http://www.johnpotash.com/the-black-panthers-movies-luster-and-tarnish/
http://www.johnpotash.com/the-baltimore-riots-resident-info-beyond-mainstream-media/
Friday, January 29, 2021
Late January 2021 News.
The DHS has warned of extremist groups who traffic lies of the election, etc. Nancy Pelosi is right that Greene has to have accountability for saying that the Parkland shooting was a false flag, she supported words of some trying to harm Democrats, and she believes in other repugnant views. One Congressman is trying to use legislation to expel her from Congress. While this is going on, the GOP is silent, because Greene is a member of the GOP. Majorie Taylor Greene lies about the 2nd Amendment, because the 2nd Amendment has nothing to do with unlimited access among any human (even criminals) of weapons. Gun control has saved lives for generations. Greene has never apologized for her words either. Majorie Taylor Greene is smug in her disgusting, deplorable views. Greene has harassed a victim of the Parkland massacre. There is no excuse for Greene's views (there are stories of her supporting an anti-Semitic video that slanders migrants). The fact that she is trying to eliminate her racist, offensive posts from her social media tells you that Majorie knows that she is wrong. She made the racist remark that African Americans are slaves to the Democratic Party. Greene made the racist remark that gangs are holding black and brown people down. Also, she supports the cultic Qanon movement. Greene has made fun of a disabled person too according to Elise Jordan. So, I have no respect for Greene's views at all. The Trump cult is truly sick.
The GOP hypocrites want us to move on from the storming of the Capitol when they promoted Benghazi probes for years. Many GOP Senators, who voted to reject the impeachment trial of Trump, voted to impeach Clinton back in 1999 (Bill Clinton never incited a mob to use violence against the U.S. Capitol building at all). Josh Hawley is one of the most evil politicians who raised his fist in support of the pro-Trump terrorist mob. The DHS warns about domestic terrorist extremists who are violent. Hawley, Cruz, and others are privileged people who have betrayed their country by allying with a stone cold racist and sexist extremist named Trump. They have questioned a legal 2020 election. They have called for the elimination of the votes of an election made up of heavily black American votes in the places of Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. Lou Dobbs from FOX (who is a known anti-immigrant xenophobe) promotes the lie that Trump won the 2020 election. Trump's autocratic supporters of the Proud Boys, etc. are fascists. Now, we have a coalition of the Proud Boys, neo-Nazis, Qanon members, many GOP members, and other extremists along with Trump (Kevin McCarthy met with Trump recently in Florida to support him disgracefully). Many wealthy people fund these hate movements too. This is not new. There were anti-black pogroms in North Carolina, TN, and all over America for a long time. That is why we have to fight for the truth. The GOP in many cases refusing to hold Trump accountable for the U.S. siege by Trump supporters is wrong and abhorrent. Trump's words inspired the mob to even want to do harm to the former Vice President Mike Pence. Also, it is important to oppose neoliberalism. Many people in the Internet talk about the dangers of neoliberalism. What is neoliberalism? Neoliberalism is the philosophy that the privatization of resources, centrism, imperial foreign policies, and compromise is the order of the day. Of course, I disagree with neoliberalism. In terms of foreign policy, I don't agree with massive sanctions against Iran that harms Iranians civilians. Instead of promoting international cooperation, neoliberals desire U.S. global hegemony over the resources of the whole world. Neoliberalism at its core is a right wing ideology in favor of privatization, deregulation, free trade (without legitimate regulations), reductions in government spending, etc. to grow the private sector (while the public sector declines in power). The common myth embraced by some is that Trump is just an aberration. The truth is that Trump is at its core the face of racists in America for long centuries. Also, we have to be careful of militarists who exploit the legitimate concerns of racism and economic oppression as a means for them to harm our civil liberties. Years ago, the FBI used the term of Black identity extremist to slander sincere black revolutionaries. Now, we know that the greatest domestic threat in America are white racist extremists. Protecting our freedoms is important.
We see a new era of the nation of Russia. After Navalny has been arrested for exposing Putin, demonstrations have occurred in over 100 Russian cities. As I have mentioned, the majority of the Russian people desire freedom, and Putin is a capitalist far right nationalist authoritarian despot. Over 3,600 Russian demonstrators have been arrested. Russia has economic inequality, declining living standards, and oligarchs exploiting its resources. Putin made the racist remarks that migrants just want to rape and pillage people. He forgets that migrants are victims of wars, oppression, and economic exploitation. We know about the genocide of Muslim Uygurs in China. Many so-called "leftists" (even so-called revolutionaries) defend Russia as being against American imperialism. This is a silly tactic as Russia is not dominated by progressive leadership, and Putin is clear that he doesn't want Western style democracy. He doesn't respect progressive values as he has publicly stated. Putin is a far right extremist. American imperialism is wrong, but exposing American imperialism should never be used as an excuse to coddle a person like Putin.
On my father's side, there are always stories on the Upshur family. My parents always say that I'm related to them, and I found out tons of information about them. To start, the African American Upshur family came from the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Later, the migrated from Virginia into Maryland, into Delaware, into New Jersey (in places like Trenton), and as north as New York state. One woman, who is the late Mary Lena Upshur, was my 3rd cousin. Delaware is a state where many of my paternal distant cousins live at. Delaware has a lot of underrated African American culture. One of the most prominent Upshurs living today is my 3rd cousins Gloria Garnetta Upshur, Elton Upshur, Doris Upshur, Purnell, and others who live in Delaware and all over America. They share my ancestor of my 4th great grandfather George Perkins I.
Today, we acknowledge deeply the passing of one of the greatest black icons of all time. She came about in the world to do movies, to be in TV movies, to promote the dynamic power of black people, and to show the elegance and power of acting talent. She was the first black woman to wear cornrows on a major television show. She also was one of the greatest ambassadors of showing non-stereotypical images of our people. She is Cicely Tyson, and she transited at the age of 96 years old. For almost one century, she has shown her light to entertain, to inspire, and to educate us on the life experiences of humanity. From Sounder to Moses, her roles transcended acting. They were extensions of her glorious black soul. From Roots to doing acting in 2020, Cicely Tyson perfected talent, excellence, and an inquisitive spirit. People know of her from winning 4 Black Reel Awards, one Screen Actors Guild Award, 1 Tony Award, a Peabody Award, and 1 honorary Academy Award. President Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom award. Cicely Tyson was one of many black people who opened the doors for so many black actresses and black actors who have shown their sense of human expression to the world. We certainly thank her because of her sacrifice and courage. Thank you, Cicely Tyson for wit, talent, refuting colorism, and being you without apology. There are always those people who are very groundbreaking in their walks. Cicely Tyson was one of many people who showed a groundbreaking, illustrious mentality. She was once an elder, and now she is with the ancestors with crowns upon crowns. Her passion for life was greatly monumental, and her memory will be permanently etched in our consciousness.
Rest in Power Sister Cicely Tyson.
By Timothy
Thursday, January 28, 2021
Research.
https://www.aaihs.org/heed-the-call-black-women-anti-imperialism-and-black-anti-war-activism/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accra
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaa_Asantewaa
https://www.aaihs.org/claudia-jones-and-ending-the-neglect-of-black-women/
https://www.newsamericasnow.com/six-caribbean-revolutionaries-us-black-history/
Wednesday, January 27, 2021
Biden and Executive Orders.
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President Joe Biden signed an executive order in addressing racial injustice. He disbanded the 1776 commission, because that commission promoted lies and historical revisionism (like downplaying the progressive civil rights activists and denying that many Framers were slave owning racists). He signed new executive orders that fights housing discrimination, fight bigotry against that Asian Americans suffered (when they are being scapegoats for the pandemic virus), and he directed the Department of Justice to not renew contracts with private prison operations. This has never been done by the previous administration before. White House Domestic Policy Council Susan Rice support these actions. Biden (who talked about the memory of George Floyd, who was murdered via police brutality) also signed an executive order to promote the sovereignty of tribal governments over the territory. A moratorium on federal evictions and foreclosures are extended to the end of March 2021. Ultimately, Congress has to pass legitimate laws promoting voting rights, civil rights, and other policies that advance racial justice. That is important for our interests as black Americans must always be respected.
More than a third of the Senate opposes the impeachment trial in the Senate. That tells me that many GOP members care for political worship for Trump than accountability. Senator Rand Paul believes in the myth that since Trump is out of office now, then the Senate can't have trial by default. Rand Paul was one out of many Republicans who wanted to deny the voting of black Americans who caused Biden to lose Michigan, Wisconsin, and Georgia. Rand has been a Trump puppet for years. The events in the U.S. Capitol should never be forgotten. Domestic terrorists tried to end our democracy. History teaches us that some people were tried by the Senate after their office ended. The GOP is afraid that Trump may promote primary challenges. Soon, the second impeachment trial will exist. Trump incited a mob to go to the Capitol building in trying to stop a legal election from being certified. He used rhetoric to fight and take back the country. Many of these terrorists said that Trump inspired them to do this nefarious plan. For hours, Trump did nothing to stop the insurrection, and he was happy about it. Pressure came upon him that made him make a token response.
Megyn Kelly and other conservatives are at it again promoting the nonsense that the media or all of us are responsible for the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Kelly was fired from NBC for making the racist blackface comments. She still sends respect to Trump, when Trump made disrespectful comments about her. That tells me that these Trump supporters and radical far right people have no respect for truth. The people responsible for the disaster at the U.S. Capitol are Trump and his pro-Trump mob who broken windows, said slurs to the police, murdered one cop, and caused mayhem in Washington, D.C. Confronting injustice and passionately exposing evil is righteous. We shouldn't coddle these extremists and racists. Those, who enacted insurrection against the American government, ought to experience complete accountability. Now, Dominion Voting Systems has sued Trump Attorney Rudy Giuliani for 1.3 billion dollars over spreading lies about the 2020 election. Sidney Powell has been sued too. Tom Clare or the Defense Attorney for Dominion Voting Systems has not ruled out Donald Trump being sued. Trump is a private citizen now. He isn't President.
President Joe Biden recently gave a press conference about his plans. He has signed many executive orders including one that wants to promote American businesses. He said that he is starting to use negotiation in trying to achieve his pandemic stimulus bill. The problem is that many Republicans in the Senate want to not be in support of the proposed bill. Biden said that more deaths will exist before that situation gets better. Trump left office with a response in disarray. Now, Biden has the power of the Presidency in doing something about this huge crisis. We never seen a pandemic in this magnitude in over 100 years. So far, over 25 million Americans have received the vaccines. Many states are struggling to receive vaccine supplies in America. Supplies are very low in New York City, other cities, and rural locations of America. That is why science, logic, and commonsense must be utilized in getting a solution accomplished.
She is the Queen of the quiet storm. Her soulful songs are exciting and classic. I haven't heard of a bad song from her. Her grace and talent are incredible too. She is Sister Anita Baker, and it's was her Birthday yesterday. She is now 63 years old, and she was born in Toledo, Ohio. She started in the music industry from the late 1970's, and Baker's music flourished during the 1980's plus beyond. She won 8 Grammy Awards, has 5 platinum albums, and has one gold album. Anita Baker was raised in Detroit. Later, she sang at Detroit nightclubs when she was 16. Baker joined the Chapter 8 band during the 1970's. She and the band had the album of Chapter 8 in 1979. She sang duet with band-mate Gerald Lyles in the song Ready for Your Love. Anita Baker made her debut album of The Songstress in 1983. She changed the game with that album. Songs like No More Tears, Angel, You're the Best Thing Yet, etc. were timeless songs. Rapture was her 2nd album in 1986 with Rapture, Sweet Love, etc. The Rapture album sold over 8 million copies in 1987. Giving You the Best That I Got sold millions too. The huge comeback album of Rhythm of Love in 1994 was powerful. Songs like Body and Soul and I Apologize won Baker her 8th Grammy award. Baker continued to make music in the 21st century. Mary J. Blige was inspired by her too. Anita Baker loves her children and awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from BET. That was in 2018. For years, she has shown how influential great music is all about. Anita Baker is a beautiful, elegant black woman who is one of the living legends of music. I wish Sister Anita Baker more blessings.
By Timothy
Tuesday, January 26, 2021
Monday, January 25, 2021
Late January 2021 Information.
In 2004, it was a year when new school R&B artists rose up in the space to express their God-given talents to the world, and it was a time where legends of music excelled too. By January of 2004, Alicia Keys' You Don't Know My Name was already a huge hit. Jamie Foxx started his R&B singing career in a huge level as he dreamed about doing for years before 2000. By 2004, he worked with Kanye West and Twista plus other artists to make music. Jamie Foxx can do comedy, act, sing, and play the piano. One of the great hits of 2004 was the R&B club banger of Yeah! done by Usher featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris. That song was so popular that it was played everywhere with the crunk beat. This was the time when the South just dominated the R&B and hip hop musical culture. Alicia Keys' If I Ain't Got You and Usher's Burn were ballads that described the journeys of romance. Usher was personal in this year with the song of Confessions Part II (even admitting his flaws). Ciara came out with the breakout single of Goodies featuring the North Carolina hip hop artist of Petey Pablo. I knew from the beginning that Ciara was a different type of singer. She could dance very well, and she can sing with a melodic voice. Her debut album was Goodies with songs like 1,2, Step, Oh, and And I. The album was triple platinum. A lot of people don't know that she was born in Austin, Texas to a military family. She settled in Atlanta, Georgia later on. Ciara is a songwriter too writing music for Blu Cantrell's debut album of So Blu and Fantasia Barrino's Got Me Waiting (for Fantasia's debut album of Free Yourself). Ciara graduated from Riverdale High School in Riverdale, Georgia in 2003. She signed with LaFace Records headed by L.A. Red. She worked with producer Jazze Pha. Ciara by 2004 is the First Lady of Crunk&B. As time goes on, Ciara will continue to make more accomplishment, be blessed, and married a real humble man that is highly spiritual. Usher and Alicia Keys made their duet of My Boo. Both of them are great singers, made classic albums, and had musical chemistry. 2004 saw the merging of R&B and hip in music like with Snoop and Pharrell in many songs. In 2004, Kelis made the song of Milkshake. Christina Millian (who is also a famous Afro-Latina actress too) had the song of Dip It Low. Destiny's Child had many songs called Lose My Breathe, etc. among their final album of Destiny Fulfilled. Destiny's Child was one of the greatest groups of the 90s and 2000s. Destiny Fulfilled was released on November 16, 2004. Beyonce, Kelly Rowland,Michelle Williams, LaTavia Roberson, LeToya Luckett, and Farrah Franklin paved the way for so many women to perform on the stage today of the 21st century. Destiny's Child further worked with frequent collaborators such as Rockwilder, Swizz Beatz, and Rodney Jerkins as well as several new producers. Destiny Fulfilled was Destiny's Child's 5th studio album. 2004 saw many new artists like Nina Sky's Move Ya Body, Houston's I Like That, Chingy featuring Chris Weaver with One Call Away, Ruben Studdard with his album of Soulful, Mario Winans with his album of Hurt No More, etc. R. Kelly shown his music of U Saved Me and Happy People. Jill Scott released her album of Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds Vol. 2. Jill Scott's song of Cross My Mind caused her to win her first Grammy Award for the Best Urban/Alternative Performance category in 2005. Her album was released in America on August 31, 2004. One of her greatest songs on the album was the song Golden. Anita Baker released her album of My Everything on September 7, 2004. Her songs like You're My Everything and How Does it Feel outline her classic, soulful voice. She worked with producers like Barry J. Eastmond, George Duke, and Babyface. Beyonce's song of Me, Myself, and I was huge on the charts in 2005 too. Other R&B and soul singers who made music in the year were Ashanti, Eamon, Jamelia, Jennifer Lopez, Mario (with Let Me Love You), etc. Brandy released her 4th album of Afrodisiac on June 28, 2004. She worked with Timbaland, Candice Nelson ,and Kanye West on that album. Her songs like Talk About Our Love, Who is She 2 U, and Afrodisiac personified the Brandy sound. The album used hip hop sounds, experimental sounds, and was one predecessor to alternative R&B (that is commonly shown in the 2020s). Nivea made the song of Okay with Lil Jon and YoungBloodz. John Legend had his album of Get Lifted in 2004 too. The end of 2004 saw talent flourish.
The year of 2005 involving R&B music was the time of huge comebacks by legends of R&B. During the early part of 2005, the singer Mario had the song of Let Me Love You being high on the music charts. The singer Olivia worked with G Unit in music. One of the most popular songs of 2005 was Amerie's 1 Thing. The vocals, beats, and melodies of the song was magnificent from Amerie (who is from the DMV area). Amerie is one of the greatest R&B singers of the 21st century without question. The song was influenced by go-go rhythms and a sample of Meters' 1970 funk song of Oh, Calcutta! The song was from the soundtrack of the film Hitch. The remix had the rapper Eve on it. Amerie's singing ability on that song was great. It was her most commercially successful song. In the year of 2005, Bobby Valentino had the son of Slow Down. Ciara had the duet with Bow Wow called Like You as both of them dated in real life for a time. Gold Digger was a song with Kanye West and Jamie Foxx. Akon using music singing with Young Jezzy on the record Soul Survivor. Chris Brown debuted in 2005 with the song Run It. Chris Brown was born in Tappanhannock, Virginia. He was in the church choir and his debut album was in 2005 where it was double platinum. Chris Brown is a great entertainer, controversial, and there are many things that I don't agree with him on. Yet, this is history, and you have to record all R&B history filled with objectivity. Chris Brown said that he has been influenced by Michael Jackson, Usher, Marvin Gaye, New Edition, etc. One artist with a great comeback was Mary J. Blige with her album called The Breakthrough. It was released on December 20, 2005. Immediately, the album was well liked. It was probably the greatest album of Mary J. Blige of the 21st century. Songs like One, Be Without You, Take Me as I am, MJB da MVP, etc. are classics. She worked with all star group of songwriters and producers like 9th Wonder, Rodney Jerkins, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Bryan-Michael Cox, JUSTICE League, Raphael Saadiq, Chucky Thompson, Cool & Dre, Ron Fair, and will.i.am. The Breakthrough debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. It sold about 3,100,000 copies. The album showed her R&B and hip hop style. The song Be Without You won Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B song, and the album The Breakthrough won the category of Best R&B Album. Mariah Carey made an outstanding comeback with her 2005 album of The Emancipation of Mimi. It was released on April 12, 2005. She continued her legacy as one of the greatest singers of all time with that album. She worked with hip hop artists too like Snoop, Twista, Nelly, Pharrell Williams, etc. She also worked with Jermaine Dupri and James Wright. Songs like It's Like That, We Belong Together, Shake It Off, Get Your Number, Fly Like a Bird, and Say Somethin' were powerful. It debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 selling over 404,000 copies in its first week. The Emancipation of Mimi sold over 10 million copies worldwide. We Belong Together was at number one in America for 14 weeks. Mariah Carey proved to the world that she still had it. Mariah Carey won many awards for the album like Garmmys, Soul Train Awards, and a Vibe Award. In 2005, Mario promoted his music of Let Me Love You, Bobby Valentino had the song of Tell Me, Keyshia Cole had the song of Love, John Legend had Ordinary People, Fantasia had Free Yourself, and Omarion released his album of O. Faith Evans released her album of First Lady on April 5, 2005. She wanted move forward after having a long career with Bad Boy records. The Neptunes, Mario Winans, Chucky Thompson, and others worked on her album too. Kem released his album of Album II. Alicia Keys had Unplugged. Keyshia Cole had her debut solo album of The Way It Is in 2005 too. She is from Oakland, California. When she was young, she talked with the late Tupac Shakur. She worked with artists like Jadakiss, Eve, Kanye West, and others. The album described romance and love in complex terms. Singles like I Changed My Mind, I Just Want It to be over, Love, etc. have themes that women relate too. Many people compare her to Mary J. Blige when Cole first came out. Keyshia Cole represents the new generation of R&B artists with new school and old school flavor that has motivated future artists as well.
Hip Hop in 2012 was an age of transition. After 2012, it came 2013. Hip Hop in 2013 saw the growth of mumble rap, soundcloud rap, and similar genres. In January of 2013, TI completed his 10 year contract with Atlantic Records. On January 20, 2013, Lupe Fiasco was removed form the stage by security after criticizing Obama's foreign policies (in dealing with drone strikes, wars, etc.) in Washington, D.C. during Obama's 2nd Presidential inauguration. Rick Ross survived a murder attempt when he crashed his car in Fort Lauderdale. Jay Z signed Timabland to Roc Nation. Vado signed with Dj Khaled's We the Best Music Group Label. By February 2013, Drake won his first Grammy Award forBest Rap Album for Take Care. Jay Z and Kanye West took three Grammy each, 2 for the song N____ in Paris and for No Church in the Wild. On February 18, 2013, Kollegah and Farid Bang topped the German album charts with their collabo album Jung, brutal, gutaussehend 2 selling 80,000 copies in the release week. It is the highest number for a hip-hop album in Germany for the last five years. According to Billboard, Jay-Z and his Roc Nation imprint signed a “worldwide publishing administration deals with Warner/Chappell Music,” giving Jay-Z the rights back to his music post-Def Jam (The Blueprint 3, Watch The Throne) as well as future works, with most of his older catalog moving to the Warner umbrella within the year. A separate deal will put the past and future catalogs of Roc Nation's stable of artists on the publisher's roster immediately, including songwriters Philip Lawrence (Bruno Mars, Flo Rida, Cee-Lo Green), S1 (Kanye West, Beyoncé, 50 Cent), Carmen Key (Flo Rida, David Guetta), and British singer Rita Ora, among others. On March 1, 2013, former No Limit Records rapper Mr. Magic and his wife were killed in a car accident in Mississippi, their daughter who was with them at the time survived the crash. Magic was 37 years old at the time of his death. On March 2013, Method Man announced on stage that the Wu-Tang Clan are working on a sixth studio album, that will be released this year to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of their debut album, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). Cleveland Rapper Machine Gun Kelly took home the 2013 MtvU "Woodie of the Year" award at the 2013 MTV Woodie Awards. 2013 is the year when drill rappers like Chief Keef were very popular. On April 2013, Tyler, The Creator released his 3rd studio album Wolf (Tyler, the Creator album). On May 1, 2013, Chris Kelly of hip hop duo Kris Kross died at the age of 34. On June 14, 2013, Kanye West's Yeezus leaked online in its entirety. It was the last of the June 18 album releases to leak as Born Sinner and Mac Miller's Watching Movies with the Sound Off had leaked earlier in the month. Yeezus would be Kanye West's most controversial and debated album. It was in total left field on what people expected. At first, many people criticized it, but as time went on, people understood what Kanye West was trying to do. He was experimenting with songs, showing his political and social messages (along with showing his ego), and used a lot of rock influences on it too. Blood on the Leaves was one of Yeezus' most famous songs being similar to Billie Holiday's Strange Fruit song. The album was debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 with 327,000 copies. Yeezus dealt with issues of religion, romance, love, heartbreak, and many facets of his life. On June 22, Drake released four new songs, and announced the release date for his third album Nothing Was the Same. On August 13, Big Sean released a leftover track from his sophomore album Hall of Fame, "Control" which features Kendrick Lamar and Jay Electronica. Kendrick's verse caused controversy as he "called out" J. Cole, Big K.R.I.T., Wale, Pusha T, Meek Mill, A$AP Rocky, Drake, Big Sean, Jay Electronica, Tyler, the Creator, and Mac Miller and called himself the "King of New York." Many rappers took offense to the lines without even being mentioned by name. Rappers including Lupe Fiasco, Papoose, Joell Ortiz, Cassidy, Joe Budden, A$AP Ferg, J.R. Writer, Mickey Factz, Mysonne, Bizarre, and Fred the Godson all released a response or a diss song within a week. On September 26, 2013, Chicago drill rapper LA Capone was shot to death after leaving a recording studio. On October 8, Nipsey Hussle released his mixtape Crenshaw for free online, and in a limited 1,000 physical copies for $100 each. He sold out all the copies earning over 100,000 dollars in one day. On November 7, Eminem became the first artist since The Beatles, to be the lead artist with four songs in the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100 during the same week ("The Monster" at #3, "Berzerk" at #15, "Survival" at #16, "Rap God" at #17). On December 20, Three 6 Mafia member and DJ Paul's brother Lord Infamous died from a heart attack. In 2013, old school artists released albums like MC Eith, DJ Muggs, Sole, LL Cool J, and Brother Ali. It was also the time when new artists started to show their music like Angel Haze, ASAP Rocky, Blu, Sho Baraka, ASAP Ferg, Earl Sweatshirt, Big Sean, Drake, Mac Miller, etc.
Finally, we have a new President and Vice President of the United States of America in early 2021. History has been made among many things during this time. We live in an era unlike any era since the 1960's and the American Civil War. Trump incited a failed coup d'etat against the United States government when mobs of mostly white terrorists stormed the U.S. Capitol building. Also, Trump sought the Justice Department intervention to hijack and invalidate the 2020 U.S. election. There is the pandemic killing over 400,000 Americans and infecting over 20 million Americans. Crisis is real. President Joe Bide and Vice President Kamala Harris has been voted by the majority of American voters. The previous President is one of the worst Presidents in American history. The current President Joe Biden is in a stage of American history where moderation is not enough. A bold vision and bold, progressive policies are necessary in enriching the lives of Americans. Biden and Harris have differences. Both are born in opposite coasts, both have different careers, and both ran against each other during the Democratic Presidential primary. Yet, they are certainly similar in being both Democrats, both winning the 2020 Presidential election, and both being part of history. Kamala Harris being the first black woman and first South Asian woman being Vice President is a monumental achievement, and Kamala acknowledges how Shirley Chisholm and so many other Sisters laid a foundation for her. Biden's challenge is that how to navigate a polarized political world in America. Will Biden's ultimate legacy as President be progressive or a typical, compromising neoliberal moderate? Time will tell. What is important is that we will be objective towards him. When Biden is right (as he is right to promote the Paris Climate Accords, restarting DACA, and promoting the act of targeting white racist terrorist groups), we will note that. If Biden is wrong on issues, then we will make that known too. Biden and Harris should have the opportunity to enact their policies, and we have the right to analyze their policies fairly with objectivity too. Some of the far right conservatives and Hoteps are angry that Trump lost. Some Hoteps even want to blame black people (in using anti-black words) for mostly voting for Biden, but Trump is a notorious racist and sexist. Trump (who wanted to overthrow the results of a legal election in 2020) made a terrible response to handle the pandemic, unemployment is higher at the end of Trump's Presidency than during the beginning, the deficit increased during the Trump era, and we know about Trump's numerous destructive policies. The Biden/Harris administration has to deal with the issues of racial equity, police brutality, domestic terrorism, the environment, women's issues, immigration, the economy, issues important to African Americans (as black people more so than any demographic voted Biden/Harris into office. Black Americans are entitled to have our interests respected and carried out point blank period), the pandemic, and other matters. Any human being should always oppose imperialism, as the military industrial complex has been very destructive in this world. It has been 160 yeas since the start of the Lincoln Presidency, and we have a massive amount of healing that should take place. Yet, healing must exist along with justice and accountability. Those, who were involved in the January 6, 2021 insurrection and treason against our democracy, must be held into account. The start of the Biden Presidency is made up of the good news that Trump is not in office, but we have to use vigilance and independent, progressive political thinking in dealing with the years of 2021 and beyond.
The 2021 Inauguration of Joseph Biden and Kamala Harris outline a new historic epoch of the history of the United States of America. News coverage of the 2021 Inauguration existed since the early morning of January 20, 2021. At a little after 8 am., Trump left the White House to leave to go into Florida. He gave final remarks at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. The whole vicinity of downtown Washington, D.C. was on military lockdown. Law enforcement snipers were on top of buildings, and about 25,000 National Guard troops were around the U.S. Capitol area. The Washington Monument was closed because of threats from domestic terrorists. Metal detectors are in the doors of the Capitol building. People were required to go through checkpoints and wear a mask during the inauguration too. Jimmy Carter didn't attend because of health concerns. Congressional leaders and former Presidents (along with their wives) of Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama came into the inauguration. Lady Gaga gave an emotional rendition of the national anthem. Jennifer Lopez sang the songs of This Land is Our Land and America, the Beautiful. She said some of the Pledge of Allegiance in Spanish. Kamala Harris was soon sworn in as the first woman, the first African American, and the first South Asian American Vice President of the United States of America. Kamala Harris sworn the oath on the Bible, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor read the oath, and Harris' husband Doug Emhoff held onto the Bible. Then, Joe Biden sworn on the Bible as the 46th President of the Untied States of America by Chief Justice John Roberts. The 59th Presidential inauguration was unlike any other inauguration. Joe Biden's first Inauguration speech wasn't overly bombastic. It was straight up about unity, fighting white racism, and healing the nation. The speech was transparent. Biden's desire to make a more united America. A believe in unity but not in a fake unity. Unity must be bounded under justice and righteousness. Garth Brooks sang Amazing Grace. One of the most exciting, eloquent speech was made by the Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman. She read a poem that promoted unity, but she acknowledged the long road ahead. She made known that the evils in America have no justification, and we must defeat racism and any oppression in creating a better future. Amanda Groman is a superbly outstanding speaker and a real leader of our future. Biden alluded to the challenge and capacity of America solving problems by evoking the U.S. Civil War, the Great Depression, World Wars, and 9/11. Joe Biden criticized nativism, white supremacy, etc. as these evils are in violation of the words of the Declaration of Independence which states that all people are created equal. Then, Joe Biden, Jill Biden, Kamala Harris, and Doug Emhoff attended many official inauguration ceremonies in Washington, D.C. on a cold Wednesday. The Virtual Parade Across America shown the diversity and strength of the American people. Vice President Kamala Harris swore in the Senators Jon Ossoff, Raphael Warnock, and Alex Padilla. Biden and Harris lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. The Inaugural parade procession included the U.S. military bands and drumline bands from Biden plus Harris's alma marters from Howard University and the University of Delaware.
The director of the Virtual Parade was hosted by actor Tony Goldwyn. Comedian Jon Stewart, singers Audra Day and Nile Rodgers, and Kathy Sledge were part of the festivals. Others include famous Olympians Nathan Chen, Allyson Felix, and Katie Ledecky. The Celebrating America Special was hosted by Tom Hanks at night in the freezing cold. Kamala Harris gave a speech celebrating America. Biden gave his speech too. Bruce Springsteen sang the song of Land of Hope and Dreams on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Many people recited lines of the inaugural addresses of Presidents Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, and Ronald Reagan. Their names are Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Delores Huerta, Brayden Harrington, and Kim Ng. Their speeches desired national unity, peace, and patriotism. The celebration acknowledged workers who helped save lives too. Yo-Ya Ma, Ant Clemns, Justin Timberlake, and Foo Fighters shown music. John Legend performed his rendition of Feeling Good on the Lincoln Memorial. Sandra Lindsay or the nurse, who is the first U.S. citizen to receive the Pfizer vaccine, introduced singers Tyler Hubbard and Tim McGraw in performing Undivided on a Nashville rooftop. At the end, there was Katy Perry showing her song of Fireworks with a massive fireworks show over the Washington Monument. Biden, Harris,and their spouses celebrated the view. Biden and Harris watched the fireworks from the White House. Almost 40 million people watched the Biden's address. More than 21 million people watched the prime time Celebrating America special. Political leaders globally have celebrated the victory of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
Kwame Ture's early life was very eventful. He was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. True attended Tranquility School before moving to Harlem, New York City in 1952. He was 11 years old. Kwame Ture's parents immigrated to America when he was 2. He was raised by his grandmother and 2 aunts. He had 3 sisters. His mother was Mabel R. Carmichael, and she was a stewardess for a steamship line. His father, Adolphus, was a carpenter who also worked as a taxi driver. His family left Harlem to live in Van Nest in the East Bronx. Back then, it was an area mostly made up of Jewish and Italian immigrants including their descendants. He gave a 1967 interview to Life Magazine that he was the only black member of the Morris Park Dukes or a youth gang involved in alcohol and petty theft. Kwame Ture and his family were members of the Westchester United Methodist Church. He attended the Bronx High School of Science in NYC. He was known for his high achievement on its standardized entrance examination. Ture boycotted a local White Castle restaurant that didn't hire black people. On student recognition Sunday at his church, Kwame Ture gave an eye opening student sermon to the almost white congregation. He worked with the fellow Bronx Science student Samuel R. Delany in his high school. He graduated from high school in 1960. Then, Kwame Ture attended the historically black University of Howard University at Washington, DC. His professors were great scholars like Sterling Brown, Nathan Hare, and Toni Morrison. Toni Morrison was the late legend who was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature. Kwame Ture and Tom Kahn (the Jewish American student and fellow civil rights activist) helped to fund a 5 day run of Three Penny Opera by Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill. Kwame Ture organized many activist classmates to fight for civil rights. Kwame Ture graduated in 1964 from Howard University with a degree in philosophy. At Howard University, he joined NAG, the Nonviolent Action Group, the Howard campus affiliate of SNCC (or the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee). Kahn introduced Ture to people like Bayard Rustin. Kwame Ture was inspired by the young sit-in movement in the southern Untied States. Later, he became even more active in the overall Civil Rights Movement.
Janet Jackson's 1993 album of Janet was her 5th studio album. It was her most underrated album. It had songs about love, romance, politics (with a feature from Chuck D on the song New Agenda), and a range to diverse topics. It had classic after classic songs like That's the Way Loves Goes, If, Again, Because of Love, Any Time, Any Place, What I'll Do, etc. Janet was a work of art using R&B, pop, opera, house, jazz, hip hop, etc. The theme of her album in 1993 was about the complex nature of love. Love is about togetherness, fun, joy, intimacy, and the human heart. Her lyrics dealt with a woman's perspective of sexuality. Janet Jackson said in 1993 that sex is a joyful, celebratory process, and it is about feeling free. It was her first album where it debuted at number one selling 350,000 copies in its first week. It became certified sixfold platinum, it sold over 7 million in America, and 14 million copies worldwide. The MTV-sponsored Janet World Tour supported the album. Janet toured the world from London, Paris, etc. The album of Janet extended her legendary career into new heights and made her the international icon and sex symbol of the 1990's. Janet Jackson was already the icon in 1993. The album of Janet just put the stamp on her iconic reality. The 1994 Grammys saw Janet Jackson received an award for Best R&B Song of the Year, she won Soul Train Music Awards in 1994 for If, and she had other accolades for the album Janet.
It is always important to celebrate and analyze the lives of our heroes, especially our late heroes. He was a man who was trailblazer and a bridge figure. What I mean by the phrase of bridge figure is that Kwame Ture was part of both the Civil Rights Movement and the Black Power Movement. He was also a leader of the expansive Pan-African Movement too. This year is the 70th year anniversary of Kwame Ture's birth. Kwame Ture wanted to bridge the gap among freedom fighters in order for black liberation to be accomplished. Those diverse movements shaped his ideologies throughout the duration of his life. Born in Trinidad, his life represents the power of black heroic activism. We always salute the Afro-Caribbean community for its love of truth and justice. Kwame Ture was raised in New York City, so he saw racism and capitalistic exploitation first hand. Later, he graduated from the HBCU of Howard University (with its strong legacy and link to the black struggle), and Kwame Ture joined SNCC by the early 1960's. Kwame Ture was jailed, beaten, cursed at, and heavily mistreated by white racists. Yet, those evils never crushed his spirit. He continued onward with joy, zeal, and passion to advocate for our liberation. That is why he promoted Black Power as a positive means for black people to control their own community and autonomy (in being an independent political and economic force). Ture traveled all over Africa in order to oppose Western imperialism in any of it manifestations. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was his mentor. Though, they disagreed with each other on some issues, they were well known friends and allies of the journey for justice. Dr. King and Kwame Ture both agreed with opposing the Vietnam War 100%. Both Dr. King and Kwame Ture issued critiques of the system of capitalism in strong terms. Ture temporarily worked with the Black Panthers and later worked to promote Pan-African unity to the day of his passing. His contributions to the black freedom struggle were monumental. Kwame Ture told the truth that we, who are black people, are ultimately Africans regardless of where we were born at. Ture saw the strength of black people and viewed non violence as a tactic not as a way of life (as he believed in self-defense). Kwame Ture was a great social activist who believed in true justice.
By Timothy
Saturday, January 23, 2021
The Music Industry
Friday, January 22, 2021
My Genealogy Part 4 (2021 Updates)
https://truthseeker241212365.blogspot.com/2021/01/my-genealogy-part-4-2021-updates.html
Note by Me: This fourth part of my genealogical research deals with a lot of new information that I found about my ancestors and current relatives. It shows that my family tree resides in the four corners of the world, and it has new information that very few know about. You can click on the link above to discover these truths.
Enjoy.
By Timothy
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris and the new era of American history.
This day proves that dreams with action can work to achieve monumental accomplishments. This year is 160 years after Abraham Lincoln's start of his Presidency. 160 years later, we witness long divisions and a necessary healing that ought to exist. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris has worked as a team to be victors of the 2020 election. Also, tons of black people including black women worked hard to register voters, to fight for voting rights, and to use concrete, thorough organization in making this day possible. This is a new start and a new era of our American story. We are part of America too. To heal means that justice and accountability ought to exist. The overall structure of society must be transformed to benefit the people collectively. The parades, the music from Lady Gaga, J. Lo, Garth Brooks,John Legend, Katy Perry, and other people outline how much a changing America is. President Joe Biden's inaugural speech detailed his called for unity, engage in the other side constructively, fighting racial injustice, and promoting real change. The speech called out white supremacy as evil and nefarious. Today, Biden signed his first executive orders to mandate masks and social distancing on federal lands (and interstate travel), to join the Paris Climate Accords, and to promote racial justice in many fields of American life. These orders reversed Trump's previous policies. Joe Biden took his oath by Supreme Court Justice Roberts.
A lot of people have breathed a sign of relief with a new President and the new Vice President Kamala Harris (who is the first black woman and the first South Asian woman Vice President in the history of the United States of America. Kamala Harris took her swearing in by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor). This new era will not be easy. There will be challenges along the way, but the Biden/Harris team will show much more tolerance and a fierce determination to make America better. Biden will soon swear in his new staff. This new Presidency doesn't mean that we stay complacent. Maintaining our independent thinking is always important. In other words, when Biden is right, we should recognize that. If he's wrong, we should call him out on it (as folks like Linsday Graham are hilarious to assume that Biden is far left. Biden is a moderate neo-liberal person, especially on foreign policy). Preserving the essence of an independent, progressive views on society will make a huge difference in enriching our clear intention of desiring human liberation. We await the future developments of what will happen in the world along with us believing in justice for all in our hearts.
After 40 years of the Reagan Revolution, that Revolution is officially over. We witness a new time in our lives. Now, President Joe Biden has issued his plan to combat the pandemic. He wants a goal of 100 vaccinations in the first 100 days of his Presidency. He has signed an executive order to mandate mask wearing on federal property and in interstate travel. Biden desires to take a wartime footing in its response. He is working with Dr. Fauci in his plans. On January 21, 2020, Biden has signed 10 new executive orders, memorandums, and directives on tackling the virus. Part of his executive orders is dealing with ramping up supplies for vaccination, testing, and personal protective equipment including therapeutics to handle the situation. Biden's cabinet members still have to be confirmed. Hawley is still in Congress trying to obstruct the confirmation of cabinet members. Biden wants the federal government to have a prominent role in working with the state and local governments in solving the problem. Biden wants FEMA to advance community vaccination centers.
One of the last acts of the Trump regime is that Trump pardons Bannon and grants clemency to reactionaries and other criminals. People know who Steve Bannon is what he is all about. Many of those pardons went to people with low level drug and weapons offenses like Lil Wayne. I have no problem with Lil Wayne, Kwame Kilpatrick, Harry-O, and others being pardoned (others in my views don't deserve a pardon). Others are sent to convicted felons. Trump is a private citizen now. So, he could face many lawsuits, civil, and even criminal charges. Stephen Bannon is known for being an ultranationalist, anti-immigrant, anti-Chinese, and pseudo-populist. He is known for pitting American workers against workers in Mexico and other places of the world. Bannon had contact with Trump after the 2020 election along with the White House advisor Stephen Miller. Bannon was convicted of financial corruption. While Trump has pardoned war criminals, swindlers, cheaters, an convicted felons, Julian Assange and Edward Swonden are not pardoned.
She is America’s first national Youth Poet Laureate who spoke her words on the January 20, 2021 Inauguration of Joseph Biden and Kamala Harris. Her name is Amanda Gorman (born 1998). She is from Los Angeles, California. Her words are definitely similar to the words from Maya Angelou back during the 1993 Inauguration where Maya Angelou gave her speech during the Clinton era. Amanda Gorman represents the best of the current generation.
By Timothy
Wednesday, January 20, 2021
The Start of the Joe Biden and Kamala Harris Presidency.
Today is a new day. On this day, Joseph Biden is President, and Kamala Harris is Vice President. This new era of our time is historic. We have witnessed political tensions, racial injustice, economic inequality, and a powerful pandemic which has ruins so many lives unparalleled in our history. I have lived on this Earth for almost 40 years, and I haven't seen anything like this in my lifetime. We haven't seen so much overt tension in American society since the days of the 1960's and the American Civil War. 160 years after the first Presidency of Abraham Lincoln providentially makes us realize that this time is a clear opportunity for us to heal our wounds. Healing our wounds has nothing to do with compromising to the status quo as the moderates desire. Healing wounds means that accountability and justice are always part of the equation. You can't make a solution without realizing our history. American history is not all peaches and cream. Many people in early America used genocide and the enslavement of black people as the backdrop of their power which is wrong. Likewise, many Americans centuries ago earnestly fought against slavery, racism, sexism, xenophobia, and other evils in our world. Trump pardoned Steve Bannon and others like Lil Wayne, Harry O, Detroit former mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, Kodak Black, etc. On a little after 8 am., Trump has left the White House. Trump has said that he wished the best for Biden in a surprising speech. Now, we can move on to a new period of our American story. Joe Biden has to do with more troubles than even in 2009 because of the economic problems, the pandemic, and the increased political polarization in our world. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris outlines a transition from overt bigotry to uncharted territories. Biden could be a FDR, a Clinton, or a Carter. We just don't know yet. Biden is entitled to be allowed to see what he will do. After 100 days, we have the right to evaluate and critique his strengths and weaknesses, Kamala Harris is the first woman Vice President and the first black American plus the first South Asian American Vice President in American history. The flag lightening up in the Washington Monument area was certainly an inspiring sight to see. After McConnell publicly blaming Trump for the Capitol riot (as McConnell knows that as time goes on, evidence against Trump would only go up. The conviction of Trump will be easier as time goes on. McConnell wants power as corporations are restricting funding from GOP members who voted to try to subvert the election results). Biden has his work cut out for him as the 46th President of the United States of America. Yet, I do believe that Biden will have a much more better Presidency than Trump, because his cabinet and advisors are much more progressive than Biden is. That cabinet and his advisors are key in influencing him to go sail in the right waters.
People know about the legacy of Donald Trump as President. From the start of his campaign, he promoted racism, xenophobia, and sexism. When he came down the escalator, he called many Mexicans rapists and disease carriers. He came about to say that he would grab women by their personal areas. Trump went out to mock black people by calling black Congress people low IQ and go back where you came from. He has defended Confederate statues, and Trump has promoted the lie that he won the 2020 election. When the events of Charlottesville came out, he said that good people were on both sides. Trump has gone out of his way to try to eliminate mail in voting, and he personally called on Russia to try to manipulate the 2016 election. At the end of his disgraceful Presidency, Donald Trump incited people to go to the Congress to attempt to overthrow the legal certification of Biden being made President of the United States. The mob said that Trump sent them there. They broke windows, harmed the police (yet, these hypocrites lecture us black folks on "blue lives matter"), relieved themselves on the floors of the Capitol being disgusting terrorists, and mocked democracy. Therefore, Trump is a coward who refused to acknowledge his loss, and he refuses to be at the 2021 inauguration. So, we will move on with a Biden/Harris Presidency.
On this eve of a new President, we have seen a memorial to remember the over 400,000 lives lost of Americans due to the pandemic. Joseph Biden and Kamala Biden gave brief, eloquent speeches about honoring the lives lost and fighting for a better, unified future. Biden has promise to sign executive orders to be part of the Paris climate agreement, to end the Muslim ban, ending the Keystone pipeline, and other legitimate, progressive policies. Trump leaves office with the lowest approval ratings in history. We are all glad that Trump is a one term President. Now, we have to continue the work to rebuild America. This rebuilding deals with the pandemic, the economic situation, the environment, and forming racial justice. Trump's incitement of violence at the U.S. Capitol (which was built heavily by enslaved human beings) shows what total evil represents. History being made by a new President and Vice President should inspire us all to follow the Golden Rule always. Even after voter suppression efforts and other evil tactics, most of Americans voted for Biden to be the next President of the United States of America. A far right nationalist racist demagogue is finally out of office. We should be thankful of that, but we should continue to thrive to establish a better future for all. Right now, the cabinet of Biden are having hearings in the Congress.
Days ago was the Birthday of a late legend. He was the man who inspired black youth to affirm their Blackness and view themselves as great. He is the late Brother Muhammad Ali. He was born in the Southern city of Louisville, Kentucky. He saw racism first hand as young person. Later, he used his influence to earnestly fight it. He gave speeches to stand up for black self-determination. Also, Muhammad Ali was the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time. He defeated Sonny Liston, Frazier, Foreman, and other legends. Not to mention that he loved his children including the retired boxer Laila Ali. He opposed the Vietnam War and sacrificed his riches in standing up for his anti-war convictions. He disagreed with the Vietnam War, because he felt that the civil war in Vietnam has nothing to do with giving freedom to black people. Ali said that the Vietnamese people never lynched us, raped our ancestors, deprived us of freedom, justice, and equality, etc.
He returned to the ring and fought. Even with Parkinson's, Ali stood up against poverty and injustice. He lit the flame during the 1996 Olympic Games at Atlanta, Georgia. He condemned Osama bin Laden as not representative of every Muslim after 9/11, and he continued to speak out with his voice. Muhammad Ali passed away in 2016. His legend lives on, and his words continue to inspire us. He was rapping before modern day hip hop was born. Ali gave confidence to the oppressed, and he became a much more better man as time continued.
Rest in Power Brother Muhammad Ali.
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By Timothy
Monday, January 18, 2021
News on the Insurrection at the U.S. Capitol
https://news.yahoo.com/care-worker-charged-capitol-riots-181858029.html
https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/17/politics/capitol-riot-latest-charged-army-reservist/index.html
https://news.yahoo.com/congresswomans-spokesman-quits-less-2-002902786.html
https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/18/politics/hogan-gidley-trump-january-6/index.html
https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/18/us/martin-luther-king-jr-mlk-son/index.html
https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/18/opinions/hbcu-alumni-political-leaders-america/index.html
The Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (in 2021)
It has been over 50 years since his passing, but his words inspire all of us today. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a Baptist clergymen, a leader, a father, and a heroic man who wanted to use love as a means to fight injustice. His gift for our people and for all human beings is that he articulated the concept of love and nonviolence in a way that inspired massive social change. Universities, parades, and everyday people honor his contributions to our society. Dr. King and so many unsung heroes (from Ella Baker to Septima Clark) sacrificed their lives to make the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 1965 Voting Rights Act to exist in the United States of America. These monumental laws represented the courage of black people. Black people are never cowards. We fought for our rights for thousands of years. On this federal holiday, we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s life and legacy. He was born in Atlanta, Georgia whose father was a prominent preacher. Many of his relatives were preachers too. As a child, Dr. King loved his family, played basketball, and excelled in school. He came into college when he was 15 years old. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. always possessed exceptional intelligence. He earned his doctorate later on. Focus on studying diverse philosophies (Dr. King researched the works of Niebuhr, Tillich, and Wieman), he embraced the social gospel. The social gospel is the view that Christians should both preach the gospel to save souls and use action in changing America politically. Dr. King desired the liberation of all human beings. He loved Coretta Scott King as his wife. Marrying a wife is always a blessing as the insights of woman are always sacrosanct. Many people don't know that Coretta Scott King was anti-imperialist, fought for civil rights, and was very progressive early. In fact, Coretta Scott King spoke out against the Vietnam War in public in a more courageous way before Dr. King did. Dr. King studied progressive theologians and political scholars. Also, Dr. King was always a lover of socialism as he was a democratic socialist. Dr. Martin Luther King rejected Communism for its ethical relativism, but he critiqued capitalism as losing its usefulness being not radical enough to address the needs of the poor including the oppressed.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. started his preaching heavily in Montgomery, Alabama. Soon, events would call him to do more than preaching. Rosa Parks, Claudette Clovin, and others were arrested for refusing to get on the back of the bus. Jim Crow apartheid harmed black people emotionally, physically, and psychologically. The racist power structure wanted the status quo, but black people stood up in a boycott in order for change to come. Leaders choose Dr. King to be part of the Montgomery boycott, because Dr. King was a younger man back then not bound to the black bourgeoisie establishment. In fact, Dr. King (like Malcolm X) criticized the black middle class bourgeoisie in strong terms for their compliance in the midst of tyranny. The boycott was successful, and Dr. King's house was bombed by racist terrorists. Dr. King once owned a gun to protect his house. He gave it away under the advise of Bayard Rustin. The truth is that there is nothing wrong with nonviolence or self-defense. Later, Dr. King helped to expand SCLC (or the Southern Christian Leadership Council) nationwide. The movement for civil rights is diverse. You have the more progressive faction wanting civil disobedience like SNCC and CORE ( CORE would be conservative by the late 1960's and early 1970's). You had the conservative, moderate faction that wanted to use the courts or the system itself to make equality like the NAACP and the Urban League. Then, you have those who were center-left who wanted change with nonviolence militantly shown like SCLC (Dr. King was a progressive and would be even more progressive by the 1960's). Dr. King's journey had ups and downs. He would be stabbed by a mentally deranged woman. He would be beaten by racists. He would be illegally monitored by the FBI for years. Dr. King had his imperfections. I make no excuses for his imperfections, but all humans are sinners (and via repentance and change, we can be better human beings). By the late 1950's, Dr. King gave a Civil Rights speech at Washington, D.C. The early 1960's s aw sit-ins, Freedom Rides, a new generation of activists and the rise of SNCC. Dr. King welcomed these developments.
Dr. King worked with JFK. They had a disagreement. President Kennedy wanted equality for black people to exist primarily by the courts and legislation without massive demonstrations in the streets. He said so in his speeches. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wanted both equality via legislation and by nonviolent resistance (even in civil disobedience). The Kennedy administration was light years ahead of Eisenhower in terms of civil rights, but even the Kennedy administration had to be pushed to be more militant by civil rights legends. Dr. King didn't have a victory in the Albany, Georgia movement of 1962, but he had more success in 1963. He worked hard to learn lessons. He worked with people more, and he fought for justice in Birmingham, Alabama. This time wasn't without tragedy. 4 little girls were killed by terrorists in the Birmingham Baptist Church. The girls just wanted to worship God in their own way. Dr. King rightfully blamed the terrorists and those who were lukewarm for their deaths. Dr. King was a leader among others in the March on Washington Movement. He gave out his eloquent dream for justice. Then, he received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 at Norway. Activists among many colors inspired Congress to pass the 1964 Civil Right Act. It was a great victory in the long battle for justice. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. worked in many places to fight for voting rights. As early as 1964, civil rights leaders debated on what to do next. By this time, rebellions existed in cities like Philadelphia, New York City, etc. With the voting, political power can expands, so Dr. King came into Selma to fight for voting rights. The Selma Voting Rights movement had many leaders found in the Dallas County Voting League, etc. By this time, Kwame Ture worked with Dr. King as a friend and fellow activist. The Selma movement had hardships. Many people died and Bloody Sunday was when the police brutally attacked peaceful mostly black protesters in Alabama. This caused more of the country to ally with the cause of voting rights. LBJ signed the law in 1965 making the Voting Rights Act real. Then, an expansion of new black political leaders rose up across America. The Watts rebellion happened immediately after the law was passed during the summer of 1965. LBJ was confused on why it happened, but black folks knew why. For years, black people in Los Angeles were victims of racism, economic exploitation, police brutality, and other injustices. One incident with the police caused the fuel to lit the rebellion. Dr. King and others immediately came to Los Angeles to hear concerns, empathize, and show solidarity with people. He was booed there which was rare for black people to boo him. Dr. King was hurt, but he knew why. Dr. King later said that the victories found in new legislation was not enough. You need to re-order society structurally in order to comprehensively address economic inequality and racial injustice. Dr. King said that a radical redistribution of economic and political power must be made to liberate black human beings (who are victims of colonialism in America).
Dr. King in 1965 toured places to fight for change. By this time, Malcolm X was assassinated. While others slandered Malcolm X's named and lied about his views (even some black so-called nationalists lied about Malcolm X's views), Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave sincere condolences to his family and friends. In fact, Dr. King and Malcolm X shook hands and were willing to work together in desiring freedom for black people. Dr. King saw Malcolm X's point that self-determination and militantly affirming one's Blackness was psychologically enriching. Malcolm X saw that international cooperation and the weakness of capitalism were clear. Both men opposed the Vietnam War. By 1966, Dr. King worked in Milwaukee, and other places. He also protested in Chicago. Chicago was complex, because Chicago didn't have legalized apartheid. Yet, racism, discrimination, police brutality, and economic oppression were found in Chicago. Chicago then and now is more segregated than some southern cities. Dr. King said that white racism in Chicago was more vicious overtly than many places in the South. In Chicago, Richard Daley and many pro-Daley black clergymen wanted Dr. King to go away. Yet, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. lived in an apartment in Chicago to confront housing discrimination. He wanted to end slums, to confront housing discrimination, and to change Chicago. Dr. King had a mixed result as there was an agreement, but no radical change came. Dr. King also was hit in the head by a rock. Kwame Ture promoted Black Power in 1966 at Mississippi after the shooting of James Meredith. Dr. King took a nuisance perspective about the concept of Black Power. To Kwame Ture, Black Power was about black people determining their destinies in owning their own political and economic institutions. To him, Black Power was about black independence. Dr. King believed in building black economic and political power, but he rejected separatism. Dr. King and Kwame Ture would continue to be friends despite their disagreements. At this time, the progressive side of the Black Power movement would created the Black Panther Party for Self Defense. They believed in socialism, they opposed imperialism, and they believed in confronting police brutality. By the end of 1966, Dr. King didn't spoke out a lot about the Vietnam War. Morally, he was always opposed to it, but he wanted to have favor with LBJ on civil rights issues. This would change by January 1967 when he saw napalmed children on the cover of the magazine. From that time onward, he fought against the evil Vietnam War much more strongly.
Dr. King opposed the Vietnam War because of many reasons. He opposed it on being a war that eliminated much needed resources to help the poor and black people. He believed that it was a civil war that could be solved because of negotiation instead of using napalm and using free fire zones. Dr. King viewed the war as unjust violating the Geneva Accords, the U.S. Constitution, and international law. He spoke out against the war in January and March of 1967 in Chicago. His famous Riverside speech at April 4, 1967 was his total break with the Johnson administration on the Vietnam War issue. His speech at the New York City Riverside church was accurate, eloquent, and emotional. Kwame Ture, McKissick, and other black leaders praised Dr. King for his stance. Like usual, the far right extremists and neoliberal organs from the NY Times to Time magazine criticized Dr. King as a near traitor and making a script for Radio Hanoi. Dr. King was heckled as a "Communist" for speaking out against an unjust war. Back then and today, red baiting is very common in America. Many of these red baiters don't even know about what Communism is or the nuisances of Communism (as we know about the Sino-Soviet split over different interpretations of Communism). Many Communists like Du Bois and Paul Robeson heroically fought for black liberation. In fact, Dr. King (though not a Communist) praised W.E.B. DuBois in a speech in 1968, which celebrated the centennial of his birth. Yet, Dr. King continued to speak truth to power. He stood up against capitalist exploitation and injustice. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. exposed the three great evils of racism, militarism, and materialism. He helped to make a black man to be the mayor of Cleveland. He supported Operation Breadbasket (which was supported by Dr. King's protege Jesse Jackson) which called for boycotts of companies that discrimination against black people. He also promoted the Poor People's Campaign being inspired by Mary Edelman.
The Poor People's Campaign wanted billions of dollars to eradicate poverty, build adequate, quality housing, promote living wages, and seek a real transformation of society. It was a multiracial movement made up of black Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, poor white people, etc. By 1968, Dr. King even called for a boycott of the Olympics. He continued with his Poor People's Campaign, and the sanitation strike in Memphis happened in 1968. Many of his advisers didn't want him to go to Memphis, but Dr. King said that if nonviolence worked in Memphis, it can work in Washington, D.C. (when he planned to use civil disobedience in D.C. for his Poor People's Campaign by the Spring of 1968). Memphis sanitation workers protested for living wages, for equality, and for human dignity. Memphis conservative mayor Henry Loeb refuse to give the workers union recognition. He was strict. Yet, the black sanitation workers protested saying enough is enough. They wore I am a Man posters on them. Rev. James Lawson worked with them. Dr. King led a protest, but agent provocateurs used violence to end it prematurely. As we know, the FBI monitored Dr. King, and reactionary politicians falsely blamed Dr. King for the violence.
Dr.King felt depressed at times, because he was criticized heavily. He would leave meeting to talk with her friend Dorothy Cotton to relax. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. promised a 2nd Memphis march. He wanted to make sure that a nonviolent march in Memphis would exist. The snowstorm came, and he gave his final public speech at the Memphis church. It was a storm, and Dr. King was at first reluctant to give his speech. Then, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave I Have Been to Mountaintop speech on April 3, 1968. In that speech, he gave a summary of his plans and intentions. He talked about Greek philosophers, the civil rights movement, and his desire to see humanity free. Also, he wanted to make sure that he desire the Memphis sanitation strike to be successful. Not to mention, he wanted investments in black owned institutions, boycotts of racist corporations, and solidarity with the workers. He said the prophetic words that he may not get to the Promised Land with his people, but black people will get to the Promised Land. He celebrated his speech with friends and family. He wanted that injunction gone. By 6 pm. at April 4, 1968, he was assassinated by a coward. Immediately, rebellions transpired nationwide. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s funeral was attended by the rich and the poor, people of every color, the famous celebrities, the unsung civil rights heroes, and tons of other people. His death showed how far America has to go in fulfilling the Dream. With the insurrection of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, we further see how far we have to go in seeing America reach into the heights of true human justice. Vicious terrorism shown by bigoted terrorists in D.C. represent how evil the enemy of white racist terrorism is. This is not new. For centuries in America, there was the genocide of Native Americans, Red Summer, The 1866 anti-black pogrom in Memphis, and other events where white terrorist mobs harmed plus killed black people or other people of color. In other words, this is America. Today, Dr. King has inspired future generations to promote volunteerism, social activism, nonviolent resistance, protests, and other means to achieve justice for humanity. He taught us that love is never a weak anemic force. Love is a powerful force that can make real change possible.
By Timothy
Friday, January 15, 2021
The Start of a New Era in January of 2021.
It is official. Donald Trump has now been impeached for the second time. He has been impeached again, because Trump has incited insurrection against the United States government (in order to stop the election results from being certified). Today, Trump being impeached should have happened. For years, Trump has promoted violence, said racist comments, and promoted reactionary lies about people. 10 Republicans voted for the impeachment of Trump. We know now that Rep. Mikie Sherrill said that some members of Congress led people through the Capitol on a "reconnaissance" mission one day before the riot. The Stop the Steal organizer Ali Alexander said that he was getting help from three members of Congress named Paul Gosar, Andy Biggs, and Mo Brooks. Ayanna Pressley said that panic buttons were torn out of her office. AOC was afraid for her life. The traitors who harmed the Capitol and harmed innocent people should be caught, have a trial, and be placed into prison. To this day, Trump promotes the lie of the 2020 election being stolen.
Some breaking news is that former Rick Snyder and other people are charged with negligence involving the Flint Water disaster. Of course, all of them have plead not guilty. To understand Flint, you have to understand the whole story. It started when authorities in Flint switched the water supply from the Detroit river to another river. This caused many people to have lead poisoning, children to have permanent brain damage, and the water supplies being hugely polluted. In many areas of Flint, residents have to boil water to take a shower. Today, Michigan has a more progressive governor Whitmer. The Flint disaster continues to this very day as water pipes have to be replaced and the infrastructure of the whole city must be rebuilt. The pandemic has ravished Flint, Detroit, and other locations of Michigan. A disproportionate amount of the victims of the Flint poisoning are black Americans obviously. The disaster was a situation of economic oppression, racist mistreatment, and callousness by powerful capitalist interests. Snyder and other tried to downplay the efforts of whistleblowers in Flint to fight for solutions and change.
The terrorist Qanon shaman demanded organic food, and he even received some of it. This showed the double standard in the court system racially. These terrorists being coddled by some is a disgrace. This is an event where insurrectionists could have violently harmed or even kill Congress people. The horned hat rioter said that he was answering the call of the President. As we know have known, the attacks were sophisticated and coordinated very strongly. Even one Qanon extremist Congresswoman named Lauren Beobert egged on the terrorists by saying that this is 1776. She shared on the Internet the location about Congressional members during the riot. Her former campaign manager, Sherronna Bishop, praised the Proud Boys hate group. Trump, to this day, promotes the lie that the election is rigged or stolen. He is a traitor to America.
A lot of people don't know that hip hop originally was influenced by funk. Hip Hop sampled from James Brown, the Ohio Players, Frankie Smith, Parliament, and other artists. If you don't know funk, you can't understand everything about hip hop. The art of rapping have roots in jazz, scatting, and other elements. Ultimately, hip hop came from the griots of West Africans being musicians and storytellers. Hip Hop had Afro-Caribbean elements of toasting from Djs. U-Roy was one of the famous toasters from Jamaica. To be the greatest, you have to have versatility, lines, flow, rhythm, and soul. You miss out of those categories, you can't consider yourself the greatest of hip hop music.
Now, the FBI has warned of new security concerns during this inauguration time. The traitor, who waved the Confederate flag in the Capitol, has been arrested. Many Democrats seek an investigation to see if any GOP Congressperson aided the insurrectionists. If any Congress member aided the terrorists, then he or she should be banned from holding office and sent to prison. Many in Congress have been threatened for voting for the impeachment of Trump. Thousands of National Guard troops are protecting The U.S. Capitol building. Many Congress people are getting bulletproof and body armor. This is America. This has been America for centuries. Nothing is new under the sun, and America has a long history of anti-black pogroms from the Colfax Massacre to Red Summer. Like always, we want people to be safe and the insurrectionists who harmed our Capitol to be in prison. Trump has been a habitual liar, and we believe that black lives matter too. These hypocrites lecture us on hating the police, but they are the ones who really hate the police. They or GOP members try to bring guns on the House floor which is illegal, yell at U.S. Capitol police, and refuse to go through metal detectors. Common sense dictates that you need metal detectors in the Capitol to save lives.
By Timothy
Thursday, January 14, 2021
Timeline of Far Right Wing Terrorism
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_right-wing_terrorist_attacks
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/zoetillman/timeline-violence-trump-presidency-capitol-attack
https://since911.com/explore/terrorism-timeline
https://www.vox.com/21506029/trump-violence-tweets-racist-hate-speech
https://www.fox29.com/news/timeline-of-the-pro-trump-riot-at-the-us-capitol-how-the-chaos-unfolded
Wednesday, January 13, 2021
On the Verge of a Trump 2nd Impeachment.
As we are not surprised, Trump refused to take responsibility for the coup attempt against the U.S. Capitol. Trump still has promoted the big lie that the 2020 election was rigged. On January 6, 2020, Trump said that he wanted his mob to fight against the certification of Biden being the winner of the 2020. Later, terrorists harmed people, used vandalism, and many of these criminals have been arrested. Today, the FBI has warned Americans that these far right terrorists could make armed marches in the state capitols of all 50 states including the U.S. Capitol. One warning was about how these extremists want to surround the Capitol building with 4,000 armed folks. That is why D.C. is heavily protected now. National Guard troops are so numerous in Washington D.C. now, that many of them are sleeping in the Capitol building as a means to take a rest. 8 feet steel fences are all over the Capitol building. By inauguration, there will be thousands of more National Guard troops in the Capitol area. The fruit of this crisis is how many banks refuse to do business with Trump, Trump's businesses have seen a fallout, and many extremists including Trump are banned from Twitter. The followers of Trump have been explicit in promoting insurrection against America. Pipe bombs being found at the RNC and DNC headquarters with timers is the reason among others why the FBI is looking at sedition and conspiracy charges against the terrorists. That is why those, who love freedom, have to be clear that democracy will be protected.
People like Lindsay Graham calling for unity are hypocritical. America experienced an attempted coup d'etat, and Trump incited insurrection against us Americans. Real unity is not sugarcoating the threat that Trump poses to America. Real unity is not about coddling extremist rhetoric or capitulating to the evil status quo. Trump must be impeached and removed from office. He should be legally barred from holding any office ever again. Unity without justice and accountability is a false kind of unity. Real unity is about making sure that justice for all is more than just words but enacted via policies in making society better. That is why House members have sent a resolution to call for some Congress people to be removed from office (for inciting violence and agreeing with denying democratic election results). We know that many black U.S. Capitol police, black Congresspeople, and many others were victims of racial epithets, threats, and other evils by white supremacist terrorists. Texas Democratic State Representatives have called for an investigation of Texas Attorney Ken Paxton for inciting the crowd in D.C. Rudy Giuliani could lose his NY bar license over his comments. The events on January 6, 2021 was done by white racist terrorists.
Keri Hilson made the remark that she is concerned about free speech being censorship. I understand her concern (as free speech should be promoted and historically many folks' First Amendment rights have been violated), but Twitter is a private entity with a policy statement. Trump violated Twitter's policies constantly with his words and bigotry. Therefore, his account was banned permanently. The First Amendment stated that Congress can't make a law to abridge free speech. This doesn't apply to libel, slander, incitement of violence, etc. Also, Trump used a private corporation, and his words violated that corporation's policies. I don't believe in authoritarian censorship, but with free speech comes consequences. The hip hop artist Azelea Banks crossed the line by calling Ihan Omar a slur and said other self hating comments. Azelea Banks (who loves to sacrifice chickens) is known for promoting bleach creams, cursing out Skai Jackson when she was a teen, and promoting self hating rhetoric like admitting that she is in love with white privilege. Banks also disrespected and body shamed the hip hop artist from Houston named Megan Thee Stallion. So, Banks is a person who is an artist with massive anti-black self hatred.
Today, Democrats have sent forward the article of impeachment against Donald Trump for agitation for insurrection against the Untied States of America. There were warnings made by the FBI and others about terrorists would invade the Capitol. Trump for months has attacked the integrity of the election even after Biden rightfully won the Presidency. Trump's rhetoric contributed to this crisis. Trump for years have said when the looting starts, the shooting starts. Trump said that he wanted the people to go into the Capitol to try to stop the certification of the election results. He called Neo-Nazis and neo-Confederates "fine people." The mob was agitated by Trump. Trump is not the only one responsible for this. His enablers from Cruz, Hawley, and others who have agreed with Trump and supported the far right extremists. The disgrace is that polls show that the majority of Republicans believe in the lie that there was widespread voting fraud during the 2020 election. The thugs who terrorized people on January 6, 2021 deserve prison. Gabriel Sterling has warned people that Trump's reprehensible language will cause people to be killed, and unfortunately this happened. Cruz, Hawley, and others should resign.
Back five years ago, if you would have told me that I have distant cousins living in Massachusetts today, then I wouldn't believe you. Yet, now with new research in 2021, I found out that many of my distant cousins do in fact live in Brockton, Massachusetts (and in other places of MA) which is south of Boston. I'm from Virginia obviously. Before showing who they are, it is time to show a story first. Long ago, by the end of the U.S. Civil War, Millie Turner had a relationship with a young man named Morefield Hurst. Morefield's father was a cooper by trade. Millie Turner lived on areas where the Nottoway Native Americans lived at. Morefield Hurst and Millie Turner (my 4th great grandparents) had many children. Many of their names are Susanna Hurst-Turner, Thomas Hurst, Josephine T. Hurst (1868-1929), etc. Josephine T. Hurst lived in Virginia (and later in North Carolina), and she was my 3rd great grand aunt. Josephine T. Hurst married Kenneth Sykes at Southampton County, Virginia on December 5, 1888. They had many sons and daughters. One of their daughters was a woman named Minne Eva Sykes (1906-1980). Minnie Eva Sykes was my 1st cousin. She was born in Virginia. She married Harry Cecil McPherson Sr. (1903-1982) on June 21, 1923 at Norfolk, Virginia. Their children are: James Albert McPherson (1925-2005), Lelia McPherson (1926-1928), Cecelia Elaine McPherson (b. 1927), Harry Cecil McPherson Jr. (1929-2000), Walter Ardonis McPherson (b. 1930), Virginia Ruth McPherson (b.1933), and Anne Levorn McPherson (1935-1992). Minne Eva Sykes had a divorce with Harry Cecil McPherson on April 25, 1950 at Portsmouth, Virginia. Minnie Eva Sykes married George Washington Baily (1897-?) on September 2, 1950 at Norfolk, Virginia. My 2nd cousin Walter Adroinis McPherson (b. 1930) is the son of Harry Cecil McPherson Sr. and Minnie Eva Sykes. Walter married Martha Marie Tabb on September 26, 1948 at Norfolk, Virginia. They had the following children (who are my 3rd cousins): Darlene Regeaner McPherson (b. 1949), Cynthia Therese Muhammad (b. 1950), Laurel Donnette McPherson Johnson (b. 1952), Walter Adonis McPherson (b. 1953), Marthell McPherson Chance (b. 1954), Aquilla Rayeen McPherson Crosby (b. 195), Shavell McPherson Rayburn (b. 1958), Stryone Prado McPherson Sr. (1959-2006), Rodney F. McPherson (b. 1965). Cynthia Therese Muhammad was born on July 22, 1950 at Norfolk. Later, Cynthia, and the rest of her brothers and sisters moved into Brockton, Massachusetts when they were children. Cynthia Therese Muhammad married Lawrence Kareem Muhammad (b. 1950), and one of their children is my 4th cousin named Sharif A. Muhammad. Sharif A. Muhammad (who lives in Massachusetts now in 2021) is married to Jennifer Clerkin (b. 1978), and the couple have children too. My 4th cousin Taneekah Marie Freeman (b. 1976) is the daughter of my 3rd cousin Marthell Marie McPherson (b. 1954). My 4th cousin Shaneek Donnette Johnson (b. 1977) is married to a man whose last name is Sudler, and her mother is my 3rd cousin Laurel Donnette McPherson Johnson (b. 1952). Styrone P. McPherson Jr. is my 4th cousin whose father is the late Styrone Prado McPherson Sr. (1959-2006).
By Timothy
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