Black Studies and Black Consciousness by Dr. Maulana Karenga

Dear friends,

This is a really powerful five minutes long video!

The reason: Consciousness is an ever evolving state of well-being for every human, beginning at birth.

In other words, because human beings are the only species on this planet who are aware of the fact that we exist (hence, burials), our consciousness makes us aware of the problems of living. Other than non-human animals like dogs who have been "domesticated" by humans, almost all other creatures have no such concern for problems. Father, their behavior is totally based upon instinct.

At any rate, as humans, we, at least, claim to renounce most of our instincts, so that we can join together as groups in a cooperative effort to coexist. Unfortunately.it is there that we find our biggest problem. That is,  our relationships become political, because we each want what we want. However, as members of an aforementioned group, there are often compromises made for what one wants and desires, since many people want the same thing, but resources are limited. 

Finally, human beings are, ultimately, like all other animals. So we have not actually renounced our instincts such as the one that has us being violent. Moreover, because we can talk, thus sharing ideas, especially for those who have superior military night install themselves as rulers. Those same people start using others as a means to an end, becoming self-centered and egotistical in the process. As a result, those who choose to find self-worth at the expense of others make sure that the consciousnesses of their victims evolve as little as possible.

Liberation!

G. Djata Rumpus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=069rKEci2Kc Read full post

"Equal Pay for Equal Work!" - a red herring?

Dear friends, 

Is the issue of "Equal Pay for Equal Work!" a red herring? After all, millions upon millions of men suffer from the same problem as women, if they don’t belong to a union, for example. Consequently, it seems, at least to me, that both the heart and soul of capitalism thrive upon the unfair equation: the less money paid to the employee = the more money for the employer.

But what is far more troubling to me is the fact that too often females, starting at birth, are taught that they are less valuable than little boys and men. Moreover, they are taught to pander to the whims of males, disregarding their ability to constantly seek to be fully human, that is, to be independent, thoughtful, competent, and self-sufficient concerned citizens, as boys and men are encouraged to be. Instead, they are encouraged, even from other women, to be manipulative and deferring to some man-or boy-who will allegedly “take care” of them. Let's end Male Supremacy! 

G. Djata Bumpus Read full post

Maintaining our African connection through a music video by our Youth

"During the period of servitude in the New World, the Negro race did not wholly forget the traditions and habits of thought that it brought from Africa. But it added to its ancestral stock certain new ideas." - Booker T. Washington
Dear friends,

In the past this blog has featured quite a bit of the work of scholar/educator/author Dr. Okey Ndibe, a Nigerian national who lives and works here in the US. Starting with the video on the link below, Djatajabs.org will be making a renewed emphasis on maintaining the connection between African peoples of all nationalities from the Continent to the Diaspora. After all, please remember the words of the great Booker T. Washington who insisted, "During the period of servitude in the New World, the Negro race did not wholly forget the traditions and habits of thought that it brought from Africa. But it added to its ancestral stock certain new ideas."

To be sure, there are many African Americans today who refuse to use that term, preferring to call themselves "Black". Yet, as recently as the Seventies, these same people and their families refused to call themselves "Black", instead using Negro and Colored. So people who argue about calling themselves "African American" are simply behind, as either themselves or their predecessors were. a few decades ago

Nevertheless, the crucial point to be made here is: African peoples who were forced to migrate to the Americas did not lose their African cultures. Instead, each cultural group merely took on a different developmental direction. In other words, African American captive workers (so-called “slaves”), for example, were still people. As a result, our forebears adapted to the new circumstances with which they were presented, within the context of their own cultural wisdom and experiences. Dig? Still, we are taught to hate ourselves, especially our African - ness.

One Love!

G. Djata Bumpus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCCzugeSPPA Read full post

Stop and Frisk - Is it a Crime against Morality?

 Dear friends,

The recent decision by Mayor DiBlassio of New York City to not appeal a judge's ruling brings back the argument regarding how the "Stop and Frisk" tactics of urban police are concentrated on, especially, young African American and Latino males, as the latter exist in an aura of suspicion that surrounds them. But do the aforementioned tactics violate "racial profiling" statutes? And do the authorities care, anyway? 

Moreover, as far as suspicion goes, perhaps, the relevant question is, "Since most white collar crime is done by European Americans, everyday, then why not start randomly checking the books of companies, corporations, and banks?" In other words, why is there greater concern for people stealing $20 from a person walking down the street or selling $10 rocks of crack cocaine, than for those who constantly steal millions from tens of thousands of retirement funds and the like,for example?

Nevertheless, some complain of police bullying, while others are rightly concerned about the psychological affects on the victims of unnecessary Stop & Frisk practices. And, does being a "white" cop make one feel like a superior being to those who do not claim that moniker? What about a non-European American cop who doesn't even have any history in this country? How can the government endorse such "privilege" to some of the population under the guise of "democracy"?

And how about the statistics regarding the actions of racist employers/employees and landlords? How many African Americans and Latinos suffer from those injustices each and every minute, every second, everyday, including possible loss of work and loss of residency? Why don't the police randomly stop and question all "white" employers/employees and landlords to check and see if they're committing racist acts?

Two crucial aspects of this racist Stop & Frisk practice aren't mentioned. They are 1) Since the overwhelming majority of gun crimes are executed by those who are not seeking to be detected, then it is, at best, a false abstraction to suggest that guns taken during a "Stop & Frisk" would even be used in crimes other than "illegal possession of firearms" (which means nothing, other than determining who gets to be a George Zimmerman and who doesn't). and 2) The "convenient" war on bullying, the game that is currently being played throughout our society, especially in schools, apparently doesn't include babies being killed by US drone rockets in Pakistan. And so, ultimately, the real issue is: Why can't people live together, without using each other as means to ends? Meanwhile, the Catholic priests, Baptist ministers, Jewish rabbis, and Muslim imams smilingly answer, "Come here, son..I want to share some of myself with you."

Still, Heather MacDonald, a fellow at the Manhattan Institute, admits that the New York City's Stop & Frisk policy may not be perfect. But she points out that crime — especially violent crime — happens disproportionately in minority neighborhoods. ( please refer to "Lawsuit Over NYPD's 'Stop And Frisk' Program Heads To Court", by JOEL ROSE, March 18, 2013)

By the way, women and girls are being violated in every neighborhood, in every state, everyday. Violence against females is, by far, the most frequent, as well as the most vicious crime that happens constantly, in our society. Why isn't real energy put into fighting that "crime"?

Finally, why is Stop & Frisk so conveniently implemented for African American and Latino men? At least to me, the real question isn't "Why does a hungry person steal?" Rather, as it has been asked by others before me, the real question should be, "Why do so many who are hungry NOT steal?" It's all about control! For the legitimacy of our government lies in its "threat capacity" through the police and military. Citizens are forced to be automatons, or else! So why is a human better morally than, say, any cat, dog, or bird?

Liberation!

G. Djata Bumpus

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Black churches/Black History libraries

" ...where is a better place for Our children to learn to appreciate scholarship than the Black Church?"

Dear friends,

Black churches need to play a strong role in Our community building. The Black church is the oldest institution that We have. Beginning in the holds of enslavers' ships through chattel slavery, manumission, and the series of freedom movements that have led up to this point for African Americans, the Black church has been there.

Unfortunately, too often today, Black churches seem to betray the mission of Our predecessors. There are far too few activities that deal with Our liberation, such as church folks freeing captive workers (so-called slaves) during chattel slavery to helping out with marches and breakfast programs and such as they did in the Sixties and Seventies, and helping to lead the fight against apartheid in the Eighties. Too much concentration is on “being saved” and using the word “God” in every other sentence as some type of password. Many folks are even using religion as a narcotic - like heroin or cocaine; a common refrain from them is: "I'm high on Jesus!". (Please remember, Our spirituality should be a vitamin - not a drug.)

Also, having “fellowship” is another term that is being bandied about these days. I went to a church, quite recently, whose Sunday program sheet read at the bottom, after the hymns and prayers listed: Worship ends, Service begins. Unfortunately, and shamefully, this was not in a Black church.

Black preachers must imitate the life of the historical Jesus who fed the hungry and healed the sick - physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. The latter did not just sit around and pray. He "worked" for change. During 1963, in his now famous Letter From Birmingham Jail, Dr. Martin Luther King wrote, in part:

"There was a time when the church was very powerful in the time when the early Christians rejoiced at being deemed worthy to suffer for what they believed. In those days the church was not merely a thermometer that recorded the ideas and principles of popular opinion; it was a thermostat that transformed the mores of society. Whenever the early Christians entered a town, the people in power became disturbed and immediately sought to convict the Christians for being "disturbers of the peace" and "outside agitators"' But the Christians pressed on, in the conviction that they were "a colony of heaven," called to obey God rather than man. Small in number, they were big in commitment. They were too God-intoxicated to be "astronomically intimidated." By their effort and example they brought an end to such ancient evils as infanticide. and gladiatorial contests. Things are different now. So often the contemporary church is a weak, ineffectual voice with an uncertain sound. So often it is an archdefender of the status quo. Far from being disturbed by the presence of the church, the power structure of the average community is consoled by the church's silent and often even vocal sanction of things as they are.
But the judgment of God is upon the church as never before. If today's church does not recapture the sacrificial spirit of the early church, it will lose its authenticity, forfeit the loyalty of millions, and be dismissed as an irrelevant social club with no meaning for the twentieth century. Every day I meet young people whose disappointment with the church has turned into outright disgust.

Perhaps I have once again been too optimistic. Is organized religion too inextricably bound to the status quo to save our nation and the world? Perhaps I must turn my faith to the inner spiritual church, the church within the church, as the true ekklesia and the hope of the world. But again I am thankful to God that some noble souls from the ranks of organized religion have broken loose from the paralyzing chains of conformity and joined us as active partners in the struggle for freedom, They have left their secure congregations and walked the streets..."

While Dr. King's "letter" was largely directed towards white/European American clergy, today, these words, very much, apply to most African American clerics across the nation, as well. That is a fact that should bring a feeling of shame to many who call themselves ecclesiastics. The Black Church has the power to change things! It is not up to "God" to make this world better. After all, if it is, then why does "He" need clerics

At any rate, Our church facilities should be open to Our youth, so that they can study Our history (with no membership or attendance at the particular church required). Resources like the great Charles Blockson collection, community activists, and college professors can contribute tremendously to making this happen.

A major problem with fighting against Our oppression and becoming a community lies with the fact that We are often Our own worst enemies, because of Our self-hatred. That is, from African American bank tellers who treat Us differently than other customers to drive-by shootings, both feelings and acts of self-hatred make it difficult for either African American men or women to form genuinely loving relationships of any kind, much less encourage Our youth to get along with each other. We must learn to love Ourselves and Our fellows.

Note: "Love", as it were, is only of any use as an "act of being" as opposed to a "state of being". That means that 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 tv soap operas. However, as an "act of being", love means that people are "actively" loving towards one another. Consequently, love should be an active, not passive, practice of caring about, being concerned for, concentrating on, and feeling responsible towards not just Our mates, but Our work, and Our communities, as well. 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 this country.

Still, the cultural institutions in Our society lend to the aforementioned self-hatred that is practiced amongst Us. Literature and images in schools, the arts, and, especially, the government- and corporate-controlled media deliberately perpetuate this indignity too. For example, showcasing groups like Men United For A Better Philadelphia are, apparently, made up of wonderful people. However, the idea that the violence among African American youth is largely the result of a lack of jobs and gun possession may be missing the point, which is: Lack of both social and historical conscience is at the bottom of Our dilemma.

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." - (please see Philosophy & Opinions of Marcus Garvey, edited by Amy Jacques-Garvey)

Additionally, in that context, long before Garvey, Dr. W.E.B. DuBois wrote: "The discovery of personal whiteness among the world's peoples is a very modern thing...The ancient world would have laughed at such a distinction...by emphasis and omission to make children believe that every great thought the world ever knew was a white man's thought, every great deed the world ever did was a white man’s deed..."darkies" are born beasts of burden...Such degrading of men by men is as old as man and the invention of no one race or people...It has been left, however, to Europe and to modern days to discover the eternal worldwide mark of meanness -color!" - "The Souls of White Folks",

Education, of course, is something that you get for yourself. It is NOT something that someone gives to you. Notwithstanding, the Black church should be the place where young people in Our community can get helpful knowledge and ideas, along with developing useful skills. The schools will, ultimately, follow, if Our churches show them the way. Our young should know that the adults of the community will provide the type of environment where their minds can develop in a manner that will make them be able to control their destinies. Therefore, for Our youth, We must all embrace the old Nigerian proverb that goes, “If you pick a good tree to climb, I will help lift you up.” Moreover, where is a better place for Our children to learn to appreciate scholarship than the Black Church?

G. Djata Bumpus
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