Reparations & Super Tuesday

If there was ever a time for us to receive Reparations for the various injustices afflicted upon us by this Country, it is now. If there was ever an opportunity for us to combat the numerous disparities between Black and White in this Country, it is now. If there was ever an opportunity for America to achieve the greatest dream and the hope for the idea that is "America," it is now.

On February 5th millions of us will head to the polls and cast our votes, and there is so much at stake. What is at stake is not who will do what for us. What is at stake is the opportunity for us to do for ourselves. As I said in the header, "not speaking from a Nationalist perspective is paramount to wishing to be fixed by someone other than ourselves." Reparations calls for us to seize the opportunity to grab hold of the promise that was denied to our ancestors.

For the sake of those who were brought here in bondage, and stolen away from freedom; for the sake of those who died in captivity, waiting for freedom; for the sake of those who fled their oppressors in search of freedom; for the sake of those who were lynched, tarred and feathered, trying to exercise there new-found "freedom;" for the sake of those who were hosed, beaten and imprisoned, pleading for an equality of freedom we must rise to the occasion.

And, what is it that we can do for ourselves? We have the opportunity to prove to ourselves that our parents and grandparents were right...that we can be anything we want to be. For too long we have sought equality by looking for the beneficence of those outside of our community. Because of this, we have inflicted deep harm on the psyche of our children...condemning them to the idea that there exists nothing good within ourselves, and that if we are to see any good it MUST come from outside of ourselves and our community.

Because of this view, we have turned neighborhoods into "hoods." Because of this view Historically Black Colleges and Universities struggle to sustain their existence. Because of this view, black businesses are few and our communities suffer from a consumerism that sucks money away from where it's needed and fills the pockets of White corporations with little to know concern for its customers (even the White customers).

Reparations demands that we repair our nation. To change our community, we must change this view. We must show ourselves that there does exist good within ourselves. We must show ourselves that we can be whatever we want to be. We must infuse hope and noble ambition into the psyche of our children.

So, we have a choice: we can show our children a competent White woman, or we can show them a competent Black man. One would be decent, the other would show our children that they too can be whatever the want to be. The Black man would show our children that being Black does not condemn you to a life of servitude. Electing Senator Barack Obama will show Black people around the world that there is hope in overcoming "the difficulties and frustrations of the moment."

So, on Super Tuesday we know what we must do. We must come out in droves to vote for Barack Obama. We must tell the Democrats who is our choice to be the Nominee out of this Primary Season. We must tell this Country - Democrat and Republican - who is our choice to lead this Nation. Now is the time for us to rise. Now is the time that we awaken the sleeping giant that is the Black Community. Now is the time that we repair our community. So, tell your family, tell your friends, tell your neighbors, tell your enemies: Come and Get Your Reparations!

Reparations, the Democratic Primary and the race for the White House

I had a conversation with a sister a few days ago who was faced with a decision: should she support the first woman or first Black as President. I guess that's a valid concern. Yet, for those of us who care about the community - for those of us who work with and organize in the community - the issue is null.

Reparations demands that we support Barack Obama. I told the sister: a President Obama does more for the Black community than a President Clinton (Bill and Hilary combined) could ever do...even if Obama does nothing specifically for Black people.

Obama hasn't run as the Black candidate. But, he has run as the "hope" candidate to restore hope to America. And, we all can agree that one of the major detriments to the Black community is the loss of hope. And, the argument to the youth has always been that they can "be anything they want to be." Have you heard that argument before?

If you are active in the community and have either heard or used that argument, I'm sure you've heard a rebuttal. That rebuttal usually takes form as something like, "a Black man in this Country doesn't have a chance." Or, "all I can be is an entertainer or a prisoner."

Imagine the effect Obama can have on our work in the community after winning the Democratic Nomination. Imagine the effect Obama can have on our work with the youth while he's sitting in the White House as President of the United States. Imagine how much we can do when Black youth see a Black man in the highest office in the land. Imagine the hope that would inspire. Can you see the impact this would have on the young, ambitious inner-city child who has a desire to be great? Do you see the affirmation felt by the young child who has been mocked for "dreaming too big?"

An outlook of Reparations requires us to seize every opportunity to advance the cause of our people. Many disparities can be overcome by an infusion of hope. Even Jesse Jackson understood that if we "keep hope alive" there is no limit to what we can achieve. Here is an opportunity for us to "see it in our lifetime." Many luminaries have always said that we cannot - will not - see it in our lifetime. Yet, here - in our lifetime - we have the opportunity to "see it."

And, this is truly the reparations view. This view does not rely on the President to do anything in particular, except be. Barack Obama will be a successful President. We don't need him to be a successful Black President. Our hope is - has always been - to come to a point where we can transcend race and become American.

Dr. King's "Dream" embodied that hope. He hoped we would be able to equalize things in this Country. He said the halls of justice could not be bankrupt. With hope, we as Black people may again be inspired to achieve the American Dream. And once we have the chance to bask in the blessings of democracy and the economic and social benefits that it brings, we too can transcend race and become fully American.

Don't be fooled by politics as usual. Don't be fooled by the Clinton machine. Don't be fooled into thinking that the Clintons care about Black people. They are (a major) part of the establishment. During the Clinton years, more Black people went to prison than under the Reagan and Bush I presidencies. During the Clinton years, over one million Rwandans were massacred while Bill stood on the sidelines. Yet, he was quick to prevent genocide in Kosovo. Don't be fooled.

"Someday" has arrived! Now is the time in which "we shall overcome." Let us rise to the challenge. Come and get your Reparations!

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!