It has been fifty years since the passage of the Civil Rights Act. A lot of blood has been shed and people sacrificed in order for the law to be passed. The law was signed in July 2, 1964 into law. The law banned racial segregation in most public facilities. It forbade discrimination in hiring and restricted unequal application of voter registration requirements. The American ruling class contested the bill for months before its passage. It came about because of struggle. There were mass protests during the Second Reconstruction (1954-1968) that swept the American South and these protests helped cause the Civil Rights Act to come into existence. Title 1 and Title VIII of the law targeted racist ballot procedures, but it was the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that barred voting restrictions like the poll tax. Titles II-V outlawed segregation in public spaces. Title VI denied federal funding to government agencies that practices racial discrimination. Title VII prohibited most employers from discriminating on the basis of race color, religion, sex, or national origin. It created the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to enforce the law. Titles IX, X and XI aimed to lessen the domination of the South’s openly racist justice system. President Lyndon Johnson wanted to use the prestige of the assassinated President John F. Kennedy as a means to pass JFK's proposed legislation. The law overcame the opposition and filibustering of Southern Democrats like Senators Byrd of West Virginia, Gore of Tennessee, Fulbright of Arkansas, and the racist Strom Thurmond of South Carolina. Richard Russell of Georgia back then opposed social equality. After the bill was passed, racist violence swept the South. The days preceding the vote on the measure had witnessed the abduction and murder in Mississippi of civil rights activists James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner. Workers, the youth, and the poor forced the Civil Rights Act in the world. They fought legalized apartheid also known as Jim Crow. Millions of Americans (like my parents and grandparents) could recall the time when colored signs existed all over the South (even in Virginia where I live at). In the 1950’s, less than 10 percent of voting age African Americans could vote in most southern states. Racist poll taxes, literacy tests, and grandfather clauses (these rules allow many poor whites from voting too) existed. Votes were heavily controlled by many Democrats in the South. The white supremacist terrorist organization the Ku Klux Klan used violence and intimidation after the defeat of the Confederates in the American Civil War. The Civil War resulted in Reconstruction. Many amendments were passed, but freedom still never existed totally from black people. The ruling class feared that the Civil Rights Movement would transition into a broader struggle of the working class, so they accepted concessions like the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act, etc. The good news is that Jim Crow is gone. The bad news is that immense poverty still exists nationwide. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. rightfully said that we must have economic justice not just legal equality. His Poor People’s Campaign and his opposition to the Vietnam War made him a threat to the social order. That time period allowed many laws of liberal reformism. These laws legitimately tried to address oppression. By the late 1960’s and the early 1970’s (to the present), the government abandoned broad based reforms and used neo-liberal policies (which allowed a layer of the black bourgeoisie to flourish while the masses of poor black people suffering massive economic inequality. Many of the same bourgeoisie, who are white, black, Hispanic, etc. have a bitter hatred of the poor, many black people, workers, immigrants, etc.. Yet, it is important to note that black people still suffer under the evil of white supremacy regardless of class. Regardless if a black person is poor, middle class, or rich, we are still in the same struggle for our liberation. Even a poor white person has white privilege while the black poor person does not). The bourgeoisie was created as a means to give people the illusion of inclusion when the 1% has record wealth now. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a great event of world history. Still, we have to deal with capitalist politicians who want to cut wages, bankrupt schools, violate democratic rights, and appropriate money to spread imperialism globally.
The reactionaries try to talk about ideological diversity. The truth is that people like me do believe in ideological diversity in the black community. What I also believe in is that right for me to disagree with reactionaries peacefully and with cogent arguments. Now, I don’t agree with Glo Smith’s face being painted in that fashion in the photo, because people can easily refute her arguments with reason and logic. Also, many people are trying to shame black people who are courageously expressing opposition to the system of white supremacy. In truth, we should continue in fighting white supremacy and standing up for justice. This time should give us more inspiration to continue with believing our core convictions. So, Brothers and Sisters have every right to fight for economic justice, for improving the environment, for workers’ rights (how can anyone be for real if they hate workers’ rights), for promoting real civil liberties (we have the right to disagree with the Patriot Act, NSA warrantless spying, etc.), for universal health care (which has worked in Singapore, the Netherlands, Switzerland, France, Scandinavia, Ghana, etc.), for being opposed to imperialism, for standing up for self-determination, and for fighting poverty (I have no issue with an guaranteed annual income as Dr. King advocated or an increase in the minimum wage as most Americans support). We will not be silent, we will not make a butchery of our conscience, and we will be heard. People have the right to be politically Independent. We don’t need to worship the corporate funded, neoliberal parties of Democrats or the Republicans. We have the right to be revolutionary not reactionary. The battle for the improvement of our people will not be easy. It will be a struggle, but we are in agreement that we must act proactively. We still have neo-Confederates today. These same neo-Confederates have raped people, killed people, and harmed people because of their color, gender, background, etc. That is why heroes have fought them at every step of the day. We can never forget the sacrifice of others who stood up for freedom. The total war against fascism and bigotry is not over. We are still fighting, but we are still here and we just have to continue to inspire people, to educate people, and to make the truth plain in the world. There is nothing wrong with black people using legitimate aggression against oppression (we should reject any harm done to any innocent black person). We have to be strong and strategic. Legitimate aggression is about self-defense, nonviolent resistance, etc. not unjust violence against any innocent human being at all. I reject violence that is unjust and unwarranted. Innocent people should never be harmed at all.
Oliver Koffi did the right thing. In a work environment, a professional atmosphere is a requirement. Anyone who acts disrespectful towards people based upon race, nationality, or creed is wrong. There are rules in workplaces globally that forbids inappropriate comments. A manager ought to know better too. The manager no longer working in the company is in response to the manager’s reprehensible commentaries. Some of same ones lecturing our people on personal responsibility will refuse to allow that manager to be held accountable for his actions. No one should tolerate that form of disrespect in any environment. Such events are nothing new. The most important thing to remember is that black people (and anyone) have the right to stand up for themselves and to allow any corrupt manager to be made accountable for their own actions. Oliver has every right to speak his mind and to sue. Portia Roberson is an attorney and head of Detroit's Civil Rights and Justice Department. This woman was treated like a criminal. It does not matter what class or station in life that we are in. We still are in the same struggle and some folks view us as guilty until proven innocent (which is a shame). The woman not only had a receipt with her, but she was not doing anything wrong. The police not only refused to search anyone else, but this unjust racial profiling incident confirms all of my views about how this society is not post racial. I am glad that she returned all of her items in the sense of not wanting to buy from there anymore. Regardless if people agree with the President's policies or not (I don't agree with all of the policies of the Presidency), the reactionary obstructionists don't have my respect ideologically at all. They never advocate something revolutionary in dealing with domestic or foreign issues. I have not seen them advocate something real to address homelessness and poverty in America. Some of them even reject health care expansion in various states. So, folks like Boehner are afraid of the Tea Party. We as black people should continue in the struggle for our liberation. Bobbi Kristina is completely wrong. Angela Bassett has been a class act in the acting industry and in real life for decades. Angela Bassett is a conscious Sister and she fully appreciates the musical legacy and musical power of the late Whitney Houston. Bobbi Kristina can easily talk to Angela Bassett in private about issues. Bobbi Kirstina disrespecting a Sister's womanhood is abhorrent. Angela Bassett is a person who has worked in her community and she knows about the struggle. Bobbi issued inflammatory words and evil words to Angela Bassett, which is totally uncalled for. Obviously, Bobbi (who has a lot to learn. She needs to wake up about many issues) has gone through issues and her blatantly disrespectful comments ought to be condemned. We have to reject the denigration of black people's phenotypes. Beauty is not monolithic. I wish Angela Bassett the best.
Many leading scientists are telling the EPA to ban Agent Orange GMO crops. Many of the people included medical professional and credible researchers. These human beings believe that 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and glyphosate herbicide system developed by Dow AgroSciences, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Dow Chemical Company, will public health at risk if sprayed on millions of acres of cropland. This herbicide mix involves 2, 4-D and glyphosate (or the Enlist DuoTM weed killer) for farm spraying in combination with a new breed of genetically engineering corn and soybeans. These scientists believe that the 2, 4-D resistant corn and soybeans used in conjunction with Enlist DuoTM, but the planting of the glyphosate tolerant Roundup Ready corn and soybeans has caused an acceleration of herbicide resistance in many weed species. They feel that risk are found in the 2,4-D resistant corn and soybeans, but the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the EPA are close to approving of these substances. The 2, 4-D can pose human health and environmental risks. The scientists say that the herbicide has been linked to damage to the human thyroid and an increased risk of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma according to epidemiological studies. Other compelling data have shown that families have been exposed to multiple pesticides with the experiences of a suppressed immune function, lower sperm count, and a greater risk of Parkinson’s disease. The health risks and the environmental risks are real. The increase in 2, 4-D spraying on corn and soybean fields would lead to pollution of food and water and increased drift of 2, 4-D from the fields into nearby residential areas. The Dow Chemical Company claims that their 2, 4-D choline salt formulation has low volatility and low drift. However, the large-scale, blanket spraying that has become standard practice with genetically engineered crops would make herbicide drift from sprayed fields into nearby residential areas and ecosystem habitats highly likely to occur. Decades long research document the risks of using 2, 4-D, which is a toxic herbicide. The EPA should do what is right. They should not approve of the new mixtures of 2, 4-D and glyphosate. Human and environmental health is important to protect.
First, any form of harassment and abuse ought to be condemned. We should all fight against misogyny. Wrong is wrong no matter who does it. It is very important to treat people as people not as sexual objects or less than human. It is wrong to blame victims for the perverted actions of sick people. The truth is that we have to oppose false stereotypes. Many Afro-Brazilian Sisters are strong, progressive, and are working to help Brazil like Benedita de Silva, etc. The website Black Women of Brazil (dot) co documents the actions of these courageous women. It is a total shame that perverts (who obviously have many insecurities and inferiority complexes) exploit the events of the World Cup as a means to harm women. Now, Afro-Brazilians are black people. Black people exist globally. We are one people and we are an international people. I will never solely concern myself with America alone, because jingoistic nationalism is very limited in my perspective. As Malcolm X said, we are in an international movement for justice. So, we should concern ourselves with African Americans and black people globally too. Many churches believe in the lie that the amount of wealth someone has is related to someone’s morality or spiritual strength. The truth is that strong, moral people exist across classes. So, any spiritual institution ought to confront the ills and problems of the community and reject greed for greed only promotes selfishness & economic exploitation. There is nothing wrong with people prospering in life, but folks should not classify people who are poor as solely their own fault (or some believe in the sick notion that some are poor, because God is cursing them. Poverty exists, because of complex reasons). Now, there are many spiritual groups & other people who are doing what is right. So, I want to make that perfectly clear. Some people should know about true history. Folks do need to do their own research as you have mentioned. I have lived under the days of Reagan. Back during that time period, in some areas of America, there were much more crime and homelessness than today. Regardless of what others say, the current President should be made accountable for his actions. No one rational denies that fact. The problem is that many Republican extremists have called this man and his family every name under the sun, which is not right. I can disagree with the Presidency on many issues (which I do), while excluding personal cheap shots against him (that some in the Tea Party crowd does). FOX News has been exposed as a propaganda network for years. I do believe that the Reagan administration has been very vicious. Some of the policies from the Reagan and Bush Jr. administrations have been worse than the current administration. These reactionaries don't even know what amnesty means when the current White House has executed record deportations of over two million human beings (and the current administration are about to deport the children from El Salvador). Also, they fail to see that both Republicans and Democrats are funded by the same corporate elite. Folks have the right to be politically independent. The real truth is that regardless of the type of administration that exists, we ought to speak truth to power.
By Timothy
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