My Parental 3rd Eye

I was making lunch this past Saturday when my 7 year old Daughter Chinaza walked in the kitchen.

The conversation goes like this….

Chinaza: "Dad, what do those plums taste like?" As if she's never had one.

Me: "I'm not sure, I haven't tasted them yet." As if I never had one.

Now I know what's coming next, so my parental 3rd eye kicks in to see how long it will take for the REAL question to be asked. I counted down from 15.

*5…4…3…2…annnnd*

Chinaza: "Can I have one?"

After almost exploding in laughter, of course I said yes and gave my baby a plum.

It's only fruit for Gods sake.

Ire

Getting back to the basics

Alafia

Writing is therapeutic for me. It just so happens that what I write is also of interest to other people. So, I guess I'll get back to blogging soon. God knows I need it.

OMO ODUDUWA RADIO: Purified by Fire: Warriors Handbook with Kefentse ...

OMO ODUDUWA RADIO: Purified by Fire: Warriors Handbook with Kefentse ...: "Join Omo Oduduwa Radio on Tuesday, March 15, 2011 at 9 pm EST with author Kefense Akim Bandele as he talks about his new book Purified by Fi..."

Purified by Fire; The Warrior's Handbook

Excerpts from Purified by Fire; The Warrior's Handbook!!

 

OVERVIEW 

What are affirmations? 

 

There are several definitions to this powerful word.  I define them as “Challenging my-self with positive ways of thinking”.  In order for us to be successful we must change our thought process from doom and gloom to something more powerful and positive.

 

 The way we think reflects in our daily lives.  More often than not the way we think or our thought processes manifest themselves in our daily lives.  If you think negative,negative will happen.  If you are open to positive thoughts you allow positive energy to enter into your life.  I speak from experience.  My past hasn’t been one of glorious achievements and I can attribute this to my thought process.  So often do we dwell on the negative aspects of our life without giving thanks for the little things.

 

 I challenge us all to not only examine the way we think but to change our thought process entirely.  Try it out for a week and see if things begin to change if not physically at the least how you feel about yourself. 

 

You don’t have to use my thoughts or words.  Create positive affirmations for yourself.Attach positive affirmations around your home, on your front door, on your bathroom mirror or refrigerator and repeat them daily.  “I am important”, “I love myself”, “Today I will not take advantage of other people” or “On this day I will make someone smile”.Allow positive energy to enter your home and ultimately into your life and just watch how things begin to change.  If you can change your thought process from negative to positive it will begin to reflect in your life and the lives of those around you. 

 

Every affirmation you will read gives you a glimpse into my life experience and an opportunity to change the way you think.  Take a moment to write down your experiences and how the affirmations apply in your life.  This is your opportunity.  We have the ability to change our circumstances, our lives and ultimately the world…simply by the way we think.

 

 I encourage you to contemplate the meaning of each of these affirmations.  Set at least10 minutes aside to spend with yourself in thought.  If you like, take 70 days to go through these affirmations.  I guarantee you will come out a changed person mentally and spiritually.

 

 I challenge myself to change!

 

 I challenge you to change!

 

 Ase' Ooo!

Destiny and the lust for power. The mentality of the Sith.

By Kefentse Akim Bandele

Aboru Aboye Abosise

Alafia to all of my elders, friends and family.

As I sat and watched the movie Star Wars; Revenge of the Sith with my children, I could barely enjoy it as entertainment without looking at it from a analytical perspective. The character Anakin Skywalker had the future of the Jedi lineage in the palms of his hands. Anakin was the prodigy child and probably would have brought the war to an end had it not been for his impatience, selfishness and his insatiable lust for power. Anakin ended up not only betraying the very people who properly trained him but he killed his wife, his future as a Jedi master and ultimately killed himself. Was this his destiny or did he alter his righteous path?

Many of my peers have what I call the Anakin complex. We are ready to lead without the main ingredient and attribute of a leader, patience. Ready to be initiated in to an Orisa or Ifa by any and all means possible. I often ask these peers of mine what is the purpose of their initiation or what will they do once they have realized their goal? The answer is usually the consistent. "I don't know." Many wish to obtain a power that they do not understand and will not be able to utilize with the good character and training that it takes to be an effective priest. Most never mention probably the most important aspect of initiation which is the ita (destiny) or the taboos that come along with this process. They just want power and the keys to enter this exclusive "clubhouse".

I find this behavior to be most damaging not only to the individual but the community at large. The Anakin complex is based on an out of control ego and not having the proper relationship with spirit. A ego that allows a person to believe that they are prepared for the next level of work when they haven't began the hard and necessary work on the most basic level. How can you master the ase' (primordial substance) or awo (mystery) of the Orisa or Orunmila when you haven't mastered your relationship with your own ancestors? How can a person who hasn't began the critical work on level 1 be ready for level 5?

Instead of Anakin becoming the leader of the righteous revolution he became a monster, a cancer to those who sought liberation and a predator to mankind. He became the ultimate Sith Lord. I write this because I see so much potential in many of my peers who are not initiated and eat, sleep and pray for that day. I would suggest that you first build the proper relationship with your own blood lineage, learn the lessons in route to that beautiful process, listen to those who have been there and live a life of good character in the meantime. Anakin Skywalker chose his fate by making hasty and poor decisions. Luke Skywalker, Anakin's son learned the basics of the force, the lessons of patience and character as well as the little things that made the Jedi supernatural beings and ultimately crushed the ruthless empire his father had sworn to protect.

Will you be Anakin

or will you be Luke?

Ire O!

Lost & Turned Out

  She stood on the corner of Fort Street & Junction, walking at a snails pace.  She liked her tongue out as passer's by passed her by hardly paying her any attention.  Every once in a while she would make sexual gestures at truckers who she expected to stop and negotiate with her as they have on previous occasions.  She is a prostitute.  Her face is that of most horror movie zombies yet through it all you can still see how she was once a beautiful woman.  Her clothes were raged unlike that of the prostitutes on the 60's and 70's who I dare say had some form of class about themselves.  I had to keep in mind that she was no ordinary prostitute but what is commonly known in Detroit as "crack whores".  Her sexual prowl wasn't that of survival but one to allow her another hit of a deadly and poisonous drug that has ravaged communities across the world.  How did this come to be?

  Yes, she was beautiful before.  I can see it in her eyes.  Pass the crust of an unwashed face and teeth all but gone.  Maybe her downfall was a decision she made at a party 20 odd years ago.  Maybe she was tricked by someone she loved.  Whatever the case may be she made the decision to live in a self imposed hell for the rest of her life.  She's lost and turned out.  I'm sure she has children and maybe even a husband.  This is a reality be it a devastating one.  No pimps involved in this scene, just mutual respect from other street walkers as far as territory is concerned whatever that means.  First come first serve.  Yet as with most Mothers even among chaos there is order.

  Can these Mothers, daughters and sisters be rescued?  Can I accept the saying "prostitution is the worlds oldest profession"?  It eats at the core of my soul, I see these women daily.  As I was told by a coworker, one of the ladies was a very influential teacher who lost her job, then her sanity and finally her soul.  A elder I used to work with tells me of one sister on Fenkell avenue who was a popular beauty when they where in high school but she was a party girl.  Now she "patrols" the streets looking for anybody who can support her habit.

  These women can easily be someone in our families. Though they are our collective mothers and sisters, they have fallen by the wayside of claiming their glory.  Can it be restored?  Who has the time and patience to deal with this disease in our community?  Some of them are so obviously affected by AIDS/HIV it turns my stomach to look at them.  I believe my compassion for humanity allows me to feel a certain way for people who make poor decisions in their lives.  It also reminds me that I have two daughters who are often reminded and reaffirmed of their beauty and self worth as well as their role in the world.  We as men must recognize the role we play in the devastation in the lives of our women.  We can't continue to assist and play roles in their demise and disrespect.  We must begin the process of healing.

Ase' O!

My conflicted visions

  For the past several months I have seen fast moving objects or beings either in my home or in public.  The beings or objects aren't there long enough for me to make an attempt at identifying or recognizing them.  I saw two today in the parking lot next door.  I looked out of my apartment window while showering and noticed from three floors up what appeared to be a white man walking in the lot.  Not even 2 minutes later another being walked by in the same fashion.  Each time as I looked out of the window there wasn't a person or animal in sight.  The other day while in my shrine room I noticed a dark shadow dart out from behind my shrine to Yeye Osun a fled or hide behind my memorabilia chest.  I dared not move the chest to explore...not out of fear but of respect.  If it hide that means it didn't wanna be seen.

  I have had these visions since I was a child yet never wanted to talk to anyone about it due to fear of ridicule.  I know many people who have had similar if not the same experiences.  Iyalase' Aina Olomo cover's this subject in her book "The Core of Fire, A Path to Yoruba Spiritual Activism".  From my understanding Iya wrote about the shadows we see in our dreams and how they are products of our negative behavior.  Iya Olomo writes, "These underdeveloped energies will often attempt to lure us into making decisions that conflict with our spiritual intent.  The fleeting shadows that weave in and out of our conscious range have not consolidated.  Their form does not have enough mass for us to see them clearly and distinctly.  It is also possible that we do not see them distinctly because the vision of our conscious mind has not expanded its own development to be able to experience more than one reality at a time.  It is important to understand that we generate negative energies when we engage in behavior patterns that do not promote character development or that do not coincide with the accepted behavioral standards established by our ancestors and divinities.  These negative energies can manifest as symbols in our dreams as they penetrate the limits of our conscious mind, whether they are positive or negative, they expand our awareness."  Now my problem here is that I wasn't dreaming, I've been wide awake.

  As I stated earlier I know a few people who have experienced or are currently experiencing similar visions. Simply for the sake of assumption none of this is under the influence of any mind altering substances besides maybe a little adrenaline.   Have you ever experienced similar visions?  I don't know what it means, but I'm open to explanations.  It may be time for another reading.  I know one thing is fa'sho, my mind ain't playin' tricks on me.

O dabo


 

Patince: A lesson in character, decision making and dollars!

  A few weeks ago my daughters and I were headed to a block party at Dabls Bead Gallery.  I stopped at the store around the corner from my house in route to the party and parked in the parking lot.  I exited the store and proceeded to my car.  As I pulled out of my parking space there was a brother in a caravan blocking the exit.  For some reason my horn wouldn't blow in my car as I had sat there for almost 3 to 4 minutes waiting on him to pull off.  Well I didn't feel like waiting any longer so I made a decision.  A poor decision but a decision never the less. I decided to drive around this man, at night and could not judge how steep the curb was.  Well it was quite steep as I drove down said curve and heard a loud scrap and pop to which Messiah, my elder daughter looked at me wide-eyed.  For some reason I asked her, "Was that my car?" fully knowing damn well that it was.  I drove a little further when I heard someones exhaust pipe dragging from their car making loud and embarrassing noises.  I pulled over to jam it up so that I could drive back home since I didnt have string or a hanger in my car.  A Wayne State police officer pulled over to make sure that no one would crush my skull as I manage to jam the pipe so we could drive home.  Messiah and I were laughing at my folly but Chinaza was in the back seat scared and crying.  We finally made it home where I tied up the exhaust with a hanger and drove right up to Dabls to hang out!

  The moral of this story is that my impatience scared my children, showed them a bad example in judgment, embarrassed me, made me late for Dabls and cost me $200.  If I had been patient I would have showed my children how to be calm in adversity, not embarrassed myself, i can never be late for Dabls and I would have my $200 in my pocket. 

  Anyone who knows me personally can tell you that I am a thousand times better than I use to be and still have room to grow apparently.

Patience and calm are virtues, just don't get them confused with laziness or stagnation.

Ase' O

The power of forgiveness

  Triumph.  Forgiving is one of the hardest hurdles to clear in the path towards peace of mind.  No one can claim to be at peace and still have ill feelings towards another.  The ill feelings only lay dormant in our subconscious, waiting to be released.  Forgiving is not forgetting, it is simply acknowledging the flawed human element in us all and taking steps to avoid whatever the charge from happening again.  What sense does it make to hold on to the situation without an effective plan or method to discard it?  You can best believe it probably doesn't affect the perpetrator.

  Forgiving allows me to control the situation over my transgressor by elevating my spirit to a place of balance or a place free of stress.  Soon what we carry will start to reflect in us physically to the point where we become sick either physically or mentally.  It is even difficult to have a functioning relationship with the creator holding on to pain.  I wrote this to medicate myself.  I have resentment from childhood that lashes out in several different ways, sometime uncontrollable.  I have children now and I cannot allow them to suffer from my experiences.  They must grow and develop a relationship with this world on their own but with with the direction of their Mothers and their Baba.

So these two reasons are why we must forgive:

1.  To seize control over the situation from the transgressor
2. To not allow the poison to affect our children

  We have healing to do and we must be healed ourselves first and foremost. We cannot even begin to heal with conscious and subconscious demons lurking in the abyss of our souls.

Seek the proper healing and be a whole human being as the creator created you to be.

"I No Longer Want To Hold On, To That Which Doesn't Make Me Strong!"-Rachelle Ferrel

Ase' O

 

Check the box or check with the spirits?

  Who would have thought we would have to go through spiritual steps to find out if it is acceptable for us to date or marry a sister?  Especially for those of us who grew up doing things a totally different way.  I remember back in elementary school when we would simply write a note and draw two boxes on it, one with yes, the other with no.  Whichever box was checked would determine your fate.  Now it's a more divine way of finding out which road we should take and the necessary steps to get there.  Its a beautiful process and well worth the wait.  We can't afford to be upset or hurt at the outcome if it isn't in our personal interest, it simply is what it is.  Truthfully it is in our best interest when we understand it.  If it does turn out the way we are hoping for then so be it and enjoy your happiness.  

Ah, The beauty of being an adult. The beauty of divine love.

Ase' o

Messiah's first protest; An activist in the making.

  Today was one of the proudest days of fatherhood for me.  My daughter Messiah (12) attended her first police brutality protest and march in Indianapolis, Indiana.  Along with the Reverend Al Sharpton, my mother and thousands of others, Messiah protested the vicious brutality of the Indianapolis police department.  This is a monumental moment for my child and her future political and cultural ambitions and plans.  She has the potential to surpass any and all efforts I may thought to accomplish by the time she reached my age of 36.  My first protest march and rally wasn't until I was in my 20's and a freshman at Olivet College.

  This goes to show that if we are passionate and sincere about our beliefs, and if we implement them in our everyday lives, our children will not stray into social or cultural obscurity.  Everything I do is for my children.  The future I want for them is a future free from all kinds of oppression.  By the time my children are my age they will be well versed in struggle and take it a step further from Baba by building institutions of necessity for women, children and men alike.  Iba se' Egun mi for allowing me to bring my children into existence and I give thanks for them chosing me to be their father.

Watch out oppression, the Bandele babies are coming!

O dabo

Chinaza's Childhood Innocence

  "Daddy meet my new friend Alicia!"  Though she'd just met the young sister all of 5 minutes ago.  This brings back memories of the many Detroit playgrounds Mama took us to when we were children.  It also reminds me of the many friends I met at the Stone Pool playground, Weigel recreation center playground and even playgrounds inside of the Jeffries Projects.  Most notably the playground where the Pitchfork family would kick our (myself and my sister Mimi) butts and send us home crying.

Nevertheless, the playground is where we watch our children be children, and not where they ask us "Daddy are you ok?", "What's wrong Mama?".  They get to chase other children around and test their cognitive skills.  We get a chance to relax and enjoy observing our little angels use what we've instilled in them :-).

  This also allows me to reflect on my own life.  People you may have known for 20 may act brand new as if they don't know you when they are looking directly into your eyes because of the familiarity in the first place lol.  The contrast between the unlearned and under-developed innocence of children  and the trained dishonesty and disloyalty of adults is amazing.  And here I am thinking things get better with time...

Play on baby girl and enjoy this day.  Unfortunately, it will not last forever.

Peace

Excerpt 4 from "The Book of Bandele: Life of a Project Prophet".

Chapter: July 4
Verse: 2:14 p.m.

  While at times I may have major differences with my father I can say this for sure, he showed up when I performed in any competition.  Some of my friends even called my father "He-Man" instead of Mr. Glenn.  Many didn't have fathers or father figures in their lives.  My father attended many of my sporting events, sometimes without me even noticing.  There were times when my friends and I would sit in our locker room and ask each other if our fathers would show up.  We depended on that energy and support for our performance.  Some of us would be disappointed by the time we'd reach the field, diamond or court.  The disappointment wasn't based on anything about our mother's what-so-ever.  We knew she'd be there.  If she wasn't there we knew the reason for it and accepted it as it was.  Fathers, we MUST be there.  Particularly for our sons sporting events and performances, ultimately for our children altogether.

  Sometimes daddy wouldn't arrive until later which made my assumptions run wild.  Did he care?  What the hell could he be doin' instead of being here?  My attention would be distracted from focusing on the crowd.  Then, all of a sudden, out of the cheers and boo's of a play that I participated in I would hear "Get'em Woonie!!"  or "Good play son!" (tears).  I knew that voice, for I had heard it many times from mama's womb.  It was Haywood, showin' & provin'.  He gave me advice that...

To be continued.

Excerpt 3 from "The Book of Bandele: Life of a Project Prophet".

Chapter: 6-22-10
Verse: 10:07pm

I saw a little girl today who happened to be legally blind. This isn't the first time I've seen a blind child but there was something different about this baby. I believe she was all of 6 or 7 years of age. With the assistance of her older brother in the front and her daddy behind her she joyfully hopped down the stairs, counting out each stair as she hopped. Just as jovial as my daughter Messiah was when she was 6. At first thought I was sort of disturbed, thinking about how she couldn't see what we see. My Ori or my higher spiritual head told me she is blessed to not be able to do so. You see, she actually has to judge with her head & heart and not the bias and trained eyes that we have. In addition to learning to use her internal eyes she also had to learn to trust.

People who can't see need people who can see to help them along the way. People who can see should recognize their role in this and not manipulate the person who is blind and seeking assistance. All productive relationships are built on foundations of trust, first and foremost. If this young sisters trust is shattered by her father and brother it will be shattered for every man and some women who enter her life from that point on. This was a family establishing trust with each other. By the peaceful and loving energy I picked up from them, I believe they knew it.

Ase'

Excerpt 2 from "The Book of Bandele: Life of a Project Prophet".

Chapter: 6-30-10
Verse: 7:32pm

Taking a Shahadah was easily one of the most exciting moments of my life. I thought long and hard about it, although wanting to follow Malcolm made my decision a little easier. Why Islam? It was 1998 and I just started working at the Springwells freshwater pumping station with the Detroit Water & Sewage Department. By this time I had a brief history with western African Islam i.e. The Nation of Islam in 1990 I believe and a very brief stint as a member of the Nation of Gods & Earths. I joined these institutions under the assumption that "Islam is the Blackman's natural religion" which now I know is completely untrue. Our natural religion or way of life is to be. Being is natural. Now our natural practices of spirituality may be a different subject. I also believed that being a Sunni would complete me as a man. The Sunni's I know are stand up people regardless of how we differ in belief. I learned some of the most valuable lessons of my life as a Muslim. Faith, discipline, humbleness, and humility. I began to fine tune all of these characteristics when I began to practice Islam.

It was hard hearing from Arab as well as Black Muslims that there is no color in Islam. I remember my cousins and I were called abn (slave) by an Arab Muslim gas station owner who took us to be typical hood niggas in his eyes. Even the late Dr. Khalid Abdul Muhammad spoke about an African Muslim woman who's defense he'd come to in Mecca for being assaulted by Arab Muslims. I didn't like idea of crossing over the African continent to claim the newest of the worlds new religions nor did I like the idea of giving up one slave master for another.

Now back to the story, I met a brother at Springwells who was a Sunni Muslim. Beautiful person. I told him of my desires to get serious with the 5%'ers of which he was clearly bothered by. He told me of the true and oneness of Islam that was shared by not just Blacks but people all over the planet. After about a month of studying, sharing lunches and life stories he offered to take me to his Masjid or Mosque. The Mosque was predominately Arab with several Blacks in attendance. That was a problem for me being a Black Nationalist since 1989.

A few days after this the brothers wife came to pick him up for work and meet me. I spoke to her "A salaam Alaikum" and reached to shake her hand to which she sort of withdrew her body back. My friend quickly inserted, "Oh no women don't touch men who aren't their husbands". I was a little disturbed by that. I feel that is a restriction that men have placed on women and not the law of Allah. Men who otherwise couldn't control themselves sexually. It also bothered me that the brother's in the car kinda smirked about it as if i was the naive child. The naivete' didn't belong to me. That was the last day I had a close relationship with the brother or any other orthodox Muslim as far as teaching me about Islam. I'd had enough.

Another scenario comes to mind of my interaction with a beautiful Muslim brother. I was working in the Wayne State University area when I saw this brother with a white kufi. I knew he was a Muslim off-the-rip (from first site). I asked him him where I could purchase a Quran from as I told him of my ambitions. He started to tell me about a store then he paused, took off his back-pack, dug deep into it and pulled out the most beautiful green and gold Quran I have laid eyes on to date. he looked at the Quran, looked at me and said "here" extending out the Quran in his right hand. As I statrted to show my gratitude he cuts me off and say's, "may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon you". A perfect example of the guardian spirits that I have had the honor of coming across in human form. I never saw him again.

In Osborn high school as a junior after I first heard the "Black Revolution vs the Negro Revolution" lecture by Malcolm X, my friends and I decided to form the "Islamic Clique" to which my name was Lakim Shabazz. I "graffitified" everything with that name lol. The changing of my name always presented a new reality for me, and a reality is relative to the person living it. Anyway, we gave our teacher PURE HELL. This clique consisted of Donovan Rivers, Michael Cantrell, Marlon Baker, Sheron Shows, I believe Fred Campbell and yours truly. We blamed our white teachers for everything minus the rising of the sun. Just a side thought...


Islam has been a foundation of strength, pride, truth, justice and a way of life for millions of African people living in America. We must give the Nation of Islam its due. Though we may disagree with The Honorable Elijah Muhammad, Minister Louis Farrakhan or the events surrounding the assassination of Malcolm we cannot deny it's social impact on our lives. This was all started by a little man from the south who migrated to Detroit to establish a kingdom in 1930. This kingdom gave us a chance to escape what we considered "the white man's religion". Though we may argue its dogma, we can never debate its production, significance nor effectiveness in our community.

Excerpt 1 from "The Book of Bandele: Life of a Project Prophet".

Chapter: 6-21-2010
Verse: 2:50 p.m.

When i was 15, I nickled and dimed in the crack "game". By nickle & diming I mean I was asked to pass drugs to customers through a back window and in return of course, they would give us money. I never had or possessed a sack of my own. Never wanted one. I won't go into much detail about it besides a few events that affected or changed my life. On a brisk fall day, I decided to skip a half day of school and go hang with my fellas. We sat in the living room of the house where the drugs were sold, gazing out of the window making jokes of childish scenarios though they were 19 & 18 respectively (I didn't like hanging out with brothers younger than me then).

"Idle hands do the devil's work", Mama use to say. I don't believe in the devil anymore but I understood the phrase then and understand it even better today. Children and teens who lack parental guidance and community support can become parasites and over-night terrorist.

Around noon which is usually lunchtime in most public schools, we observed what looked to be a young woman walking alone on the street east of us which is still Hamburg. She probably was a substitute teacher or maybe even a lunch aide. One of my friends said, "I bet I go snatch dat bitch purse!" with dares and encouragement from us all. He started the long route towards the unsuspecting sister, walking around the elementary school, stalking her as she strolled down what should have been a safe street in her community. My friend approached the sister from behind and snatched her purse from off of her shoulder as she screamed to the top of her lungs for help. She tried with everything she had to fight him off but he was a pretty big dude, maybe 6'3 and 170 at the age of 18. He succeeded in robbing the sister of her purse. My heart started fluttering as I watched in horror and utter confusion. The sister uncontrollably cried and screamed for help...no one came.

My friend returned to us as we impatiently ordered him to open the purse. The reward for his behavior was a whopping $5 in single food stamp bills and her personal belongings, none of which was of any use whatsoever to any of us. I was angry when I saw this sister in despair and even angrier when I saw what little was taken from her. Not angry because it wasn't enough for us to divy up, my own mother was receiving food stamps at that time in my life and that could have been her just the same. I was beginning to see my relationship to my community, my family. I said, "Is this it?". He said, "Looks like it mothafucka". I said, "dog, yall wrong man". I walked from the side of the house where we watched and went home.

Needless to say that was the last time I was to have a functional relationship with my Strasburg crew. That scenario is painful to think, write about or even speak on as a few others I may have from this era in my life. It was 22 years ago. I saw mama in this sisters agony. That $5 may have been all she had for the week to feed her children. It's a probable possibility coming from that neighborhood. I thank my ancestors for removing my family from that environment. I pray that sister is healed.

Ase' o

Mama Assata Shakur: The Personification of African womanhood

Mama Assata Shakur:
The Personification of African womanhood

She took three bullets to the chest for you yet you really don’t know whom she is. Her name is Assata Shakur or Mama Assata as we affectionately call her. Assata is living in Cuba under what is called political asylum. Political asylum is the condition under which one is granted sanctuary from a “foreign” government after fleeing the government in which they were born. She needed sanctuary because of trumped up charges against her, aimed at crushing the black liberation struggle, through a program called COINTELPRO or the counter intelligence program. From April 1971-May 1973 she was charged with 7 felonies including murder, attempted murder, bank robbery, armed robbery and kidnapping.

On May 2, 1973 Assata along with Baba Sundiata Acoli and ancestor Zayd Shakur (rest in uhuru) was racially profiled, and ambushed by New Jersey State Troopers on the New Jersey turnpike. Zayd was murdered and a pig was killed in an act of revolutionary self -defense. All charges against Assata were filed after her arrest and all except the turnpike case were thrown out or she was found not guilty. Even still she spent 4 years in New York and New Jersey prisons including the Middlesex County all male prison in the basement, where no other woman had ever been imprisoned. Now that is real Amerikkkan affirmative action. She was kept under surveillance for 24 hours under heavy guard. She escaped prison, defeated her captures and now is an intricate part of African folklore.

Assata entered a war naïve about her stance with the government. But as time went on she would understand the reality of the war she entered as well as the enemy: “We were not prepared for what we experienced in the 60’s. Black people need to know what happened and what the role of the government was. It wasn’t just a matter of the Black Panther Party disappearing, it was destroyed, it was attacked by the government, it was divided, it. It was destroyed. We need to study that time so we don’t make the same mistakes.” Speaking on her beginnings in the struggle she said, “My life wasn’t beautiful and creative before I became politically active. My life was totally changed when I began to struggle. We had to learn that we’re beautiful. We had to relearn something that was forcefully taken away from us. We had to learn about Black Power. People have power if we unite. We learned the importance of coming together and being creative. That fueled me.”

“We knew what a token was then. Today young people don’t see Condoleezza Rice or Colin Powell as tokens. That’s a problem.” She also had a realistic view of her struggle as a global African struggle. “I realized that I was connected to Africa. I wasn’t just a colored girl. I was part of a whole world that wanted a better life. I am part of a majority not a minority. My life has been a life of growth. If your not growing, you’re not going to understand real love. If your not reaching out to help others then you’re sinking. My life has been active. I’m not a spectator. I think the greatest betrayal a revolutionary can participate in is to become like your oppressors. I think that is a betrayal and a sin.

I found some consolation in the fact that she even addressed the idea of “you can’t beat the government”. On these type of statements Assata would say, “I think the one problem that exist in the U.S. and many other places in the world is that people don’t believe that they can make a difference. So a lot of times we’re defeated before we even start. We’ve become consumer’s of a world vision, of Kentucky Fried Chicken, of McDonald’s…and we’ve also consumed the idea of powerlessness, of the idea that “you can’t fight city hall”, “you can’t win against a powerful establishment” of “you can’t change things, the government is strong, that’s just the way things are”.

In closing I would like to share some thoughts of Assatas concerning the struggle as well as lessons for young brother’s and sister’s in the struggle: “I think the movement has done more for me as a human being than I will ever be able to do for the movement. I felt that what happened in the 60’s with the Black Liberation movement can be useful today because in many situations it’s bad or even worse. We are oppressed people in the U.S. and don’t even know it. We have fewer opportunities to be doctors and lawyers as tuition increases. Our problem is that we want to belong to a society that wants to oppress us. We want to be the plantation owner. In Cuba, we want to change the plantation into a collective farm. What I’m dealing with is difficult. Our people, not just black people, people all over the world has dealt with oppression and are dealing with it and are struggling and that you know (long pause) either we want a better world or we don’t, and either we gon’ fight for it, struggle for it, work for it or we aint! But I think it’s worth it, I think it’s worth it!

And so do I Mama Assata…Ase!


Quotes from Assata and those who support her

Sister Nisa Muhammad- “Assata Shakur is a Black American folk hero. She is a freedom fighter that escaped the chains of oppression. She made it to the other side. She is a sister that defied the definitions of expected behavior by a Black woman.”

Assata’s Mother- “If these people (the Cubans) had not taken power, had not won, everybody would think they were insane.”

Assata’s quotes- “It’s moods like this that make me aware of how glad I am to be a revolutionary. I know who our enemy is, and I know that me-and these swine cannot live peacefully on the same planet. I am part of a family of field niggas and that is something very precious.”

- “A revolutionary woman can’t have no reactionary man. If he’s not about struggle, if he ain’t about building a strong black nation then he ain’t about nothing. We must celebrate African womanhood”

- “Black people will never be free unless black women participate in every aspect of our struggle, on every level of our struggle. We don’t have time to play around!”

Lennox Hinds (Former member of the National Conference of Black Lawyers)- “ The State conceded at the trial of her co defendant that it was impossible for her to pull the trigger (shattered clavicle, paralyzed hand, three bullet wounds) so she was convicted of aiding and abetting in the murder which carried the same penalty as the person who actually pulled the trigger.”

Assata, Al and Betrayal

According to documentation as well as personal testimonies, the Reverend Al Sharpton worked as a federal informant and made several attempts to set up Assata for her capture. Ahmed Obafemi and Kwame Braithwaite said Sharpton requested a meeting with Assata in 1893. Al Sharpton approached the two men about Assatas whereabouts. Sharpton has admitted assisting the government, as was the case on “Meet the Press” in 2003 I believe. The same interview in which Sharpton was videotaped agreeing with undercover agents on drug deals in the community at that time in his life. Though there is documentation and more than reliable testimony, it has yet to be undeniably proven that his aim was to set Assata up. With respect to Reverend Sharpton, if you did play a part in this endeavor there is still time for repentance. You can take a stand, with the evidence provided, against the bounty and extradition of Assata from Cuba. You don’t work for the feds anymore and you have nothing to lose right?

The Beauty, The Beast and the Bounty

In 1997, the New Jersey State Troopers wrote the Pope asking for the Pontiff’s help in having Assata extradited. Former New Jersey Governor Christine Todd-Whitman issued a $100,000 enticement for anyone to assist in the return of Assata Shakur. Congress issued H.R. 254 calling on Cuba to send her back, which was supported by most Black congresspersons. I believe it is our duty and service to the struggle as well as Assata to find out which of our distinguished congresspersons needs some village justice!
The reward for Assata’s capture has ballooned to $1,000,000. During a press conference of the 32nd anniversary of the Trooper Werner Foerster, Bounty hunter Louis Faccone was quoted as saying, “I’m going to jump on it.” He also stated that he has a 2-man team in Mexico waiting for a signal from Cuba that she’s been spotted. “My guy’s can get in there in the middle of the night by boat from the Florida Keys”, “if we can get within a 3 mile radius of where she is, I feel confident we can get in, grab her, get on a boat and get her out.” State Police Superintendent Col. Rick Fuentes was quoted, “The goal is to bring a fully functional, no assembly required fugitive back home to New Jersey so she can finish out her term of imprisonment.” The money of the bounty for Assata was approved by Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez and came from your United Sates Justice Department. Assata has also recently been added to the F.B.I.’s wanted list of domestic terrorism suspects.

For more information: handoffassata.org or assatashakur.org

References

From exile with love; Nisa Islam Muhammad, Final Call 11-6-02

Sharpton tried to set up Chesimard, activist say; Oct. 21, 1988, Newsday; Ron Howell and Robert E. Kessler

Sharpton denies Chesimard plot; Oct. 22, 1988 Newsday; Anthony M. DeStefano

B.E.T. interview with Penny Micklebury

1M reward for Chesimard get’s bounty hunter’s attention; Wayne Parry-The Associated Press.

A Case For Armed Struggle

Guess what? White Amerikkka is sick and tired of us. Nooses here nooses there nooses every damn where! The manipulation and guerilla war style control of the minds of our youth with trash-hop (hip-hop) music. The blatant disrespect for our lives with current and past police murders, the mass murder and neglect of African people in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the systematic dismantling of affirmative action, the overflow of crack/cocaine which is a form chemical warfare, the imprisonment of our warriors and the dehumanization as well as efforts to destroy the African womanhood has come to it’s head. It is time for our own. Time for us to move past the amerikkkan dream and create a new reality for ourselves.

We must first realize that our enslavement was a thought out process as so our struggles for freedom and self-reliance should be. With that said I choose to implement and introduce to the African born in America post the 1970’s the aspect, strategy and idea of a different yet very effective way of struggle. It is called Armed Resistance. I define armed resistance as the final political action after diplomacy has failed to free a subjugated and oppressed people, and that it consist of military means to achieve total liberation and independence for self determined people who suffer from a racist regime. What will happen when your right to vote, assemble or practice your religion is removed from the laws that govern this land? What course of action are you willing to take?

We often hit the streets when we protest and yell out “No Justice No Peace”. Usually there’s always the no justice part, but where’s the no peace? Maybe a sporadic and unorganized riot or uprising but then there’s peace and the enemy is back to work. Repetitious solutions to evolving problems will only hinder the ultimate goal of liberation. Armed struggle must work within the parameters of a unit that is not armed. The armed resistance cadre must be the fighting arm of the people made up of both men and women. There is no victory that can be accomplished without our women and a small yet dedicated to freedom group of African people.

Neither Geneva Convention rules nor international law can stand in our way. We cannot continue to struggle and fight within the parameters of the enemy’s laws and guidelines. The enemy will strongly oppose this course of action but that is expected. We say we strongly oppose the racist oppression and inhumane treatment we are continuously subjugated to. To my daughters I plea with you to continue this legacy of armed resistance laid forth by our mother and father ancestors. As I stated earlier, armed struggle is a last course of action and will become a necessity sooner than later. Affirmative Action is gone in Michigan. Will the little so-called freedoms you have left be on the ballot next voting season?

The bottom line is to achieve land. Land where a free and independent people can dictate and mandate their own lives according to their own culture, values, norms and policies. This is the basis for any freedom struggle. There is no fruit of labor to continue to fight within the paradigm set up by the enemy. You either capitualte and support what you previously fought against, you are jailed for life or worst yet, murdered.

Uhuru Sasa

On Armed Struggle:

Amilcar Cabral- Leader of the P.A.I.G.C.: “Our army is an instrument for the people to fight for independence”

Samora Machel- Former President of FREELIMO: “Ours was a peoples war. First one must have a clear political concept in order to understand the enemy’s policy, to know the enemy’s objectives and assess the enemy’s strength correctly. Unless one reaches this political understanding point, it is not possible to adapt the right strategy.”

Assata Shakur-Mother of today’s African Liberation Struggle: “Either we want a better world or we don’t. And either we gon fight for it, struggle for it, work for it or we ain’t!”

Basil Davidson-Historian: “No amount of racist aggression or an assassination is going to able to withstand the onward surge and drive for a people longing and determined to be free. And freedom, whatever problems it may bring with it, is the only groundwork for peace.”

Unknown- “Only by persevering in armed struggle at home can any nation overthrow hated vicious colonial rule and win complete national independence and liberation.”

Mao Tse Tung-Former Communist leader and ruler of China: “Without armed struggle neither the proletariat, nor the people, nor the Communist party would have any standing at all in China and it would not be possible for the revolution to triumph.”

Kwame Ture- Former leader of the All-African Peoples Party: “Were now at the front where we are encouraging people to pick up arms and fight back.” “…We want the right to politically control the communities in which we live. When we say that we insist, we say very clearly, that the only solution is black revolution and that we are not concerned about peaceful coexistence, armed struggle is the only way. So all the slave has to do is kill the master if the master refuses to stop enslaving him. That’s the only solution. …Armed struggle, that is all, no time for talk. Urban guerilla warfare is the one way we will beat the United States. You must disrupt the system by any means necessary.”

Nomzamo Winnie Mandela- ANC revolutionary: “It was never a policy of the ANC to be violent. All that this people’s organization is doing is responding to the violence of the system. Our great leader, Chief Lutuli, said, “When a man attacks my kraal, I must take my spear and defend my family”-a man who was one of the greatest Christians, who wouldn’t lift up a stone to kill a fly. It was out of context that Umkhonto we Sizwe was born.” Umkhonto we Sizwe means, “spear of the nation”. A non-violent organization was forced to pick up the spear and defend the honor of the black man against an enemy, which had been waging war since the arrival of Jan van Reibeek in 1652. We are determined to fight to the bitter end for our people. I am afraid that the white regime will have to decide whether to give in, when they realize they are fighting a futile battle. It is their decision whether they want to give in violently or sensibly and save our country.”-From the book “Part of My Soul Went with Him”-1984

Sun Tzu on armed struggle:
http://www.sonshi.com/sun7.html

Is this Jena 6 retribution or thuggery?

http://www.wavy.com/global/story.asp?s=7117439

UPDATE - Police identify three suspects in taped beating

Sep 24, 2007 05:23 PM

Norfolk Police say they've identified three of the people seen beating a 13-year-old in a videotape shown to WAVY.com by the victim's mother.

According to a spokesperson, Investigators from the Gang Squad have identified 3 of the suspects, and are in the process of identifying the other individuals involved.

They say charges will be filed against all of those involved. They also say that the victim, Damien O'Rourke, knew at least one of the assailants. Police said investigators are also trying to determine what circumstances occurred leading up to the assault.

They also said that, contrary to some statements, the assault does not appear to be racially motivated according to information gathered by investigators that we are unable to release.

Leave Comments....

Uhuru Sasa

Watchin'

Puttin' black shades on my eyez
to hide the redness
from a session
between me and 2 of my guy's...

Yet i'm watchin'

As a people rebel against an internalized sickness.
I place blame on The Mack and Superfly with the quickness!

They showed us how to ditch the struggle cause pimpin is bigga-
And gave us license to call ourselves bitches and niggas

Yet the root of such words go deeper-
just ask the executive producers!

Puttin' black shades on my eyez
to hide the redness-
from a session-
between me and 2 of my guy's

And i'm watchin' as a people vote for-
a candidate-
with fake-
ties to her husband, you political whores!
Don't y'all know she's just gon continue to carry on this war!!

And she ain't even got a platform 4 U
"Political Chumps" is what Malcolm called you!

Puttin' black shades on my eyez
to hide the redness-
from a session-
between me and 2 of my guy's

Yet i'm watchin'
as my people play with liberation.
Ain't no establishin' a paradise inside of this nation!

Take a vacation-
with me!
I'm headed to the east-
3 words: family, folklores and feasts!

A one way ticket on my next trip-
And no thanks to dual citizenship
I'M FREE!!

So i'm watchin'

watchin' as we-
who have yet recovered from colonialism
and slavery-

Make attempts at being powerful 1nce again-
And put some racial affinity and luhv 4 kin-
Inside the most powerful word second to GOD-

African!!

So Im Watchin'...

Uhuru Sasa