Reparations Will Bring Blacks Better Leadership

I do not know if you have seen this. But, watch it first - then we will talk...


Reparations will bring Blacks better leadership. We have talked on a couple occasions about crabs in the barrel. And, it affects us at every level. A few months ago, I spoke with a prominent Black Congressman and Obama supporter who described this problem. And, it resulted in this posting. This Congressman told me that the reason other prominent Blacks are not supporting Barack is that they are Crabs in the Barrel. He said they feel that Barack has not paid his dues - that they have been around longer than him and he needs to wait.

This is indicative of the larger problem that is stalling our community. Black Leadership that refuses to pass the torch to the younger generation. These Civil Rights Stalwarts believe that because we have not walked with Dr. King, participated in Bloody Sunday, had to endure segregation or faced any other of those ills that we are not entitled to take the reins of the Movement. They want us to sit by and watch them lead us into greater and greater disparities.

But, reparations will bring Blacks better leadership. Our current leaders place the emphasis at the wrong point of the problem. These are the same leaders who guided us into greater racial disparities than faced at any time since slavery. These are the same leaders who - as the masses became poorer - enriched themselves from the struggle.

So, now - as they told Bill Cosby - they tell Barack Obama that he is "talking down to Black people." These are the same misleaders who lull us to sleep while society runs amok, utterly destroying our community. They are the ones who have us all confused.

Reparations will bring Blacks better leadership, leadership that will stop us from waiting for the Government to do something for us, and inspire us to do for self! Self-sufficiency is what we need, not more Government programs and greater Government dependence. We need freedom!

Why wait for the Government to help us? Do we really trust them to be benevolent? Do we really believe that they will act out of the goodness of their hearts to do what needs to be done in order to better the Black Community?

So, why must we be concerned about what the Government is or is not doing to improve racial disparities? What are we doing to overcome racial disparities? Or, are you saying that we do not have the ability to solve our own problems?

It is futile to wait for a negligent government to start caring. It is pointless for us to hope that a system built to work against us will magically - without our effort - begin to truly embrace and support us. It is ludicrous to expect that more money or government programs will erase the damage that has been done to the Black Community.

Current Black Leaders are little more than substitute teachers...stand-ins to carry us from the era of Dr. King and Malcolm X to whomever will step in to fill the void. They have been complaining about the same problems for about 40 years. Ever since King and Malcolm were assassinated, nothing has been done...the same problems persist.

It is time to snatch the torch from these stalwarts and set some of them out to pasture. Those who leave willingly would be more than welcome to serve as advisers because we cannot forget our past, and their lessons are invaluable. But, if we do not act now the jealousy and complacency of these misleaders will bring us to destruction. The people are counting on you...

Come and Get Your Reparations!

Reparations Will Give You a Proper Understanding of Holy Scripture

This posting was sparked by a few events. First, I was in attendance at a "RoundTable" discussion entitled, "Politics and the Pulpit." It's a precarious topic because I do not agree that the Government, Political Parties or any organization can empower the Church. The Church's Power - and empowerment - comes from God alone. And, although I disagree with that premise, I honestly thought it was a commendable effort by the group's founder to engage Black Hill Staffers and others in discussion about issues of substance. Yet, the speech by Senate Chaplin Barry C. Black was indicative of foundational problem affecting our people.

Chaplin Black spoke of what he called our "dual citizenship" in heaven and on earth. And, you could tell from the subsequent discussion that many were uncomfortable with what was said. It reminds me of some of those plantation preachers who consistently and singularly preached the slaves obedience to his master.

Reparations will give you a proper understanding of Holy Scripture. And, with that proper understanding we will understand the importance of our role as a people. It is the preaching of misleaders that has us throwing away the Holy Bible as "a book distorted by White People for the subjugation of all others." It is the twisting of the Word of God that leads us to try and discredit Christianity as "the White Man's Religion."

The Holy Bible teaches submission, not subservience. Christ preaches meekness, not docility. There is no "dual citizenship." We owe our allegiance to earthly authorities only as they are in submission to God. Yet even when they are out of line, we do not resist their "authority" out of our respect for God.

There can be no "dual citizenship," for St. Paul tells us in Philippians: "our citizenship is in heaven." And, Christ tells us that "no one can serve two masters...for he will either love the one and hate the other, or hate the one and love the other." So, to tell someone that Christian Faith demands us to be "patriotic" is a perversion of the Truth.

Reparations will give you a proper understanding of Holy Scripture. And, it was that proper understanding that drove countless many of the Ancient Church to submit themselves to mutilation and martyrdom under Diocletian and other tyrants of old. It was that proper understanding that comforted numerous American slaves as they endured mutilation and tyranny of America's Diocletians and despots. And, it was that proper understanding that culminated in the "Era of American Martyrdom" that we refer to as the Civil Rights Era. (You may wish to read Wade in the River to learn more about this.)


Allow this clip to put things in perspective:


See: reparations will give you a proper understanding of Holy Scripture. And, by no means is this a political posting. I place that clip her for this purpose: how can on (Dr. Dobson) be so arrogant as to speak of someone twisting words of Scripture when Western Civilization itself was built on a perversion of Scripture? Do not accept this perversion! Take Action!

St. Paul also instructs us that we are to follow the Gospel as it was preached by the Apostles...and that any preaching of the Gospel (Scriptures) that is not in alignment with those early teachings must be regarded as invalid. When we do this, we will understand our role as a people...and as humanity.

Come and Get Your Reparations!

Reparations Will Help Black People "Return to Glory"

We have been doing a great deal to build the network/reach of Reparations PAC. And, kudos to Mr. Ready from Maryland, whose volunteer research laid the groundwork for this connection.

Recently, we made contact with Dr. Joel A. Freeman who co-authored the book Return to Glory: The Powerful Stirring of the Black Race. Speaking with him, reading about returning to glory,
and watching the DVD have only served to reinforce the point:

Reparations will help Black people return to glory. I think on what my father would say: you (in the so-called movement) trumpet the great civilizations of the past. Yet, what good is that if you cannot reclaim that greatness?

Reclaiming that greatness is what we as a people must do...and that reclamation process begins with breaking the chains of mental slavery that say Black people have not done greatness. But, I cannot say it better that the DVD so, watch this:


Reparations will help Black people return to glory. And, it is clear that we have the power to provide ourselves with our own reparations. We do not need to wait on the benevolence of incompetent and negligent authorities. We need only to take our place as ordained by God.

Along with Return to Glory, there are two other books I recommend that you will very insightful. You can find them in our bookstore, and in the link to the right of this screen. Be sure to at least check out the synopses.

Don't stand on the sidelines and miss your moment. Stir yourselves into action.

Come and Get Your Reparations!

Reparations Will Neutralize the Crabs in the Barrel

Today, I read a blog posting by Washington Post Blogger Darryl Fears. And, it is funny that even among our so-called leaders we see crabs in a barrel being displayed. But, there is hope.

Reparations will neutralize the crabs in the barrel. No more will you have to look over your shoulder for the Lamb Chop Sing Along Negroes trying to cut you down. Once we dispose of these misleaders, we will be able to see progress regardless of political persuasion.

Frances Rice is a prime example of why we (so far) must be proud of Condoleeza Rice and Colin Powell. Her and I actually had an "e-argument" over the Obama issue (read it here). Despite their stature, they have refused to be used as a pawn against their people. Many believe Colin Powell will officially endorse Barack Obama - eventually.


And, Condoleeza Rice has raved about his candidacy and what it means.


Yet, we continue to be our own worst enemy. Using promises of self-gain, "the man" always searches for one of us to sell out and serve as validation for their attacks. And, some of us oblige...

Reparations will neutralize the crabs in the barrel so that we can finally understand how that "rising tide raises all boats." Reparations will neutralize the crabs in the barrel so that we might finally see some progress in the Black Community.

Come and Get Your Reparations!

Reparations Will Define our Patriotism

This is an important Independence Day Meditation. Happy Fourth of July...Part One of a two-part revolution for the promise of America.

We all must realize the attack on our freedom...the questioning of our allegiances. People need to understand the asinine nature of the debate. Earlier this week, Barack Obama gave a speech defining his patriotism. Defining his patriotism?!

Reparations will define our patriotism!

How can anyone with sense question the patriotism of Black Americans? At a bare level, why are we still here? After enduring the horrors of slavery, the nightmares of Jim Crow, and enduring racial disparities, why would we still be here - but for love of Country?

Why would anyone fight to be accepted by a Country and a Government - but for love? Who would engage in nonviolent struggle against their enemy? And, even if it had been your enemy...how could one face an enemy with nonviolence - but for love? Would that not truly embrace the command of Christ?

Reparations will define our patriotism! Once you and I seize opportunities to engage in dialogue about the struggles of our people, we will demonstrate our patriotism. The very experience of being Black in America is the definition of our patriotism.

There were African people involved at every stage in the development of this Country. Africans fought in the American Revolution. Africans (mulatto Alexander Hamilton) signed the US Constitution and made great contributions to the organizational structure of this Nation. And while it may be difficult for most of us to remember our ties to these early events, the connection is there.

While we may not have come in to Ellis Island, we were imported from Africa, landing at port after port along the American Seaboard. And, we are the only immigrant class who did not leave in search of a better life. Yet, we are still here...we must love our Country!

Our patriotism was earned in the horror of the slave, through the bludgeoning of the average Black man trying to support his family. Our patriotism is soiled in the blood of those Black Martyrs who gave their lives that the Constitution might belong to us, their heirs. Our patriotism was won, simply by surviving against a government and private sector system trying its best to exploit and/or suppress us. Our patriotism was given to us by those ancestors who had nothing more to give than their struggle to become fully American. Our patriotism embraces Juneteenth as Part Two of America's journey to embrace and embody the ideals of the Declaration of Independence, and the US Constitution. Our patriotism it unquestionable, and is above reproach.

Reparations will define our patriotism as we embrace our particular American Experience. We will never satisfy White people based on their idea of patriotism. But, we have a different American Experience. And, all of us our entitled to set our own standards.

Come and Get Your Reparations!

Reparations Will Defeat Racism in the Justice System

Here is an obscure story that you probably will not hear about.

In late 2007, Joe Horn of Pasadena, Texas shot and killed two Afro-Colombian men in a fit of vigilante justice. There's even a blog devoted to him: check it out. Not surprisingly, but tragically, the Grand Jury today chose not to indict the killer. Harris County District Attorney Kenneth Magidson said:

I understand the concerns of some in the community regarding Mr. Horn's conduct. The use of deadly force is carefully limited in Texas law to certain circumstances ... In this case, however, the grand jury concluded that Mr. Horn use of deadly force did not rise to a criminal offense.

Reparations will defeat racism in the justice system. What is the level of deadly force that rises to a criminal offense? And, if Mr. Horn's act did not rise to a criminal offense, what kind of killing is criminal? How can it be self-defense if he shot them in the back? "F" the racial motivations, we are dealing with simple logic.

Here is a man who ignores the instructions of the 911 operator to stay in the house, and goes outside seeking a confrontation. Listen to the call:


Reparations will defeat racism in the justice system. This was premeditated murder. He was not being robbed, so it cannot be self-defense. He was not protecting his own property. And, he was repeatedly warned to not go outside.

When we get our reparations, no one will be able to use nuances of the law to kill Black people. When we get our reparations, we will be able to live without fear of the Justice System. You keep watching like this is a game...next time it could be you on the wrong end of a White Man's gun (civilian or police).

Come and get your reparations!

Reparations Means Taking This Seriously

Ok, I must admit: this is very frustrating.

On May 7, 2008 and April 25, 2008 we discussed this issue. And now, on June 18, 2008, we need to discuss it again. When will enough become enough?

Reparations means taking this seriously. Police brutality is still a pariah in the Black Community. Watch this video:



Did you hear this child's screams? Do you like what you see? I hope so, because we are the ones who allow this to happen. I allow this to happen. YOU have allowed this to happen. If that is not enough, read this. To add insult to injury (no pun intended...well, maybe intended), they ruled that the injuries were unintentional! How could you say the officer used excessive force, but then rule the injuries unintentional? Must be to protect them from further legal repercussions.

Reparations means taking this seriously. We asked you before: What Can We Do to Protect the Community against Police Brutality? We also asked for your help in Building Effective Police Review Boards.

It is our responsibility to defend our community. And, with all the talent and expertise within the Black Community, we ought to be ashamed of ourselves that these problems persist. We have the power to change this dynamic! We have the ability to create an environment where the police serve their rightful purpose of protecting and serving the Black Community, rather than abusing our people.

Why must we continue to cringe when we see the police? Even us - law abiding Black people - flinch when we see those flashing lights. Think about it: does your heart flutter when you see them flashing behind you?

Reparations means taking this seriously. We cannot wait for the Government to do something about police brutality. Nothing will be done. We have to be the ones to force a change. Our ancestors in the struggle for Civil Rights did not wait for the Government to end segregation. They forced the hand of Government. And, they fought so that we - their children - could have greater opportunities. The eyes of our ancestors look down upon us...what will we do?

And so, we must push so that our children will have greater opportunities. We must act now so that our children can play in communities where they live without fear of the police. We must fight for a social climate where the hearts of our children need not flutter at the sound of sirens.

So, again, join our Google Group. Engage the debate. Post your thoughts and together we can change the way police treat our people.

Come and Get Your Reparations!