For over fifteen years, I have written a grandiose amount of information about the Glory of Africa. Filled with joy and inspiration, I always love to write about the power of my black people. It has been a privilege and an honor to express my views on this very important subject. We should have discernment too in standing up for our Blackness and oppose the fascist agenda of Donald Trump without question (as he has stripped black history from federal websites, view the Central Park Five as guilty, wants to deport black Haitians who were part of the legal TPS migrant program, wants DEI programs gone, and refuses to support reparations for black Americans). Many people claim to support us African Americans, but they do evil by expressing bigotry and xenophobia against Africans, Afro-Caribbeans, and all black people of the African Diaspora who was not born in America. What I find interesting is that these xenophobes sugarcoat the genocide done by white racists (who committed genocide and slavery against black people globally spanning centuries), but they want to scapegoat certain black people for their own issues. That is the definition of self-hatred. As a black American, I adhere to reparations for black Americans, but I reject xenophobia of any kind. Oppression doesn't have a limit based upon zip code or location. Africans, Afro-Caribbeans, and all black people of the globe including the rest of the African Diaspora are my Brothers and my Sisters from Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce, Natasha Hastings, Idris Elba, and to the late Afro-Brazilian leader Abdias do Nascimento. We all are born equal and are entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, irrespective of our nationality. Some of these liars who harbor hostility towards Pan African unity promote the lie to say that Jesse Jackson invented or popularized the term of African American during the 1980s. Afro-American was used by Malcolm X and Paul Robeson back in the 1960s. Malcolm X explicitly used the phrase African American too. The term of African American was utilized back in the 1700s too. We have to stand on truth. There are people who exploit the suffering of some men as an excuse to be misogynistic (when it is wrong to falsely scapegoat women for all of the evils in the world. We know about the greatness and beauty of black women), and we all oppose sexism 100 percent. Some legitimately expose the bad policies of the far-right Netanyahu Israeli government (mainstream studies document overt war crimes done by the Israeli government and Hamas). Others exploit that reality in trying to be anti-Semitic, but I reject anti-Semitism. We want all people in the Middle East (who are Jewish people, Arabic people, and people of every color) to have equality and justice without Palestinian oppression and occupation. Many Jewish people desire freedom for the Palestinian people too, and that point must be made clear. Some people exploit cultural issues to be Islamophobic, and we must always reject hatred of Muslim people as well. Therefore, we love Africa with its diverse countries, its diverse cultures, and Africa represents a precise, essential tie to the human race in general. Like always, Black is Beautiful.
It has been five years since the terrible events of the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor in the year of 2025. Recognizing that reality has nothing to do with a "victim mentality" as claimed by MAGA followers and conservative pundits. It has to do with authentically comprehending reality and truth. Racism, police brutality, and systematic oppression are facts of history indeed. On May 25, 2020, Goerge Floyd, who was a 46-year-old African American man and father, was murdered by the Minneapolis police. The police pinned him on the ground and put knelt on his neck for over nine minutes when bystanders told the police to stop. Floyd cried out for his mother and said he can't breathe multiple times. The cops showed no empathy and continued to do so until his passing. Derek Chauvin continued to oppress Floyd until his life was gone. Subsequently, the 2020 anti-racism and anti-police brutality protests globally from New York City to London resulted in the largest pro-black lives matter protests of all of human history. In America alone, about 26 million people took part of the multiethnic and multiracial protests against police terrorism. That proves to everyone that people among every color globally have sincere empathy for black human beings. It was a watershed time in society during the middle of the early era of the COVID-10 pandemic when millions of people were victims of the COVID-19 virus. It is also important to recognize the extrajudicial murders of black women like Breonna Taylor, Natasha McKenna, Kayla Moore, Korryn Gaines, Atatiana Jefferson, etc. as their lives have equal value to black men including all black people. This journey of the black freedom movement has a long history. Our black ancestors survived the Maafa, antebellum slavery, the peonage system, redlining, Jim Crow apartheid, housing discrimination policies, and other trials and tribulations to promote our diverse Black Excellence from STEM, music, theology, fashion, culture, and to athletics. The paradox of our time in 2025 is that the MAGA movement has influenced people to downplay or even whitewash the legitimate outrage of black people against anti-black oppression. Some podcasts and some social media advocate are explicit to harbor hatred not only of progressive views but black liberation precepts. Yet, our zeal for justice has not decreased or wavered precipitously. That is why grassroots activists have been continuing to fight against the evils of racism, police brutality, sexism, anti-immigrant terrors, and environmental and health complications. This struggle for justice must be a struggle for both economic justice and racial justice. There must be both policies to address economic inequality (as the oligarchy uses policies to benefit the mostly rich and corporate interests) and prevent racial discrimination (as class oppression must be eliminated but you need to create policies to stop racial oppression too) in social life. It's not an either/or proposition. You have to do both. In our time, we are up against the the MAGA agenda of dictatorship. The struggle continues, and we shall have the victory in the end.
One of the most popular sports on Earth is hockey. It has been expressed globally from Canada to Africa for decades. It has been played by men, women, and children of all colors and backgrounds too. Determination, strength, and discipline accurately describes the sport's composition. For a long time, hockey champions have existed among many leagues like Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe, Mario Lemieux, and other people. Many people have fought in the hockey games for trying to gain overt victories. Yet, the camaraderie among the players is truly priceless indeed. For generations, hockey has brought families together, advanced more teamwork, and made history in multifaceted ways. For example, the first black player in the National Hockey League was Willie O'Ree, who debuted with the Boston Bruins on January 18, 1958. He was a trailblzaer for diversity in hockey. The popularity of hockey has increased since the end of World War II. In our time, the hockey games are shown on ABC, TNT, and other networks. The Stanley Cup is a cultural staple of our world society.
Texas is a state filled with a lot of history and culture. From cowboys to steaks, Texas has been a cultural beacon of American society. There have been activists like Barbara Jordan who desired civil rights back in the day. Today, Jasmine Crockett has risen up to defend our human rights and confront the nefarious agenda of the Trump movement. Texas is a state with a stronghold of conservative people, and its urban communities especially have dedicated progressive people. Also, many rural and suburban areas in Texas have progressives too. Texas is a place that has major technological industries and is one major epicenter of country music culture. It has massive hip hop expansion, rock influences, jazz, gospel (The Moriah Sisters, Tamela Mann, Les Beasley, Guy Penrod, Yolanda Adams, Kirk Franklin, and other gospel artists are from Texas), and it's a place where other genres of music are fully shown to the public. Texas have been involved in the civil rights struggle for justice, Texas has cultural issues debated, and it has famous political campaigns in a changing world. Texas represents America, because Texas is America. The same discussions about political policies, the same diverse cultures, and the diversity of Americans in general are found in Texas including the other areas of the United States of America too. Permanently, we believe in justice, liberty, and equality for all people. We know when Texas goes down the right path of progressive values, the rest of America and the world fill follow suit greatly.
Modern country music has existed for almost one century. People have used country music for manifold reasons. Some have expressed country music to talk about the complexities about love and romance. Some use it to describe the wonder and grandiose nature of rural culture. Other individuals just wanted to display a love of joy and having a great time. One example is how Tanner Adell, from Lexington, Kentucky, love to express herself in her songs. She is the first woman country artist to perform during the Black Entertainment Television (BET) Awards on June 30, 2024, on Sunday. Some people sing country music to be vulnerable about the pain commonly found in human longevity. It is important to reiterate the fact that black people have been a part of country music since its inception. Even the banjo originated from Africa. Now, times have changed. Decades ago, country music was mostly promoted by older people and rural people of all ages. In our generation in 2025, a higher level of younger human beings has been promoting country music genres, going into concerts and shows, etc. This spread of country music isn't just found in rural or suburban locations. It is found in urban markets with more people in the urban community wearing cowboy hats and singing country music songs. Many country music fans have been to award shows and watched country music in the privacy of their own homes.
No one should be deceived into thinking that the Trump budget bill is great. It is a terrible bill because of many reasons. It has provisions in it that will harm the working class and the rest of the American people. People like economists, business leaders, and other human beings from across the political spectrum oppose the bill. It has large tax cuts that primarily benefits the super wealthy and big corporations. It will cut billions of dollars form Medicaid, SNAP, and clean energy programs. Many poor families rely on Medicaid and SNAP to provide food and other supplies for themselves. Economists find that the bill will increase the deficit by 4-6 billion dollars. The bill makes tax cuts for the top earners permanent. 10-12 million can be get cut from Medicaid coverage. The bill wants Pell Grants to be cut making it harder for students to pay for college (for generations, Pells Grants and scholarships have helped kids out to make the college experience more affordable), student loan payments may go up due to the changes in repayment plans, etc. Rural hospitals could be shut down due to lost funding. The bill blocks state and local regulation of AI. This will harm people who don't use Medicaid too, because rural hospitals, maternity wards, and nursing homes risk being shut down. Green job losses are expected to hit over 800,000, because many in the Trump regime don't believe in the reality of climate change. The richest 35 Republican members of Congress have a net worth of $2.5 billion. They stand to gain from the GOP budget's tax cuts that disproportionately help the rich. The vast majority of Americans oppose the bill. If a black woman was in office now (who is former Vice President Kamala Harris), none of this would have existed in the first place.
Recently, I found out that I am a DNA match on Ancestry.com to Willie Anthony Bass III, who is my 3rd cousin. We are descendants of my 4th great grandparents of Morefield Hurst Turner (1827-1918) and Miley Woodson Bozeman (1830-1910). Willie Anthony Bass III's parents are Willie Bass Jr. (b. 1943) and Diane Stephanie Turner (b. 1945). My 2nd cousin Diane Stephanie Turner married Willie Bass Jr. on March 17, 1962, at Courtland, Virginia. Their children are my 3rd cousins Morrison Allen Bass (b. 1962), Willie Anthony Bass III (b. 1964), Katina Dianne Bass (b. 1977), and Edward O'Brian Bass (b. 1982). They were born and raised in the peninsula region of the 757 or Hampton Roads, Virginia. Willie Anthony Bass III married Genna Suzanne Armstrong on July 12, 1991, in Hampton, Virginia. They have many children including Mikayla Suzanne Bass (b. 1996) and Mike Bass. My 4th cousin Mikayla Suzanne Bass is married to Spencer Deon Taylor (b. 1993), and they have two daughters. One of their daughters is Makensie Taylor. Mike Bass is married to Ivyy Bebesotaa since July 19, 2023. They have a son together. Edward O'Brian Bass married Candace Rochell Bromell on October 17, 2006, at Wake, North Carolina. Their children are my 4th cousin who are Jordan Bass, Jayla Bass, and Ryleigh Bass. My 3rd cousin Morrison Allen Bass married Lisa Kay Waters (b. 1964) on August 18, 1987, at Newport News, Virginia. Their children are my 4th cousins who are Cherrice Shennel Bass (b. 1981), Shani Renee Bass (b. 1990), and Kevin Bass. Shani Renee Bass is married to Derrick Brown, and one of their children is Caleb Brown. They have another son too.
There is new information about my late 1st cousin Wilbert Randolph Faltz Sr. (1923-1985). He married Sarah Celesteen Wiggins. Their children are Anita La-Verne Faltz (b. 1954), Gloria Diane Faltz (b. 1957), Cathy Darlene Faltz (1959-2025), Walter Faltz Jr. (b. 1956), and Sherry Renee Faltz (1966-2017). Cathy Darlene Faltz lived form January 20, 1959, to May 17, 2025. She was born in Norfolk, Virginia. She was raised in a loving, Christian home. She was the second youngest sibling of her family. She had a calm demeanor and had a quiet and thoughtful nature. She graduated from Lake Taylor High School in Norfolk, Virginia (which is near the Outlet Mall). She loved music and used arts and crafts. She went to Garrett Community Baptist Church, where Bishop Johnny L. Reid was the pastor. Her daughter is Tina Maria Faltz Barns (b. 1981. Tina's husband is Antoine Damonte Barns Sr.). Cathy Darlene Faltz's grandchildren are Antoine Barns Jr., Tamiah Barns, and Tamari Barns, who live in Suffolk, Virginia. Her uncle is Reverend David L. Wiggins of North Carolina (his wife is Bernice), her Aunt is Bishop Mavis Goodman (her husband is Walter) of Suffolk, Virginia, her Aunt is Viola Warren (her husband is Lewis) of Norfolk, Virginia, and her Aunt Thelma Bell is form Philadelphia. Wilbert Randolph Faltz Sr.'s parents were Joseph Nathan Faltz Sr. (1901-1952) and my 2nd great-grandaunt Alice Rosetta Claud (1906-1988). The parents of Alice Rosetta Claud were my 3rd great grandparents Rev. James Thompson Claud (1857-1926) and Susanna Field Hurst-Turner (1862-1949). The mother of Rev. James Thompson Claud was my 4th great-grandmother Sarah Claud (1842-1892). The mother of Sarah Claud was my 5th great grandmother Zilphy Claud (1820-1893).
By Timothy
