Saturday, August 31, 2019
Friday, August 30, 2019
Late August 2019 News.
Boris Johnson suspending the Parliament is a known attack on democratic rights in the United Kingdom. He wants this existence in order for him to go forward with his Brexit agenda without the consent of the people in the UK. People question whether Brext will harm jobs, living standards, and democratic rights. There is no question that far right leaders worldwide are using authoritarian means to try to get what they want when they can't achieve their extremism by vote. This is similar to Trump harming separation of power noms with his policies. We witness the sad development of austerity, jingoistic nationalism, anti-immigrant xenophobia, and authoritarian actions in Europe, America, South America, etc. Boris Johnson is like Margaret Thatcher in the sense that he wants the UK to be a deregulated tax haven, the welfare state is privatized, and he further exploitation on the working class continues. Many fighters for democracy are found in the UK, Hong Kong, Puerto Rico, America, and in other places of the world that desire human rights not oligarchy to be the order of the day.
I disagree with Lakeith Stanfield that there is no such thing as black American culture. Black culture is real, and it isn't monolithic. It is found in music, art, sports, literature, sci-fi, and other parameters of life. For example, Toni Morrison's literature is part of black culture just like the inspirational words spoken by Malcolm X. Being Black is not one thing. Being Black is being free to express yourself while loving your Blackness at the same time without apologies. I do agree with Lakeith Stanfield making his point to praise black women. He said that black women are the most beautiful women in the world. He's right. I don't agree with Lakeith's views on black culture, since he's wrong on that issue. I am unapologetic Black.
56 years ago, about 250,000 human beings came out in the 1963 March on Washington. Many people of numerous backgrounds came together in advocating for the one goal of promoting freedom and justice. 1963 was a turning point of the Civil Rights Movement. By this time, the Birmingham protests existed, Medgar Evers was assassinated, and protests occurred nationwide in favor of ending Jim Crow apartheid. Jim Crow was more than about segregation. It was about a system where the rights of black people were violated, people were murdered by virtue of his or her skin color, and resources were restricted from being given to the black community. Black people wanted desegregation not to eliminate our black identity. We love our Blackness. We wanted desegregation to have the resources to live our own lives without discrimination and without oppression. This march has a long history. It was the dream of A. Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin (who wanted such a march since the 1940's). The Big Six (or civil rights leaders. Their names are A. Philip Randolph, Dr. King, John Lewis, James Farmer, Roy Wilkins, and Whitney Young Jr. Bayard Rustin was a lead organizer of the march) came together to form many components of the march.
Also, black women had a leadership role in the movement. Also, I disagree with many black women being restricted to speak in the 1963 rally as well. The March on Washington gathered people from planes, jets, cars, and trains. Many black leaders had to calm JFK's fears about the march in order for him to support it. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's powerful I Have a Dream speech was about condemning America's sins 100 years after the Emancipation Proclamation. It was a call for equality, and it outlined a plan of action. Many speakers wanted an end to police brutality, institute living wages, pass fair education, promote labor rights, create great housing, and establish other policies that were explicitly mentioned in the goals of the March. It is also important to recognize the sacrifice of black women in the movement like Dorothy Height, Diane Nash, Gloria Richardson, Pauli Murray, Lena Horne, Josephine Baker, Anna Arnold Hedgeman, and other women had a large role in the event and in civil rights in general. Rich, poor, young, old, celebrities, and unsung people were in Washington, D.C. on that late summer day. These people desired freedom sincerely.
We remember that heroic event to remind us that the Dream isn't realized yet. During these times, we are reminded how far we have to go. We witness anti-black hate crimes, harm done to immigrant rights, xenophobia, economic deprivation, ecological devastation, and other evils that must be eradicated. The eloquent words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was more than poetic eloquence. It was a call for action in seeing that the land of America and the world in general witness a progressive transformation wherefore justice for all is made into a concrete reality. That is the aim that we believe in.
By Timothy
Thursday, August 29, 2019
Wednesday, August 28, 2019
While Unsung in '63, Women Weren't Just 'Background Singers'
https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2013/08/25/214865982/while-unsung-in-63-women-werent-just-background-singers
https://snccdigital.org/people/janet-jemmott/
https://time.com/5658736/march-on-washington-women-history/
https://newrepublic.com/article/131587/women-march-washington
https://www.theroot.com/women-of-the-1963-march-on-washington-wanted-recognitio-1790897916
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/women--nearly-left-off-march-on-washington-program--speaking-up-now/2013/08/22/54492444-0a79-11e3-8974-f97ab3b3c677_story.html
https://www.bet.com/news/national/photos/2013/08/women-of-the-march-on-washington.html
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/08/19/march-on-washington-women/2648011/
http://www.msnbc.com/melissa-harris-perry/how-womens-voices-were-excluded-the
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_on_Washington_for_Jobs_and_Freedom#Excluded_speakers
https://snccdigital.org/people/janet-jemmott/
https://time.com/5658736/march-on-washington-women-history/
https://newrepublic.com/article/131587/women-march-washington
https://www.theroot.com/women-of-the-1963-march-on-washington-wanted-recognitio-1790897916
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/women--nearly-left-off-march-on-washington-program--speaking-up-now/2013/08/22/54492444-0a79-11e3-8974-f97ab3b3c677_story.html
https://www.bet.com/news/national/photos/2013/08/women-of-the-march-on-washington.html
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/08/19/march-on-washington-women/2648011/
http://www.msnbc.com/melissa-harris-perry/how-womens-voices-were-excluded-the
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_on_Washington_for_Jobs_and_Freedom#Excluded_speakers
Jeffery Epstein, Jay-Z, and the Miserable World Created by the Billionaire Ruling Class
Real Issues in our World.
The water crisis in Newark is a very serious story. For decades, many American cities have lax infrastructure. With the political climate now, some people desire no investments instead of real investments to help the great people of Newark and in other areas of America. Lead is a nuerotoxin that can permanently harm intelligence and the genes of any person, especially among the young. Newark is also the largest city in New Jersey in terms of population. Bottled water is found everywhere as a way for the suffering to experience some help. This situation is certainly sad, and no city or town should experience this at any circumstance. This comes after more than five years after the start of the Flint water crisis (that continues in Flint to this very day). Flint's problems came by the deliberate switching of the water source. Newark's problem came about by a cover up of the city's water authority and by politicians. The head of the Newark Watershed Corporation is heading to prison for bribery and skimming profits. Years ago, many people without experience in water testing tested the water. Now, we find many tests being found to have lead in the water at Newark, NJ. So, the Watershed Corporation is complicit in financial corruption and ignoring increased levels of lead.
Newark's pipes must be replaced, since many of them existed since the 19th century. that will take commitment and economic resources. The common lie among Republicans and some Democrats is that there is no money to rebuild American infrastructure. The truth is that we spend almost 1 trillion dollars overseas (involving military expenditures), so we do have money to do this. Newark is just a train ride to New York City. It's that close. Yet, Wall Street holds trillions of dollars of financial assets. That is why radical solutions not centrism is necessary. How can centrism or being a moderate end Newark's water crisis (with tons of people being required to use bottles for everyday living or they will experience lead poisoning). That doesn't make sense. Centrism can never solve the water problems in Flint, Michigan either. That is why structural change is necessary in America.
Today, the Trump team has cut much funding that would be used from disaster relief (from FEMA) and is funding the southern border with it. This outlines the callous attitude of Trump. The reality is that Puerto Rico is part of America, and Trump has been notorious for using offensive language about Puerto Rican people and their governmental leadership. He or Trump threw towels at the Puerto Rican people when he came into the island which was highly offensive. We know that austerity historically doesn't work to solve problems. You need investments that help people, compassion, tolerance, empathy, and strength to overcome the evils of oppression. We send great respect to the groups in Puerto Rico saving lives.
Many people criticize neoliberals. These people (who disagree with neoliberalism) include progressives who want a more left Democratic party. What is a neoliberal? A neoliberal is a political person who wants the Wall Street status quo. They believe in the free market that must be utilized to solve every government policy without much governmental involvement. They believe in privatized education, in an more hawkish foreign policy, in cutting the social safety net, in a more moderate approach on economic issues, and they believe in centrism. In other words, neoliberalism is about maintaining the capitalist order at the expense of the exploitation of poor and working class people. So, far right extremism and neoliberalism are enemies of democracy.
The news talk about the G7 meeting. The G7 stands for Group of Seven. The meeting is about the most powerful industrialized nations on Earth having a meeting to discuss about issues ranging from trade to other foreign policy matters. The issue in the conference deals with divisions and disagreements among the G7 issues like climate change, North Korea, Russia, etc. Trump wants Russia to get back into the G7. The meeting took place in France. Trump wants a more unilateral, nationalistic foreign policy, while historically America has a more international foreign policy since the end of World War II. Trump is silent on Brazil's leaders doing little to deal with the fire at the Amazon's rainforest. The trade war with China is detrimental to world society. If this doesn't become resolved, we could face the largest global capitalist economic recession since the Great Depression of the 1930's. France President Emmanuel Marcon wants a more aggressive policy involving climate change. Trump is hostile towards international plans in addressing environmental issues when icecaps from Greenland is melting, and we have record summer heat worldwide. Trump has no legal power to dictate to American companies to not trade with China. France wants Europe empowered without being an American vassal. While this is going on, we shall see what will happen next.
By Timothy
Tuesday, August 27, 2019
Monday, August 26, 2019
African Diaspora Information.
The irony is that cities like Hamburg and Berlin were former center of the Allied occupation forces after World War II. Recent immigration in both cities has caused the Afro-German population in those communities to massively increase. About 70,000 Afro-Germans live in Berlin. During the 1720's, Ghana born Anton Wilhelm Amo was sponsored by a German duke to become the first African to attend a European university; after completing his studies, he taught and wrote in philosophy. Many black people were victims of German slavery. That is why Germany and other European imperialism divided up Africa via the 1884 Berlin Conference. Many black Germans were educated at universities while others were in other aspects of society. The Nama people in Africa were exterminated by Germany in 1907. Bernhard Bernburg promoted genocide of black people. This is a time to condemn murderers and celebrate the life of Afro-German people. Afro-German Ignatius Fortuna lived in the 1700’s. For an autobiography of an Afro-German in Germany under Nazi rule see Hans Massaquoi's book Destined to Witness. Steffi Jones is the President of the Organizing Committee of the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup and head coach of the Germany women's national football team from 2016 to 2018. Since 1981, many Nigerians, Ghanaians, other Africans came to Germany to study in German universities and live their own lives. The largest African groups in Germany came from Nigeria, Somalia, Ghana, Eritrea, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Gambia, Senegal, Guinea, Kenya, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Togo, etc. Many Afro- Germans are known for writing literature like Esi Edugyan, Gayl Jones, etc. One political group that promotes the human rights of Afro-Germans is the Initiative of Black People (Initiative Schwarzer Deutscher). The ISD wants people to know about oppression in order to end discrimination. They send outreach to the government and the media of Germany. Zeca Schall is an Afro-German politician. Karamba Diaby is a member of the Bundestag. John Ehret was Germany’s first Afro-German mayor. Famous Afro-German artists are Ayo, Jessica Wahls, Lou Bega, Harris, etc. The SFD - Schwarze Filmschaffende in Deutschland (Black Artists in German Film, literally Black Filmmakers in Germany) is a professional association based in Berlin for directors, producers, screenwriters, and actors who are Afro-Germans or of Black African origin (and living in Germany). They have organized the "New Perspectives" series at the Berlinale film festival. Lelia Negra, Richard Adjei, Gerald Asamoah, Celia Sasic, and other people are Afro-German film stars and athletes.
There are tons of Afro-French people who made a difference in society. There are many Afro-Caribbean and Afro-French MPs in France. Roger Bambuck was the Minister of Youth and Sports from 1988 to 1991. Aime Cesaire was the mayor of Fort-de-France and deputy from Martinique for the PCF/Martinican Progressive Party. Blaise Diagne was the black African human being elected to the French Chamber of Deputies and the first to hold a position in the French government (of black African descent). Rama Yade was the former minister and Secretary of State. Laetitia Avia is the lawyer of Togolese descent, and she is member of the National Assembly for the 6th constituency of Paris since 2017. Danièle Obono, of Gabonese descent, is the MP for La France Insoumise representing the 17th Paris constituency since the legislative elections of 2017. Kemi Seba is a Pan-Africanist political leader. Rokhaya Diallo, is French journalist, of BET-France host, author, a filmmaker, and an activist for racial, gender and religious equality. Louis-Georges Tin fights for justice. Afro-French athletes include Tony Parker, Johan Petro, Isabelle Yacoubou, Isaia Cordinier, the late Raoul Diagne (1910-2002), Larbi Benbarek (1914-1992), Delphine Cascarino, Grace Geyoro, Viviane Asseyi, Christine Arron, Laura Flessel-Colovic, Yannick Noah, Vanessa James, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Teddy Riner, etc. Josephine Baker was an entertainer in France, and she loved the country. Fatou Diome is a best-selling and award-winning author of Senegalese origin. Aissa Maiga and Sonia Rolland are famous actresses of France. Imany is a famous woman singer in France. Helene and Celia Faussart or Les Nubians is a great Afro-French singing duo.
Afro-Spaniards have people with West/Central African descent. Autumi Toasije is a historian and pan-African activist who is Afro-Spanish. Juan Latino lived from 1518 to 1596. He was Afro-Spanish person and a black professor at Granada during the sixteenth century. His parents were black slaves. Juan Latino was a very intellectual person. He excelled in classical languages and music. He studied with the famous grammarian Pedro De Mota. Juan Latino received the degree of Bachelor. He was 28 years old at that time. He was set free and in Granada, he received the Chair of grammar and Latin language of the Cathedral; he held that post for 20 years. Juan Latino wrote many forms of literature. Juan de Pareja lived in from 1606 to 1670. He was a painter. Many modern day Afro-Spanish entertainers are Virginia Buika, Concha Buika, the journalist Desiree Ndjambo, and other people. Rita Bosino and Dolores Johnson Sastre are Afro-Spanish politicians. Josephine Onyia, Yago Yao, Rodolfo Bodipo, and other Afro-Spanish athletes are famous.
Afro-Italian people live heavily in Rome, Milan, Turin, Palermo, Bologna, Brescia, Bergamo, and Florence. There has been an increase of 40 percent of migrants coming into Italy in 2017. Many of them arrived from Africa. There were many people in the era of ancient Rome. Roman writers described people with physical characteristics of sub-Saharan Africans as "Aethiopes", but the term carried no social implications. Elena Angione and Jean-Leonard Touadi are famous Afro-Italian leaders. Paolo Dal Molin was an athlete born in Cameroon. Edwige Gwend is a famous woman judoka born in Cameroon. One great track and field athlete who represents Italy and was born in Cote d’Ivoire is Audrey Alloh. Cecile Kyenge is a famous Afro-Italian politician. She is the Minister of Integration.
Afro-Caribbean culture in Jamaica is dominated by music like reggae, government institutions, art, and cuisine. Jamaican culture has a large, global influence. Marcus Garvey was born in Jamaica. Hip hop artists like Busta Rhymes, the late Heavy D, the late Notorious B.I.G. are of Jamaican descent. The reggae stars Peter Tosh and Bob Marley loved Jamaica too. Roger Mais (1905 – 1955) was a journalist, a poet, and a playwright who wrote many short stories, plays, and novels, including The Hills Were Joyful Together (1953), Brother Man (1954), and Black Lightning (1955). The island is famous for its Jamaican jerk spice, curries and rice and peas which are integral to Jamaican cuisine. Jamaica is also home to Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee. Cricket is a staple of Jamaica (with players like George Headley, Courtney Walsh, and Michael Holding). Also, Jamaica is home to some of the greatest track and field athletes in human history. These men and women Jamaican track and field legends include people like Usain Bolt, Arthur Wint, Elaine Thompson, Merlene Ottey, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Kerron Stewart, Aleen Bailey, Veronica Campbell-Brown, Sherone Simpson, Yohan Blake, George Rhoden, Deon Hemmongs, Asafa Powell, Juliet Cuthbert, etc. Sanya Richards-Ross was born in Jamaica, and she represented America in the Olympics. Jamaica has also produced several world class amateur and professional boxers including Trevor Berbick and Mike McCallum. First-generation Jamaican athletes have continued to make a significant impact on the sport internationally, especially in the United Kingdom where the list of top British boxers born in Jamaica or of Jamaican parents includes Lloyd Honeyghan, Chris Eubank, Audley Harrison, David Haye, Lennox Lewis and Frank Bruno, Donovan "Razor" Ruddock, Mike Tyson, and Floyd Mayweather Jr., whose maternal grandfather is Jamaican. When you think about Jamaica, you think about massive cultural power.
By Timothy
Saturday, August 24, 2019
The ADOS and their anti-African bigotry exposed once again.
https://twitter.com/ImaniKushan/status/1165249511494733830
https://twitter.com/Themis_Eirene/status/1165117193039884288
https://twitter.com/TalibKweli/status/1165054133193363458
https://twitter.com/keithboykin/status/1164884898357882881
https://twitter.com/ImaniKushan/status/1164639080942067712
https://twitter.com/ImaniKushan/status/1164610550854246401
https://twitter.com/ImaniKushan/status/1164525573420572672
https://twitter.com/Themis_Eirene/status/1165117193039884288
https://twitter.com/TalibKweli/status/1165054133193363458
https://twitter.com/keithboykin/status/1164884898357882881
https://twitter.com/ImaniKushan/status/1164639080942067712
https://twitter.com/ImaniKushan/status/1164610550854246401
https://twitter.com/ImaniKushan/status/1164525573420572672
Friday, August 23, 2019
Friday News in Late August 2019.
There is value in geography. For thousands of years, human beings have worked hard to understand lands, culture, topography, geology, demographics, population, and other parts of the geographic cosmology. When you learn about the growth of infrastructure, you are researching geography. When you're learning about trade and basic avenues of journeys, geography is part of the equation. With the advancement of the Internet and other forms of technology, geographic research is commonplace. As time goes on, more people witness the diversity of humanity. We went from having hunter-gathering societies to see the existence of large, metropolitan urban locations like New York City, London, Hong Kong, and Lagos. In urban and rural locations, there is the evaluation of infrastructure, land territories, rivers, income, health, education, and other indicators of human life. One example is that a city like New York City (filled with five borough, almost 9 million people, and numerous water supplies) relies on trade, commerce, and the utilization of its resources to promote its highest potential. Comparing continents is important, because we see how much value each continent has in the world society. We know of Africa being blessed with many resources and great people. We know of North America and South America having a strong Native American culture along with its influence felt worldwide. We know of Asia being the birthplace of so many spiritual systems and other facets of civilizations. Europe has a myriad of geographic characteristics and an interesting history. Australia is filled with power and creativity. Antarctica is a location that is very cold and explorer still amaze at its wonder. Oceania has some of the most diverse people in the world along with great history.
There are more secrets that ought to be revealed. Lydia Claud is my fifth great aunt. She was born in 1842. Lydia Claud's mother is of course Zilphy Claud (1820-1893). Zilphy and Lydia Claud lived in the area of Southampton County, Virginia. She or Lydia Claud married a man named Willis Sykes on the date of 1867. This was during the time of Reconstruction. Their daughter named Louisa Sykes. Louisa Sykes married the famous man named Charlie Wesley Lowe (1854-1954). Therefore, many people of the Lowe family is related to my family. The Lowe family came from Southampton County, Virginia. Their descendants live from Virginia to California. Later, the daughter of Louisa Sykes and Charlie Wesley Lowe was a woman named Danier Elsie Lowe (1917-2007). She was a young child who was very active in loving learning and travel. She loved romance, and she was my second cousin. She married a man named Peter Albert Fortune (1910-1981) in the year of 1933. They had a child named Calvin Lowe Fortune (1934-2000). Calvin Lowe Fortune married a woman named Carolyn Rose Cross on the date of January 16, 1957 at Suffolk, Virginia. Calvin Lowe Fortune was born in New York City. One child of Calvin and Carolyn Fortune was Steven Wesley Fortune or my fourth cousin. Steven was born in the year of 1957. Steven Fortune has a great family (he lives in New Jersey). Steve Fortune married a great woman named Cynthia Lynn McPherson (1956-2018). Cynthia L. Fortune was a mother, a lover of life, and a great human being. She was born and raised in the state of New Jersey. Steve and Cynthia's children are Jessica Leigh Fortune and Kelly Lynn Fortune (both young women are my 5th cousins). Therefore, the Claud family, the Lowe family, and the Fortune family are related to my family indeed.This information just shows how fundamentally, we are all related. We are all human beings.
One of the most important news today is the increased burning of the Amazon rainforest heavily in Brazil plus other areas of South America. This is a threat to the climate, since climate change is real, and it is a fact that increased greenhouse cases will damage ecological habitats, rise sea levels, and damage infratructure. The leader of Brazil is the far right person Jair Bolsonaro. Jair has supporters who oppose affirmative action for Afro-Brazilians, they want the status quo, and they believe in an authoritarian agenda that Trump subscribes to. Jair also has cut funding from agencies who wanted to protect the Amazon rainforest. Trees are more cut now. There are more fires now in the Amazon in 2019 than 2018 in its entire year. The rainforest helps to collect CO2 gas. Cutting these trees will allow more carbon and methane to go into the atmosphere caused more climate change. Jair Bolsonaro also said offensive statements about women and minorities. Previously, a more left wing Brazilian government helped to cut Amazon deforestation rates by 80 percent between 2003 and 2011. Far right populism has nothing to do with human rights. It has to do with suppressing these rights. That is why this story is important to be made known for all people.
Trump continues to double down in any anti-Semitic comment that any Jewish person who supports Democrats lacks loyalty to Israel or to Jewish people. Frankly, Jewish people have the right to vote for who they want. That doesn't negate their Jewish heritage. Trump has said many racist, xenophobic comments for years and has to nerve to claim to be tolerant. He also said that he is the "chosen one" to solve the problems in China. He quoted a person who viewed Trump as the "King of Israel" and that Israeli Jewish people view him as the second coming of God. You couldn't make this stuff up. The person who mention this is a person named Wayne Allyn Root. Trump has praised Root. Root is a far right extremist. He or Root accused Barack Obama of not attending Columbia University which is a lie.
Root lied and said that the 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas (that killed 58 people) was an act of Muslim terrorism when the gunman wasn't a Muslim. Trump is egoistical and has a messiah complex. That's obvious by the policies that he promotes, him praising authoritarian dictators, and his hatred of democratic institutions. Since Trump's election, there has been a huge rise in racist, anti-Semitic hate crimes in America. We have been through this before in America. Red Summer was a real historic event where hate crimes and murder against black people transpired 100 years ago. That is why it is our responsibility to fight back against evil using constructive actions. We defeated the Confederate enemy at Appomattox back in 1865, we defeated the enemy at Selma in 1965 to advance voting rights, and we will defeat the enemies of truth in the future because good will always triumph over evil. We believe in the Dream still.
By Timothy
Wednesday, August 21, 2019
Worldwide Events.
Today, the NYPD decided to fire the officer Daniel Pantaleo. After five years, and multiple investigations (in the state and federal levels), this outcome came. It certainly came too late as it is obvious from the video footage that Daniel used excessive force against Eric Garner. Daniel's actions even violated police protocol in restricting the usage of a chokehold. That is why the Garner family is calling for state and federal bans on police from using a chokehold. Patrick Lynch of the PBA in NYC once again blamed the Commissioner for the firing of Eric Garner. Lynch is a known extremist who believe that Pantaleo shouldn't be charged with anything. While Daniel can go back to his family and eat food with his family, Eric Garner is physically gone, and the Garner family will experience that pain for the rest of their lives. It is the true injustice that places the immunity of accountability among officers instead of promoting a system of fairness for all citizens.
I disagree with NYPD Commissioner James O'neil saying that if he was a rank and file officer, he would be angry at his decision. He shouldn't be angry at his decision. He should be angry at police brutality, and the reality of many people experiencing injustices as it relates to the criminal justice system. While Pantaleo is fired, he will not charged of any crime. That is the sad part of this. Rarely are officers, who do police brutality, are held accountable for their actions. Black people know from first hand experiences of the imperfections of the system. That is why we don't quit. We will continue in our journeys to advocate and fight for the justice of all people. That is how we roll now. Yes, Black Lives always Matter.
We know of him as a television personality and a meteorologist. Yet, he is more than that. He is a family man, a father, a motivational speaker, and a human being who loves his wife including his children. He is Brother Al Roker, and it was his Birthday yesterday. Humbleness is included in his personality as he always has a love for expressing empathy towards fellow human beings. Al Roker is a great author, and he has acted before. He is 65 years old, and he was born in Queens, NYC. His parents are of Afro-Caribbean descent. His mother is of Jamaican descent, and his father is of Bahamian descent. He graduated from Xavier High School in Manhattan. He had a B.A. in communications in 1976 from the State University of New York at Oswego. His cousin is the late actress Roxie Roker. Al Roker's second cousin is Lenny Kravtiz (as they share the same great grandparents). He worked in TV shows as a weather anchor since the 1970's. He worked in New York, Cleveland, and other locations. Since 1996, he has worked on the Today show to bring weather to millions of people. Al Roker has hosted parades, been on TV shows, and loves to barbecue. He has written literature as well. He loves his wife Deborah Roberts, who is a journalist in her own right. The couple has three children. Always involved in helping other, Al Roker is a great role model in our generation. I wish Brother Al Roker more blessings.
There is the 1619 project from the New York Times magazine. It is about the remembrance of the 400 years after innocent black people from Central Africa being kidnapped and sent into Hampton, Virginia. This is personal to us and all black people, since our African American ancestors were slaves. Al Shaprton is right to say that every time I write my name on a document or whatever, my last name is the name of the Europeans who owned my family. That's deep. The leader of the project, Nikole Hannah-Jones, should receive great credit in talking about this issue. The legacy of slavery is felt to this very day. What many of us eat, how we interact with society, and many actions of our lives are influenced by the legacy of slavery. This legacy deals with discrimination and health plus environmental disparities too.
The only way to heal is to confront and acknowledge the real history of America without sugarcoating it (and use policies of compensation). America was build by the oppression of black people, and black people contributed heavily in pro-democracy movements from the beginning. Also, this story of America involve the huge contributions of black Americans. We, who are black people, are never descended of weak people. Our ancestors survived the trek to the gates, the travel against our wills into the Americas, the plantation, and the abuse by tyrants. From centuries of oppression, we still rise to be poets, teachers, lawyers, fitness experts, artists, musicians, etc. That's a miracle. No other people experienced what we have experienced, and we still rise to fight for our due justice.
By Timothy
Tuesday, August 20, 2019
Monday, August 19, 2019
Cultural and Historical Information.
2019 hasn't ended yet, and we see tons of historic developments in America plus throughout the world from Presidential campaigns (among the most diverse field of Democratic candidates in American history) to the pro-democracy Hong Kong protests. This time allows us to see an opportunity to promote courage. When black people are victims of hate crimes plus being falsely accused of crimes, when immigrants are demonized by far right extremists (and murdered by a cowardly gunman in El Paso, Texas. The murderer wrote that he wanted to murder Latino people), and when overt extremists like Ken Cuccinelli lies about the words found in the Statue of Liberty in order for him to promote limits on legal immigration, then we have to show forthrightness in resisting evil. It is important to point out that as a black person, I believe in promoting the interests of my black people. This does cause me to empathize for others who are oppressed too. Evil is global, and we must defeat oppression internationally not just nationally as Malcolm X has accurately stated. This is a battle between the oppressed and the oppressor, and we are on the side of the oppressed. We know who Donald Trump is. We know about his racism, his sexism, his xenophobia, his abhorrent character, and his lies. The Washington Post recorded about 492 lies from Trump during his first 100 days in office alone. That is why we we must not only encourage those who agree with us. It is our duty to try to convince those who can change to wake up and reject the nefarious agenda of Donald Trump. Stephen Miller is one person who has influenced the development of most of the most evil, callous policies of immigration to even limit legal immigration. Reasonable gun safety reforms is never equivalent to gun disarmament regardless of what the NRA says. Not to mention that we have racial injustice in America. Many poor and working class African Americans are demonized not only by white racists but they by the bourgeoisie (including some of the middle class) among every color via elitist disrespect. The truth is that those suffering poverty deserve investments, opportunities, adequate housing, living wages, and justice not scapegoating. Rejecting the system of white supremacy and all of its manifestations is key in freeing your minds and being truly free.
This historic series about america is completely. Yet, the journey of America continues. After 400 years since the 1619 arrival of enslaved Africans to our time in 2019, we have witnessed tons of events from Juneteenth to slavery revolts. Americans of every background have made great contributions in history and culture. America has not lived up to the principles of equality and justice at many occasions, but many Americans (then and now) desire those goals. We have to be honest about America too. America's foundation was birthed by the 2 great crimes of the genocide of the indigenous peoples (and the theft of their lands), and the enslavement of African human beings. Freedom is worth fighting for. That is why progress never comes in the Universe without struggle. I was born in Southeastern Virginia, so I know fully about American society. I am a black American, and I love my Blackness. Americans have traveled into space, built skyscrapers, led progressive social movements for generations, and many of us believe in justice. Resiliency and an earnest to fight for positive change is with the souls of numerous Americans. Ideals are important as they can stir up the soul. Not to mention that we believe in solutions as well. In other words, neglected communities ought to be invested, our infrastructure need to be funded plus updated to meet 21st century needs (in the midst of massive automation in a growing post industrial economy), and affordable, universal health care should be available to all people irrespective of race, sex, income, creed, or background. America is part of us as our souls relate to the total American experience. America survived the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, two World Wars, and other social changes. We are unlike any other land in human history. We are the most diverse nation in human history. We have no official language as our diversity is part of our strength. For the record, we shouldn't have an official language either. We have our issues too. HUD being gutted and expensive housing are serious problems (many people and families struggle to get apartments, since tons of people have to work 2 to 3 jobs just to make ends meet). We have a 1968 Housing Act for a reason. America exists as one country being our of many people to become one nation. The goal of us being united under the principles of equality, liberty ,and justice is a legitimate one. The problem is that that goal isn't realized yet. We have to recognize our imperfections, and willing to criticize policies in America which are wrong in order to make the Dream real.
Many people already know about the important issues or problems in the world from climate change to economic deprivation. Subsequently, dedicated human beings legitimately want specific policy positions in getting things done that benefits all people. We have to support young leaders as young leaders always matter. Many Civil Rights leaders were young men and young women. SNCC was led by men and women being under 40 like Ruby Doris Smith-Robinson (SNCC was mentored and inspired by the late, great elder Ella Baker). Black lives Matter was created originally women under 40 years old. There is no solution long term without addressing the wage gap (including income gap) between African Americans and white Americans. This gap is an American problem caused by centuries of slavery, Jim Crow, redlining, gentrification, discrimination, racism, etc. This is an American issue, because when black Americans improve in society, all people succeed by default. We have structural problems including oppression that must be reckoned with. Centrism isn't going to solve these complications. The greatest progressive legislation in American history wasn't moderate at all. They were bold and progressive. I agree with those who want us to set up our own institutions and our own power internationally (among people of black African descent). Yet, a radical redistribution of economic and political power is a must, because we have tons of poor and homeless people in the world. Private assistance alone is not enough to rectify this situation. You need public investment too. They need emergency help before fulfilling their total human destinies. We need policies that are in favor of the common people, not the 1% alone. I don't believe in respectability politics (as a man or a woman's clothing or speech doesn't determine his or her true character), but I do believe in self respect and. In other words, we embrace ethics, integrity, and morality. Black women and black men shouldn't be degraded or disrespected. We honor the contributions of our elders, we fight injustice, we reject bigotry of any kind, and we build in our own communities. There shouldn't be nihilism, and an adherence to the truth makes a real difference in the atmosphere of our world.
Africa is within me, since I am of black African descent. I was born in the United States of America in Virginia, but my ancestors existed from Africa. Studying Africa requires respecting Africa too. Folks have to have a love of learning a myriad of information of African societies. Africa is never monolithic. Advanced technologies, different nations, and diverse flora plus fauna flourish in its lands. Hundreds of languages are spoken in Africa, and multifaceted cultures exist in the continent of Africa too. Also, we believe in democracy and freedom. Tons of Africans and those of the African Diaspora are engaging in the fight for the freedom of the press, for governmental accountability , and for the rights of the people in general (in Africa plus worldwide). This is a long journey to liberation, but let it be known that we are the original people as black people. We are the first people on Earth, and that truth can never be eliminated. We respect our elders and our neighbors. We honor hallowed traditions and cultures. Likewise, we will never take any mess. In rejecting injustice, we incorporate in our lives a sense of profound destiny and a fidelity to honor the truth.
The Yoruba people live in the Western African countries of Nigeria, Benin, Ghana, Togo, and the Ivory Coast. They are of the some of the largest ethnic groups in Africa. They are in the population of about 44 million people. Most of them live in Nigeria. Most Yoruba people speak the Niger-Congo language of Yoruba. They are culturally diverse too. Most of them are Christians and Muslims. The Yoruba culture has the traditional Yoruba religion, spiritual concepts, and various ceremonial participations. In the Yoruba religion, there is the concept of Orisa. Orisa are terms to describe the manifestations or avatars of God in the Yoruba religious views. Ogun is the god of metal, war, and victory. Sango deals with justice. Olorun is one of the principal manifestations of the Supreme God of the Yoruba pantheon, the owner of the heavens, and is associated with the Sun known as Oòrùn in the Yoruba language. The two other principal forms of the supreme God are Olodumare—the supreme creator—and Olofin, who is the conduit between Òrunn (Heaven) and Ayé (Earth). Oshumare is a god that manifests in the form of a rainbow, also known as Òsùmàrè in Yorùbá, while Obatala is the god of clarity and creativity. The Yoruba culture deals with concepts like respect, peaceful co-existence, loyalty and freedom of speech. The Yorubas were one of the first groups in West Africa to be introduced to Christianity on a large scale. Islam came into the Yoruba people centuries before Christianity came into the region. Yoruba terracotta sculptures are known in Yoruba culture. Stone culture has been created by them including metal bracelets. Many festivals take place in the Yoruba culture.
Music, dance, and drums are found in these ceremonies. The Yoruba people and their descendants are found in the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, Cuba, Brazil, Latin America, and the Caribbean. They exist in South America and Australia via Yoruba communities. It is no secret that many African Americans (if not the majority of black Americans) are descendants of the Yoruba people. Brazil, Cuba, and other places are influenced by Yoruba culture. The Xhosa people live in Southern Africa primarily. Some live in Zimbabwe too. They speak Xhosa, Zulu, English, etc. The Xhosa people honor their ancestors, use rites of passage, and have a division among people based upon age and work. The purpose of these actions was to give Xhosa people a sense of identity and culture. Traditional foods include beef (Inyama yenkomo), mutton (Inyama yegusha), and goat meat (Inyama yebhokwe), sorghum, milk (often fermented, called "amasi"), pumpkins (amathanga), Mielie-meal (maize meal), samp (umngqusho), beans (iimbotyi), vegetables, like "rhabe", wild spinach reminiscent of sorrel, "imvomvo", the sweet sap of an aloe, or "ikhowa", a mushroom that grows after summer rains. Xhosa have a diverse amount of fashion for men, women, and children.
There are drums, whistles, flutes, and other instruments in music. There are songs for various ritual occasions; one of the best-known Xhosa songs is a wedding song called "Qongqothwane", performed by Miriam Makeba as "Click Song #1". Besides Makeba, several modern groups record and perform in Xhosa. Missionaries introduced the Xhosa to Western choral singing. "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika", part of the National anthem of South Africa is a Xhosa hymn written in 1897 by Enoch Sontonga. The Oromo people are one of the largest ethnic groups in Ethiopia being 34.5% of the total Ethiopia population. They speak the Oromo language which is part of the Cushite branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family. They live in Kenya, Somalia, Australia, Canada, and other places of the world. They follow their own traditional religion. Many are also Muslims and Christians. Diverse fashion, a governing system, and other customs are part of the Omoro culture. In the 5000m women Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia set a new world record time 14:11:15. The Omoro people have fought against human rights abuses against their people in Ethiopia as well. Oromo track and field athlete Maryam Yusuf Jamal, Oromo distance running champion Kenenisa Bekele, doctors, political leaders, lawyers, and other great people are part of the Omoro community.
The Igbo people is found in Nigeria with 49 million people. Traditional Igbo political organization was based on a quasi-democratic republican system of government. In tight knit communities, this system guaranteed its citizens equality, as opposed to a feudalist system with a king ruling over subjects. Mathematics is heavily involved in the Igbo society. They created their own calendar system, a week had four days, a month consisted of seven weeks and 13 months made a year. In the last month, an extra day was added. Many people of the African Diaspora are related to the Igbo people. Bussa or the Bardbaian slave revolt leader, Edward Clyden, Aime Cesaire Martinquis, and Paul Robeson are of Igbo decsent. The Igbo were dispersed to colonies such as Jamaica, Cuba, Saint-Domingue, Barbados, the future United States, Belize, and Trinidad and Tobago, among others.
Elements of Igbo culture can still be found in these places. For example, in Jamaican Patois, the Igbo word unu, meaning "you" plural, is still used. "Red Ibo" (or "red eboe") describes a black person with fair or "yellowish" skin. This term had originated from the reported prevalence of these skin tones among the Igbo but eastern Nigerian influences may not be strictly Igbo. The word Bim, a colloquial term for Barbados, was commonly used among enslaved Barbadians (Bajans). This word is said to have derived from bém in the Igbo language meaning 'my place or people', but may have other origins. Igbo culture relates to using their language to create literature and grow their culture. In 1789, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano was published in London, England, written by Olaudah Equiano, a former slave. The book featured 79 Igbo words. In the first and second chapter, the book illustrates various aspects of Igbo life based on Olaudah Equiano's life in his hometown of Essaka. The Igbo use musical style in percussion instruments like the udu to express themselves. Masks, architecture, and rites of passage are found in the Igbo tradition too. Most Igbo people are Christian. 56 percent of them are Roman Catholic and 43 percent of are Protestant/Evangelical. Some follow Judaism. The Igbo traditional religion is known as Odinani. The supreme deity is called Chukwu ("great spirit"); Chukwu created the world and everything in it and is associated with all things on Earth. They believe the Cosmos is divided into four complex parts: creation, known as Okike; supernatural forces or deities called Alusi; Mmuo, which are spirits; and Uwa, the world. Great cuisine and music is part of the Igbo tradition. The Kongo people or the Bakongo live in Central Africa. 10 million people make up the Congo ethnic group in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo, Angola, and Gabon. Many of them are CHristian and follow traditional African religions. They are a Bantu people. The Bakongo society include farmers and other people involved in endeavors. Some are farmers who grow staples and cash crops. Among the staples are cassava, bananas, maize, taro and sweet potatoes. Other crops include peanuts (groundnuts) and beans. The cash crops were introduced by the colonial rulers, and these include coffee and cacao for the chocolate industry. Art, music, and other great cultural developments exist in the lives of the Kongo people.
By Timothy
Sunday, August 18, 2019
Some of Trojan Pam's old posts
https://abagond.wordpress.com/2016/08/05/korryn-gaines/
This is a horrifically heart-breaking story – and another wake up call for blacks in America. No one (black) is off limits. Not our children, babies, our women, our elderly, our crippled, mentally handicapped or handcuffed, not those in wheelchairs, and certainly, not black men. Our lives have zero value in this white supremacist culture. What more proof do we need?
This system, this government, this society are waging OPEN WARFARE against us — something I have been predicting for years would happen. I don’t say this with any pleasure whatsoever, but I’m hoping that black people will finally open our eyes and get out of denial and drop the illusion of inclusion. We are tolerated at best, but will never accepted as full human beings with the right to life.
I personally believe some of the police violence – which seems to be accelerating — is a STRATEGY to get black people so emotionally bent, so emotionally angry and unstable that we will begin to act out in violent and socially unacceptable ways
so that the next PHASE — martial law and mass incarceration — will appear to be justified. I’m not even sure we know who these renegade police officers are who are murdering black people. That being said, I do not believe the majority of police officers fall into the category of sociopathic killers.
What bothers me, however, is the lack of a collective moral conscience within the blue ranks and how they come out in force to support officers they know are breaking the law and committing murder. It makes one wonder how thin the line is between the innocent and the guilty.
For example, in Chicago, I believe many of the drive-by shootings and random murders are not being committed by “black gang-bangers” but in fact, are the random assassinations of black people for a variety of reasons, among them, to force us to move out of the now-desirable areas that whites want to reclaim.
I also believe these “assassinations” are being conducted by the police and by other military type “entities” that operate in secret, including the random lone wolf white supremacist, and/or organized white supremacist groups.
When black people die in Chicago, law enforcement and mainstream media never look beyond the “black on black gang” theory, all of which makes us a super easy target for anyone who wants to spill our blood. No one ever looks for a white assailant because no one wants to find one. Perhaps, they know the truth and know we do not.
There will be those black people, who in despair, will reject what I am saying, and will be driven deeper into denial, to avoid the pain of living among monsters who wantonly and gleefully spill our blood with the blessings of the majority of the white collective.
And for those who will deny this, how do the usually all-white or majority white juries vote whenever a police officer is on trial for murdering an unarmed black man, woman, or child?
NOT GUILTY.
All the “liberal” hand-wringing about police violence means NOTHING when you sit in a jury pool and vote to allow a killer to go free because the victim is black. At that point you have ZERO CREDIBILITY.
That’s why I have been advocating FOR YEARS that we MUST unify. We must decide to love, support and BE with each other for survival’s sake, and start changing the way we have been brainwashed to treat each other.
We have to stop chasing and begging for white validation (and white lovers) and finally realize that our oppression will not end until WE CHANGE what we say, think, and do.
We are in a similar situation that the Jews found themselves during the rise of Nazi Germany, who were scapegoated for all the social and economic ills of the frightened and frustrated Germans. The white supremacists plan to use black bodies to absorb the rage and fear of the white collective as this house of economic cards falls apart and unfortunately, their strategy seems to be working, as one can see from the racist rhetoric of a very popular presidential candidate.
I don’t know what it will take to get black people to wake out of this deep, dead sleep, to stop running and hiding from our real problems, and to get the courage to actually see what is happening in this nation, especially as the economy worsens.
Obama didn’t (and couldn’t) fix it. Hillary—who called black youth “super predators”–certainly won’t fix it – nor will she try. Going to the polls in November won’t make a damn bit of difference. We are the ones who will have to do what needs to be done, starting with black males and black females placing value on each other and ourselves and standing together.
(sorry about the long post!)
-Trojan Pam
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Trojan Pam
@ Afrofem
The first point is where we slightly differ. I agree with organizing but not with publicizing. I think it is a huge mistake for black people (or any oppressed group) to publicize and televise their entire strategy to the same people who are oppressing them.
The white supremacists don’t publicize their true agenda, they pretend to be doing something entirely different–which is part of the reason they are winning. Deception has been a major part of their strategy in holding the non-white world captive.
I think it’s a huge mistake to allow those outside your oppressed group into your “organization” or movement unless you have the power to control and punish them (like the white supremacists do with their black puppets).
I think marching and protesting is a waste of energy – which is why the mainstream media loves to cover black folks doing it. They will even give organizers of the more politically acceptable marches a TV mike and a little news spot to talk about it — and sometimes, high profile local whites will march with them, like the useless marches held by black people against black on black violence
Why?
Because they know IT DOESN’T WORK — but allows their victims to “blow off steam” and feel like they accomplished something when in reality they haven’t changed a thing about their oppression
So, whenever I see a black person on TV spilling our guts about how we feel and what we’re going to do about it, I know I’m witnessing a huge strategic error by a person who does not understand what a strategy is
and it will only be a matter of time before your HIGHLY PUBLICIZED organization will be infiltrated with “spies” and “agents” and “saboteurs” who will make sure your efforts will amount to little more than noise (and might get some people locked up)
Lastly, we should never accept FUNDING from those who are oppressing us.
If the people who are being oppressed are not willing to invest in their own freedom, perhaps, they do not deserve the rewards. Sounds cold but it might be true. Who knows?
Other than that, I agree with your other well-thought-out suggestions
-Trojan Pam
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Trojan Pam
@ Mack Lyons
I agree with your diagnosis that we are suffering collectively from a multitude of psychological maladies.
I used to think black people would come together when things really hit a critical point, but honestly, after much observation, I don’t believe that anymore. We are like captives in a TB ward being exposed to TB every day and trying to cure ourselves of TB.
I am absolutely certain mass collective healing and a return to sanity can only occur by a total separation and rejection of the white supremacy /beauty/religion/material/etc values. And even if that occurs, it will take generations to rid ourselves of the disease of self-hatred, self-annihilation, and white identification.
I do agree that talking about “solidarity” under the current conditions is not a solution (even as much as I personally advocate for it). In my daily contact with black folks, most of who seem apathetic to our plight, I know “unity” is not an achievable goal for folks who don’t even like each other (yea, I said it).
that being said, I do like your first two suggestions to stop patronizing the takeover of business enterprise in our communities. However, do we plan on filling the vacuum by learning how to run profitable businesses (which we seem to have extreme difficulty doing)
And I would love to see the end to our extreme financial exploitation by pay day lending and rent to buy purchases.
I don’t expect # 1-3 to work.
The entertainment industry is a satanic cult and the black and white entertainers owe their allegiance to their masters — not to mention it would be a miracle for any of them to give up their paychecks for a cause of any kind. In fact, a substantial number of black entertainers and athletes won’t even date black people, let alone make any sacrifices for the black common good. I’d write them off in general — but that’s my opinion. I just have no use for them, other than indulging in an occasional movie or song.
I disagree with number 4 about getting involved in politics. I do not believe anyone can work within a system so corrupt it’s about to destroy itself from within. It’s like getting on a sinking ship and trying to make a home on it.
Black people cannot achieve justice or equality in a white supremacy system. Absolutely NEVER. We have to leave this system or destroy. Those are the only two options.
Many people advocate out-populating whites but numbers aren’t as important as the QUALITY of those numbers. The white population on earth is less than 9% of the world’s population yet they rule most of the other 91%. South Africa was about 92% black during apartheid, yet the white minority rule them with an iron fist. The U.S. population is over 300 million, yet less than 1% (less than one million) rule a population of blacks and non-blacks, stealing our jobs, pensions, homes, and future.
Overall, your suggestions provide food for thought and it is good that at least solutions are being presented and considered. No one–including myself–have the perfect solution to this problem or we would have already solved it.
The one thing I always advocate as a beginning to finding solutions is understanding the problem
RACISM/WHITE SUPREMACY
Once we get out of denial about the system that oppresses us, we can take the next step to understanding how to free ourselves from our psychological prison.
Even while I lost hope, I still hang on to a few shreds of it.
-Trojan Pam
Trojan Pam
@ abagond
I agree. Unfortunately, after the turbulent 60s and early 70s, the white supremacists learned their lesson:
Never let the blacks choose their own leaders. We will choose their leaders for them.
We will finance them so we can control them
We will give these chosen leaders a highly visible national presence and organization so most blacks will think they’re legit
And when the time is right, we will elect a few to high office with high-sounding titles with no real power
For the few “black leaders” who are chosen by the people and slipped through our nets, the solution is simple
1. Bribe them and if that doesn’t work, defame them.
2. If that doesn’t neutralize them, we’ll imprison or kill them
And if you look at the blacks who have been killed or imprisoned (including all political prisoners who have been locked up for over a decade)
VERSUS the ones who have prospered and will live long, prosperous lives, it is easy to tell what kind of “black leader” you are looking at
Saturday, August 17, 2019
How the African Diaspora Influenced Africa’s Decolonization
https://medium.com/@dwomowale/how-the-african-diaspora-influenced-africas-decolonization-15f94d16cf0b
https://medium.com/@dwomowale/how-african-are-african-americans-african-cultural-survivals-in-the-usa-df301ba8583
https://medium.com/@dwomowale/correcting-yvette-carnells-ignorance-about-the-history-of-dashikis-27e4a3e5bc35
https://medium.com/@dwomowale/the-ados-assault-on-marcus-garveys-legacy-and-jamaicas-history-f7d85d44e895
https://medium.com/@dwomowale/africas-influence-on-the-civil-rights-movement-8ca9798692a9
https://medium.com/@dwomowale/a-response-to-antonio-moores-comment-about-chattel-slavery-in-the-caribbean-more-intellectual-260a5ec27406
https://medium.com/@dwomowale/jay-z-and-the-struggle-to-define-black-manhood-in-america-cb978ebf062d
https://medium.com/@dwomowale/how-african-are-african-americans-african-cultural-survivals-in-the-usa-df301ba8583
https://medium.com/@dwomowale/correcting-yvette-carnells-ignorance-about-the-history-of-dashikis-27e4a3e5bc35
https://medium.com/@dwomowale/the-ados-assault-on-marcus-garveys-legacy-and-jamaicas-history-f7d85d44e895
https://medium.com/@dwomowale/africas-influence-on-the-civil-rights-movement-8ca9798692a9
https://medium.com/@dwomowale/a-response-to-antonio-moores-comment-about-chattel-slavery-in-the-caribbean-more-intellectual-260a5ec27406
https://medium.com/@dwomowale/jay-z-and-the-struggle-to-define-black-manhood-in-america-cb978ebf062d
Friday, August 16, 2019
Many Issues Shown.
Recently, there is the controversy over the deal with Jay Z and the NFL. Jay Z wants the NFL to promote his ROC Nation artists in halftime celebrations in exchange to some reforms dealing with social issues. Immediately, many people have called this a sellout move, and Jay Z responded back with ambiguous statements about kneeling is over and we must use action. Kneeling by definition is action. Boycotting by definition is part of action. No one reasonable says that kneeling is the only thing that we ought to do, but protest is a critical part of any struggle for our liberation. Not to mention that Keapernick has done action in foundations, and other programs to help people be educated on our civil liberties, etc. The NFL is playing chess. This looks like a business move more than a means to enact real social justice. Corporations will benefit from this more than the average Brother or Sister in the street. I think that the NFL is using this deal to try to silence unorthodox protests against the league's restricting Colin Kaepernick from playing. Also, the NFL has not addressed many owners not only being Trump supporters, but funding Trump events when we know that Trump is a stone cold racist. Trump said things in public that an ordinary man or ordinary woman would be fired from their jobs for saying. Jay Z is honest in his lyrics about being a business, Man. This debate is not new. In our black community, we have debates on whether to use business models or more revolutionary means to get our freedom. Booker T. Washington, Marcus Garvey, and W.E.B. DuBois debated these issues back in the day. Nothing is new under the sun. The lack of details in Jay Z's plans have caused people to ask legitimate questions about the motivations from Jay Z and the NFL. To this very day, the NFL has lacked accountability for its treatment of not only Kaepernick but other athletes who have decided to stand up for justice.
Jay's Z claims to be a social activist, but his record is mixed. He has brought up the documentary about Trayvon Martin and Kalief Browder. Dream Hampton said that he does things behind the scenes to help black people via investments and foundations. We know about Jay Z using scholarships to help many people. You can't say that he never helped any black person in his life, because he has helped many black people from bailing out prisoners in Ferguson plus Baltimore to policies from his foundation. Yet, we know of his errors like refusing to defend a black victim of racial profiling at Barneys, his investment in the Nets' Stadium at the expense of homes being destroyed via gentrification in Brooklyn, and his lust for neoliberal capitalism. So, I know my stuff about these celebrities. I a'int just typing these words now. I believe in Jemele Hill's view that Jay Z is being used by the NFL as a buffer in order for the NFL to absolve itself from its sins. We have to act accordingly to see that we must use chess not checkers. The best way to get solutions is by struggle, growing our own institutions, confronting corrupt corporate power, and to inspire change not for the rich interests alone but for the grassroots people in the streets especially. We have to love and care for the working class and the poor including the suffering if we want real freedom. We have to deal in political action in ending structural evils in our society. We can't worship celebrities. Confronting those in power makes a difference as history teaches us.
Representatives Omar and Tlaib are blocked from going into Israel. Trump supports this move. This isn't unusual as we know about Netanyahu. I knew about Netanyahu since the 1990's. He was a far right hardliner back then, and he is one today. He is the one who is Trump's ally when Trump is a racist. It's appalling since these two women are elected members of Congress, and they are entitled to their free speech rights. Both Omar and Talib are not anti-Semites, and they don't hate Israelis. They disagree with some governmental policies from Israel, and want justice for Palestinian human beings. They also support the nonviolent BDS movement. Trump is a disgrace as a President, and is known to target black women and other women of color who disagree with his abhorrent views. Netanyahu has been accused of bribery and fraud by his own government, and he embraces the far right extremist Bolsonario from Brazil including other people with nefarious views.
Netanyahu also praised Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Orban praised Miklos Horthy (or the Hungarian who promoted real anti-Semitic laws and worked with the Nazis). Orban had said anti-Semitic tropes against George Soros. Orban backed a state funded museum that experts say downplays the role of Hungarian collaborators. Now, Israel allowed Tlaib to come to only visit her grandmother, and Israel doesn't want her to speak out on Middle Eastern matters as a catch. This is nothing more than a curtailing of the freedom of speech explicitly. We are clear that we want justice in the Middle East. Part of that justice is making sure that the life of an Israeli is as respected as the life of a Palestinian person. That means that a progressive solution should exist among all sides and the permanent occupation of Palestine must be ended.
Trump's reckless economic policies are dangerous. We have growth in some areas of the economy, but millions of Americans are still one or two paychecks away from actual poverty. Tariffs is never a long time solution to solve economic issues as tariffs are taxes on customers who pay for goods and services. He wants to punish China, but he passed his tax cuts for the wealthy that has expanded the deficit plus debt. Economic indicators should be analyzed, and fermenting trade wars is not wise especially during a fragile economy. Some predict an economic correction, because of the continuing fall in bond yields, a financial crisis in Argentina, political instability in Europe in the Brexit crisis, and the protests in Hong Kong. Also, farmers are owed more respect than being victims of some trade war. Many farmers have sold their cows, and some farmers are desperate for a resolution. Therefore, these tariffs have to end, and we have to have a settlement. Germany's economy has contracted by 0.1 percent in the second quarter. Germany has a powerful economy especially in manufacturing. There is a contraction in exports. The U.S. Federal Reserve continues to cut interest rates in order to try to stabilize the economy. These events show how economic nationalism at the end of the day doesn't work, because we have a global, interdependent economy. This is also why the social safety net can't be completely privatized as some Republicans want. 10% of American households own 84% of all stocks. 52% of Americans have money invested in the stock market. The oligarchs were bailed out during the 2008 economic meltdown not most homeowners. What happens in America will effect the world and vice versa.
By Timothy
Thursday, August 15, 2019
The Stories of Claud family continued.
One of Zilphy Claud's descendants was Frank Thomas Claud (1861-1948). He was a religious man, and he had many children. He was married twice. His first wife was Josephine Worrell (1864-1884). His second wife was Elizabeth Whitehead. One of Frank Thomas Claud's and Elizabeth Whitehead's children was Joseph James Claud (1894-1988). Joseph James Claud lived from September 18, 1894 to December 1, 1988 at Franklin, Virginia. He married a woman named Georgie Bynum (1896-?). Their children were Amos Claud (1918-1965), Ella Lou Claud (1919-1971), Christopher Claud (1920-1985), Christine Claud (1921-?), Ruth Victoria Claude (1923-2009), Bishop Lloyd C. Claud (1926-2011), and Frank Daniel Claude (1929-1998). Frank Daniel Claude was my 3rd cousin. He was born on August 8, 1929. His wife was Mary Frances Miller (1931-1999). Frank Daniel Claude and Mary Frances Miller had the following children: Phillip Claude (1949-present), Gregory Ricordo Claude (1952-present), Francine Claude (1954-present), Constance Denise Claude (1959-present), Michael Thomas Claude (1961-present), Kevin Levon Claude (1975-1993), and Jacquelyn Claude. The children of Frank Daniel and Mary Frances Miller are my 4th cousins. Philip Claude married Debra Venesse Frazier (She graduated from John F. Kennedy High School at Suffolk, Virgnia at 1969, and she lived in Goldsboro, North Carolina) on the date of January 9, 1971 at Nansemond, Virginia or Suffolk, Virginia. Their children are Tanya Nikita Claude (1971-present), Tierrie Nikia Claude (1976-present), Tori Nivon Claude (1980-present), and Taryn Naisha. These children are my 5th cousins.
A great member of the African American Claud family was Mason Ann Claud (1887-1961). She was my 2nd cousin. She was the daughter of Frank Thomas Claud (1861-1946. Frank Thomas Claud was the direct descendant of Zilphy Claud) and Elizabeth Whitehead (1868-?). Mason Ann Claud was born on June 21, 1887. Later, she married Reuben Smith (1884-?). Mason Ann Claud and Reuben Smith had the following children: Frank Rubin Smith (1911-1964), Rosetta Smith (1914-200), Bettie Sue Smith (1915-1988), Lila H. Smith (1918-2002), Robert Linwood Smith (1920-1977), Bertha Lee Smith (1923-1989), and Wallac Smith (1928-?). Bettie Sue Smith or my 3rd cousin married Howard Turner (1911-1942) on the date of December 31, 1936 at Capron, Virginia. Bettie Sue Smith and Howard Turner had the following children: Mary Lizzie Turner (1938-1990), Lucy Mae Turner Jones (1939-present), Leslie Turner (1941-present), Ada Blanch Turner Harris (1942-present), Delois Turner, and Leola Turner. Mary Lizzie Turner was my 4th cousin and she lived from February 14, 1938 at Southampton County, Virginia to June 26, 1990 at Norfolk, Virginia. Mary Lizzie Turner once lived on the 300 block of Tidewater Drive at Norfolk, Virginia. She was a member of the Shiloh Baptist Church. Mary Lizzie Turner married Armond Boykins Jr. (1937-2013) on November 12, 1955 at Courtland, Virginia. Their children are the following: Eldred Lee Boykins (1956-present), Toni Curtis Boykins (1957-present), Pamela Denise Boykins (1958-present), Armond Boykins III (1959-present), Sandra Marie Boykins (1961-present), and Roderick Torris Boykins (1964-1999). My 5th cousin Sandra Marie Boykins married Vernon Lasell Fields on June 16, 1979 at Norfolk, Virginia. Their children are Dominique Lasell Fields and Darrius Fields (both of them are my 6th cousins). Dominique Lassell Fields was born on June 7, 1983 and married Catrice Devonne Brown (1979-present) on April 12, 2010 at Norfolk, Virginia.
By Timothy
Wednesday, August 14, 2019
Black Agenda Report
https://blackagendareport.com/afro-descendents-americas-denounce-neo-liberalism-and-imperialism
https://blackagendareport.com/us-black-peace-delegation-returns-venezuela
https://blackagendareport.com/fight-mass-incarceration-our-ancestors-fought-slavery
https://blackagendareport.com/red-summer-1919-explained
https://blackagendareport.com/iran-mass-shootings-mainland-us-empire-state-decay
https://blackagendareport.com/freedom-rider-no-racism-just-russians
https://blackagendareport.com/us-black-peace-delegation-returns-venezuela
https://blackagendareport.com/fight-mass-incarceration-our-ancestors-fought-slavery
https://blackagendareport.com/red-summer-1919-explained
https://blackagendareport.com/iran-mass-shootings-mainland-us-empire-state-decay
https://blackagendareport.com/freedom-rider-no-racism-just-russians
Views on Life.
Stephen Miller's policies definitely want to decrease legal immigration. Trump wants to deny green cards to legal immigrants on public assistance. Using that policy back then would mean that tons of immigrants (who are of Irish, German, Greek, Afro-Caribbean, Italian, and Jewish descent) from the 19th century and early 20th century would never be allowed to be in America. This classist, xenophobic sentiment is embraced by Trump supporter or acolyte Ken Cuccinelli. He lives in Virginia, and I was born in Virginia. Ken was born in New Jersey not in Virginia. People from Virginia know all about Ken, since he was once the Virginian attorney general years ago. Ken Cuccinelli is so extreme that he believes in stripping away birthright citizenship. That plan is a violation of the Fourteenth Amendment, since the 14th Amendment mentions that all people born in America is an automatic citizen. Ken once entertained Birtherism (which is the racist lie that Barack Obama was not born in America) until later on. Miller, and others want only rich, mostly people of European descent to come into America as immigrants. In life, you have to keep it real.
Trump's policy will penalize numerous legal immigrants. This comes after a gunman targeted Latino Americans in El Paso, Texas, and another gunman targeted innocent people in Dayton, Ohio. Ken Cuccinelli's lies go against the words found in the Statue of Liberty. Those words are found on a tablet which cites a poem from Emma Lazarus, who was a poet. Emma Lazarus was a Jewish American of Sephardic descent who made the poem to advance tolerance and human dignity. Her ancestors fled the Inquisition in Brazil in order to have a better life. In other words, the words from the Statue of Liberty doesn't discriminate based upon income level. It invites the rich and the poor to come into America if he or she desires. That should be the real value of our country. It is about welcoming the stranger, loving black people, rejecting poor-shaming, and believing in justice for all. Trump wants an immigration policy that punishes even legal immigration if a legal immigrant uses food stamps, Medicaid, etc. So, this policy is conclusive evidence that Trump's policies about immigration is never about concern for the American people. It is about fear, bigotry, and scapegoating immigrants for the deeds done by the one percent for generations. Trump has used racist language, racist policies, and spewed xenophobia. He has demonized black women who oppose his agenda, and he has mocked human beings in other ways. Trump cracking down on legal immigration is representative of cruelty and a sick mentality of hypocrisy.
A lot of news are coming out today. Thousands of Hong Kong protests have shut down a Hong Kong international airport. They desire more democratic freedom. The protesters are against the police violence in Hong Kong. The police used tear gas and rubber bullets including batons in the area. Hong Kong has the 8th largest airport on Earth. The protest movement has lasted for about 10 weeks. The Chinese country has denounced the protests. Some fear that the Beijing military could intervene. While the U;S. is being low key, Chinese leaders have accused Americans of using the protesters as low-key agents of causing a color revolution. Obviously, the Hong Kong protesters are independent of any influence from other nations. Now, the U.S. is still having a trade war with China. Before 1997, Hong Kong was a British colony with little democracy. Today, people of Hong Kong are once again fighting for a stronger democracy. So, we support Hong Kong protesters desiring more freedom, but Hong Kong ought to have autonomy without U.S. control and without brutal Chinese occupation too.
We haven't come all this way into 2019 to acquiesce to the conservative, neoliberal wing of the Democrat Party. Moderates have complained about even Social Security decades ago, and now we see how Social Security (a government program I might add) has helped tons of American lives. Every revolutionary law passed in American history wasn't centrist. It was progressive. We can go down the list. The foreign aid helping millions worldwide, the Civil Rights Act, Medicare, the Voting Rights Act, and like-minded laws are strongly progressive. The common myth is that we have to placate our values at the door to try to get voters who wouldn't vote against Trump anyway. A real solution is to motivate the progressive base and inspire those on the fence (from all 50 states and beyond) to vote against Trump. The refutation of centrism is the following: incrementalism only prolongs massive suffering that the homeless, the oppressed, the poor, etc. experience in their daily lives. It is a band-aid, and only revolutionary solutions will cause long-lasting change in the lives of human beings who experience oppression, bigotry, and poverty. Centrism believes in the lie that a human's freedom is determined by time gradually enacted when freedom ought to be an inborn right immediately given to the human race.
Acquiescing to the status quo is never an option. Another issue is that many Democratic candidates are calling Donald Trump a white supremacist. They're right, but some folks want to tone that down. We won't. We will stand up for our values and call things out as we see it. If someone claims to love capitalism and agrees with massive bailouts of corporations, then that person is a hypocrite, since real capitalism is about the market determining results without any form of government intervention. We don't need capitalism for the poor and socialism for the rich. We want a just, fair system whereby income inequality is addressed. We know what Dr. King said about the moderates. We know Malcolm X was never a moderate. Claudia Jones wasn't one either. The media in many cases tries to shame progressives in saying that certain things are impossible or too radical to exist (when we spend billions of dollars in some affairs without regard to other affairs). The problem is about some rich folks who have more concerns about their privilege instead of advancing universal health care, affordable education, an end to police brutality, an end to the corruption found in the judicial system, and other real policies for change. Bernie Sanders isn't even a super radical person. He is a FDR Democrat like Elizabeth Warren. In Europe, Warren and Sanders would be considered mainline liberals. This race reminds me of 1972, but the difference is that these 2019 candidates have more diversity. In the final analysis, the goal should be that Trump (who is a blatantly racist, xenophobic person) only has one term of office. The good news is that neoliberalism is about to be over. Trump will be gone from office someday. Every Democratic candidate is a whole lot better than Trump in my opinion. We realize that plans are important. Therefore, we have to be inspiring and bold in our vision.
By Timothy
Tuesday, August 13, 2019
Monday, August 12, 2019
Information about history and culture.
There is a long history involving Virginia and World War II. William T. O’Neill was from Virginia. He was involved in D-Day where he was part of the members of the landing crafts that landed on the Normandy beach. These crafts transported tanks and cargo. Major Thomas Dry Howie served as the operations officer of the 3rd Battalion, 116th Regiment. These were called the Stonewall Brigade on D-Day. He also taught at Stanton Military Academy. He fought the Nazis and died during a July 17, 1944 Nazi attack. His men took his body into the city of St. Lo. His body was covered with the American flag. Howie was one character that inspired Tom Hanks’s Captain Miller character in the movie “Saving Private Ryan.” Howie wrote to his wife, Elizabeth Payne Howie. Also, many African Americans were in Virginia to fight the Nazis and participate in the military. Frederick Branch was the first African American Commissioned 2nd Lt. His wife was Peggy Branch. Frederick Clinton Branch (1922-2005) was the first African American officer of the United States Marine Corps. Having received a bachelor's degree in physics from Temple in 1947, he taught at Dobbins High School in Philadelphia until he retired in 1988. Captain Branch died on April 10, 2005 and was buried at Quantico National Cemetery in Quantico, Virginia. The Virginian George Marshall helped to organize the Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe after World War II. Europe was devastated after the Second World War. Cities were destroyed and massive homelessness transpired. The Marshall Plan allowed over $12 billion (or almost $100 billion in 2018 U.S. dollars) in economic assistance to rebuild Western European economies. There was a catch. It was also used to not only modernize industry. It wanted to prevent the spread of Communism in Europe. The Marshall Plan is not with its critics. Critics from the right didn’t like it, since it contradicted laissez faire capitalism. Critics from the left viewed it was a slick economic imperialism to dominate Western European societies and advance the power of transnational corporations. Back then, most Americans, British, French, and Italians supported the Marshall Plan.
By the 1970’s and the 1980’s, Austin had a widespread, large development economically. It was only halted with the Savings and Loan crisis of the late 1980’s. During the era of growth, debates happened between developers and preservationists. There was the preservation of Barton Springs and the extension of the Edwards Aquifer. There was a resistance to the growth during the 1970’s. Some didn’t like the new apartment complexes and traffic flow. Some neighborhood groups worked together to protect residential areas. There were more than 150 of such groups by 1983. Environmentalists formed a political movement to protect streams, rivers, lakes, watersheds, and wooded hills from environmental degradation. Later, there were many environmental protection ordinances during the 1970’s and the 1980’s. There was a program from 1971 to beautify the shores of Town Lake (now called Lady Bird Lake), a downtown lake impounded in 1960 behind Longhorn Crossing Dam. There were historic preservationists who didn’t want Austin’s architectural heritage gone. Many historic buildings were maintained or restored. Many neighborhood groups and environmentalists fought politically business and development interests over the management of growth. Many home grown businesses were replaced by corporate retail branches. In the 1970's, Austin became a refuge for a group of country and western musicians and songwriters seeking to escape the music industry's corporate domination of Nashville. The best-known artist in this group was Willie Nelson, who became an icon for what became the city's "alternate music industry"; another was Stevie Ray Vaughan. In 1975, Austin City Limits premiered on PBS, showcasing Austin's burgeoning music scene to the country. Many anti-establishment musicians performed at the Armadillo World headquarters. Austin is a place where musicians started their careers. That is why it has been called, “The Live Music Capital of the World.” The economic boom in Austin continued in the 1990’s. New technology came about. IBM worked in Austin. The dot com boom and the dot com bust transpired in Austin too.
Austin is now a home for game development, film-making, and popular music. By May 23, 1999, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport served its first passengers, replacing Robert Mueller Municipal Airport. By 2000, Austin was the center of a media focus as the headquarters of presidential candidate and Texas Governor George W. Bush. The headquarters of his main opponent, Al Gore, were in Nashville, thus re-creating the old country music rivalry between the two cities. Also in the 2000 election, Austinites narrowly rejected a light rail proposal put forward by Capital Metro. In 2004, however, they approved a commuter rail service from Leander to downtown along existing rail lines. Capital MetroRail service finally began service in 2010. In 2004, the Frost Bank Tower opened in the downtown business district along Congress Avenue. At 515 feet (157 m), it was the tallest building in Austin by a wide margin, and was also the first high rise to be built after September 11, 2001. Several other high-rise downtown projects, most residential or mixed-use, were underway in the downtown area at the time, dramatically changing the appearance of downtown Austin, and placing a new emphasis on downtown living and development. Toll roads existed in 2006. Some wanted to fund highway projects, but others viewed them as a double tax. By March of 2018, four explosions were in Austin, Texas. Austin continues to experience popularity and rapid growth. Young people have heavily moved into the city. Austin is known for its liberal politics and alternative culture. It has lower housing costs as compared to other areas of America. There is the promotion of smart growth. People debate environmental concerns too. Employment growth and rising housing costs have existed as well. Austin is an iconic city of America.
Austin’s culture is diverse. It is known for supporting independent businesses and its eccentricity. That is why many people of Austin want its culture to maintain itself. There is the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center in Austin (at the Rainey Street Historic District). According to the Nielsen Company, adults in Austin read and contribute to blogs more than those in any other U.S. metropolitan area. Austin residents have the highest internet usage in all of Texas. Austin was selected as the No. 2 Best Big City in "Best Places to Live" by Money magazine in 2006, and No. 3 in 2009, and also the "Greenest City in America" by MSN. According to Travel & Leisure magazine, Austin ranks No. 1 on the list of cities with the best people, referring to the personalities and attributes of the citizens. In 2012, the city was listed among the 10 best places to retire in the U.S. by CBS Money Watch. In 2015, Forbes listed Austin as #1 Boom Town because of its economic strength, including jobs among other appealing attributes .Many trailers, restaurants, stores, coffee shops, and other places are found in the South Congress shopping district.
The Rainey Street Historic District is a neighborhood in Downtown Austin consisting mostly of bungalow style homes built in the early 20th Century. Since the early 2010's, the former working class residential street has turned into a popular nightlife district. Much of the historic homes have been renovated into bars and restaurants, many of which feature large porches and outdoor yards for patrons. Austin is home of many festivals from the Austin City Limits Music Festival to the Kite Festival. Texas barbecue and Tex-Mex cuisine is found in Austin, Texas. Breakfast tacos and queso are popular in the city. That is why Austin is called, “the home of the breakfast taco.” African Americans, people of Czech descent, and people German of German descent have contributed heavily to Austin culture. Six Square is the African American Cultural Heritage District. It’s located in East Austin (since 1928. It has been filled with businesses, schools, 2 colleges, etc. Germans, Lebanese, Italians, Swedes, and others lived in the area too). The African American Cultural and Heritage Facility was at a place where one of the first freed slaves lived at. The George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center was Texas’ first neighborhood African American museum. Music from orchestra, country, hip hop, soul, gospel, and pop are all found in Austin. A film culture is strong in Austin like the SXSW Film Festival and the Austin Film Festival. International films are hosted in the city. Dynamic culture is always found in the city of Austin.
By Timothy
Saturday, August 10, 2019
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