Reparations Means Recognizing the True Value of A Black President

Tonight, we had an amazing Talk Show! The topic was: "The Value of a Black President."

Many people have asked, "why are you bringing up these issues now? Can't this wait until after Barack is elected?

Well, like Dr. King, let me tell you Why We Can't Wait:

...We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there is such a thing as being too late...Life often leaves us standing bare, naked and dejected with a lost opportunity. The tide in the affairs of men does not remain at flood - it ebbs.

Or, as Mos Def said: Tomorrow may never come...for you or me this life is not promised.



Reparations means recognizing the true value of a Black President. And, that value is only measured by the impact on the Black Community. For, if a Black President has no impact on the Black Community, then that president might as well just be a president.

Achieving our reparations means recognizing the true value of a Black President. And, that value lays in the opportunity that a Black President affords the Black Community...the opportunity for political empowerment - because as Brother Malcolm X said, "the cornerstones of America are politics and economics." The value of a Black President lays with the possibility to inspire Black Youth, to give peace to our Black elders and galvanize the rest of us.

We are not out to derail Obama's candidacy. And, is there anything wrong with trying to use this season for the benefit of the Black Community? Is there something wrong with using this opportunity for the benefit of Black People?

White women have it clear. They understand the value of Hillary's campaign. They understand that her candidacy served to inspire them to believe that the "glass ceiling" can - and will - be broken. And, they are using her candidacy to force both Obama and McCain to address their issues and actively court their votes. What's wrong with us? Reparations means recognizing the true value of a Black President.



Come and Get Your Reparations!

Reparations Means Capitalizing on the New American Political Landscape

I have been debating on how I would frame this posting. And, have concluded that the best way would be to simply quote a passage from The Autobiography of Malcolm X.

The black man in North America was sickest of all politically. He let the white man divide him into such foolishness as considering himself a black "Democrat," a black "Republican," a black "conservative," or a black "Liberal"...when a ten-million strong black vote bloc could be the deciding balance of power in American politics...

Reparations means capitalizing on the new American political landscape. With the nomination of Barack Obama, we are seeing the truth of this statement. And, that truth is becoming manifest in a new American political landscape.

For decades the "Battle Map" has been the same, with Republicans and Democrats fighting over the same states every year. As we listen to news reports, we hear of Obama's 50-State strategy. They say his strategy is possible because Senator Obama's base is not the traditional base (Hillary's "Hard-working Americans"). His base is comprised of young (& new) voters and Blacks. Because of the large numbers of Blacks that are turning out, Senator Obama is able to expand his electoral map allowing him to be competitive in the South, on the East Coast, and out West.

Reparations means capitalizing on the new American political landscape. And, it is time for us to organize so that we can assert our prowess. Brother Malcolm continues:

The polls are one place where every black man could fight the black man's cause with dignity, and with the power and the tools that the white man understands, and respects, and fears, and cooperates with...If a black bloc committee told Washington's worst "nigger-hater," "We represent ten million votes," why, that "nigger-hater" would leap up: "Well, how are you? Come on in here!"...Why else is it that racist politicians fight to keep black men from the polls?

There is no excuse for our Community to be in such a sorry state. No amount of racism can
deter the will of an organized, cohesive black vote bloc. He continues:

Whenever any group can vote in a bloc, and decide the outcome of elections, and it fails to do this, then that group is politically sick. Immigrants once made Tammany Hall the most powerful single force in American politics...America's black man, voting as a bloc, could wield an even more powerful force.

With growing disparities on the basis of race, with shortcomings of and injustices in American Society magnified on the basis of race, we must inject our issues into the debate.

U.S. politics is ruled by special-interest blocs and lobbies. What group has a more urgent special interest, what group needs a bloc, a lobby, more than the black man?...The government has departments to deal with the special-interest groups that make themselves heard and felt. A Department of Agriculture cares for the farmers' needs (neglecting the needs of Black farmers). There is a Department of Health, Education and Welfare (while the health, education and welfare of the Black Community flounders)...There ought to be a Pentagon-sized Washington department dealing with every segment of the black man's problems

With the nomination of Senator Obama, we have the platform by which to bring change to the Black Community. Reparations means capitalizing on the new American political landscape. With the electoral map changing, it will force both Parties to compete on this new landscape of young and Black voters. With both Parties having to compete, we have the opportunity to present our platform and demand that our votes be earned. We must realize what Brother Malcolm said:

The cornerstones of this country's operation are economic and political strength and power. The black man doesn't have the economic strength - and it will take time for him to build it. But right now the American black man has the political strength and power to change his destiny overnight.

Reparations means capitalizing on the new American political landscape. And, we are seeing the potential power of the Black vote. It is on us now to organize. The opportunity has been placed before us. It is for us to seize the moment. So, join us. Become a member of one of the groups to the right =>

Come and Get Your Reparations!

Reparations Means Recognizing the Urgency of Now

On tonight's Reparative Talk episode, we talked about how reparations means recognizing the urgency of now. We have witnessed history. America has at least nominated a Black Man for the Presidency (although Clinton still has not conceded).

Countless of us have said - and now say - we never thought we would see this in our lifetime. How long will it be before we see this again? Why should we wait? The mere fact that we have NO IDEA when this tide will rise again explains Why We Can't Wait (as Dr. King wrote).

So - clearly, reparations means recognizing the urgency of now. And, now, while we have the attention of the media...now, while we have the ear of mainstream society...now, while the Nation is grappling - yet again - with issues of race, we must force the issue and use this moment for "social opportunism" and bring some true benefit to our community.

This is truly an historic time. And, this time calls us to rise to the challenge. As Dr. King said,

We are now faced with the fact, my friends, that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there is such a thing as being too late. Procrastination is still the thief of time. Life often leaves us standing bare, naked, and dejected with a lost opportunity. The tide in the affairs of men does not remain at flood-it ebbs. We may cry out desperately for time to pause in her passage, but time is adamant to every plea and rushes on. Over the bleached bones and jumbled residuesof numerous civilizations are written the pathetic words, "Too late." There is an invisible book of life that faithfully records our vigilance or our neglect. Omar Khayyam is right: "The moving finger writes, and having writ moves on."

Reparations means recognizing the urgency of now. And, we cannot allow this urgency to become cliche'. We cannot allow this sense of urgency to be bastardized into a Kumbaya moment...to coalesce into an atmosphere of "we have arrived...we have overcome." Because with the fierce urgency of now confronting us, we cannot be too late. We cannot procrastinate and miss this opportunity. We cannot think there will be another time like this. Tomorrow may never come. Today is all we can see. So, we must seize the day and embrace the time...indeed we must become "caught up in the concept," forcing these issues to be dealt with so that we might see real change for the empowerment of our community.

So, check out our most recent talk show:

Reparations Means Being Proud of Your True (Tri) Colors

More than 80 years ago, a man saw that a people united by racial oppression - through the remnants of slavery, segregation and colonialism, needed a greater unifier. In response to an extremely popular song of 1900, "Every Race Has a Flag but the Coon," Marcus Garvey and the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League (UNIA & ACL) created the "Tri-Colors of Africa" aka Black Liberation/Pan-African Flag. On August 13, 1920 the UNIA adopted the flag in Article 39 of the Declaration of the Rights of the Negro Peoples of the World.

Later in 1921, Mr. Garvey stated the importance stated the importance of a flag thus:

Show me the race or the nation without a flag, and I will show you a race of people without any pride. Aye! In song and mimicry they have said, "Every race has a flag but the coon." How true! Aye! But that was said of us four years ago. They can't say it now...

So, Reparations means being proud of your true (tri) colors. Why should we - a free people - be ashamed of the Red, Black and Green? Why should we - a free people - be afraid to display the Red, Black and Green? Why can we not listen to Steele Pulse and "Rally round the flag...rally round the Red, Gold, Black and Green?



Reparations means being proud of your true (tri) colors. I could not help but think about this recently. As I traveled through the South on my way to the ATL, I saw numerous Confederate Flags flying...White folks proud of their Confederate (treasonous) heritage. There are flags on t-shirts, tattoos, flying on flag poles, displayed on bumper stickers...everywhere you look, you can see Confederate Pride. And in Atlanta - a stronghold of the Gay Community - I see Gay Pride in abundance. Yet, everywhere there is Gay Pride. You have seen it...through rainbow flags displayed on shirts, on bumper stickers, flying out-front businesses and etc. Confederates are not ashamed of their flag...they have pride. Gays are not afraid of displaying their flag...they have pride. But, where is the Black man's pride? Where is the Black woman's pride? Why are we ashamed of the Red, Black and Green? Why is our flag not displayed?

Reparations means being proud of your true (tri) colors. And, the Rainbow Flag - and Gay Community - is a great example. The argument against the Tri-Colors of Africa, is that it does not represent a Nation. But, neither does the Rainbow Flag represent a physical nation. It does unite a people and demonstrate their pride. The Tri-Colors of Africa should unite our people, and demonstrate our pride in our Blackness...it should serve as a symbol of our freedom and a proud display should be a testimony of our freedom.

So, rally round the flag...rally round the Red, Gold, Black and Green!

Come and Get Your Reparations!

Reparations Means Developing a Black Political Agenda

Based on the last posting, we know that attaining our reparations means that we must develop a Black Political Agenda. We must have a platform of issues that will serve as a benchmark for judging the politicians that seek our votes. We must have an organization with the ability to unite the various organizations around that platform. This means that the planks of the platform must be succinct enough to promote a particular agenda. However, those planks must be broad enough to encompass the various ideas and objectives of those in the struggle for Black Empowerment.

Reparations means developing a Black Political Agenda. We must have a framework from which to work when we are screening candidates for elective office. We must have a standard to which we hold elected officials accountable. That agenda will serve as our rudder. Without it, the Black Community lacks direction. And, without direction we will continue to drift out to sea...a long way from the shores of safety.

So, how does this demonstrate what reparations means? Developing a Black Political Agenda will enable the community to guard against political apathy. It will provide us with a means by which we can rate those who have been elected to represent our interests; if they do not follow to planks of the platform, they should be removed from office. A Black Political Agenda will help us determine who should be running for office in the first place. With a solid agenda, we will only promote those politicians who are solid on the issues that are pertinent to our community.

Reparations means developing a Black Political Agenda. With such an agenda, we will be able to assert our interests into the debate. We will be able to dictate how politicians and elected officials interact with our Community.

But, to develop such an agenda we need your help. So, please sign into our Google Group. There you will find a post asking for your suggestions for the Black Political Agenda. We know there are many brilliant minds out there. And, we hope to benefit from your feedback. So, please let us know what you think. Log onto our Google Group and let your voice be heard! Let us shape the Black Political Agenda. Come and get your reparations!

Reparations Means Barack Obama Should Have to Court Black Voters

So, what does this mean? Why would someone supporting Senator Obama make such a statement?

I see the Obama Campaign as an experiment in what I call "Power Politics" and learning to maximize our votes. We have witnessed how a unified Black voting bloc could change the landscape of American politics. We are now clear that if we found a unifying force and voted as a unit, we would have the power to exert our will and accomplish what we pursue.

Reparations means Barack Obama should have to court Black voters. On Thursday, Senator Obama was in Florida courting Jewish voters. Not only was he present in their community. But, he also laid out his policy agenda on issues of interest to the Jewish Community. He detailed his stance on their concerns and addressed questions they had.

Yet, he has not courted Black voters. He has not laid out his policy agenda on issues of interest to the Black Community. He has not detailed his stance on our concerns; neither has he been present to address any of our questions.

Reparations means Barack Obama should have to court Black voters. But, it is not his fault. Again, the fault is ours. He should have to court Black voters, but he does not have to court us. He can succeed by ignoring our issues. He would not succeed if he ignored the issues of the Jewish Community. We are seeing - by pundit calls that he beef up his image - his efforts among working class Whites ("hard-working Americans") . Where are the overtures towards his "base?"

But, it is not only him. No politician has a "Black Agenda." Who speaks about the racial disparities that exist in this Country? Who among them speaks directly to policy solutions that are designed to combat these disparities? It is simply more striking with Senator Obama because we have been termed: "his base."

So, reparations means Barack Obama should have to court Black voters. We must rise to the challenge before we miss the boat. In the same way that a reparations check would "solve racism" in the eyes of the majority, so too would electing a Black President serve the same purpose. If we blindly elect Senator Obama without organizing a strong political vehicle, the majority will dismiss our grievances as having been solved by Obama's election.

Senator Obama should have to lay out a policy agenda addressing the issues pertinent to the Black Community. Every candidate should have to lay out such an agenda. So now that we have done our part to help him win the nomination, we need to be sure that we receive our reward. For Barack Obama to be a benefit to the Black Community, we must force him to take a stand in support of those issues that are of concern to us. If we do not do this, he will benefit from our votes but our community will gain nothing. If we fail to do this, he becomes nothing more than a figurehead...an anomaly...a glitch in the matrix, alerting of the the sentinel's presence and our looming demise.

These are our next steps in the Obama Campaign. We must defend the community from external forces...but we must also defend the community from ourselves. And as we ride the Obama Wave, we must ensure that we do our part to show that we do not simply amount to a fickle mass of voters who will remain in bondage to the system. We must organize so that we are seen as a force to be reckoned.

Come and Get Your Reparations!

Reparations Means Overthrowing the Old Guard

There...I said it. And before me, Darryl Fears of the Washington Post said it.

Everywhere, the discussion is the same. You have said it. I have said it. "They refuse to pass the torch." So, tonight we will discuss the Overthrow of the Old Guard and how we snatch power from those who are hoarding it. Join us at 9pm EST. You can take part online or by calling: 724.444.7444 and entering Call ID: 17254.

The stalwarts of the Movement have been holding onto power...serving their own interests and preventing progress. In his book, The True Believer, Eric Hoffer discusses the stages of leadership. He asserts that a Movement begins with the "Men of Words," moves to the "Fanatics," and concludes with the "Practical Men of Action."

The "Men of Words" would be those who subtly "undermines established institutions, discredits those in power, weakens prevailing beliefs and loyalties, and sets the stage for the rise of a mass movement." Every mass movement has been pioneered by poets, writers, and scholars (philosophers, historians and etc.). From the Black American - Civil Rights Movement - perspective, the era of the "Men of Words" is encapsulated in the Harlem Renaissance.

The rise of "Fanatics" came after this period. And, fanatics are those whose drive is to change the order of things. They seek to turn the status quo on its head. Culminating in the personages of Dr. King, Malcolm X, Kwame Ture, Huey Newton and others, these fanatics took the challenges of the "Men of Words" to the streets and shook the halls of power.

Mr. Hoffer states, "A movement is pioneered by men of words, materialized by fanatics and consolidated by men of action." He says that, "When the same person or persons...leads a movement from its inception to maturity, it usually ends in disaster." And, disaster is the current state of the Civil Rights Movement.

This is why reparations means overthrowing the Old Guard. Most of our Black Leadership has held positions of leadership for far too long. They have not - and are not - empowering anyone to take their place. And, the result is disaster for the Black Community. The result is that the gains made have ceded to rising disparities across the board.

Where are our Practical Men of Action? Mr. Hoffer states: "the man of action saves the movement from the suicidal dissensions...of the fanatics." Yet, the Movement has been marred by the dissensions of Men of Words jockeying for mainstream stature and position, at the expense of the people. He says, "With the appearance of the man of action the explosive vigor of the movement is embalmed and sealed in sanctified institutions." Yet, the Civil Rights Movement has established no institutions to unify our actions. And, this is why we are not ready for monetary reparations...and why monetary reparations would be a horrible idea. With no institutions, where would the money go? And, if the money came who would control it? So, again, where are our Practical Men of Action?

Reparations means overthrowing the Old Guard. Only by doing away with the Old Guard will we see the institutions we need to promote self-reliance in the Black Community. Without our own institutions, we will forever be enslaved to Government institutions. Every other community has their own institutions. Asians share China Town. Jews have hospitals and schools and etc. They have networks of organizations that truly defend them, globally. We have HBCUs struggling to exist and drawing most of their support from the Government. We have an African Union that is powerless to stop the genocide in Darfur without external help. We have Black politicians who are more concerned for the self-interest and perpetuating their careers than standing for the interests of the Global Black Community.

In tonight's Reparative Talk, we will discuss the Overthrow of the Old Guard. Join us at 9pm EST. You can take part online or by calling: 724.444.7444 and entering Call ID: 17254.

It begins with us. As "Classic Mike" would say, we must start with the "Man in the Mirror." So, reparations means overthrowing the Old Guard because we will not see change as long as they are standing in the way. We must work to build the institutions that will support the independence of our people.

Come and Get Your Reparations!