RACISUM: “BLACKS, I COUNT ON YOUR FEAR AND INACTION?”

In this country we live by the principals of justice, democracy, and the rights of America’s citizens to be equal and free.  If this is the case then why is it frowned upon for blacks to demand justice for past and current crimes against our people.  Some folks might say that I’m stirring up the past and to move forward.  My response is that 1) I am moving forward everyday personally, and 2) the present is still being dictated by the polices and atrocities committed against African American’s in the past.  There is a continuing effort to keep the African American community powerless, un-unified, and unorganized.  If you are not African American you may think this is imagined but before you pass judgment, walk a mile in the shoes of the African American and also, look at past vs. present conditions of African American people.  Don’t base you opinions and judgments on what you see in the media as the media is and has been for years a tool to obscure the true image of African Americans thus perpetuating stereotypes that continue to define and divide us. 

“To every action there is always an equal and opposite reaction” but the world would have you believe that the African Americans current condition is a self inflection but I beg to differ.  There is a very clear reason there is so much suffering in the Black community and it is a direct reaction from events of the past as well as those events taking place today.  In my last article “The Black Debt…” to mention just 2 cases in history where successful and thriving African American towns (Greenwood, Ok and Rosewood, Fl)  were raided, looted destroyed, set ablaze, the people murdered, and the rest run off their rightfully owned land by racist whites which included the Police and Government.  Events like this have happened on many occasions and in many town around our nation since the Emancipation Proclamation.  The practice of dismantling the Black peoples economic viability and independence in America has been the Rule and not the exception and continues today.  Why do you think that Blacks today don’t have economic center in this country?  Sure we have national black organizations and “So Called” Black leaders but what good are they if Black communities today are in a state of dilapidation and it’s people are being incarcerated, uneducated, and killed off.

Take a look around at the nation and you will see most every racial group is represented with an economic center.  Example: China Town, Japan Town, Russian Town, Little Italy, Little Havana, and America as a whole for the white population.  Each one of these ethnic centers are managed, controlled, and patronized by it’s own people and the centers cater to all.  This is how the maintain economic independence as well as how they share their unique cultures with the general population.  When you talk about a separate Black economic center, or talk about building a Black town, then  people act like your being raciest, like we’re not supposed to be different, we’re not being patriotic American.  Ok, here’s the reality, Black people were not invited to America, we were Kidnapped and Enslaved.  Black people didn’t arrive at Ellis Island as Immigrants, we arrived on Slave Ships and Directed to the Auction Block then the Cotton Fields, Black Women weren’t asked for their “Relations” they were Raped continuously by the Slave owners, Black people weren’t given a choice of their Employer nor did they enjoy the sanctity of family or marriage as they were routinely Sold and Separated.

This is not an easy thing to accept or even want to discuss but it is the truth.  I use this truth in all of it’s harshness to explain that there is a difference between black and all other races in America and if you examine the way Blacks are treated today by the Government, the Media, Employers, and in the General Public Perception you will understand we are not just one people in the nation of many different cultures.  African American people are our own Selves.   We are descendants of the African Continent and that should be celebrated not just by Black people but by all just as we celebrate the culture of all of the nations other races.  African American people should seek out the culture that was taken from our ancestors.  I clearly remember as a 7th grader questioning why there was no history about my people byond slavery.  We are thought about King George, the Renaissance, and event in European history, but African history in Schools are non existent in text books… which brings me to my next point.

Since American stripped African Americans of our natural Pre-Slavery Language, Religion, Culture, Family Sir Name, Nationality, and Natural Bloodlines, would be fair to say that America owes the descendants of Slavery the right to Regain these things.  African American children be allow the knowledge of knowing who they are and where they come from.  Also, it would be good for all American Schools to teach the historical contributions of African culture to allow them to respect and appreciate African Americans uniqueness.  Even today, schools around the nation are removing Slavery from text books to avoid the guilt of the past and this should not be allowed as the wounds are still open and we still have healing to do.   American is a young nation and currently, African Americans are expected to be as young as the colonization of this nation but our people have been on this Earth for 10′s of thousands of years.  Africa has many great nations and have had great Kingdoms like to Moorish, Zulu, Egyptian, Ethiopian, The Ghana Empire, The Mali Empire, Songhai Empire… (the list goes on).  Many African American have no idea about African Kingdoms and this is something that needs to change so our children can be proud of their dark skin.

Please do not fear working for what is right and do not be ashamed of your ancestors.  Today many wrongs need to be corrected and it’s as simple as that.  Only then can we say we have healed as a nation and can move forward towards better things. 

 

 

 

 

 

BayBrotha AKIL

The Black Debt.. Time To Cash In.

“I see our local and national leaders continue to ignore the needs of the African American Community.  Equal Employment and Business Development, Quality Public Education and Standards, Youth Training and Trade Skills, and Affordable Housing & Rent Control.  Not hand outs but investment in our economic sovereignty.  Our neighborhoods are in a state of blight and dilapidation, while redevelopment fund are aimed at non African American areas.  I am sick and tired of being sick and tired and I hope this piece inspires you get active and excite the inactive.” – AKIL

The Black Debt.. Time To Cash In.

January 10th, 2012,  BY: BayBrotha Akil.

The African American Community as a national collective is non exsistant today.  Over the years the systematic dismantling of our social and economic power has effectively crippled our people and I fear it is at the point of no return.  This may sound like a hard thing to say but look at the evidence.  Under funded and failing schools and the highest illiteracy rates, Prisons packed with over 1 million of our men, roughly 8,000 to 10,000 black people murdered each year since the 80′s, the highest unemployment rates, fatherless children and husbandless women, the highest abortion rates and infant mortality rates (My own First Born  Son Died), dilapidation then gentrification, redevelopment fund skipping black communities, continuing drug infiltration and increased gang violence, blatant disrespect of the black image in the media.. ect… ect.. ect…

There’s a new movie out called “The Debt” and it’s about Former Jewish victims of the Nazi death camps seeking their revenge on the German officers who got away.  This is celebrated and accepted by Jewish people and the world as they will never let you forget about the atrocities suffered by the Jews.  My question is WHY is the suffering of the African American any less important.  What kind of reception would a move called “The Black Debt” get?  My people were  Kidnapped from their homeland, forced into slavery, men castrated and mutilated, women raped, families ripped apart, post slavery: Lynchings and killings of blacks, in the 1931, black men were infected with Syphilis by the government, Black towns like Rosewood Fl, and Greenwood Ok destroyed and it’s people murdered, The Creation of the HIV Virus, Black leaders killed and incarcerated, FBI’s plan to destroy blacks with Cointellpro, CIA Smuggling Cocaine to Black Communities and the declared War on the same Drugs, and The Prison Industrial Complex.

For centuries, African American people have paid  into the success of this country.  From the first stock sold on Wall Street (a Black Slave) to the cotton exports that built the wealth of many corporations and families this nation.  Black Slaves hands and backs are even reponsable for building the headquarters of the land that has denied us for so long (the White House).   In addition to the brutal and forced manual labor, what is the price for stripping 12.5 Million Enslaved people from the knowledge of their language, national origin, cultural heritage,  natural religion, and the division from their families.  What is the price for mutilations and lynchings, and how long should the African American people continue to hold onto the IOU of America?  People may tell me to forget about the past and move on.  They might say that slavery is old and has nothing to do with today but I beg to differ because we continue to live with the legacy of Slavery, Discrimination, and crimes against African Americans.

My life has been greatly effected by the drugs that was pushed on my people.  My father was not in my life, my home was violent and drugs destroyed my family.  At age 13 (During the flood of cocaine by the CIA in African American Communities) I was left home never to return.  My teenage years were spent in receiving homes, youth shelters and on the streets.  I became a very good car thief and criminal as a means of survival.  Role models were fellow criminals, killers, and hustlers and the lesson of the day was get money any way by any means.  Sadly, this is the reality for many of today’s youth as we are still working our way out of the shackles that have been placed on the minds of our people.  I am not angry nor do I wish any hard or retaliation, I only with to see my people respected and given the long overdue payment owed by the years, decades, and centuries of forced FREE Labor, inhumane atrocities, and the economic & judicial injustices we have suffered and continue to suffer today.

Am I a raciest? Not by a long shot! I happen to love all who love me.  I respect all who respect me, and I like all who likes me.  I am a Proud American and I work hard for my community as a whole.  As a Black Man and an African American citizen, I, like every Black Man has a duty and responsibility to lead and protect my people, my children and my community.  I have lived thru these very troubled times and am a survivor of the legacy of the raciest agenda.  African American people should expect to be paid the Debt due our people as your bank expects to receive their mortgage payment each month.  I don’t want welfare nor do I agree with it.  The contribution of African American people in this country should be looked upon with respect and honor.  From the American Revolution to the war in Afghanistan, African American people fought and continue to for the Love of America.   We should have the opportunity to achieve economic success and the African American people have for the history of America paid  our premiums and now is the time we collect on this debt.

- BayBrotha AKIL

Please join the Urban Fatherhood Network.  www.urbanfatherhood.org

40

Today is my 40th Birthday and I feel like life had just begun.  I have walked thru the shadows and escaped many demons and  now I am entering the world of light.  The charade of materialism has diverted my focus and has delayed my eventual success.   The thought of tomorrow has never been a concern and now that tomorrow is today, I am confident and I am ready.   My path has caused me to rotate in circles like an orbital moon and my journey mirrors that of many men from my community, my family, and my race.  For many, that path to nowhere is literal and is defined as Prison, Graves, and Poverty.  I was fortunate to change my focus and point my direction forward and  I will go back only to help save those who were once lost like me.  Today I am 40, and this is just the beginning.

“American Dream”

In the hood, young men grow up absorbing his environment.  His comprehension of success is relevant based on those he sees as successful in his own neighborhood and those he see’s at the GA office.  If he’s lucky, positive intervention will occur by way of a mentor, caring Family member, concerned teacher, or a compassionate neighbor.  More often than not, encouragement is replaced by criticism, complaints, and physical & verbal abuse.

So when you talk about the “American Dream” to a kid with no positive male influence, living in poverty, attending a failing school, surrounded by drugs and alcohol, unemployment, prostitution, violence, and gangs, you have to consider that each level of society has it’s own version of that “Dream”.  Private Jets, luxury cars, mansion, summer home’s, these make up what some consider the American Dream.  Chrome Rims, Candy Paint, New Threads, and a Pocket Full of Cash is considered the “Dream” to others.

It’s clear that knowledge is power and the key to success but today hundreds of thousands of young people across the nation have failed or dropped out of school.  As a nation of smart people, how can we allow this to happen?  We can go to the moon, split an atom, clone a sheep, but we can’t get schools to effectively teach kids in our nations low income communities.  There’s a saying, “You get what you pay for” and if you’re poor.. you get’s nadda.

I speak on this topic today as someone who has traveled down this road.  I understand why our boys are in gangs and do what they do in the streets.  I know why our girls are exploiting their bodies as a mean of financial gain.  I’ve been that young hoodlum carrying guns and committing crimes.  I did live that way because at that time in my life, that was my means to survival.

When you live in youth shelter (if you’re lucky), have no home, no food, no education, no job, and someone hands you a bag of dope, guess what you’re going to do! Law of the city cannot trump the Law of nature.  Adaptation will occur in the harshest environment regardless of the threat of consequence. Today’s Youth, Are are they going, and who’s leading them?

I look at the way our young people are living and I am saddened to see the efforts of those in our not so distant past and even some in our present to dismantle the economic and political power of the African American people.  Martin Luther King, Jr. was considered a Threat to US Security.  He spoke against the war and in turn against the Military Industrial Complex and for that, he was silenced.  The government at the time wanted to insure no Black man would rise up with the power MLK had so they planned to eliminate the leadership.  Men on the stump as well as men on in our homes.

In a country of 400 Million today, and about 40 million black people, Black Males make up about half of the 2 Million people in our US prisons.  1 million men locked up.  1 million fathers locked up.  1 million potential doctors, teachers, police officers, contractors, politicians, TAX PAYERS.  It cost’s $50,000 per year to incarcerate a person in prison, but it costs $25,000 to send them to trade school and get them working.  The  “War on Drugs” was a clear effort to legitimize the dismantling of the economic and political we use to have.

These men in prison aren’t able to protect and provide for their women, or show their boys how to become responsible men, or teach their daughters to respect their bodies.  These men cannot protest against a music industry out of control spreading messages of violence, drug use, degradation or women, and immorality.

We can continue to ignore the situation outside our door, but we will regret this  even more as we have been for so long.  We know, Our Boys, Girls, and Young Adults are adapting to the world created by many smart people who Today we have the TRUTH, now we can take ACTION, and hope that our young boys and girls will retain their FREEDOM.

Great related video if you have the time… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADTbYLUEUZI&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBh_hzU-jdI&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=Zu99bwmmlaA

Complacencie Allows This Condition to Exsist.

Many in the community either don’t know their failing or simply don’t care. Another problem, Where is the black community in Sacramento.  As it happend aournd the country, when folks become successful, they move to the burbs thus removing the economic power leaving those who cannot affort to leave. The when the property values are good and low, others come in a buy up the land, jack up the rent, and push out the poor.

Gentrafacation.

This stratigy has worked well all across our nation and has been a tool for diluting the African American base.  Since the plan to dismantle the unified African American people began in the 60′s, we have seen our communites go from the morally stong village, to what we have today.

I ask you WHY?  Why were my parents and many of the kids in my neighboorhoods parents suddenly consumed by drugs?  Why are many of their children and grand children Today dropping out in Droves and being affected by gang violence?  Why are so many black children missing thier fathers?, Why with all of our resources and nationl leaders do we continue to exsist in this state of delapidation?  Why do our people not MARCH for Change as MLK and people of his day MARCHED for FREEDOM.

The answer is that men in our not so distant government saw the power, unity, and organization we had and worked hard on a plan to dismantle it.  That power threatened their controll over our people.  Martin Luther King Jr. Threatened the jepordize military contractors billions in profits as he began to speak out against the Vietnam war.  That by itself was a wake up call the them and they with their many intellecutal divents, carefully crafted a plan that would destroy our leaders… nationl as well as natural… our men.

Today, Black men make up for over 1 million men in us prisons. Today our boys are affected by the “I-wanna-be-a-thugg-idous” and our girls use their bodies as an occupation.  The morallity of good people are stripped away Layer by Layer everyday and our blind resolve continues to be the reason we have lost.

Where are our leaders?  Who is speaking for us?  “Crickets”

We are all guilty.  Do you watch basket ball wives?  Are you a little Wayne Fan, Rick Ross Fan, Jigga Man Fan, are you a fan of Moral Trash.  We all have been lulled into this culture of degragation.  From the time I was a teen and I heard NWA with “Dope Man”  till today when I hear the Biggest Rappers continue promote their drug fantisys to our children.  The media promotes it, we buy it, corporations profit, and our children die.  We are as much to blame for the problem then the actual problem as our complacencie allows this condition to exsist.

My suggestion is to boycot ANYONE who sponsors any degrading music, movies, and television programs.  They call it a Program because it’s progamming our young people to loose their minds.   If you deny the programming financial support, you will force the change.  It’s a money game and we spend our money like there’s no tomorrow.  Corporations love that about you and me, the fact that the African American economy is like a country by it’s self.  Just the money we spend could bail out bankrupt governemnts.

Now imagine if we controlled our spending and invested in things that supported the future of our own communities.  Imagine if we only supported companies that respected our image in the media, and repected our busienss.  That would be a great sight to see but first we need to understand that if we are to exist as an induvidule race of people, if we will not except being the worlds orphans with no cultural and national idenity, if we appreciate the suffering of our grand parents and enlaved ansestors, we will do more to protect our own future.

Please join the Urban Fatherhood Network Facebook group if you wish to discuss plans to help shape a future for our children.

 

http://www.facebook.com/groups/urbanfatherhood/

You can’t no longer discipline your kids.. it’s up to the court of public opinion.

A Texas Judge was filmed by his daughter for whupping her with a leather belt. Her mom was also on the film assisting with the discipline.  The daughter was being disciplined for illegally downloading music from the internet.  She got 20 lashes for what her Judge father saw as “Stealing”.  The judges daughter clearly has a score to settle with her dad as this video was release 7 years after she got her butt whupped.  I think she is suffering from a sever case of “Childous is Spoildous”.  I got the Judges back on this one.  furthermore, I bet she never downloaded another illegal song after that… 

Kids today are bombarded with sex, drugs, gangs, and every imaginable act of immorality in music, television and in schools. We cannot deflect all of this from our children and often our kids get involved in things they shouldn’t. When our kids do something wrong and we used spanking as a punishment, we are at risk of going to jail because our kids no they can call CPS and have us arrested.   I’ve seen this happen to people. In some cases, the kids feel empowered to continue to misbehave as the have the “CPS Card” in the hand.

I think that unless there is clear abuse, Black eyes, broken bones ect… parents should be able to discipline their children. The Bible even says, “Spare the rod, spoil the child”… Well, today it’s clear that many of our children our Very Spoiled. the threat of timeout dosen’t alway work. Kids today are so disrespect full to adults and their parents. I’ve seen kids talk back and curse at their parents. I would have lost my life if I attempted that… and I have to say that I am a better person today for getting my butt whupped as a kids for things i did. I event got spanking by the principal in the 2nd grade because I was badd as hell. And this was allowed in the schools as that time.

I say let’s follow the lead of the country of Singapore and Start Flogging Kids and Adults… I bet we would see less of the nonsense we see today. Singapore s crime rate is very low because of this punishment. When people know they are going to experience pain they are reluctant to invite it. If jails, prisons, and Probation was a deturant, we wouldn’t have so many people continue to return.

The judges daughter clearly has a score to settle with her dad as this video was release 7 years after she got her butt whupped. I think she is suffering from a sever case of “Childous is Spoildous”. I got the Judges back on this one. furthermore, I bet she never downloaded another illegal song after that…

“I’m BLACK not AFRICAN AMERICAN” Really??!?? Mr. Herman Cain

Herman Cain says he’s not an “African American” because his root are in America and only considers himself a “Black American”.   HERMAN, What The Hell Is Wrong With You!? (In my Madea Voice)  Most people in America today have the privileged of knowing where there ancestors came from.  Thus allowing them to identify themselves with that nation of origin.  If your Mexican American, your people came from the nation of Mexico.  If your Chinese American, your people came from the Republic of China.  If you’re German American, your people came from Germany, and so on.

Today we African American’s are in a unique situation.  Slavery has taken away our knowledge of our national origin.  To be “African American” is to be associated with the continent our people originated from.  But our knowledge of our original nation, language, family names, religion, and culture was erased when our people were kidnapped and enslaved.  (African Nations include: Egypt, Somalia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Sudan, Congo, South Africa, ect.. )

To simply call yourself a “Black American” is to say that you have disconnected yourself with your people struggles and the history that has brought you here today.   Black is not a nationality or even a race, it is a description of a color as is Nigger and Negro.  Many slave women were raped over generations and that has diluted our natural color.  We also have many interracial relationships across American today that have created so many different shades in the African American community.

I do call myself a Black Man as it is a state of mind and a title to be proud of but I AM African American.  I know my Great Great Granddad Jack Jennings was a slave.  I know his family was sold from the Milgore plantation to the Jennings plantation, and I know that once upon a time, his granddaddy was stolen from his home in African.  AFRICANS in AMERICA.  That was what we were then, and that is what we are today!

Now, don’t get me wrong, I love my life here in American today.  I love the relationships that I have created with many faces of many races.  I enjoy diversity and meeting new people.. what ever their social and political views.  That’s not to say that I have not endured racesisum through out my life because I have but despite that, I will not deny my heritage… African American.

Herman Cain is clearly trying to appease his Republican base.  He stated that “during the civil right era, he avoided civil right marches and stayed out of trouble.”  He’s not a “Trouble Maker”… that was Martin Luther King causin all that trouble… and Medgar Evers, and Rosa Parks, and them dam Black Panthers… Causin Trouble for the good Christian Folk!?

I appreciate people when they keep it real.  If you never like black folks in your life and we strike up a conversation, I will respect you as I expect you to respect me.  At the end of the day, we will understand each other better then before.  I would never deny who I am to make you feel better about me.  I’m am great as I stand.  The problem is that most people get caught up in the media and see only the negative.  Herman, it’s OK to be African American… OBAMA is an African American, Michelle is an African American, and their children are African Americans.. and guess what… They live in the White House!

Please, Please, Please, get it together my brotha!

AKIL.