I finally tasted some of the Obama syrup!

Imamu Amiri Baraka-Activist poet

I have finally got a hit off the Obama sizurp!  I was listening to the Right Side with Shelley Wynter on 1380 WAOK here in the ATL.  Activist poet Amiri Baraka was a call in guest on the program yesterday.  Now, let me say I haven't been "hyped" by the Obamamania as many are  But, brotha Baraka opened my eyes to something.   Mr. Baraka pointed out that this is an opportunity for Black people to put this Black man into the highest office in the land TO PUT PRESSURE on him, the kind of pressure we need to accomplish what we as a people need and want from a president.  Like a shot of light ,it hit me, he is absolutely correct.  The turn out by Black people to vote for Sen. Obama and the grassroots money that Black people have poured into his campaign is actually leverage.  Leverage that can be used to lobby change should he make it into office.  Never before have Black people been involved to this extent and we need to view this as the true muscle when we bring issues to the table. 

Well I had a hit from my man Amiri Baraka, gave me a little buzz but, I ain't blazed yet, cause this wasn't the straight hit from Obama himself.  I'm still waiting on that one!

El Hajj Malik El Shabazz-May 19, 1925-February 21, 1965

El Hajj Malik El Shabazz

Today represents the 43rd anniversary of the assisination of our brother El Hajj Malik El Shabazz, commonly known as Malcolm X.  I wanted to take the time to acknowledge the passing of the physical of this great man.  It seems to me he was sent to let us know what we can become in this life once we recognize and work towards our destiny.

How Black Celebrities and Educators sometimes mis-educate

Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. with Chris rock

Last night I was doing my usual channel surfing when I happened upon PBS and African American Lives 2. This is the program that began in 2006 with Whoopi Goldberg, Dr. Mae Jemison, Quincy Jones, and T.D. Jakes. The point at which I turned to the program Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates was sitting with Chris Rock discussing how much African DNA Chris Rock may actually have. Professor Gates asked Chris Rock something about why he thought Black people had European ancestry. Chris Rock’s response was “…my skin color…I’m not blue black.” Chris Rock believes he has European ancestry because he isn’t blue black. I was at first taken aback. But, wait, there’s more. Later, during the same conversation Dr. Gates mentions to Rock that it’s possible to trace his, Chris Rock’s, DNA to specific people in Africa. Just as they did in African American lives with Oprah, Chris Tucker, Ben Carson and others, he explained this could be done for Chris Rock. What came next blew my socks off. Chris Rock said he would love to be able to “email a hut.” EMAIL A HUT!!!! WTH???? I couldn’t believe my ears. Is this 2008? Black Americans still believe this kind of thing? To have someone of Chris Rock’s celebrity say something like this was incredible to me. For Dr. Gates to leave this in, not to delete it and let it air, is to perpetuate a stereotype that Dr. Gates knows is false. Dr. Gates spent a year volunteering at a mission hospital in Tanzania during his undergraduate studies, and he has traveled extensively throughout the continent of Africa, and he let this air. What a shame. Chris Rock , since Dr. Gates didn’t tell you, I will. We are not of various skin hues because we have European ancestry, Black people create every color on the Earth. To have European ancestry, Dr. Gates and Mr. Rock doesn’t necessarily mean caucasian/white. Black people are the original inhabitants of Europe and the rest of the world. Dr. Gates, Chris Rock please read Rasta Livewire.   We should not continue to believe what is not true, even if a Harvard professor allows you to.  We should ask questions of any and everyone no matter their station in life.  As George Clinton says "Think it ain't illegal yet."

Snipes Beats the I.R.S.?

On February 1st,Wesley Snipes walked out of a Florida courtroom aquitted of two felony fraud and conspiracy charges.  He was however, convicted on three misdemeanor counts of failing to file a tax return. Sipes didn't file taxes from 2002-2004 since he was warned by the IRS that any tax returns filed at that time would be evidence used against him therefore he kept silent.  The IRS set things in motion to bring the trial and resolve it during tax season hoping to make a example of Mr. Snipes to ensure compliance of other tax payers, a kind of "kill the chicken to scare the monkey"tactic that backfired.  Is this a win for the "tax denier movement?"   Will there be greater calls for the "fair tax?"  Are payroll income taxes unconstitutional?  What say you?

More My-Story notes

Fari (Phaorah) Taharqa was King of Kemet (Egypt) from 690 BCE to 664 BCE.  Taharqa is the same "Tirhakah King of Ethiopia" in the bible (Isaiah 37:9 and 2 Kings19:9) that drove off the Assyrians from Israel, at the time a state in Northern Africa, defeating King Sennacharib, and according to Henry T. Aubin "shaped the Western world."  In 690 BCE Fari Taharqa is quoted as saying upon his crowning "I have received the Crown in Memphis after the Falcon flew to heaven." 

Info can be found online Wikipedia.

The ressurection of Henry "box" Brown at Philadelphia by Samuel Rowse-1850

Henry "box" Brown was born in Louisa County, VA around 1815, enslaved. In 1848 his wife and children were sold to a slaver in North Carolina.  Henry was powerless to do anything about it.  In 1848 in pain, he devised a plan to escape to freedom.  With the help of a freed man James C.A. Smith, and a white store Samuel Smith, owner Henry decided to mail himself as a box of dry goods to a free state.   Brown paid $86 of the $166 he had saved (slaves did get paid) to be shipped to Philadelphia, PA.  On March 23, 1849 Brown began the trip, arriving at the home of abolitionist James Miller Kim 26 hours later a free man.