Late Summer Stories Part 3

Steve Biko

Steve Biko is one of the greatest revolutionaries and Black Nationalists in history. He wanted liberty and cultural cohesion for his people in South Africa. Steve Biko was an inspirational figure of the Black Consciousness Movement. He lived from December 18, 1946 to September 1977. This movement would empower and mobilize much of the urban black population. He has been called a martyr of the anti-apartheid movement. the reason was that he died in police custody. King William's Town, South Africa was the precise location of his birth. Biko agreed with activism and attempt to empower black people. He is famous for advancing his slogan of "Black is Beautiful." Steve Biko said that this slogan means that: "...man, you are okay as you are, begin to look upon yourself as a human being..." There was friction between the African National Congress in the 1970's. Ironically, the ANC included Biko in their pantheon of struggle of heroes. they even put Biko's image on campaign posters in South Africa's first non-racial elections in 1994. Steve Biko studied to be a doctor at the University of Natal Medical School. Biko was from the Xhosa tribe. He was a very smart man in speaking Xhosa, fluent English, and fairly fluent Afrikaans. At first, Steve Biko desired to join the multiracial National Union of South African Students. Soon, he believed that Black, Indian, and Coloured students should have an organization of their own. So, he helped to create the SASO or the South African Students' Organizaiton. The SASO's agenda wanted political self reliance and black consciousness to unify people. Biko was elected President of the SASO in 1968. Biko worked in the World Student Christian Federation. Later, the SASO changed into the BCM or the Black Consciousness Movement. Biko married Ntsiki Mashalaba in 1970. They had two children together: Nkosinathi, born in 1971, and Samora. He also had two children with Dr Mamphela Ramphele (a prominent activist within the BCM): a daughter, Lerato, born in 1974, who died of pneumonia when she was only two months old, and a son, Hlumelo, who was born in 1978, after Biko's death. Biko also had a daughter with Lorraine Tabane, named Motlatsi, born in May 1977. Because of his political beliefs, Biko was expelled from the University of Natal. February 1973 was the time when Biko was banned from then apartheid South Africa. That meant that Steve Biko couldn't speak to more than one person at a time and he couldn't speak in public. he couldn't even write publicly or speak with the media. So, South Africa back then was an evil dictatorship. Biko was the honorary President of the Black People's Convention. Steve Biko promoted self reliance among his people. He created various funds (like the Zanempilo, the Zimele Trust Fund that supported former political prisoners and their families, etc.) to develop grassroots organizations. Biko still created protests to fight against injustice in South Africa. When terrorists murdered black children in the Soweto Uprising in June 16, 1976, the savage apartheid government became to target Biko more. Steve Biko was assaulted by terrorists pro-apartheid people. This tortured was done in August 21, 1977. He was beaten to a coma in Police Room 619. He was interrogated by Port Elizabeth security police people Harold Snyman and Gideon Nieuwoudt. He was assaulted for 22 hours. He was injured again in September 11, 1977 and died of injuries in September 12. The police of course claimed that Steve Biko died because of a hunger strike. Yet, an autopsy found multiple bruises and abrasions. He suffered massive injuries to the head causing a brain hemorrhage. This is strong evidence that Biko was assaulted to death by his captors. Donald Woods is a friend of Biko's and journalist and now political leader Helen Zille exposed the truth on Biko's murder. His funeral was attended by over 10,000 people. Many ambassadors and diplomats from America including Western Europe attended his funeral. Woods later would fight against apartheid. Donald Woods was a liberal white South African journalist. Justice never came for the murderers of Biko. It was only when the Truth and Reconciliation Commission came about when 5 former members of the South African security forces admitted to killing Biko. They applied for amnesty. Stephen Biko authored a book titled: "I Write What I Like." Stephen Biko wanted development of black consciousness in order to build confidence in the black people. This confidence translates into more apt power for personal liberation in the amidst of injustice. He had unto similar ideas of Frantz Fanon and Aime Cesaire. People know about Fanon. Biko was right to believe that if a Black African wants liberation it has to be psychological liberation and physical liberation. He followed non-violence to a point to get solutions and some believe this was done as a tactic (not as a personal conviction). People from many races and across the political spectrum respect Steve Biko greatly, because Steve Biko sincerely desired liberty for his people in Africa. He was a great man.

Fred Hampton

Fred Hampton is a real revolutionry figure. Back in the year of 2000, I've seen a documentary about Fred Hampton. The video in an unadulteraed, uncompromising fashion expressed the strength and intellectual power of Fred Hampton. Fred Hampton lived in the Chicago area all of his life. Since his youth, he worked in community organizations to express the urgent, dedicated need for liberty to existed among black people and all people. When any leader tries to attempt to institute radical, revolutionary actions to have fundamental changes within society, the establishment attempts to extingusih that movement. This is why the Black Panther Party offices and their other meeting places were raided innocent Panthers were murdered or jailed. Fred Hampton worked to create a food program, free healthcare clinics, and free education in order to improve the conditions of his own people and all people. I and others don't agree with every part of Fred Hampton's philosophies, but he was 100% right on a lost list of issues. He died in December of 1969. The tradegy of his unjustified death by the Chicago police was so unwarranted that Fred Hampton's family won a lawsuit against the city of Chicago.

Fred Hampton lived from August 30, 1948 to December 4, 1969. He was an American activist. He once was the Deputy Chairman of the Illinois chapter of the BPP or the Black Panther Party. The murderers of Fred Hampton were from the tactical unit of the Cook County, Illinois State's Attorney's Office or the SAO (in conjunction of the CPD or the Chicago Police Department including the FBI). Documentaries like FBI's War on Black America, the 1971 documentary film called "The Murder of Fred Hampton" and one episode of the great documentary series Eyes on the Prize chronicle Fred Hampton's life and death. Fred Hampton was born in Chicago. He was raised in Maywood or a suburb to the west of the city. His parents came into the Chicago area from Louisiana. He graduated from high school in 1966 in Proviso East High School. He excelled in the classroom and athletics. He wanted to play center field for the New York Yankees. Hampton went into Triton Junior College in nearby River Grove, Illinois. He majored in pre-law. There, he learned about the law in order to use it as a defense against the police. He and Black Panthers would follow the police and watch out for police brutality. Later this knowledge should be used as a defense to protect people. At first, Fred Hampton was in the NAACP to assist the leadership of the Youth Council of the organization's West Suburban Branch. Since Fred Hampton was a natural leader, he worked with thousands of people. He wanted to improved the conditions of the poor black people in Maywood including its educational resources. So, Hampton wanted activism and community organization. Fred Hampton was once more non-violent. He later joined the Black Panther as an expression of solidality with its ten point program. The program was a mix of black self determination and collectivist intentions. Its critics accused the BPP of embracing some elements of Maoism, but people know the evils of cartel-capitalism. Fred Hampton moved into downtown Chicago in November of 1968. He worked with the Illinois chapter of the BPP that was fomred by SNCC organization Bob Brown in late 1967. Fred Hampton made great contributions and achievements in his community. He made a nonaggression pact among Chicago's most powerful street gangs.

Fred Hampton rightfully said that poverty extended in many racial and ethnic groups (and conflict among these people are utilized by the corporate power structure in order to entrench poverty). Hampton wanted a class conscious multi-ethnic coalition among people. In May of 1969, Fred Hampton said that he created a "rainbow coalition" in a truce. This phrase was popularized by Rev. Jesse Jackson of course in forming Rainbow PUSH. Fred Hampton was the leader of the Chicago chapter of the Black Panthers, because of his leadership skills, oratory abilities, and charisma. Hampton formed the local's People's Clinic, taught political education for children every morning at 6 am., and supervised the activities of the police. Of course, the FBI's COINTELPRO program tried to stop and kill literally the BPP. Fred Hampton was fast becoming a major leader of the Black Panthers. Eventually, Hampton was in line to be appointed to the Party's Central Committee's Chief of Staff. He would have achieved this position had it not been for his death on the morning of December 4, 1969. J. Edgar Hoover was so silly and paranoid that he believed that all revolutionary groups wanted to overthrow the U.S. government. William O'Neal was a FBI informant utilized to cause divisions and tensions. He was Hampton's bodyguard. The sellout O'Neal provoked an armed clash between the Rangers and the Panthers in April 2, 1969. O'Neal caused tensions between the SDS and the Black Panthers as well. The criminal Chicago Police Department killed people, smashed typewriters, destroyed food and medical supplies, and other illegal actions like even setting several fires. These raids occurred in July 31 and October 31, 1969. Fred Hampton's girlfriend was Deborah Johnson (now known as Akua Njeri) and his first child was Fred Hampton, Jr. The police murderers killed Fred Hampton and Mark Clark. Hampton was shot twice in the head at point blank range by the police in Chicago. FBI informant gave the FBI information about Hampton's apartment. O'Neal gave Hampton a sleeping agent to make sure that Hampton would not awake when the raid have taken place. One of the murderers is Cook County State's Attorney Edward Hanrahan (he used officers attached to his office. Fred Hampton criticized Hanrahan a lot). Fred Hampton said that Hanrahan's talk about a war on gangs is actually a war on black youth. Heavily armed police officers stormed the building in 4:45 am. Mark Clark fired a single round and he was killed instantly. Fred Hampton was fed barbiturates by the FBI infiltrator, so the police fired automatic gunfire in the apartment. He was asleep next to his pregnant girlfriend. The police arrested other Panthers and beat them while being dragged out. They were each held on $100,000 bail. The police lied and said that the Panthers acted vicious toward them and used restraint. Fred Hampton's funeral was attended by 5,000 people. He was eulogized by Ralph Abernathy (or the successor of Dr. Martin Luther King as head of the Southern Christan Leadership Conference) and Jesse Jackson. In his eulogy, Jackson noted that "when Fred was shot in Chicago, black people in particular, and decent people in general, bled everywhere." William O'Neal committed suicide after admitting his involvement in setting up the killings.

Roy Wilkins and Ramsey Clark wanted justice since the police that killed Fred Hampton acted in violation of the Panthers' constitutional rights (of you can't have unreasonable search and seizure). They acted in the Commission of Inquiry into the Black Panthers and the Police. The families of Hampton and Clark filed a US$47.7 million civil suit against the city, state, and federal governments. It would be a long time until the suit would be settled for $1.85 Million. The two families each shared in the settlement. In 1990, the Chicago City Council passed a resolution declaring "Fred Hampton Day" in honor of the slain leader. Fred Hampton wasn't an extremist. He was a man that wanted radical political change for his people and all people (for all power should be given unto all people).

Anathema

The concept of anathema interested me recently. Anathema has been used by the Roman Catholic as not only a means of intimidating people to accept their fraudulent religious system. Anathema is an interesting concept to learn about. Anathema means destruction or damnation. Anathema is beyond a simple curse that is commonly mentioned in the OT and the New Testament. Romans 7:1-6 and Galatians 2:19-21 mention that Jesus Christ delivered us from the curse of the law. Yet, Romanism teaches that you have to do sacraments to have salvation. Some of these sacraments are not supported by the New Testament even and they deny the final complete work that Jesus Christ accomplished on the cross (to sacrifice his life for the sins of the world. Jesus Christ also resurrected from the dead making death futile for all true believers in God). Constantine when he legalized Christianity had the pagans enter the church by baptism, not by being born spiritually (known today as being born again). Today, in Roman Catholicism, to be born again is interpreted as being baptized to have their sin nature removed. The Council of Trent is the Papacy's strictest application of the anathema principle. The meeting lasted from 1545-1563 in order to oppose the doctrines of the Protestant Reformation. The Reformation wasn't perfect, but it legitimately promoted various ideas that opposed the heresies found in the Roman Catholic Church. Romanism back then was very theocratic feudal empire across the continent of Europe. The wife was treated as a vassal or she was sold to other people. There were suppression of independent freedoms and independent thinking. There were centralized powers that prevented a true economic revolution. Now, the Council of Trent defined Catholic doctrines, detail by detail, and declared that anybody who denies even one of these details is anathema. These include the authority of the Pope, the practice of indulgences, veneration of Mary and the saints, and the use of statues. So the Council of Trent anathematizes all non-Catholic Christians, both Protestants and Orthodox. The official Catechism of the Catholic Church and the 2nd Vatican Council approve of the Council of Trent. Some of these anathemas include the following:

“If anyone says that by those words, Do this for a commemoration of me, Christ did not institute the Apostles priests; or did not ordain that they and other priests should offer His own body and blood, LET HIM BE ANATHEMA” (Canons on the Sacrifice of the Mass, Canon 2).


“If anyone says that baptism is optional, that is, not necessary for salvation, LET HIM BE ANATHEMA” (Canons on Baptism, Canon 5).

“If anyone says that justifying faith is nothing else than confidence in divine mercy, which remits sins for Christ’s sake, or that it is this confidence alone that justifies us, LET HIM BE ANATHEMA” (Canons Concerning Justification, Canon 12).

· “If anyone says that the justice received is not preserved and also not increased before God through good works, but that those works are merely the fruits and signs of justification obtained, but not the cause of its increase, LET HIM BE ANATHEMA” (Canons Concerning Justification, Canon 24).

“If anyone says that the sacrifice of the mass is one only of praise and thanksgiving; or that it is a mere commemoration of the sacrifice consummated on the cross but not a propitiatory one; or that it profits him only who receives, and ought not to be offered for the living and the dead, for sins, punishments, satisfactions, and other necessities, LET HIM BE ANATHEMA” (Canons on the Sacrifice of the Mass, Canon 3).

So, if you disagree with the heresies of Rome, then you are anathema. That's a disgrace since religious freedom that is shown righteously is not equated to damnation.


By Timothy