Happy New Year Everyone. 2021 is here. After seeing one of the most controversial years in human history found in 2020, I'm glad to be alive in 2021. Many legendary heroes passed away last year, and we are inspired by their memories to continue forth in the Dream for justice for humankind. People around this time of the year focus on resolutions, but we ought to be focused on the point that change doesn't have to be a insurmountable burden. Change should come voluntarily now. Change won't be perfect, and we should acknowledge our imperfections along the journey for change. Naivete is out of the question. There are more than 20 million Americans with with the virus. Almost 350,000 Americans have passed away from the virus too. Many health care workers are pleading with the public to take precautions and be safe. So, we realize the serious problems of health care crisis, racial oppression, economic oppression, sexism, xenophobia, and all the other unjustifiable injustices that plague the world. 2021 represents a new beginning in our lives. 2021 being much better than 2020 is certainly our wish. As we see a new President and a new Vice President coming about, we are greatly motivated to be better human beings.
2020 was the 25th year anniversary of the film Panther. When I was young, I watched the film. It was inspirational, powerful, and exciting. It showed the courage of the Black Panther Party, it outlined the FBI infiltration of many people, and it exposed the continued struggle that we still have in our rightful cause of black liberation. The Black Panther Party was created in Oakland, California. It was part of the Black Power Movement that grew heavily in 1966. This movement grew because of the slow progress of the mainline civil rights movement, rebellions in the North (plus in the Midwest including West Coast), and a younger generation who believed in self defense against oppression. It was that militancy against injustice that propelled the Black Panther Party for Self Defense into international heights of power. Bobby Seale and Huey P. Newton (who are both socialists) invented the organization. The movie had great actors and actresses like Kadeem Hardison, Bokeem Woodbine, Courtney B. Vance, Marcus Chong, Tyrin Turner, Nefertiti, Chris Rock, Bobby Brown, Angela Bassett, Jenifer Lewis, Dick Gregory, Kool Moe Dee, Roger Guenveur Smith, Yo Yo, etc. The soundtrack of the film showed black men and black women coming together in the spirit of black unity. While the struggle continues, victory is ours.
Today, there is the sad news of Shabba Doo passing away at the age of 65 years old. His name is Adolfo Gutierrez Quiñones. Those, who know hip hop culture, know him as a break dancer, choreographer, and actor. He was in the Breakin' movie series. I watch the 1st and 2nd Breakin' films before. He was a legend in what he did. Originally, hip hop wasn't just about rhyming words together. Real hip hop is about dancing, charisma, the flow, DJing, graffiti, the lyrics (and how you use your lines creatively), the appreciation of funk (as hip hop is a cousin to funk music), and realizing that the artform of hip hop is built on the foundation of pioneers like Kool Herc and DJ Hollywood. He spent his time helping other musicians perfect their dance routines. He has 2 children. His father was Puerto Rican, and his mother is African American. Adolfo was a legend of our time.
Rest in Power Brother Adolfo Gutierrez Quiñones.
2020 is a year like no other year in my lifetime. The start of the year saw the virus starting in China. It would soon spread quickly globally causing mayhem and the passing away of so many individuals. Then, in January of 2020, Kobe Bryant passed away. Kobe was the best NBA Player of the 2000s. Then, we saw the virus spread all across America massively by March 2020. Lockdowns and closures happened. Biden beat Bernie Sanders in the primary causing Biden to be the Democratic nominee. He chose Kamala Harris as a Vice President candidate. Kamala Harris is the first African American and first South Asian woman to be Vice President of the United States of America. By the late Spring and Summer of 2020, massive protests existed to protest the police brutality against Breonna Tyalor, George Floyd, and so many other Brothers and Sisters in America. Also, we saw the passing of so many like legends like John Lewis, Rev. C.T. Vivian, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and so many other people. The Presidential race of 2020 was personal, and Trump like usual issued many lies about voting and other matters. Record mail in voting came about, and I voted by mail. On election day, the results didn't came immediately. I knew by my intuition that Biden would win. Days later, Biden won the election by even winning Georgia. Georgia being blue was accomplished by black heroes, and especially black women who contributed a massive amount of activism to make Trump a one term President. The end of 2020 saw Biden's transition team, a continued virus, debates in Congress, and a new era of time approaching. We are glad that Trump lost the election. Yet, we have a long way to go in 2021. As we see the quarter of this new century, we see both the advancements of new technologies along with social movements coming alive in advocating for justice.
By Timothy
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