Reparations Means Standing for the Jena 6

I really don't think there's much more I need to say. Reparations means standing for the Jena 6. Just as the Jews say "never again," in response to their peoples oppression and not allowing their people to be oppressed again, so should we say NEVER AGAIN will Black people be subjected to Jim Crow - state sponsored - terrorism.

In this "War on Terror," can we count on President Bush to bring to justice the terrorists in Jena who terrorized the community? Can we count on him to hold accountable those who reeked havoc through nooses, shot gun threats and other antagonisms? We need to direct our protests to the Commander in Chief. We cannot allow him to use the excuse that this is a state issue, and that the state should handle it. He invaded Iraq...he didn't stand back and let Iraq handle their own issue. This is the Country in which he has a responsibility to ensure that the principles of democracy are upheld.

Reparations demands that we all do something to ensure the exoneration of the Jena 6. Be vigilant! Press forward! Now is the time to "Come and Get your Reparations!"

Reparations Means No More Clinton Sanctioned Genocide

On tonight's "Democratic You Tube Debate" the issue of Darfur was raised. Senator Biden said that US troops need to be on the ground in Darfur, enforcing a "No-fly Zone." When Hilary Clinton was asked if US troops should be on the ground, she said no. Further, she stated that "now is not the time for US troops to be in Darfur." I wonder if that is what her husband, Bill Clinton, said while millions were being slaughtered in Rwanda...

Reparations means that we DO NOT allow the Clinton Regime to cost us another million African lives.

Reparations means: Gay Rights are not Civil Rights!

I'm watching these "You Tube Debates" and Anderson Cooper is going to ask Senator Obama about the difference between inter-racial marriage and gay marriage. I am so tired hearing people try to compare the struggle against slavery and Jim Crow to someone's right to be gay. IT IS NOT THE SAME!!!

Has any gay person been lynched, tarred and feathered, rapped by their master, bought, sold, bartered? Has any gay person ever had their families stripped from them? Have gay people been packed on ships? Have they been stolen from their homes and forced to work for free? Have police dogs ever been released on them? Have gay people ever been beaten by mass forces of police? Have homosexuals had firefighters unleash water cannons on them? Have they been whipped to a pulp? Have they had limbs severed in search of freedom?

Now, I don't wish that experience on anyone. However, until homosexuals share in our experience they have no right to share in our legacy. You do not hear anyone making comparisons between the struggle of immigrants and the plight of holocaust victims. Yet, the experience of Black Americans is continuously belittled and degraded. Reparations mandates that we defend our legacy from those who would trample upon it for their own gain.

Reparations means: DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE of the Presidential Elections

I sit here watching the Democratic Pandering at Howard University. I love this, because most of the questions are specifically pertinent (to be redundant) to the Black community. If you listen to all of the candidates (except former Senator Gravel and maybe Senator Biden) you would think that they all care about the Black community.

Yet, how many of them speak up and out now?

We hear them speaking very eloquently about what needs to be done (to resounding applause). Yet, I do not hear them saying anything on the Senate (or House) floor. Have you heard Hilary speaking about the disparities of race in this country? She spoke about the injustice of mandatory sentencing laws (which came into law under her husband), yet has she ever been arrested in protest of the sentences for any of the inner city children for which she cares so dearly?

Reparations means: DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE!!!

Every election year the Democrats run to the Black community to show their "compassion." And, every election year we jump on their band-wagon and usher them into office, only to be jaded and jilted. For some reason we refuse to hold these tricksters accountable.

Now, some will tell you they cannot speak out because they might loose their seats. But, if they cannot speak out for fear of loosing their seats what is the point of being in office?

We hear them speak about what they would do to stop the genocide in Darfur. Yet, they all have positions of stature. Only Senator Biden has actually done something. Even Barak (whose people are from similar tribes [if you know the tribal patterns of Ancient Nubia] as those who were being slaughtered. As Senator Gravel said, "none of the people on this stage have the moral judgment" to act.

We should all be tired of this charade. Reparations demands that we refuse to be hoodwinked and bamboozled. Reparations mandates that we realize: none of these candidates will do anything for the Black community - unless we force them so to do. And, we can only force them to act once we're activated.

Repair our nation! Come and get your REPARATIONS!

Reparations Means DC Residents should Keep Their Eyes Open and Open Their Mouths

See this article

It is indeed strange to see a city that's majority Black have the heads of most departments be White. One thing comes to mind: the plantation. On the plantation there was a majority Black population headed by a White minority. Yet, despite the numbers the Blacks never opened their mouths.

Yes, we have a Black mayor. But, what if he was put in power by the White people? What if he was just a face on an ulterior agenda? What if these White appointees were thank yous to the true power - the White folk behind the Black face? What if we're being hoodwinked, bamboozled, run a muck? Will we wait until it's too late?

Reparations means that we must speak up and speak out before it is too late. We cannot wait until they move us all to PG County and make way for the young White folks intended to be the new face of the District. If we wait, it will be too late. And, if we wait we have forfeited our right to complain.

Are we saying there are no competent Black people to do the job? With all the "progress" that is being claimed to be made, we know there are Black people - even young Black people - who have similar and better qualifications that those White people being appointed as our overseers.

Now, I'm not saying that White people are not to be hired. It's just that if I were White, and elected mayor of Elkton, Maryland, I would not bring in a young Black female police chief. I would not have my public safety officials be Black. I might hire some Black people, however they would be few - at most, in proportion to their representation in the community.

But, the policy of Affirmative Action dictates that fairness only applies to the minority (in the District that's White people), to the detriment of the majority (in the District that's Black people). Reparations means that we demand control of our community; it dictates that we must not allow the Government to push us out of our community. Reparations demands that we remain active participants in the shaping of the Government that we chose. Repair our nation...change your thinking. Get your Reparations!

Reparations and Barak Obama

Ok...it was a bit disturbing around the time of the commemoration of Bloody Sunday. Hilary Clinton and Barak Obama were both on hand and gave speeches at separate churches. Hilary's speech - lackluster; Obama's speech - rousing as usual (that's not bias - even though it is - that's a fact...everyone knows Hilary's not a rousing speaker.) None of that was disturbing.

What was disturbing was the interview with Rep. John Lewis of Atlanta, GA. I found it quite amazing to watch and listen to him say how torn he was over who he should support - Hilary or Obama. Here's what makes it amazing - especially on the anniversary of Bloody Sunday. Congressman Lewis was at the original Bloody Sunday. (He's the one in the foreground, on his knees, with a billy club coming towards his head.) He endured this beating so that people who look like us - and ultimately himself - might have a say in American life...hence he's a US Congressman. So - to beg the question - how does one go from enduring a beating so that Black people in this country could one day hold the highest office in the land, to being torn on whether or not to support the first Black man who actually has a chance?

We - as a people - are idiots! I'm so tired of hearing about how much the Black community owes the Clintons? What do we owe them, and why do we owe them? Even if he did something for the Black community, do we owe him? Is that not what a President is supposed to do? Are we now to the point where we accept mediocrity and reward people for fulfilling their job descriptions? Yet, let's look at what the Clintons did do...Rwanda? What about mandatory sentencing laws and more blacks being sent to prison than under Bush I and Regan combined? (See here) But, we want to induct him into Blacks in wax museums, and call him the first Black president because he smokes weed, plays a sax and lives in (and helped gentrify) Harlem.
Maybe he is Black - after all, he did sell "his people" out...helping them spend more time behind bars.

Yet, Rep. Lewis is "torn." And, his way of thinking represents that of countless of our people. Brother Malcolm was right: the Black man is - indeed - sickest of all, politically.

Reparations makes it a no-brainer that we ought to support Obama. Not simply because he's Black (I would not recommend supporting Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton.), but essentially because he's a reputable Black candidate who not only has a great chance to win but also has a social and political savvy that will enable him to do things of which others would be incapable.

Reparations demands that we not be fooled. Many will talk of what the Clintons have done for the Black community. Where was Senator Clinton (and her White counterparts) in 2001 and in 2005 when we needed her? When Members of Congress challenged the certification of ballots in the Presidential election, she would not join the objection so that debate could go forward. We might give her a pass in 2001 - she was just sworn in, but surely in 2005 she had clout and capital to expend. Can we really trust her to stand for us?

Now, we have to "controversy" over Obama not supporting the Congressional Black Caucus. But, how relevant is the Black Caucus? As Janet would say, what have they done for us lately? I cannot recall anything the Black Caucus has done that is worthy of support. They are nothing more than the watchdog for White Democrats. For instance, the CBC's tacit-at-best support of Kweisi Mfume didn't do much to help him against Ben Cardin. Also, the Black Caucus surely lent no support to Michael Steele. As individual politicians, yes they must be aligned with their Party. But, as the Black Caucus they are to be aligned with Black people. They have yet to prove that their agenda is for our people. It all seems to be for their Party.

Reparations dictates that we cease supporting any organization that doesn't support us. Have you seen the CBC working to better the situation in your community? If so, then you might want to support them. If not, what allegiance is there to them?

For those of us serious about Reparations, Barak Obama is the choice to make. Even if he doesn't win, his candidacy is an opportunity for us to highlight the issues of race still hindering us as a people and as a Country. And, as a people disfranchised, we ought to use every opportunity to state our case.

Reparations and the Aspiring Black Athlete

When I meet young brothers pursuing a career in sports, they're always thinking about football and/or basketball. I always try to sway them to baseball...not only because I think it the greatest game, but also that is makes the most business sense. I mean, yes you are an athlete, but you should see yourself as a business owner...the business: yourself. How many 44 year olds do you know in basketball or football? How many 48 year olds? Yet, in baseball you have Julio Franco - 48 and Roger Clemens - 44. Then, of the 44+ year olds that might be in basketball and football that I don't know about, can any of them match Clemens' one-year contract for $28,000,022.00? (on top of that sum, he won't even be playing a complete season!) Yet, we let "them" convince us that basketball and football are better choices, and we perpetrate that thinking to the youth so intent on being professional athletes. A Reparations ideology tells us that we must put ourselves in the best position to uplift ourselves. Now frankly, with the obscene contracts in professional sports even a pro-ping pong player might make a decent living! (LOL) But, if you have the ability to play baseball, then that makes the best business sense. Michael Jordan is now 44 years old, and he's one of the greatest to ever step on a court, yet I don't know if some team would pay him $28 million to step on the court for one season. As Tupac (or should I say Makaveli) said in his song (ironically) "White Man's World," "Use your brains! It ain't 'them'...it's 'us.'" Peace...