We Must Change Our Thinking About Our Women

Prolific writer and attorney Khadija has posted a most enlightening article as a guest writer at Black Women Blow The Trumpet entitled Why Black American Muslim Women Follow Muslim Ike Turners hosted by Rev. Lisa Vasquez. Her post brought eye opening information concerning the maltreatment of Black American Muslim women. Khadija assesses that “the core problem is Black women’s idolatry. Instead of worshipping God alone, some Black women are worshipping God + the Black man they want to be/stay with + Male Clergy/Religious scholars…” I agree with her assessment, I can feel it when I am watching T.D. Jakes doing his pork chop strut across the pulpit/stage entertaining his mostly female Christian congregation/audience. Or Rod Parsley showcasing his watered down imitation of a Black country minister extolling the virtues of prosperity to his mostly lower middle class to poor Black and white female congregation/audience. Khadija mentions a case of a Muslim wife killing her husband just as a case of murder that was uncovered in the Christian world on July 30th this year. Anthony Hopkins, so called Evangelist, is accused of murdering his wife, cutting her up and storing her body in a freezer in the house for the last four years! Obviously, this male (obviously he is not a Man in the image of The Most High) has serious mental issues. Could his religion have influenced his thinking however warped it may be?

Khadija’s post hit a chord in my mind, something I see as the base for the problem of a male centered and dominated form of worship. Not only am I talking about Islam, but Christianity and Judaism and any other male God centered religion. We can safely say the male God image came into prominence approximately 8,000 to 10,000 years ago,when Sun worship began to be the major influence on humankind. Eventually the worship of the feminine was supplanted by the Hebrew Levites naming Yahweh (YHWH) as the God of Creation. Dr. Yosef Ben Jochonan teaches us that religion is culture deified, and can be witnessed in the cultural life of the people of the so called Middle East, where women of the times were in fact treated as chattel property, and not too differently today. Thus, we have adopted such backwards beliefs as the “male carries the seed” when we speak of reproduction, the male is the “head of the household”, leaving women to defend themselves by saying they are the neck turning or "manipulating" the head. The symbolism of this alone gives us the image of the male on top and the female on the bottom with the female as manipulator. All these symbols and images play a damaging role in the individual psychology and make up of the society. It also speaks against nature. The human brain does not function on an upper and lower hierarchy, but functions within the ebb and flow of left brain-right brain. Day does not seek to struggle against night, nor does the sand stand against the tide but, all work in a systematic flow with their natural function. So, men and women should function within our true and natural state. As long as we, men and women continue to call upon Him and exalt Him alone, the road to abolishing the idolizing of the Black man that she wants to be/stay with will be a long and rocky road.

Still misleading the people

Attorney & Talk show host Warren Ballentine

Talk radio programs have become a part of the American fabric here in the U.S.  Black talk radio listenership is increasing by leaps and bounds due in part to the increase of Black talk radio show hosts.  Yet, we have to be aware of what we are listening to and who is guiding your thoughts. Thats right, these talk radio programs help to guide and influence how you think.   But, you and only you are responsible for your personal education, your personal uplift.  I am not advocating that radio talk program hosts should not be responsible for the content they are putting over the airwaves I'm simply saying you should discern what it truth and what is an untruth.  An untruth is defind by Meriam-Webster as 1archaic : disloyalty 2: lack of truthfulness : falsity or : something that is untrue : falsehood, such as this Attorney Ballentine has just committed on his show today, not more than 5 minutes ago. 

Ballentine, was speaking on history repeating itself and he gave an example of the war in Iraq being similar to the quagmire in Viet Nam during the 1960's and 1970's, which we can draw similarities to each conflict, neither were or are wars declared by the Congress of the United States.  But, what I object to is, using his talk radio program to mis-educate rather than educate.  During this segment about history repeating itself he says that "they IMPEACHED  Nixon, and they tried to impeach Clinton", referring to the 1974 charges filed against former president Richard M. Nixon.  But wait, was Nixon impeached?  Warren Ballentine is an attorney.  Warren Ballentine is a talk radio program host.  As an attorney he should know that Law.com defines impeach, impeached, impeachment as n. the charges brought (filed) to impeach a public official. In regard to the President, Vice President and federal judges, the articles are prepared and voted upon by the House of Representatives, and if it votes to charge the official with a crime, the trial is held by the Senate. 

History shows in fact former President Nixon resigned in 1974 to avoid impeachment, to avoid the trial.  And, in fact former President Clinton was impeached in 1999 by the U.S. Senate and he prevailed, won his case.  Ballentine, as a talk radio host and attorney should know the difference in the cases of Nixon and Clinton.   I'm inclined to believe as an attorney he does know exactly what he is talking about, but has become the one that misleads rather than leads his listeners into the light.  I am concerned about what appears to be a little "somthing", because it appears to be a symptom of a larger issue.  We have people with the power of the microphone that misuse and abuse the lack of knowledge of the people.

Update on Saturday, August 9, 2008 at 01:02PM by [Victor Amenta]

I have been tough on Mr. Ballentine, however I like to give credit when credit is due.  On an progarm this past week Warren Ballentine spoke ultimate truth concerning the saber rattling against Iran.  He said on the air without hesitation, that the United States, under Bush's watch, is breathing threats against Iran because they are opening their oil reserves to be purchased accepting only the Euro.  This is a direct threat against the U.S. petrodollar or basically your federal reserve notes in your pocket.  I commend Mr. Ballentine for having the courage to openly speak this truth.  Truth Fighers?  I don't know about that name, but you surely spoke it that day.  Big Up Warren Ballentne and the Truth Fighters on this one!!!

Nomzamo Winifred Zanyiwe Madikizela-Mandela

I can hear the words of power coming from her mouth right now, "amandla amandla!"  Born 26 Sept 1936 and given the Xhosa name Nomzamo meaning "Trial" which almost seeems as a prophecy more than just a name.  She met Nelson Mandela in 1957, they married in 1958 and fought the great fight against apartheid in South Africa, she coming out as a leader in the African National Congress (ANC) during her husband's 27 year incarceration on Robben Island and her own exile to the Orange Free State.  Her trials continued in 1991 through accusations of kidnapping and assault for which she was convicted and given a suspended 6 year sentence and fined.  She was tried  and convicted in April 2003 for 43 counts of fraud and 25 counts of theft which were overturned in 2004, the judge sited that "crimes were not committed for personal gain."  In 2007 the Canadian High Commission in South Africa denied her a visa to visit Toronto, Canada to attend a world premiere of the opera The Passion of Winnie based on her life and trials.  On July 5th, 2008 she lost a bid to become president of the African National Congress Women's League (ANCWL).

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela is indeed an woman of power!  We should continue to speak her name and speak of her as one of our heroes.  Unfortunately, all to often politicians, like Jessie Jackson Jr (repudiating his father recently), Sen. Barack Obama (repudiating Rev Jeremiah Wright) and Nelson Mandela will bend and compromise much to meet their political goals.  Nelson Mandela divorced his wife/queen that stood by him during his nearly 3 decade stay in prison and as soon as politically expediant he dumped her.  Fortunately she still fights for the people standing against the anti immigrant riots taking place in South Africa today,  going so far as to offer her home to people that were victims of the immigrant riots in South Africa, while fleeing from the genocide in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

DJ Kool Herc, Gil Scott-Heron in Honor of Caribbean American Heritage Month & Honoring June as Black Music Month!

Clive Campbell AKA DJ Kool Herc

Known as the father of Hip Hop, Clive Campbell brought the world what we know today as rap,  a spirit of Jamaican music within Hip Hop.   Born April 16, 1955,  he says it all began when his father brought home a PA system and didn't know how to hook it up.  His sister later asked him to do a party for her, he ran out and got 20 records and put the party on.   Clive Campbell was born in Trench Town Jamaica later moving to Franklyn Town before moving to the Bronx, NY.   Growing up in Jamaica his musical influences were Prince Buster, Big Youth, The Skatalites, Don Drummond, Sir Coxone Dodd, and his father.  Jamaica was not devoid of American music and James Brown was one of his favorite artiste "thats who inspired me." 

Unfortunately, we have not given enough credit to the founders, the foundation of most of our music.  Clive Campbell deservers to be recognized as for me he blended my favorite sounds into one and gave the world Hip Hop.  I won't give my view on the state of Hip Hop as it stands today, but I will let you know there is excellent Hip Hop out and we should support the best.  Much of the best Hip Hop is an expanded form of poetry,  spoken word.   Black people are the first speakers on the planet and as such we have mastered the delivery.  Gil Scott-Heron is one of the masters of poetry

Giles "Gil" Scott-Heron

Born April 1, 1949, in Chicago, IL.  He lived his early life with his grand mother in Jackson, TN right ouside of the Home of the Blues, Memphis.  His father, Giles "Gil" Heron, was known as the "Black Arrow" a professional futbal (soccer) player from Jamaica.  His mother Bobbie Scott-Heron lived in the Bronx and sang in the New York Oratorial Society were he came to live upon the passing of his grand mother.  In 1974 he released "The Revolution will not be Televised" which became not only a hit recording but, a mantra that lives on until this day and can be heard on many Hip Hop recordings.  Gil Scott-Heron has written three books of poetry and has over 20 recordings including my favorite The Military and the Monetary, get together whenever they feel its necessary, they turn our brothers and sisters into mercenaries....

Black music influences the world today in all its many forms, and our Caribbean fam is a root that's just as influential  in Black American music as Black American music is in Caribbean music.    Black music is an expression of our culture to the world. 

Sources:

The Davey D Interview 1989

The Jamaica Observer

Wikipedia online

Will the real Barack Obama please stand up?

                                                                    Georgia State Senator Regina Thomas

Obamafication, coined by my man Terrance over at RawDawgBuffalo, means “being so enthralled with Barack Obama that you lose focus…” Great definition yet, this isn’t a new phenomenon, actually it falls under the current marketing and branding strategies of the Rap industry. This is the marketing/ branding tactic that’s catapulted Lil Wayne into selling over 900,000 records/CD’s. And this character is ridiculously horrible live in concert (not that I paid for such, but I caught a bit of his live yelling skills not rap skills, on the idiot’s box) and his lyrics are most often incoherent, but he has sold almost 1,000,000 units. These sales numbers have been equated with great rap skills, when if fact its great marketing/branding skills.

Sen. Obama has shown his true essence since Sen. Clinton “suspended” her run for president. When he finally submitted to speaking to a majority Black audience, he used that time to point out “deadbeat dads” in the Black community rather than speak pointedly about work that can be done to uplift Black humanity. Next, he decided what he said was the right thing to do by accepting public funding for his campaign in March 2007, was in fact the wrong thing to do by June 2008 and turned down public funding. Now, he’s really exposed his politician’s underbelly, that his marketing group worked hard to diminish during the primaries, you know the “Change you can believe in” hype creating the Obamafication spell most Neegrows have fallen under.

Well, Sen. Obama has endorsed incumbent conservative Democrat John Barrow of Georgia’s 12th congressional district over his opponent, State Senator Regina Thomas. John Barrow, believed his greatest struggle for re-election would come from the Republicans of the district, but in fact it has come from his own party. Barrow who is white, is facing the same struggle Sen. Clinton faced during the primaries with Sen. Obama in that State Sen. Thomas who is Black, has proved to be very progressive based on her voting record in the  Georgia state legislature concerning healthcare, education, housing and employment. In contrast U.S. Congressman Barrow has basically rubber stamped the policies of the Bush administration. Barrow feels the pressure of State Sen. Thomas since 45% of the 12th congressional district is reported to be Black denizens versus 50% white. Barrow has actually been calling Black voters begging for their vote.

Check out the new Obama Seal notice "Change" is gone!

So what does presidential candidate Barack Obama do? He not only endorses a man that is an outright Bush dog, but he goes so far as to do a radio ad for Barrow’s campaign. Obamafication only works on those that choose to be blinded. He is slapping the Black electorate in the face almost on a weekly basis, yet like zombies, they continue to make excuses for a man that will turn his back on the progressive State Sen. Regina Thomas of Georgia, a woman about change, for the same old Washington baloney his mouth confesses he has come to change. Like my Jamaican queen says “mouth mek fe say anything”!!