News on Thursday.

I give them (or the GOP's recent ads trying to appeal to people of color and the youth) credit for effort. They are a desperate bunch. First, we don't need reform. We need a revolution. Our ancestors didn't fight for crumbs from a decadent system. They fought for revolutionary change to benefit the poor, to benefit black people, and to benefit the oppressed suffering now. If they or the Republicans were for real, then they would condemn the Empire totally. We all want radical help given to the poor. They would want human civil liberties maintained. They would want the environment to be protected. Not all regulations are wrong. One example is what happened in West Virginia where corporate errors caused pollution in the water supply via lax regulations. There is nothing wrong with building up the family and the community, but families need food to eat, they need justice from oppression, and they need some health care here. We as Brothers and Sisters aren't for some token liberal stuff or token conservative stuff. We want revolutionary solutions in the world. Families need ways to prevent police brutality and abhorrent evils inflicted in communities nationwide. You will notice that these commercials will never explicitly condemn white supremacy. That is the point. Many of them seem to forget that the New Deal, the Homestead Act, the GI Bill, etc. were all government taxpayer funded programs (whose purpose was to aid people). If they (or white reactionaries and racists) were consistent, they would condemn these programs too not just welfare for the poor and suffering. The super wealthy receive tax breaks and other massive privileges all of the time, but the GOP outreach ads seem to ignore that. These ads ignore the fact that the free market alone can never create real JOBS for people. These ads act as a smokescreen as a means to ignore the importance of advancing the general welfare of society (that means that the poor need economic justice). That means that our land, water, and air ought to have protection. It means that our civil liberties should be preserved and militarism ought to be condemned. These facts represent what we need to do as a means to advance humanity in the most indispensable fashion possible. As black people, we have an independent spirit and we have the right to be political independents. In actuality, they or the reactionaries are not consistent since they oppose any revolutionary effort to strongly enrich the lives of black humanity. They listen to Rush (a man who disrespected a woman and made racist comments for years. He downplayed the evils found in Abu Ghraib), Hannity, O'Reilly (who said a slur and other evil words), Palin, David Duke, etc. and then try to lecture us on role models. LOL. Those reactionary characters prove to me that we should embrace our own black role models that we respect. No non-black person should ever dictate to us who should we value or who are role models are at all. We as black people have the right to embrace our own black cultural identity.

Ben Carson's legitimate accomplishments and real efforts to assist humanity involving medicine should be admired. Many of his ideological views in my opinion should not be admired. The same ones trying to lecture black people on personal responsibility refuse to allow corporate criminals to be held accountable for their actions. We should have ideological freedom in our lives. Yet, revolutionary black people are regularly criticized when they have the right to ideologically condemn the system of white supremacy. Many in mainstream America express outrage when black people openly in public acknowledge Patrice Lumumba, Queen Nzinga, Malcolm X, etc. as role models for black kids as well. The Sister Mrs. Michelle Alexander gave amazing lectures on the evil, pro-white supremacist judicial system before. She is very passionate, intelligent, and strong. She understood more about the conditions of the ghettos of America. The late Brother Dr. Martin Luther King was right to say that the ghetto is a domestic colony since it is owned not totally by black people, but by select corporate interests (and those controlling the ghetto exploit the poor while restricting true economic justice among its inhabitants). So, we are fighting a racial and class struggle. We are in solidarity also with our Brothers and Sisters from Brazil, Venezuela, Africa, and other locations globally who desire the revolutionary path of popular power. In other words, our struggle for liberation as black Americans is the same as others. We see their hypocrisy Brother. They distort the fundamental precepts and ideologies of true SPIRITUALITY (THAT AFRICANS INVENTED. BEFORE ALL OF THE MAINSTREAM RELIGIONS ON THE EARTH EXISTED, WE WERE HERE) as a means to conquer, dominate, and harm the Earth including humanity. Nature is tied up with humans since humanity came from Nature. So, in essence we care for Nature for in that since we care for ourselves. Now, the white racists try to harm Nature or the environment since the heart of racism is hypocrisy and hatred of the CREATOR and the CREATOR'S CREATIONS. So, in reality, these evil people could care less about common sense teachings from our leaders and other leaders talking about treating your neighbor as yourself, helping the poor, and fighting for justice. Only a despicable human being would blame the poor for the vicious crimes of some of the super-rich. We fully understand the errors found in both parties from the war crimes made by Andrew Jackson to the reactionary evils done by Ronald Reagan including his allies. We have every right to believe in our own thinking and to fight for black liberation completely. Our skin is DARK AND BEAUTIFUL. Our skin shines like gold and our BLACKNESS is superior to gold and any mineral. Our value is precious and our legacy is strong. BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL INDEED. A free thinking, black independent black man is a threat to the ruling class in the world. When Malcolm X started working with Third World nations and tried to form a political alliance to confront Western imperialism, the West (via the CIA, etc.) followed him and tried to ruin his efforts. So, ideals have power. Ideas can spread around the world and inspire people to stand up against oppression, bigotry, and unwarranted hatred. Diop taught us history and African contributions. I like the late Brother Dr. Clarke's work too. He not only wrote books, but he worked with Malcolm X to help develop the OAAU organization. Many Brothers and Sisters are geniuses and realize fully the evil system of white supremacy. We should appreciate the efforts of our elders and even the youth doing what is right too. Also, we are stronger UNITED than divided. We should form more solidarity with Brothers and Sisters globally as well.

I feel for Countless Vaughn. She overcame many struggles. She is blessed with a great daughter. The Sister is a great Mother and she is courageous in describing her story about the lace front wig to the world. So, real people wish the best for her. Countless Vaughn deserves to be treated with dignity and with respect. Her story is painful, but it has to be told. The more we know about such issues, the more we can improve the standard of living among all black people. The Sister should be encouraged and respected for her honesty and for her strength. Condoleezza Rice has great intellectual strength and she overcame many obstacles in her life. I have more respect for her than a Cheney or a Ted Nugent obviously. Many from the GOP have shown their hands to black people. State Sen. Phil Jensen and other GOP members have outlined their views wide and clear on civil rights and other important issues of our modern days. So, as black people, we have the right to reject the agenda of the Tea Party (who has been heavily funded by the Koch Brothers and other corporate interests). We have the right to advocate an increase of the minimum wage, to advocate for environmental justice, and to advocate for revolutionary solutions that benefit the masses of the PEOPLE beyond just select corporate interests. They seem to omit the war crimes done by NATO and their rebel criminals in Libya. Black Libyan men, women, and children were tortured, raped, and killed by savages. The mostly black town in Libya called Tawergha have its Black Libyan residents experiencing rounding up and other war crimes by Western backed rebels. Qaddafi was killed without a trial or jury (which has been supported by the West), but the West tries to lecture folks on democratic freedom and human rights. It is hypocrisy straight up. Today, Libya ironically is in uncertain straights with rebels still fighting the puppet regime. The current administration blatantly advances imperialism and has exploited African resources via AFRICOM and its other arms. The same system of oppression has been in existence long before President Obama was in office. At the end of day, it is in our cultural heritage to oppose imperialism (Dr. King, Malcolm X, the old school BPP, Patrice Lumumba, Fannie Lou Hamer, etc. were all anti-imperialist and they wanted economic justice) in its numerous dimensions. I am glad that Roland Martin has talked about this issue about businesses too. It is not a secret that certain corporate interests have restricted resources from black businesses for years. Back in the day, you can see how folks harmed Black Wall Street (an example of black people doing the right thing and forming their strong infrastructure. These Brothers and Sisters have done true group economics, but they were sabotaged intentionally by racists). This news is tragic. Tons of black businesses are strong and are assisting humanity though. We just need to carry on, continue with unique strategies, and never give up. That is why economic justice is very much needed now in our generation. 

Detroit is going through a lot. Detroit has lost democratic power with unelected officials controlling much of the city. The financial elite want to restructure the city in bankruptcy court via austerity measures. Activists accurately mention that the deep debt in Detroit is found in the misguided and racist decisions made by Wall Street bankers and regional corporate elites (while the poor and mostly Black citizens are forced to pay). The states of Michigan disenfranchised the people of Detroit. They caused bankruptcy lawyer Kevyn Orr to be the emergency financial leader. The corporate elites have exploiting Detroit too. The bankruptcy court has been used a cover for predatory capitalist policies to continue in Detroit while real democracy has been restricted. Detroit is not even allowed to have its own lawyer, but it is represented instead by the corporate firm Jones Day. Jones Day represented many of Detroit’s corporate creditors. Jones Day’s lawyer answers to Kevyn Orr not the people of Detroit. Orr is the scapegoat of the multi decade damage to Detroit done by oligarchy. Orr was placed by the state government. There are many human beings courageously fighting back. One grassroots organization is D-REM or Detroiters Resisting Emergency Management. Another group is called Moratorium Now! Coalition. They will go on record before Judge Steven Rhodes’ bankruptcy court on April with their objections to Kevyn Orrr’s plans to settle accounts with the city’s creditors. Thousands of Detroit pensioners have flooded the court’s electronic filing system with objections to Orr’s proposed pension cuts. The activists don’t want to pay money to predatory banks that depopulated the city via home foreclosures (and caused Detroit to experience fraudulent financing schemes). The Emergency Manager’s plan, says D-REM: “Will not fix the financial problems facing Detroit; benefits wealthy Wall Street bankers and bondholders, while stripping valuable public assets, cutting services, and gutting union contracts; is used primarily against African American communities;” and “removes from power 75% of the elected African American officials in Michigan.” We know that Detroit’s economic crisis was caused by decades of redlining, housing discrimination, and deindustrialization. Activists want Judge Rhodes to appoint a trustee to look after the city’s interests (as they feel that Kevin Orr and Jones Day lawyers can’t be trusted). Many corporate leaders want land to be privatized as a means for more profit to come for select interests. They want Judge Rhodes to halt Kevyn Orr’s efforts to regionalize or privatize Detroit’s water treatment facilities – which have long been coveted by corporations. And, the activists emphasize that public transportation is key to the city’s revitalization. D-REM wants democracy for Detroit. As D-REM has written: “Detroit’s rebirth will be the result of the People’s unrelenting demand for democratic self-governance” and “equal access to and management of the natural and economic resources of the city.” They have formed a People’s Plan to help the city. Detroit is being harmed by Wall Street interests and other parts of Big Capital. We need revolutionary solutions.

It has been found that the police and the ANC have been firing on protesting South African schoolchildren. On March 15, the African National Congress or the ANC spokesman Nkenke Kekana said that his party would meet the citizens of Bekkersdal to discuss the concerns of the community. Town residents, including schoolchildren, were shot at last week by the police and members of an ANC contingent campaign in the areas. Bekkersdal was the location of strong protests lasting a month by the end of 2013. Residents have still not forgotten a visit paid by Gauteng premier Nomvula Mokonyane last October, when she was heckled and booed. She inflamed that situation by telling her audience, “People can threaten us and say they won’t vote, but the ANC doesn’t need their dirty votes.” When the residents heard last week that the ANC dignitaries would be campaigning in the area, they erupted even in Mokonyane’s absence. Schooling was disrupted around 11 am. as pupils streamed onto the streets. The Citizen of the previous day carried a photo taken in Bekkersdal of an armed man wearing ANC colors. Nkenke said, “Right now, we don’t know who that person is. If he is a [VIP] protector, he is not supposed to wear ANC gear.” The Mail and Guardian identified the man as former ANC councilor Nelson Mdayi. Another image from the Citizen shows a South African Police Service (SAPS) officer firing a shotgun at point-blank range at two civilians backed up against a wall. There have been violent protests in Bekkersdal in the west of Gauteng over municipal corruption. Many residents vented on an ANC contingent including Ntombi Mekgwe, head of the housing department in the provincial cabinet, and the West Rand district municipality mayor, Mpho Nawa. The politicians were canvassing door-to-door for the party ahead of the May 7 elections, when they were forced to vacate the area after being pelted with stones. Gauteng police spokesman Lt. Col. Lungelo Dlamini said that six people were arrested for public violence. ANC Gauteng caucus spokesman Mbangwa Xaba praised the SAPS and claimed there were no deaths or injuries in the clashes. Police fired at schoolchildren and residents who had barricaded streets with rocks and burning tires. The Citizen likened the scene to the Soweto uprising of June 16, 1976. By the time the ANC dignitaries arrived, there were running battles between residents and police and columns of black smoke in the air. The scapegoat Thabang Wesi denied that he instigated the attack on the ANC campaigners. Wesi is the leader of the Greater Westonaria Concerned Residents’ Association, said “residents learnt about the ANC’s planned campaign through social media networks.” South African Jacob Zuma has been booed in many places. Expelled from the ANC, Malema now leads the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), which according to a 2013 Markinor poll could win over 7 percent of the vote in the province. Another ANC leader remarked that his party may well find itself in the “embarrassing situation where we have to go cap in hand, begging to Julius for a coalition for us to stay in power.” In spite of his leftist rhetoric, Malema has already signaled the EFF’s readiness to serve in that capacity. The bloodbath at Marikana involved 43 protesters being killed by the police years ago. The issue is that neoliberalism is harming South Africa. The Marikana mass murder against miners was evil. Cyril Ramaphosa was one instigator of this atrocity. The ruling elite still follow the status quo even in the midst of the worsening crisis of global capitalism. 

By Timothy