Reparations Means "Squeezing" Black Clinton Supporters

I saw this on CNN earlier today.

There was a report that Black supporters of Hillary Clinton claim feeling "the squeeze" from their family and friends who support Senator Obama. I immediately thought: they should feel the squeeze. Here's why:

Everyone says that on the issues they are essentially the same. That being the case, on the issues it does not matter for whom you cast your vote, right? Their policy will be similar. So, after that we must look at the higher issues.

For Black Americans the issue should be clear. Yes, the struggle for Civil Rights was in effect to give us freedom. And yes, you are free to choose. God gave us free choice; and, that choice is to uphold our responsibilities to Him or to shirk them. Period.

The same holds true for the Black Community. Negroes, we are free. Once there was a time when the Slave Trade forced us together. Once there was a time when the horrors of slavery caused us to cling to each other. Yes, even once there was a time when we were forced to be together. And, when that forced togetherness was uprooted, there came the time when we ran to get away from each other.

And now, we are free to choose. We are free to choose whether we will continue to push for the Cause of our people or if we will be satisfied with our own wellbeing and turn our backs on others. We are free to choose ungratefulness, and turn our backs on the legacy of Martin, Malcolm, Medgar, Emmitt Till and the countless others who have died, been beaten, and suffered so that we could see a Black man rise to these heights. This is not racism: it is our contribution to the legacy of the Civil Rights struggle; it is our way to follow the Lord's commands and honor our mothers and fathers who could not see this day.

Reparations means "squeezing" Black Clinton supporters. The must come to understand where there first loyalties should lay. They say: "Bill Clinton was a friend to the Black Community." They say: "The Clintons are responsible for my political career." But, is it not the struggles of our ancestors - the hardships they faced - that made it even possible for a man like Bill Clinton to be a "friend?" And, what could be more responsible for the political careers of our leaders than the blood of our fathers and mothers, which still stains the walls and streets?

So, it is true that reparations means "squeezing" Black Clinton supporters because we cannot be selfish and defer the dreams of those who continue to hope from their positions in the Upper Room of the struggle. We cannot thwart the dreams of those who wish to see this moment so they - like Simeon - may die in peace, having seen the fulfillment of a sacred promise. Reparations means "squeezing" Black Clinton supporters because we cannot crush the budding dreams of the youth who have so little in which to believe.

We must squeeze them so that they can wake up and come to consciousness. It is our responsibility to squeeze them so they are not found on the wrong side of the struggle. No, this struggle is not purely racial. But, neither was the Civil Rights Movement. Our ancestors did not fight simply for the rights of Black people. But, essentially, the premise of the fight was that the struggle for Civil Rights was integral to the perfection of our Union and the fulfillment of the "Promise of America."

So, put on the squeeze! Awaken the consciousness of our sleeping brothers and sisters. Honor the legacy of our parents in the struggle.

Come and Get Your Reparations!

Reparations Requires a Dramatic Shift

I said this before - in 2006 - yet, in light of recent questions that have come from readers I post it again. Enjoy!

When starting a business or starting a movement, it is a revolution. And, a revolution is simply a change. It has been a long time coming, and I do still know a change is go'n come - Oh yes it will! But, where does that change begin?

Why would change begin "out there?" Why would the "powers that be" change the way things are done when we haven't changed ourselves? It was the change within ourselves that ignited the changes in society, leading to the end of Jim Crow. It will be the change within ourselves that will ignite the changes in society that will end the myriad disparities we face.

But, we don't want to change. I mean - if we change, the fight will be over. And then, what will we do? What will we have to look forward to once that "one day" when we shall overcome appears? So, for the sake of the struggle - we struggle. Frederick Douglass said, "without struggle there is no progress." Very true, but Mr. Douglass I must ask: "without progress what's the point of the struggle?" Can anyone answer that for me? Of course you can't! There is not point to struggle without progress. So you see that what we're doing is pointless!!!

Reparations requires a dramatic shift. Our ways of thought must change if we're to ever attain true Reparations. And, that's where we must start. So long ago Mr. Charles Woodson said we were mis-educated and needed to be re-educated. But alas, we've still gotten it all wrong. We have neglected re-education, preferring simply to gripe about the mis-education - doing nothing to fix the problem.

How do we fix this mess? Garvey would say that we need institutions. Our institutions - our organizations. But, our organizations are failing us. We speak of how their institutions are failing us - the schools are undereducating our children. But, how much better are our institutions performing? What have they done to change the way that people think about life and their roles in life?

These organizations have talked a good game - throwing bricks at the establishment. But, we need those bricks for our own development. We must quit wasting these valuable bricks, and use them to build our institutions - to build our communities. Our organizations must begin the work of re-education: shifting the ways of thought which prevail in our society.

Einstein would define insanity as doing the same thing over and over, yet expecting different results. So, my scientific reasoning must say that we are insane! Reparations calls us to end the madness, and chart a new course.

Follow me to your Reparations!

Reparations Means Getting SPEARED for the Cause

You cannot be certified in the struggle until you've been scarred. In ancient Africa, boys had to go through a rights of passage before being accepted into manhood...they had to get their battle scars. A few days ago, I was SPEARED and I just wanted to say thanks to the folks at AfroSpear for welcoming Reparations: The Blog into the fold. Be sure to check them out and thank them.

Come and Get Your Reparations!

Reparations Means Truly Honoring Dr. King's Legacy

I keep saying this: Senator Obama's campaign is about a great deal more than the presidency. It is, as he said, for "a more perfect Union."

Today we remember that 40 years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. And, many gathered in Memphis to remember this day and the man. Many also criticized Senator Obama because he was not in Memphis, but chose rather to be in Indiana.

I too felt a slight twinge, however as I heard his speech I thought of the statement being made. Reparations means truly honoring Dr. King's legacy. It does not mean heading to Memphis to hold hands and sing "We Shall Overcome." It is not about being at the site of his assassination and walking his last steps. It is not even about talking solely about the man.

Dr. King understood that the movement was more important than any one person. And, the movement is still more important than any one person.

When we remember Jesus Christ, it is not enough to simply go to the site of His Crucifixion and return home. It is more important to carry forth the message of love and redemption, right? And, who would not be compelled to say how much of a more dedicated and Christian life they will live while standing on that Holy Ground? Yet, who - once returning home - actually follows through?

We can all live good lives when everyone is looking!

So, as we remember Dr. King it is important to set foot on hollowed ground. But, it is more important to carry forth the message and to pass forward the mission. And, the message is not only for Black people. The message is not only for Memphis. The message is also for Indiana, and for the Nation. Indeed the message is for the world.

Reparations means truly honoring Dr. King's legacy. And, Senator Obama took that message to a people who otherwise might not have been exposed to that coverage. Days like this should be days of "remembering action." What is the point of remembering the struggles and sacrifice if we do not bring to bear the present applications?

What would be the point of remembering Christ's Crucifixion if we were not compelled to serve others? Should we use His Crucifixion as an opportunity to carry His message to others? In that same vain we should use King's assassination as an opportunity for us to carry his message to others.

So, let us talk about why Dr. King was killed. Let us engage in dialogue about the issues that still plague us. Let us give ourselves to the noble cause of perfecting this Country.

Come and Get Your Reparations!

Reparations, Albert Wynn and the Bigger Picture

I'm certain everyone has heard about the disgrace of congressman Albert Wynn (little "c" on purpose). If not, check this out.

Now, it is bad enough that Albert Wynn has no qualms with ethical improprieties. But, because we're after our reparations: let us look the implications for the Black Community.

On their website, the Congressional Black Caucus salutes Mr. Wynn for his years of "dedicated and earnest service to his constituents." Well, his constituents were largely Black, and middle-class (at best). However, he is heading to a lobbying firm that is not geared around social interests, but energy concerns. Mr. Wynn is the Chair of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee, and many fear he may be selling his elective position on the committee for personal/corporate benefit.

But, maybe this move is not simply for personal benefit. Maybe he is looking out for others on the Congressional Black Caucus? After all, their press release praising Mr. Wynn's service also said, "We look forward to working with him as he embarks on a new career."

Before this story broke, I was already looking into the CBC. I found it strange that Mr. Wynn is the head of the CBC's Political Action Committee, where the mission is: to increase the number of African Americans in Congress; to support non-Black candidates who champion our interests; and to promote African American participation in the political process—with a special emphasis on young voters. I thought it was strange because the head of the PAC was unable to execute the mission for himself. Or maybe: was he acknowledging that he does not champion our interests?

Reparations demands that we see the bigger picture. What does this say about the CBC? Do they mean what they say (when they praise Al Wynn)? Or, are they simply saying what sounds good (when they claim to champion our interests)?

What does this say about their PAC? To validate the PAC's mission they say: "We achieve this mission by pooling political contributions from people like you and using the money to make our voice heard in key campaigns." But, can we really trust them with our money? Can we trust them to use it wisely? We need to watch them all closely.

Reparations means that we must hold our so-called leaders accountable. The buildup of this web is our fault, and is ours to untangle. So, we should contact Ms. Keiana Barrett at 202.226.8119 and see how they feel about their March 28 release in light of these revelations on Mr. Wynn. We should also contact the CBC's Political Action Committee and ask them for transparency and a clear accounting of monies raised and how they were used.

These leaders make their rise at the expense of the people. While supposedly doing the peoples business, they organize for their pockets. We must end the free ride, now.

Come and Get Your Reparations!

Reparations and THE Reason (Pat Buchanan) Dialogue is Needed

Okay, I admit: I'm a bit late on this.

I guess when I heard it I was in a daze - unable to believe such idiocy could come out the mouth of anyone "respected" enough to be a commentator on what seemed to be a credible station (MSNBC). But, my friends at the AfroSpear have called me to consciousness.

Here are Pat's comments:

“Barack says we need to have a conversation about race in America. Fair enough. But this time, it has to be a two-way conversation. White America needs to be heard from, not just lectured to. This time, the Silent Majority needs to have its convictions, grievances and demands heard. And among them are these:

First, America has been the best country on earth for black folks. It was here that 600,000 black people, brought from Africa in slave ships, grew into a community of 40 million, were introduced to Christian salvation, and reached the greatest levels of freedom and prosperity blacks have ever known. Wright ought to go down on his knees and thank God he is an American.

Second, no people anywhere has done more to lift up blacks than white Americans. Untold trillions have been spent since the ’60s on welfare, food stamps, rent supplements, Section 8 housing, Pell grants, student loans, legal services, Medicaid, Earned Income Tax Credits and poverty programs designed to bring the African-American community into the mainstream."

What is mind-boggling is that Pat Buchanan claims to be a conservative. For a conservative to be siting welfare, food stamps, poverty programs and the like to be touted as efforts by White Americans to uplift the Black community is beyond comprehension.

In one of his blog postings, Pat says:

"What are Barack’s moral credentials to instruct white folks on what they must do, when he failed to do what any decent father should have done: Take his wife and daughters out of a church where hate had a home in the pulpit?"

This begs the question: would Pat agree that there are very few decent White fathers in past generations? I mean, did they remove their wives and children from those churches who called Blacks inferior? Did they remove their families from those circles that said Blacks were deserving of maltreatment, deserving of lynching? Did those fathers stop their families from being corrupted by public lynchings? Maybe this picture will help you answer that question:

Look at all of those decent fathers, harvesting their "strange fruit." Or, is Pat Buchanan saying that the words spoken by Jeremiah Wright are worse for the Country than the actions of this photo and numerous other similar actions.

Reparations means you take this email address: LindaMuller@Buchanan.org and let her know what you think of Pat Buchanan's ridiculous comments.

Come and Get Your Reparations!

Reparations means Addressing the US's "Birth Defect"

I haven't heard this story on any of the major media circles...maybe we'll hear it later tonight. But, you need to know. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has now chimed in on Senator Obama's speech on race.

Many have criticized Condoleeza Rice for - simply - being a Black Republican, and also for being associated with President Bush. Yet, she - especially as Secretary of State - has shown that she has not forgotten the struggle. And, it might be a superficial gesture. But, it was a gesture that she did not have to take. And, it is a gesture that gives more wind to the dialogue on Race in America...providing a platform for us to engage the larger society in a meaningful discussion.

Reparations means addressing the US's "Birth Defect."

Today, the Secretary of State called slavery this Country's "birth defect," stating: "Africans and Europeans came here and founded this country together - Europeans by choice and Africans in chains. That's not a very pretty reality of our founding."

The stage is being set for us to engage in a new debate about what reparations means. Addressing the US's "birth defect" is key to understanding the legacy given us by America's founding reality. At every turn we should be pushing our organizations to engage in inter-community discussions. Senator Obama has sparked the discussion on the National scene and within the Democratic Party. Condoleezza Rice has now given platform for the Republican Party to engage this discussion. (Hear it in her own words: here) Are we ready to engage?

Come and Get Your Reparations!