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!

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!