Reparations Means Fighting for our Human Rights

Today many bloggers are uniting for human rights. The idea is that bloggers would be ablet o use their platform to push for human rights. I agree wholeheartedly.

Reparations means fighting for human rights. And, there are myriad human rights crises faced by the Global Black Community. The growing - systemic - disparities between Black and White in America; the marginalization of Afro-Latinos in South America (yes, there are African people there...many more than are here in the US); and of course the problems in Caribbean nations like Haiti and African nations like Sudan.

We all could rattle off a list of numerous struggles for human dignity in the African World. But, let us rather discuss why reparations means fighting for human rights. We must know: no one really cares about the struggles of our people.

The powers that be allowed the Rwanda Genocide to happen. They aided the turmoil in Haiti. They assisted rancor in Latin America. They funded diamond wars on the Continent. When it becomes politically expedient, they become magnanimous and oust the tyrannical regimes they once sponsored...then the cycle continues, under new tyrants.

Reparations means fighting for human rights because we will be the only ones to push for the protection of our people. And, they may not be the glamorous issues of the day. But, we must be the ones who keep our issues on the agenda. We cannot allow Darfur to fall off the radar. We cannot allow Haiti to fall off the radar. We must be the ones to hold up our people before those powers that be and demand that something be done.

We are the ones who must begin to develop our own strategies for supporting the human rights struggles of our people. We do not need to wait for Western Powers to "gain religion." We have the tools and the means by which we can develop our own initiatives to end strife. We need to develop our own mediating bodies...to strengthen the African Union and CARICOM...to increase our participation at the Organization of American States.

These struggles drag on because we are not engaged. These struggles can be overcome only as we become more engaged. If we are to see our reparations, it will be for us to manifest. And, we can make it a reality if we are willing to do the work. Let's get organized!

Come and Get Your Reparations!

Reparations Means Combating Propaganda

That should be pretty clear.

When we speak to people about the recent Jeremiah Wright Saga, most will say they agree with Wright. However, that is not the sense you see in the "Mess Media." Black pundits have either been whitewashed into a seemingly Black person indoctrinated with the White perspective, or they are (justifiably) afraid of loosing their jobs.

In Message to the People: The Course of African Philosophy, Marcus Garvey says:

The press, cinema, pulpit, schoolroom are all propaganda agencies for one thing or the other...The white man is a great propagandist. he fully and completely realizes the value of propaganda. Therefore, you must organize your propaganda to undo the propaganda of other people; if their propaganda affects your interest...the school book is literary propaganda. The novels and books you read are also literary propaganda, all calculated to bring about certain results beneficial to the propagandist.

So, everything is designed to make us fearful of ourselves. With regards to the Jeremiah Wright saga, DC journalist William Reed says:

The acrimony corporate media created and manipulated regarding Rev. Wright started when their programmers saturated the airwaves with sound-bite clips of Wright sermonizing about the evils of America. When Rev. Wright started his defense, mainstream media’s provocateurs stoked the controversy by over-blowing statements with a stable of black commentators in tow - each professing Wright “didn’t represent their views and blaming him, for, as they saw it, continuing to be an albatross around Obama's neck.

Corporate Media’s endless faintings about “Obama’s pastor problem” illustrates consistent and colluded institutional racism thinly veiled as a defense of American civility and patriotism. Barack Obama does not have as much “a pastor problem" as Americans has a corrupt media problem. The airwaves are filled with "Obama's Pastor Problem" because an irresponsible media pretends that America does not have a race or a division of wealth problem. Black-oriented issues are rarely aired via corporate media.

Reparations means combating propaganda. And, to defend against the attacks of mainstream society we must control our own media...not so-called Black Press, but press which is controlled by Black people. Black Press is largely disrespected and mostly read by Black people - who, themselves, read it superficially. That serves no purpose. What we need is press that is controlled by Black people, which is respected and carries the weight needed to be taken seriously.

Again in Message to the People, Garvey instructs us:

Watch the newspapers, magazines and journals (now TV and Internet) daily for propaganda against your race or your institutions...rush into print immediately a defense of your race institutions and organizations from any attack. Never allow an insult propagated to go unanswered by you. Be ever vigilant to down anything by way of propaganda that dishonors or discredits you.

Reparations means combating propaganda. So, we need to be in a position to defend our independence. That is why I am hopeful to see the launch of the Black Television News Channel. Again from William Reed:

The Black Television News Channel (BTNC) will launch in early 2009 with the nation’s first all-news cable network dedicated to the African American community. Based in Washington, D.C., BTNC is the creation of J.C. Watts, the former Republican congressman from Oklahoma. The network is part of a multi-year carriage agreement with Comcast Cable. Initial distribution will be limited to Philadelphia, Chicago, Detroit, Washington, Atlanta, and Baltimore.

A black cable news network will be a welcome addition to the media world. But, BTNC’s 24-hour news format will be a costly proposition. To satisfy a bourgeois black clientele addicted to mainstream media, BTNC will especially need to put forth a state-of-the-art product. BTNC’s difference, of course, will all be in the perspective it brings to screens. As BTNC brings blacks news from their own points of view, it will stem growth and maturation of black people who will not only be on-air talent but the ones making editorial decisions on what stories actually get covered. Many of those blacks currently forced to prostrate themselves at corporate media altars could become “shot callers” under the Watts paradigm.

Here's a message from JC Watts:


Reparations means combating propaganda. And, to wage a strong battle we need community support. So, I hope you support the Black Television News Channel and other means by which we can control (or at least shift) the image portrayed of our people. Maybe if we can inject our perspective in the debate, people may find black empowerment easier to embrace!

Come and Get Your Reparations!

Reparations Means Embracing Reparations!

Ok, many will wonder: "what's with this title?"

Allow me to explain. In numerous conversations, here is the dialogue: "You know, I agree with what you're saying. " To which I respond, "great! We need you...would you get involved?" And, the answer is usually, "I would but..." You fill in the blank.

Reparations means embracing reparations! We cannot be afraid to take a stand as free men and women. Why should we be afraid of supporting our people? What is fearsome of empowering the Global African Community?

But, many of us are hesitant to put our names on anything pro-Black.

Reparations means embracing reparations! And, pro-Black does not mean anti anyone.

This says a great deal about the need for reparations. The fact - realism - that we as Black people must fear supporting Black people is testimony to the difficult dynamics of race. Many of you have said you do not want to loose your jobs...the very real fact that someone could loose his/her job because of concern for the wellbeing of the Black Community is a testimony to the need for reparations. How can we live free if these are the realities we face?

Reparations means embracing reparations. We can never be a free and independent people if we cannot embrace reparations. Radical Reconstruction was about reparations. The goal of Radical Reconstruction was political, social and economic empowerment of Black people. Yet, that goal was overthrown only to be followed by policies of Black Codes, segregation and integration, neither of which have enabled us to embrace our freedom.

In his best-selling novel, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey speak about the process by which one goes from a state of dependence to one of interdependence. Few will argue that as slaves, we were in a state of dependence...relying on massa for everything: food, clothing and shelter (no matter how meager). Few will argue that the stated goal of integration is an interdependent society. Few will argue against Stephen Covey's theory.

Mr. Covey theory states that to make the choice to become interdependent, one must first be independent, since dependent people have not yet developed the character to be interdependent. So, the first three habits focus on self-mastery...

Now, what is self-mastery if not knowledge of self? And, if it is fearsome to know ourselves...if it threatens society when we as Black people strive to empower ourselves...how free are we? How independent are we? And, according to Stephen Covey, if we are not yet independent we cannot be interdependent. If we are not interdependent, we will never have a mutually beneficial and integrated society.

So, you want to "get along" on your job? You want to provide for your family? Get Yours! Reparations means embracing reparations! And, until we get our reparations we will remain dependent upon White society for our sustenance. And, if we are still dependent we will never be interdependent.

Break free!!! As Bob Marley said, "Emancipate yourself from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds." So, feel free to assert your independence. The world will be a much better place when we do...

Come and Get Your Reparations!

Reparations Means Sifting through the BS

Ok, I really have to ask Black Clinton supporters when is enough, enough.

In a USA Today interview today (Thursday), Hillary says:

I have a much broader base to build a winning coalition on...Sen. Obama's support among working, hard-working Americans, white Americans, is weakening again, and how whites in both states who had not completed college were supporting me.

So, here is the fundamental question: if hard-working Americans are White Americans, is she saying that Black Americans are not hard-working...are (as the old stereotype goes) lazy? Hmmm....

Reparations means sifting through the BS. And, there is not much more to say. Yet while Hillary Clinton calls Blacks lazy, Stephanie Tubbs-Jones is cheezing for the camera in support of Hillary. Hillary insults the race, but Bob Johnson wants to play games of name calling...saying that this (by her standards) lazy American, is only in this position because of his race! Mayor Nutter, despite your hard work to become Mayor of Philly - you sir, are lazy. But, I assume all of them will stand by for their own self-interest.

I can hear Hillary now: we gave these niggers so much, and this is how they repay us! Can't you hear it?

Reparations means sifting through the BS. And, this is ridiculous...I do not even need to speak about it too much. When will the DNC denounce these comments? When will the Congressional Black Caucus defend our integrity? Where is the NAACP, Rainbow/Push, National Action Network, the Urban League, et al?

We need to open our eyes. They speak of colorblind societies, and then we hear this mess. When things get thick, you see where they stand. That is why we must come together. This is our time to break free from the psychology of inferiority and the deference to White society. Now we must live free to stand independently. Find your nearest Black Leader...your nearest Black Clinton superdelegate...demand that they stand for the community.

Come and Get Your Reparations!

Reparations Means Recognizing Cognitive Dissonance

Ok, I must resort to the big words and scientific terms: Cognitive Dissonance. According to Dr. Joy Leary (author of Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome), it is cognitive dissonance that explains what we view as racial insensitivity.

Reparations means recognizing cognitive dissonance. For example when 19 Philadelphia Police Officers brutally attack 3 unarmed Black teens, it is cognitive dissonance that explains why the police commissioner would suggest that the police were under "stress and pressure" after losing one of their own. Does that justify their actions? Does "stress and pressure" mean that it is ok for the sharks to go on a feeding frenzy? But, he must attribute their actions to something because he must show that there is no racism on the police force and that this attack did not happen because the teens were Black...it happened because of the officers' stress-level. It is this dissonance that leads Mayor Nutter to say that we must view this incident in the proper context. The hope is that we feel sorry for the officers and have no feeling whatsoever about the real victims.

Cognitive dissonance would explain why in the Sean Bell Murder Trial, everyone focused on the criminal records of the victims and not the crime. It is this dissonance that causes the judge to state that the credibility of the officers outweighed the credibility of the victims...and that this negates the crime. Is the judge saying that because they had a criminal record, they deserved to be shot and one deserved to be killed?

Reparations means recognizing cognitive dissonance. These suggestions are just distractions. And, they must pose distractions so that they can remove any conflict between what we are told about American society and what we see in American society. And, recognizing this means that we are not distracted by contortions that have no bearing on the true issue.

This is why we need Reparations. Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome affects both the enslaved and the enslaver. To deal with this generational trauma we engage in cognitive dissonance...preferring to ignore the issue or act as though it does not exist. Yet, the only way to recover from trauma is to deal with the trauma. And, that does not mean numbing folks down and reinforcing inferiority complexes. But, it means building institutions through which we give people the tangible tools to overcome the problems plaguing people. It means engaging in dialogue that exposes us to dissonance, because the only way we can extricate a problem is to recognize its existence. And that folks, is how we repair our nation.

Come and Get Your Reparations!

Reparations Means Strategizing to END Police Brutality

You know, I do not have much to say. You will not believe this video! It is ridiculous! Nineteen (19) police officers in Mayor Michael Nutter's City of Philadelphia and one police dog, jumped three black teenage boys. Yes...you heard me right. Nineteen cops jumped three teenagers. Apparently, the three teens were involved in a shooting. But, in this Country one is supposed to be innocent until proven guilty. We also know that there is no possible scenario in which 19 officers were needed to apprehend these teens. And surely - without doubt - there is no reason for such use of force.

Reparations means strategizing to end police brutality. I do not care how much stress a trained police officer may be under at a particular time. We all are supposed to be professionals. If my stress-level results in gross negligence on my job, I would be fired - without an investigation. If your stress-level results in grave mismanagement on your job, you would be fired...there would be no investigation. Yet, all Mayor Michael Nutter has called for is an investigation and says:

You have to take this in the context of the environment of what were operating.

Hunh!?! In what context does it become acceptable for 19 officers to stomp and beat three teenagers? Can you think of one? If so, please tell me...

Watch this:

Now, this was only a small snippet. There are more videos here. The Mayor's office said that the police union prevents them from firing without proper procedures. So the police are protected, but the people are under attack. In speaking with the Mayor's press office, I was advised not to "prejudge" anything. I was asked that we let this all play out. It was stated that this event had only happened a few hours ago and the investigation had not been yet conducted.

Why should we not prejudge? What hope do we have that this time will be different? When have we seen the police held accountable - personally and/or professionally - for their abuse of Black people? Why should we not assume that this "investigation" will result in some justification for the actions of incompetent authorities?

But again, this is our fault. Like Amadou Diallo...like Sean Bell...like many, many others...this exercise of so-called justice is our fault. It is our fault because reparations means strategizing to end police brutality. And, we have not done that. All of the brilliant political minds, police genius and legal expertise has gone for naught.

To his credit, Mayor Nutter did pass the Philadelphia Police Advisory Board legislation - despite then Mayor (now Governor) Ed Rendell's staunch opposition. Rendell vetoed the original legislation and when Mayor Nutter had the votes to override, Rendell negotiated a compromise to water-down the Board's authority. Who knows: maybe the original legislation had more teeth. But as with most police review/advisory boards, there is bark but no bite.

Reparations means strategizing to end police brutality. And, that will not happen through police review boards as practiced. It takes the commitment from our leaders.

That is why we must overthrow an elitist Black Leadership. While they sit in their posh offices, 19 cops jump three Black teens. The Black Elite will jump now to lead rallies, build their membership and make a few dollars. Then they will return to their caves until the next opportunity for self-aggrandizement arises. But, where are they on strengthening review boards? Why do they not mobilize their organizations during the formation of these boards, to ensure these boards actually have some real power?

But despite their negligence, reparations means strategizing to end police brutality. And, it is time for us to snatch the torch from our failed leadership and protect the Community. We must be the ones who make these review boards more substantive...to push for stronger review boards to be passed. So, head to our Google Group and let's get to work.

Come and Get Your Reparations!

Reparations Means Black People MUST Realize Their Political Clout

I am listening to the election coverage on CNN tonight and it is amazing. And, like "Dap" in School Daze, I am in your face shouting: "WAKE UP!!!!!"

Again, Malcolm X told us:

"The Black man in North America was sickest of all politically...a ten-million Black vote bloc could be the deciding balance of power in American politics..."

Reparations means Black people must realize their political clout. And, we are seeing the manifestations of that Black vote bloc. It is indeed proving to be the deciding balance of power in this Democratic Primary.

But, we also see that the Democrats do not want to see this power exercised. I mean: look how they repay your loyalty. Black folks have been die-hard Democrats for decades now. Yet, despite the leads held by Senator Obama the Party is still considering overturning the will of the people and stripping the Black man of the nomination. Why is this Primary still going? Just think if a White man were in Senator Obama's position...just think if Hillary Clinton was in Obama's position: how many of you believe this election would still be going?

Do not be hoodwinked. Do not be bamboozled. Do not be run a muck. Reparations means Black people must realize their political clout. And, realizing this power means that we begin to flex our new-found muscles. We need to flex our muscles on those Black Congressmen and women who have overturned the will of the people. As Black Caucus members, they claim to represent the Black Community. But, the Black Community has overwhelmingly chosen Senator Obama. They have not. When their terms are up, we need to put them out of office.

For too long, Black Leadership has stifled the Community to support their own careers. They have been able to do this because Black Leadership has doubted the power of a unified Black vote. They have doubted that the Black Community could stand united. Yet, all across this Country we have proved them wrong.

We have defied the stereotypes and broken the trends. And so, reparations means Black people must realize their political clout. It means we must use that clout for the benefit of the Black Community. You and I have the power to change our community...to empower our people...not to the detriment of another people, but for the benefit of our people. And, that is reparations.

Senator Obama talks about people who cannot wait four more years of the "politics of the past." Well, I am here to tell you "why we can't wait." We cannot wait four more years for a government and political structure to take us into account. We cannot wait for another election cycle for politicians to act as if they care about the Black Community. We cannot wait another moment that will galvanize the Black Community to seize hold of our own destiny.

We must stop looking for the government to do for us. We have to quit expecting these politicians to have our best interests at heart. Now is our time to assert ourselves as an independent people, part and parcel of America, and unashamed of our identity and our people.

We must wake up! Because, right before our eyes we see the Democratic Party begging to find a way to strip this nomination from the Black man. As White Conservative Bill Bennett said on CNN tonight, how do you tell him that he is leading in every dimension - except superdelegates (for now) - and take this nomination away from him? The fact that Black leaders are standing by and watching this happen is astounding. We must take notice.

We must realize our power and use it to change the political and economic landscape for the benefit of the Black Community.

Come and Get Your Reparations!