How she pulled that one of is beyond me, but once again only in America, where white power reigns supreme, can white women get of with five years for killing someone with a public defender after 17 other charges.
This story got very little publicity, around the same time Michael Vick and Isaiah Thomas were on the cover of every news paper in New York City. Where are the priorities of the media? I know where the media priorities aren’t, and it’s not with reporting about incidents that affect our community. ( Not that Vick and Thomas don’t affect our community, but I believe their situation got light years more press than this.) We need more and have a few of our own media outlets that cover the news from an angle that affects us.Sites like http://blackelectorate.com/, http://blackamericaweb.com/, and the http://www.colorofchange.org/ (website primarily responsible for getting the information about the Jena Six out to the community) are good examples of media outlets that reflect the well being of the community.
I don’t mention these sites because I agree with all of the politics that are on the sites, often time I disagree. But, the site do serve as a launch pad to deepen my understanding around something I may have heard in the news.

I’m sure if the six faces looked like this http://www.nbc6.net/news/9740757/detail.html

they would have been all over the news. Can you imagine if one of these brothers was dating a white girl, they break up, and weeks later his family kidnaps her? After kidnapping her they pull out her hair, make her eat rat droppings, sexually assaulted her, called her cracka for a whole week, and had been arrested 108 times between them what the media would be saying? I don’t have to draw a clearer picture than that. Meagan Williams is the victim here, but we all should feel violated by the lack of coverage this issue received.
We need to have our own media outlets so that we can stay connected to each other. I need to know about an issue if it happens out in Chicago, St. Louis or Houston. And, you guys need to know if something happens out here in NYC and we shouldn’t have to wait for CNN to report it to figure it out.
The seven gentlemen shown above represent another case that has received absolutely NO media attention. These brothers have become known as the Liberty City Seven (http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Methods_questioned_in_investigation_leading_up_0629.html) . These brothers have been charged with trying to blow up the Sears tower and a Federal building in Miami. If you know anything about Miami Florida, you know Liberty City is the poorest section of the town. There’s is no liberty in Liberty City Florida. These men where so poor they couldn’t afford boots, the also where borrowing water from their neighbors. How are they going to blow up the Sears Tower if the don’t have shoes, and can’t afford water. By some standards they may be considered a little extreme in the position they took, but not terrorist. There is tons of evidence that says there was no talk of any senseless behavior like terrorism, until the FBI came around. The story doesn’t make much since, it sounds like the FBI tried to set these brothers up, to make it look like the government is fighting terrorism on all fronts. If these same men that are being charged with a crime as serious as sedition, get no press, but would have been front page material had they done the same thing to a white girl that was done to Meagan Williams, we have a problem. I would say a state of emergency.
How about the young lady in Florida who was got man handled and punched in the face by a police officer. She is fifteen years old and got stopped by the police for being out after curfew and this happened. ( http://www.videonewslive.com/view/123313/police_pepper_spray_teen ) Why is it that most of you haven’t seen or heard about this? Not because you don’t watch enough news, but because the mainstream media doesn’t cover issues like this. We have to keep ourselves informed in order to make informed decisions about the world around us.
These are just two example of information that we as a community need to know about, but most of us don’t. The white power structure tries to disconnect our power by keeping up blind to information that will create movement in the community. The community in which they served is well informed about issues that affect them; we have to continue to build an environment where we do the same. We are headed in that direction, but we need a lot more. West Virginia is not an isolated incident; neither is the Liberty City Seven, Jena, Columbia University, or the other thousand issues that have plagued our community in the last four months. As the winter gets closer the assault keeps coming, we need to be in a position to move when we need to. The rally that went down in Jena was powerful, the immigration rallies that our Latino brothers and sisters put together last year was powerful. We need to support each other and make sure our power is concentrated so when it time to move we move as one.

Marvo

Tell Them Why You Mad Son, Tell Them why you Mad!

You know what really pisses me off, I mean really pisses me off. Every time there is a story in the news about some sort of racial incident, people at my job find some sort of way blame the incident on the behavior of Black people. Regardless of the topic, no matter what the situation, it’s always our fault to some degree. Sean Bell got shot, oh he shouldn’t have tried to run over the police with his car, oh his friend could have run off with a gun, oh he has a record, BLAH BLAH BLAH! If they don’t find a way to blame it on the behavior of Black people, they dismiss it like it isn’t important. “I haven’t heard anything about the Jenna Six, yeah I watch the news everyday, but I haven’t heard anything. How about those mortgage rates? Go Yankees” I can’t stand it anymore!!! These people are really trying to drive me crazy.

I write these long blogs just to keep from snapping, but these people just keep pushing and pushing. Today there was a story in the New York City news about a professor at Columbia University that had a noose hung on her door. In Queens there was a story, about a lady who threaten to kill “the little Black babies”, then flashed a noose at a family over a bicycle. (Links to these stories are provided at the bottom of the previous blog posting). In Long Island, a police deputy cheif had a noose hung on his locker (http://video.wnbc.com/player/?id=161951 ). The Columbia University story made the front cover of the Daily News (The third string paper in the city), and caused some conversation at work over lunch. First I don’t know why I eat with these people, and secondly I don’t know why I am shocked sometimes by what come out their mouths, both Black and White.

I have a clear understanding of the mental locks put on the minds of some Black folks, and I understand, to a degree, the white washed world that most white people live, but it is beyond me why people are so silly. Many things that are clear as day to me seem so foreign and obscure to other people. Maybe it’s me, maybe I think too much. Maybe I need to relax, and not let my emotion control me so often. My blood starts to boil when I hear some of these ridiculous statements that come out of these people’s mouths. But, I digress. I know it’s not me, and I also know that a part of the strategy of the powers that be is to make me believe that it just me. But, I know I’m not alone out their, I know some of you feel what I’m writing. I know some of you feel that there are thousands of people that should be happy that we don’t spass out when we should. In fact we should start a national “Spass Out Day”, but I digress again, sorry.

The white people at work often speak from a level of superiority. (once again why am I surprise). They speak about issues like Columbia as if it happened in a vacuum. How can you read a story in the Daily News about a noose at Columbia University, and a noose in Queens, and not make the “noose” connection to what happened in Jenna. They say things like “I wonder what she did to piss of the person that did that?” Once again why would she have had to do anything, they find anyway to lay the blame for an incident on the Black person. They also made comments like “Why did this story make, the front cover of the paper” As if the Yankees loosing is more important, to their world. The mentality literally makes me hot, like I can really feel myself getting hotter. I know I should let these things bother me, but they do. There is an interesting article about that in regard to the health of Black men, but I digress again. (Check the article out here: http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-blackmen24sep24,0,4092176.story?coll=la-home-middleright )

Then you have some of these Negros, which speak from an educated yet, subservient position. They find any reason to co sign the ridiculous comments of the white folks, and will look at you like you are the unruly one if you speak up. There is woman at my job that said “I don’t know why the students are protesting, or why they are planning a walkout. Its not Like Columbia can do anything, what do they expect Columbia to do, ban twine and rope on campus.” It’s almost as if she enables some of the thoughts of the white folks by:

A. dismissing the incident as trivial and

B. suggesting that the students at Columbia demanding some sort of action about the incident is inconsequential.

I think her comments pissed me off more that the white peoples. I know her comments don’t actually co sign the comments of white people, but it a shame that she doesn’t see it.

I tried my best to drop some sanity into the conversation, by trying to connect the Jenna Six, to the incident at the deaf university, to the naval academy, to the Queens story, to the historical framework of the whole issue. Instead of bringing some understanding to the conversation do you know what I get? I get the infamous “Angry Black Man Look”. For those of you who don’t know what the “Angry Black Man Look” is Ill explain. It a warning look that I think white people and Negros have developed that alerts them to try to cool a conversation down, because they don’t want to push too much in an environment where there may be repercussions. They will push you enough to get a rise, but when they all get the feeling that “The Angry Black Man” might come out, and then they try to pacify the conversation, by putting on the “Angry Black Man Face” in the room face. I know this may sound silly, but I swear there must be some research out their that will support my theory. But, I digress.

The fact that they make these faces, and put out this kind of calm down energy pisses me off also. If I was going to flip I would have along time ago (any one who knows me, knows that to be the truth), and secondly why can’t I explain what I think on an issue, without resulting to smacking them around. As much as I would like to some time, I understand that would add fuel to the fire already burning in their mind. I have more formal “education” than everyone who was in the conversation, yet I still get the “Angry Black Man Face”. Why am I surprised, beats me, this consequently further aggravates me because I know it shouldn’t bother me but it does. Why would my level of education stop such riduculous comments, I know this quite clearly, but often I cant escape my thoughts!! Some would say this is some sort of class struggle, but I don't think so, I think its just the after affects of society on my brain. But I digress, again, sorry.

I guess the moral of the story is you can’t fix them, so why worry about. I should focus my time and energy in trying to help people that can actually be reached by my effort. Those are the people I should have a lot more patients with: my extended family, friends, siblings, wife, cousins, parents, grand parents, neighbors, students, community etc. etc. Why worry about folks that are designed to act the way they act. Changing them isn’t going to help my cause or change the condition in which our community exsits; helping people help each other will help my cause. We can all help each other; I obviously have some issues I need to workout also, I can definitely use some help. LOL

For all of you that are reading this at work don’t let the “crazy bald heads” as Bob Marley put it get you down. I think a big part of what holds the power inside off us back, is that we spend so much time trying to fix them, and very little time trying to help each other. This blog is a way we can help each other, VENT PEOPLE, VENT!!! We have all the time in the world to discuss the impact of socialism v. capitalism, whether or not we should use the “N” word, or the validity of Christ reality versus the pictures that are hanging in many of your churches. Best believe we’ll get to all that, but some times we just need to VENT. “Knowledge of Self” as the Egyptians and Ethiopians would say is of the up most importance, and absolutely essential to solving the problems in our lives. But, I’m sure even the Egyptians and Ethiopians would have to take a break just to VENT for a minute, even if it was just to chit chat about the temperature out their in the Nile River Valley. LOL You now have a place where you can do that, among people that will understand. This whole blog thing started from you guys talking about my long e mails discussing why I was bothered about something. You might as well join in the fun while we got the space and an audience. I get e mail responses from all of you and it's cool, but I think some of you have some great things to say, that should be shared with every one that reads the blog. It only takes a minute to sign up, trust me its therapeutic.

In short, Check those "crazy bald heads" if you have too, but otherwise don’t raise your blood pressure worrying about what Suzy thinks about the Jenna Six or Columbia University, in all reality, doesn’t matter anyway. What matters is how we are going to affect our own destiny and how we are going to regain “Knowledge of Self”. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bN1KYkeBYTk&mode=related&search= , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKn4k389-nA&mode=related&search= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAHKGlQpJUo&mode=related&search= We shouldn’t concern ourselves with fixing Suzy, or worrying about why she is so stupid. I bet if most of us would stop worrying about Suzy so much and focus more on our community our blood pressure wouldn't be so high. That just my theory, I don't know if there is any reseach to back me up. LOL

Marvo

There is No Such Thing as Illegal Immigration!

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/10/03/military.deportation/index.html

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/06/20/national/main2956093.shtml

There is no such thing as illegal immigration!!

The above mentioned articles discuss two Latino soldiers who have wives that are being threatened with deportation. I picked these two situations as a launch pad to discuss “illegal” immigration as a whole. The contradiction of deporting a soldier’s wife while he is a way in Iraq is clear. What may not be so clear is why situations like these occur in the first place. The government, working with the media, has tried to box the conversation of immigration into two opposing factions. On one side you have those that are for more comprehensive laws in regard to immigration and on the other side you have those that are against easier immigration law and wish to tighten the laws we currently have in an effort to decrease the influx of immigrants, both “legal” and “illegal”. I believe this boxing of the argument into two opposing factions is ridiculous, and supports the white power structure of superiority.

If you support the more comprehensive law side of the debate you fall victim to the American capitalistic machine that is attempting to exploit the labor of immigrants. This philosophy will create another stratosphere of second class citizenship, parallel to other catastrophic exploitations of labor (ex Chinese immigrants and the railroad system, http://cprr.org/Museum/Chinese.html). Brown and Black faces (depending on your coast, east or west) make up the majority of this alleged immigration problem, consequently, supporting white powers attempt to continue to oppress the colored faces of the world. If you fall on the other side of this alleged debate, you find yourself supporting the white power structure’s attempt to keep America as white as possible. We need to understand clearly that both sides of the arguments support the white power structure by failing to recognize the fundamental situation that exists in regard to immigration. That fundamental contradiction lies in the question how the did these borders, which constitute illegal immigration, come to be in the first place!!

Without getting into a civics lesson about what makes the nation or state, there are a few issues that are important to the conversation, as it pertains to the issue of immigration. The nation or state needs four critical components: population, government, sovereignty, and territory. These four components are the building blocks of what makes a nation. Immigration, in any capacity, has the potential to destabilize one or more of the components necessary for the nation to exist. Immigration, legal or illegal, can destabilize a nation’s ability to exist by exerting external pressures on a government’s infrastructure, in the case of this nation the infrastructure of white power. In regard to both sides of the debate, one side wishes to control the influx, while the other wishes to cut it off completely.

Each period of American history where immigration has been a topic, there has been opposing views, all of which were in favor of supporting the system as a whole, regardless of which end of the discussion you landed. The current debate around immigration is the same as it has been historically, both views ultimately support the white power struggle designed to oppress the rest of the world. The white power structure has mastered the art of manipulation so well that it has convinced most people to pick a side and ride with it. Unbeknownst to that individual, both positions support a system that ultimately is oppressing the individual who has taken a position.

America has had six major periods of immigration. Four of these major waves of immigration pertain primarily to Europeans and the other two primarily pertain to people of color. The first European immigration wave began in what is now the United States with the colonists of the 1600's and reached its peak just before the Revolutionary War broke out in 1775. The second European major flow of immigrants (many from Asia also immigrated during this time) started in the 1820's and lasted until a depression in the early 1870's. The greatest in pouring of Europeans took place from the 1880's to the early 1920's. A fourth and wave began in 1965 because of changes in U. S. Immigration laws, making it easier for individuals from European and other countries that were being forced to live behind the imaginary iron curtain of communism.

Each of these periods of immigration was celebrated during the time by the masses of white people in this country. It was primarily celebrated because it would help ease some of the labor issues of the time. The Industrialization of America created one of the largest needs of labor in the history of the world. There where however pockets of whites, that protested these periods of immigration based on the influx of people not being "white" enough, and not having a Protestant background. Irish, Polish, Albanian and other white ethnic groups were met with this struggle initially, but, within a generation, this debate eased with the assimilation of the European offspring into the white power structure as it existed in America.

The other two major waves of “immigration” come as a consequence of the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade (I hate to refer to this as immigration, but by definition it fits, I point this out not to lump slavery into the pot with other means in which people arrived in the Americas, but to high light the fact that this phenomenon did contribute to the population shifts of people in the Americas), and the migration of individuals from Caribbean and Latin American countries (most of which are victims of the Trans Atlanic Slave Trade, or the theft of indeginious land) into the United States in more recent history (Late ‘70’s forward). The individuals from the Caribbean and Latin America often end up coming to the states in order to secure jobs and resources that have been pulled out of their country, and now are being bought and sold for the benefit of the white power structure. Why would a Cuban come to the US to work at a sugar mill in Florida? If looked at superficially it seem mundane or silly. But, when examined closely the economic policy of the US toward Cuba and other nations force this backward behavior to exist. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_Free_Trade_Agreement )is a perfect example of this reality.

I saved the last two points of immigration not because they follow the chronological order of immigration waves, but in order to make the point that the white power structure soaks up the labor and resources that come out of institution like slavery or the current immigrant population, but do not appreciate the laborers. This comes as a consequence of the white power system understanding that if they become out numbered within boarders that they claim, their existence will eventually be eliminated by the dominate genes of other groups. The fact is clearly displayed in the US during the 1800's. When the African population out numbered the European population, it quickly became illegal to ship Africans from Africa to the US. By 1808, the Congress of the United States made it illegal to bring more slaves into the country. This didn’t end the institution of slavery; it simply limited the number of slaves that could be in America. This is also reflected in the laws during Jim Crow that outlawed the marriage of “Negroes, Moors [Muslim North Africans], mulattoes, mestizos and Indians” to white people. America hated the African, and other people of color, but couldn’t function without the labor.

Still, the smuggling of Africans as slaves into the United States continued well into the mid 1800's. Slave trading within the states continued up until the day of Emancipation in 1863, some historians argue that chattel slavery continued well into the 20th century.

The immigration topic as it is discussed in the media is a result of contending forces of the white power structure. The same contending forces that fought during the Civil War are at it again. (The Civil War WAS NOT fought to end slavery; in fact Abraham Lincoln is on record as saying “If I could save the Union without ending slavery I would”. The Civil War was a fight between the Industrialization and Agriculture sectors of the white power structure) We shouldn’t concern ourselves with this argument; because it doesn’t benefit us to do so, in fact taking a side strengthens the different sectors of the white power structure. We have been tricked by this argument once; let’s not fall for it again.

Borders as they exist now clearly support the white power structure. The borders are designed to keep the balance of power in the favor of white power. If violations of the borders contributed to the white power structure would there be an issue? I believe most reasonable people will come to the conclusion that it wouldn’t, based on the fact that Irish and Polish illegal immigrants were welcomed in large part. We need to focus on destabilizing as many of the four necessary ingredients of the nation as possible. By weakening the characteristics of the state, as it exist, we consequently weaken the white power structure. This is a key strategy of winning power in our favor!!!

When the government tries to deport the wives of soldiers allegedly fighting to defend this country, it makes it clear to me what they are willing to do to keep power. The question I pose to the readers is what we are willing to do to gain power. We need to be able to freely associate ourselves with all those, regardless of country, that understand the need to destroy the white power structure that has so many of us stuck in a never ending whirlwind of despair. There is no such thing as illegal immigration, when you don’t recognize the borders that the white power structure has developed to maintain their power. Africans did not observe the boarders of the plantation when heading north to escape physical bondage, nor should we respect those same borders now! The boarders then where designed to support white power, and much has not changed since then. Our whole being needs to be focused on destroying this system that has crippled colored faces all over the world. Taking a correct stance on immigration is one step in the direction of a liberated future.

Marvo

PS
Just to be clear I don’t think we should replace the current oppressive white power system with an oppressive black, brown, red, or yellow power system. That line of thought is backward and impractical. Taking a “Black Man” and putting him in the same oppressive role of the “White Man” doesn’t fulfill the power structure that I am trying to promote. My position would be the same, given the swap in race, and the same set of circumstances that exist today.

PSS

Columbia University Professor had Noose left on her door.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/10/10/columbia.noose/
http://www.wcbs880.com/Noose-Found-In-Columbia-University/1070828


Richmond Hills, Queens residents threatens to kill Black babies while flashing a Noose
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime_file/2007/10/10/2007-10-10_teen_nabbed_for_threat_to_kill_black_nei.html

Police Pepper spray and punch teen for curfew violation
http://www.talkleft.com/story/2007/10/5/172241/181

The game don’t stop yall, I’m telling you. This has to change, or something’s going to give. How am I suppose to get my work done if every other day, their some BS going on the I have to vent about? I’ll figure it out, better to write about it, then flip out...SOMETIMES. LOL

Crisis in Education

I just watched a documentary about the Little Rock 9 on HBO. The purpose of the documentary was to highlight Little Rock Central High Scool 50 years after the school was required to integrate. The documentary talked volumes about the current school population, and how the classes are still overwhelmingly segregated, although the school has been integrated for 50 years. The overall rationale given on why the school is in its current state was placed on the Black students.
I don’t know how many times they referred to the Black students as lazy, and referred to the white students as ambitious. The documentary laid 90% of the so called underachievement by the Black students on their will to succeed. The documentary did not discuss any political analyses explaining why this phenomenon exists in Little Rock. If one watched the documentary it would be easy to come to the conclusion that the Black students aren’t trying hard enough.
While I was watching I was literally sadden by the information that was coming out of my television. HBO did a horrible job summing up the conditions of Arkansas. They did show the poor AKA Black side of town and the rich AKA white side of town, and drew a slight connection between the clear correlation between poverty and school achievement. Instead of deepening that understanding, they blamed the parents of the students for living in that neighborhood. The parents must have not worked hard enough, consequently, reflecting in their children, who in turn pass that along to their children. The complete blame for the condition of Arkansas was blamed on the Black community.
The following blog is something I wrote for a friend of mine that lives in Milwaukee. She was concerned about education gap in Milwaukee that is no different than any other city in America. I believe the explanation given here gives a better analyzes of the achievement gap in Little Rock than just the students being lazy, or have children to early, or parents are drug addicts. There is a clear underlying problem that hopefully will become clear after you read the info.

Crisis in Education

The solution to the problem in education is simple, yet many refuse to recognize it because of the power structure that exists in this country. In the US, one out of every five children under the age of 18, live below the poverty level. Another mind blowing statistic is that Black and Hispanic children were more than twice as likely as white children to live in poverty. 42% of Black children and 39% of Hispanic children live below the poverty line. The poverty line in American for a family of four is $23,000. The high school drop out rate for both Black and Hispanic students, in a city like Chicago, is 50%. The statistics are crippling if not put into proper perspective.
Current economic and public trends are creating a society that is split in two; those who have money and those who don’t. Instead of recognizing the correlation between economic attainment and school achievement, they play up the belief that we are just lazy resulting in the disproportion of school achievement. This may be true, but it ignores the fact that many schools in urban areas are broken, and the economic structure in many states, in regard to Black and Brown folks, is inept. In short, the critics ignore the fact that the living in poverty seriously restrict a student’s ability to learn. This is not just my opinion this is fact according to tons of research on the topic. Fix the poverty situation, and watch the scores begin to improve. It has been my experience that America has no want or need to fix the poverty situation in these neighborhoods that were caused by the government itself.
Milwaukee has a serious shortage of jobs especially showing itself in the Black community. Detroit (the poorest concentration of people in America), Baltimore, St Louis, Little Rock and tons of other cities face this same problem. You can ask any sociologist about the link between poverty and violence, school achievement, or family structure and they will tell you that it has an adverse affect. This reality is reflected at any point in history. The so called European Enlightenment came as a consequence of the general population getting an economic boost, primarily based in the start of the slave trade. Without the start of the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade, Europeans may very well be still living on fiefs where they were serfs and paying absorbent taxes to the “Sheriff of Nottingham”. Look at the Clinton years in this country, the economy was better consequently reflecting itself in school achievement. Not that I’m praising Clinton in the least bit, my point is to highlight economic improvement not the administration.
The gap between Black and white was still present, but it wasn’t growing at the rate that it is now. When the economy is doing well, people have the time to write books, paint, make music, write plays or movies, people can make these things happen when finances aren’t a huge concern. The fact is established firmly by the so called level of achievement. Unless you believe that white students just have superior intelligence, then there has to be an empirical explanation of the conditions.
Family responsibilities and individual love for learning are all factors that contribute to successful school tenure. I would be an idiot to deny the reality that my folk’s stress of education wasn’t a factor in finishing high school and college, then moving on to pursue a graduate degree and doctorate. But, one cannot also deny the fact that the two major contributors to school achievement are socio- economic status and previous school achievement. How do we expect a 15 year old to succeed in school if he is reading on a third grade level? The fact that the student made it all the way to high school reading at the third grade level reflects a problem with the system not the student.
This leads me to conclude that in order to catch the black males up, and all other under achieving groups is to hook them on the importance of education early, and fix the poverty that exist in their neighborhood. That doesn’t mean pump the school full of money, because some people make that argument. The reality of Little Rock Central High School (discussed in HBO special) is evidence that big money in a school isn’t the complete answer. I’m saying to pump those millions of dollars into the community via jobs and economic development and the problem will begin to correct itself. The US government spends 10 billion dollars a day, 500,000 dollar a minute in Iraq and wonder why the school system is falling apart, for both Black and white students.
I am not an idealist believing that the government is all of a sudden going to grow a heart and help out the Black community. We generate enough money in this country, to make this happen independent of the government. It is crazy that before integration the percentage of Black males students where better in many areas. We have to recapture that spirit and channel it today. We might not be able to jump right into out own school system, but we can start at Saturday schools, that teach our children how to be successful. There are African centered curriculums that can be put o the ground now if they received the proper exposure, we have to get the information out to our people that WE are changing our future now. The Sankofa Project in New York and Target Hope in Chicago are two great examples of this change happening NOW. I can remember getting up early on Saturday morning taking the train down town in order to go to Saturday schools. I’m no genius, but my community built me up to believe that I was one though, and that spirit carries me to this day. We know what the white power structure is doing to us. We have to combat that by harnessing our own POWER. Controlling our own educational prowess is an area where we need to concentrate.

The following are few links that display these things already happening all around the US.

http://cuip.uchicago.edu/schools/woodlawn/7_curriculum.html

http://www.nbufront.org/html/ProjectsIssues/edu.html

http://www.bronzevilleonline.com/newsarchive/afrischools.htm

The following link is a 20/20 special that I found very interesting.


http://youtube.com/watch?v=pfRUMmTs0ZA .

POWER. Why we need it!

Coast Guard Cadet Noose
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/10/04/coast.guard.nooses/index.html

http://www.wtop.com/?nid=104&sid=1256171

Attack at Deaf University
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/10/03/deafschool.racial.incident/index.html

College Students Reenacting Jena Six
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2007/1002071jena1.html

I had the final points I wanted touch for the conclusion of the week ready to go. I wanted to start the immigration discussion, the Christ discussion, and the West Virginia story which I am kind of late on. As I was preparing the information for the blog the above mentioned stories popped up and interrupted my plans. I had to drop a Marvin Think’s on these ASAP, not because it’s more important, but because it follows the discussions we've been having a little more closely. For all of you out their that were waiting for the discussion about two Latino brothers who serve in the military, one of which is missing, while the US is trying to deport their wives, I’ll get to that next week (http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/10/03/military.deportation/index.html & http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/06/20/national/main2956093.shtml ) . For those they were waiting for the Real Christ v. the Eurocentric Christ discussion (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/3958241.stm ), you might have to wait a little longer while I get my research together. The West Virginia piece is coming along and Ill have that ready next week also. So just sit tight because there coming (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWxDfFx17S0 ). I hope the information provided will hold you over until we can deepen the conversation.
I am use to the attacks by the white power structure, and I believe their attacks come as a consequence of certain sectors of the overall white populous understanding their genetic limitations. What concerned me about these particular incidents is the fact that the individuals who engaged in said behavior are adolescents. I don’t believe the average white person is directly tied into this grand plot to maintain the white power structure, but do understand that they both consciously and unconsciously support and understand the system that clearly weights in their favor, and designed to oppress everyone else. What is made clear by these stories is that the younger generation of white people understand and support this system as well. And, they do intend on carrying this philosophy into the future.
I make this point because I believe that certain sectors of our community, believe that American and the Western European thought is changing for the better. Large sectors of our community really believe that if the racist left over’s of Jim Crow, where signs like “No Dog, No Negro, No Mexicans” were acceptable would just die off; we all would be in a better place living in harmony with the “new, more tolerable” white people. (http://www.ferris.edu/jimcrow/what.htm) Sectors of our community believe that things are getting better because they don’t have to sit at the back of the bus, that people aren’t calling them nigger or boy to their face, or the fact that there is a Black man running for president, they assume everything is all good and looking up. (Many forget that Shirley Chisholm, http://nh.essortment.com/shirleychisholm_ruol.htm , a sister from Brooklyn, NY, ran for president many moons before Barack, Jessie, or Al) These four situations (including the Jenna Six, which also included adolescents) are evidence that the average white person, including their youth, understand very well the hierarchy of this power structure that oppress people all around the world, and are a willing participant in the implementation of the structure. Terror, being one of the many facets used to support the white power system, present in each of the events discussed in this blog. THINGS ARENT GETTING BETTER YA’LL!! In fact in many areas they are getting worst. But, for some reason we fail or decided not to see it.
Many are afraid to say it, but I’m glad those young men in Louisiana whooped that white boys ass!! In the least bit, it shows that our youth are up for the challenge that faces them in the future. The young men out in Jena, although they may not have realized the significance, took a stand against something that was clearly operating with the intent to end their existence. One of their white classmates accosted them with a shotgun, outside of a gas station mini mart. Their position was clear, the young men where fighting for their lives. Something we all should take in to account, and imitate. I am personally proud of their courage to actually stand up and fight back against a system that attacks them everyday. By know means do I advocate senseless violence, but I am a firm believer in defending myself, and I believe every Black person should feel the same.
The college students who reenacted to the Jena Six situation are from the state of Louisiana, where Jena is located. They knew very well the seriousness of the racial tension in the state. Regardless of tension they still decided to not only reenact the Jena Six, but do it in “black face”, record it and post it on Facebook. Somebody needs to go down their and whoop they ass also!! I don’t want to hear an apology, from them. They new very well what they were doing was pure bigotry. A week prior to them making the tape 50,000 people, by some estimates, where in Jena. If it was a matter of simple educating the white people about the situation, it was thoroughly done then.
It’s not about educating them though, it’s about EMPOWERING US. Understanding the power that we hold, and executing our will upon issues that affect our lives. No judge in their right mind (many have proven that they are not in their right mind) would keep a Black man in jail if there were 50,000 people outside demanding his release. Consequently, we saw the release of Mychal Bell from prison. Understand and executing our POWER is an essential step to our liberation.
What’s even crazier than the Jena Six reenactment is the incident at the deaf university. Six white deaf students and one Black student kidnapped a Black student and tagged his body with swastikas and KKK symbols. Even the deaf, understand and are willing to execute the plan designed to keep the white power structure sustained, and keep us oppressed. I’m going to let that sink in for a second… even the DEAF understand in a real way the significance of the white power structure. (Not that the deaf do have the ability to understand) I could spend some time examining what the hell is wrong with the one Black kid involved with the attack, but I’m sure the media is either tying him into the story to water it down, he was scared to death that they where going to do the same to him if he didn’t cooperate or tried to resist, or he just so damn confused that he actively participated in the attack. It really doesn’t matter why he is alleged to be involved, the fact remains that there is a Black child that forever will be mentally scarred. Each time this type of thing happens we all should be mentally scarred!!! The attack on our livelihood is alive a strong, and will continue to do the same until we, among other thing, regain our understanding of POWER.
Not two minutes ago a student of mine who graduated last year, walked into my classroom. I asked why he was here, and he damn near broke down in tears by a situation that transpired on his campus. He attends a university in New England, and yesterday a couple of white boys broke in his room and wrote “Fuck you Nigger, GO HOME!” all over the walls. This situation will never make the news and is happening everyday. I can go into literally hundreds of stories similar to this just from the five years I spent duting my undergraduate study in the mid west. If there is one thing I learned during my undergradute tenure is these white folks understand their position and are playing for keeps. They understand the power structure that holds them up and oppresses everyone else, and are willing to defend it at all cost. We need to understand our power and exercise it. My former student’s parents brought him home, partly because they feared for his safety. As hard as it is for a young Black man to get into college in the first place, he should be coming home because his family fears for his safety. Thing are allowed to happen like this when POWER is stripped from a people.
The term Black Power, didn’t come from no where. It can from Kwame Ture, understanding the significance of power, and applying it to a slogan that was catchy. (http://www.mumia.org/wwwboard/messages/1983.html ) That same spirit needs to be harnessed and displayed regularly or this won’t be the last time we here about so many attacks on or sanity in one day. The white folks have a clear understanding, whether conscious or subconscious, of what they must do to maintain the white power structure. We need to take a note from the brothers in Jena on how to back that down, and display the POWER that we all have with in!! That same POWER that got Mychal Bell out of prison ( http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/27/AR2007092700470.html )!!

PS

Some of you may be aware of a debate that transpired between a good sister down in Tennessee and I. The root of our debate was around an officer that got shot, and paralyzed in the line of duty. I believed that we as a community should do more to help her independent of the police department of Memphis, Tennessee, they clearly have displayed their want to help. Although I have very mixed feeling about officers of color, I still ultimately believe that we should help her out if we can. The police department let her down and we shouldn’t have to go to ABC for help tp fixing her home for wheel chair accessibility. We are perfectly capable of helping this sister out, displaying the POWER that is mentioned above. The sister from Tennessee sent me some info so that we could directly help Danita Marsh out. Let this be a lesson, if you sleep with dogs, you will get fleas! Beyond that jab at the police, it’s up to us to provide the flea control. Danita Marsh needs our help, and we should step up! For all those that may be interested in helping Danita Marsh the information is as follows:

http://www.nashvillescene.com/blog/pitw/archives/00001226.shtml



Marvo

The Church is as much or more to blame as Hip Hop

Ever since the ridiculous comments by Don Imus (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RF9BjB7Bzr0 ), the media, Al Sharpton , Opera and others, have targeted Hip Hop for its misogynistic lyrics. Many have even gone to the lengths of blaming Hip Hop for many of the ills that affect our youth and community. I would agree that some lyrics by Hip Hop artist don’t reflect the best of the Black community, but I also understand that the sector that engages in these lyrics are a relatively small portion and does not represent the overall art form (although they often get all the attention). I also believe the language and attitude of Hip Hop toward women, in part, take its origin and is a reflection of the hierarchy of the Black church and other historic institutions that are present in the Black community. The Black community as a whole has become highly patriarchal, reflecting a society not of our own, but that of the European.

We can get into a long drawn out discussion about the history of Europe and the role of the men and women versus African or Indigenous population of America. That would be drawn out and kind of dry and I don’t want to hold you hostage to that. So to sum it up in a nutshell, the balance of men and women in places like Africa and early America followed a principle of ma’at, regardless if they called it this in their language or not (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ma ), meaning balance. Men had certain roles, and women had certain roles, but it wasn’t a situation where it was said that women can’t play this role or that. In fact, the roles were designed for the survival of the unit, as opposed to upholding some sort of tradition or hierarchy, the opposite of this reality is present all throughout the history of Europe. The ideology of balance is reflected in a number of places in our history, whether it be female pharaohs such as Hatshepsut
http://touregypt.net/historicalessays/hatshepsut.htm, or female generals like Dahia- Al Kahina http://www.swagga.com/queen.htm . The role of women in African society is well defined, but our original tradition definitely not being reflected now.

The role of indigenous women to America was similar to that of Africa. This in fact is reflect in the role of Mayan Queens http://www.ancientworlds.net/aw/Post/106590 , who where responsible for the calendar and the concept of zero. They also had a number of women religious leaders who played a role in the faiths that were present at the time (http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/2005/1524489.htm ). At some point we lost our concept of reality, and adopted an outside concept. Religion was the leading role in creating this shift in ideology, and the European is the cause of this change.
The question remains then in 2007, why are Black and Latino women displayed so negatively in the music. In my opinion, I believe it stems historically from the church in America and abroad. The hierarchy of most Christian churches was patterned after the Roman Catholic Church which is clearly patriarchal, which is opposite of what Christ would have wanted, but that’s another topic. The hierarchies of most monotheistic faiths have a patriarchal approach (Islam and Judism included). I believe this world view has affected our community in a monumental way. It doesn’t make sense in my mind for Al Sharpton to criticize Nelly for the Tip Drill video, which is very raunchy and inappropriate for individuals under 18 years of age in most cases, when women everyday are not allowed to take leadership roles in the church. I don’t make this argument to excuse Nelly from a clearly inappropriate video that degrades women in ways I won’t even get into. I make this argument to make the point that the problem is bigger than any hip hop video. With that being aid, I also think that one video shouldn't define his whole carrier. Nelly has contributed greatly to bone marrow reserch in the Black community, (http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1355/is_3_104/ai_105556882 ,but but accomplishments like this get very little attention.

The problem of misogynistic behavior in our community is older than 25 or 30 years; the length hip hop has existed. The root of our misogynistic behavior, in my opinion, takes its root in the churches hierarchy, which takes its root in the European falsification of the revolutioary practices that Christ implemented. I would like to get more into the discussion around Christ role realistically versus, what the European has converted it to be, but that is another conversation to be had in the future. Today, I want to make the point that women everyday are subject to second class citizenship in the church, although they make up more than half of the churches population.

Women are blamed historically, for the downfall of man. Mary Magdalene was accused of being a whore, when the Bible doesn’t mention that about her at all. The list of mistruths about women goes on and on. You don’t have to call a woman a bitch to treat her like one. The church does this day in and day out, and refuses to admit that this practice exists.

The Hip Hop generation has taken its cues from the generations that have preceded it. Evidence is found in the heavy use of samples, and the homage that it pays to older Black forms of music like jazz, funk, blues, rock n roll (Yes Rock N’ Roll was created by Black people in America, then stolen by Elvis and others), and GOSPEL. The church is one of the oldest institutions in the Black community, and has influenced almost every aspect of Black life in America and abroad. Hip hop often takes the best and worst aspects of Black life and puts it on steroids, then throws it in your face. LOOK AT WHAT YOU HAVE MADE!!! The Hip Hop generation came post the Civil Right Movement, post the revolution of the 60’s, Hip Hop was conceived during the crack wave of the late 70’s and 80’s, reared in the 90’s, and is still grow more mature every day. Mos Def said during the introduction of his classic album Black on Both Sides, “If you want to know where Hip Hop is going, ask yourself where I am going, what am I doing? If you are smoked out then Hip Hop will be smoked out”, if you treat women like trash Hip Hop will be treating women like trash. The argument I make to the church folks, is that we have a systemic problem in our community of misogynistic behavior. Hip Hop is influenced by the community, not the other way around! We have to purge ourselves of a way of life that is contrary to our existence in our community.

Dr. Amos Wilson (http://authors.aalbc.com/amos.htm , http://www.afromerica.com/knowledge/culture/history/amoswilson.php ) wrote in his discussion around the psyche of the Black community in the Eurocentric Political Dogmatism, Its Relationship to the Mental Health Diagnosis of Afrikan People that
“The patient’s face (hip hop) is a mirror. And in that face we see our own madness. It mocks us. We feel a compulsion to break it into a thousand pieces. We want to shoot it, and destroy it, because it tells us something we don’t want to hear about ourselves. We want to lock them up, and put them away, because they indicate our own failings (and triumphs) as a society”
This is what I believe is happening in our community in regard to Hip Hop. Dr. Wilson goes on to say, that “The Black bourgeoisie is as much a creation as is the Black criminal (not that the Hip Hop generation are criminal, although this is how they are often displayed); they are both reactionary styles, and both means of dealing with the dilemma of white oppression.” Both parties in this discussion around Hip Hop have been deeply affected by outside influences. That influence, primarily is the white power structure. We need to begin to fix all of what is wrong with our community, independent of if “they” ever get it, in fact we shouldn’t concern ourselves with “them” at all in relation to our sanity and liberation of our community. Turning inward and taking a real look at our entire community is essential to our liberation, anything else is a tool of the white power structure to create an even deeper wedge between different facets of our community. The Willie Lynch Syndrome (http://www.thetalkingdrum.com/wil.html ) lives on if we allow this to take place. Women like Michelle Obama, who is on t the front line with her husband Barack Obama everyday, are over looked because of the society in which we live. The senator from Illinois will play a major role in creating the democratic space for real talk about liberation to take place. Michelle, will play an intricate role in opening that conversation up to the "Black community" and especially the women who are often subject to marginalization.

I added this clip at the end. I didn’t want to skew anyone’s opinion of the church prior to reading the blog. If this doesn’t prove that there is a thin line between the church and the street, I don’t know what will. We all need to "separate ourselves from mental slavery", as Lauryn Hill (Hip Hops first lady as far as I’m concerned) so eloquently said.

http://hellonegro.wordpress.com/2007/08/18/black-folks-fighting-outside-the-church/the-church/