tomoMAD.
Ancestral Paths
This is a time of romance,
and stress and the only
place we can’t return is
to the simple life. But when
life ever simple for black
lerica? It is discomforting to
that our ancestors were not
in their time. But it is a
let we came through a people
those lives were lived in mostly
itmarish conditions, toiling
relessly often aeainst
rheiming odds in prayers
promises for our today. This
is part of our history and one of its
elements that can help shape our
future.
We see the beautiful women
and handsome men on the covers
of our magazines, in the cinema
and on the TV screen, teasing us
into lusty, romantic reverie and
fantasy. The dream of having it
all—trendiness and materialism
is showered with the scent of
exquisite perfumes from ancient
times and the enchanting lil only
;black women can deliver-like the
Isongs of Nefertiti. This is
•jutaposed by our struggle for
survival which casts us in a
Seemingly surrealistic relief:
JAIDS, drugs, crime, poverty,
ancarceration and all the ills and
•problems related to stress.
In this time of romance and
dreams we face another passage
:and must reflect on the spirit and
preative genius of our ancestors
who overcame formitable
obstacles, which evolved in a
legacy of truth, compassion and
perservance. Our ancestors were
men and women along whose path
we walk, who through intelligence
provided this promise of today. To
ensure our future as a people
changes and adjustments are
imperative.
Today many African
Americans are confronted with a
syndrome that is extremely
stressful and poses a very special
problem, which if not solved,
borders on destruction by making
cities uninhabitable. The situation
is moving beyond prejudice and
discrimination to great cultural
differences and isolation between
blacks and dominant middle class
America, while in major cities
people of very different cultures
are now in contact with each other
in dangerous, stressful
concentrations.
Many blacks face a
devastating double-whammy:
overt racism is on the upsurge at
the same time the socio-economic
condition is getting worse because
of the longstanding consequences
of racial inequality. Full
assimilation of blacks in a color
blind society is unlikely in any
foreseeable future and this leaves
the ingredients of stress and other
factors existing for new racial
confrontations and violence.
Everybody wants to be a winner
in a time of romance and dream
and a little more accentuating the
positive may be the best way to
win friends in the 1990s and
reduce stress in the African
American community.
The Future For Blacks
& The battle against racism has
'ays been partly a moral one.
ether appealing to the ideals of
American creed or to fairness
ind justice, blacks and their allies
have used moral suasion to
mobilize support for civil rights
and against racism. However, in
recent years, moral themes have
been disappearing from the
struggles over racial justice, and
when evoked, they seem to have
lost their force.
A stable, long-term
commitment by government at
every level is essential if we are to
make significant progress in
eliminating racism. At virtually
every critical turning point in the
|long struggle for civil rights, the
{federal government was a major
■actor.
; Much of the deterioration that
has occurred in race relations
jeame during the Reagan
administation when the federal
government ceased to be an agent
;of social change. This fact is most
{dramatically reflected in Reagan
•administration policies and in five
1969 Supreme Court (tensions that
seriously weakened workers’
•rights to fight discrimination in
the workplace and to persuade
business set-asides. The irony, of
course, is that the Supreme Court
was once the staunchest
proponent of affirmative action.
The president is especially vital
to progress in the struggle against
{racism. This is why you have seen
such a flurry of meetings between
black leaders and President Bush
in recent weeks to discuss the
Civil Rights Act of 1991.
That act seeks to overturn the
disastrous decisions rendered by
the Reagan majority on the
Supreme Court. The president’s
veto of this legislation has turned
blacks against him.
Two decades of massive
immigration have brought new
ethnic groups into the potential
competition. Strengthening old
ties and forging new ones are
essential steps in protecting civil
rights and ensuring further racial
progress.
Surveying the progress that has
been made in civil rights and the
political gains among African
Americans, we see a clear
transition.
What began in the streets, at
lunch counters, on the doorsteps
of City Hall is not continuing in the
halls of legislatures, in corporate
board rooms, and at the ballot
box.
The movement for justice and
equality has been transformed
from the protest to politics and we
look ahead to see it being
transformed to yet another plane:
economic empowerment, which is
the outgrowth of poltiical action.
This Mr. Bush seeks to deny to
African-Americans, women and
minorities, by rejecting the Civil
Rights Bill.
Afrocentrism Abroad
; After Egypt, Afrocentrists
teach children about the glorious
West African emperors, the vast
lands they ruled, the civilization
they achieved; not, however,
about the tyrannous authority
they exercised, the ferocity of
pieir wars, the tribal massacres,
the squalid lot of the common
people, the captives sold into
Slavery, the complicity with the
Atlantic slave trade, the
persistence of slavery in Africa
after it was abolished in the West.
: As for tribalism, the word tribe
hardly occurs in the Afrocentric
lexicon; but who can hope to
[understand African history
without understanding the
practices, loyalties, rituals, blood
feuds of tribalism? Black
historians of an earlier
generation, like Carter Woodson,
wrote of the “orgies of war and
Sacrifice of human beings” in
West African societies. That note
is not struck in the Afrocentric
curriculum.
One can go on indefinitely citing
dubious claims Afrocentrisl
ideologues represent as
facts—that Pythagoras anc
Aristotle, for example, stole theii
mathematics and philosophy
from black scholars in Egypt. Bui
there is no reliable evidence tha
either Pythagoras or Aristoth
ever visited Egypt. In the case o
Pythagoras, writes Prof. L
Pearce Williams, the Cornel
historian of science, th<
Babylonians and Egyptian:
certainly were acquainted witl
the Pythagorean relationship, bu
the Pythagorean theorems, tlx
proof of the relationship, wen
Hellenic.
Wajid’s Word
I
'"if ..
BV F. GODFREY
J
The following facets are noteworthy for
the week of June 2-8:
June 2: Harriet Tubman 11823-1913) led
Union Army guerillas into Maryland,
freeing more than 700 slaves. James
Augustine Healey became the first black
Catholic bishop in the United States, 1875
June 3: Charles Drew bom 1904-1950
Physician, pioneer of blood plasma
research
June 4: Mississippi Valley State
University founded, 1951
June 6: First annual convention of
“People of Color" held in Philadelphia,
1831. Stokely Carmichael (Kwame Toure.
newly adopted African name) launched
Black Power movement, 1966
June 7: Gwendolyn Brooks, poet, born
1917. Mary Church Terrell wins struggle to
end segregation in Washington, DC.
restaurants, 1953.
June 8: Homer A Plessy refused to
move to segregated railroad coach in New
Orleans, initiating Plessy vs. Ferguson
suit, 1892. First Civil Rights Act passed,
1886
As you can see, the first Civil Rights Act
was passed in 1886. Now, in 1991, congress
continues to debate the African living in
America, while the African sits back and
waits on those in power to decide on their
rights as citizens.
It must be mentioned that if Africans
and women were considered as full
citizens by the European men who are in
control, we would not need any civil rights.
The Africans must understand that if the
European man is not willing to give his
European counterpart certain rights, then
we know well what we can expect from
him
It is time for the African to turn the
pressure on those who are in control. We
must begin to use our numbers and our
economic might to dr ind our rights We
must seize our righu, and quit begging
massa for some more scraps.
I mentioned before that the African can
literally “close” America down. If we used
the economic boycott and stayed away
from our numerous jobs on the various
plantations, we could force the Europeans
who are in power to beg us to come to the
table and work things out. As long as we
continue to wait on others to give us what
is rightfully ours as so-called Americans,
we u ,11 never achieve full citizenship
We should make attempts to align
ourselves with any European women who
are serious about liberation, but we should
also remember who the European woman
goes home to each night One must fully
know who the enemy is before he or she
can effectively conquer that enemy
We must throw away the ridiculous
barriers our coming together as a people
and begin to recognize that we are all in
the same boat Whether you are an
Episcopalian or a Baptist, you are still an
African. Whether you are a Delta, an AKA.
an Omega or a Sigma, you are still an
African. Whether you are dark or light, or
have brown hair or black hair, or have
straight hair or coarse hair, you are still
an African. Whether you live in North
Raleigh or South Raleigh, you are still an
African.
Bob Marley once warned us that 'They
don’t want to see us unite. All they want us
to do is keep on killing one another " He
also urged, “Africa unite, unite for the
benefit of your people.'' It is time for us tc
heed the urging and warning of our greal
brother and seize our rights Do you
remember Rosa Parks and the bus
•boycott? It was also the boycott which
ultimately ended segregation in many ol
the public facilities and privately ownec
businesses throughout the South.
We are depending on a Congress which i;
not representative of us to represent us
This borders on the ludicrous. Until we art
able to send people to Congress who wil
represent us we cannot expect to ge
anv more than the crumbs we have beer
receiving over the past 100 years. We must
gain our freedom by any mean:
necessary! PEACE!
A Different Voice
BV IIOBorilV SIIAW-TIIOMPSO,\
THK 01.1) WAV CONTRADICTIONS
When I was a little girl ' was fascinated
By the song "Que Sera, Sera or
“Whatever Will Be, Will Be" (I’m not sure
that's the title). Now that I'm all grown up,
I’m much more fascinated by the
contradictions that life presents. In short, I
am really much more just fascinated by
people and in awe of life. When I say in awe
of life what I really mean is that I'm in awe
of the "givens" in life, the "What is-ises."
My fascination with people is really more,
my fascination in the contradictions that
present themselves as our human
perceptions. I thank God that along the
way I have been given companions who
wonder about things too. What has helped
me maintain my sanity or lack thereof
(depending upon your perceptions! is that
my dearest people share my views,
understand my views, clarify my views or
encourage my views.
For the purpose of this article, let me
share some local and national
! contradictions. I recently lieard a caller on
■ Frank Roberts’ show, “Let’s Talk."
discussing Dan Blue's move to another
house. He perceived that Dan is moving
• out of the district, as a matter of fad he
• thought Ik* had already moved. Not so on
! both cases. I wonder if lie were correct,
’ what business is it of the public? Unless of
course the law (that once a representative
I moves out of the district he is no kmgei
that district's representative is not
1 upheld Also, il would lie our business if
l Dan attempted or intended to effect the
I redistricting so that wherever he moved
j the lines would Ik- redi aw n sohal he could
| remain the repre - -dative That is not only
• immoral, but also illegal. At any rate
! since neither premise i.% , -rect, tin
questions are moot Then, the question
again becomes does Dan and his family
have a right to move anywhere in the
district they please? I say yes, because I
believe that I have a right to live anywhere
I please and so, I extend that right to
others
I was told that there was a caller on a
talk show who was offended by comments
I made about the Black Unity Day. 1 hav.
pondered whether or not I owe him ar
apology I believe I do and to that caller I
say. “I am sincerely sorry that you wert
offended, hurt, or angered by m\
comments. My intentions were to d(
neither, but rather to share an opimor
about the definition of the word leader,' it
response to your definition. If m;
definition angered you. I m sorry. Tin
other side of this is that it brings up th.
reality of the society we have created u
America, it is generally the "rules" tha
public comments are open to public
response. What an individual does with the
public devate by his personal reactions
comes from somewhere inside himself
based on his perceptions, his thoughts, aw
feelings and his behavioral patterns 01
motives.
Recently, I understand that Dan Blue
invited those he believed to be "leaders" t<
a dinner Most present were electee
officials and so being, I guess it ’s probably
true that publicly they are consideree
leaders If not leaders, they certainly art
representatives by virtue of their status a:
"elected” officials. It is my understand^
that a "sore spot' with some of thesi
people is the bad press that they get fron
the “Let’s Talk” show. They attribute this
to Frank Roberts. I guess they neec
somebody to blame, because It’s obviou'
to me that callers to the show give then
the bad press based on their actions or lacl
thereof. There are also some callers wh<
say "they” shouldn't be talked about,
believe differently. 1 do believe chat the;
shouldn't be lied about or misrepresented
out l also believe that when they becomi
representatives of the public, theii
representation is as open to criticism as i
is open to support. I personally suppor
their representation when it supports me
mine and ours and I criticize it when i
.See ,» DIFFERENT VOICE, V. 10)
BiBLb Thought
Through desire a man, having separated himself,
seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom. A fool hath no
delight in understanding, but that his heart may drover
itself. When the wicked cometh, then cometh also
contempt, and with ignominy reproach. The words ot a
man's mouth are as deep waters, and the well»P™8 ”
wisdom as a flowing brook. It is not good to. “*
person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous m
judgmenl Proverbs W:l-S
TONY BROWN'S
JOURNAL
BY TONY BROWN ,
AMERICA IS C ERTIFYING BLACK INFERIORITY
Donald Trump was turned into a folk hero by the media
without any examination of his personal views. Now we
learn that the man many blaeks vicariously live through
said, T have black guys counting my money... I hate it...
Laziness is a trait in blacks. It really is. I believe that,”
writes John O’Donnell in his new book called “Trumped!”
Is Donald Trump an aberra
tion of white opinion" Not hard!)
A University of Chicago survey of
racial attitudes found that 75 per
cent of whites, that *• three or of
every four, believe nlack people
are lazier, less intelligent, less
patriotic and more prone to vio
lence than whites
To accommodate these beliefs
and institutionalize opinions of
innate black inferiority or to help
this "inferior” race survive
BROWN
among a superior species, wiuc
whites have instituted “race
normmg "
Employment-aptitude tests are ranked or bunched by
race comparing blacks to blacks and whites to whites. In
’his institutional confirmation that African genes retard
intelligence, whites must score on exams 405 out of a
possible 500 points to be ranked at the top, while a black
must oniv earn 355.
fiacia equcbtv under race norming means whites can
sp<it a black 50 points and still win.
It also means that rich blacks must only compete with
poor blacks to succeed in America With the same
privileges mat a rich white family has house, car, private
schools, foreign travel, tutoring, etc a member of a
comparable biack family only needs to do 50 points less to
best a white socioeconomic equal.
Don t think tor a moment that this confirmation of a
black inferiority test is aiding poor blacks Many have been
so damaged by poverty that even writing their names is out
of the question There is no affirmative action for them.
The white bigots are now able to accomplish, with the
help ot today s black leaders, what their ancestors failed
to demonstrate empirically during slavery and Jim Crow:
the inherited inferiority of Americanized-Africans.
Black interests have become such a negative
commodity in Congress that Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton
' D-D C i stressed that the civil rights bill is not aimed at
blacks, but primarily to benefit mainstream white women.
Furthermore, the House Democrats last week signaled
that the "special-interest" blacks would get no help from
them in this year's civil rights bill They voted tc
specifically outlaw the use of quotas in hiring and
promotion White Democrat' a- well as white Kepublt
ran' have given upon black people
One black college student at a white university said, "I
fee! like I have ‘Affirmative Action' stamped on my
forehead " In fact, all blacks have been stigmatized by a
sole dependence on white people's programs and
acceptance to succeed.
That s one of the reasons Roy Smith, a black veteran ot
the Chicago pol’ce force, joined a "reverse
discrimination' lawsuit with 313 other, mostly white, cops.
Smith, after 18 years on the force, has been denied
promotion to sergeant because Hispanics and women who
scored lower on exams had to receive sergeant "set
asides" for their groups.
"It’s something that started out good and now has
gotten out of hand." Smith believes. And despite the
rhetoric from black civil rights leaders who shamelessly
tell the world that blacks cannot, unlike every other group
in America, make it without government welfare, many
blacks agree with Smith.
t See TONY BROWN, P. 10)
AFROCENTRICITY:PARTI
The term afrocentricity has become a household word
in the African-American community. We are witnessing
media discussions of afrocentric curricula, afrocentric
thought and afrocentric programs. Unlike the “black is
beautiful" movement in the '60s, afrocentricity is not a fad.
It is a discipline.
According to Molefi Asante and Kwabena F. Ashanti,
afrocentricty consists of a perspective, a philosophy and a
scientific methodology
For the last several years, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Father
Martin Carter and others have advocated that Black
Americans call themselves African-Americans. In naming
ourselves, we who have African roots, identify with the rich
history and traditions of Africans throughout the world.
This is the beginning of taking an afrocentric perspective
and of creating psychological unity among African people.
( An afrocentric perspective involves a self
consciousness which identifies one's core or center as
African. The African world view espouses groupness, not
individuality, commonality, not differences. Cooperation,
collective responsibility and interdependence among
African people are chosen over competition and individual
rights.
Afrocentricity is not a hair style or a style of dress. It is
not calling a fellow African-American “brother” or
“sister,” or calling a white person a “honky.”
The lessons of the ’60s proved that superficial
representation of “blackness” are short-lived and can be
very divisive when judgements of “who is blacker than
thou are employed. Afrocentricity transcends skin color,
i clasSi educational level and national origin. This
perspective can serve as a frame of reference for
organizations, for our actions, for our history and our well
being as it puts the African at the center of all things.
Thus, the world view emanates from inside ourselves and
is projected outward.
This perspective is further reflected in our language, in
male-female relationships, in our churches and in our
Strategies.
This ultimate representation or the afrocentric
perspective b reflected in rerpert for people, excellence
and above all self-love.