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Wednesday, December 25, 2019

The Holiday Season.




On this day, we remember a person who changed history forever. Over two thousand years ago, he was born to a family. His ancestors came from the David and the tribe of Judah. He was raised by Joseph and Mary. He came out to heal people, to inspire change, and to give good news to the poor including the oppressed. Many were jealous of him, but they couldn't stop his impactful legacy that exists in our time. While others slandered him, his apostles and followers became leaders in the abolitionist, labor rights, civil rights, and other social movements. His apostles were very courageous, and many of them would die by murder. Likewise, he made a long, joyful legacy in our lives. He was Yeshua the Messiah. I do believe that he is Son of the living God. Even the OT mentioned the existence of God's Son. Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem. Also, he fled into Egypt for a time during the persecution of Jewish people. Later, Roman authorities allowed him to be crucified after the betrayal of one traitor named Judas Iscariot. Days later, he rose from the dead via the resurrection. He was seen by many and ascended into Heaven. Jesus Christ was more than a rabbi, a teacher, or a leader of apostles. He certainly gave great, eloquent words about life,.

Jesus Christ was right that the Kingdom of God is within you. He was right to prevent the murder of a suffering woman. He was right to say that man will not live by bread alone but the word of God. Therefore, the Messiah is at the right hand of God the Father. He also has been mentioned in the NT, Josephus, Thallus, Tacitus, and other scholars of that time period. The early Christians were brutalized by the Roman Empire. Some of them were burned alive or eaten by animals in the Roman Colosseum. Some had to regularly escape for their lives. Many Christians have been persecuted down the ages for just translating religious books in their own languages or opposing certain doctrines (like William Tyndale and the Waldensians). Yet, today, the same spirit of joy and tranquility resides in the world today. After all of these decades of living on this Earth, I never lost the faith. Like always, we acknowledge the heroes who have used charities to help many people worldwide during this time of the year. To give is just the right thing to do. We use this day to establish succinct bonds with our families and friends, to show thanksgiving for the blessings that we do have, and to advance justice plus liberty for all. That is our calling.



Ever since Nikole Hannah-Jones' 1619 article was released to public, the critics of her aren't just far right conservatives who don't care for racial justice (or freedom for black people). The critics include others like WSWS, some historians, and others who believe in class reductionism. Class reductionism believes in the myth that all injustices from racism to sexism exist from a class situation. The truth is that class issues must be discussed in history, but history is not just about class. History is a complex array of events, personalities, and atmospheres that should be analyzed with great detail. There was sexism before classism. Racism existed long before the 1500's. Some people have legitimately critiqued Hannah-Jones' work on many issues from imperialism to omission of historical facts. Yet, some have gone too far and questioned Hannah-Jones' character (which is wrong) and even saying that she believes that the DNA of America is irremediable (which is a lie). The truth is that Hannah-Jones' 1619 work is very historic. It has many great points and it made mistakes on some issues. WSWS has been the leading class reductionists abhorring Hannah-Jones' views, but the WSWS supports the sick predator Roman Polanski,. and the WSWS think that they are the most authentic socialist group which is fantasy.. America's history does greatly deal with racism and slavery.

I am a black man, and I'm the living witness of American history. Many of my ancestors were slaves that I can trace. Also, it is important to note that many historian critics of her omit that many Founding "Fathers" condoned slavery. WSWS glamorization of Thomas Jefferson is sick by them. Not only did Thomas Jefferson owned slaves, but he believed in the lie of black inferiority throughout his life just like George Washington. Benjamin Banneker wrote a letter to Jefferson in refuting his racist lies. The deification of the Founders by some is the height of absurdity. The American Revolution wasn't all about slavery, but many Southerners refused to end slavery (even after the Dunmore Proclamation was issued in Virginia). The American Revolution's result was a break with Great Britain but no immediate end of slavery.

The slave trade was banned by the 1800's, but slavery was a central part of the American economy decades after the American Revolutionary War. American slavery and its legacy are central to our history as Americans. Many people back then talked about equality, but they didn't live up to their words. We already know that the abolitionist movement was multiracial, but many abolitionists didn't want equality involving race or sex. Abraham Lincoln signed the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation. Lincoln did many good things. Yet, even Lincoln wasn't perfect. Lincoln in 1860 said that he doesn't believe in equality among black and white people.

After the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln (who wasn't a Radical Republican) said that he wanted some black people to have suffrage or voting rights not universal suffrage for all black people. Lincoln did oppose slavery in his life. Do I agree with Hannah-Jones speaking at a Shell funded event as WSWS cited? No. Do I think that Hannah-Jones is complicit in Shell Company's corruption in Nigeria? No. Therefore, life is nuisance at times. Hannah Jones never wrote that there is a biological basis to racism. The lie embraced by many historians is that the Maafa and the Triangular slave trade was just like any other slavery system (and it deal with just labor primarily). The truth is that slavery against black people was about economic exploitation, stripping religion, stripping culture, stripping familial connections, and advancing imperialism. The people who organized this evil were mostly rich European oligarchs.

These same oligarchs are complicit in the genocide of Native Americans and other forms of colonialism worldwide. Those, who did these deeds, go up to the ruling class of the capitalist nations of Europe who originated it. We have sociological evidence and tons of other documented research to prove racial discrimination, racial disparities in the judicial system, and other forms of racial oppression worldwide. The roots of these evils come from imperialism/capitalist exploitation. That is why black Americans like me have to unite with our African Brothers and Sisters including our African Diaspora Brothers and Sisters worldwide to end oppression. Nikole never denied that many whites and black people worked together on civil rights issues and on labor rights issues (i.e. the Populist movement). What is the point is that even some in the white working class had racist views that can't be omitted. New York Times editor Jake Silverstein has defended the 1619 Project.

Back during the 1950's and early 1960's , the majority of white Americans didn't agree with certain civil rights protests like the Freedom Riders. The 1619 Project has errors, but it is not some anti-white screed (this lie has been said by Eric Levitz). The 1619 Project is a fruitful beginning in organizing the true representation of black American history. Nikole did great work in gathering sources, allowing scholars to write eloquent stories, and expressing what we black folks feel about our experiences basically. Our stories have been sugarcoated by the mainstream so long, and it is a new day now. We will talk about class issues, and that's important. Yet, we will also talk about our Blackness as well.

I perfectly think that black Americans are perfectly qualified to evaluate and show our own history on our own terms. That is the point.


I send Blessings to Sister Nikole Hannah-Jones.


By Timothy

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