One of the biggest tragedies in 1968 was the Orangeburg Massacre in South Carolina (which was before the 1970 Kent State shootings and the Jackson State killings). It took place in Orangeburg, South Carolina at South Carolina State University. The situation was about black students opposing the segregation of black patrons at the All Star Bowling lane (who was owned by Harry K. Floyd). They gathered at February 6, 1968 to protest and desire the end of Jim Crow policies. Nothing happened. During the next night, many of the students returned. They protested, but the police arrested 15 people. The third night was in February 8th, 1968. The tensions were high because of the arrests during the previous night. The students were on the South Carolina State University campus instead of the bowling alley. A bonfire was built. The police tried to put it out. One cop was injured by a piece of banister thrown from the crowd. Then, the highway patrolman overreacted and fired his gun into the air. He wanted to calm the crowd. Other officers thought that they were fired upon, which wasn't the case at all. The officers fired into the crowd of students. Many students were murdered. Two of them were South Carolina State University students. Their names are Samuel Hammond and Henry Smith. Delano Middleton was killed and he was a high school student. 27 more students were wounded.
The cops used shotguns and buckshot when they fired in the crowd. Many victims were shot in their back and on the soles of their feet. Nine officers killed people and they were charged with excessive force at a campus protest. Of course, back then, they were never convicted which was a disgrace. One person was in placed into prison whose name was Cleveland Sellers or a member of SNCC (or the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee). He was convicted of inciting the riot, which was ludicrous. Cleveland Sellers served seven months in prison. Sellers was pardoned 25 years later after his conviction. Then-Governor Governor Robert E. McNair said that this was "one of the saddest days in the history of South Carolina." He's right on that point. He was wrong to blame Black Power protests for the violence when the killers of students were the cops. Sellers would go on to be the director of the University of South Carolina's African American Studies Program and President of Voorchees College. He wrote his autobiography, "The River of No Return." Sellers wrote that, “In spite of sometimes overwhelming odds, I never really strayed from my principles and loyalties. I have developed patience and constantly renew my dedication to the creation of a more humane world.” His son is the famous political leader Bakari T. Sellers. We remember the events of Orangeburg, South Carolina as a way for us to continue in our quest for justice for our people.
Since I love to delve into controversial topics, let's go there. Recently, Boyce Watkins have used many smears about Yvette Carnell, because it is found that Watkins got much of his business blueprint from the inspiration of Charles Wu (who made a statement that he used Boyce as a means to sell hope to black people). Now, Boyce is trying to defend himself. Boyce is a person who is the type who was a mainline progressive writer many years ago. Now, he is into Hotepism, and black capitalism. He believes that weaves contributes to economic poverty in the black community, which is false and ludicrous. Watkins shaming black women who voluntarily decide to wear weaves is sexist and ignorant. Boyce is known to spew stereotypes about single black mothers too. Boyce also increasingly uses profanity as a means to act like he means business, but he has used the same, tired strategy that doesn't benefit the black collective. I don't agree with Carnell's xenophobia (about immigrants) and her omitting of the important of Pan-African unity, but she is 100 percent right that black people need both political and economic power. There is no economic power without political power period. One example is that it took unions, protesters, and collective activism to create the 40 hour work week, Social Security, the minimum wage, and other economic benefits (which was established by people demanding the government to do something about injustices) that many take for granted. Therefore, there is nothing wrong with black businesses and financial literacy. Yet, we also need living wages, environmental protections, the promotion of anti-poverty actions to help a wide spectrum of black people not just the upper middle class or the rich (who are the primary people who will benefit from Watkins' "Black Business School." Boyce Watkins acts immature in calling people "dusty" if they disagree with him). Boyce is apt to show more angry energy to Yvette Carnell (who is a black woman) than Umar Johnson (who called Watkins a lot more disrespectful names). Carnell is just using critiques and Umar have used personal attacks on Boyce. Also, Boyce isn't cursing out Umar in a high level. He or Boyce is the same one criticizing rappers who glamorize evils (and those rappers who do such things should be criticized), but he is speaking the same language that those rappers use in trying to defend himself. You will notice that Boyce doesn't talk about environmental issues, living wages, strikes, even anti-imperialism massively, or working rights issues since he shams people with jobs when even a business owner by definition is a job. Economic justice means a radical redistribution of economic and political power to benefit the masses of the people. Yvette Carnell offers some realistic advice on solutions (and promotes great books like The Color of Law and The Color of Money: Black Banks and the Racial Wealth Gap. I still disagree with Carnell on some issues) which deals with collective growth of black political power. In fact, Carnell is actually being nice to Boyce. Also, many folks are using this issue as an excuse to promote the colorblind myth that if we are to be free then we must disregard our black heritage. That's nonsense since we can honor our black identity, love our Blackness, love Africa, and honor the family of humanity at the same time.
Michael Rapaport should be called out about this issue. He recently disrespected Janet Jackson by saying that she doesn't have recent hits and she doesn't deserve to perform in the Super Bowl. Also, Janet Jackson doesn't even need to perform in the Super Bowl to prove herself. She's a legend. Not to mention that Janet Jackson does have recent hits, especially from the Unbreakable album. She is headlining concerts worldwide this year too. Janet Jackson is solidified as one of the greatest performers and dancers of our generation. He criticized Spike Lee on the issue of gentrification. He criticized any football player taking a knee on 9/11. Recently, he disrespected a black woman's hair. So, Rapaport is one of those pseudo "liberals" (not real progressives) who claim that they are down, but they can't take disagreement. When someone disagrees with these types, they go into the deep end and act irrational plus spew nonsense. Also, that coward Rapaport disrespected black women in the Root in such a vulgar way that I can't mentioned it here. So, a culture vulture like Rapaport deserves no respect.
Folks shouldn't be surprised at the disgraceful person John Kelly. He has supported Porter, who abused 2 of his ex-wives in domestic violence. This is the person who slandered a black woman Congresswoman whose name is Frederica Wilson. He called many immigrants lazy. He called Robert E. Lee "an honorable man" (when Robert E. Lee was a slave owner and supported the Confederacy) and lied to believe that the slavery wasn't a major factor on why the Civil War existed in the first place. We have to call it as we see it. The Trump administration is filled with racists, sexists, and xenophobes. That administration is deplorable. Sometimes in life, you have to take your time and read the facts. I took my time to think about the Mo'Nique situation. A recent article from Salon documented how bad the Netflix deal was towards Mo'Nique. Her boycott represents a truth. That truth is that tons of black women and women of color are underfunded, disrespected, and under appreciated by the corporate power structure in the entertainment industry. Systematic inequality is real and that point is what Mo'Nique is definitely right about. Many people have slandered her and disrespected her, but she is still standing speaking her mind. That's the Baltimore in her and I have blood relatives from Baltimore. So, Mo'Nique should be encouraged to speak her mind. I read where Colin Kaepernick gave money to Assata Shakur Daughters. This groups fight for liberation and honors Assata Shakur. For those who don't know, Assata Shakur was born in NYC and was arrested for many charges. Tons of evidence prove her innocent and she escaped into Cuba. The far right now is once again slandering Kaepernick and during this time it is important to support Kaepernick and Sister Assata Shakur.
By Timothy
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