Stories of the Liberation Movement

Blood, sweat, and tears came from our people and others are part of our legacy as a community. Human
beings sacrificed for freedom and justice. Courageous human beings fought hard as a means for the Civil
Rights Act to be passed. Brothers & Sisters then and now are still fighting for the cause of freedom. Now,
it has been 50 years later. That law was meant to protect civil rights among black Americans and all
Americans. This law outlined many legitimate democratic principles. Still, we have a long way to go,
because reactionary forces do seek to not only eliminate some of the Civil Rights Act & the Voting Rights
Act, but all of it. Also, we cant forget about the unsung heroes who fought for freedom, justice, and
equality too. We cant forget about Fannie Lou Hamer and the great leadership expressed by Ella Baker.
Ella Baker was the Mother of SNCC and she told the truth that we need grassroots organization as a
means for us to fight for justice. Great leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X united in
fighting for freedom even though they used different approaches. It took struggle to get where we are at
today. Nothing occurs in life that is meaningful without struggle. We are fortunate to be here on this Earth
as a product of the strength of our ancestors. Our people are fighting internationally too. Decades ago,
Nkrumah fought against colonialism. He risked his life in opposing European imperialism. Today, we are
still fighting against imperialism, discrimination, and neo-colonialism. If we want things to change, then we
have to utilize our efforts, our strength, and our ingenuity to change things. The Civil Rights Act doesnt
mean that things are over or we live in a post-racial society. It means that we are moving forward and we
have work to do. We have work to do when we need to advance political independence and we need to
defend our people who are the victims of police brutality. We have work to do in fighting poverty and
various forms of oppression. Yet, when we do real work like doing the right thing, then that work is always
righteous. So, the work continues and the dream will never die.

60 Years after the Brown vs. Board of Education Decision

It has been 60 years since the U.S. Supreme Court decision of Brown V. Board of Education. That
decision outlawed legalized segregated schools in America. Yet, we have a paradox. Today, we witness
a re-segregation that has increased since the late 1980s. Eliminating segregated schools has nothing to
do with calling black teachers inferior. We know that there are tons of excellent, qualified black
teachers back then and now. It has to do with human beings having the right to be educated in any
public school without regard to race, class, or color. That is the point. It is about any student, regardless
of class, having the right to receive a strong, adequate education. Extremists stole land in the Americas.
Later on, their descendants have used Jim Crow (which is an instrument of the system of white
supremacy) as means for them to violate the human rights of black people. Millions of African Americans
migrated into the North and Midwest (including the West Coast) from the South as a means for people to
gain economic & political rights. They wanted children to have a better education excluding discrimination
and apartheid. Many black people were forced into crowded ghettoes and they sent their children to
segregated schools via design. Back then, segregation was legal in the South, but in the North it was
heavily custom (or de facto segregation existed in the North. The South back then had de jure
segregation). Redlining was common in the North and the Midwest (like in Chicago). Black people in the
North suffered racism in their housing and school options (backed up by the government agencies and
the force of law). Black people fought to end segregated schooling. Even from 1920s to the 1950s, large
desegregation battles took place in Northern suburbs and industrial towns in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New
Jersey, New York and Michigan. The NAACP supported lawsuits against segregated schooling.
In 1951, Barbara Johns, a high school junior, organized a student strike at her all-Black high school in
Virginia to protest poor conditions and overcrowding. Students contacted the NAACP for help, but its
lawyers advised them against striking. The strikers' determination won the lawyers over, however, and
their claim became part of the basis of the Brown case. Brown did not immediately end segregation, but it
was a turning point. It gave black people confidence to further struggle for black liberation. We also must
see that residential segregation and lax resources should end as well. Separate schools based on race in
a racist society will never be progressive at all. Also, activists back then wanted desegregation to not
integrate into a white supremacist society. They wanted black people to have access to better resources
that many white schools had. That is the point of black liberation. We wanted to free economically,
socially, and politically (and not allow the government to discriminate against us based on skin color). We
wanted liberation and the best resources possible as white people have had. We wanted justice. As
Detroit parent Vera Bradley put it: "We were upset because they weren't getting as many materials
as some other schools. We figured if it was desegregated, we would get the same." The

psychological angle of Brown had the perverse effect of falsely & immorally stigmatizing Black schools
(and consequently, Black teachers) as necessarily inferior (which is a lie). Black kids were to be
"integrated" into white schools--but never vice versa. There was no timeline for desegregation from the
Brown decision.

Also, Jim Crow segregation should be gone, but the growth of black institutions
should never be eliminated though. Some agree with opposing segregation (which I
have no issue with), but they refuse to develop ways to grow black infrastructure in
an independent fashion (as advocated by Malcolm X and even Dr. Martin Luther King
Jr. before he died). LIBERATION, INDEPENDENDENCE, REVOLUTIONARY
ACTION, AND JUSTICE GO HAND IN HAND.

This is Ruby Bridges in 2010. She is a hero.

The Brown II ruling caused desegregation to come with all deliberate speed. In the opinion of one NAACP
lawyer, this really meant "movement toward compliance on terms that the white South could accept." Stiff
resistance to these court rulings came from white reactionaries. There were harassment, firings, and
evictions. In 1956, Alabama outlawed the NAACP altogether. In 1957, when the Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth
tried to enroll his children in an all-white school, he and his family narrowly escaped with their lives.
Famously, when Black students tried to integrate Little Rock Central High School in September 1957,
they were driven back by the Texas Rangers and by racist mobs. President Dwight Eisenhower tried to
avoid the conflict, but eventually was forced to send U.S. troops to escort the students in the Little Rock
school, which was the first time federal troops had been sent into the South since the Reconstruction era
following the Civil War. Southern racists were not giving up their Jim Crow system without a fight.
Brothers and Sisters fought back. A decade after Brown, 90.7 percent of the South's Black children still
attended all-Black schools--400,000 more than in 1956. Schools in the North like in Harlem fought against

segregation and inferior education. In New York, Viola Waddy was a part of a group of Harlem parents
who, defying the law, kept their children out of school in 1958. The "Harlem Nine" won an important
victory when a judge ruled that the New York City Board of Education was offering inferior education to
Black children. Boston leaders fought against racial segregation too. Similar efforts existed in Chicago in
the 1960s too. Institutionalized racism and other policies contribute to massive Northern
segregation.

As the late Malcolm X has said:

...I am not a Republican nor a Democrat, nor an American, and got sense enough to know it. I am one
of the 22 million Black victims of the Democrats, and one of the 22 million Black victims of the
Republicans, and one of the 22 million Black victims of Americanism.... You and I have never seen
Democracy; all we've seen is hypocrisy.... If you go to jail, so what. If you are Black, you were born in jail.
If you are Black, you were born in jail, in the North as well as the South. Stop talking about the South.
As long as you are South of the Canadian border, you are South."
The busing issue was always a canard. In 1970, half of students in the U.S. went to school by bus, but
fewer than 5 percent of those students did so because of desegregation plans. Now, American schools
are massively re-segregated. Brown caused many positive changes and demographic changes have
made full desegregation with whites more difficult. At the end of the day, schools need self-determination
and resources. These items relate to desegregation. We dont need to sit next to a white student to learn
information. Yet, we do need small class sizes, qualified including experienced teachers, and rich plus
stimulating curricula that are readily found in richer, whiter communities. We do need public schools to
reject discrimination & apartheid forever. Black communities need these resources too. Predominantly
white suburban schools often spend twice what urban school districts do and three times what poorer
rural areas spend. And when they find government funding insufficient, donors in wealthier areas shell out
the cash for reading specialists, music and arts, science labs and computers as well as the extracurricular
field trips and activities that make for a quality learning environment.

Education ought to be universal and not discriminatory based on class or race. Only a genuine movement
of parents, teachers, and students can wrest the kind of redistribution of resources that we deserve.
Desegregation should be used to end the structure of racism placed in society. Desegregation is about
legitimately ending racial apartheid since we are all human beings. Racial apartheid in any form is evil

point blank period. The economic system benefits the evil system. Black education can never be
improved without addressing black unemployment, the prison industrial complex, environmental
racism, and the housing crisis. We have to find ways to end the harsh conditions in the ghettos and the
barrios nationwide. Race and class inequality woven in schools must be dismantled if we want to be free.
The policy (of the DOJ supporting the reduction of sentences for nonviolent drug offenses in a proposal)
will deal with a select group of nonviolent offenders. This is the fruit of a centrist administration. The
reality is that the White House can commute sentences immediately of thousands of black inmates or
anyone serving excessive prison terms for crack cocaine offenses. Also, we know that the prison
industrial complex has ruined families and have even harmed innocent human beings. They can do more
to erase the racial disparities found in the judicial system. The War on Drugs, mass incarceration, and
draconian laws has been used as the pretext to control our communities (by the power structure). In the
final analysis, the War on Drugs should end with alternatives. This is agreed upon by human beings from
across the political spectrum. The Thirteenth Amendment should also eliminate its words where slavery is
legalized for prisoners. Slavery is totally evil without exception.

50 Years After the 1964 Civil Rights Act

It has been over fifty years since the passage of the Civil Rights Act. A lot of blood has been shed and
people sacrificed in order for the law to be passed. The law was signed in July 2, 1964 into law. The law
banned racial segregation in most public facilities. It forbade discrimination in hiring and restricted
unequal application of voter registration requirements. The American ruling class contested the bill for
months before its passage. It came about because of struggle. There were mass protests during the
Second Reconstruction (1954-1968) that swept the American South and these protests helped cause the
Civil Rights Act to come into existence. Title 1 and Title VIII of the law targeted racist ballot procedures,
but it was the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that barred voting restrictions like the poll tax. Titles II-V outlawed
segregation in public spaces. Title VI denied federal funding to government agencies that practices racial
discrimination. Title VII prohibited most employers from discriminating on the basis of race color, religion,
sex, or national origin. It created the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to enforce the
law. Titles IX, X and XI aimed to lessen the domination of the Souths openly racist justice system.

President Lyndon Johnson wanted to use the prestige of the assassinated President John F. Kennedy as
a means to pass JFK's proposed legislation. The law overcame the opposition and filibustering of
Southern Democrats like Senators Byrd of West Virginia, Gore of Tennessee, Fulbright of Arkansas, and
the racist Strom Thurmond of South Carolina. Richard Russell of Georgia back then opposed social
equality. After the bill was passed, racist violence swept the South. The days preceding the vote on the
measure had witnessed the abduction and murder in Mississippi of civil rights activists James Chaney,
Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner. RIP to the three men.
Workers, the youth, the poor, and other dedicated human beings forced the Civil Rights Act in the world.
They fought legalized apartheid also known as Jim Crow. Millions of Americans (like my parents and
grandparents) could recall the time when colored signs existed all over the South (even in Virginia where I
live at). In the 1950s, less than 10 percent of voting age African Americans could vote in most southern
states. Racist poll taxes, literacy tests, and grandfather clauses (these rules allow many poor whites from
voting too) existed. Votes were heavily controlled by many Democrats in the South. The white
supremacist terrorist organization called the Ku Klux Klan used violence and intimidation after the defeat
of the Confederates in the American Civil War. The Civil War resulted in Reconstruction. Many
amendments were passed, but freedom still never existed totally for black people. The ruling class feared
that the Civil Rights Movement would transition into a broader struggle of the working class & the poor, so
they accepted concessions like the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act, etc.

The good news is that Jim Crow is gone. The bad news is that immense poverty still exists nationwide.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. rightfully said that we must have economic justice not just legal equality. His
Poor Peoples Campaign and his opposition to the Vietnam War made him a threat to the social order.
That time period allowed many laws of liberal reformism. These laws legitimately tried to address
oppression. By the late 1960s and the early 1970s (to the present), some in the government abandoned
broad based reforms and used neo-liberal policies (which allowed a layer of the bourgeoisie among many
races to flourish while the masses of poor black people suffer massive economic inequality & poverty.
Many of the same bourgeoisie, who are white, black, Hispanic, Asian, etc. have a bitter hatred of the
poor, many black people, workers, immigrants, etc. Yet, it is important to note that black people still suffer
under the evil of white supremacy regardless of class. Regardless

if a black person is poor,

middle class, or rich, we are still in the same struggle for our liberation. We are
still fighting oppression. We all seek justice. Even a poor white person has white privilege

while the black poor person does not). The bourgeoisie was created by the establishment as a means to
give people the illusion of inclusion when the 1% has record wealth now. At the end of the day,

black people, the poor, the immigrants (it is a shame that little children refugees
escaping a war zone in Central America have been demonized by fascists and
reactionaries. It is a disgrace to blame little children for our immigration issues when
these children need compassion. The law said that refugees should be treated fairly in
American soil. These human beings are refugees), and all people should not only have
freedom, but justice too. We should support immigrant rights and disagree with NSA
warrantless wiretapping. We should advance an increase of the minimum wage too.
There is nothing wrong with egalitarianism. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a great event of
world history. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a legitimate law that should be fully protected and
preclearance should have never been gone in the first place. Still, we have to deal with capitalist
politicians who want to cut wages, bankrupt schools, violate democratic rights, and appropriate money to
spread imperialism globally.

1968
1968 was one of the most revolutionary years in human history. The world experienced many social,
economic, cultural, and political changes. The Vietnam War was still going on in a brutal fashion. On
January 18, 1968, Eartha Kitt confronted the First Lady on the issues of Vietnam and racism in America.
In February of 1968, the Tet Offensive existed. The Tet Offensive was when North Vietnamese forces
struck American targets all over South Vietnam. America won the battle, but the public increased
skepticism about the war in general. Many people like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Dr. Spock, and others
opposed the Vietnam War. Students and the youth fought for workers rights, authentic historical, cultural
representation, and for liberation in America, France, London, Mexico, etc. Many Mexican students died
in their fight for freedom and justice as well. On March 10, 1968, Cesar Chavez (or the famous labor
rights freedom fighter) ended his hunger strike in California. The evil My Lai Massacre came about in
March 16, 1968. The massacre was when U.S. military (from the Company C of the 1st Battalion, 20th
Infantry Regiment, 11th Brigade of the 23rd Infantry Division) forces mass killed hundreds of unarmed
civilians in South Vietnam. Vietnamese men, women, children, and even infants were killed in the My Lai
Massacre. On March 28, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. marched with other human beings to fight for
the economic and human rights of Memphis Sanitation workers. The Memphis workers wanted living
wages, safe working conditions, and collective bargaining. The Presidential election of 1968 was
interesting. Eugene McCarthy and Robert Kennedy battled for the anti-war vote and for the rest of
progressives. Robert Kennedy ran for President late and won many states including McCarthy. President
Lyndon Johnson delivers his Address to the Nation Announcing Steps to Limit the War in Vietnam and
Reporting His Decision Not to Seek Reelection on March 31, 1968. The speech announced the first in a

series of limitations on US bombing, promising to halt these activities above the 20th parallel. On April 3,
1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his epic I Have Been to the Mountaintop speech in Memphis. He
wanted people to know that this struggle for freedom is the right one and he supported economic equality
not just racial justice. By April 4, 1968, President Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. died and riots spread in over
100 cities of America. The urban rebellions came about because of neglect, discrimination, police
brutality, racism, terrible conditions of the urban ghettoes (caused by the system not by black people. The
ghetto, as Dr. King said, was created by the establishment to confine and control people not to liberate
people), and other factors. The Black Panthers were very strong in 1968 and organized chapters
nationwide. Robert Kennedy spoke up against the Vietnam War and he opposed violence. He soon won
the California primary. Robert Kennedy was assassinated as well in June of 1968. Robert Kennedy had a
lot of charisma and he finally wanted the Vietnam War to end. The Democratic National Convention was
filled with disaster since the police brutalized protesters (as supported by repressive mayor Richard Daley
Sr. of Chicago) and Richard Nixon exploited the divisions of the people in America for his own political
advantage. The SDS was a powerful force that opposed the imperialist war in Vietnam and desired
radical social change in America. Arthur Ashe won the U.S. Open in September of 1968. He was the first
black African American man to win the U.S. Open in history. The October 1968 Summer Olympics
experienced many events. The games have been boycotted by 32 African nations in protest of South
Africa's participation. On the 18th Tommie Smith and John Carlos, U.S. athletes and medalists in the 200meter dash will further disrupt the games by performing the black power salute during the "Star-Spangled
Banner" at their medal ceremony. I have no problem with that these courageous men did at all. President
Johnson announces a total halt to US bombing in North Vietnam by October 31, 1968. Hubert Humphrey
finally opposed the Vietnam War and he almost beat Nixon, but he was too late. The imperialist Vietnam
War will continue under Richard Nixon. By December 11, 1968, the unemployment rate in America was at
3.3 percent, which is the lowest it has been in 15 years. This is unheard of today. So, 1968 was a great,
transformative year in the span of human history indeed.

A Reminder
Obviously, the War on Drugs and the prison industrial complex are racist and have been tools of
oppression against the black community (for long decades). A lot of research, stories, and tons of other
evidence have documented this truism. That is not a debate anymore. Even reactionaries understand this
fact. Personally, I dont agree with the War on Drugs and it ought to be abolished (and replaced with
alternatives like treating drug addiction like a health care issue not as a totally criminal situation). The
reality is that we have to use the right alternatives that can both protect the human rights of black people
(and all Americans) while ending the evil system of the prison industrial complex. The issue in Colorado is
that many in Colorado are making huge corporate profits (i.e. select corporate interests will reap massive
profits) at the expense of people jailed for nonviolent marijuana possession. Those in prisons with
nonviolent marijuana possession now are not receiving a total pardon and there is no national ban on
national mandatory minimum sentences at all. Many felons are deprived of their right to vote in various
states even after they paid their debts to society. The system has given some token measures not real,
revolutionary change that can radically improve our communities. In Colorado, marijuana is legalized to a
certain extent, but the total War on Drugs or the prison industrial complex is not totally ended. That is the
point. That policy is like a mend it not end it type of philosophy. The poor, the working, and all of our
people regardless of class deserve economic justice, jobs, and real opportunities. We dont need a zero
tolerance policy for the youth, but real tolerance for social justice. I do believe that the CBC should be
inspired to talk about this issue in a more revolutionary fashion, but the responsibility is not totally theirs
alone. We have a responsibility too. We have the responsibility to fight unjust laws, to work in our
communities, to speak truth to power, and to make sure that government officials are held accountable for
their political positions and their votes. So, everybody has to do their part in essence.
Justice is not totally found in the world yet. Men and women have the responsibility to talk about important
issues. The truth is that many black women and black girls in Africa face discrimination and oppression in
Africa. Women in general deserve equality, justice, and freedom. The battle is not over. That is very clear
since abuse against females exist, the denial of the basic human rights of women exist, and these
realities not only exist in other nations. These realities exist in America. One great point that the First
Lady said is that the Brothers and men in general are tied to the progress of women too (and that men
should stand up for the interests of girls too). In other words, she wanted to say that men (not only
women) have to speak up against the oppression that women face on a day to day basis. There is

nothing threatening to a man when a woman asserts her strength and her dignity. That is why men and
women have the right to be themselves, to assert their humanity, and to never be afraid of the opposition
or the naysayers. That is most important. Yet, we should not worship corporate power and we should
question the agenda of the establishment. I reject imperialism and economic exploitation. Yet, that
doesnt mean that the interests of females should be placed in the back burner or that we ought to ignore
issues relevant to women or girls. We should just to fight for real solutions and never give up. That is the
point. I have no issue with the legitimate growth of infrastructure, technology, and other enterprises. Africa
is having massive growth in its economy in many locations. There has to be massive input from the
African people too. African people must have a say and their humanity must not be exploited for the
worship of profit in an exploitative way. Also, workers' rights, and the rest of the human rights of Africans
must be respected. There is nothing wrong with legitimate partnerships between Africans and African
Americans, but it must be done in the right way. True collaboration between peoples of black African
descent globally ought to be based on anti-imperialism, pro-economic justice (when poverty and
economic inequality are fought against for real), and other pro-African principles. We need revolutionary
change in the world. At the end of the day, we are all one people. We are all Africans as said by Brother
Malcolm X.

RIP Eric Garner

For years, we have shown facts after facts of police brutality, discrimination, economic exploitation, and
racism. Yet, the words from some of these cops (in various social media disrespecting Eric Garner)
confirm everything that I have ever typed about the brutality against Eric Garner. The murder of Eric
Garner was evil and it was brutally done by terroristic cops. Cops have terrorized our people in America
for a very long time. The words from the cops found in social media represent a mentality (of embracing
hate, racism, selfishness, authoritarian thinking, etc.) commonly found among many police officers
worldwide, not just nationwide. Notice how these cops, in their comments, disrespected Eric Garners
humanity and his family, so I have no respect for evil, crooked officers at all. The cops who made these
remarks ought to be fully investigated and punished, because we pay their salaries. We have every right
to wisely stand up for our human dignity and to wisely stand up for our human rights. The EMS did an
extremely poor job in handling the life of Eric Garner. The EMS individuals did not even act like they were

in a rush. They acted timid almost and that was very evil in my view. The harassment of black people and
the murder of black people by the NYPD unfortunately are common realities. It is a shame that innocent
people have been brutalized by crooked officers. There are similarities between both occurrences (of the
death of Eric Garner and the scene of the death of Raheem from the Movie "Do the Right Thing"). One
difference though is that the scene from Spike Lee's classic movie has shown a fictional account of what
occurs against black people for real and the unjust death of Eric Garner is a real life event. The death of
Eric Garner is real and we have to be not only educated on the system of white supremacy & we should
be educated on how the police acts. We have to be educated on the law too, so we can find ways to
abolish unjust laws. We have the right to stand up for our rights, condemn police brutality, and build up
our own institutions. There has to be real accountability made in this situation. This accountability means
that the officers involved in the Brothers death must be punished (for real).

I send my condolences and prayers to the family & friends of Eric Garner.
We all want justice. Eric Garner never deserved to be choked to death at all. His death has been ruled a
homicide and people are tired of injustice after injustice. People want changes in the system and changes
in society in general. Marching and protesting about these evils is fine. It is not the only things that we can
do though. We should organize our political and economic power to make a difference, build institutions,
boycott, and to defend our communities. At the end of the day, we have every right to IMPROVE the
conditions of our communities via our own power. Crooked police officers by definition will follow no rules,
so the police should real rules. I hope that the cops responsible for Eric Garners death are punished
including the EMS folks who have done a lax, terrible job in responding to the needs of Eric Garner. Many
of the protesters have shown red, black, and green flags and the RBG image is symbol of our struggle &
our humanity. We all remember the Birmingham Bus Boycott. PEOPLE organized (funds to help with the
boycott came about from people NATIONWIDE), sacrificed, and fought against an unjust law. Economies
from the local bus services failed, because of that specific boycott. A boycott is very non-violent, but it's
strong, effective, and it shows the power of the community in action. People have no choice but to be part
of the solution if they want real change. Brilliant people have followed through on it for generations. A
boycott is noncooperation with oppression. It is about resisting injustice in a manner that is not only
peaceful, but effective. In our day, we can boycott companies or entities that oppress our people. Some
folks who act condescending toward people are cruel and immature obviously. We're on the right track,
because we love justice and we want people in general to experience true freedom.

Sister Tawanda Jones is a hero. She has been at the forefront in fighting back against police terrorism in
America. Of course, she has great compassion and a stoic, courageous mentality. She wants justice and
she wants to live in a society where Brothers and Sisters are not gunned down in the streets. The FOX
affiliate issued their "apology," because of pressure not because of any sincere respect for Tawanda
Jones or the protesters. The news channel hurt this Sisters feelings and that news affiliate is wrong for
slandering that strong black woman. As a black human being, I will always love black people and I will
always love Africa. The media lies all of the time. They lied about the Iraq War and many racists have lied
about the protesters. The protesters are strong people who want communities to not experience abusive
police occupation. These protesters believe that Black Lives Matter (which is true), they want an end to
racial profiling, and they want justice. I am in solidarity with Sister Tawanda Jones 100 percent. Certainly,
there must be a demilitarization of the local police and an end to racial profiling. The police are not gods
and black lives do matter. Black people have the right to stand up for truth as blackness is beautiful.
There must be an outright end to the War on Drugs and the prosecution of any fascist, crooked cops.
There must be dignity shown to the homeless, because many homeless people have been violated of
their human rights too. There is nothing wrong with research and data found on policing, but that is not
enough. We need revolutionary change where the system of oppression must end and be abolished.

A lot of brave HUMAN beings of many backgrounds are in NYC defending the human dignity of Eric
Garner. He was a family man, a great father, and just a strong man. It is a shame that his life was ended
by police brutality. That is why embracing the concept of family is so important. It is RIGHT to call for
boycott and it is right to organize in independent economic and political power so our communities can
witness a real change. The events in Ferguson taught us that enough is enough. Those reactionary types
always use the Democratic card while they ignore how the racist Republican Southern Strategy spread
bigotry in America and the cruel actions of Ronald Reagan (when he funded reactionary regimes harming
citizens in Latin America, etc.). The truth is that both parties have a history of racism, bad POLICIES, and
exploitation. People have the right to their views. No one rational is ignoring the need of a trial of Wilson.
Real people believe in the promotion of facts in this case as well. PEOPLE want accountability from a lax
local police force. People want respect when the local police forces of Ferguson used tear gas and
futuristic LRAD devices on innocent protesters. I saw a man on television, who experienced tear gas and
he was peaceful. He was on national TV crying about the whole incident since it was a traumatic
experience for him and others. So, we know what we are up against. We are up against extremists. We
will win in the end.

Pan-Africanism
Learning about pan-Africanism is important since pan-Africanism is part of our history and world history
too. It has inspired revolutionary movements globally not just in Africa. Pan-Africanism is the movement
that wants the political, social, and economic unification of all people of black African descent globally.
This movement wants an unified Africa as well. There are many people who influenced pan-African
thought. Also, shout to my Homegirl Sister Beka Shakur for her words on pan-Africanism. Her courage
and work in helping black people will forever be admired by me. Sister, you have my total respect. One of
the greatest scholars and leaders of pan-Africanism is named Kwame Nkrumah. To learn about modern
African thinking fully, you have to learn about Nkrumah regardless. Kwame Nkrumah was a great hero of
black people. We have to learn about our history too. We should learn that Queen Nzinga of
Angola/Congo led a war against slavery. We know about the slave revolts from the 1500s well into the
20th century. We know that the anti-slavery movement spread globally, especially in Haiti. There is the
paper called, "Pan-Africanism: Haiti as a Birth Place of the African Revolution." The Haiti Revolution
inspired much of the Pan-African movement globally. In fact this Haitian freedom movement is called
Haitianismo. Haitianismo is the foundation of Pan-Africanism. Pan-Africanist thinking spread under
Marcus Garvey (he was right to say that black is beautiful), George Padmore, W. E. B. Dubois, and
Kwame Nkrumah. There have been other black revolutionary leaders among many eras too like Malcolm
X, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Fannie Lou Hamer, Nelson Mandela, Paul Robeson, Richard Wright, Oliver
Cox, Angela Davis, George Jackson, etc. Brother George Jackson saw himself as both a Nkrumahist
and a Fanonian. He admired both men as revolutionaries, and highly regarded their insightful critiques of
neocolonialism.
This is evident both from SOLEDAD BROTHER (his collection of letters) and BLOOD IN MY EYE (his
treatise on revolution and revolutionary warfare in which he draws upon Nkrumah and Fanon, as well as
Giap and Che Guevarra). AFRICAN PHILOSOPHY: ESSENTIAL READING is a book written by Tsenay
Serequeberhan, a well known brother philosopher from Eritrea. Dr. Gamal Nkrumah has written great
articles too. One person was Franz Fanon. He wrote about colonialism and imperialism (and how it has
harmed many black people in the world). He wrote four books. One complication book entitled, TOWARD
THE AFRICAN REVOLUTION was a complication and it appeared posthumously. There is a very good
biography on the man entitled, FRANTZ FANON: A PORTRAIT by Alice Cherki, co-worker and comrade
of Fanon during the Algerian Revolution. Fanons strength was that he evaluated the wicked psychology
of colonialism in a great sense of depth. He studied Philosophy, Psychiatry, etc. at the University of Lyon.
His work dealt with philosophy including Cabral. Fanon made the great point that decolonization starts at
the being.

*Also, it is important to mention that all of Africa must be liberated from imperialism and neo-colonialism.
Africa is our ancestral homeland and the birthplace of the entire human race. The land of Africa belongs
to Africans (e.g. the working class and the rest of the poor should own the mines, factories,
banks and the farms in Africa not select capitalists). The people (not select leaders) should own
the wealth and resources in Africa. Also, we live in a class struggle too. Liberation means absolutely
nothing without the liberation of all genders and all classes. The poor and the workers have the right to
have economic justice. You cant be a revolutionary and advocate Africans to have lax wages, economic
exploitation, and discrimination of any form. We should reject the institution of bourgeois regimes too
(these regimes love capitalism and want massive privatization which doesnt work to comprehensively
solve problems). In other words, the poor, the workers, and the farmers should rule their own territories
excluding capitalist exploitation. Technology utilized in the right way should be advanced. The working
class and the poor should have a great role in any revolutionary struggle against oppression. Human
rights are important to maintain. The freedom of speech, the freedom of the press, the freedom of

religion, the right to assemble, the freedom to protest, the right to a quality education, and
other basic human freedoms ought to be maintained and protected in any society. Health
care is a human right. I have no issues with universal health care either. It is important to
note that all human beings are created equal and they are entitled basic human rights. Africans should
have the freedom of political independence. We dont have to embrace rigid political philosophies
unconditionally. We can decipher the truth and have a broad understanding of wisdom. We have the right
to be flexible in how we think about issues. WE HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO STAND UP FOR AND
DEFEND OUR PEOPLE. ONLY A COWARD WOULD DEGRADE BLACK PEOPLE INSTEAD OF
CONFRONTING RACISM & OPPRESSION. SO, WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DEFEND
BROTHERS & SISTERS GLOBALLY. Another point is that we should care for Nature & the

rest of the environment.

In the final analysis, all human beings deserve justice, freedom, and
equality.

The Black Panthers were grassroots Brothers and Sisters that wanted to fight police brutality, economic
inequality, poverty, health care complications, educational problems, and racial injustice. They allied with
anti-imperialist movements globally and they sought even free health clinics for human beings. The FBI
instituted COINTELPRO and other programs to violate the civil liberties of not only the Black Panthers,
but other activists who disagreed with the aims of the status quo. At the end of the day, we either have
power to the people or power owned heavily by the one percent. There were a lot of women not just men
who were leaders in the Panthers too. Fred Hampton and others were unjustly murdered by policing
authorities nationwide. The old school BPP may be gone, but their ideals are still in the hearts and minds
of freedom loving peoples. Their revolutionary spirit is still within the souls of Brothers and Sisters all over
the world. The oligarchs violating the human rights of activists back then are really deplorable. The Black
Panthers were heroic human beings that wanted revolutionary change in the world.

Maya Angelou
A lot of people need to realize how much Maya Angelou loved Africa. Many human beings are right to
praise her accomplishments and wisdom. The elders are increasingly passing away and it is our
responsibility to utilize the lessons from the elders as a means for us to move forward. African tradition
deals with expressing stories, loving art, embracing STEM subjects, and respecting women
(young black females have been inspired by Sister Maya Angelou spanning numerous
generations). She was active in the struggle for real. These ideals are part of our heritage spanning
thousands of years. The tyrannical policies from the one percent ought to be opposed. We must address
socioeconomic issues. Since she traveled all over the world, we should learn progressively about different
cultures too. We must never embrace some American superiority complex (this is also known as
American exceptionalism), because we can learn from others and gain understanding with people
globally. In that sense, we can establish more harmony in the world as Maya would want us to fight for.
This is the fight that she championed. She never championed imperialism or Empire. She believed in
peace and social betterment. We can't be free unless we respect our black African heritage. RIP Maya
Angelou. Malcolm X collaborated with Strong Black Women like Gloria Richardson, Fannie Lou Hamer,
Selma Sparks, Vicky Garvin (who organized much of Malcolm X's travels into Africa, especially into
Ghana), and yes the late Maya Angelou. Malcolm X's respect for women and respect for humanity is a
blessing. He had a gift to directly expose the nefarious conditions in the world and who was responsible
for it.
It is very important to acknowledge the sacrifice that women and men had to express as a means to fight.
He loved his family and his wife. His love for his people was admirable. I loved how he respected his wife
and his children. His mindset was obviously in rejection of the lies from the status quo. He opposed the
Vietnam War. He allied with the anti-colonial movements of the world. He disagreed with many of the
excesses of capitalism. He wanted the youth to have a stronger voice in advocating revolutionary change
in the world. So, back then younger members of the human race loved Malcolm X. The youthful spirit
today is still part of the moral arc of the Universe bending towards justice. Yes, Malcolm X never wanted
to be menacing. He just believed in self-defense, which is an inherit human right. Also, Maya Angelou

would want us to continue in our revolutionary thinking. Reform can never solve our problems
comprehensively. Yet, revolutionary solutions can assist humanity in a great deal. There are many books
and documentaries (like Citizen King, The Black Power Mixtape, Malcolm X: Make it Plain, Day of the
Gun, Slavery By Any Other Name, All Power to the People, At the River I stand, DEATH OF A
REVOLUTIONARY: GEORGE JACKSON SOLEDAD BROTHER, etc.) that describe the Black
Revolutionary movement in the world. We see that the parasitical corporate elite have stolen wealth from
the common people. People now are working more and harder than they did forty or fifty years ago (and
they are relatively poorer than they were forty or fifty years ago). The great divide between the super-rich
and the rest of us has been greater than before. The thieves of our wealth are the plutocratic 1%. True
wealth must be restored to the common people who created it. We need economic empowerment and
self-determination, but this will require the transcendence of capitalism. If we want real change, then we
have to build bridges of understanding across people globally and allow people to be made accountable
for their actions. Also, we should pay attention to the evil deeds of others, so that we can do the opposite
of the wicked deeds of extremists and bigots in the world. We should use proactive action in opposing
institutions of oppression and we ought to give more inspiration to our people (in saying that they are
black and beautiful. There has to be more mentorships, apprenticeships, cooperatives, and other
programs that can improve the lives of our people. Our past has been filled with awe inspiring, excellent
contributions in the realm of world history and we are fighting for a great future as a community. All
members of the human race certainly deserve respect and dignity).

As the Sister Maya Angelou have said:

Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can't
practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but
nothing consistently without courage.

Maya Angelou lived a revolutionary life. In 1961, Maya Angelou met the South African freedom fighter
Vusumzi Make. He was a freedom fighter who lived with Maya Angelou in Cairo, Egypt. They parted ways
in 1962. Maya Angelou worked in Africa a lot. She was an administrator at the University of Ghana and
she was active in the African American expatriate community. She was a feature editor for The African
Review. She was a freelance writer for the Ghanaian Times, she wrote and broadcast for Radio Ghana,
and she was worked including performed for Ghanas National Theatre. She performed in a revival of
The Blacks in Geneva and Berlin. Maya Angelou and Malcolm X became close friends during Malcolm
Xs visit in Accra during the early 1960s. She helped Malcolm X to build up his new human rights
organization called the Organization of Afro-American Unity in 1965. After Malcolm X was assassination,
Maya Angelou mourned and lived in Hawaii for a time. She worked as a market researcher in Watts and
witnessed the riots in the summer of 1965. She continued to work in the civil rights movement throughout
her entire life. She lectured at UCLA and wrote, produced and directed "Black, Blues, Black," a 10-part
public television series on African American culture that aired in 1968. Maya Angelou also helped in the
planning of the Poor Peoples Campaign in Memphis. The Poor Peoples Campaign was about giving
justice to the poor and the oppressed in American society. It was about giving the poor economic justice.
The day that the Brother Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, the Sister Maya Angelou
experienced her 40th birthday. She wrote a great autobiography entitled, I Know Why the Caged Bird
Sings in 1969. The book was a great outline of the black experience. The book was honest,
unapologetic and strong. Her literature and poetry was exquisite, powerful, and inspiring. She had a great
gift to write literature, to express oratory, and to do performance.

Maya Angelou was a brave woman. She overcame so much and she achieved so much during her
inspirational life. She inspired women to express excellent intellectual talent not only in literature, but in a
wide range of other endeavors (from science, medicine, and to engineering). Maya Angelou was a great
voice for the social movements during the 20th and 21st centuries. Her life is a reflection of the power of
the human spirit and of the strength of black people. First Lady Michelle Obama's words were potent too.
Bless her children. :) Regardless of our agreements or disagreements on issues, no one should be
questioned of their humanity in an unfair way. Maya Angelou taught us that we may walk along different
roads, but we are still part of one human family. The words from Maya Angelou are permanent. Her spirit
is still around and her grace plus her compassion will never be forgotten.

RIP Maya Angelou.

Ruby Dee
Ruby Dee walked her talk. She was an active person in the black liberation struggle. She was a true, real
Black Queen who expressed honesty, dignity, strength, and courage in her life. She and her husband
Ossie Davis were a great team. When I was younger, I saw their movie specials every weekend. They
educated, inspired, and showed love to human beings. The elders are increasingly passing away and we
in this time have the responsibility to do our jobs. Ruby Dee had done excellent actions when she was
alive. Ruby Dee was a friend to Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. too. She is now reunited with
her husband forever more. We are the future without question. My friend and great Sister Courtney is
right to mention that we should outline what our job is (in dealing with helping our communities, doing real
action, etc.) to the ones behind us. Ruby Dee was a true humanitarian. Her social activism from fighting
police brutality to defending human rights is inspiring. I have a great respect for intelligence, human
decency and dignity too just like others. Too many people are concerned with selfishness instead of true
human character. Her husband was a fighter like her. Ossie Davis gave a great, eloquent speech about
Malcolm X too. The bond between Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis was unbreakable. Ruby Dee knew that she
would never find a man like Ossie Davis. That strength, which each person had, is real. It is amazing to
understand the excellent contributions of the Queens Ruby, Maya, and Cicely Tyson. Yes, Cicely Tyson
is still alive. Also, Ruby had a wonderful life and she has a great spirit. Her spirit is still with us, her spirit is
in the rest of our people, and her spirit is in the entire human family. Ruby Dee was a great actress too.
Ruby Dee would want us to have fun and to be conscious of real issues and our purposes in life. :) Their
romantic story is a blessing. True love will last a long time. The love that each human being had is
eternal. Yes, African Americans have every right to have romance. LOL. :)

A lot of people dont know about the revolutionary views and the revolutionary spirit of the late Sister
Ruby Dee. She was born in Cleveland, but she was raised in New York City. Throughout her life, she was
a screen actress, a writer, and a social activist. Emma Amelia Benson, her stepmother, studied under
W.E.B. Dubois, in Atlanta University. She was a teacher too. Dee attended Hunter College in New York
and she graduated from the college in 1945. Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis had suspicions about American
capitalism. In an interview, Davis later explained, Ruby came from Harlem, and in Harlem the
Communists were looked upon as very friendly, because in many instances people would have their stuff
set out on the sidewalk by the landlord, and the Communists would come along and put it back in! The

stigma of being a Communist came later. People felt freer to express themselves any way they wanted to.
The Depression had sort of broken down the old political assignments, then World War II had come
along. Dee added, We felt the excitement of our times, and we were askedboth of us, before we knew
each otherwe were asked to join [the CP]. But we werent joiners; I dont know why. But many of our
friends were, you know. Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis publicly associated themselves with the opposition
of the execution of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg (the state called them Soviet spies) in 1953. In 1983,
Davis recalled how the couple was asked to take part in a rally that had been called to protest the
electrocution. And those of us who dared to take that stand could not expect to go unpunished. We sat
down to ponder what we should do. How might this action affect our future? Should we take such a stand
in view of the jobs that we held? A seconds reflection produced the startling information: What jobs?
There we were, already blacklisted for being blackwhat would it hurt if we added a little red and got
blacklisted too?
Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis legitimately opposed the reactionary McCarthyite witch-hunts. They opposed
the Vietnam War and they fought for civil rights. Ruby Dee worked in the massive March on Washington
ceremonies back in August 1963. Ruby Dee raised money for the Black Panthers (who legitimately fought
for Black empowerment, anti-imperialism, and self-defense). She wanted strong roles for Black Women in
film. Im sick of being offered scripts about hookers or goody-good nurses! Black women fall in love and
have adventures and secrets and are just as driven and gutsy as a lot of White ladies in Middle America,
she told a reporter in 1970. Ruby Dee spoke out against lynching and apartheid that existed in South
Africa. In 1999, the pair was arrested outside the headquarters of the New York Police Department as
part of a protest over the murder of Amadou Diallo, the Guinean immigrant shot 19 times by police. Davis
died in 2005, at the age of 87. They also opposed the Iraq War. Ruby

Dee was always a strong

defender of civil rights and human rights. So, Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis always had
revolutionary thinking throughout their lives indeed. Ruby Dee was magnificent in the various theatrical
and movie shows like A Raisin in the Sun, Zora is My Name, and Do the Right Thing. She was an author,
journalist, and playwright.
*You can tell that Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis' love was for real. BLACK LOVE IS SO BEAUTIFUL
AND HUMAN LOVE IN GENERAL IS BEAUTIFUL TOO. Respect for both genders is a key part of
human existence. The couple certainly represents what a real marriage is all about and the necessity for
us to continue their work. They wanted economic justice, civil rights, and the love of Africa to be placed in
our hearts.

RIP Ruby Dee.

By Timothy

Appendix A: Great Conversations with my Great Friend Sister Courtney R.

*These conversations (during August 2014) talk about politics, music, and life in general. She is
certainly my intellectual equal. She inspires me in many ways and I inspire her. She is a Strong
Black Woman. She certainly makes me even more aware about the value of human life and the
need for constructive change, so society can be better. We agree on so many issues. I respect her.
Were great Friends. She is so NY and I am so VA. So, VA and NY will always be in the House.
I certainly respect wisdom and truth. Enjoy:
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 Browns
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, there 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 overcome. 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 have
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 have 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 1980s. 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 Huttons 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 Xs quote in 1965 when he said
that he doesnt 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 dont 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 there was an
army that needed to be headed up, he would be someone that would have 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 have 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 have allowed the black communities to grow, become responsive and responsible, community
oriented, protectors that would have allowed for all the other things to follow .There would have been less
stress because there would have 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 have
been duplicated in other states. They tried their best and because of that, there 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 dont 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 dont
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 needs 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 dont 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 have 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 have 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. Thats 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 1960s). 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 beings 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 Cleavers 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 others 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

Me: These images are important.

Courtney: Yes they are. Heartbreaking but at the same time, hopeful. There was an image during the
protest last week,t hat 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
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 there 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 racism
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.

__________________

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, There 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 . :)

RIP Renisha McBride