One major lifeblood of civilization is agriculture. Agriculture requires the usage of the elements of soil, water, air, and other components of the Universe to not only develop crops. Agriculture deals with commerce in general, imports, exports, feeding families, growing the economy, and seeking to develop human living in multifaceted ways. The United States Department of Agriculture has helped many people to grow their livelihoods. We still have a long way to go with racism in agriculture, Big Agra having monopolistic powers in many cases, many poisons promoting in farming, and the issue of the future of agriculture in general (especially with the advancement of climate change). The centralization of seed ownership (or seed and biotechnological consolidation) being a tightly controlled product has disproportionally harmed Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) communities for a long time. That certainly must change. According to Kiki Hubbard, Advocacy and Communications Director at Organic Seed Alliance, "Seed used to be managed as an open, public resource." There are many sub sectors of agriculture too. Horticulture deals with the plants on the ground. We know of aquaculture relates to creating crops on water surfaces all over the world. Livestock is about human beings using animals like sheep, cows, goats, etc. to feed them crops, cultivate foods, and handle complex habitats. Forestry is about the usage of forests for developing materials in the most environmentally sound fashion possibly. Fishery does deal with constant workers finding oysters, fishes, crabs, and other aquatic organisms for establishing food resources and other purposes. After these thousands of years of human history, we know what works involving agricultural solutions. There should be the growth of nutritious seeds and replenishing soil nutrients, promoting the freedom of wild animals, and controls on weeds and pests. Agriculture is a great, outstanding profession that help to grow beets, cabbages, corn, lettuce, muskmelon, peas, radish, squash, tomatoes, a cucumbers, greens, and other healthy foods for generations. We honor the agriculture workers and experts of every color who has helped humanity in enumerable ways with their hard work, dedication, and power to grow our societies.
It is important to celebrate the memory of the late Israel Claud who lived from February 4, 1936, to May 21, 2023. He was my late cousin who was born in Southampton County, Virginia. His parents were Guy and Viola Rogers Claud. Israel Claud was educated in the Southampton County school system and worshipped as a member in the Galilee Baptist Church. He moved into Suffolk working for the railroad industry. Later, Israel Claud was a mechanic with the Nansemond County Tractor sales. He loved to farm, so he was a farmer full time later during his life. Israel Claud for years was an active member of Pleasant Union Baptist Church under the leadership of the recently deceased Reverend Doctor Vaurice Chambers. Isarel was on the deacon board and served as Sunday School Superintendent. He was an advisor to the Farm Service Agency of the USDA. People knew of his wit, and he loved his tractor plus his shop. He married Carrie Elziabeth Parker on January 29, 1958 at Emporia, Virginia. Their three children are Valerie Lorraine Claud (b. 1958), Veronica Denise Claud (b. 1959), and Stanley Israel Claud (b. 1960). Ancestry.com confirmed that Israel Claud is genetically related to me in a very high level, as I'm a descendant of Zilphy Claud (just like Israel Claud). He was predeceased by his parents and siblings who are Frank, Naomi (1920-1950), Guy Franklin Claud Jr. (1925-1975), Sudie (1927-2003), Gabrilla (1930-2004), Doris (1918-2007), Lilia (1928-2005), James (1941-2020), Webster (1934-1997), Oliver (1923-2016), Viola (1937-2013), and Obadiah (1931-2014). Israel Claud was a heroic man who loved his wife and his family. Condolences do out to Israel Claud's family and friends.
By early June of 2023, I found out about a history about my 5th cousin Shem Jermmott (b. 1986). He was born in East Orange, New Jersey and now lives in Detroit, Michigan with his wife Morgan Jemmott. His parents are Marshall Ernest Jemmott (1961-2021) and Kenyatta W. Jackson (b. 1963). The parents of Kenyatta W. Jackson (or my 4th cousin) are James Jackson (1930-1988) and Mary Lou Wiggins (1940-1991). Kenyatta Jackson was born on April 30, 1963, at Orange, Essex, New Jersey. Mary Lou Wiggins's parents are Bennie Wiggins (1918-1993) and Marie Harris (b. 1914). Bennie Wiggins's parents are William Wiggins (1878-1931) and Annie L. Barnes (b. 1878). My 1st cousin William Wiggins's parents are Nottoway descendant John Henry Wiggins (b. 1853) and Cordelia (Candy) Turner (1860-1934). Cordelia Turner married John Henry Wiggins on December 14, 1876, at Southampton County, Virginia. Cordelia Turner or my 3rd great-grandaunt's parents are my 4th great grandparents of African American freeman Morefield Hurst Turner (1827-1918) and Milly Woodson Bozeman (1830-1910). So, everything goes full circle.
The 2024 current United States Presidential Election is very unique. It's not 2020 anymore, but many of the same political polarization has grown even more than in 2020 with reactionary laws being passed and the existence of Trumpism being firm. This campaign has President Joe Biden running for President again. Very few Democrats are running for President, and they are Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Marianne Williamson. Both Kennedy and Williamson are similar in being right on many issues like environmental causes and fighting for justice, but they have many eclectic views too. Robert Kennedy Jr. promoted the link between vaccines and autism which has no scientifically conclusive evidence. Williamson is known for wanting the higher federal minimum wage, address climate change, tackle student loan debt, and create a U.S. Department of Peace. She supports reparations for black Americans which is supported by me. She wants a 2-state solution among Israelis and Palestinians, and she believes in universal health care for all Americans. The Republican side faces the issue of the future of Trump's political future and what replacements could exist if Trump loses the GOP primary. Many new people and previous candidates are running on the Republican ticket who are Ron DeSantis, Larry Elder, Nikki Haley, Asa Hutchinson, Vivek Ramswamy, Tim Scott, Mike Pence, and Chris Christie. This race on the GOP side will be more crowded. Independent candidates are running for President too from Steve Laffey to John Anthony Castro. This 2024 Presidential election of America are dealing with diverse issues like election security (as some want to illegally try to overturn the election if a Democrat wins the 2024 election legally), immigration, crime, gun control, healthcare, aboriton, LGBTQ+ rights (including transgender human beings), the economy, multiple investigations of Donald Trump, etc. This election relates to the future of America where we see the paradox of economic growth, high inflation, political divisiveness, far right laws being passed, and divided legislature in the House including the Senate. President Joe Biden is expected to win the Democratic primary. Donald Trump is in the lead now, but folks can't underestimate Ron DeSantis (who has made laws sugarcoating black history and banning books unjustly in Florida) as he is making headway in the state of Iowa. There is no question that extremists want to abolish affirmative action, cut voting rights, eliminate human rights in general, suppress literature, and harm the rights of immigrants. Only God knows the total future, but we have to be prepared for what the future holds in the Universe.
This year is the 50th year anniversary of Hip Hop. Hip Hop is unique in many ways. To me, it's the most controversial musical genre in human history and the most resilient musical genre in human history. Hip Hop has been loved, hated, banned by many individuals, praised, and acknowledged as a key part of world culture. Like with many things, hip hop originated with black people, and it has been expressed by human beings of every color as hip hop is a universal culture. Elements of hip hop existed long before the 1970's like graffiti, turntables, rapping (we know of people rapping in the 1930's in blues/jazz songs), beatboxing, breakdancing, and Djs existed before the 1970's. Modern day hip hop was created by Kool Herc by August of 1973. So, hip hop was created by Afro-Caribbeans and African Americans working together to celebrate music in parties and celebrations. Early on, hip hop was headed by the DJ. The DJ is equivalent to the orchestra manager or conductor like Duke Ellington conducting the notes of the orchestra. The DJ in hip hop originally conducted the beats and the sounds. African Americans and Afro-Caribbeans in the Bronx and the rest of the city of New York City used block parties to have competitions and parties to see who the better hip hop artist was (in the midst of poverty, police brutality, and deindustrialization in New York City). The M.C. rose in prominence to talk about music, bragging, having fun, and other topics. During the 1970's, prominent hip hop artists were Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, The Sugar Hill gang, King Tim III, Funky Four Plus One More, Lady B, Jocko, Paulette and Tanya Winley, Ron Hunt, and Eddie Cheba. Kurtis Blow started his hip hop career during the 1970's too. By the 1980's, hip hop music changed forever. It was the time when hip hop was taken more seriously by mainstream society. The samples of funk and R&B records increased. Legends grown. LL Cool J, Salt n Pepa, Rakim, Eric B, Kane, and other artists helped to develop the Golden Age of hip hop. The Golden Age lasted from the late 1980's to the early 1990's. It featured many artists. The 1980's hip hop diversified with conscious groups like Public Enemy, hardcore reality rap (or gangster rap) with N.W.A, sexual hip hop with 2 Live Crew, and more pop rap like Will Smith and Kid and Play. The 1990's saw hip hop reach new heights of international power making billions of dollars of people. New Jack swing started the decade and in the end of the decade having hardcore, conscious, and the bling era. The two most prominent artists of the 1990's were Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G. They lived and traveled all over America and their lives were cut short unjustly by jealous, cowardly people. They remain the most influential hip hop artists of all time with their impact, talent, and style. During the 1990's, Wu Tang Clan, Outkast, Snoop, Scarface, DMX, Jay Z, Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, and other artists shown their musical abilities. By the end of the 1990's, newer artists like Mos Def, Canibus, Eminem, Nia, Jean Grae, and other people released their own musical songs and albums. By the 2000's, there was the end of the bling era and the start of new forms of hip hop sounds. Many sounds mixed hip hop and R&B together. Hip Hop became the new rock stars in terms of popularity and influence by the 2000's. In the 1990's, there were debates on the commercialization of hip hop. By the 2000's, more hip hop artists embraced themselves as a business. By the 2000's, we saw the increase influence of Dr. Dre, 50 Cent, Ja Rule, Jay Z, Eminem, Cam'ron, Mase, Ludacris, Ying Yang Twins, and other artists. The South not only grown hip hop culture but became the the large face of hip hop by the 2000's. The growth of snap and crunk were prominent.
These haters didn't complain when the movie Cleopatra featured Elizabeth Taylor. Taylor was of Western European descent, not Egyptian. They didn't complain when the Ten Commandments featured mostly white people of Western and Northern white European descent. They conveniently complain when a Netflix story about Cleopatra showed a biracial woman of color as Cleopatra. This is an account, not meant to be a totally biographical story as admitted by one leader of the project. The truth is that Cleopatra was of Macedonian descent on his father's side with a mother from an unknown origin. Also, we know for a fact that black people lived in ancient Egypt from the Nubian migrations, many ancient Egyptians having Haplogroup E sub–Saharan African people groups in the region, and hieroglyphics showing black people in Egypt. Ancient Egypt was a multiethnic civilization with diverse peoples living in it for centuries and thousands of years. Egypt has experienced invasions from the Turks, from Arabic people, and other groups of people. Therefore, modern day Egyptians have a diversity of people with diverse skin complexions. Also, modern Egypt is a hotbed of racism and anti-black sentiments that the critics of the Netflix project don't mention. The hatred of black people is global as we know. Therefore, we black people aren't worried about the hatred of some. We are the origins of the human family, and our Blackness is sacrosanct.
By Timothy
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