NBD, Noose outside School, Dog the Bounty Hunter, Halloween costumes, and a broken wrist. How can I keep up, when everyday there is a new attack?

National Blackout Day (NBD) was a SUCCESS! All the major media outlets covered NBD, and all of them are trying to figure out how we all knew about the boycott. They assume since they didn’t cover it, we wouldn’t be aware. They are completely shocked that we were able to corral major sectors of the community into one cohesive movement. The internet, text messages, and radio (BLOGS also LOL) all played a major role in getting the information out to the community. I know the white power structure is having a meeting right now, trying to figure out how to combat our ability to communicate with each other. The NBD has the potential to send shock waves to the greater community of Black people. The spirit of NBD was felt from LA to NY. I know many of you may have spent a few dollars on lunch or coffee, but the NBD was on your mind, and that’s the first step. We need to continue to create the dialog, which will create a consciousness that permeates throughout the community. The collective thought of the community is the most powerful expression of our ability to create a future where we will be able to determine our own destiny. Thank you for all that participated in NBD both action and spirit.
Switching gears a bit CNN ran an excellent documentary about nooses last night. If you get a chance you should check it out. Here a clip from the show (http://youtube.com/watch?v=bkqjiXRqvtk ) you can check cnn.com for scheduling in your area.
Since we are on the topic of nooses, check this out. http://img218.imageshack.us/slideshow/player.php?id=img218/8060/11940485279t2.smil These photo where taking across the street from my job. I was disgusted, as I drove into work, that the nooses were allowed to swing from the trees. I found myself even more upset when I was one of the few who was upset about the nooses.
Before I get into my opinion, I want to give you a little back ground on the noose situation in NYC. If you have been reading the blog over the last month you are aware of the climate in the NYC, but if you haven’t been reading there is some info you need to form your own opinion. NYC is a powder keg which will eventually erupt, if (when) the series of events continue to proceed in the matter in which they are currently progressing. There is a serious amount of tension between the community and the police; who at the core and surface represent an extension of the white power structure in every city across America. There have been a number of events where the police have attacked, both Black and Latino young men. The height of the tension stems from the murder of Sean Bell, and the attempted assassination of Juan Guzman and Trent Trent Benefield.
NYC was already on pins and needles in regard to the Sean Bell assissination, before word about the Jena Six began to circulate around via e mail, radio, and BLOGS. The Columbia University noose situation followed the Jena Six rally, and 11 other nooses incidents followed Columbia in NYC. Coupled with the nooses, an off duty NYC police office killed a young Puerto Rican man in a clear cases of road rage (http://www.newsday.com/news/local/newyork/ny-nyrage23vr5428313oct23,0,5078644.story ). All of these situations and many I have not named has all lead to the tension in NYC. The series of events has created an environment so thin that it will eventually snap.
Moving forward to the nooses outside of my school (http://img218.imageshack.us/slideshow/player.php?id=img218/8060/11940485279t2.smil ). I don’t believe that the people who hung the nooses meant any harm. ( I’m sure that the liberal voice inside of me saying that) I believe they where trying to make their home look festive for the Halloween season. I really believe they didn’t think that there actions could create a firestorm in the heart and mind of people that passed their home. What I can’t understand is how they didn’t think that someone may take offense to nooses hanging out side of their home. The fact that it is clear as day to me that someone may take offense, but it isn't to other is scary. This provides evidence that these people are living their lives creating situation, but are unaware of their action. I rather deal with the klan, than that, at least you know what your getting. The people across the street probably view themselves as nice, stand up, Christian people.
I know this sounds like a contradiction, but it’s a futile attempt on my part to rationalize the mind of some white people. For those that may think I’m just over re acting, ask your self what would be the reaction of a Jew if you put a sticker in your car window that displayed a swastika with a heart drawn around it in February in celebration of Valentine’s Day. Both, Halloween and Valentines Day have similar pagan roots, and are not regarded as “real” holidays by most people. Would your sticker cause a reaction of insensitivity and anti Semanticist ideology, or would it be looked at as an attempt to promote the spirit of Valentine’s Day? I believe the answer to that is simple.
The fact that a noose can be displayed in any capacity and we can just brush it off as if it’s nothing is amazing. The symbol of the swastika didn’t kill anyone directly, but the noose killed thousands of Black people. In fact the noose, by many estimations, has killed more people than the Holocaust. Yet the swastika evokes a reaction out of the people that was influenced by its meaning. The reciprocal would be the reaction that the noose creates. Why is a noose any less significant? Why is the demise of Black people any less import than the other? Both the noose and the swastika have a history outside of the people most often affiliated with there use, but the swastika’s impact as it relates to the symbolism that it infers, is much grander than the noose. I don’t get it. Needless to say the nooses where gone after some of the neighbor saw me out their taking pictures. I wonder what happened. I guess the Halloween season is over. We need to take a proactive approach to our struggle in order to combat all attacks, both conscious and sub conscious, on our spirit.
We need to get to a point as a community where we don’t let things like this settle or even happen. If we don’t speak up about these things or think there important no one else will. If you think hanging nooses out side of your house is OK, then every one else will also. If you think nothing of nooses hanging from trees, then your children will think nothing of nooses hanging from trees. We will take initiative as a community, and defend ourselves from attacks both purposely and accidental. Our reaction to the variety attacks may be different, but the reaction that there should be some sort of action will be automatic. Apathy has contributed to the condition of our nation; no longer will we allow this type of inactivity plague our community.
Moving on to something a little more cut a dry. Dog the Bounty Hunter re affirms my position that many white people carry a deep seeded hate of Black people, but hide it in there daily lives. (http://youtube.com/watch?v=5MVjNVI6RzI ) Most white people support the white power structure in ways they don’t even understand, or try not to understand. Dog’s comments about his son’s girl friend are perfect reflection of this reality. How can you not mean to say nigger in a derogatory way, then use it in a derogatory way in the next sentence to explain you point? “I don’t care if she is a Mexican, a whore… I’m not loosing everything because some f*** nigger heard us say nigger”. Listen to Dog try to say that he said nigger, like some Black people use “nigga.” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2S85DVq6Kw ) Does Dog sound like he is using it the same, does he really thinks we are stupid enough to believe him? I think his rational behind his comments made me even more upset. Once again the white power structure tries to put the blame for there actions on Black people (see Tell them why you mad Son, Tell them why you Mad from October). He even said that he use to say that he is Black, so he thought it was OK for him to say “nigger”. How? He isn’t half Black, no one in his immediate family is Black, and even if he there where it wouldn’t excuse his actions as a man who is clearly white. He was yelling at his son about not dating a Black girl, because they use nigger in the house. Not nigger in a friendly way (if that is possible), but nigger in the most horrible capacity it could be used. He is now trying to say he uses it like a brother, how many ways can he insult our intelligence. The sad part about it is that some of you reading this will continue to blame Dog’s obvious racism, on some Black people’s use of “nigga”. On a side note according to Micheal Eric Dyson the broader sectors of the Black community don’t use the word “nigga” (at least not in public), in fact the comparison between the two show the number of Blacks that do use “nigga” regularly is a very small sector of the community.
For those that still follow that logic I don’t know what to say, other than I pray you wake up one day. I don’t care what Dog says about how cool he is with Snoop, or how much respect he thinks he gets in the community, or how many time I say nigga in a week, there is no rational argument that can be made that Dog used “nigger” comes as consequence of Black people use of "nigga". I don’t think any logical thinking person can come to that conclusion. My conclusion, as a self proclaimed logical and forward thinking individual, is that Dog is a racist, that just like all other racist, try to find a way to blame their behavior on the actions of Black people. Evidence of this is found in this clip (http://youtube.com/watch?v=Tpy15Gzo1OM). (See The Battle of N's Pt I and II for more on this topic.)
No need to dwell on this one its pretty clear. All those that like to watch the Dog chase after folks, will have to find something else to watch. What disturbed me even more than Dog’s comments about his son’s girl friend, and his attempt justify his comments by saying that he felt he had some sort of respect in the Black community is the comments made by his Negro preacher Pastor Tim Storey. ( http://youtube.com/watch?v=x3uW5hh3cro ) I can’t believe some of the things that come out of the moths of the Negro community. They find all type of ways to defend the white power structure, at the expense of the sanity and the reputation of “us” as a people. I’m sure Pastor Storey doesn’t want to loose the healthy offering that Dog puts down every Sunday, so he is willing to sell himself out to a rationalization that doesn’t make any sense. No one in their right mind should mount a defense for Dog. His comments where clearly racist, and should be taken as such. I don’t care if that was a private phone call, between family members. The only thing that is solidified in my mind is what Dog, and others, feel about Black people is vividly displayed in the phone call. Dog’s inner thoughts about Black people are put on blast in his conversation, and I believe that his thoughts are nothing more than a microcosm of the larger community in which he represents.
For Pastor Storey to say that he hopes that Dog doesn’t loose his TV show, is a sign that he is insane, and he should be exposed for the sellout coon, that he is. I know some of you a saying that my language is harsh, but we can no longer stand for obvious traitors of our community. In order to create an environment of a liberated future we have to shed the dead weight. We have to draw the line of what is, and is not acceptable in our community. (Drug dealers, pimps, etc. etc. are also examples of dead weight) Those that justify or rationalize the comments of people like Michael Richards (http://youtube.com/watch?v=U3RjiVcIlhY ), Don Imus (http://youtube.com/watch?v=RF9BjB7Bzr0 ), Emily from Big Brother (http://youtube.com/watch?v=rlcKmsGzL6o ), Bill O’Reilly or any of the other millions of attacks on our humanity need to be exposed for the traitors that they are.
Moving onto other news, the White House’s Homeland Security department had a Halloween party where they awarded the most creative costume to a man that wore dreadlocks “brown face” and an orange prison outfit (http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/11/06/ice.costume/index.html ). I would normally add a link for the pictures but they removed them from the net, as soon as they become available again I’ll put them up. The award winner wasn’t the only person dressed in racist garb, there were a “few” others that where wearing “racially offensive” outfits. This type of behavior is happening at the highest levels of this government. The people that are in place to allegedly protect America from attack are the ones doing the attacking. I think the award that they gave this guy is a form of terrorism. They released a statement saying that they apologize for the “offensive” nature of the outfit. What about the racist nature of the outfit. He was clearly mocking the Black and Brown community in America. The same people locking us up are the same ones laughing about it in public at the higest levels of this government. What type of attitude do you have to carry in order to think that coming to a “government” party dressed as a blackened prisoner, is appropriate? What kind of mind set do you have to be in order to think giving that person an award would be acceptable? I tell you what mind set you have to be in, the type of mind set that supports the white power structure. The American government has clearly demonstrated over the years which side of righteousness and justice it falls. It is our decision to decide which side of righteousness and justice we want to fall.
The final issue I would like to draw attention to is a situation at a school out in LA. A school security guard broke the wrist of a student, and called her nappy head. The young man who took the video then was assaulted, along with another young lady who was with him. (http://youtube.com/watch?v=DZ4sEX31tyw ) The girl’s mother was then arrested and fired from her job for speaking out against the brutality that her daughter had to endure. There have been some reports that her arm was not fractured, but a deep bruise, I believe that to be beside the point and an attempt to undermine the entire situation. This event is more evidence of the attack that our community endures on a daily bases on all fronts of our life. This security guard, assaulted three students, and attempted to conceal evidence. This is something that I would expect the LAPD to be involved. The security guard handled her similarly to the police officer out in Florida that stop a young lady for being out after curfew (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sIiFAPYRF4 ). I don’t know how many more examples I have to give to display that we are under attack!!!
As long as we don’t have our own schools, our own police, security guards, our own media we will continue to be under attack, by a system not designed in our favor. We have to build institution where we are able to determine our own future. Until then we will continue to see the white power structure attack our livelihood. We will also continue to see folks like Pastor Storey defend the white power structure, and we will continue to see a government that clearly thinks the condition of our community is worthy of a Halloween costume and have neighbors that put op decorations that reflect our demise.

Marvo

Don't Let Them Fool You. We are in this Fight Together!

Another noose was found in NYC. This recent incident marks number two for Queens, and number nine for the NYC area. (http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2007/10/24/2007-10-24_noose_found_at_ozone_park_in_queens-1.html ) The count is increasing, and the tension in the city is reaching a boiling point. Malcolm Gladwell wrote a book titled The Tipping Point, the term tipping point refers to the moment when something unusual becomes common. The book seeks to explain "social epidemics" or sudden and often chaotic changes from one state to another. When the smoke clears and historians look back on this time period, I believe they will write that 2007 was a tipping point. 2007 will mark the tipping point for Black people, and other disenfranchised and oppressed people in America and around the world.
Jobs are few and far between, schools are under performing, housing prices are increasing, prison population rising, and there are nooses popping up all over the country. We have another Clinton running for president, a Black guy that has an imaginary shot at becoming president, a Mormon who is a top candidate for president, and a president whose brother is the governor of the state with the highest concentration of the ills mentioned above, who by the way is rumored to be running for president in 2012. The direction in which we tip will be determined by our actions. Tipping to the side of justice, equality, and self determination is essential to the future of Black people. Instead of letting the pendulum tip, the climate today can lead one to the conclusion that we will have to knock the whole apparatus over.
I’ve been going back and forth over the last couple days trying to find something interesting to write about. There has been plenty issues that pissed me off (Dog the Bounty Hunter, I'll get to that latter), but I don’t want to turn the blog into my personal diary. Periodically, I may go off on a tangent, but I’m going to TRY to keep the blog in an atmosphere where it gives analyses around issues that affect our community.
One issue I found interesting was a story I heard about the Black Cherokees. The relationship between Africans and Native Americans is as old as this continent. There is indisputable evidence that there where Africans in the America’s prior to the European infestation… of disease. Evidence of the African presence comes by way of the Olmecs (http://www.essaysbyekowa.com/olmecs.htm ) in Mexico and South America, and the Moors (http://members.tripod.com/pointingbird/lostfeatherintl/id64.htm , http://members.tripod.com/pointingbird/lostfeatherintl/id60.htm ) who traveled west to the America’s in search of trade. Another indisputable fact of history is that the overwhelming majority of Africans that became intertwined with the Native Americans came from run away slaves. The Marons of the Caribbean are but one example of Blacks that escaped from slavery and settled with the Native American that lived in the mountains of Jamaica. The examples of this phenomenon can be given in any area where Black people and Native Americans where found. The relationship between the two communities has historically been good, but not perfect. (http://youtube.com/watch?v=_txH0HJMIYU , http://youtube.com/watch?v=ry27Q_Nfzk8 , http://youtube.com/watch?v=jmoep-XtGfU )
Many Native American tribes, who where under constant attack by the Europeans, still found it necessary to help their Black brothers and sister who escaped from bondage. It was relatively easy for Blacks to blend in with the Native Americans because many in the Native population have blood of the Africans who traveled to the Americas hundreds of years early. Many Native Americans are also full of melanin, independent and subsequent to their African roots.
There were some Native American traitors that fell for the trap set by the Europeans, contributing to the carnage of the European in the Americas. I think it is important to make it clear that in no way is this sub section of Native Americans a reflection of the over all population of indigenous people. Some Native American fought in the Civil War, along side the Confederate Army. There where a number of Black soldiers that fought on the Confederate side of the Civil War as well, supporting the conclusion that they where manipulated into their traitor behavior, but that’s another topic. (http://www.civilwarhistory.com/slavetrade/blacksoldiersCSA.htm ) It is also important to note that the ending of slavery as an institution was a foot note to the Civil War, not the catalyst. The war was primarily about the new industrial standard versus the old agricultural standard, but that another topic also.
Another forgotten fact of history is the fact that the Native American tribes that sided with the white power structure owned slaves, both African and indigenous. The European use of Native Americans as slaves was a short lived Spanish system, called encomienda, which is another little known fact, this is where they learned the European version of slavery. (http://historicaltextarchive.com/sections.php/sections.php?artid=633&op=viewarticle ). The Buffalo Soldiers where a group of Black soldiers who for all intents and purposes assisted the white power structure, in moving the Native American population off their land. (http://www.nativeamericans.com/BuffaloSoldiers.htm ) Many Blacks praise the Buffalo Soldiers for being the first Negros to fight as American soldiers. But, among some Native American populations they are seen as traitors just like the other Native Americans who sided with "pale faces", and in my opinion rightly so. My intent in raising these points is to high light the fact that the African and Indigenous struggle against the white power structure is long, intertwined and complex. Some of our history is has lead to helping each other, and some has lead to the others demise. Regardless of our past, in the end we all have been victims of the white power structure. The European called Blacks niggers and Native Americans fools all in a attempt to take away our humanity. An organized front of resistance, and an eventual dismantling of the white power structure is necessary. This destruction of the white power structure will need support from all sectors that have been victims of its oppression.
Malcolm X’s speech The House Negro versus the Field Negro remains true to this very day, (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znQe9nUKzvQ ) as it relates to Black, and the Native American populations. There is a sector of the Cherokee Nation that believe they are part of what they call the Five Civilized Tribes. These forces have adopted European customs and norms and are clearly operating in the interest of white power. The have turned their back on their members, and have specifically decided to ostracize the Black members of the tribe, also known as Freedmen. The Judicial Appeals Tribunal (JAT), the Cherokee Nation's highest court recently ruled that the law not allowing descendants of Freedmen joining the Cherokee Nation is unconstitutional, thus they should be allowed to join and vote as legit Cherokee citizens. This ruling has been challenged and during the challange period many Black Cherokees are being forced to re apply for Cherokee citizenship.
The only reason this vote was even raised comes as a result of the Cherokee Nation receiving federal gaming funds. The profits from these funds are then allocated to services that are provided to members of the nation. Certain sectors of the Cherokee Nation wish to create amendments barring Black Cherokees from their portion of these allocated funds.
The division in the Cherokee Nation has been evident from as early as the Civil War. The Cherokees had a civil war between different factions of the tribe in regard to the issue of slavery. The fact that there is a sector of Cherokees that believe calling themselves the “Civilized” tribes as acceptable speaks volumes about the mental assault that went on amongst their community. The white power structures assault did not end with Africans, but also played a major role in the demise of the indigenous population of America. This reality manifests itself in the insane and self hating behavior of both Indigenous and Black people.
The oppressive nature of the white power structure has resulted in the debate raging in the Cherokee community. Chad Smith, (an unusually European name, might I add) is the Principle Chief of the Cherokee Nation. Notwithstanding the fact the he looks like a white boy, and has more European blood than indeginous blood, by some accounts(http://www.chadsmith.com/SmithIntro.htm ), he and his cohorts have banned together to expel its Black members who have indigenous and non- indigenous blood (Some of the Black Cherokees come from the time of the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade, others are a result of the intermarriage between Black and indigenous people, and others come from the African presence in America prior to the introduction of Europeans.) There are Black members of the tribe that have more indigenous blood than the Chief Chad Smith, yet his membership is not being called into question. The motives of white power supporters in the tribe are clear and should be exposed for what they are, traitors and supporters of the white power structure.
The division that the white power structure is causing in the Cherokee Nation can be seen in a variety of different capacities. The white power structure plays us against each other constantly. They keep us poor, uneducated, and fighting over the crumbs that they throw at us. The economic interest is evident in the fact that the citizenship of the Black Cherokees was not called into question, on a grand scale, until the gaming money became an issue.
Black and Mexican, Puerto Rican and Dominican, Cuban and Haitian, the list can go on and on in the area of divisions created by the white power structure. (On a side note Latinos have also had battles in the past with Native American tribes about there citizenship, which is completely ridiculous because the link between Native Americans and the so called "Latino" population is extremely clear in most cases) The white power structure has effectively played each of us against each other, when we should be focusing on them. They get away with this practice because we don’t see each other as one people. One people affected by the same power structure that has lead to the oppression of all of us. We all have the house “negros” that side with the white power structure. Blacks got Condoleezza Rice, the Mexican had Vicente Fox, and the Cherokees got Chad Smith. (I could continue naming people, but that would be pointless) Independent of the traitors of their respective communities, we have to make an effort to create a mind state where we are clear who our enemies are, and that enemy is the white power structure and all that show it support. Not the Mexican, Dominican, West Indian, El Salvadorian, or African family that moved in next door, but the white power structure that put us all in a state of desperation.
The plan that the white power structure has put in place in order to ensure its survival has caused enough carnage over the last 400 years. The fact that the Blacks and the Native Americans are fighting over the scraps that the US government is throwing us is pathetic. Both groups are poor and desperate for a life line. The sad part is that we can’t see that we are our own life line. Blacks and Native Americans have been in this fight together since day one, and we will be in this fight together until the end. Folks like Chad Smith only represent a small portion of the masses of people. When the masses rise people like him will try to hide behind there white power rhetoric, but we as a community will be ready and the people’s justice will prevail. Tipping or knocking the pendulum of history BACK in our favor.

Marvo