It is historic for the President Barack Obama to visit Cuba. President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, Sasha, and Malia came into Havana. He is the first President to visit Cuba since the 1920’s (when Calvin Coolidge did it via a U.S. warship for a 1928 meeting of the Conference of American States). For decades, the embargoes and other restrictions have not worked to establish better relations between America and Cuba. The Cuba Revolution existed by people who opposed the dictatorship of Batista. Many in the mainstream media omit that Batista was a notorious dictator, funded by American corporations, and he violated human rights constantly. Fidel Castro led the Cuban Revolution to end the Batista regime. We have dealt with the Platt Amendment that allowed Washington to intervene in Cuban affairs and allowed the USA to seize Guantanamo Bay for its military base. So, we know that many elites in America want Cuba to be a puppet, client state of America. That’s wrong. Back in December 2014, both Raul Castro and President Barack Obama made an agreement to form a long term normalization of relations with Cuba. In addition to a formal meeting with Raul Castro, Obama intends to meet with “members of civil society” and “entrepreneurs.” Many people have hypocritically criticizing Cuba on human rights, but ignore how U.S. imperialism has created unending wars, covert interventions in the Middle East, and other evils that violate human rights. I do believe that the economic blockade of Cuba since 1960 should end. America and Cuba reached an agreement to restore direct commercial air flights between the two countries for the first time in 50 years, with virtually every major US carrier bidding for the 110 daily flights that are being allowed by the US Department of Transportation. The Obama administration has also given its approval for the opening of the first US-owned factory in Cuba in the more than 50 years since the government of Fidel Castro nationalized American properties and turned to the Soviet Union for aid following Washington’s attempt to veto even the most minimal reforms following the overthrow of the Batista dictatorship. This doesn’t mean that Cuba is perfect as no nation is perfect. Cuba has racial and gender discrimination. Many political prisoners are in Cuba. Yet, Cuba has successfully resisted U.S. efforts to overthrow their government for over fifty years. Their medical system is very strong and they have contributed to the African liberation movement in Angola. Cuba has universal, free health care, free education from elementary school to the post graduate level, high levels of political participation, housing, the elimination of illiteracy, etc. So, Cuba should receive great credit helping those of black African descent. Also, a great Sister Assata Shakur lives in Cuba today and Cuba has said that they will never extradite Assata to America, which is a great thing. “We made a decision to protect Assata in the past and that decision is not going to change. Thanks to our Revolution, the Cuban people will protect Assata Shakur," said Cuban member of Congress Kenia Serrano. Serrano has fostered close ties between Cubans and African-Americans and other oppressed national groups. Cuba should always be independent.
9/11 started many things. It began in the early part of the 21st century. It was one of the horrendous tragedies in human history. Almost 3,000 people of many races, creeds, and backgrounds were murdered by evil people on that somber day. 9/11 fully showed in plain view that evil is real and also our human rights, which are sacrosanct, must be protected and preserved regardless. There are many facts about what happened during 9/11 that must be shown. We won’t back down our quest to advance the truth. 9/11 certainly has been thought about by me every single day of my life. 3 states were attacked during the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Numerous people from around the world remember the events vividly. I do too. In our generation, we know many key about what happened. There are notorious business connections between the Bush and Bin Laden family. There was a huge amount of disrespect shown by the powers that be against 9/11 rescue workers. Some in the EPA claimed at one time that the Ground Zero air was safe to breathe. Yet, that wasn’t the case and many courageous rescue workers died as a product of injecting poisonous air. We have seen the promotion of a truly independent 9/11 investigation to get to the truth demonized by numerous establishment media engines. We do know that corporate leaders owned the WTC complex and that the neo-conservatives used the attacks in 9/11 as a pretext to invade the Middle East and Afghanistan (along with the establishment of laws that compromised and violated our civil liberties in America). The West wanted to reshape the Middle East to gain its oil, gas, water, and mineral resources in competing against the Russian plus Chinese hegemonies. We know that the attacks were bigger than just blowback. U.S. allies gave specific warnings about terrorist threats in America using even airplanes as weapons. Many FBI agents who wants to follow up on these warnings were blocked by headquarters. Therefore, after 15 years since the attacks on September 11, 2001, we should reflect, investigate information, be inspired to stand up for our human rights in general.
So many emotions exist in the words of those who contemplate about the Revolutionary War. The Revolutionary War is an important part of our history. It lasted for many years during the latter part of the 18th century. It represented an end to a new era and a beginning of a new one. Also, globally around that time, Revolutions existed in Haiti, Latin America, and Europe. These revolutions wanted to end the oligarchic power base of the monarchy and form republics or more democratic style governments. The end of the Revolutionary War resulted in the birth of the nation of America itself. Today, people wear hats, sin songs, eat hot dogs, and view performances that celebrate and commemorate the American victory of the Revolutionary War. Yet, that war has a long, controversial history that must be shown to the general public. Both the British Empire and the early American colonies had slavery and racial discrimination during the 19th century. The lands of Native Americans were readily exploited, stolen, and harmed by imperialists (both from the British Empire and those colonists in America). The issues of slavery, empire, democracy, gender, a Republic, the Enlightenment, the Founders, etc. are part and parcel of the American historical experience. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and other people were diverse in their ideologies and political views. Yet, they were unified in their opposition to the British Empire and they desired the independence of the American nation. The good and the evil actions of many Americans must be made known. To start, America, by the beginning of the eighteenth century, was filled with colonies. These colonies on the eastern seaboard and the South were controlled by the British Empire. The evils of slavery and the genocide of Native Americans existed. So, the Revolutionary War occurred in a backdrop of many injustices and controversies. The Seven Year War was one reason (out of many) on why the Revolutionary War commenced in the first place.
An excellent, eloquent article was written by Tiffanie Drayton. Tiffanie Drayton has every right to vote in who she wants to. Hillary Clinton have called black youth "super predators" without apology and her husband increased the prison industrial complex during the 1990's. That complex ruined many lives of the black community. Hillary Clinton has been funded by Wall Street interests and also many neo-cons recently have supported Hillary Clinton too. Sister Tiffanie Drayton believes in political independence and that's great. We, as a black community, have a long way to go. We should form more unity as a people and increase the power of our infrastructure. Likewise, it is important to note that many black people have confronted intraracial violence, misogyny, and other evils. C. Delores Tucker and other activists confronted NWA's misogynistic and violence filled music. Constantly, marches, vigils, and other programs continue to fight intraracial violence as well in our community. I blame individual evil black people (not all black people) who do evil consciously. What I won't do is blame every black person collectively for all problems in the black community. We shouldn't beg for the respect of others (who hate us) to like us. We should use self-determination and enact grassroots organizing to fight poverty and build in our communities. Nothing will change unless we unify and confront poverty directly in our black communities. We do know that we have a long way to go. The battle is not won yet. We have much more work to do. Yet, it is inaccurate that no black person is making a difference. When one member of our community dies, there have been rallies and other forms of activism to confront gun violence and evil crime. Hillary Clinton has supported an imperialist foreign policy as well.
Patrisse Cullors story is certainly one that exists worldwide. First, she has shown courage to tell her hair experience in public. The way that she has her hair is her own business and her choice. Patrisse Cullors has given a great commentary on the versatility and beauty of black hair. Her points about the black poor shows how the black poor are still disrespected and exploited in our generation (just like back in the day. Many of the poor suffer hatred and oppression). The black poor are readily scapegoated for the crimes of the super wealthy as we know that the Western imperial system is the enemy. We are still fighting for the development of our communities. We are fighting for the end of the system of white supremacy, and we are righting to end imperialism and any injustice on Earth. So, Patrisse's story is a story of being free to express our hair in a diversity of ways without shame. Living life honestly and without shame is a blessing. Ultimately, we should be judged on the basis of the content of our character not our skin color or the disposition of our hair. That is precisely one important message that I take from the beautiful interview from Sister Patrisse Cullors. She, like us all, desire the liberation of all workers, the poor, and all oppressed peoples of the world. This Sister is actively fighting for the liberation of all black people regardless of background. I wish the best for her and Bless her.
By Timothy
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