One of the problems that most of us have in developing lasting erotic relationships is: the idea of searching for the "right" person.
Dear friends,
One of the problems that most of us have in developing lasting erotic relationships is: the idea of searching for the "right" person.
A lot of that has to do with the silly and childish notion of "falling" in love. Such a feeling is merely a mood. Of course, moods change. Consequently, at least to me, when two people meet and decide to commit themselves to "standing" in love together, as opposed to "falling" in love, ultimately, they have a chance of growing together as life partners. That notion excludes the traditional idea of "marriage".
At any rate, on the link below, you will find a witty, well-produced video about the oldest of social reationships, that straight-jacket relationship which is the basic unit of bureacracy - marriage
G. Djata Bumpus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzjpAYwbFQE
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Friday, October 19, 2012
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
The 2nd presidential debate of 2012 – A clash between Three Countercultures?
The 2nd presidential debate of 2012 – A clash between
Three Countercultures?
Dear friends,
I was hoping last night that President Obama was going to
engage Mitt Romney on two points about which the latter pol continues to brag,
regarding his qualifications to replace the incumbent. They are: 1) That Romney
has a history in running successful businesses. and 2) That the former governor
of Massachusetts has a knack for
“reaching across the aisle”, as it were, in getting legislation passed.
To be sure, the idea of running our government as if it is a business disregards its role as a body
that represents the commonweal. After all, at least in this country, many
businesses, if not most, are more concerned with collecting profits, than they
are with “creating customers”. Hence, there is the, usually, short life of
businesses, as either mergers or bankruptcies mark their endings.
On the other hand, governments operate, not on profits, but
public funds through taxation and other forms of extortion where budgets are
allotted annually to keep its various agencies running.
Therefore, as opposed to a board room, decisions are made,
for government, by “elected” politicians who are sponsored by corporations,
banks, and other such big businesses.
Nevertheless, talk of businesses, invariably, involves jobs
being created for production of goods and services, along with the marketing,
distribution, and consumption of same. It is here where the blue collar worker
of previous times confronts the knowledge worker of today – called
countercultures.
In the US, beginning after World War 2, when US military and
economic might roared after dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki,
the blue collar worker acquired both status and a standard of living that was
equal to the affluent classes of many other countries. The blue collar worker
was a force with whom to be reckoned.
But by the 1980s, the knowledge worker became the more
prominent force. From various kinds of teachers to physicians, engineers, and attorneys
to professional sales people, the more educated began to dominate the
workplace.
Manufacturing jobs were outsourced to “lesser developed”
lands, as a larger portion of higher-paid, blue collar labor in the US
was no longer needed.
Meanwhile, another sector of knowledge workers through “non-profit”
groups arose that were/are largely involved in social services. The concern for
“dignity”, instead of profits has become the mantra for this body of people.
My point for saying all of this is: Romney’s insistence upon
“creating jobs” as an ends is dishonest! Let’s face it. If jobs were an ends,
then why would people ever change them? No. A job is simply a “means” for a
person to meet whatever ends – including their needs and desires.
Additionally, Romney’s claim of “reaching across the aisle”
cannot be substantiated by his record. As Kimberly Adkins of the Boston Herald
shared in an article that was posted just yesterday (10/15/12), “Lawmakers often voiced
frustration over a lack of engagement with the governor’s office, a stark
change from previous GOP administrations...Lawmakers even at times publicly
blasted Romney for taking credit where it wasn’t due — such as on anti-gang
violence legislation that Romney touted as his own brainchild in a press
release. The bill’s Democratic co-sponsor, former state Rep. Stephen Canessa,
among others, told me at the time: ‘We never worked with him.’ ”
The worse part of all of this whole “debate” series/sham lies in the
fact that the super-racist mainstream media, both print and electronic, are
owned by only a handful of companies who control the opinions that are read
and/or heard in our society (which is why the powers-that-be hate the
Internet).
I mean, as dishonest and thoughtless as Romney is, if President Obama
was European American would Romney receive such generous commentary from the
“pundits”? Just sayin’…
G. Djata Bumpus
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
The Origin of Blues and Jazz - and the USA
"This is That"
by G. Djata Bumpus
Where does
this music
come from?
Not seeking truth
sure seems wrong.
Where did
this music start at?
Not with some crazy,
stiff cat.
Did it start
with the sax,
or
some other ax?
Or,
was it cow bells
and
sea shells.?
Where did this music come from?
The history of Black music in America is the history of the first secular songs played here. For example, during the War of Independence, basically, all fiddlers who led the troops were Black men...
Lorenzo Johnston Greene further confirmed this assertion in his timeless book, The Negro In Colonial New England, "Zelah, a Negro of Groton, Massachusetts, who later fought in the American Revolution, became famous in his neighborhood as a musician." Greene also refers to Newport Gardner, "...the slave of Caleb Gardner of Newport, Rhode Island, was given music lessons. He soon excelled his teacher and later opened a music school of his own on Pope Street where he taught both Negroes and white persons."
The contributions of people of African descent in this country are far greater than having merely produced a POTUS. And the gifts that we brought here are part of the very soul of this nation.
One Love, One Heart, One Spirit!
G. Djata Bumpus
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Thursday, October 11, 2012
Ronald Reagan's administration "conveniently" re-definded Raciam
"If racism is only a xenophobia, then why was it so important for Reagan and his bosses to end any hopes for maintaining peace around the world, by forcing the UN to dissolve?"
Dear friends,
Until the Eighties, the word racism was used almost exclusively by Black intellectual and social activists. The more moderate members of society, including most African Americans, still used the term "racial prejudice".
In fact, the term racism was offensive to the overwhelming majority of European Americans, as it was synonymous with White Supremacy. Now, along with groups like the accommodating NAACP, the government- and corporate-controlled mainstream media have re-defined racism as a xenophobia or disease, making it very convenient to have fingers pointed at those of us who are the historic victims of racism. Neat trick. Eh?
Finally, at the outset, I mentioned the Eighties, because that period coincides with super-racist Ronald Reagan coming into office. This is the same Ronald Reagan who held back US dues owed to the United Nations, almost crippling that body, until they withdrew the proclamation that "Zionism is Racism" (that had been declared during the Jimmy Carter presidency.) Once again, as is he case with Iran, the murderous Israeli government and its American sponsors prevailed. If racism is only a xenophobia, then why was it so important for Reagan and his bosses to end any hopes for maintaining peace around the world, by forcing the UN to dissolve? In any case, after the UN retracted its position about Zionism, the US government and its sponsor corporations then re-defined racism..WE must not let our enemies define our conditions. If we do, then we'll never free ourselves from the endless oppression.
"Dare to struggle - Dare to win" - Frederick Douglass
G. Djata Bumpus Read full post
Dear friends,
Until the Eighties, the word racism was used almost exclusively by Black intellectual and social activists. The more moderate members of society, including most African Americans, still used the term "racial prejudice".
In fact, the term racism was offensive to the overwhelming majority of European Americans, as it was synonymous with White Supremacy. Now, along with groups like the accommodating NAACP, the government- and corporate-controlled mainstream media have re-defined racism as a xenophobia or disease, making it very convenient to have fingers pointed at those of us who are the historic victims of racism. Neat trick. Eh?
Finally, at the outset, I mentioned the Eighties, because that period coincides with super-racist Ronald Reagan coming into office. This is the same Ronald Reagan who held back US dues owed to the United Nations, almost crippling that body, until they withdrew the proclamation that "Zionism is Racism" (that had been declared during the Jimmy Carter presidency.) Once again, as is he case with Iran, the murderous Israeli government and its American sponsors prevailed. If racism is only a xenophobia, then why was it so important for Reagan and his bosses to end any hopes for maintaining peace around the world, by forcing the UN to dissolve? In any case, after the UN retracted its position about Zionism, the US government and its sponsor corporations then re-defined racism..WE must not let our enemies define our conditions. If we do, then we'll never free ourselves from the endless oppression.
"Dare to struggle - Dare to win" - Frederick Douglass
G. Djata Bumpus Read full post
Monday, October 8, 2012
Mitt Romney: The "Great White Hope"
Dear friends,
The brilliant piece below is a private email that I received from a longtime friend who prefers to remain anonymous. Enjoy!G. Djata Bumpus********************************************The Great White Hope
I watched the Republican convention last night and was appalled by the Clint Eastwood monologue in which he pretended to mock and berate an imaginary Barack Obama.
First of all, it was cowardly. The audience applauded Eastwood as he stridently confronted an empty chair. The skit also implied that the imaginary Obama was tied to the chair like a prisoner against his will. How else would he be compelled to sit onstage at the RNC and be ridiculed on national television?
This shallow comedy routine was nonetheless deemed so important to Romney that he used it in the prime time slot that should have been reserved for his biographical film, the traditional opener to a presidential nominee's convention speech.
Why was this skit used to introduce Mitt Romney to a nationwide audience?
Hollywood actor Clint Eastwood, the iconic American "tough guy" was clearly enlisted to redeem the manhood of conservative white male voters who feel emasculated by the presidency of the self-described "skinny kid with a funny name."
And it just so happens that the "funny name" is Barack Hussein Obama.
This foolish impulse to belittle President Obama will ultimately prove to be the downfall of Mitt Romney's second White House bid.
First of all, it smacks of racism, implying that the president of the United States would speak in stereotypically profane language in response to Eastwood, instead of doing what has always done superbly: respond with eloquent rhetoric and brilliant reasoning.
Second, the extensive focus on personally attacking President Obama means that the Republicans are not truly concerned with the current challenges facing the American people; they are only seeking a rematch against the reigning black heavyweight champion of American politics. Mitt Romney is thus their newly-anointed "Great White Hope."
The historic irony here is that Barack Obama was elected the first black president in 2008, exactly 100 years after Jack Johnson became the first black heavyweight boxing champion in 1908. Two years later in 1910, white heavyweight contender James Jeffries was defeated by Johnson in what was billed "The Fight of the Century". Jeffries was nicknamed "The Great White Hope" prior to the title bout and his defeat by Johnson triggered riots across the country.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Johnson_%28boxer%29
The Republicans are simply devoid of a real vision or plan for the country. They have thus decided to take the racial low road and unite their base against the black man living in the White House whom they won't respect as the nation's chief executive and whom they don't even consider to be a true American. Mitt Romney's line about Neil Armstrong planting the American flag on the moon led right into his charge that it was time for an "American" to lead the nation once again:
Tonight that American flag is still there on the moon, and I don't doubt for a second that Neil Armstrong's spirit is still with us, that unique blend of optimism, humility and the utter confidence that when the world needs someone to do the really big stuff, you need an American.
And last week, Romney made remarks alluding to the ongoing right-wing "birther" challenges to Obama's citizenship:
"No one's ever asked to see my birth certificate. They know that this is the place that we were born and raised."
In other words "I'm white! Of course I'm an American!"
The hypocrisy therein lies in the fact that Mitt Romney, like Barack Obama is also the son of an immigrant father. Mitt's father George Romney was born in Mexico and made his own bid for the White House in 1968 amid questions about his citizenship. And true to his own words, Mitt Romney has not ever been asked to show his birth certificate to anyone.
Such are the benefits of white privilege.
I had always hoped that the Republicans would not play on white racial resentment in this election. In spite of all of his flaws as a leader, it must be noted that the last Republican president never used race to get elected, except for enlisting the support of high-profile black Republicans like Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice. This time I was glad that Powell skipped the convention but I was otherwise disappointed that Condoleezza Rice instead delivered a prime-time convention address on behalf of Romney's candidacy.
Obama's campaign slogan for 2012 is "Forward." It epitomizes the vision of a truly forward-looking leader with an agenda that is focused on the future and not settling old racial scores. It is a winning vision and I am looking forward to an historic re-election victory by the President in November.
Friday, October 5, 2012
Romney's claim of a "free market" and running a "successful" business is is a LIE!
The lie that Romney and his ilk make about believing in the so-called "free market" is totally exposed in his and others' practices. Please tell me. Where is the free market, when it comes to food being grown and distributed? Or housing to be built, then sold or rented? Or opinions to be made, or goods and services to be sold though the enticing ads of both the print and electronic media? Are there the same opportunities for everyone to develop and grow?
The big banks decided back in the late 19th Century to allow businesses to depend on them for capital (called finance capital), rather than the latter getting their own capital (called industrial capital) by earning it. Actually, only the largest companies of certain industries were given the privilege of getting finance capital. It was a "neat trick", because it meant that no one smaller could compete with them, since they (big companies) did not have to worry about waiting for revenues to keep daily operations, buying new equipment, setting up subsidiaries, or providing paychecks for their workers. As a result, monopolies were formed that made sure that there was no "free market".
Yet, under the current capitalist model, the performance of the big companies, from time-to-time meet a dead end, because, at some point, the continuous seeking of profit in and of itself, with no concern for how the success of the business relates to progress of people in communities - aside from the latter’s consumption - and how people live, will, invariably, lead to the dilemma where the “market” must necessarily reach a “saturation point”, as it were, where there are either less or no customers (i.e., consumers), since there will come a time when people will not buy, if for no other reason than the fact that everyone has all of that particular items that they want. Hence, the constant wars in which, especially, the US, Britain, France, and Germany engage, so that they can establish new markets (i.e., new consumers).
In other words, you cannot have an infinite growth of the market, because there are only so many consumers who will want a product. Then what do you do? You have to change the values of society, so that the market reflects those values, instead of vice versa (which is where the US ad other big capitalist nations now stand). But that means giving up either power or wealth to maintain legitimacy. To be sure, the Romney family, and others like them. shun that idea.
G. Djata Bumpus
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Thursday, October 4, 2012
The 1st Presidential Debate - Poor Polemics
"Moreover, the total lack of analysis of what actually unraveled last night proves that what passes off as an "election" `in our fake "democracy" is often nothing more than a personality contest."
Dear friends,
To me, the first of the 2012 presidential debates shows how anti-intellectual most Americans - especially the opinion-making, mainstream media journalists - are. Moreover, the total lack of analysis of what actually unraveled last night proves, as it has always, that what passes off as an "election" `in our fake "democracy" is often nothing more than a personality contest.
I mean, the event had been billed as a debate. Yet, the discipline of polemics was not a part of the agenda. Huh? For example, when Romney mentioned that he would clip the wings of Sesame Street's Big Bird, President Obama should have asked him what was it that the former governor didn't like about the famous yellow children's icon. It's a simple question! Moreover, such inquiry would have led the thoughtless Romney to babble, bumble, and stumble all over both the stage and the airwaves. Did someone say "polemics"?
The commentator was more than generous about letting each candidate get his points across. Consequently, a competent polemicist would have used that opportunity to make Romney show us who he really is and that in which he really believes. Obama's far superior intellect would have shined. Instead, The president allowed a complete intellectually-challenged lightweight make it seem as if he deserved to be part of the discourse.
When one is in a fight, whether verbally or physically, s/he must have techniques in his or her arsenal, at hand, that will allow him or her to maintain confidence. Losing confidence during a fight can lead to one's defeat. As my old boxing trainer, Val Colbert, taught me, and I still teach, "If you're gonna win a fight, you have to have a cup of confidence to let the other guy know that you gonna win the fight."
In boxing, we have a punch that is called a "jab-to-the-belly". The jab-to-the-belly is what I call the only free pinch in boxing. In other words, all head punches that a fighter throws have a cost, in terms of consequence, be they straight punches like either jabs or "crosses", or round punches like uppercuts and hooks. So I call the jab-to-the-belly, the only "free" punch in boxing, because even if it doesn't land, when thrown properly, there will be no consequence. Therefore, one can maintain his or her confidence by throwing a punch/attacking, without having to worry about being attacked back.
Finally, in the next debate, President Obama should use genuine tactics of polemics, as well as fighting. and go back and keep focus on Romney's Big Bird insult. Again, the whole thing is a personality contest. I hope that next time, the president has a jab-to-the-belly in his arsenal. Cheers!
G. Djata Bumpus Read full post
Dear friends,
To me, the first of the 2012 presidential debates shows how anti-intellectual most Americans - especially the opinion-making, mainstream media journalists - are. Moreover, the total lack of analysis of what actually unraveled last night proves, as it has always, that what passes off as an "election" `in our fake "democracy" is often nothing more than a personality contest.
I mean, the event had been billed as a debate. Yet, the discipline of polemics was not a part of the agenda. Huh? For example, when Romney mentioned that he would clip the wings of Sesame Street's Big Bird, President Obama should have asked him what was it that the former governor didn't like about the famous yellow children's icon. It's a simple question! Moreover, such inquiry would have led the thoughtless Romney to babble, bumble, and stumble all over both the stage and the airwaves. Did someone say "polemics"?
The commentator was more than generous about letting each candidate get his points across. Consequently, a competent polemicist would have used that opportunity to make Romney show us who he really is and that in which he really believes. Obama's far superior intellect would have shined. Instead, The president allowed a complete intellectually-challenged lightweight make it seem as if he deserved to be part of the discourse.
When one is in a fight, whether verbally or physically, s/he must have techniques in his or her arsenal, at hand, that will allow him or her to maintain confidence. Losing confidence during a fight can lead to one's defeat. As my old boxing trainer, Val Colbert, taught me, and I still teach, "If you're gonna win a fight, you have to have a cup of confidence to let the other guy know that you gonna win the fight."
In boxing, we have a punch that is called a "jab-to-the-belly". The jab-to-the-belly is what I call the only free pinch in boxing. In other words, all head punches that a fighter throws have a cost, in terms of consequence, be they straight punches like either jabs or "crosses", or round punches like uppercuts and hooks. So I call the jab-to-the-belly, the only "free" punch in boxing, because even if it doesn't land, when thrown properly, there will be no consequence. Therefore, one can maintain his or her confidence by throwing a punch/attacking, without having to worry about being attacked back.
Finally, in the next debate, President Obama should use genuine tactics of polemics, as well as fighting. and go back and keep focus on Romney's Big Bird insult. Again, the whole thing is a personality contest. I hope that next time, the president has a jab-to-the-belly in his arsenal. Cheers!
G. Djata Bumpus Read full post
Monday, September 17, 2012
Revisiting the New Yorker's "Satirical" Cover of the Obamas
Dear friends,
Originally posted on 7/15/08, on the link below is, a fine analysis - albeit brief, by Jen Armstrong of the Philadelphia Daily News about the 2008 New Yorker magazine's controversial cover that shows Barack and Michelle Obama....
G. Djata Bumpus http://www.philly.com/dailynews/features/20080715_Jenice_Armstrong__Covering_the_Obamas.html?adString=pdn.entertainment/features;!category=features;&randomOrd=071508100445 Read full post
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Iran continues to "modernize"
Dear friends,
It is amazing to me that everytime one of the presidential candidates is asked about Iran, he never talks about the way that Iran is entering the modern era like a freight train travelling non-stop, across miles of tracks. This place is not Iraq - which is caught up in a prior period when "religious governance" was the founding principle, similar to that of Europe during the "Middle Ages".
It is amazing to me that everytime one of the presidential candidates is asked about Iran, he never talks about the way that Iran is entering the modern era like a freight train travelling non-stop, across miles of tracks. This place is not Iraq - which is caught up in a prior period when "religious governance" was the founding principle, similar to that of Europe during the "Middle Ages".
Iran has a space program. The Iranian government is now boasting about having test-fired missiles that can reach both Israel and southern Europe. As well, on the link below, you will fins a very short notice regarding Iran's new telecommunications tower that is one of the tallest in the world.
One Love!
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Saturday, September 8, 2012
Recent Murder of African American woman by LA police
Dear friends,
On the link below is a heartbreaking story of an African American woman who is a single mother having been murdered by Los Angeles police recently. Written by legendary columnist Sandy Banks of the Los Angeles Times, at least to me, it begs for the question, "Why has President Barack Obama done absolutely NOTHING to stem the behavior of so many of these hooligans who wear blue uniforms?" And, from LA to Philly, what do our clown Black politicians ever do about these types of incidents? We must build genuine communities. After all, what difference does it make if you have a job, when a police officers can kill you with impunity, at any time. Wake up!
G. Djata Bumpus
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-banks-lapd-20120908,0,7124908.column Read full post
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Politics, Religion, and Convention speeches
"Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people." - Karl Marx
Dear friends,
It's interesting that ALL of the speakers at both of the political conventions end their addresses with religious salutes...And so, while such gestures may bring warm feelings, temporarily, to many, at what point will humankind take responsibility for realizing our true essence and seeking to relate to each other and what we do, in a way that will bring genuine peace and happiness, without us havi ng to engage in the drama of politics?
In his often, deliberately, misquoted work called, A Contribution to the Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right - Introduction, the great Karl Marx offers, "Religious suffering is, at one and the same time, the expression of real suffering and a protest against real suffering. Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people.The abolition of religion as the illusory happiness of the people is the demand for their real happiness. To call on them to give up their illusions about their condition is to call on them to give up a condition that requires illusions. The criticism of religion is, therefore, in embryo, the criticism of that vale of tears of which religion is the halo."
Finally, we cannot appreciate our true essence as a species, much less ever find real peace and happiness, as long as we obscure its existence through religious claims that do not reflect our behavior as species beings. Cheers!
G. Djata Bumpus Read full post
Dear friends,
It's interesting that ALL of the speakers at both of the political conventions end their addresses with religious salutes...And so, while such gestures may bring warm feelings, temporarily, to many, at what point will humankind take responsibility for realizing our true essence and seeking to relate to each other and what we do, in a way that will bring genuine peace and happiness, without us havi ng to engage in the drama of politics?
In his often, deliberately, misquoted work called, A Contribution to the Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right - Introduction, the great Karl Marx offers, "Religious suffering is, at one and the same time, the expression of real suffering and a protest against real suffering. Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people.The abolition of religion as the illusory happiness of the people is the demand for their real happiness. To call on them to give up their illusions about their condition is to call on them to give up a condition that requires illusions. The criticism of religion is, therefore, in embryo, the criticism of that vale of tears of which religion is the halo."
Finally, we cannot appreciate our true essence as a species, much less ever find real peace and happiness, as long as we obscure its existence through religious claims that do not reflect our behavior as species beings. Cheers!
G. Djata Bumpus Read full post
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Short Video feature with Glen Loury on Obama (originally posted 11/21/08)
That term, "underclass", I contended was an impossible description of people who lived in a class society. In other words, to be "under" a class, as it were, is to suggest that one is living in a society that has no classes. Moreover, the term contradicts itself, since, in our society, everyone belongs to some economic class. Eventually, after a brief debate, Glen agreed with me
************************************
Dear friends,
Back in 1995, while writing a book review for the now-defunct, but highly worthy magazine, African Commentary, I interviewed Glen Loury. At the time, after an unfortunate occurrence in his personal life, Professor Loury stopped teaching at Harvard University and went across the Charles River to Boston University, another great school. (He has since moved to Brown University in Rhode Island.)
In any case, during the interview, we segued from the topic of the book that I was reviewing, for a moment, because I wanted to discuss a term that he had popularized during the Reagan Era which was commonly bandied about by journalists and other such pundits. That term, "underclass", I contended was an impossible description of people who lived in a class society. In other words, to be "under" a class, as it were, is to suggest that one is living in a society that has no classes. Moreover, the term contradicts itself, since, in our society, everyone belongs to some economic class. Eventually, after brief discourse, Glen agreed with me.
I found that more than noble of him. After all, the level of plagiarism and other kinds of dishonesty has become such a part of American academia, even among African American scholars now, that I was pleasantly astonished. It is for that reason that when I saw the brief video on the link below, from the New York Times, I had to share it. Enjoy!
G. Djata Bumpus
http://video.nytimes.com/video/2008/11/14/opinion/1194832958030/bloggingheads-is-real-change-here.html Read full post
************************************
Dear friends,
Back in 1995, while writing a book review for the now-defunct, but highly worthy magazine, African Commentary, I interviewed Glen Loury. At the time, after an unfortunate occurrence in his personal life, Professor Loury stopped teaching at Harvard University and went across the Charles River to Boston University, another great school. (He has since moved to Brown University in Rhode Island.)
In any case, during the interview, we segued from the topic of the book that I was reviewing, for a moment, because I wanted to discuss a term that he had popularized during the Reagan Era which was commonly bandied about by journalists and other such pundits. That term, "underclass", I contended was an impossible description of people who lived in a class society. In other words, to be "under" a class, as it were, is to suggest that one is living in a society that has no classes. Moreover, the term contradicts itself, since, in our society, everyone belongs to some economic class. Eventually, after brief discourse, Glen agreed with me.
I found that more than noble of him. After all, the level of plagiarism and other kinds of dishonesty has become such a part of American academia, even among African American scholars now, that I was pleasantly astonished. It is for that reason that when I saw the brief video on the link below, from the New York Times, I had to share it. Enjoy!
G. Djata Bumpus
http://video.nytimes.com/video/2008/11/14/opinion/1194832958030/bloggingheads-is-real-change-here.html Read full post
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Cornel West on presidential candidate Barack Obama and "white supremacy" (originally posted 3/28/09)
Cornel talked about Barack Obama's precarious position of "showing love" to African Americans while courting many people who embrace "white supremacy".
Dear friends,
The very short video piece on the link below is from a conference that was convened by radio and television personality Tavis Smiley, during the recent presidential campaign (2008). The segment airs comments by noted African American scholar/activist Cornel West, a man who I have known personally for many years. Cornel talks about Barack Obama's precarious position of "showing love" to African Americans while courting many people who embrace "white supremacy". Of course, at least to me, the broader question is: How can a nation that embraces "white supremacy" also claim to embrace "democracy"? Moreover, why is it that President Obama has to represent ALL Americans, when not a single one of his predecessors has ever had that standard, from the slave owner George Washington to Bill Clinton who was the president when the Million Man March went down?
At any rate, Professor West (Princeton University) is always straight to the point, yet highly philosophical - and, at least to me, mostly quite correct. Enjoy!
G. Djata Bumpus.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXj3_pjTTwg Read full post
Friday, August 31, 2012
I have removed my Mother's letter about Condaleeza Rice
"only women are accused of giving sexual favors when they achieve - never men" - Dr. Namandje Bumpus
Dear friends, I just got a call from my oldest daughter, Dr. Namandje Bumpus of Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She was livid about the letter that I posted on Facebook and on my blog, regarding her grandmother classifying Condaleeza Rice as having gotten into her positions of authority, because she had sex with certain men. She then told me that that had happened to her before, and that women who are high achievers are always subjected to that kind of vicious sexism.
Finally, while she doesn't like Rice or what she is about, Namandje insists that only women are accused of giving sexual favors when they achieve - never men. Hence, in spite of the fact that I feel that my Mom had more to say than that, as my daughter put it, her grandmother has never accomplished the level of notoriety as she and Rice have, so I have removed the post. I apologize to any women who were offended. Cheers!
G. Djata Bumpus Read full post
Dear friends, I just got a call from my oldest daughter, Dr. Namandje Bumpus of Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She was livid about the letter that I posted on Facebook and on my blog, regarding her grandmother classifying Condaleeza Rice as having gotten into her positions of authority, because she had sex with certain men. She then told me that that had happened to her before, and that women who are high achievers are always subjected to that kind of vicious sexism.
Finally, while she doesn't like Rice or what she is about, Namandje insists that only women are accused of giving sexual favors when they achieve - never men. Hence, in spite of the fact that I feel that my Mom had more to say than that, as my daughter put it, her grandmother has never accomplished the level of notoriety as she and Rice have, so I have removed the post. I apologize to any women who were offended. Cheers!
G. Djata Bumpus Read full post
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Meeting George Bush when I was a Black Panther (originally posted 10/19/08)
When I originally sent the piece below, it was the next morning after a debate between then Senator Obama and John McCain...I had saved the info, not even using it when Hillary Clinton brought up Obama's relation with a former Weatherman during the Democratic primary, for when I felt that it really would count...A dear friend of mine from the New York Daily News sent it to his Washington bureau...but heard nothing back..I sent a copy to all of the major newspapers in all of the big US cities...I heard nothing back...However, the biggest thing was: After I distributed this letter, to this day, no one has ever mentioned Obama's relationship with that Weatherman guy...Cheers!
*******************************************
Dear Friends,
Sarah Palin has begun making more silly remarks. The latest one involves Senator Obama's alleged "association" with a "terrorist". To be sure, the idea that one is responsible for what another person either does or has done, because s/he has interacted with that person at some point, moves Sarah Palin up a notch, that is even higher than her current, well-earned position as "Ms. Universal Dunce".
In the late summer of 1970, about two weeks after the founder of the Black Panther Party, Huey P. Newton, was released from 33 months in jail for something that he did not do, a number of Panthers were sent to New Haven, Connecticut, from around the country, in order to help reorganize our chapter there, after most of the members there were jailed on charges of having murdered a man named Alex Rackley. Because of his role as the chief officer of the Party, at the time of the alleged crime, Bobby Seale, along with the head of the Connecticut state chapter, Ericka Huggins, was charged with Rackley's murder as well, since prosecutors asserted that the aforementioned duo had "ordered" the murder.
At any rate, literally, upon entering the door of the New Haven chapter, when I first arrived from Boston, I was immediately assigned to set up what we called a "community education program". We had them all over the country, in each branch and chapter. They consisted of weekly meetings, that were actually classes, where folks from the community would come and, in this case, I would both preside over and lead the class, discussing a variety of topics that dealt with social issues that were pertinent to African Americans at the time.
Sometimes, we would talk about stories from the nationally-distributed Black Panther Party newspaper. Other times, I would bring mimeographed copies (there was no such thing as a Xerox machine yet) of published articles from various authors, or ones that I had written myself. For the nine or so months that I was stationed in New Haven, I continued those classes, which were always well-attended, with, usually, about a dozen people each class (which I always held on Wednesday nights at 6pm). Initially, I held classes in the Panther office (which was actually an entire house) on Sylvan Avenue. Later, I moved the class to a building where we would soon open up our People's Free Health Center, on Dixwell Avenue.
Also, during that Fall of 1970, now once again led by Huey P. Newton, the Black Panther Party convened the Revolutionary People's Constitutional Convention. The plenary session was held in Philadelphia (around September, as I remember). The actual convention itself was held around two months later, in Washington, DC. Apart from my other duties, I was now assigned as the food coordinator for the entire East Coast, for that convention. While some people traveled there from the West and Midwest, most of the folks were Panthers and other progressives from the East Coast. Consequently, I was more like the "national" food coordinator. In any case, when the time came, with the help of, particularly "sisters” in the Party, I sent a Mack truck full of food to DC.
By the way, during the time that I was soliciting grocery stores, vegetable wholesalers, and even Dunkin' Donuts, receiving large donations for a "day care" center (which was a new concept at the time), the aforementioned donors had no idea that they were feeding the 2, 000-plus people who would be attending the Black Panther Party's upcoming convention. Most of all, community generosity, both business and personal, was abound.
Nonetheless, one Friday night, after having spent the day collecting food for the Revolutionary People's Constitutional Convention, before going back to Panther headquarters, as I sometimes did, I decided to stop by the "Black House" on Yale campus. (The Black House at Yale was the name that brothers at Yale chose for their ”separate” dormitory.) After hanging out with the brothers for what was, probably a couple of hours, I imagine, I headed back to the office. As I was walking off of Yale campus, I was passing by a building, when suddenly a couple of European American or "white" guys yelled out from a second or third floor window, inviting me up for a drink.
Now, I must add that, for some reason, I keep remembering that there may have been somebody else with me, that is a "community worker" (which was the name that was given to people who were not actually "Panthers", per se, but who helped in doing a lot of duties like selling our newspapers and serving at our nationwide Free Breakfast Programs for children, and so forth). Nevertheless, I accepted the offer of the, seemingly, slightly intoxicated guys and went into the building, up the stairs, and into a room that was filled with about 25 college students who were all dressed formally. I introduced myself and all of them took turns shaking hands with me. Soon, we began what would become a roughly two hours or more journey of debating political issues, while, simultaneously, one of the main hosts, a guy named George, constantly kept my glass full of wine.
Early on, by the way, I identified myself as a Black Panther, although my outfit made it unnecessary for me to do so (black leather jacket with "Off the pig!" and other type buttons on the lapel, a black cap, black pants, and black combat boots). Nevertheless, they told me that they were a campus group called "The Party of the Right". Initially, I thought it interesting that they would want me to stay and "party" with them, considering the name of their group and the reputation of mine. You must recall that that was 1970, the same year that, only abou a year earlier, the legendary F.B.I. chief, J. Edgar Hoover, proclaimed that "The Black Panther Party is the number one threat to internal security in America".
Initially, there seemed to be a lot of debate, with me representing the "revolutionary" side, and a couple of other guys (who were standing next to George) defending the "reactionary" aka "conservative" point of view. After about a half of an hour or so, suddenly, some blond guy who was wearing glasses, and standing next to me, started agreeing with me. Before long, others chimed in with him. I stopped my dialogue with my initial verbal combatants and said, "I thought that all of you people were conservatives?" Then the blond guy in the glasses said, "No. We are all mixed up politically. We just use this name, because the administration leaves us alone, thinking that we're different than all of the radical groups on campus. That way we get to drink on weekends with no trouble".
We all just fell into a kind of friendlier "vibe", at that point. George kept feeding me drinks. He was a very gracious host. I have always remembered him fondly. After I left them that night, on, at least, a couple of occasions, I ran into George either on or near Yale campus. We would always stop and rap for a minute or two.
It was only many years later that I realized, from research, that when I knew him, he had already graduated from Yale. Apparently, he was just hanging around campus, when I knew him. I was surprised to find that out (i.e., that he had already graduated), because he looked fairly young for his age, at the time. I tried to contact "The Party of the Right" about him, several years ago, but got no response.
Back then, I had mentioned to my Panther comrades, and over the following years, to some of my brothers and friends, about that night, because it was so humorous, but intriguing, to me. It would be many years before I ever saw George again. My memory of him became clearer, after he became president, and I began to see his face more.
At one point, for about two weeks, I kept waking up in dripping sweat, thinking about that Fall night on Yale campus - some three decades earlier - at that party in 1970. George's face was plastered into my mind. Then, like people who recall being sexually molested, decades after the incident occurred, for the first time, I understood what had happened to them. I now, tangibly, understand how a person can not be thinking about something, then remember it thirty or, in some cases, forty years later.
Finally, George Bush's hanging out with me that night and occasionally bumping into me had nothing to do with either how he or I turned out or what we did. Therefore, Palin's inane suggestion that Senator Obama is not to be trusted, because of someone he knows is worse than inane actually. McCain, I hope, would not say something so dumb. Additionally, if you recall, during her debate with Joe Biden, Palin twice made the stupid claim that John McCain knows how to "win wars". McCain would have never said something so outrageous, At least, I hope not. After all, Senator McCain's fighter plane got shot down over Vietnam and he stayed captured while the US lost the war - partially due to the "unsuccessful" McCain-types who were in the US military, along with lousy decisions by generals who were all led by an incompetent Republican commander-in-chief (sound familiar?). Moreover, what a pathetic pick for his vice presidency. Many people in Alaska did not vote for Sarah Palin to be their governor, and many of those who did are now being quite vocal about their regret over the bad choice that they made.
G. Djata Bumpus Read full post
*******************************************
Dear Friends,
Sarah Palin has begun making more silly remarks. The latest one involves Senator Obama's alleged "association" with a "terrorist". To be sure, the idea that one is responsible for what another person either does or has done, because s/he has interacted with that person at some point, moves Sarah Palin up a notch, that is even higher than her current, well-earned position as "Ms. Universal Dunce".
In the late summer of 1970, about two weeks after the founder of the Black Panther Party, Huey P. Newton, was released from 33 months in jail for something that he did not do, a number of Panthers were sent to New Haven, Connecticut, from around the country, in order to help reorganize our chapter there, after most of the members there were jailed on charges of having murdered a man named Alex Rackley. Because of his role as the chief officer of the Party, at the time of the alleged crime, Bobby Seale, along with the head of the Connecticut state chapter, Ericka Huggins, was charged with Rackley's murder as well, since prosecutors asserted that the aforementioned duo had "ordered" the murder.
At any rate, literally, upon entering the door of the New Haven chapter, when I first arrived from Boston, I was immediately assigned to set up what we called a "community education program". We had them all over the country, in each branch and chapter. They consisted of weekly meetings, that were actually classes, where folks from the community would come and, in this case, I would both preside over and lead the class, discussing a variety of topics that dealt with social issues that were pertinent to African Americans at the time.
Sometimes, we would talk about stories from the nationally-distributed Black Panther Party newspaper. Other times, I would bring mimeographed copies (there was no such thing as a Xerox machine yet) of published articles from various authors, or ones that I had written myself. For the nine or so months that I was stationed in New Haven, I continued those classes, which were always well-attended, with, usually, about a dozen people each class (which I always held on Wednesday nights at 6pm). Initially, I held classes in the Panther office (which was actually an entire house) on Sylvan Avenue. Later, I moved the class to a building where we would soon open up our People's Free Health Center, on Dixwell Avenue.
Also, during that Fall of 1970, now once again led by Huey P. Newton, the Black Panther Party convened the Revolutionary People's Constitutional Convention. The plenary session was held in Philadelphia (around September, as I remember). The actual convention itself was held around two months later, in Washington, DC. Apart from my other duties, I was now assigned as the food coordinator for the entire East Coast, for that convention. While some people traveled there from the West and Midwest, most of the folks were Panthers and other progressives from the East Coast. Consequently, I was more like the "national" food coordinator. In any case, when the time came, with the help of, particularly "sisters” in the Party, I sent a Mack truck full of food to DC.
By the way, during the time that I was soliciting grocery stores, vegetable wholesalers, and even Dunkin' Donuts, receiving large donations for a "day care" center (which was a new concept at the time), the aforementioned donors had no idea that they were feeding the 2, 000-plus people who would be attending the Black Panther Party's upcoming convention. Most of all, community generosity, both business and personal, was abound.
Nonetheless, one Friday night, after having spent the day collecting food for the Revolutionary People's Constitutional Convention, before going back to Panther headquarters, as I sometimes did, I decided to stop by the "Black House" on Yale campus. (The Black House at Yale was the name that brothers at Yale chose for their ”separate” dormitory.) After hanging out with the brothers for what was, probably a couple of hours, I imagine, I headed back to the office. As I was walking off of Yale campus, I was passing by a building, when suddenly a couple of European American or "white" guys yelled out from a second or third floor window, inviting me up for a drink.
Now, I must add that, for some reason, I keep remembering that there may have been somebody else with me, that is a "community worker" (which was the name that was given to people who were not actually "Panthers", per se, but who helped in doing a lot of duties like selling our newspapers and serving at our nationwide Free Breakfast Programs for children, and so forth). Nevertheless, I accepted the offer of the, seemingly, slightly intoxicated guys and went into the building, up the stairs, and into a room that was filled with about 25 college students who were all dressed formally. I introduced myself and all of them took turns shaking hands with me. Soon, we began what would become a roughly two hours or more journey of debating political issues, while, simultaneously, one of the main hosts, a guy named George, constantly kept my glass full of wine.
Early on, by the way, I identified myself as a Black Panther, although my outfit made it unnecessary for me to do so (black leather jacket with "Off the pig!" and other type buttons on the lapel, a black cap, black pants, and black combat boots). Nevertheless, they told me that they were a campus group called "The Party of the Right". Initially, I thought it interesting that they would want me to stay and "party" with them, considering the name of their group and the reputation of mine. You must recall that that was 1970, the same year that, only abou a year earlier, the legendary F.B.I. chief, J. Edgar Hoover, proclaimed that "The Black Panther Party is the number one threat to internal security in America".
Initially, there seemed to be a lot of debate, with me representing the "revolutionary" side, and a couple of other guys (who were standing next to George) defending the "reactionary" aka "conservative" point of view. After about a half of an hour or so, suddenly, some blond guy who was wearing glasses, and standing next to me, started agreeing with me. Before long, others chimed in with him. I stopped my dialogue with my initial verbal combatants and said, "I thought that all of you people were conservatives?" Then the blond guy in the glasses said, "No. We are all mixed up politically. We just use this name, because the administration leaves us alone, thinking that we're different than all of the radical groups on campus. That way we get to drink on weekends with no trouble".
We all just fell into a kind of friendlier "vibe", at that point. George kept feeding me drinks. He was a very gracious host. I have always remembered him fondly. After I left them that night, on, at least, a couple of occasions, I ran into George either on or near Yale campus. We would always stop and rap for a minute or two.
It was only many years later that I realized, from research, that when I knew him, he had already graduated from Yale. Apparently, he was just hanging around campus, when I knew him. I was surprised to find that out (i.e., that he had already graduated), because he looked fairly young for his age, at the time. I tried to contact "The Party of the Right" about him, several years ago, but got no response.
Back then, I had mentioned to my Panther comrades, and over the following years, to some of my brothers and friends, about that night, because it was so humorous, but intriguing, to me. It would be many years before I ever saw George again. My memory of him became clearer, after he became president, and I began to see his face more.
At one point, for about two weeks, I kept waking up in dripping sweat, thinking about that Fall night on Yale campus - some three decades earlier - at that party in 1970. George's face was plastered into my mind. Then, like people who recall being sexually molested, decades after the incident occurred, for the first time, I understood what had happened to them. I now, tangibly, understand how a person can not be thinking about something, then remember it thirty or, in some cases, forty years later.
Finally, George Bush's hanging out with me that night and occasionally bumping into me had nothing to do with either how he or I turned out or what we did. Therefore, Palin's inane suggestion that Senator Obama is not to be trusted, because of someone he knows is worse than inane actually. McCain, I hope, would not say something so dumb. Additionally, if you recall, during her debate with Joe Biden, Palin twice made the stupid claim that John McCain knows how to "win wars". McCain would have never said something so outrageous, At least, I hope not. After all, Senator McCain's fighter plane got shot down over Vietnam and he stayed captured while the US lost the war - partially due to the "unsuccessful" McCain-types who were in the US military, along with lousy decisions by generals who were all led by an incompetent Republican commander-in-chief (sound familiar?). Moreover, what a pathetic pick for his vice presidency. Many people in Alaska did not vote for Sarah Palin to be their governor, and many of those who did are now being quite vocal about their regret over the bad choice that they made.
G. Djata Bumpus Read full post
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
El Presidente and Afghanistan
Dear friends,
In the midst of deciding whether to add more US troops to the alleged "war on terror" that is presently focused on Afghanistan, with what in that country should El Presidente be more concerned? After all, as is proven by the story on the link below, females of the population are not even considered to be, much less treated like - human beings.
Perhaps, instead of a "war on terror", El Presidente should think about ending the war on terror and begin a battle for upliftment of the human species. He can get things started by promoting already proven programs like, for example, "forest gardening", where new eco-systems can be used to fight hunger and provide people around the world access to healthy bodies which will allow them to build. Forget about space programs. Use the money to help people around the world be able to make themselves more self-sufficient. Besides, we have already flown to the moon, made machines to travel on the ground, sea, and space, and developed many more types of technological Utopias like telephones and televisions. As has been pointed out by others before me, it is time that we start making human Utopias. We can end hunger and homelessness immediately, if we end greed. There is enough work and play for everyone, if we develop value judgments in human societies, so that people do not feel that they must hoard everything for themselves, because they feel so unworthy otherwise.
Relating back to the "war", let us not forget: When the greedy and imbecilic pair that is made up of Bush and Cheney ordered the invasion of Iraq, one of the first things that they did when our troops got in was to disband the Iraqi Army. That, of course, forced the now unemployed soldiers to join the "insurgency". The outcome of that is now quite obvious, as the US military has been forced to get out of Iraq. To be sure, Halliburton and others made out like bandits, but thousands of Americans died, and exponentially more of our soldiers were left without limbs. And for what? They did not even get the oil.
More troops in Afghanistan mean more lives lost. As the African proverb goes: Never surround your enemy on all four sides. What that warns is: If you don't provide room for escape, then there will be no later opportunity to reconcile. That means that your enemy must then fight to the death - NOW. This happened in both Vietnam and Iraq. It will happen in Afghanistan too, if our President plays the fool and continues to do the bidding for the military/industrial complex. And the "Conservatives" and their scummy Congressional ilk will laugh their way to the banks, not really caring who wins in 201o - or 2012, for that matter (especially since they can always manipulate the government-- and corpoorate-controlled mass communications media).
Nevertheless, as I mentioned up top, on the link below, please check out a piece that I have saved since early this year, knowing what was likely to happen.
Cheers!
G. Djata Bumpus
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/01/22/acid.attacks/index.html Read full post
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Some Science Tid-bits, a slide show (first posted 10/27/09)
"Spider Glue. A sticky substance in spider webs may lead to the development of a new generation of biobased adhesives and glues that could replace some petroleum-based products, scientists report..."
Dear friends,
I caught an interesting slide show while perusing the New York Time's online edition. I thought I would share it. It appears on the link below.
Cheers!
C. Djata Bumpus
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2009/10/23/science/102209_Sciencepix_index.html Read full post
Dear friends,
I caught an interesting slide show while perusing the New York Time's online edition. I thought I would share it. It appears on the link below.
Cheers!
C. Djata Bumpus
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2009/10/23/science/102209_Sciencepix_index.html Read full post
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
A real Presidential Campaign theme song
"Obama's campaign theme song "Yes we can" should have been this..."Dear friends,
With all due respect to our great brother Stevie Wonder, Obama's campaign theme "Yes we can" by the Pointer Sisters, on the link below,should have been the song. Let's face it. For example, Mr. Obama kowtowed to the slimy Republicans - during the health care debate, then after "giving away the store", not a single pol just mentioned voted in favor of the watered down bill. That means that Obama could have gotten universal health care legislation passed for all Americans without them. Go figure. I wonder what his theme song will be this time?
"Dare to struggle - dare ti win" Frederick Douglass
G. Djata Bumpus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwbZS6AsQLs Read full post
Friday, August 17, 2012
Immigration Reform, White Supremacy, and Racial Self-hatred
"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, from Ireland to Russia, 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 Read full post
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, from Ireland to Russia, 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 Read full post
What is "African unity"? (originally published 6/27/08)
Below, is a version of a "Letter to the Editor" that I sent to the Philadelphia Inquirer the other day. Rather than print the just mentioned missive and encourage dialogue, like so many of the government- and corporate-controlled media outlets, they seem to have decided to do otherwise.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Dear Editor:
While I'm sure that Trudy Rubin's piece, "Worldview: African unity can stop tyrant", posted June 25, 2008, regarding the need for "African unity" in order to rid the continent of tyrants like Robert Mugabe, is well-intended, what she did not point out in her article is: "African unity" was the mantra that overthrew European colonial rule, two generations ago. The result gave us a succession of "liberators" like Robert Mugabe and others who meant well, but became tyrants, because, before long, after independence, petty tribalisms and so forth - like "religious" squabbles, set in, and were, in fact, instigated by agents of the former colonial rulers.
Additionally, unemployment, which was already rampant under colonialism, became even worse, because the formerly colonized "leaders" had no understanding of running industry. After all, while European rulers and others have and still do take raw materials from the African continent, they send the aforementioned materials overseas to places like Asia and Latin America where they are refined into consumable products. Besides, when they left, the vindictive colonizers took everything that they "owned" with them (in many cases, they even took the light bulbs from the administrative offices that they had been forced to abandon). That meant that farming on a rather unsophisticated scale and petty merchandising would reign. People have to eat and sustain themselves. Hence, when it came/comes to government collection and expenditures, along with other matters, corruption necessarily followed/follows.
Therefore, the call for "African Unity", as it were, must first address the fact that, before the Europeans came there, Africans had a different direction. Moreover, to speak of "African unity" outside of that context may be well-meaning, however, it is shallow and useless. In other words, we've already been there. In fact, it is the continuous exploitative behaviors of Europeans and their offshoots in the Americas, by their maintaining the underdevelopment of Africa and other lands, that lend to the creation of Mugabe and his ilk, whether on the continent of Africa or here in the Diaspora - and the rest of the world.
G. Djata Bumpus Read full post
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Dear Editor:
While I'm sure that Trudy Rubin's piece, "Worldview: African unity can stop tyrant", posted June 25, 2008, regarding the need for "African unity" in order to rid the continent of tyrants like Robert Mugabe, is well-intended, what she did not point out in her article is: "African unity" was the mantra that overthrew European colonial rule, two generations ago. The result gave us a succession of "liberators" like Robert Mugabe and others who meant well, but became tyrants, because, before long, after independence, petty tribalisms and so forth - like "religious" squabbles, set in, and were, in fact, instigated by agents of the former colonial rulers.
Additionally, unemployment, which was already rampant under colonialism, became even worse, because the formerly colonized "leaders" had no understanding of running industry. After all, while European rulers and others have and still do take raw materials from the African continent, they send the aforementioned materials overseas to places like Asia and Latin America where they are refined into consumable products. Besides, when they left, the vindictive colonizers took everything that they "owned" with them (in many cases, they even took the light bulbs from the administrative offices that they had been forced to abandon). That meant that farming on a rather unsophisticated scale and petty merchandising would reign. People have to eat and sustain themselves. Hence, when it came/comes to government collection and expenditures, along with other matters, corruption necessarily followed/follows.
Therefore, the call for "African Unity", as it were, must first address the fact that, before the Europeans came there, Africans had a different direction. Moreover, to speak of "African unity" outside of that context may be well-meaning, however, it is shallow and useless. In other words, we've already been there. In fact, it is the continuous exploitative behaviors of Europeans and their offshoots in the Americas, by their maintaining the underdevelopment of Africa and other lands, that lend to the creation of Mugabe and his ilk, whether on the continent of Africa or here in the Diaspora - and the rest of the world.
G. Djata Bumpus Read full post
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Letter from Leonard Peltier about President-elect Obama's HOPE (originally posted 11/8/08)
In the Spirit of Crazy Horse
My Relatives and Friends,
Last night a change in this country took place that not too long ago many people said would never happen. An African-American was elected to the White House and by a major landslide, which gives him a mandate by the public to fulfill his promises.
This landslide indicates the people have placed their hope with this man they call their president for a change in this country. HOPE.
There have been times if I can even recall what it really means to have hope that justice is right around the corner. I've been mislead and disappointed so many times that I would soon see justice and to have it denied upon a technicality in legal appeals. Or like what happened eight years ago. Everyone placed their hope and trust with a couple named Bill and Hillary, but we were betrayed at the last minute. I know that many of my friends, family and supporters were crushed.
I began to feel the weight and pressure of a lifetime being unjustly imprisoned began to crowd me into a corner of my cell and then in my mind. But, it was this thing that has been our battle cry for so many years, "In the Spirit of Crazy Horse". I remembered what he stood for and remained a warrior until his last breath. It is a strength that we stand upon when we are right. We were right to be in Oglala and we were right to be prepared to defend ourselves. What wasn't right is that a jury never got to hear any of this testimony, and the rest of the trial was a product of the fabrication and then manipulation of the FBI.
This spirit of Crazy Horse is a spirit of being in total resistance to the wrongs perpetuated towards your people, community, family and yourself. Some of us called it outrage, but that is just merely an emotion without resolving the issue. It is when we make a conscious choice to try and balance the wrongs in this society that we are being compelled by this spirit of resistance to stand in defense of the wronged.That spirit cannot be conquered, and I refused to submit and give in when it appeared there may be no hope
It was because of the letters of support and encouragement from so many people that I continued on for another eight years. And now people seem to feel there is a change blowing in the wind and that the election of Obama is a manifestation of that change.I sincerely hope so, because I am now 64 years old and coming up on my 33 year of being confined and fighting for justice and my freedom, Obama may be my last chance at securing my freedom. If there is one thing I learned from earlier campaigns on my clemency is that he won't just be able to do it by himself. He is going to need your support in the form of public opinion on the case. That isn't going to happen until we can create education and awareness on the circumstances of my case across this country and send letters.
Be a Branch Support Group to help create public opinion. My case has to be a national issue on justice denied, it may sound easy, but it isn't. The FBI has been an opposing force in attempting to discredit my cause and that of Native people since they focused their attention on the American Indian Movement in the 1970's. When it appeared that Clinton might actually grant clemency, the agents went and demonstrated at the White House and utilized their resources to create doubt in the mind of Clinton. So in the national awareness goals of the branch support groups it is going to be your challenge to keep the public interest focused.
It is also another hope that with a whole generation of people who were born after my wrongful conviction that there will be a renewed source of energy and actions. One point that I would like everyone to focus on right now is a "30 year law" regarding my sentence and parole. At the time I was convicted, the guidelines said:"Any prisoner, …shall be released on parole… after serving thirty years of each consecutive term or terms of more than forty-five years including any life term, whichever is earlier: Provided, however, that the Commission shall not release such prisoner if it determines that he has seriously or frequently violated institution rules and regulations or that there is a reasonable probability that he will commit any Federal, State, or local crime." 28 U.S.C. section 28 U.S.C. §4206(d)
I've served more than 30 years of this sentence and have been considered a model prisoner And the likelihood of committing any crimes is non-existent due to my age and the humanitarian work I've pursued to help my people since my incarceration. According to this law, they have to grant me a parole to my next sentence. But as we've learned from the past, we cannot take anything for granted so your letters should be focused on this law to the parole commission and congressional leaders.
If the commission complies with the letter and spirit of this law, we will have made a significant step towards my freedom and we will need to maintain and increase this momentum.The Committee and I have been discussing several ideas and projects to make this a pro-active campaign. We are currently rebuilding the former LPSG's into LPBSG's. This is necessary due to a breakdown with the former Leonard Peltier Defense Committee. I had to turn to my sister and niece to help me rebuild my defense committee from scratch. We had no files, records, and merchandise. We have not been able to make contact with the former coordinator of the LPDC. We are still hoping to resolve this issue, but until then we needed to keep moving with the campaign.
We still need all of our former contacts and supporters to reconnect with us and to update the information so that my Committee can handle correspondences and contributions. We need everyone who has supported me to contact the LPDOC and sign onto our list serve so that you can be updated with information on progress or activities needed in my campaign.I will need everyone to work with my Committee and clear any action with the appropriate people within the Committee. It is important that we all work together cohesively, instead of scattering our efforts or resources. We do not intend to discourage ideas or creativity, but we would like to incorporate such ideas into a unified larger effort and not act prematurely on some plans we may have not disclosed due to timing or details being worked out.
Some of the projects we have discussed are conducting rides, walks, runs and events across the country to create this awareness of my case. We are initiating efforts to ask bands and artists to host fundraisers in their area. We've talked about strategies we could undertake to further my cause, but a lot will depend on how quickly people come to form my BSG and start organizing in their area. I also understand that some of us have personality issues with other people. I hope that many of you can pray or find a way to rise above this obstacle and work together for one common purpose.
I would like to see so many of my supporters come together in a show of solidarity. If there really is a change in the air, we will need each other to bring about change in so many other areas. For me it has been about our culture and right to be who we are, but foremost it has been the children and the next generation. WE were supposed to leave a better world behind for them and how much have we accomplished? I know that somehow and someway my sacrifice will not be in vain and that the years I've endured this pain of loneliness and suffering in confinement will make a better world for those children and coming generations. That along with my freedom is my hope, but I will not be able to fulfill it without you. So take a few minutes and educate yourself on the injustices of my case. It may shock and outrage you, but you can do something about it, so please join us.
In the Spirit of Crazy Horse,
Leonard Peltier Read full post
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Some Words of Wisdom from Dr. King about War
"A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death. "
The Wisdom of MLK, Jr. A wonderful collection of quotes by Martin Luther King, Jr.
"A true revolution of values will lay hands on the world order and say of war: This way of settling differences is not just. This business of burning human beings with napalm, of filling our nation’s homes with orphans and widows, of injecting poisonous drugs of hate into the veins of peoples normally humane, of sending men home from dark and bloody battlefields physically handicapped and psychologically deranged, cannot be reconciled with wisdom, justice, and love. A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death. America, the richest and most powerful nation in the world, can well lead the way in this revolution of values. There is nothing except a tragic death wish to prevent us from reordering our priorities so that the pursuit of peace will take precedence over the pursuit of war. There is nothing to keep us from molding a recalcitrant status quo with bruised hands until we have fashioned it into a brotherhood." Excerpt from "Beyond Vietnam", an address delivered on 4 April 1967 to the Clergy and Laymen Concerned About Vietnam at Riverside Church in New York City.
Downloaded from the MLK, Jr. Papers Project, Stanford University
http://www.stanford.edu/group/King/ Read full post
Monday, July 30, 2012
Casinos in Philly or elsewhere...Do we need them?
"Moreover, people are not talking insects. That is, ants and bees, for example, are the same creatures, whether at the Sahel in Africa, or on the North Pole."
Dear friends,
Do we need casinos in Philly, or elsewhere in America. The silly excuse that more casinos means "economic development" is a lie! Worse yet, while the revenues from casinos only fill the coffers of huge corporations and thieving state governments, casino enthusiasts, whether unscrupulous politicians or gullible everyday citizens, ignore the fact that real economic growth is ultimately reflected NOT by "jobs" (which are, usually, not that long-lasting anyway), but according to the personal advancement - materially (e.g., better food, shelter, and clothing), along with the growth intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually, of each person within the citizenry. After all, do only SOME people deserve to do well, through gambling - or employment for that matter, or should everyone have equal access to not just opportunity, but, as well, the availability of greater responsibility, in status, with the aforementioned opportunity, through time?
Moreover, people are not talking insects. That is, ants and bees, for example, are the same creatures, whether at the Sahel in Africa, or on the North Pole. However, people are political/social animals whose behavior is based upon our experiences and interactions with others. In other words, we require social adaptation. Insects don't!
Therefore, turning additional hundreds of thousands of people (we already have that many scratch ticket addicts) into gambling addicts at casinos, who will rarely win anything, implicates both city and state governments in crimes against their citizens' well-being, for starters.
So how is that a gain in either economic development, as it were, or even our standard of living? In fact, gambling is "anti-community", since it pits citizens against their fellows, with the former only wishing the best for themselves, at the expense of the latter.
G. Djata Bumpus Read full post
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Wisdom of a Female Scientist on Violence against Women & Girls
"Instead of women, including myself. focusing on our chances, or lack thereof, of getting married we need to actively combat the objectification of women..." Dr. Namandje Ne'fertiti Bumpus
(Originally posted 3/20/11)
Dear friends,
Last year, I read a piece by a dear friend, award-winning journalist Jenice Armstrong of the Philadelphia Daily News. In her article, Jen talked about the difficulties of, particularly, middle-aged professional African American women finding a suitable mate once they have passed 40 years of age .
One of my two daughters, Namandje, a medical scientist and college professor at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, has just reached thirty years-old (now 31), but she has spoken with me about the here-to-mentioned stats before. Therefore, when I read Jen's piece, I forwarded it to her for comments. Her response showed that she had more concern for the recently (2010) murdered grad student from Yale, Annie Le, and how that incident relates to male/female relationships generally. Namandje's response appears below.
Stop the Violence!!!
G. Djata Bumpus
***********************************************
Hey Dad,
The Yale graduate student murder is the issue that is most on my mind. A young woman and young pharmacologist was strangled in a lab she was working in doing her thesis research perhaps by a man that worked with her and was interested in her. She had done research at the NIH (National Institute of Health) and was now a student at Yale.
Yale has a very well-respected pharmacology graduate program so we are talking about a serious graduate student that was serious about developing her science. She wanted to become a professor in academia, when statistics show that many women for whatever reason (family commitments, etc.) choose not to go that route. This hits close to home for me.
The lab for people that are dedicated to our craft is not the same as the average person's workplace. We live in the lab mentally and even physically in a way. We dream about experiments and wake up to write down what we were thinking and run into lab to test it the next day. Many of us spend more time there than we do at home.
The fact that a woman could be victimized and murdered in that setting is very troubling. Women cannot walk down the street at night, or sleep in their home alone or even work in a lab in broad daylight alone apparently without having to think about the fact that they might be attacked by a violent predator. Instead of women, including myself. focusing on our chances, or lack thereof, of getting married we need to actively combat the objectification of women. Once this happens the definitions of men and women and our places in society can evolve to a place that does not depend on women being lesser which currently in many ways they do. Perhaps then we will all approach looking for and entering into a life partnership in a more productive and intellectual manner.
Namandje Read full post
Saturday, July 21, 2012
a Superb 55 minutes-long taped audio lecture that distinguishes "health" from "Health care"
Please click on the link below
http://folktales.net/BEZS006_Dying.mp3 Read full post
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Was George Carlin right?
"By the way, George Carlin, a contemporary of Richard Pryor, at least to me, was often as insightful and funny as the beloved Pryor..."
Dear friends,
I read this piece on the blog of a buddy of mine and thought that I would share it. It reminds us of the reality with which we are all familiar, regarding our nation's constant economic predicament.
By the way, George Carlin, a contemporary of Richard Pryor, at least to me, was often as insightful and funny as the beloved Pryor.
Cheers!
G. Djata Bumpus
http://www.lewrockwell.com/cooper/cooper8.html Read full post
Dear friends,
I read this piece on the blog of a buddy of mine and thought that I would share it. It reminds us of the reality with which we are all familiar, regarding our nation's constant economic predicament.
By the way, George Carlin, a contemporary of Richard Pryor, at least to me, was often as insightful and funny as the beloved Pryor.
Cheers!
G. Djata Bumpus
http://www.lewrockwell.com/cooper/cooper8.html Read full post
Friday, July 13, 2012
Urgent News! - African American Collective goes to Cuba
“For those of us who made this journey, the Big Lie of US policy against Cuba (and the Castro regime) is evident, as is the Cuban government's unwillingness to tackle the lingering matter of racism (white privilege) in that nation. “ – Melvin Smith
Dear friends,
It is a great honor for me to have permission to present below a statement by an African American collective that has just returned from a genuinely fact-finding trip to Cuba. Additionally, knowing one of its participants, Melvin Smith of MWS Journal, personally, I can assure you that this informative, albeitt concise, declaration reflects a body that represents the highest level of integrity and intellectual capability anywhere, unlike the usual reports we see from the U.S. mainstream media. All African Americans have much reason to be proud. Cheers!
G. Djata Bumpus
*********************************
MWS Journal 11-July-2012
Having just returned from a two-week journey abroad, including Mexico and a 10-day visit to Cuba, I want to share with you the summary statement by my travel companions and me regarding our experience and enlightenment in today's Cuba. It was a most unusual and gratifying trip by persons of African descent-- a decided Travel Challenge and research project-- rather than a mere tourist visit. For those of us who made this journey, the Big Lie of US policy against Cuba (and the Castro regime) is evident, as is the Cuban government's unwillingness to tackle the lingering matter of racism (white privilege) in that nation. I will share more details and conclusions soon, but now I present the declaration as agreed and signed by our small group. --MWS
*******************************
A DECLARATION IN SUPPORT OF CUBA On June 28, 2012, the African Awareness Association (AAA), composed of U.S. citizens, embarked as a delegation on an educational and cultural tour (ending July 10th, 2012) to get an understanding of Cuba and to challenge the immoral, racist U.S. restrictions imposed on its citizens on travel to Cuba. AAA, upon nearing the end of the process and completion of our 10 days’ travel challenge of the U.S. blockade declared that:
1. We stand in full solidarity with the Cuban Socialist Revolution and its right to sovereignty, self-determination and self-defense, consistent with the United Nations Declaration of the Right of Nations to Self-Determination and Non-Interference in the Internal Affairs of Nations; and
2. We therefore assert that we do not support the U.S. Blockade/mbargo of Cuba;
3. We see Cuba as a model based upon their historic support for Freedom Fighters, Anti-Colonial movements, and their worldwide Internationalist Programs;
4. We demand the lifting of the illegal racist Blockade and the release of the Cuban 5;
5. We call on Africans and all other people of good will worldwide to support the right of Cuba to self-determination by joining the worldwide demand for an immediate end to the unjust racist U.S. blockade and release of the Cuban 5;
6. We further urge Africans and all other people of good will to engage in programs of educational and cultural exchange to see for themselves the model that Cuba has created;
7. We call for support of and encourage institutionalization of the Annual Cuban Appreciation weekend to be hosted the first weekend of March 2013 in Richmond, VA and other cities across the U.S. Signed this 8th day of July 2012:
Lee C. Robinson Tejvir Kaur Grewall Dedon Kamathi Richard L Clemmons, Sr. Michele A. Tingling-Clemmons Mba Mbulu Banbose Shango Antonio M. Leon Melvin Webster Smith Read full post
Dear friends,
It is a great honor for me to have permission to present below a statement by an African American collective that has just returned from a genuinely fact-finding trip to Cuba. Additionally, knowing one of its participants, Melvin Smith of MWS Journal, personally, I can assure you that this informative, albeitt concise, declaration reflects a body that represents the highest level of integrity and intellectual capability anywhere, unlike the usual reports we see from the U.S. mainstream media. All African Americans have much reason to be proud. Cheers!
G. Djata Bumpus
*********************************
MWS Journal 11-July-2012
Having just returned from a two-week journey abroad, including Mexico and a 10-day visit to Cuba, I want to share with you the summary statement by my travel companions and me regarding our experience and enlightenment in today's Cuba. It was a most unusual and gratifying trip by persons of African descent-- a decided Travel Challenge and research project-- rather than a mere tourist visit. For those of us who made this journey, the Big Lie of US policy against Cuba (and the Castro regime) is evident, as is the Cuban government's unwillingness to tackle the lingering matter of racism (white privilege) in that nation. I will share more details and conclusions soon, but now I present the declaration as agreed and signed by our small group. --MWS
*******************************
A DECLARATION IN SUPPORT OF CUBA On June 28, 2012, the African Awareness Association (AAA), composed of U.S. citizens, embarked as a delegation on an educational and cultural tour (ending July 10th, 2012) to get an understanding of Cuba and to challenge the immoral, racist U.S. restrictions imposed on its citizens on travel to Cuba. AAA, upon nearing the end of the process and completion of our 10 days’ travel challenge of the U.S. blockade declared that:
1. We stand in full solidarity with the Cuban Socialist Revolution and its right to sovereignty, self-determination and self-defense, consistent with the United Nations Declaration of the Right of Nations to Self-Determination and Non-Interference in the Internal Affairs of Nations; and
2. We therefore assert that we do not support the U.S. Blockade/mbargo of Cuba;
3. We see Cuba as a model based upon their historic support for Freedom Fighters, Anti-Colonial movements, and their worldwide Internationalist Programs;
4. We demand the lifting of the illegal racist Blockade and the release of the Cuban 5;
5. We call on Africans and all other people of good will worldwide to support the right of Cuba to self-determination by joining the worldwide demand for an immediate end to the unjust racist U.S. blockade and release of the Cuban 5;
6. We further urge Africans and all other people of good will to engage in programs of educational and cultural exchange to see for themselves the model that Cuba has created;
7. We call for support of and encourage institutionalization of the Annual Cuban Appreciation weekend to be hosted the first weekend of March 2013 in Richmond, VA and other cities across the U.S. Signed this 8th day of July 2012:
Lee C. Robinson Tejvir Kaur Grewall Dedon Kamathi Richard L Clemmons, Sr. Michele A. Tingling-Clemmons Mba Mbulu Banbose Shango Antonio M. Leon Melvin Webster Smith Read full post
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Re-visiting Mark Twain's use of the N - word
"Why have we never seen a book that uses the term 'cracker' (or even heard it used) anywhere in broad circulation in this country?..."
(originally posted 3/21/11)
Dear friends,
Last night (Sunday, March 20, 2011), I saw a piece on 60 Minutes about Mark Twain and his use of the word "nigger" in the novel entitled The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The station used a young, I presume, African American male as the interviewer and a Black college professor from Oregon who, get this, claimed that he was proud of both being and being called a nigger (but couldn’t even pronounce the pejorative term comfortably), as the expert being interviewed. Wow!
Anyway, this professor reminded me of Clarence Thomas and other such noted Black intellectuals who the television stations always seem to locate. They must have a list. After all, why didn’t they call someone like my longtime friend and colleague Cornel West who would have made a better account of himself and our people? Worse yet, this Oregon guy even seemed, like Thomas, to have a wife who is a member of the Tea Party. You know the type. Still, at least to me, the real question is: Why have we never seen a book that uses the term cracker (or even heard it used), anywhere in broad circulation in this country? Duh?
Moreover, if racism is defined as simply some type of xenophobia, as opposed to its original meaning which is White Supremacy, then those who practice racism can claim the same moral status as the victims of it. Neat trick. Eh? Of course, the term racism was made popular by African and African American scholars/activists, from Kwame Nkrumah and Franz Fanon to Malcolm x and Huey P. Newton.
Therefore, the idea that Mark Twain is pointing out the inhumanity of slavery is contradicted by his insistence upon the use of the word white. For example, for almost the past three generations, the overwhelming majority of the people who call themselves white, in this country, are those of Irish descent. Yet, the Irish are only of recent whiteness.
For example, in the Boltwood Collection of Jones Library in Amherst, Massachusetts, local genealogist and historian James A. Smith makes an interesting point in his work titled Black People in Early Amherst, in relation to the designation of "whiteness" in the historical town. You see, less than 100 years or four generations ago, Smith writes: The town vital records show an undeveloped and random method of describing racial identities...clerks sometimes listed the person as being Irish in the section used to list race other than white.
Lo and behold! Irish people, surely the single largest group of European Americans in this country, are only of recent "whiteness" - according to their own "race".
Published in nearby Greenfield, almost 200 years or eight generations ago, Howe's Almanac, the only periodical distributed in the area at the time, featured a regular "humor" section in the back of each issue. The following two passages give further evidence to the way that the ruling class' media in this country have consistently been used as instruments for shaping public opinion (in favor of ruling class ideas, of course), as opposed to being the organs of objective journalism that they profess to be.
"An Irishman looking around the horizon, observed with a grave countenance, 'It looks fair for foul weather.'
And
"An Irishman on being asked whether his Sister, (who had gotten to bed) had a son or a daughter; - Answered, 'I cannot tell yet, whether I am an Uncle or Aunt.'"
This is all very confusing, isn't it? Actually, none of the aforementioned passages should be a surprise. Historically, British rulers practiced this sort of "racism" against the Irish, long before English pirates like John Hawkins and Sir Francis Drake even thought of the Americas. In an essay called "Slavery, Race, and Ideology in the U.S.A.", Barbara Jeanne Fields indicates: "...the rationale that the English developed for suppressing the 'barbarous' Irish later served nearly word for word as a rationale for suppressing Africans and indigenous American Indians."
But why isn’t any of the aforementioned material about the Irish taught in either public or private schools in North America? Why isn’t it taught that slavery was a class institution, not a race one, and that there were thousands of Black slave masters, especially, in the antebellum South whose descendants today are called Hip=hop moguls, along with the makers/actors of obnoxious Black plays and films – like those produced by Tyler Perry.
Still, some argue that Mark Twain's book is a classic. Therefore, it should be left unchanged. Really? The Holy Bible has been read far more than any book in history. Yet, there are many versions of that book that have been published, since the original English vernacular tome was published under the name "King James version" (a book about which that monarch didn't even know, until two years after its publication). Did someone say, "Racism"? But racists and their cowardly Black stooges argue, "But the Bible isn't a work of art, like Twain's work." That's interesting, because the 54 scholars who were commissioned by Queen Elizabeth 1st, for the most part, didn't know a lot of Hebrew. Consequently, they had to be quite artsy in translating what would eventually become a book. Besides, since when is any kind of published writing not an art? One has to use techniques that involve metering and phrasing, even doing expository writing.
Finally, what did Twain’s contemporaries like Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, and Harriet Tibman think of Mark Twain’s work? To be sure, that would be a better starting point than having some idiot "professor" from Oregon calling himself the unthinkable.
"Dare to struggle – dare to win", Frederick Douglass
G. Djata Bumpus Read full post
(originally posted 3/21/11)
Dear friends,
Last night (Sunday, March 20, 2011), I saw a piece on 60 Minutes about Mark Twain and his use of the word "nigger" in the novel entitled The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The station used a young, I presume, African American male as the interviewer and a Black college professor from Oregon who, get this, claimed that he was proud of both being and being called a nigger (but couldn’t even pronounce the pejorative term comfortably), as the expert being interviewed. Wow!
Anyway, this professor reminded me of Clarence Thomas and other such noted Black intellectuals who the television stations always seem to locate. They must have a list. After all, why didn’t they call someone like my longtime friend and colleague Cornel West who would have made a better account of himself and our people? Worse yet, this Oregon guy even seemed, like Thomas, to have a wife who is a member of the Tea Party. You know the type. Still, at least to me, the real question is: Why have we never seen a book that uses the term cracker (or even heard it used), anywhere in broad circulation in this country? Duh?
Moreover, if racism is defined as simply some type of xenophobia, as opposed to its original meaning which is White Supremacy, then those who practice racism can claim the same moral status as the victims of it. Neat trick. Eh? Of course, the term racism was made popular by African and African American scholars/activists, from Kwame Nkrumah and Franz Fanon to Malcolm x and Huey P. Newton.
Therefore, the idea that Mark Twain is pointing out the inhumanity of slavery is contradicted by his insistence upon the use of the word white. For example, for almost the past three generations, the overwhelming majority of the people who call themselves white, in this country, are those of Irish descent. Yet, the Irish are only of recent whiteness.
For example, in the Boltwood Collection of Jones Library in Amherst, Massachusetts, local genealogist and historian James A. Smith makes an interesting point in his work titled Black People in Early Amherst, in relation to the designation of "whiteness" in the historical town. You see, less than 100 years or four generations ago, Smith writes: The town vital records show an undeveloped and random method of describing racial identities...clerks sometimes listed the person as being Irish in the section used to list race other than white.
Lo and behold! Irish people, surely the single largest group of European Americans in this country, are only of recent "whiteness" - according to their own "race".
Published in nearby Greenfield, almost 200 years or eight generations ago, Howe's Almanac, the only periodical distributed in the area at the time, featured a regular "humor" section in the back of each issue. The following two passages give further evidence to the way that the ruling class' media in this country have consistently been used as instruments for shaping public opinion (in favor of ruling class ideas, of course), as opposed to being the organs of objective journalism that they profess to be.
"An Irishman looking around the horizon, observed with a grave countenance, 'It looks fair for foul weather.'
And
"An Irishman on being asked whether his Sister, (who had gotten to bed) had a son or a daughter; - Answered, 'I cannot tell yet, whether I am an Uncle or Aunt.'"
This is all very confusing, isn't it? Actually, none of the aforementioned passages should be a surprise. Historically, British rulers practiced this sort of "racism" against the Irish, long before English pirates like John Hawkins and Sir Francis Drake even thought of the Americas. In an essay called "Slavery, Race, and Ideology in the U.S.A.", Barbara Jeanne Fields indicates: "...the rationale that the English developed for suppressing the 'barbarous' Irish later served nearly word for word as a rationale for suppressing Africans and indigenous American Indians."
But why isn’t any of the aforementioned material about the Irish taught in either public or private schools in North America? Why isn’t it taught that slavery was a class institution, not a race one, and that there were thousands of Black slave masters, especially, in the antebellum South whose descendants today are called Hip=hop moguls, along with the makers/actors of obnoxious Black plays and films – like those produced by Tyler Perry.
Still, some argue that Mark Twain's book is a classic. Therefore, it should be left unchanged. Really? The Holy Bible has been read far more than any book in history. Yet, there are many versions of that book that have been published, since the original English vernacular tome was published under the name "King James version" (a book about which that monarch didn't even know, until two years after its publication). Did someone say, "Racism"? But racists and their cowardly Black stooges argue, "But the Bible isn't a work of art, like Twain's work." That's interesting, because the 54 scholars who were commissioned by Queen Elizabeth 1st, for the most part, didn't know a lot of Hebrew. Consequently, they had to be quite artsy in translating what would eventually become a book. Besides, since when is any kind of published writing not an art? One has to use techniques that involve metering and phrasing, even doing expository writing.
Finally, what did Twain’s contemporaries like Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, and Harriet Tibman think of Mark Twain’s work? To be sure, that would be a better starting point than having some idiot "professor" from Oregon calling himself the unthinkable.
"Dare to struggle – dare to win", Frederick Douglass
G. Djata Bumpus Read full post
Monday, July 9, 2012
Why Obama Deserves the Nobel Peace Prize
My initial reaction was “For what?”…However, when I sat down and thought about it, I realized that if we look at past Nobel Peace Prize recipients, they have often been those whose work is not yet finished…”
Dear friends,
On Friday, October 9th, 2009, the Nobel Committee announced that it had selected President Barack Obama as the recipient for its 2009 Peace Prize. My initial reaction was “For what?” After all, he has not even had a full year to accomplish much. Moreover, to be sure, there are a number of other individuals and groups who represent causes that have been in operation for some time and have yet to receive due notice.
However, when I sat down and thought about it, I realized that if we look at past Nobel Peace Prize recipients, they have often been those whose work is not yet finished, but who, nonetheless, through that international “voice” called the Nobel Committee bring light to genuine issues that will mean a tremendous amount of human uplift should the former succeed.
In other words, the Nobel Peace Prize is often used to put issues on the world stage that have gone unnoticed for too long.
For example, when Dr. King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, the Voting Rights Act that changed the lives of millions of African Americans who lived in the South at the time had not been signed (until a year later).
Also, King was awarded Nobel towards the end of the so-called Civil Rights Movement and the beginning of its successor, the more lasting and successful Black Consciousness Movement, that was based upon the work and wisdom of Black leaders of the distant past (that is, preceding the Civil War). They were freedom fighters like: Richard Allen, Gabriel Prosser, Nat Turner, Sojourner Truth, Frederick Douglass, Martin Delaney, and Harriet Tubman. Again, these folks represented some of the earlier stages of the overall “Freedom” Movement of African American people that began on the first plantation that became “home” to African captives (so-called “slaves”), during the early 17th Century.
In the 20th Century, the newer stage of the Movement was originally led, at least intellectually, by, to name a few, everyone from a number of Black historians/activists that included W.E.B. DuBois and Marcus Garvey to the likes of Franz Fanon, Robert Williams, Kwame Nkrumah, and Imari Obadele, to the Honorable Elijah Muhammad through personalities like Malcolm X and Louis Farrakhan, to community activists like Huey P. Newton, Bobby Seale, Kwame Toure (Stokely Carmichael), H. Rap Brown, Maulana Karenga, and, later, Jesse Jackson, to artists/activists like Imamu Imari Baraka (LeRoi Jones), Nikki Giovanni, Maya Angelou, Toni Cade (Bambara), Francis Beale, Elaine Brown, Curtis Mayfield, and Gil Scott Herron, as well as athletes like Muhammad Ali, John Carlos, and Tommie Smith.
Suspiciously, this Movement that was so popular with Black youth (that is, the “baby boomers” of World War 2) had yet to draw much attention, much less support from the US government- and corporate-controlled mass communications media – let alone their worldwide counterparts.
However, it (said Black Consciousness Movement) eventually became largely responsible for creating the actual social awareness and conditions that led to the recent election of Barack Obama as president of the United States of America. Moreover, the global recognition brought, in part, by the Nobel Committee’s awarding of their Peace Prize to Dr. King showed that the plight of African American people spilled over to giving more notice to the struggles of African and other peoples everywhere.
So the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize, sometimes, has had great effects - eventually. Proof? Let us not forget that apartheid in South Africa had gone on for generations when Bishop Desmond Tutu was awarded Nobel, in 1984. Still, the scurrilous system of oppression and exploitation that was apartheid continued for almost ten years after Tutu accepted the Prize. In addition, during 1993, then newly-elected President Nelson Mandela and his immediate predecessor, the former South African president F. W. de Klerk, were each awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their “peace”-ful transition from apartheid to a “free state”, although, now many years later, there remains serious, if not great, doubt about the integrity of the “freedom” that has been won by either black South Africans themselves or their new government.
And, do you remember the Nobel Peace Prize being given to Yasir Arafat, along with Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres, in 1994? There has been no settlement in the conflict between Palestine and Israel to date. In fact, there are not even negotiations of any kind going on these days, years later. As well, I wonder why there were not so many murmurs of disapproval by so many citizens in this country when the two aforementioned officials from Israel (the euphemism for Occupied Palestine) received the Nobel Committee’s nod, considering both the mass murder and expropriation of arable land by Jewish “settlers” that the here-to-mentioned officials’ own government at that time, and all other past and present Israeli regimes have sponsored, for, roughly, three generations, against the Palestinian people.
Also, whereas gargantuan problems like violence against women and girls, worldwide hunger and poverty, and humankind’s suicidal proliferation of nuclear weapons seem, at least to me, to be far more immediate concerns than “global warming”, did not the Nobel Committee award former Vice President Al Gore and some scientists the Peace Prize anyway, in order to make the overall worldwide public more aware of the dilemma? Racism already existed in America, when Dr. King was awarded Nobel. Apartheid already existed when Bishop Tutu was awarded Nobel. Leprosy already existed there, when, in 1979, Mother Theresa was awarded Nobel for her work in Calcutta. Additionally, many renowned scientists, as well as philosophers of science such as myself, have issues with the whole concept of “global warming”, but should the Nobel Committee have waited until all of the plants and creatures in the Pacific Ocean might have been cooked, before they gave the issue notice?
At any rate, in less than ten months, President Obama has changed the image of the United States from being what his predecessor George Bush and his Republican cohorts had made us look like: notorious bullies who were hated everywhere, as “Bring it on!” dares were spouted from a nationalistic voice of domination.
Instead, President Obama has insisted upon us having dialogue with all other nations so that we can all share in our combined resources. Because of that, we are no longer seen as we were when Bush and the Republicans bullied their way around the world, while making more or less unilateral declarations of war against tiny nations, for instance.
Of course, these days, Americans who travel around the world, as all three of my own progeny do, are much safer. Also, more nations may now become involved with us. Do you know of any other North American politicians or even world leaders, for that matter, who could have done that? Would either Hillary Clinton or John McCain (or Sarah Palin LOL) have been able or even wanted to do that, had s/he become president?
Nevertheless, as was apparent with his speech to the US Congress, with the entire world watching, as he very articulately appealed to both the humanity and anemic intellects of almost all of those who belong to the just mentioned US Congress, in asking them to overhaul America’s health care system, even as the more openly racist members of that legislative body made cries like “That’s a lie!” or booed him, President Obama remained a “peace”-ful statesman, and did not allow himself to join the latter in their vulgar displays of ineptitude and unkindness. It is that type of behavior by our president, of being intelligent and civilized, that has made this country and the world a different place already.
Finally, no one should try and second guess the members of the Nobel Committee. As both history and reason have shown us, they are simply trying to promote world peace, fellowship, and safety by, again, providing an international forum (AKA “voice”) for those who are fighting for freedom from affliction whether biological or social. Besides, rushes to judgment tend to reveal human inadequacy as opposed to our competency. And, when I say “inadequacy”, I am defining it in the context of the great Freud as a process that ranges from “short-sighted apprehensiveness to selfishly narrow interests to conclusions that are based on insufficient premises.”
So, let us all say, “Yes…Congratulations, Mr. President, for a job that has not been completely fulfilled as of yet, but seems to be taking this country and the world in a brand new and positive direction”.
Cheers!
G. Djata Bumpus Read full post
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