Dr. Billy Taylor - the old lion passes on

“He was a warm and wonderful cat.”

Dear friends,

A few days ago, one of North America’s premier ambassadors of the music idiom called “Jazz” passed on to another form of existence. His name is Billy Taylor. He was a man who I knew personally and held in the highest regard.

The last time we talked was about three summers ago. He knew about this blog and was supportive of what I was sharing with folks. He also liked the fact that our mutual friend, Archie Shepp – another legend – had contributed to these pages.

It’s funny that I’d just had some thoughts about him a couple of weeks ago. Now this. Still, his intense seriousness about his craft, along with his ever present huge smile will always stay in my mind. He was a warm and wonderful cat. Long live Dr. Billy Taylor!

One Love,
G. Djata Bumpus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXJI9O2D7c4&NR=1
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Proper Grubbin' and Greezin' for the Holidays

"To be sure, this time of the year seems to bring out both the best and worst memories – and subsequent feelings. It also exposes both the best and worst in people. Therefore, people are, perhaps, “alive” the most during this period (which is certainly better than the alternative)."
Dear friends,

With Christmas, Kwanzaa, and New Year’s Day consuming so much of our time over the next two weeks, I thought it would be great to share an informative, but light, piece with you.

To be sure, this time of the year seems to bring out both the best and worst memories – and subsequent feelings. It also exposes both the best and worst in people. Therefore, people are, perhaps, “alive” the most during this period (which is certainly better than the alternative).

In any case, while food and drink can be healthy panaceas, the piece on the link below that was written by someone who I hold in deep regard, Kimberly Garrison, the fitness columnist for the Philadelphia Daily News (www.philadelphiadailynews.com) brings into mind that we need not disconnect ourselves from reality to have a good time. By the way, Every Thursday, Kim appears in the “Yo! Features” section of the newspaper. Her articles are not your typical run-of-the-mill “Eat your Wheaties” admonitions. Rather, they are always imaginative, super-informative, socially-conscious and well written. Still, as the Honorable Elijah Muhammad would say on these occasions, “Eat ‘til your face falls in the plate!”

Enjoy!

G. Djata Bumpus
http://www.philly.com/dailynews/features/20101118_Kimberly_Garrison__Eat__drink_and_be_merry_-_without_packing_on_pounds.html?viewAll=y
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Urgent!!! Thousands of Georgia Prisoners - of ALL colors - on strile together

"The real beauty of this whole affair is: regardless of either skin color or culture, these brothers are sticking together. Historically, prison revolts of any kind have been “racially” divided. "

Dear friends,

Flipping through some tv channels last night, I stopped at a DemocracyNow.org broadcast as a song by one of my old Panther comrades, Elaine Brown, played. The host then introduced Elaine and interviewed her about an extremely important story that is developing in the state of Georgia right now. Not surprisingly, the drama is completely missing from the mainstream media.
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/12/14/prisoner_advocate_elaine_brown_on_georgia

It involves thousands of male prisoners who have joined together in a peaceful way to bring about change in their current living conditions. The real beauty of this whole affair is: regardless of either skin color or culture, these brothers are sticking together. Historically, prison revolts of any kind have been “racially” divided.

The only thing missing from this equation is: communities must develop programs to bring these brothers back to their/our communities for the good of all.

For example, churches, fraternities, sororities, even well-established gangs like the Crips and the Bloods, as well as other such community institutions can sponsor “Free Buses To Prisons Programs” where children are transported to prisons for the explicit purpose of having reading lessons with their incarcerated parents or neighbors.

At any rate, on the link below, you will find a list of their present demands.

Cheers!

G. Djata Bumpus
http://newsone.com/nation/newsonestaff2/historic-georgia-prison-strike-ignored-by-media-prisoners-guards/
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How Wikileaks does it - 30 minutes-long video

Please click on the link below
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCmjmDXp7TI
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Is WikiLeaks controversy a Red Herring?

"the information that is being shared by WikiLeaks tells us very little about the methods used by those in power to retain their positions..."

Dear friends,

At least to me, all of the WikiLeaks drama merely shows that US Imperialism is still a paper tiger. Worse yet, it’s on its way out as a dominating force in global politics.

The tattle-tale approach of WikiLeaks fits in well with the personality contests that are euphemistically called “elections” in this country. However, as always, the information that is being shared by WikiLeaks tells us very little about the methods used by those in power to retain their positions, much less the actions in which the aforementioned rulers partake in order to keep control, while enriching their corporate sponsors. Some democracy, eh?

Still, I believe that comments in recent months by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are far more revealing than anything that has been made available by WikiLeaks. http://www.mediaite.com/online/mahmoud-ahmadinejad-tells-u-n-general-assembly-911-was-an-inside-job/

Unfortunately, while Brother Mahmoud preaches to the choir with progressive “I got ya”s, he, of course, keeps his mouth shut, regarding the inconsistencies of freedom, dignity, and justice in his own land…to that extent, he is no different than ruling class secretaries like Obama and BiBi.

One Love,
G. Djata Bumpus
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Dr. Barbara Teer Spirit Awards in NYC - Dec. 17, 2010

Awardees:
Rudy Dee
Dr. Barbara Ann Teer Pioneer Award
Woodie King Jr
Adetunde Samuel Artistic Excellence Award
Avery Brooks
Dr. Barbara Ann Teer Spirit Award
Geoffrey Canada
Fredrica L. Teer Institution Building AwardT - he Brotherhood/SisterSol Fredrica L. Teer Institution Building Award


Teer Spirit Awards
DECEMBER 17TH, 6:00 PM:
Reception & Silent Auction in Lobby 7:00 PM:

7:15 PM: Dinner & Awards Ceremony at the
National Black Theater's Institute of Action Arts
2031-33 National Black Theatre Way
(5th Ave between 125 and 126 St), NY NY 10035


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Entertainment by Ebony Jo-Ann, Blue Magic & Wade Elliot along with the National Black Theatre House Band led by Bert Price.Tickets: $65.00click above or call (212) 868- 4444 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Contact Information phone: 212-722-3800 NATIONALBLACKTHEATRE.ORG This program is funded in part by: Council Member Inez E. Dickens, 9th C.D., Speaker Christine Quinn and the New York City Council, City of New York Department of Cultural Affairs, New York


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In case you missed it - Jill Scott is HOT!!!

Dear friends,

We seldom hear about today’s African American artists doing much for their communities. On the link below, award-winning Philadelphia journalist Jenice Armstrong recently interviewed Jill Scott peior to a fundraiser this past weekend. Please check it out! The beat goes on.

One Love,
G. Djata Bumpus

http://www.philly.com/dailynews/features/20101130_Jenice_Armstrong__Jill_Scott_s_giving_back.html

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Haitians' Cholera Epidemic emphasizes the need for them to Contol their own Economic Development

“In light of the deadly cholera epidemic in Haiti. while huge amounts of cash and other resources are currently, and rightfully so, being directed towards Haiti…”
Dear friends,

In light of the deadly cholera epidemic in Haiti. while huge amounts of cash and other resources are currently, and rightfully so, being directed towards Haiti, it seems that an equal amount of attention and concern should be geared towards the Haitian people themselves in efforts to help them take the reins in rebuilding their nation.

People need food, for example. Now is a time to set up small cooperative food outlets that acquire their provisions from farms that are owned and operated by families. That would require some of the money that has been donated being used to develop more arable soil.

Forest gardening , for example, could be used to establish new eco-systems on the island where both fauna and flora can proliferate.

The land should be collectively-owned with a governmental body only having the role of coordinating and networking, as opposed to controlling and regulating resources in areas such as food production and home building.

Private corporations outside of the body of people who are doing the farming and building should be prohibited. This will be the start of two forms of new industry on the island.

Next, having been trained by licensed master carpenters from developed countries, Haitian workers will learn how to build earthquake-resistant buildings like those found in California. Additionally, homes and small factories could be built for producing clothes, tools, electrical goods, and so forth.

But traditional industries are not enough. There will be a need for both school teachers and college professors alike, medical professionals, and in order to maintain a civil society, there will need to be many people trained in the area of law and its enforcement.

All of the here-to-mentioned will require that the Haitian people are encouraged to recognize their inner powers like both physical and mental energy, discipline, persistence, concentration, and memory, for instance.

As well, Haitian citizens must reject becoming a possession-oriented society like ours, and, instead, start embracing value judgments that will allow them to develop genuine communities.

This process should begin on a small scale. Of course, there are already any number of Haitians there and abroad who can get this started. Now, the main problem will be to keep lecherous and rapacious North American companies from undermining genuine economic development in Haiti.

One Love,
G. Djata Bumpus
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Kucinich Files Impeachment Papers against Bush (originally posted 6/21/08)

Date: Tuesday, June 17, 2008, 6:08 AM

Summary of Rep. Kucinich Files 35 Articles of Impeachment Against President Bush

Rep. Kucinich Files 35 Articles of Impeachment Against President Bush
http://kucinich.house.gov/

On Tuesday, June 10, Rep. Robert Wexler (D-Fla.) added his name as a co-sponsor of Kucinich's Articles of Impeachment.On Wednesday, June 11, Congress voted 251-166 to send the articles of impeachment (H Res 1258) introduced by Rep. Dennis Kucinich to the House Judiciary Committee to be acted upon there. 24 Republicans voted Yes along with all the Democrats. Following is a summary of the allegations against President Bush that are included in Kucinich's Articles of Impeachment:

Article I: Creating a Secret Propaganda Campaign to Manufacture a False Case for War Against Iraq

Article II: Falsely, Systematically, and with Criminal Intent Conflating the Attacks of September 11, 2001, With Misrepresentation of Iraq as a Security Threat as Part of Fraudulent Justification for a War of Aggression

Article III: Misleading the American People and Members of Congress to Believe Iraq Possessed Weapons of Mass Destruction, to Manufacture a False Case for War

Article IV: Misleading the American People and Members of Congress to Believe Iraq Posed an Imminent Threat to the United States

Article V: Illegally Misspending Funds to Secretly Begin a War of Aggression

Article VI: Invading Iraq in Violation of the Requirements of HJRes114

Article VII: Invading Iraq Absent a Declaration of War.

Article VIII: Invading Iraq , A Sovereign Nation, in Violation of the UN Charter

Article IX: Failing to Provide Troops With Body Armor and Vehicle Armor

Article X: Falsifying Accounts of US Troop Deaths and Injuries for Political Purposes

Article XI: Establishment of Permanent U.S. Military Bases in Iraq

Article XII: Initiating a War Against Iraq for Control of That Nation's Natural Resources

Article XIIII: Creating a Secret Task Force to Develop Energy and Military Policies With Respect to Iraq and Other Countries

Article XIV: Misprision of a Felony, Misuse and Exposure of Classified Information And Obstruction of Justice in the Matter of Valerie Plame Wilson, Clandestine Agent of the Central Intelligence Agency

Article XV: Providing Immunity from Prosecution for Criminal Contractors in Iraq

Article XVI: Reckless Misspending and Waste of U.S. Tax Dollars in Connection With Iraq and US Contractors

Article XVII: Illegal Detention: Detaining Indefinitely And Without Charge Persons Both U.S. Citizens and Foreign Captives

Article XVIII: Torture: Secretly Authorizing, and Encouraging the Use of Torture Against Captives in Afghanistan , Iraq , and Other Places, as a Matter of Official Policy

Article XIX: Rendition: Kidnapping People and Taking Them Against Their Will to "Black Sites" Located in Other Nations, Including Nations Known to Practice Torture

Article XX: Imprisoning Children

Article XXI: Misleading Congress and the American People About Threats from Iran , and Supporting Terrorist Organizations Within Iran , With the Goal of Overthrowing the Iranian Government

Article XXII: Creating Secret Laws

Article XXIII: Violation of the Posse Comitatus Act

Article XXIV: Spying on American Citizens, Without a Court-Ordered Warrant, in Violation of the Law and the Fourth Amendment

Article XXV: Directing Telecommunications Companies to Create an Illegal and Unconstitutional Database of the Private Telephone Numbers and Emails of American Citizens

Article XXVI: Announcing the Intent to Violate Laws with Signing Statements

Article XXVII: Failing to Comply with Congressional Subpoenas and Instructing Former Employees Not to Comply

Article XXVIII: Tampering with Free and Fair Elections, Corruption of the Administration of Justice

Article XXIX: Conspiracy to Violate the Voting Rights Act of 1965

Article XXX: Misleading Congress and the American People in an Attempt to Destroy Medicare

Article XXXI: Katrina: Failure to Plan for the Predicted Disaster of Hurricane Katrina, Failure to Respond to a Civil Emergency

Article XXXII: Misleading Congress and the American People, Systematically Undermining Efforts to Address Global Climate Change

Article XXXIII: Repeatedly Ignored and Failed to Respond to High Level Intelligence Warnings of Planned Terrorist Attacks in the US , Prior to 911

Article XXXIV: Obstruction of the Investigation into the Attacks of September 11, 2001

Article XXXV: Endangering the Health of 911 First Responders

We need to pressure Judiciary Chairman John Conyers into starting impeachment hearings. Honorable John Conyers, Jr (202) 225-5126

PLEASE CALL THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE MEMBERS NOW!
link to the contact information for committee members:
http://judiciary.house.gov/fullcommittee.aspx202-225-3951
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An Evening With Avery Brooks - "HERE" CD Release Concert

Friday November 19th, 2010 @ 8PMat

National Black Theater Co.
2031-33 Fifth Avenue,
NY NY 10035

Featuring:

Avery Brooks - Vocals and Piano
Khalil Kwame Bell - Percussion
Craig Harris - Trombone
Pete Drungle - Keyboards
Andy Milne - Piano & Keyboards
Marlene Rice - ViolinJay Rodriguez - Bass/Clarinet/Alto Sax & Flute
Melissa Slocum - Acoustic Bass
Nioka Workman - Cello


Table seating is $50.00 General seating is $35.00

Tickets through Smarttix.com call (212) 868- 4444. For group rates call (212) 722- 3800
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Contact Information phone: 212-722-3800
NATIONALBLACKTHEATRE.ORG
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Israel disrespects the Obama administration again

“Israel sees no connection at all between the peace process and building plans in Jerusalem.” statement from Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office
Dear friends,

With President Obama just finishing up his trip around Asia, it’s important to take notice of the state of Israel’s most recent assault on the Palestinian people,, suspiciously timed to coincide with Obama’s spree, as it (Israel) has announced that it will further ignore calls for peace in the region, by building even more settlements.

This all comes just six months after Obama’s then White House chief-of-staff, Rahm Emanuel, traveled to Israel, a land that his father helped to form, in order to witness the massacre of 9 international peacekeepers who were trying to bring food and medicine to Palestinian families. Perhaps, Emanuel’s presence was meant to insure that there would be “minimal collateral damage”. Who knows?

In any case, at least to me, better than either “peace" itself or "talks" to bring it into being, nations like Israel, the US, Iran, and Syria should begin setting up programs for Palestinians, so that these worthy people can develop their own means of sustenance through the latter learning to implement procedures such as forest gardening, so Palestinians can create eco-systems to replace the desolate areas that they are left in due to Jewish settlers; additionally, they need to learn about renewable energy too, for instance.

This will, invariably, lead to the people of Palestine developing their own industries. After all, as the great economics theorist Professor Lloyd Hogan taught us in his landmark book called “The Principles of Black Political Economy”, food, the elixir of life, as it were, is also “wealth in the abstract”. Moreover, whoever controls the food supply of any group of people controls the destiny of that body as well.

On the link below, is a recent New York Times article about Israel’s latest bullying measure against the Palestinian people and all other decent folks in the world.

Cheers!

G. Djata Bumpus
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/14/world/middleeast/14mideast.html?_r=1&ref=middleeast
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Has the recent ruling by a California judge made US armed forces "gay"?

Meanwhile, readers, listeners, and viewers of mainstream media gobbledygook are swayed from the larger issue of why our young people, since the end of the Civil War, and except for World War 2, have been hoodwinked into fighting to enrich profiteers and racketeers like Boeing, Polaroid, Halliburton, and so many other corporations via US armed forces and the latter’s wars of expansion (imperialism).

Dear friends,
Is it exciting that people who call themselves homosexuals can now freely join forces with others in order to protect the interests of profiteering and racketeering US multinational corporations through exercises that are, euphemistically, called wars? Additionally, if so, then are those who claim to be homosexual finally legitimate citizens, under that moniker?

At least to me, that’s very confusing, because on the one hand, they’ve estranged themselves from the rest of society, with many of them currently insisting that homosexuals are an actual “race”, while, on the other hand, these “gays”, both male and female, are seeking to be included in the process of our way of life unquestioned. Again, it’s very confusing.

In any case, will there still be a need for “Gay Pride” parades? Perhaps, instead, some gay men will lose their pink dresses and purple wigs and ride on top of tanks, along with their war buddies, in full camouflage gear, and celebrate victory along a road in some far away place, right after blowing up a hospital or day care center, as US armed forces have done so many times, previously, in places like Vietnam, Grenada, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

And what problems has the whole homosexual issue brought to the Pentagon? Obviously, the headache of trying to figure out what could possibly drive people of the same gender to mimick the lifestyles of ordinary males and females, much less want to be soldiers, must have left generals and admirals in a daze.

The so-called Gay Rights Movement is hardly a progressive one (i.e., movement). That’s why so many African Americans become nauseated when so-called “gays” compare their alleged plight to our ongoing dilemma and fight against White Supremacy.

Moreover, unlike the historical series of freedom movements that African Americans have initiated that have created better circumstances, not only for ourselves, but groups other than us as well, from the anti-slavery and early women’s rights initiatives, to the Back-to-Africa Movement led by the great Marcus Garvey that was followed by nationalist movements such as the Nation of Islam and the Republic of New Africa, all the way up to the modern-day Civil Rights Movement and the Black Consciousness Movement which grew out of all of the physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual energies of its predecessors, the so-called Gay Rights Movement selfishly seeks legitimacy, even though their claim of whiteness already gives them advantage over those who are not considered “white”. So, they want a dual citizenship, in other words. This is particularly so, because their leaders always look the same.

To that extent, the Gay Rights Movement is racist and reactionary!

Oh! Yes. There have been African Americans like the late and great Audre Lorde and James Baldwin who related, sexually, to others of their same gender. However, neither of these giants ever claimed that s/he was progressive because s/he was a homosexual. Rather, their intellects and actions which, by the way, still inspire others to join in the struggle for human freedom, was their cause.

Nevertheless, apart from a few horny guys who want access to a lot of men, male homosexuals are not socialized through this market construct called “gay culture” in a way that would cause them to have an interest in being soldiers. Yet, lower middle class young men, as well as women who think that they will become “tougher” by joining the armed forces are much easier to lure into that kind of life. Some of the aforementioned women may call themselves “lesbians”. But, again, homosexual males are, largely, a no-go.

And so, a California judge has done what, to be sure, perplexed generals and admirals at the Pentagon have been unable to do. But what’s next?

G. Djata Bumpus

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An Intimate Evening with Avery Brooks

National Black Theatre presents
An Intimate Evening with Avery Brooks

An Intimate Evening with Avery Brooks
A CD Release Concert
Friday, November 5, 2010
For ticket information call (212) 722-3800
Contact Information - phone: 212-722-3800
NATIONALBLACKTHEATRE.ORG

This program is funded in part by:
Council Member Inez E. Dickens, 9th C.D., Speaker Christine Quinn and the New York City Council, City of New York Department of Cultural Affairs, New York State Council on the Arts, the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone and your individual contributions.
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National Black Theatre presents The Shanequa Chronicles * Sept. 23 - Oct. 10, 2010

Dr. Barbara Ann Teer's National Black Theatre presents:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

An OBIE Award Winning Production
THE SHANEEQUA CHRONICLES

The Making of a Black Woman
written and performed by Stephanie Berry
directed by Jeffery V Thompson

September 23 - October 10, 2010
Tickets: $35.00 (Group rates available)
Tickets through Smarttix.com: please call 212-868-4444
or order online http://www.smarttix.com/show.aspx?showcode=shaD21&ss=1

Previews: Thursday, Friday September 23, & 24th @ 8PM
GALA OPENING Saturday September 25 @ 8PM
RUN: FRIDAYS, SATURDAYS @ 8PM
SATURDAY MATINEES @ 3PM
SUNDAY MATINEES @ 4PM

2031- 33 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10035
212- 722-3800
www.nationalblacktheatre.org

Stephanie Berry's OBIE Award winning solo performance, "The Shaneequa Chronicles: The Making of a Black Woman", is an intimate, hilarious, and shocking look into the heart and soul of an African-American woman growing up in urban America. Through a synthesis of music, dance and the spoken word, Berry weaves a mesmerizing spell with her coming of age story as she journeys from womb to womanhood through the late 20th Century.

"A slice of life that is African-centered, specific to Harlem, and yet connected to us all, this production uses rich language and dance to define life-shaping moments in a journey that is poetic, funny, hypnotic and exhilarating." - The New York Beacon

This program is funded in part by:
Council Member Inez E. Dickens, 9th C.D., Speaker Christine Quinn and the New York City Council, City of New York Department of Cultural Affairs, New York State Council on the Arts, the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone and your individual contributions.

Stephanie Berry appears through the courtesy of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States

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Is Mike Vick a footballer or guinea pig?

"It is ridiculous to think the NFL or any sports league is capable of solving a cultural and socioeconomic issue that the United States has struggled with for more than two centuries." - John Smallwood

Dear Friends,

If you watched the Philadelphia Eagles play the Green Bay Packers this past Sunday (9/12/10), then you saw Michael Vick prove why he deserves the utmost respect as both a thinking athlete and pro quarterback.

Still, on the link below, a longtime buddy of mine who is also one of Americas premier sports writers, John Smallwood of the Philadelphia Daily News, delivers a now somewhat prophetic piece about what happens when you just allow a person to be himself or herself. Cheers!

G. Djata Bumpus
http://www.philly.com/dailynews/top_story/20100805_John_Smallwood__Vick_s_case_should_focus_on_football__not_social_justice.html?viewAll=y
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Mosque at Ground Zero "story" is simply more Mainstream Media pornography (originally posted August 18, 2010)

“As usual, just as their counterparts in the pornography industry always do when they create new fantasies for their patrons, the government- and corporate-controlled mainstream media have created another “news” story, along with its seemingly intended consternation, in the name of ‘giving the people what they want’, when, actually, they are simply ‘giving it to the people’. ”

Dear friends,

As usual, just as their counterparts in the pornography industry always do when they create new fantasies for their patrons, the government- and corporate-controlled mainstream media have created another “news” story, along with its seemingly intended consternation, in the name of “giving the people what they want”, when, actually, they are simply “giving it to the people”.

Hence, outside of the charlatans who are adding fuel to the fire and the morons who are feeding off of the story, the
nonsense that is currently being shoved down our throats and “pushing the buttons” of the racist artificial “majority”, over the notion that building a mosque near “Ground Zero” in Manhattan is somehow disrespectful to the victims of 9/11, if not sacrilegious, at least to me, begs for two questions. They are:

1) 19 Saudis flew into this country and killed thousands of people, while injuring – exponentially so - thousands more; yet, not one hair on the head of one Saudi has ever been touched in retribution, while thousands of American soldiers (as well as civilians) have died in Iraq and Afghanistan, countries who had absolutely nothing to do with 9/11, as far as we know. Meanwhile, North American multinational corporations have set up shop in those two countries just mentioned. Is that not disrespectful, if not sacrilegious, to all Americans, generally-speaking?

2) Less than a mile from the White House is decrepit housing, unfit for non-human animals, much less human ones; is that reality not disrespectful, if not sacrilegious to all Americans, since so many super-wealthy people, especially, from the aforementioned multinationals, whose gains are protected, if not enhanced, by their servants/co-conspirators in the supposedly taxpayer-sponsored White House, are doing their dirt aka business in the vicinity?

Finally, are Muslims considered “white”? Let’s face it: in Obama’s “post-racial” American society, can the artificial “majority” group that exists only by its phony claim of being “white”, while, simultaneously, disregarding its various cultural and social histories, emerge from the cocoon of White Supremacy (euphemistically called “racism”), and begin realizing that it is their sons and daughters too who are dying constantly and endlessly, here lately, in what has come to be known as the “war on terror”? Or, was the great Freud correct, when he insisted, long ago, that humans are “weak creatures with low intelligence”?

One Love,
G. Djata Bumpus
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MANY COLORS of a W*O*M*A*N FREE Jazz Festival in Hartford, CT - Sept. 11, 2010

"History of female jazz singers? time doesn't permit me to begin to express, but let's just say they were involved every step of the way, but hardly mentioned/recalled - while their male counterparts are. Who knows that in the beginning, Lucile Armstrong played in the band with Louis, and later encouraged him to go out on his own?" - NickI Mathis

MANY COLORS of a W*O*M*A*N FREE Jazz Festival Featuring NICKi MATHIS' Afrikan Amerikan Jazz New Millennium All Stars!!!

Aetna Theater Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Arts, 600 Main St, Hartford CT 06103 860.231-0663, 860.429-6859, 860.657-8094,
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About the Presidential Address - August 31, 2010

"Last night's speech by President Obama covered all of the areas regarding the way that the war is being "managed". Yet, we were never told who now controls Iraq..."

Dear friends,

Last night's speech by President Obama covered all of the areas regarding the way that the war is being "managed". Yet, we were never told who now controls Iraq. It's certainly not the politicians there, whether interim or otherwise.

Additionally, the suggestion that politicians will run the show once the interim governemnt in Iraq is dissolved, as if elections are like foot races where the fastest person on that particular day will win, ignores, particularly, national elections where, for example, in the US, the whole outcome of any specific national political contest is determined by a stacked deck.

Additionally, other than the military/industrial complex which includes major banks, "contractors"" like Halliburton, as well as the more traditional corporations like Boeing, General Dynamics, IBM, and many more, who really benefited from the invasion of Iraq? Moreover, when wars are initiated by technologically-advanced national governments like ours, what interests do our politicians have in seeking relations with other governments that are based upon mutual respect, much less peace?

Of course all of this is occuring at the expense of life and limb for American soldiers and the many ways of suffering that their families experience. Therefore, it seems, at least to me, that once Americans learn to create genuine communities with horizontally-structured, as opposed to, as they have been throughout human history, vertically-structured cultural institutions (which automatically includes its social, political, and economic components), we will then be able to decide whether or not we should send our young to war, instead of letting federal politicians who are sponsored by the exact same aforementioned corporations that benefit from war decide for us - a practice (i.e., corporate greed) that has now been officially endorsed by the US Supreme Court.

At any rate, on the next post, you will read about "tid-bits" of what's happening in Afghanistan, as more American soldiers are being set up to be killed or maimed in order to assure profits for the national politicians' bosses. Following that is a post that features my longtime friend and colleague Cornel West - a video interview, and another dear friend of mine, Annette John-Hall of the Philadelphia Inquirer - print, as they provide two completely different, but relevant, views that many African Americans hold about El Presidente's performnce thus far. Cheers!

G. Djata Bumpus
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Should All African Americans change our surnames to Obama?

"If all African Americans take the surname Obama, in this “post-racial” society…"

Dear friends,

If all African Americans take the surname Obama, in this “post-racial” society, a lot of the people who, mean-spiritedly, call themselves "white", in order to form an artificial “majority” group, won't have to be dumpin' on the president all of the time. Instead, they'll just take things out on African American passers-by, neighbors, co-workers, customers, employers, and so forth. That is, we'll be right there for them to vent.

Moreover, the aforementioned “whites” will have the freedom to express their true feelings, without having to use the excuse that they're simply attacking a politician with whom they're dis-satisfied. Dig?

Let's face it. Never before have we seen a president of the United States attacked so viciously, so continuously, and so openly at that. Why haven't we heard any mainstream media segments about that? Perhaps, the reason lies with the role of the aforementioned mainstream media to constantly, misinform and keep the population worked up, as the real rulers of our society (corporate leaders not their lackeys, i.e., politicians) commit every crime in the book with absolute impunity. Eh?

One Love,
G. Djata Bumpus
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Immigration law "reform", "racial" self-hatred, and White Supremacy

"Any law that uplifts human personality is just. Any law that degrades human personality is unjust. All segregation statutes are unjust because segregation distorts the soul and damages the personality. It gives the segregator a false sense of superiority and the segregated a false sense of inferiority. " - Dr. King, Letter from a Birmingham Jail

Dear friends,

In light of the all of the brouhaha, rearding the issue of immigration law reform, for those of us who “lack the complexion to get the connection”, as the legendary Muhammad Ali used to say, we have a major problem with fighting against systemic racist oppression and exploitation, due to the fact that we are often our own worst enemies, because of our self-hatred. That is: from non-European American store clerks who treat us differently than they do European American customers to drive-by shootings, both our feelings and acts of self-hatred make it difficult for either African American or other non-European American men or women to form genuinely loving relationships with each other, of any kind, much less make us be able to encourage our youth to get along with each other.

In other words, we see a mirrored image of our own self-hatred, when we look at those who look like us. Hence, in the White Supremacist culture of the United States, the whole idea of “immigration” has deteriorated into an attack against non-European Americans, while disregarding the historical shenanigans that have been and still are played by Europeans who come to this country and get citizenship, up to this very day, with far less scrutiny or concern.

Nevertheless, we non-European Americans must learn to love ourselves and our fellows. Most of all, we must begin to love life itself, as opposed to conceding to our inadequacies and insecurities, allowing ourselves to be disrespectful towards , as well as distrustful of, each other,.

Now, when I use the term "love", I’m talking about it as an "act of being" as opposed to a "state of being". That means that, at least to me, love is only effective as a verb - not a noun. In other words, in this society, love as a "state of being", is a passive experience that we hear about through so many cheap songs on the radio and see on Hollyweird tv and movie productions. However, as an "act of being", love means that people are "actively" showing love towards one another – and things.

Consequently, love should be an active, not passive, practice of caring about, being concerned for, concentrating on, trying to understand, and feeling responsible towards not just our mates, but our work, and our communities. Besides, when love is passive, it doesn't last long, because it is just a "mood". To be sure, moods change, all of the time. Hence, the serial polygamy practiced by so many of those involved with the institution of marriage and other "love" relationships in our society, as people “fall” in and out of love. Still, the cultural institutions in our society lend to the self-hatred mentioned above that is practiced amongst us. Literature and images in schools, the arts, and, especially, the government- and corporate-controlled mainstream media deliberately perpetuate this indignity too.

Moreover, the idea that the violence among African American and other non-European American youth is largely the result of a lack of jobs and too much gun possession seems to be missing the point, which is: it is a lack of both social and historical conscience in the aforementioned youth that is at the bottom of our dilemma.

To be sure, that lack of conscience is no accident. The great Marcus Garvey pointed out: "This propaganda of dis-associating Western Negroes from Africa is not a new one. For many years white propagandists have been printing tons of literature to impress scattered Ethiopia, especially that portion within their civilization, with the idea that Africa is a despised place, inhabited by savages, and cannibals, where no civilized human being should go, especially black civilized human beings." - Marcus Garvey (Philosophy & Opinions of Marcus Garvey, edited by Amy Jacques-Garvey)

Additionally, mean-spirited terms like “minorities” that are based upon equally mean-spirited and phony claims that people make about being “white”, in spite of their true ancestral past, thus forming an artificial “majority” group, makes this problem proliferate. That is, of course, the basis of White Supremacy.

Nevertheless, in the end, when discussing the idea of superiority versus inferiority, Dr. King wrote, "

"Any law that uplifts human personality is just. Any law that degrades human personality is unjust. All segregation statutes are unjust because segregation distorts the soul and damages the personality. It gives the segregator a false sense of superiority and the segregated a false sense of inferiority. " - Letter from a Birmingham Jail

So-called “immigration law reform” , with talk now of even changing the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution is a blatant and racist attack against all non-European Americans, especially African Americans – not simply Mexicans and others.

“Dare to struggle – dare to win!” – Frederick Douglass

G. Djata Bumpus
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Republicans and Democrats alike lie about a Social Security "deficit"

"Rumors of Social Security's demise are greatly exaggerated. But some powerful people keep spreading lies about the program to scare people into accepting benefit cuts. "

Dear friends,

The article on the link here
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/31/your-money/31money.html?_r=1
makes atrocious claims, regarding the current health of our Social Security system, and, therefore, shows how the mainstream media colludes with the body of marauders that calls itself the US Congress, a group that almost unanimously strives to hoodwink us and rob the public coffers.

Yet, have no fear, below, the copy of an e-mail newsletter that was recently sent to me by MoveOn.org gives a scholarly and honest take on this issue. By the way, I encourage you to sign on to the MoveOn.org Website, if you're not already a member. They are for real.

Cheers!

G. Djata Bumpus
******************************************
From MoveOn.org :

5 Myths about Social Security

Myth: Social Security is going broke.

Reality: There is no Social Security crisis. By 2023, Social Security will have a $4.3 trillion surplus (yes, trillion with a 'T'). It can pay out all scheduled benefits for the next quarter-century with no changes whatsoever.1 After 2037, it'll still be able to pay out 75% of scheduled benefits--and again, that's without any changes. The program started preparing for the Baby Boomers retirement decades ago.2 Anyone who insists Social Security is broke probably wants to break it themselves.

Myth: We have to raise the retirement age because people are living longer.

Reality: This is a red-herring to trick you into agreeing to benefit cuts. Retirees are living about the same amount of time as they were in the 1930s. The reason average life expectancy is higher is mostly because many fewer people die as children than did 70 years ago.3 What's more, what gains there have been are distributed very unevenly--since 1972, life expectancy increased by 6.5 years for workers in the top half of the income brackets, but by less than 2 years for those in the bottom half.4 But those intent on cutting Social Security love this argument because raising the retirement age is the same as an across-the-board benefit cut.

Myth: Benefit cuts are the only way to fix Social Security.

Reality: Social Security doesn't need to be fixed. But if we want to strengthen it, here's a better way: Make the rich pay their fair share. If the very rich paid taxes on all of their income, Social Security would be sustainable for decades to come.5 Right now, high earners only pay Social Security taxes on the first $106,000 of their income.6 But conservatives insist benefit cuts are the only way because they want to protect the super-rich from paying their fair share.

Myth: The Social Security Trust Fund has been raided and is full of IOUs

Reality: Not even close to true. The Social Security Trust Fund isn't full of IOUs, it's full of U.S. Treasury Bonds. And those bonds are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States.7 The reason Social Security holds only treasury bonds is the same reason many Americans do: The federal government has never missed a single interest payment on its debts. President Bush wanted to put Social Security funds in the stock market--which would have been disastrous--but luckily, he failed. So the trillions of dollars in the Social Security Trust Fund, which are separate from the regular budget, are as safe as can be.

Myth: Social Security adds to the deficit

Reality: It's not just wrong -- it's impossible! By law, Social Security funds are separate from the budget, and it must pay its own way. That means that Social Security can't add one penny to the deficit.1

Sources: 1."To Deficit Hawks: We the People Know Best on Social Security" New Deal 2.0, June 14, 2010http://www.newdeal20.org/2010/06/14/to-defict-hawks-we-the-people-know-best-on-social-security-12290/2. "The Straight Facts on Social Security" Economic Opportunity Institute, September 2009http://www.eoionline.org/retirement_security/fact_sheets/StraightFactsSocialSecurity-Sep09.pdf3. "Social Security and the Age of Retirement"Center for Economic and Policy Research, June 2010http://www.cepr.net/index.php/publications/reports/social-security-and-the-age-of-retirement/4. "More on raising the retirement age" Ezra Klein, Washington Post, July 8, 2010http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2010/07/more_on_raising_the_retirement.html5. "Social Security is sustainable" Economic and Policy Institute, May 27, 2010 http://www.epi.org/analysis_and_opinion/entry/social_security_is_sustainable/6. "Maximum wage contribution and the amount for a credit in 2010." Social Security Administration, April 23, 2010http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/2407. "Trust Fund FAQs" Social Security Administration, February 18, 2010http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/ProgData/fundFAQ.html8. "To Deficit Hawks: We the People Know Best on Social Security" New Deal 2.0, June 14, 2010http://www.newdeal20.org/2010/06/14/to-defict-hawks-we-the-people-know-best-on-social-security-12290/

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Fatimah Ali on Glen Beck

"And, while Beck urges his listeners to "form a covenant with God, based on the qualities of faith, hope and charity," why would he want to dishonor the date of the great March on Washington, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his historic "I Have a Dream" speech?"


Dear friends,

I've not been paying much attention to Glen Beck, even though his name is making news headlines a lot these days. Therefore, I'm honored to share this witty and informative piece with you, on the link below, that was recently written by a friend of mine at the Philadelphia Daily News, Fatimah Ali. Enjoy!

G. Djata Bumpys
http://www.philly.com/dailynews/columnists/fatimah_ali/20100720_Fatimah_Ali__Glenn_Beck_s_plans_for_his__Restoring_Honor__rally_on_the_same_date_as_the_anniversary_of_the_March_on_Washington_is_offensive.html

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Condi Rice and Aretha to hold a benefit concert in Philly, on Tuesday (7/27/10)

" Should African American politicians and public officials be free from criticism by us?"

Dear friends,

One of several things that we have learned from the recent Sherrod resignation is that many African Americans are hesitant to criticize Barack Obama for his errors in judgment. Part of the problem lies in the notion that he is the "first Black president". That may be true of the USA, but there are actually many Black presidents of modern nations and have been for scores of years. Was Nelson Mandela's presidency less worthy than President Obama's? Was the presidency (Prime Minister) of the Congo by Patrice Lumumba , an African leader who was murdered by the C.I.A. almost 50 years ago, less valuable than Obama's? Obviously, because of his assassination and having been replaced by a hand-picked successor by the same C.I.A. proves that his death was crucial to the United States and other Western powers.

While we all like great music, the author, a European American reporter in Philadelphia, makes some very important points, regarding Condoleeza Rice's role in the Bush administration. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0wbpKCdkkQ,

As well, on the link below, we may be led to ask: Why don't African American journalists raise questions about Condi's past actions as Bush's National Security Adviser and, later, his Secretary of State? After all, we see Nigerian journalists and scribes from other African nations criticize their presidents. Why shouldn't we do the same with those officials, elected or not, who act against human progress? Should African American politicians and public officials be free from criticism by us?

One Love,
G. Djata Bumpus
http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/99184804.html
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Sherrod, a USDA official, resigns - For what?

“ ‘Why is it that, for example, a “Black” president receives open death threats and harangues in public from European American politicians, clergy, and mass groups, as well as the agents of the mainstream media, while any African American who acted in an undesirable way towards a “white” president would be lucky to be alive the next day?’ ”

Dear friends,

If a person belongs to a “marked minority” group that has a centuries-long history of experiences with daily injustices from an artificial “majority” group that, based upon a phony, non-scientific, means-spirited claim of being “white”, as opposed to its members identifying themselves as people from a variety of cultural groups, does a so-called “minority” person have a right to address her or his injustice, in whatever way that s/he feels equipped to do at the time?

Apparently s/he does not, according to the super-racist corporate- and government-controlled mass communications media – the opinion makers of this nation. After all, as Dr. Kwame Nkrumah contended,"In societies where there are competing ideologies, it is still usual for one ideology to be dominant. This dominant ideology is that of the ruling group. Though the ideology is the key to the inward identity of its group, it is in intent solidarist. For an ideology does not seek merely to unite a section of the people; it seeks to unite the whole of society in which it finds itself. In its effect, it certainly reaches the whole society, when it is dominant. For, besides seeking to establish common attitudes and purposes for the society, the dominant ideology is that which in the light of circumstances decides what forms institutions shall take, and in what channels the common effort is to be directed." (see Nkrumah's Consciencism)

Well, that also explains why the NAACP, an organization that has been irrelevant for almost fifty years, has the audacity to side with racists in condemning a Black woman who was “exposed” by the Tea Party for acting in a non-deferring way towards a “white” farmer. Besides, were her actions based upon the racist arrogance of the aforementioned farmer? That question does not seem to have been asked.

At any rate, , the same people who are guilty of promoting the aforementioned injustices define racism, the euphemism for White Supremacy, as a “xenophobia” or “disease” that any person can possess in this society, where people discriminate against others. That suggests that everyone in this country, regardless of skin color, is on equal terms. In other words, the here-to-mentioned “majority” group insists: we’re all equal, we just have a few bigots hanging around.

If that is true, then, at least to me, the question should be, “Why is it that, for example, a “Black” president receives open death threats and harangues in piblic from European American politicians, clergy, and mass groups, as well as the agents of the mainstream media, while any African American who acted in an undesirable way towards a “white” president would be lucky to be alive the next day?”

Please imagine that the Tea Party made its members resign from their jobs if any of them had ever done anything racist towards one African Americans, That organization would then, rightfully, become the Pee Party of the Unemployed.

Finally, all of this reminds me of the response that my late father would give to me, back in the Seventies, whenever I mentioned to him how “crazy” that “white” folks are with their constant, daily racial injustices towards Black folks, like, for instance, Alan Bakke’s case against Affirmative Action. To that, my Dad would say, “White folks ain’t crazy son, they think we’re crazy.”

One Love,
G. Djata Bumpus
http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_upshot/20100720/pl_yblog_upshot/usda-official-resigns-amidst-race-controversy
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The "New" Black Panther Party - provacateurs or buffoons?

“Please keep things in their proper context, and remember that there were almost no Black politicians, much less Black police officers anywhere in this country, during the heyday of the real Black Panther Party (@1968-72).”


Dear friends,

Lately, there has been a lot of talk about the “New Black Panther Party” being let off the hook, by the Obama administration, for the group’s criminal behavior inasmuch as the "New Panthers" forced European American (so-called “white”) voters, in Philadelphia, away from the polls in 2008, on the day that then Senator Obama was elected to the presidency.

But what is the “New Black Panther Party”? The purpose of the alleged combining of the original Black Panther Party with the Islamic Movement, as its national spokesperson, an attorney. claims, is for African Americans to have an organized body that moves towards Black liberation. However, what they have mostly done is defame the legacy of the real Black Panther Party, making many of us who were part of the original organization smell a great big C.I.A. - or some other reactionary group’s - rat!

As a matter of fact, the so-called New Black Panther Party reminds me of the so-called Symbionese Liberation Army that kidnapped Patty Hearst back on 1973, which, inevitably, along with their thoughtless actions brought about a decline in support from the large amount of youth in North American Black communities who had previously agreed with Brother Malcolm’s mantra “By any means necessary”.

First of all, because the so-called “New Black Panther Party” insists that its chief method of confronting US rulers is similar to the “legal gradualism” of the NAACP, perhaps, they should call themselves the “New NAACP”. Moreover, with so many of the leaders bearing Muslin names and relating to the teachings of Islam, they totally contradict the secular humanist value judgments that guided the real Black Panther Party.

Nevertheless, if anything, their name should actually be the “Different” Black Panther Party. As a former member of the Black Panther Party (1969-71), mostly in Boston, but for nine months in New Haven, CT. helping to successfully get Bobby Seale freed from his unjustified murder case, I have been hearing about these so-called "New Black Panthers" for some time (10 years?).

Moreover, I cringe each time that I hear their name.
They are in no way connected with the group that held community education classes (which I taught for the entire nine months that I was stationed in New Haven), had the Free Breakfast program across the nation that, for several years, fed about 10, 000 or so kids, in churches, Panther offices, and community centers, each weekday morning (long before the US government offered such programs for youngsters in public schools). We opened Free Health Clinics nationwide (again, long before Medicaid serviced many “poor” folks to that extent), the Free Clothing program nationwide (before the Salvation Army had bins set up everywhere), and we, literally, started the Prison Reform Movement, with our Free Buses to Prisons program in this country, again, nationwide. In fact, when New York state’s Attica Prison Rebellion happened in 1971, the inmates called on Black Panther Party co-founders Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale to be the chief negotiators for them.

Still, while we, the real Black Panthers, would, ultimately - and thereafter constantly, criticize ourselves and move to correct the status that we had allowed ourselves to develop by making the image of violence too much of an issue, we were mostly, on a daily basis, about community service - knocking on doors, then after, usually, being invited in, sitting down in people’s homes talking about social issues featured in our nationally-renowned weekly newspaper, and confronting problems, for example, like getting legal help – and bail - for any relatives or friends of our hosts who’d just been arrested. Also, it must be mentioned that we received almost all of our financial support from the Black community itself.

The members of the “New Black Panther Party” are not our descendants and they are, in fact, at least to me, insulting. Please keep things in their proper context, and remember that there were almost no Black politicians, much less Black police officers anywhere in this country, during the heyday of the real Black Panther Party (@1968-72).

At any rate, on the link below is a statement about the “New Black Panther Party” from the Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation, a non-profit educational organization that was established and is still overseen by my old comrade David Hilliard and Fredricka Newton, the widow of another old comrade of mine, the late Dr. Huey P. Newton.

“Dare to struggle – dare to win” – Frederick Douglass

G. Djata Bumpus
http://www.blackpanther.org/newsalert.htm
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More about us needing sexual liberation – not “gay” liberation

“…does having females cover up their breasts when sunbathing, specifically designate them as sexual objects who are born and bred to satisfy the sexual greed of males, at the whim of the latter?”

Dear friends,

Recently, I read a piece by a very dear friend of mine who wrote about semi-nude sunbathing and the outcry that it causes among some folks. Additionally, she questioned whether or not the practice of females publicly showing their breasts is a good idea at this time, especially considering the fact that , as she put it, “In France, where the practice has been commonplace, more women reportedly are covering up, citing concerns about skin cancer and unwanted attention. There was talk a few years back about banning semi-nude sunbathing in Australia, but it didn't get far..”

Well, I must admit, first of all, that I was disappointed that she never drew a connection between those who either castigate females about showing their breasts in public, ignoring the latter’s own feelings of getting whatever kind of relief, as well as those that rebuke females who breastfeed in public. By the way, both types of breast-revealing females just mentioned are victims in our sexually-repressive society. They are NOT perpetrators of either immoral or naive behavior!

Yet, if people in any particular culture (civilization) do not recognize their sexuality within the context of the relatedness of those sexual feelings towards, especially, those of the opposite sex, then can they even enjoy their sexuality in a mentally- and physically-healthy way?

And what does that say about male/female relationships in such an environment? Can that culture survive very long?

In any case, as would be expected, there were brief remarks made about breast size, regarding both females and males. After all, in this market-driven, possession-oriented society of ours, people confuse self-pride with self-esteem. The former is a silly mask that people wear in order to trick people into thinking that they’re someone other than who they really are, whereas self-esteem develops from folks recognizing their inner powers, then revealing those strength capabilities to the world, because, each of the abovementioned folks, as individuals, knows what it’s like to be alone and accomplish goals on his or her own. Dig?

Therefore, for example, wearing expensive suits, a guy like Donald Trump rides around in limousines like a “big man”. But his gestures are only those of self-pride. As a matter of fact, he hides the real “him”, along with his often questionable business dealings, especially from his various wives and the authorities, because he prefers that people not know the real Donald Trump. Consequently, he has low self-esteem, particularly since his ascendance to wealth was bequeathed to him by his father, He didn’t earn it.

Likewise, women who get their breasts enlarged feel no better about themselves than they did prior to their operations. Consequently, just as the late Michael Jackson never tired of facial surgery, in spite of his great showmanship, popularity, and wealth, he was also a person who suffered from low self-esteem. He didn’t feel very good about himself.

Considering all of this mentioned above, how can we expect for females to appreciate who they are, if they are raised in a civilization that judges them (and we men too), according to how well they’re/we’re able to trick others into thinking that we are someone other than who we really are?
Moreover, does having females cover up their breasts when sunbathing, specifically designate them as sexual objects who are born and bred to satisfy the sexual greed of males, at the whim of the latter? And, if so, does that serve the purpose of not just maintaining, but proliferating Male Supremacy?

Nevertheless, in essence, people who call themselves “homosexual” deny the various aspects of power relations and discriminating tastes, much less sexual urges, that lead individuals to engage themselves in sexual relations from Jump Street. Moreover, and unfortunately, what passes off today as the “Gay Rights Movement” doesn’t address the direction that we need to take, as species beings, so that males and females can live as people who equally respect and trust each other, so that we can extend our existence as a species as far as possible into the future.

Finally, in a country where dialogue of any kind is, generally, unwelcome (and in some cases, at least, quasi-illegal), the specter of violence against females is clouded by the unwillingness of even female journalists and politicians to dare raise issues that will lead to the liberation of us all. Some “democracy”. Eh?

Still, imagine if millions of women in our country decide to show their breasts in public? What other freedoms would then be on the horizon?
To be sure, such inquiry may then stimulate the thought, “Perhaps, human beings really can appreciate freedom (liberation).”, as opposed to the way that things are now, where most people are more comfortable when they take no personal responsibility for ending their social bondage, and, instead, become anonymous, that is go un-noticed, by joining a herd (i.e., group or crowd) and running from it (freedom)?

“Dare to struggle, dare to win” - Frederick Douglass

G. Djata Bumpus
http://www.philly.com/dailynews/features/20100629_Jenice_Armstrong__Taking_off_the_top_at_Asbury_Park_.html

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Update on Western media blackout of Exxon/Mobil's cirrent monstrous oil spill in Nigeria

"“The company is acting with impunity because there’s nobody holding them to account. Would they dare do the same thing in Europe or the US?” "


Dear friends,

This is an important point in world history. People from all over Africa are thoroughly in support of the team from Ghana, hoping that that productive African nation will win the World Cup. This is exactly the spirit of Pan-Africanism that Drs. W.E.B. DuBois and Kwame Nkrumah, two of the most recognizable original Black leaders to call for a United States of Africa, would have enjoyed. Now, if we can only get the same enthusiasm between African peoples, on all five peopled continents, to give attention to the horrific oil spills that continue to plague Africa without any notice from the Western media, including the USA with its “black” president.

We now have a great chance to connect, worldwide, with the Internet. Why not put pressure on Exxon/Mobil, a huge North American oil company, so that it is as isolated as BP?

On the link below, our Nigerian brothers and sisters at SaharaReporters.com provide us with an update of the current deadly spill that is spewing oil in the Niger Delta.

Long live African peoples – here and abroad!

G. Djata Bumpus
http://www.saharareporters.com/real-news/sr-headlines/6394-exxonmobil-nigerian-officials-blamed-for-akwa-ibom-spills.html
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BP is spilling in the Gulf, Exxon/Mobil is doing just that, right now, in Nigeria - only worse!

"“It is a paradox that the current oil spill in the Mexican Gulf is attracting so much outcry from the American public and leadership but an American oil company is doing worse damage and poisoning the lives of hundreds of millions of Nigerians who depend on fish as the cheapest source of protein and nobody is talking about it...” - Rev. Samuel Ayadi

Dear friends,

For all of the hype about British Petroleum's oil spill in the Gulf, why is it that we have not heard a peep about US compabies like Shell, in the recent past, as well as Exxon/Mobil - a company that is currently responsible for a great oil spill in Nigeria that's going on at this very moment. Moreover, why are North Americans so perturbed about what's happening in the Gulf, while US companues ravage Africa soil and cause vast amounts of deaths from oil polution?

As one man said jusr last month, "The oil companies just ignore it. The lawmakers do not care and people must live with pollution daily. The situation is now worse than it was 30 years ago. Nothing is changing. When I see the efforts that are being made in the US I feel a great sense of sadness at the double standards. What they do in the US or in Europe is very different...We see frantic efforts being made to stop the spill in the US," said Nnimo Bassey, Nigerian head of Friends of the Earth International.

Another Nigerian man, Beb Ikari, a member of the Ogoni people said, "But in Nigeria, oil companies largely ignore their spills, cover them up and destroy people's livelihood and environments. The Gulf spill can be seen as a metaphor for what is happening daily in the oilfields of Nigeria and other parts of Africa." (see "Nigeria's agony dwarfs the Gulf oil spill. The US and Europe ignore it." ( see http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/may/30/oil-spills-nigeria-niger-delta-shell ) As I wrote earlier this month on a blog post called "Yes, Marvin sang "Mercy, Mercy, Me", but it's not just about BP (originally posted 6/10/10)"

Still, what is even worse, regarding all of this mess is: there's never any consideration, much less talk, about cleaning up spills around Africa, whenever or wherever they occur. What's that all about?

In any case, please peruse an article from the very reputable Nigerian Website called SaharaReporters.com on the link that is directly below my name..

Long live African peoples - here and abroad!!!

G. Djata Bumpus
http://www.saharareporters.com/real-news/frontpage-slideshow/6244-exxonmobil-oil-spill-in-niger-delta-exposes-nigerians-to-poisoned-fish.html
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National Black Theatre of Action Arts NYC event!!!

" Fertile Ground" An Original Artist Showcase













EVERY 2ND THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH
8pm-11pm $10.00
http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103462928380&s=6492&e=001zBzDkiIUgFNUKV-DhoLsUj2m62SF5pRO9QiUr3LnTTLrVS_1lK6OI_4MP58LtxSx2NzfnhbyCiNn07S5BzVb2HxZ0wsZ2Hyb4KQFTij8prsm5NBNrJNx8bLTQexA8ZB_
1-800-838-3006
On these special evenings,
YOU - the audience have an opportunity to witness
and participate in new artists presenting original material

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Should Boy Scouts ban "gay" troop leaders?

Ultimately, nonetheless, avoiding any dialogue what-so-ever, the argument of many “gays” deteriorates to, “I’m just gay…that’s all to it!” At least to me, the question for which that declaration then begs is, “How can a proposition be proof of itself?”


Dear friends,

Very recently, there has been a lot of controversy in Philadelphia, regarding the city government’s decision to renege on its decades-old promise and practice to provide a rent-free building to the local chapter of the Boy Scouts of America, because the legendary organization has banned openly “gay” troop leaders (which is against newly-legislated city discrimination laws).

I wrote a letter to the editor, in response to a brilliant piece that was written by Philadelphia Daily News journalist Christine Flowers about this issue. My letter has been published; however, a few important points were edited out. Therefore, below, you will find the original letter, while on the link below it, you will find the published version.

Cheers!

G. Djata Bumpus
****************************
Dear Editor:

Christine Flower’s thoughtful piece called, “Philadelphia’s odd case against the Boy Scouts”, posted 6/18/10, reveals a disturbing practice by our city government to acknowledge a group of “gay activists” that appears to be ignoring the actual fact that homosexual relationships are no less based upon power and sexual greed than heterosexual ones. Yet, when do we hear heterosexuals establishing themselves as a distinct group based upon the ability to walk around pronouncing unproven claims about with whom they’re having sex? So what kind of guidance should we provide to our youth, so that they can replace us in the future?

One of the real dilemmas of a society that is socially-stratified such as ours, lies in the fact that a person can be a member of an oppressor group and an oppressed group, simultaneously. This was adequately proven, with the Clarence Thomas - Anita Hill debacle.

Let’s face it; except for African American women, but not limited to them, particularly women who call themselves "white", are oppressed as women, but, also, serve as oppressors, as part of the artificial "majority" group that calls itself "white".

Therefore, the attempt by some of these same “white” women to form an artificial "minority" group, by calling themselves "lesbians" or having “white” men calling themselves “gay” for the same purpose is disingenuous - at best.

Besides, what difference does a person's skin color, gender, or any other "orientation" make, if once you are with the person to whom you claim to be oriented, either you wish that you weren't there - or he or she wishes the same? Is anyone “oriented” to be with anyone else? That’s silly.

Well, is there a “sexual preference”? Actually, we already have a name for people like that. We call them rapists. In other words, some amount of mutual consent must be involved between parties. One does not have sex with whomever he or she prefers.

Ultimately, nonetheless, avoiding any dialogue what-so-ever, the argument of many “gays” deteriorates to, “I’m just gay…that’s all to it!” At least to me, the question for which that declaration then begs is, “How can a proposition be proof of itself?”

So-called “gay activists” undermine the real notion of citizens’ rights, when they attempt to re-invent themselves as a distinct population group. Moreover, Flowers hit the nail right on the head, when she insists about city officials and their cohorts engaged in this heartless move to evict children and their mentors from a city-owned property, “They need to get a better answer. Or maybe a conscience.” for discontinuing support for the Boy Scouts of America, a wonderful, life-enhancing group to which my five brothers and I belonged, many decades ago.

G. Djata Bumpus
http://www.philly.com/dailynews/opinion/20100624_Letters__The_Boy_Scout_case_has_oppressors_and_the_oppressed.html
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Sandy Banks on a community-building ceremony

There’s an African proverb that goes, " To live together is to have a common fate."

Dear friends,

Almost all of the problems in our society are based upon the fact that, generally-speaking, we have no sense of “community” anywhere in this country. This is largely due to the simple fact that: in this market-driven, possession-oriented society of ours, people do not think in terms of “we”.

Now, that notion may sound like a platitude; however, such a seemingly trite proclamation is very necessary, because those who control the “market” make a point to have people think only of themselves, even within their individual households, not just our society at large.

There’s an African proverb that goes, " To live together is to have a common fate." In other words, as a community, in the grand scheme of things, as it were, we need each other, regardless of the extent to which we are physically-able or whatever social differences that we have - like gender and age, for example. But if people, in any specific community, share a common fate, as mentioned earlier, then it only seems fair that all parties involved should have a voice in their destinies. Unfortunately, for all of America’s brave words of "freedom and democracy", when do our children ever experience either of these lofty ideals, particularly, democracy?

What young people actually feel is that they are controlled, having little or no input, regarding decisions that directly affect their existences. That, to be sure, makes them feel powerless.

As a consequence, they become angry and frustrated. Moreover, in their feeling of powerlessness, quite intelligently, they rebel. Yet, the problem with much of the rebellion of our youth, particularly in inner cities is: young folks often protest in ways that are self-destructive. Of course, this is largely due to the types of options available to them.

Consequently, we should no longer ignore the anger and frustration that our youth must necessarily express in a negative way, if we do not provide them with opportunities to make good choices, through positive support.

The participation of our youth, in both the decision-making and application processes of building our communities, will help young people to look inside of themselves and resolve the anger, fear, sadness, and frustration which results from their feeling of powerlessness here-to-mentioned. As well, they will then discover their inner powers, through the personal strength of positive energy and group support.

Mastering skills in most activities, whether for business or pleasure, requires using energy in a positive way, relying upon focus and concentration - each being human powers just as energy itself is. We must help our youth develop these skills. Therefore, for instance, affording young folks educational opportunities through scholarship programs, is a great method for enhancing the progress of our communities.

In any case, with the piece on the link below, through an incredible journalist, Sandy Banks of the Los Angeles Times, we get a chance to have a vicarious experience that shows how each of us can help young people build progressive and productive futures for our communities. Enjoy!

G. Djata Bumpus
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/me-banks15-20100615,0,5203647,full.column
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Yes, Marvin sang "Mercy, Mercy, Me", but it's not just about BP (originally posted 6/10/10)

"Oh, Mercy, Mercy, Me, aw, things ain't what they used to be...nah, nah, oil wasted on the oceans and upon our seas..."


Dear friends,

Currently, each “analyst” seems to plagiarize the previous one. Blather about whose fault it is - and whether President Obama’s present level of popularity will suffer in his inevitable re-election bid - does not change the reality that far too many adults in this nation have more concern about four female airheads going to Morocco and showing off their trinkets and baubles in the movie “Sex and the City” than the damage that has been done to the eco-system in and around the Gulf of Mexico due to the now-infamous oil spill attributed to British Petroleum (BP).

Even worse, many Republicans seem more concerned about when “the drilling” will start again, as opposed to helping to figure out how we all can help clean up this mess.

Consequently, for the most part, what is currently being delivered by the mainstream media, regarding this topic, is nothing more than a series of false abstractions that serve more to hoodwink people than to inform them. After all, at least to me, the real question is: If it wasn’t BP, then would it not have been, say, Exxon/Mobil, for example - or some other company to have created such a disaster? Personally, for me, as someone who has been in the boxing game for the past four decades, singling out BP for the oil spill is like people who point fingers at boxing promoter Don King, when most boxing promoters are no less indecent – and many are far worse. Imagine that!

Nevertheless, the callous destruction of both land and sea by multinational corporations is, of course, preceded by the same type of environmental devastation that started with the sheep walks in Europe, several centuries ago. Moreover, between the International Slave Trade that started about one thousands years ago between Eastern Europeans and Arabs, before deteriorating into the Atlantic Slave Trading Operations that brought Africa a Holocaust that has yet to end, as well as both the murder, kidnapping, and rape of persons and their land throughout Europe that forced the aforementioned persons to flee to cities and find a minimal subsistence in factories, then on top of that serve as the buyers of the commodities that they just produced in those factories, the true history of our current political economy (capitalism) or process of social reproduction, as it were, is mired in, as it has been said, “Blood, sweat, and fire!”.

Moreover, greed, has been the chief motivator for continuing this process mentioned above, while, simultaneously, ignoring anything other than the present. Hence, greed is always short-sighted. The current BP debacle is adequate proof, let alone the world financial crisis that has been caused by the greed of both multinational corporations and banks.

So why BP? Where are the questions regarding multinational corporations and banks, with their lack of respect of and concern for the territories that they exploit, whether with land – when they constantly overproduce everything from crops to cows and pigs, or at sea – with the over-fishing, oil spills, travel boats, and the dumping of toxic wastes? And what about the politicians and agencies in our own US government who collude with the firms just mentioned?

Let’s keep it real, folks. We need to change our existing system of making value judgments, instead of pointing fingers at anyone. Dig?

At any rate, on the link below, is a video that has Marvin’s classic song about the death of our environment.

One Love One Heart, One Spirit,
G. Djata Bumpus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WxgeYXCjM8
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International Festival of Arts & Ideas in New Haven, CT, Wednesday 16 June 1:45 pm

Wednesday 16 June 1:45 pm
International Festival of Arts & Ideas
Come and see Texas native, Nicki Mathis, with her innovative ideas, effervescent classic performance style, & selection of original material, as well as jazz standards reflect her ties to Africa as well as Mexico
& Brazil. Children are invited to sing, dance, clap their hands,
tap their feet, & keep the beat as Mathis returns to the Festival
w/Joey, Paulette, Lynn Tracey on Family Stage Series
Elm Street Stage.New Haven Green 203.498.2715
FREE GLOBAL MUSIC
http://www.artidea.org/event.php?id=310
***************************************************************************** Che
Check outNick Mathis' Itapuã on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jKR0c0qK_w&feature=related (btw, this short video is a very good piece to which you should listen - Djata)

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Where was Rahm Emanuel as Israel attacked and murdered innocent people

"...why has the Netanyahu administration waited to commit its two most recent unconscionable acts in the full presence of a high level US official?

Dear friends,

The online newspaper article read, “Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed regret after at least nine people died when troops stormed ships trying to break the Gaza blockade. But he said soldiers had been defending themselves after they were ‘clubbed, beaten and stabbed’ ." Huh?

Get this. Israeli troops were sliding down ropes from a helicopter onto a ship full of civilians who were carrying humanitarian aid supplies to the Gaza Strip, then these same rope-descending marauders began shooting firearms, and BiBi (Netanyahu) wonders why people resisted their massacre with only sticks and clubs. Go figure.

Meanwhile, Gerald Seib of the WSJ just wrote, “Two weeks ago, the president met with 37 Jewish Democrats in Congress and told them that he had spent more time one-on-one with Mr. Netanyahu than any other world leader, and that ties were solid. Geib follows by mentioning that “Israel apologized for embarrassing Vice President Joe Biden by announcing more East Jerusalem construction just as Mr. Biden was visiting.”

Excuse me, Mr. Geib. Where's Rahm Emanuel, Obama’ Chief of Staff who is the son of one of Israel's pioneers/invaders of Palestine? Wasn’t he in Israel, as the slaughter occurred? It was announced only a few days ago that he was. I wondered why he was there, when I first heard about it. Now this. By the way, is Mr. Emanuel looking for an apology too, as Biden was? If not, then why not? As a matter of fact, why hasn’t anyone from either the mainstream or “progressive” media been raising that point?

Additionally, where is the useless Black Caucus of the US Congress on this one? Are they in cahoots with the 37 Congress people with whom Obama bedded with recently, as mentioned above?

Moreover, why has the Netanyahu administration waited to commit its two most recent unconscionable acts in the full presence of a high level US official? Is there something wrong with this picture?

G. Djata Bumpus
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Sojourner Truth commemoration in Florence, Mass.

Sojourner Truth Memorial Statue 7th Annual
Celebration and Commemoration
Sunday, May 30, 2:00 p.m.
at the Corner of Park and Pine Streets
Florence, Massachusetts
Rain or shine (held at the nearby Florence Community Center in the event of rain)
Performers include:
Umoja Too Dance Ensemble
Heather Cohen
Stephany Marryshow of
Enchanted Circle Theater’s Sojourner’s Truth
Speakers include:
Scholarship Recipient Isabella Leo
Steve Strimer on the David Ruggles Center
Lilly Lombard on the Bean/Allard Farm
11:00 am: Walking Tour of Florence’s African American
Heritage Trail, starts at the Sojourner Truth Statue
www.davidrugglescenter.org
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