Great Conversations with my Great Friend Sister Courtney :)

Courtney: What a horrifying picture of his father. This should of never happened.

Me: The picture of the father weeping shows the pain of the family of Michael Brown. Michael Brown’s death was a tragedy. Many of the supporters of Darren Wilson are stone cold, non-empathic racists to put it plainly. We are certainly in a war for our survival as a people. Situations like these document the need for us to stand. We have to stand up for our rights and for our humanity if we want to be free. I have no problems with nonviolence or self-defense.

You are 100 percent correct Sister Courtney.

Courtney: As you know, their are many ways to win a war. . And it will take more than just one way. You know, I was watching the Panther movie and one thing stood out that I believe to be true to my core. When Bobby Seals and Huey basically told Cleaver, not to go at the police that night. That was only going to make it worst and they had the right things in motion, to continue to make the gov't and police look like the aggressors, making them change tactics in backing them up, fumbling. etc.They needed every black person to LISTEN.Only using their guns when they were defending on the spot.Huey and Bobby had the gov't changing the laws on the spot. And both men were insightful and intelligent enough to play the game that kept them and their people safer. THEY WERE on their GROWN MANHOOD VIBE AND HAD MORE THAN ONE ANSWER . THEY could not be put in a box. Whatever was thrown at them, they had the intelligence to give them back the right answers with the right actions , in every given situation. Those are the men that I love.Because, it's all predicated in PROTECTING . (which falls in line with different ways of doing that in different situations) Can't have the same answer for every issue.When they changed the law, they would find the loophole and change along with it. :) Brilliant.

They had the answer for what needed to be done, in this America. Once others thought that they had better ideas, without thinking about the entire movement, would be the perfect time to pounce on making the divide even bigger to something that could not be overcomed. Bobby and Huey had black men finding their way in gaining some political power and that was destroyed for many of reasons. Outside influences and those inside who could not understand the bigger picture in America at that time, that would of changed the course of what we see going on today. For some reason, some people could not see how the game was being played.Bobby and Huey were strong. They knew what it would of taken. They had some of the answers. 

Me: To be honest, these are some of the greatest words that you have written Sister Courtney. :)

Yes, there are many ways to win a war. We as a community and a people need diverse elements as a means for us to fight injustice. Different situations merit different strategies and you're right to make that point. For example, we need teachers, writers, musicians, scientists, spiritual leaders, political leaders, other warriors, etc. working in one common goal (while expressing gifts in many different ways) to achieve the justice that we all seek. Yes, that scene (from the "Panther" classic movie) that you have described about the Panther film is a very excellent analogy. Bobby Seale and Huey P. Newton disagreed with Cleaver on whether to strike at the police during the aftermath of Dr. King's unjust assassination (Cleaver ironically supported Reagan during the 1980’s. LOL. Reagan was the same man that he cursed out. LOL. My brothers joke about Cleaver, but he was a strong Brother in his own right), because Cleaver in that scene wanted to use preemptive violence against the police during an ill-conceived time (because the police was going to use that as an excuse to murder Bobby Hutton. Bobby Hutton’s death was unjust). In that scene, Huey and Seale was right. Their actions did cause the CA legislature to change laws. They adjusting to changing laws and they have expressed TRUE MANHOOD in the struggle for liberation. Using self-defense is fine. The old school BPP were making progress and that is why Hoover and other forces attacked them. Your point is the same point that Malcolm X have made. I have Malcolm X’s quote in 1965 when he said that he doesn’t want to execute indiscriminate violence against all whites, but he believed in self-defense. Therefore, we have to be rational and reasonable in our strategies and actions. Realness is never about murdering people randomly as you have brilliantly stated. Being real is about embracing the knowledge of self and we can apply wisdom to build up our community. Our communities need development. Yes, Huey and Bobby Seale understood political analysis (they criticized imperialism heavily), economics, and strategies. I don’t feel that a race war will occur in our generation or anytime soon. If it does occur, millions of people could potentially die and it will have very destructive consequences regardless. Evil people always use divide and conquer strategies as a means to cause some black people to fight and hate other when we should hate oppression not people personally.

That is why, especially with the events in Ferguson, that we need more Black Unity and Black solidarity. At the end of the day, we want all of our families to prosper, we want the black community to grow, and for humanity (of every color) to have justice.

Courtney: In my opinion only, I know this is right..Cleaver was strong in his own right and if their was an army that needed to be headed up, he would be someone that would of fit that role. But the intelligence part was Bobby and Huey. Everyone needed to work together. Before you can pick up a gun, you have to know what it is ,that needs to be done first.This is what Cleaver failed to see.And that hurt them. Im not saying that he was not important but, just seeing that showed somethings.Some people need to feel the need to BE, when he should of been silent in that moment and protected those men. That was not the right scenario.They all wanted the same things but ego's had to be left at the door.Bobby and Huey had a full understanding of what they were dealing with. They studied it.They had other people from other countries, paying attention and even supporting them.They were on the right track..They needed men that would comply with them every step of the way. The scene when Huey was shot by the officer and survived, and went to trial, was another significant moment.

That full understanding of their laws and how they played it . The thing is, the points that they implemented, were the seeds for the community to do just as you said.They put in place things that would of allowed the black communities to grow,become responsive and responsible, community oriented, protectors that would of allowed for all the other things to follow .Their would of been less stress because their would of been a sense of pride and dignity restored. They had many of the answers. They had structure and foundation.They were thinking about the whole.A mold that would of been duplicated in other states.They tried their best and because of that, their should be nothing but respect for them and those that understood and followed them.A race war in my opinion would not be in the best interest of african americans here.War is the last resort.This is a war that has to be chipped away at and strategized and it takes much cooperation when you are outnumbered here.(hypothetically speaking) Now, all brown nations etc coming together would be somewhat of a different story but even that takes strategy.The Bpp certainly were not cowards but smart and courageous..Those black women too.In the movie Panther, Bokeem, Kareem and the kid that got shot by the drug dealer, were all right.!! They were the REAL STRENGTH along with Huey and Bobby.It was also amusing to see how during the recruitment scene, how they were looking at the pimp talking about joining and a few others who did not appear to be conscious enough.


Me: Cleaver was a journalist before he joined up with the BPP. His legitimate contributions are things that I agree with. I don’t agree with his errors. Bobby and Huey were definitely intellectuals. Both of them studied philosophy, economics, and political thinking. Black people of diverse gifts should work together. Before anyone can execute policy, people have to know which policies work and which policies don’t work. As for a gun, a gun is a tool. Anyone who owns a gun should be educated on it and trained on its usage as well. Cleaver in that scene wanted to be the top “man,” but sometimes a man can be more humble about things, which represents strong character amid a complication. People globally did aid the BPP. The BPP members believed that there were part of an international struggle against imperialism and colonialism (which heavily existed in Africa and Asia). Their 10 Point Program had legitimate aims that communities can use as template even in our time. They were on the right track, because children were being fed via their breakfast program. Also, they formed free health clinics and other programs to address the needs of the community. The community need real resources and protection as a means for it to sustain itself. A lot of black men, women, and children were inspired by their activism, courage, and strength. We need more people to express their dignity in the world today. We all respect their insights and heroism in standing up against police brutality and economic exploitation. We certainly don’t need a race war to solve our problems. We can use constructive, strong, and positive economic and political actions. We should utilize unique strategies too. The scene of Huey being shot by the officer dealt with the law. Huey's friend invoked the Fifth Amendment, so he wouldn't incriminate himself. That is why learning about the law is so important. We have to understand and defend our human rights. Basically fighting for human rights beyond just civil rights. We are an international people.

The black women in the BPP were courageous and strong as well. We both have done a lot of research on the Strong Sisters in the BPP.

Courtney: And their laid cleavers Strength, The power of words being a journalist. Everyone had their talents and needed to work together, humbling themselves to the fact that their talents ,served to help the whole. In so many ways, he was the top dog in his own right with his talents. Being humbled about that should of followed next.Looking over seeing the talents of Bobby and Huey, and standing next to them in his own right as a journalist was extremely powerful. Why did he not see that at first?He was part of the puzzle and that should of been enough.Coming from a journalist background, is extremely powerful. It is one of the ultimate tools. NOt only that, he had the power to crank out more journalist under him, during the movement. Teaching them the trade etc. YOu said:but sometimes a man being more humble about things represents strong character amidst a complication. Agreed!! Being humble does not make one weak but stronger. It goes back to Huey and Bobby again. The scene that comes to mind is the scene were Bobby tells Huey at the park, that he and the fellas took a vote and that it would be best that Huey stayed behind, instead of going to the California legislation, storming in with their right to bear arms. Huey did not fight that because he knew he was right.

History would of been marked differently and possibly turned out differently during that day, had Huey went and not Bobby. Bobby was the better fit for that situation but Huey understood that his action to stay back and not fight it, was a decision for the whole. It wasn't about HIM!!! but more about how he was the controversial so called figure so they sent Bobby. That's Love.That's being humble. :) Understanding your chess pieces. Not rushing making rash decisions. You said: The BPP members believed that there were part of an international struggle against imperialism and colonialism. Their 10 Point Program had legitimate aims that communities can use as template even in our time. A lot of black men, women, and children were inspired by their activism, courage, and strength. We need more people to express their dignity in the world today. They had it right..

Me: Cleaver was not p.c. when it came to words. LOL. He was blatantly honest. He was gifted in journalism and creating literature. He wrote famous books like Soul on Ice (which was very controversial when it came out during the 1960’s). Cleaver coordinated the BPP in many ways. Each of us has different gifts. When we appreciate our gifts and express it in a positive way, then we can further appreciate other human being’s talents too. There should no ego tripping involved when we are dealing with the liberation of our people. Each situation in life will be different. Sometimes, it is necessary to be aggressive and during other times, it is time to be more humble. Bobby and Huey certainly respected Cleaver’s journalist talents. Being humble does cause a man or a woman to have contemplation about life. Being humble allows a person to reflect more about life and it does build strength. Humbleness increases social strength, because wise evaluation of things mixed with discernment is of benefit for humanity. The scene of the park was important. Huey stayed behind, because he knew that if he was there in Sacramento, then both of him and Bobby could have been arrested. They used strategy in that instance. Also, Huey and Bobby had similarities and differences. They knew each other’s personalities and Bobby was the man who spoke his mind in the California legislation (in talking about the need of the right to bear arms and to refute the notion that the BPP was racist. The BPP members were never racist). Bobby Seale led a protest against the then Mulford bill.

The movement for social change is never about selfish individualism. It is about love and it is about advancing the interests of the community. There is nothing wrong with wise decision making. You are showing great jewels of wisdom today Sister like usual. :)

Me: Goodnight Sister Courtney. I want to show you this quote from Malcolm X. He said these words in January 19, 1965:

"... I believe that any area of the United States, where the federal government has shown either its unwillingness or inability to protect the lives and the property of the black American, then it is time for the black Americans to band together and do whatever is necessary to see that we get the type of protection we need...I mean just that. Whatever is necessary. This does not mean that we should go out and initiate acts of aggression indiscriminately in the white community. But it does mean that, if we are going to be respected as human beings, we should reserve the right to defend ourselves by whatever means necessary. This is recognized and accepted in any civilized society....We're not a cadre, nor do we want it to be felt that we want to be tough. We're trying to be HUMAN beings, and we want to be recognized and accepted as HUMAN beings. But we don't think humanity will recognize us or accept us as such until humanity knows that we will do everything to protect our human ranks, as others will do for theirs."

You're a Great Friend and I appreciate a great deal this conversation (on an important issue).

Sister, I have your back forever. NY and VA will always be in the house. :) God Bless You. 

TTYL.

Courtney: That's it. Intelligence. Malcolm was not wrong.Any human being, any man would do the same and they have throughout history. The black and brown man would be no different. So many of his speeches were right and he never excluded the BLACK WOMAN at all either. He understood the black woman's importance .Thank you for the quote. You have shown lots of jewels too.

Me: P.S. You're Welcome Sister Courtney.

By Timothy

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Me: These images are important.


Courtney: Yes they are. Heartbreaking but at the same time ,hopeful. Their was an image during the protest last week, that I saw on the news. I have not seen it since. It was a photo of a young african american man and woman and he was holding her as she was looking out towards the street. Those images are so important and hopefully someone can find that picture to ask them, what was going through their minds at that moment.It looked as if he was protecting her. I love that photo.

Me: Yes, the family of Michael Brown are going through unspeakable pain. We should have hope. At the end of the day, unwarranted hatred is not the answer, but revolutionary change in the world can help the world. The photo that you have described is really powerful. It shows what it is all about. We are one people. There is no shame in a black man protecting a Sister. I'm glad that you loved that photo. The events in Ferguson are a turning point in our history. Hopefully, things can change in a positive direction for the future.

Courtney: Hatred is never the answer.It's the definition of a racist. On another note, when you said you watched Panther yesterday, I went and rewatched it. ONe thing that stood out was when Huey said the the two white college students that asked, " how do we become a panther"? and Huey said that they couldnt but that they could start their own and fight the injustices as well.
And then he went on to say, Power to the people meant, all people. Power to black people,. Power to white people, power to whoever. I think he was saying , this racist stuff is a tool and that their was something else that was bigger than all of this that required everyones attention.
Again, the film is really underrated. As you also stated, those images of Ferguson, of people supporting one another, cleaning up, protecting the stores are so important

Me: Indeed.

Hatred only brings more instability in life. What we have found in the world is that Love is stronger than hatred. True love can build movements, inspire change, and cause people to fight harder against injustice. The racist is wrong, because there is no liberation in degrading a person by virtue of their skin color or their ethnicity. There is no virtue in falsely demonizing a person inappropriately. I know the scene that you have described. Huey realized that black liberation is tied to human liberation regardless of what troublemakers say. We know who the troublemakers are. LOL. Regardless of their lies, we know the truth. The truth is that black people are entitled to justice, freedom, and equality. The truth is that the Golden Rule of treating our neighbor as ourselves is a legitimate ideal to embrace. Power to the people precisely mean power to all of the people of the human race. Readily, the one percent would exploit the human race in order to cause injustice while they seek more power and more oligarchy. The Panther film is really underrated. My favorite part of the film is when the Black Panthers came into the California legislature armed with rifles. Bobby Seale said that he is anti-oppression and you can't fight hate with racism. That is the point that you have made. :)

The people of Ferguson have done charities and food drives to help the community as well.

Courtney: Absolutely. Nothing is more powerful than LOVE, WHY DO you think so many in the world, truly FEAR it? LOVE makes you accountable PERIOD. And it seems, so many don't want to be accountable for anything. It is always easier to do the opposite of love because in a nut shell, it's easier.

You said: My favorite part of the film is when the Black Panther came into the California legislature armed with rifles. Bobby Seale said that he is anti-oppression and you can't fight hate with racist.

I remember when I was first told that growing up. To actually see that image of black men doing just that, showed the level of strength, warrior mentality intertwined with intelligence that those men had for not only themselves, but for their community, their women and children. They were not about murdering and killing unnecessarily. They were about peaceful fairness but also about defending themselves and their community, when agitators came in to police,harass, beat and even murder its citizens.


Me: Me personally, I am at a point in my life, that if a Brother or a Sister is a communist or not, if that person wants liberation sincerely, then that person should not be thrown into jail at all. Claudia Jones was a Communist and she was a Sister who fought for the liberation of black people sincerely. I am not a Communist, but I'm not a reactionary either. The Sister fought discrimination, racism, and economic injustices in the UK. Yes, the government lied about the Black Panthers. Black people were denied fundamental freedoms. We are still denied true freedom today. Also, they did want equal treatment, fair housing, good jobs, etc.

Courtney: Most people are not communist. I am not. I remember they even tried to say that lucille Ball was a communist. lol .I don't remember it but I did read that. Like really, Everyone is a communist? All of the issues in the movie, actually happened.They actually purposely, flooded those communities with drugs.Set people up etc.And they didn't do anything. Fighting for what is fair, should not be labeled. Its a God given right for all men to be free and treated fairly..

Me: It is the Cold War and the McCarthyite era of the 1950's that agitated anti-Communist paranoia in a higher level. Everyone is not a communist. LOL. Extremists view a lot of people as Communist for even standing up for racial justice. The feds did flood communities with drugs via the Golden Triangle, etc. They caused divisions and they illegally monitored the BPP. The Black Panthers were scapegoated for the events of the 1960's. The truth is that people wanted to be free. After WWII, nations in the Motherland fought for their independence. People just wanted to have a chance of true liberation from oppression. Some folks get too caught up into labels. We have the God given right to freedom, to be treated fair, and to have justice.

Me: P.S. Here is one quote from a great Black Panther:

"...You don't fight racism with racism, the best way to fight racism is with solidarity..."

-Bobby Seale

Yes, the Black Panthers were about defending their families and their communities. The warrior mentality of black men is great. Black men and Black women working together, loving each other, and standing up for freedom is what it is all about.


Courtney: Amazing quote.They were never in the beginning what the govt tried to make them to be. They were not communist etc. They just wanted to be left alone.

They wanted equal treatment, fair housing, good jobs, etc..Black people were being denied that. The part were Bobby said to Huey, that we took a vote and we think its best you stay behind, That you are too risky, was a great scene.

Thats the scene that sets up the panthers going to the California Legislature about them trying to change the law because black people were starting to understand the constitution and the right to bear arms. :) Huey agreed that he should stay behind. lol

Me: Again, Goodnight Sister Courtney. :)

It has a been a great discussion with you.

You're a Real Sister like always. Bless You.

Peace and Blessings to You.

TTYL

Courtney: Thank you. Have a good night. Blessings.

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Me: On another note, Have you listened to the music from the Three Degrees yet? If so, what do you think of their music?

I know that you are gifted in music Sister.


Courtney: yes. when will I see you again was a huge hit for them back in the day. They reminded me of Donna Summer disco era with that one. The group Emotions come to mind too.Martha and the Vandelles etc The three girl group like the Supremes.

I mean, these are their authentic , angelic voices. No manipulation to their voices. REAL singing.So many back then. Donna Summers had that kind of voice. Diana Ross too. I know alot of people think Diana didn't have a strong voice but she did.Whitney Houston comes to mind as well with the same kind of similarities although whitney had a longer range.My opinion.The Arethas , Patti's Glady's etc are different caliber of singers.Some of their voices are stronger in a different sense. Loved them too. :)
This is how Diva Devotee summed up her voice Dianas Voice.
Vocal Type: Light lyric soprano
Vocal Range: 3 Octaves C3-C#6
Whistle Register:No
Vocal Pluses: Smoky lower range, which is dark and heavy. Her midrange is lighter, softer and has a warm timbre that carries through the to the top of the range. There is an intrinsic sweetness and youthfulness to the voice that is accentuated by her excellent phrasing. The chest voice is clear and light, effortlessly extending up to an A5 with the help of her excellent technique and clever mixing of the chest and head voice. The head voice is bright and robust, with great dynamics.
Vocal Negatives: The voice's lightness is often interpreted as it lacking power as whole, with the term "weak" sometimes being applied to the voice's tone.

As you know, I think Diana's These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things, is vocally perfect.pronunciation, pitch,emotion. Would of loved to of been in the studio to watch those vocals cut. She probably sang it straight through. :) Then you go to a song like SOME DAY, WE'LL BE TOGETHER AND she drops her vocals . YES!!! You hear her emotions in this song, its a bit darker but stronger.No other person will ever sing that song better than her in my opinion.She is a Legend and I will always have the utmost respect for her voice.

Me: Cool :)

I know that you respect Diana Ross. She has talent, glamour, and creativity. Diana Ross has a sweet voice with style. All of the other singers have their unique stories, but they are unified in expressing to the world the gift of music and love of true expression. We can talk about the musicians that you have listed for hours. I also like Odetta's voice. She had a strong, soulful voice too. Marlena Shaw is an underated singer as well. Her song California Soul is one anthem of the 1960's era.

What more can you say about Donna Summer. Even back in the late 1960's, she created great music. She performed great music and her music just cheers people up. Her music makes people feel good.

The group does remind me of the Emotions and Donna Summer. TVOne's Unsung has shown an episode about the Emotions recently. It was a great episode. The Supremes had classic records too like You Keep Hangin On and Soul Love. Yes, Diana Ross's voice on the song "My Favorite Things" is exquisite, powerful, and precise.

Courtney: That's the thing, So many girl groups that were born out of motown and aftewards, had great vocalist. You know this can go on and on so im going to save this for a different thread. lol But yes, the Three degrees along with the rest were so extremely talented and we should never forget any of them and what they gave to the world of music.

Me: We should always remember their talent and so many other musicians (many of whom are unsung). On the Ferguson issue, a lot of information is coming out. You know how I like to learn information. We all are inspired to stand up and to advocate real solutions.

Courtney: Agreed. Yes their is more information coming out for sure.

Me: I am about to leave for a few hours. Have a Blessed Day Sister Courtney. It has been a great conversation with you. You are one of the greatest human beings that I know in my life. Keep up the Great Work like I know you will. Bless You :)

Courtney: Check you later . :)

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Great Music and Speeches

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Various Social Commentaries from Savant: Interestingly enough, King was born the year of the crash which precipitated the Great Depression. So, he spent his early childhood years under the shadow of the economic blight. Though he lived in relative comfort, he remembered the breadlines. And he reflects that "I can see the effects of this early childhood experience on my ANTICAPITALIST FEELINGS."(AU TOBIOGRAPHY,p 2., my italics). I do wonder if he isn't reading his later sentiments into his childhood past. Or maybe that was the beginning of what would evoled into Kingian Christian socialism.

-Savant
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 There are Marxists who do not say "I am a Marxist", but whose Marxism is evident to anyone who reads them and is reasonably familiar with Marxian ways of thinking.Thus far, I've yet to come across any statement by Lukacs or Gramsci which says "I am a Marxist." Indeed, to avoid Fascist censorship Gramsci was very careful NOT to mention Marxism, and often simply spoke of "philosophy of praxis". But only someone utterly unfamiliar with Marxist thought could be taken in by the disguise. Dr. King, in private writings, interviews, letters often makes clear that he is socialistic in his thinking. What's interesting is in private discourse he often uses the word socialism for what in more public addresses he simply calls "more fully developed democracy." It is common knowledge that socialists of the 19th and 20th centuries often made the critique that "democracy " in capitalist societies wasn't genuine, or was very narrow. It didn't extend to economic life at all, and was often limited even politically for those social classes beneath the bourgeoisie. What these socialists--Marxis t and non-Marxist--held was that a fuller democracy, a more fully actualized democracy is possible and must be created; and this more fully developed democracy meant socialism. (Before the rise of totalitarian states calling themselves socialist, most socialists---and even their adversaries---assu med as a matter of course that socialism meant far more democracy (TOO MUCH for the right and liberals) than is possible under present capitalist conditions in England, France or the USA. King whose focus in philosophical study was (aside from Personalism) mainly SOCIAL PHILOSOPHY knew this. In fact, he opposes fully developed democracy in STRIDE TOWARD FREEDOM and WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE to both Communism and capitalism. To be honest, and put my cards on the table, so do I. Only I am prepared to say PUBLICLY what King usually said privately, that we need a SOCIALIST democracy. That ordinary people need both political freedom and democracy governance of economy and their conditions of work, etc. King had to operate under the blight of McCarthyism. I don't.
-Savant
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 Unfortunately, there is mutual animosity between SOME Africans and SOME African Americans. That's obvious even in this thread. And the roots of this is IMPERIALISM, the racist and capitalistic imperialism of the west which has estranged Black people from themselves and each other. Black people here and elsewhere are often caught in a trick, fighting each other along the lines of division created by the common oppressor--each group of Blacks claiming the other is solely responsible, and neither seeing the ultimate roots of the trouble. I can only imagine that the Western imperialists and capitalist pirates and predators are laughing all the way to the bank. Black vs Black hatreds are politically convenient and sometimes downright PROFITABLE to the powers that be. Now if the vast majority Africans thought more like Cabral and Nkrumah? What if most African Americans thought more like Malcolm X, the Panthers or even Gil Scott with his song "Johannesburg "? The racists and exploiters would not be laughing all the way to the bank. And it that sort of revolutionary consciousness that I'm thinking of were to become rampant even within one thread in AA Forum I would not be surprised if the thread--maybe even the entire forum--were shut down. For this would indicate a remarkable awakening and a dangerous new solidarity. I wonder how many Black Americans or Africans have even seriously reflected on that possibility.


-Savant

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By the way, I have no illusions about uniting ALL Africans and ALL Black Americans in North America. In fact, I've no illusions about uniting all Black Americans with each other in North America, or uniting all Africans in Africa itself. Only a doufus thinks he can unite everyone. But you may be able to unite a critical mass strong enough to move forward and transform society. That is certainly worth the effort. 

-Savant

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 In STRIDE TOWARD FREEDOM, STRENGHT TO LOVE & (to a lesser extent) WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE, King objects philosophically to Marxist materialism from the perspective of his own Personalist and Hegelian idealism. So, part of the dispute is philosophical and metaphysical. But he objects MORALLY to the political repression of Marxist-Leninist regimes, regimes which carry out their struggle for a "classless " society in ways which simply reinstitute class oppression in a different form. In STRENGHT TO LOVE King admits that he finds moving the moral passion of Marx and Engels for social justice, and surmises that (atheistic or not) Marx's moral passion derives from the prophetic tradition of his Hebrew heritage. And while King rejects the violence carried out in the name of the classless society, he does not reject the ideal of a classless society. Indeed, King describes the classless society as a "noble end" (STRENGHT TO LOVE, p. 168)--even though Marxists Leninists seek it by ignoble means. But that classless society, free of economic and political oppression--free also of racism--is the ultimate aim of socialism or communism. (And we may recall that in HOMAGE TO CATALONIA, Orwell claims that for the average socialist worker in Spain during the 1930s, socialism meant a classless society---for King, a "noble end"). Indeed, isn't that also what Nkrumah wanted (at least initially)? isn't that what Fanon wanted? A liberated human being in a liberated society achieved by means of socialism and democracy? So, did King. So do I.

-Savant

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If you've not even HEARD of Antonio Gramsci and Georg Lukacs, they you really need to improve your education. Lukacs most famous work is probably HISTORY AND CLASS CONSCIOUSNESS--whi ch I read as a STUDENT. Antonio Gramsci is known for his PRISON NOTEBOOKS, one edition of which I also read while a student. Those two are perhaps the most famous Marxist philosophers of the 20th century! Not only philosophers, but historians, sociologists, political scientists and even many psychologists (like humanist Marxist Erich Fromm) would be deeply familiar with them. I've READ their works as well as scholarly studies of them. While I can claim to have read ALL of their voluminous works, I've read a considerable of it. Again, I don't recall reading any statement by either of them saying "I am a Marxist." But in ANY scholarly community of philosophers or social scientists you'd be thought a dunce if you didn't know that Gramsci and Lukacs were Marxists!

-Savant

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Of course, if you've read Nkrumah you know that he was a socialist of a decidedly Marxist as well as Pan-Africanist orientation. And if you're politically and historically informed, you're aware that socialism derives from Left traditions of politics and thought just as Fascism derives from Right wing traditions. Nkrumah, Cabral, Mondlane, Fanon and other were all socialists and explicitly anti-right wing, anti-capitalist. We ought to remember as well that after Stokely popularized "Black Power" in 1966, there soon developed some debate over what it actually meant. Some more conservative nationalists (coinciding with Richard Nixon) identified Black Power as 'black capitalism"--and eventually began saying everything was really about "green power". Some engage in mystical fabrications by identifying Black power with the obscurantist politics of cultural nationalism. For awhile Imamu Baraka and Ron karenga was running that line. Other interpreted Black Power in term of radical empowerment of the masses of our people, an empowerment that meant the revolutionary transcendence of imperialism, capitalism and racism. Stokely leaned in that direction. So, too, did the Black Panther party for awhile. And various other lesser known. A revolutionary analysis and interpretation of the Black Powr Movement can be found in Robert Allen's BLACK AWAKENING IN CAPITALIST AMERICA. An "insightful" but not revolutionary analysis is also offered by Black nationalist scholar Harold Cruse in THE CRISIS OF THE NEGRO INTELLECTAL. And Dr. King--since his legacy is supposed to be the THEME of this thread--works out his own coming to terms with Black Power in WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE, CHAOS OR COMMUNITY. I think we can learn more of value from these brothers who were there than from ranting buffoons like Assdurratin.

-Savant
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One thing is interesting: On more than one occasion King clearly states his OPPOSITION to both capitalism and Communism ( least in Marxist Leninist version). He NEVER says he's against socialism, and he points to both Scandinavian and East Indian socialist tendencies with OBVIOUS approval. I mentioned to Ekdesiladki, and Indian lady who used to post here, about some of the leaders of agrarian reform movements in India whom King met there after the Montgomery campaign,. They were promoting agricultural cooperatives to redistribute wealth and empower the Indian poor. Ekdesi informed me that these leaders were Gandhian socialists who tried to continue the legacy of Gandhi (the spiritual aims of the movement) after the Mahatma's assassination. When she mentioned that they were Gandhian socialists---which didn't exactly take me by surprise since King was esteeming their promotion of Indian cooperatives---I simply said to Desi: "I should have known it! A Christian socialist admiring a Gandhian Hindu socialist." King is always on he side of the disinherited and the dispossessed.

-Savant

Information now.

It is not so much your "harshness ", but your bigotry which is objectionable. And your unmitigated hostility toward African American people in general, and African American men in particular---expre ssed vehemently by you in THIS and OTHER threads--belies the sincerity of your now professed wish that we might live together in peace or even indifference. As for personal relations between Africans and African Americans I'm NEITHER trying to promote such relationships, nor (like you) to oppose them. People who have paid attention to my posts over the years know (unless they're dunces) that I think people should be free to love whom they wish. But while that means (as usual) that most people will choose lovers and spouses from their own racial/ethnic group, others will seek or find lovers and spouses outside their group. For me that is perfectly ok. This thread---which I did not start--posed the question of why Black Americans and Africans usually don't date or marry. My posts regarding this theme have not PROMOTED, but discussed such relationships. And like TDL, I have surmised that relationships and marriages between Black Americans and Africans not only happen, but happen probably more often than we are aware. Obviously, there is little likelihood of an African with your attitudes befriending or forming love relations with African Americans. But all Africans don't have your attitude. My South African lady friend Mercy was as far from you as the moon. Similarly, someone with the attitudes of the American sister Dragonpat is not likely to form an intimate and romantic bond with an African man. Yet I've an older female cousin who married a man from Mozambique. I've a Black American colleague who has married a woman from Ghana, and while in France I dated a woman from Mali. A growing number of my students are offspring of AA and African marriages. And TDL not only mentions having dated an African man, but knowing AA men who dated African women. Moreover, I still recall reports of some study (which I'm trying to track down) which indicated that over the past two or three decades Black American relations with non-US Blacks has increased even faster than Black/White relations. Hence I offer as a speculations only--to be confirmed or disconfirmed by social scientific study--that AA/African romances and marriages are at least more common than most people believe. If it works out for them, fine. Even if it doesn't I don't know if that is any worse than all those--about 90%---who marry "in" rather than "out." But what bothers me about the antipathy of some Africans toward African Americans, and the antipathy of some African Americans toward Africans, is that something much larger than your choices of a mate is at stake. What's at stake---what is obstructed by this mutual animosity---is the SOLIDARITY need to achieve social justice and to join in joint struggles for the liberations of Black and poor people everywhere. That concerns me much more than who you choose to love, marry or share you bed with.

-Savant

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Unfortunately, Abdurratln doesn't know what scholarly standards are, hasn't even a clue. As for the so-called "fraud" he alleges I perpetrate on the thought of King (especially with regard to King's democratic socialism), it's remarkable that no such fraud has been discovered by KING SCHOLARS--many of whom were working on this stuff since I was in high school (if not earlier). Rufus Burrows and Lewis Baldwin--two of the leading contemporary King scholars who saw my manuscript before it appeared--not only didn't discover any fraud, but regard my work is highly original, pioneering contribution to King scholarship. Thus far NO King scholar whose reviews I've read have CHALLENGED me on the issue of King being a democratic socialist. (In fact, some elder King scholars even pointed me in directions where I could discover more about the Christian and democratic socialist dimensions of King's vision of the Beloved Community. One very well known King scholar even personally emailed me with suggestions of developing further the Personalist philosophical foundations Kingian socialism in his vision of community. The thought this important that I explore this further if for no other reason than that Personalism was King's basic philosophical position, and the perspective from which he critique's Marx's materialism, as well as both Communism and capitalism. Thus far, NO King scholar has accused me of fraud. None has suggested that I didn't know what I was talking about--not even some who DISAGREED with me. And I'm supposed to be swayed by the ignorant ranting of an Assdurratin who hasn't even done one tenth of the research I've done on King, and who claims to be an Nkrumahist but shows less philosophical understanding of Nkrumah than I had at age 19? Really?

-Savant

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 Dex Sims • a month ago From the article: "Another finding of the study is that the distribution of benefits no longer aligns with the demography of poverty. African-Americans, who make up 22 percent of the poor, receive 14 percent of government benefits, close to their 12 percent population share. White non-Hispanics, who make up 42 percent of the poor, receive 69 percent of government benefits– again, much closer to their 64 percent population share." Well it seems that YOU don't read so well. I guess I have to explain something else to you, huh. Please, shut your mouth, racist

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 Dex Sims • 2 months ago It's so easy to just think of race as something that's done on an individual level, like Cliven Bundy and Donald Sterling. As long as it's looked at in that way, the larger and more pressing problems of structural and institutional racism go ignored. Why are Black and Brown people so over-represented in correctional facilities? Why is the wealth of White families 22 times the wealth of Black families? Why do economic hardships in this country disproportionally hit people of color harder than Whites? Why are Black and Brown children disproportionally targeted in zero-tolerance policies in the schools? This is real racism. Donald Sterling did far more damage as a slumlord where he was actively discriminating against Black and Brown tenants than he did when he was recorded talking about not wanting Black people at his games. America needs to have this conversation about race and come up with solutions to end racism

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 Dex Sims • 4 months ago The US already gives to the moochers. They're called the big businesses, the defense contractors, the oil companies, et al. Those fat cats have been living high on the taxpayer hog for far too long while the working people are being squeezed. You're just too blind to realize that. And the Russians and Chinese cannot conquer, much less invade the US, Teabagger. Are you really that dumb to believe that they can? Please, get real. Stop listening to Rush Limpbrain and Bill O'Reilly and Faux News. Countries like Denmark, Norway and Sweden care about their citizens and their social welfare. They believe that people should have universal health care, free education all the way through graduate school, social insurance, paid vacations, adequate minimum wage, and healthy and robust unions. They also don't spend all their money on military warfare, invading and dominating other countries, taking their resources to enrich the capitalists. America should be more like them. Hopefully, it will happen

Wisdom

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IN a forum--a real forum--people would discussing and debating ISSUES and IDEAS. But in this so-called African American--which in fact is NEITHER-- discussions and debates very quickly turn personal. Often there is no debate at all. And when there is, those debates often turn into quarrels. It is interesting that when I listen to statements, speeches or writings of those cats back in the 1960s--Martin, Malcolm, Angela, Bobby Seale or whomever--yeah, they sometimes ge personal, but they're mainly about issues. Malcolm's "Message to the Grassroots" occasionally issues insults, but mainly offers an ANALYSIS. And this was a brother without even a high school education. Our political culture, like the political culture of America as a whole, has seriously deteriorated and regressed.

-Savant

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Don't be a fool! The Convention Peoples Party was the political organization led by Dr.Kwame Nkrumah, who led Ghana to independence from British rule---decades before anything like "Afrocentrism " was even conceived. Probably before Molefi Asant was even born. While I hardly consider Abdurratin a worthy successor to Nkrumah and his comrades, the CPP was a movement of great historical importance. And the great evil was not "Afrocentrism " but colonialism, imperialism and white supremacy. For the most part that still is the case.

-Savant

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Your first source is a right wing white propaganda site; hardly a credible source. Your second link I cannot access. Most rappers one listens to are simply talking trash, or "gangsta " stuff (mainly against other Black people), but not extermination of whites. And who is Selwyn Duke? What is his area of scholarly expertise? At any rate, most Black violence is actually directed against other Blacks---just a most violence against whites comes from other whites. And street violence, or common criminal violence hardly amounts to genocide, or even contributory to genocide unless part of a plan of genocide. Blacks are in no position to orchestrate such a plan even if they WANTED to--and most don't want to Indeed, if there were a REAL danger of genocide in America it would be a danger to Blacks, not whites. Whites still control most of the political power, and even more of the economic power. They still also have nationally a monopoly on instruments of force and violence. While I will not claim that there's an actual plan afoot for Black genocide--for I have no credible EVIDENCE of such---it would be more likely (given actual power relations in the USA) than any genocide against whites. But given the declining fertility of whites both in America and Europe, given their declining birth rates, nature or perhaps their own social practices may be a danger to the future of whites.

-Savant

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Strange that I, a Black man in America, don't hear Black men talking or worrying that much about their population growth. When you hang out with brothers that's just NOT the conversation. Some brothers are interested in politics, maybe wondering what happens next after Obama. Some brothers--not many--talk about the danger of Black genocide. Some SISTERS I've also heard talk about such things.(As early as the 1930s & 40s Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois pondered the possibility that the fate of European Jewry could become the fate of America's Blacks). Others just talk about sports. Naturally, men talk about women. (Of course, ALL men do that--not just Black men). I simply don't hear Black men talking about killing any "opposition ", though some do hold that when scumbags like the pigs who killed Diallo or Trayvon Martin walk, then maybe WE should take them out. I don't hear many Black men talking about any mass slayings of whites, and they seem to regard as CRAZY the few who do talk about such things. I hear Black men talk about the huge numbers of people in prison, the scarcity of jobs, and the near nonexistence of a decent wage for most of the few jobs available. The fact of the matter is that Black men are such an complex and diverse human group that most generalization you make about them are likely to be either false, or at best a partial truth. I don't hear any significant number of Black men talking about mass killings of non-Black others. I think that the belief that they do is a paranoid illusion.

-Savant

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Maryland was a slave state, and practiced segregations. So much for Maryland's liberalism unless you're comparing MD to backwaters like Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida and other centers of American Fascism. At any rate, Maryland (and America) doesn't mind "lowering " standards on behalf of whites, especially where it serves the interests of the 1%. But I will credit Maryland for at least not practicing the most extreme forms of racism and class oppression. Perhaps that's one of the reasons that this "libtard " state is one of the wealthiest in the country with one of the highest general levels of education (however inadequate that level still is).

-Savant

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Given proper sources many times in this and other threads, and not just on the thought of Dr. King. At any rate, I've published work on King through a respectable academic publisher, which a number of AA Forum folk have actually seen, and which has been reviewed favorably by established King scholars (which I do not claim to be) like Lewis Baldwin and Rufus Burrows, Jr. (his most important work being, GOD AND HUMAN DIGNITY: PERSONALISM, THEOLOGY AND ETHICS OF MARTIH LUTHER KING, JR)

-Savant

More Information in July of 2014

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Everybody know that I am antifascist and anti-Nazi. I've elder who fought at Normandy. But I seem to recall you speaking (though somewhat guardedly) in favor of Hitler (thoughly more explicitly of Stalin). So, you've NOT proven where you stand. Again, I expect you to relate the issue of Nazism to the thread's discussion of the Civil Rights Act. Even Dr. King's WARNING about the dangers of Fascism in America--a Fascism that will be at least Nazi-esque given America's tradition of racism--is at least related. But you were never good at discerning relations between things.

-Savant

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Many men of ALL races and colors and ethnicities abuse and harass women. And in marital situations proportionately MORE white men than Black men murder their spouses. Even while still a student I'd seen shelters for battered and abused women--mostly white wives and girlfriends of white husbands and lovers. Whoever presumes that abusiveness toward women is somehow a specially "black thing" is simply delusional, and basing conclusions more on prejudice than reason. Of course, the assumption that one should allow oneself to be abused by someone else because that person has been abused was neither stated nor implied by mean. Any such interpretation would be groundless. Also, I hope that it is really true that you are "well versed" in the history and culture of African Americans. But thus far I've yet to see evidence of this 

-Savant

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 Greetings. I happen to know the father of Ta Neheisi Coates. He is none other than Paul Coates, former leader of the Baltimore Black Panther Party, and now owner of Black Classics Press in Bmore area. That was a provocative article by Ta in the ATLANTIC.

-Savant

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VOTING RIGHTS ACT Let us not forget that just last summer the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act, once regarded as the crown jewel of Civil Rights legislation, by gutting enforcement provisions. The struggle continues!

 -Savant

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 Nixak-77 acp • 8 months ago


If you ask most African Americans [FYI: a term Malcolm X helped popularize] that are either old enough to remember &/or have studied their careers, which Black leader of the 1960s do they most admire &/or were most important to the Black freedom struggle of that era- number 1 would be MLK but he would be closely followed by Malcolm X. Even as apparently most white folks, whether calling themselves 'liberal' / Dims or conservative / Repugs, seemingly have a problem understanding why Malcolm was/is so admired by Black people. Actually there was much mutual respect between Malcolm & Martin, w IMO their main differences being tactical. In fact by April 4th 1967 ['Beyond Vietnam'] many were saying that Martin sounded like a [so-called] 'non-violent' version on Malcolm [but as Chris Hedges says Malcolm was NOT an advocate of violence]. Malcolm called for the right to armed self-defense in the face of RACIST VIOLENCE- especially when the authorities failed to protect Blacks victimized by RACIST VIOLENCE [FYI: the right to self-defense is supposedly a constitutional right].

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 Nixak-77 • 8 months ago

I'm well past my naive youthful hero-worship of JFK [& RFK] BUT- 2 issues which I differ w the usually astute analysis of Noam Chomsky is RE the meaning & implications of the JFK hit & the 9-11 'New Pearl Harbor' event. Chomsky's {mis}Analysis of these key events in modern US [& world] history is totally conventional- for which he effectively regurgitates the official narratives of the Warren [lone nut gunman's 'magic bullet'] & 9-11 {c}Omission reports. 50 yrs after Nov 22 1963 in Dealey Plaza, those folks who even care to remember are still debating whether: LH.Oswald acted alone or was he actually on the 2nd floor having lunch & drinking a coke when JFK was shot? - Does the 'magic bullet' [myth] even make ballistic sense? - Did the shot that blew JFK's brains all over Dealey Plaza throwing him violently backwards & to the left, come from behind or from the 'Grassy Knoll' located in front of him & to his right? Thus we've never gotten to the [far] more important questions of WHO? & WHY?... I have no doubts that JFK started his tenure as a typical cold warrior style 'centrist Dim' politician [IE: more like a more 'polished' Harry Truman than a Henry Wallace], & he definitely was from an Ivy League elitist back-ground. IMO his daddy likely used his links to Chicago's 'Boss' Daley, the mafia [& even IL's Catholic Church's Cardinal Cody] to steal the 1960 election in Chicago / IL in favor of JFK. But let's not forget that FDR, who most progressives see as likely the most 'progressive' POTUS, was also an Ivy League elitist, was quite a warmonger himself [FYI: Many now say that FDR most likely knew days or even weeks in advance that Japan would attack Pearl Harbor by late Nov / early Dec 1941- but that's the price FDR was willing to pay to get the US into WWII], & as Sec of the Navy was effectively the proto-type to Slick Willy's role as lord governor general over Haiti [PS: FDR's cousin Teddy was quite the war-monger RE Cuba & the Philippines], & then there was his imprisonment of all west coast Japanese Americans for the duration of WWII [= racism & a proto-type to Bush's / Obama's phony war on terror as an excuse to effectively demonize {if not Gitmo-tize} all Muslims as potential 'terrorists']

 JFK went along w Tricky Dick Nixon's & the CIA's Bay of Pig's scheme [up to a certain point but refused to fully commit] instead of nixing it. Obviously the Bay of Pigs was a prerequisite provocation to the Cuban Missile Crisis in Oct 1962. JFK also initially went along w Ike's & Trick Dick's dubious commitment RE Vietnam. But IMO JFK, between the CIA's treachery RE the Bay of Pigs fiasco [led to JFK saying he wanted to break the CIA into 1000 pieces for lying to him & thus firing Allen Dulles & his top assistant- 'Ironically' Dulles would later co-chair the Warren {c}Omission's so-called 'investigation' {cover-up} of the JFK hit] & the near global nuke catastrophe of the Cuban Missile Crisis, had a rude awakening & the 'Fear of the Lord' put in him. He, better than nearly anyone, knew just how close the US & the USSR came to 'Nuclear Armageddon' w the military war-hawks pushing him to launch a first-strike- cause many/most of those 'Dr Strangeloves' thought the US could actually 'win' an all-out nuclear war w the USSR [calculating that the US would loose 20 - 40 MILLION out of 160 million while the USSR would be TOTALLY Annihilated]. Also keep in mind JFK had recently become a father to 2 young kids while POTUS- who he obviously alluded to in his 'Not a Pax Americana' peace speech in June 1963. Thus IMO JFK wanted to walk back from unnecessary confrontation / provocation w the USSR, not because he was a prophet of peace ala MLK, but because after the Cuban Missile Crisis he realized the insanity of provoking a potential global nuclear hell's fire! It's in this context that Oliver's Stones 'JFK' should be seen- especially RE whether JFK was going to pull out of Vietnam by the end of his 2nd term [w a planned withdrawal of 1000 troops by the end of 1963]. This is of course a hotly debated & contested issue, & perhaps somewhat speculative.


But IMO JFK likely would NOT have escalated Vietnam to the massive proportions that LBJ & Tricky Dick / Kissinger did- & JFK may have even wound down in Vietnam by the end of his 2nd term [we'll never know for sure]. And let’s not forget that the 'Gulf of Tonkin' false-flag {non}event [LBJ's 'causus belli' to massively escalate in Vietnam] happened after JFK was dead- on LBJ's watch! PS: Let's NOT forget that of the 4 major political assassinations in the US during the 1960s, 3 followed the same ole 'lone-nut gunman' scenario [ JFK, MLK & RFK]- like a really terribly bad re-run / sequel. Thus IMO those inclined to chalk up JFK's hit to Oswald as a lone nut gunman, will most likely do the same for James Earl Ray re MLK & Sirhan Sirhan re RFK [IMO its NO coincidence that MLK was shot in the face near his mouth exactly 1yr to the day after he spoke out against the Vietnam War- calling the USG 'The Greatest Purveyor of Violence in the World'. Nor was it coincidental that RFK was killed when it became obvious he would likely win the WH & a couple a days later they 'finally' just so happen to catch MLK's alleged killer in London after being at-large for almost exactly 2 months].

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Compared to Frederick Douglass, William Lloyd Garrison and the very left wing Wendell Phillips, Lincoln was a conservative Republican. But Republicans were mainly to the left of the Democrats, which at that time was the party of slaveholders (at least in the South). The Democrats were the REAL conservatives since they wanted to conserve the system of slavery. Historian E. J. hobsbwam notes in THE AGE OF REVOLUTION that the very idea of the conservative or political conservatism emerges in reaction to revolution, and refers to those who sought to conserve an older order challenged or overthrown by revolutionaries like Robespierre in France and Tom Paine in America. Sociologist Karl Mannheim in IDEOLOGY AND UTOPIA also notices that conservatism (as distinct from unreflective traditionalism,) emerges as a self-conscious position only after the old or traditional order has been challenged. In America, the oldest and most oppressively traditional system was slavery.
-Savant


http://www.assatashakur.com/cointelpro-blackpanthers.htm

http://truthseeker24info.blogspot.com/2011/01/more-advice-from-crammasters-and-others.html

More Wisdom on Defending our People

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Note by me: T.S. stands for the self hater Tommy Sotomayor.


 Isadshi Koseshi:

I'd like to also add that I agree with Lashid4u. One thing Black folks DON'T realize? As long as there are T.S's....there will be NO collective progress, growth or unity amongst Blacks. Many think ignoring this elephant in the room is possible; when the room is full of the stench and piles of dung now. His agenda IS influencing MANY; which as a result, deters collective growth, empowerment, unity, ect.....which IS the desired result. It is also evident that Blacks have no value or respect for each other or themselves if we are to ignore him. Which is also evident that Blacks ALLOW ANYTHING and EVERYTHING done to them....due to the lack of value for Black life. Those whom you respect , you will defend.

No group of people would allow anyone to speak with such homicidal hatred and condone it, like so many,.....towards their own but Blacks.....and publicly, I might add. It's genocide, not a man with an opinion.
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Most nations aren't launching satellites. That's primarily the privilege of the wealthier nations.. As for the wasting of precious resources in the purchase and sale of arms, probably the USA excels all other nations. We have millions of homeless and hungry people in the world's richest nation. Yet men quarrel over a minute increase in a miserable minimum wage while zealously expanding subsidies for our growing arsenal of destruction while our military forces, far exceeding the legions of ancient Rome, span the globe as a kind of global police. We fail to grasp a simple lesson that Dr. King tried in vain to get America too see: A nation that spends more on military production than on the uplift of its citizens is a nation facing spiritual and social death. Militarism and plutocracy destroyed the Roman republic, and may very well destroy the American republic as well.

-Savant

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Lashid4u:

1 day ago Wowwww ...That ..is ...crazy ...smh ...They've been really playing bad-ass through the internet, thinking they can cyber-bully people ...smh ...but deep down, I KNOW that you're right, in saying that I should not give him focus ...However, I believe that he has gotten quite big (or BIG ENOUGH), where he needs to be taken out, now, because it's getting dangerous, like, when I see young, former college friends posting his videos in facebook, influencing other young men (and women)....

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Isadshi Koseshi:

What I find disturbing is how people DON'T realize that T.S. IS supported by Google/Youtube. Period. EVERYTHING he says IS against Youtube policy. EVERYTHING. This IS NOT a "man" with just an opinion. He has a planned agenda for the sole purpose of destroying Blacks thru divisive and degradation PROPAGANDA which he follows through from his handlers. Period. No one could speak as he does without getting strikes and their channels shut down, suspended or banned from Youtube. He's an agent. Period. He's contrary. On one hand he says boycott Black women, get with White females, then degrades Black males and warns White females of their "criminal intent". The ig-nant negros follow through with much support. Many don't get it; his language IS White supremacy rhetoric (n___, be___, ect.). He's coached as to what to say. Including his advocacy for IRR with Whites; which White supremacist condone and accept, due to the fact that they KNOW it's a depopulation method and further weakens the Black man...and seals the disunity between Blacks.


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http://truthseeker2473.blogspot.com/2014/01/savants-words_20.html

http://www.topix.com/forum/afam/T83C5VG0OM8C8STMN#c11

The vast majority of Black Americans--male and female--are WORKING CLASS folk, not thugs or welfare queens. As for education, most WHITES are woefully uneducated--and collectively among the least literate people in the Western World. If you are blinded to these realities by the dazzling deceptions of the white corporate media, or simply so mentally colonized as to be enamored of whiteness still in the 21st Century, then I do hope that you find your white lover, drive off into the suburban white sunset and get permanently lost. I've really about had it with you ankle biting buffoons regardless of whether you're from the Americas, Africa, Asia or Neptune. You've nothing to offer but the poisons of your prejudices.

-Savant

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I think the issue is more political. When I first became involved with the anti-apartheid movement, I don't believe I personally knew a single South African, though I had friends and classmates from Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ghana and a couple of other Anglophone African countries. I met South Africans, many of whom had fled the fascistic white dictatorship in their country, in the course of my involvement in the struggle. Some of them became personal friends and one, a pretty S. African girl named Mercy, became for awhile even a romantic interest. But what got me involved in solidarity work in support of the ANC and PAC was political. As a Black man and revolutionary, I had a moral duty to do whatever I could to promote the liberation of Black people everywhere, be it in the USA or Africa.....But in the process I did make friends with some Africans. Not all of them, of course. Some of them I personally didn't like. Some of us African-Americans I personally don't. But I don't have to personally like or dislike every African-American to be committed to the struggle our people here. One can LOVE Black people everywhere without liking them all. And one can commit oneself to the liberation of our people out of a sense of love and duty -Savant 
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 Has anyone noticed that Assdurratin's positions here are identical with those promoted by far right wing racists. Those Voter ID laws are actually more like the poll taxes and other measures which politically disfranchised our ancestors after Reconstruction. It is no coincidence that most people blocked from voting by the new voting restrictions are Black and (increasingly) Hispanic citizens. Also notice Assdurratin's RHETORIC: "Obama the MARXIST." Only a philosophically and politically illiterate simpleton could think that Obama is a Marxist after reading Obama's writings and speeches. But then again, only a political or philosophical illiterate could read Nkrumah and not see that he was a Marxist, though Assdurratin (who claims he's an Nkrumahist) vehemently denies Nkrumah's Marxism. What a phony he is: an a___ kissing Uncle tom reactionary pretending to be a follower of a left revolutionary African statesman. And now he's defending measures by his right wing white masters to disfranchise us again, a ,mere 50 years the Civil Rights Act, and 49 years after the Voting Rights Act of 1965. "Traitor go to h____!" -Savant


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Most nations aren't launching satellites. That's primarily the privilege of the wealthier nations.. As for the wasting of precious resources in the purchase and sale of arms, probably the USA excels all other nations. We have millions of homeless and hungry people in the world's richest nation. Yet men quarrel over a minute increase in a miserable minimum wage while zealously expanding subsidies for our growing arsenal of destruction while our military forces, far exceeding the legions of ancient Rome, span the globe as a kind of global police. We fail to grasp a simple lesson that Dr. King tried in vain to get America too see: A nation that spends more on military production than on the uplift of its citizens is a nation facing spiritual and social death. Militarism and plutocracy destroyed the Roman republic, and may very well destroy the American republic as well. -Savant

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Extra Wisdom

I'm talking about the WORKING CLASS, the proletariat, not the lumpenproletariat whom both Cabral and marx called declasse. The vast majority of Black folk are proletarians. Rosa Parks, like my mom, was a seamstress. Not an educated petty bourgeois nor a capitalist. Dr. King himself states that the MASS of his supporters in Montgomery and other campaign were common laborers--not lumpen characters like Little Melvin or even Malcolm before he became X. That is also what I said in the post to which this screed of your is a reply. Sorry, that even simple terms and basic analysis is beyond the reach of your comprehension.
-Savant

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I'm pretty much ignoring that pimp, that pseudo-Nkrumahist hustler. What interests me nowadays is something King and Nkrumah did share in common--the end of racism and class oppression, and liberation of Third World countries from poverty and imperialism. And his philosophy of COMMUNITY--the core of his ethical thought--which is markedly anti-capitalist and pro-socialist. Naturally, since capitalism is anti-community, antihuman, and a scourge upon the Earth.

-Savant

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Right and Left are historical in meaning, and by the standards of THAT time, Lincoln was centrist with left leanings. Actually, he was opposed to slavery as the Kennedy's were later opposed to Jim Crow, But Lincoln, like Kennedy, was a POLITICIANS. He had to be pushed into taking an anti-slavery stand. For while his speeches and letters reveal an anti-Slavery sentiment, Lincoln like all politicians first think of political interest. Abolitionism and the requirements of war did push Lincoln--after Gettysburg victory--to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. This DID give the North now a MORAL advantage, both nationally and internationally. Northern armies were just invaders but--as one Union soldier put it in a letter to his family--"we are now the ARMED LIBERATORS of millions." Southerners couldn't just say that they were defending themselves and their "way of life" from invaders, for now they were clearly defending slavery.(In fact, they always were but could no longer hide this fact in the court of world opinion). European countries were undecided about how to respond; conservative privileged classes were sympathetic to the South, and the laboring classes--always mroe advanced than American workers--clearly sided with the North.(I've read some letters by European workers to Lincoln in which they clearly saw slavery and the most degrading exploitation of labor, and the defeat of the Confederacy as in the interests of all working class people. Also, read Karl Marx's letter in support of Lincoln and the Union. Marx was not supporting a right wing cause). Lincoln had to be PUSHED to the left. That I will agree with. But the REAL right coldn't be pushed to end a system of bondage than enriched them. They had to be CRUSHED.

-Savant

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That “states rights” line you heard from Southern apologists. Confederats. The “right” those states wanted was the right to own slaves. The issues of tariffs and all other BS they bring up all was dependent on slavery. Tariffs disproportionately affected the South because of slavery. Face it, many white Southerners were evil enough to put the country through a prolonged bloody war in order to preserve their evil bloody slavery system. -Ish Tov



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Tom Tancredo, speaker at a recent Tea Party gathering, suggested that Literacy Tests be resumed to exclude people who lack civic literacy. We know that because of such literacy tests Blacks were denied the right to vote in the South. But maybe we can turn this against Tancredo and some of his cohorts. After all, he indicated as evidence of a LACK of civic literacy the election of a "socialist ideologue" to the Presidency. But isn't a man who can't tell the difference between a socialist and a CENTRIST LIBERAL like Barack Obama, lacking basic civic literacy? And assuming that Tancredo had more than a high school education, shouldn't we expect him to be able to distinguish between liberal and socialist thought, especially given the severe tensions (often outright animosity) between liberals and socialist in much of modern history for the past 200 years? Shouldn't Tancredo have read Obama's writings (and those of other liberals) and the writings of both Marxist and non-Marxist socialists, and thus be better informed. His is a case of willful ignorance.

(Or if he really knows better, then he is liar and opportunist.) I mean, really! If historically literacy tests were unjustly used to denied people of color the right to vote, why not use such a las (since Tancredo is so keen on it) to eliminate right wing ignoranti like him from the ballot? I see more reason for banning people on grounds of intolerable, WILLFUL ignorance than banning people on grounds of race. No right to vote for Tancredo.

No right to vote for those racist nincompoops who claim--despite DECADES of research to the contrary, that Blacks have contributed nothing to American and world history. (Ignorance of historical achievements of Blacks helps fuel racism and racial polarization. And as Alexis de Tocqueville warned long ago in his class DEMOCRACY IN AMERICA, the racial divide could bring the death knell of the American Republic. Therefore, people should bone up on their AA History or lose the right to vote on grounds of "civic illiteracy"--to use Tancredo's words!)

-Savant




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 The hatred seems to be coming from the Right, from Tea party, milita men, white Christian right and others. Even during the Presidential campaign, you didn't hear Obama's people shouting "Klll him!" and "terrorist". You didn't hear his people trying to pretend that the opposition were Commies, Nazis or what have you.. You didn't hear claims that McCain was somehow not really "one of us" or not really American. (Indeed, one study was reported during the campaign that while 75% of Obama's ads were about his vision of the country and only a small number directed against McCain, most McCain ads were about attacking Obama, and only a small number about any positive position or vision,} And even though Obama's obviously tepid support for progressives causes has disappointed much of his base, even now you find his supporters to be overwhelmingly MULTIRACIAL and MULTICULTURAL. Is is merely a coincidence that the Tea Partiers are almost lilly white, with about 1% black memberships (and not much better among Hispanics)? Is it Obama's past or present supporters who are attacking mosques? Was it his supporters who disrupted public hearings on health care in the summer of 2009 with their clownish, semifascist hooliganism? Who were the ones making threatening calls and attacks on offices and homes of congressmen after the passage of an actually quite watered down health care package that would be deemed psltry by the standards of most industrialized democracies? No, the hatred and madness is coming from some other corner than that of Obama---a dark corner in American history, culture & psyche where xenophobia and rabid racist panic reigns supreme. The politics of paranoia, as one historian called it, seems to constitute the lifeblood of the contemporary Right.

-Savant

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