Mr. President (Ferguson)

Mr. President:

African Americans have been paying the price for your presidency. While we came out in droves to elect you, you have not shown up for us. The situation in Ferguson is representative of the type of harassment that has increased since you took office. I listened to your messages regarding the situation in Ferguson and you tip-toed around the real issue, race relations.

When you held the beer summit for the Boston cop, I knew you were being ill-advised.  Had you took to the airways and challenged Americans to invite a neighbor over to discuss race and the concept of "difference", Michael Brown and many others might still be alive.

There is an undocumented retrograde in the local policing practices and telling African Americans to protest peacefully as they walk pass blood stained sidewalks and streets is unfair and unrealistic.

I am sending you this note in hopes you actually read it and change your approach to this matter. Stop sugar-coating the issue of race in America and call a spade a spade, challenge Americans to put their beliefs on pause and engage each other.

I am heartbroken and disappointed in your performance as a president. We helped to put you where you are, now help us, or were we just a means to an end?

The New Niggers....

Today, blacks are no longer the litmus paper or the barometer of social change.  Blacks are in every segment of society and there are laws that help to protect them from racial discrimination.  The new "niggers" are gays...It is in this sense that gay people are the new barometer for social change...The question of social change should be framed with the most vulnerable group in mind: gay people.

-Bayard Rustin

While I agree with Bayard, I offer up a further mental dig. Based on Bayard's rationale, the actual new niggers are Black lesbians.  They are female, black and carry a sexual identification that automatically places them into a third subculture.  They are triple-dipped in minority status. It's no wonder why they walk around so angry.

Mount Up

Where are our kings…

Where are our soldiers…

Is there anyone left with bravery…

Where are our mothers…

Where are our souls…

Are we living without?

Let’s take it back to the center,

Where it all began,

Unified, justified,

To the right and left,

Flanked by love,

Back to the center.

Where are our elders,

Who embraces wisdom,

Rather not chic, but necessary,

Tongues are needed for truth to carry,

Reach out for me,

Embrace me grand woman.

Let’s take it back to the center,

Where truth resides,

It awaits our break from slumber,

To join its many folds,

Mount up soldier, kings, mothers, elders,

And bring your tattered souls.

By Badilisho

http://ibwriting.blogspot.com

The Niggerization of the African

The niggerization of the African. This is the title of my next article. It was inspired by a facebook thread that I participated in. I was later blocked by the moderator for strongly disagreeing with him and a few others. However, that will not stop me from expressing my opinion. I will discuss the history of the "N" and the lack of cohesion in the African American community. If there are other angles you would like for me to cover in this article, drop me a note. 

Badilsiho

http://ibwriting.blogspot.com

Djembe Creed

This is my djembe. There are many like it, but this one is mine. My djembe is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I master my life. My djembe, without me, is useless. Without my djembe, I am useless. I must play my djembe true. This is my djembe.

Note:  I am looking for free space to practice.  I am based in the Brooklyn area.  If you know of a space write me at badilisho@yahoo.com. Hotep!

Surf This!

Many of us don't have a clue as to what is going on in Darfur, to include myself. What we do know is that there are black folks killing black folks, and we want "somebody" to do something about it...preferably and historically...someone other than ourselves. I have talked to a few of my brown counterparts, and it appears that African Americans feel helpless when it comes to assisting the countries of Africa...and many don't feel connected to their ancestry at all, unlike Italian Americans to Italy, or Polish Americans to Poland, and so forth. African Americans are in a unique position to reclaim our history and tell Our-story. In the meantime, take a moment to learn more about Darfur and allow yourself to offer up what resource you have to the cause...a sincere prayer goes a long way.

The following site provides a clear explanation of of the current state of Darfur. Most of us understand the ins and outs of what happened in Rwanda. A similar genocide is taking place in Darfur...but it's more brutal and more complex. However, the website provides a basic explanation: www.darfurinformation.com

U.S. Involvement - Our individual state governments have been more proactive than our Federal government. Kudos to the states of Arizona and California. Both states have created legislation that prohibits any business based in their state to do business with the companies that are supporting the genocide in Darfur. It's also important to note, most of the American volunteers towards this cause are white! Hmmmmmmm.

If we can support Israel, we can support countries where people of negroid ancestry reside. If we wait on our government to place the same value on Black life as they do for white and Jewish life...we will continue to see genocide here in the states and across the seas. 

So as you sit in your air conditioned apartment, sipping on bubbly, and surfing the net (smirk)...Surf this! 


Badilisho, freelance writer and a newbie to proper commentary-
http://ibwriting.blogspot.com

Why Are Black Gay Men Such Sluts?

I've heard several guys ask questions like this out of sheer frustration, and usually I have no response for them. However, last year I put some thought in to the question and came up with the following explanation. We live in a capitalist society that doesn't want people of color or subgroups to gain power. Gays are at the lowest end of the power structure, and blacks are just barely above that. When you are gay and black you are systematically fucked at birth. That fucked up status transfers to our relations and the worth we place on each other, which is usually little or nothing. So relationships are doomed or difficult to hold on to. So, most men just settle for temporary satisfaction. Therefore, gay black men aren't the sluts they appear to be, they are just overt realists living in pain. Now, if you want to change all of this, start placing a high value on yourself and your brothers. Fight the system in big and small ways. Believe your own truth and live life the way our creator intended.

Badilisho, freelance writer and a newbie to proper commentary-
http://ibwriting.blogspot.com

Why The Fugg Are Black People Pledging Greek?

In order to justify ungodly wars, slavery and a long history of maltreatment, Black people are continually portrayed as the enemy of intelligence. We are deemed as a threat to higher learning, and many across the globe plot to keep the truth hidden. The truth is that Africans introduced the world to the concepts of medical treatment, astrology, metric systems, time, calendars, and chemistry. The word chemistry derives from the word "Chem" or "Khem", which translates to "land of the black people or black land". Let us not forget, it is African knowledge (one's and zero's) that has created the ability to produce modern technology such as laptops and cell phones.

Yet, African Americans are quick to pledge Greek. WTF! Even on the campuses of the most prestigious HBCU's, you find young Africans pledging "Greek". FYI to Black people, the Greeks took from your ancestors. It's sheer ignorance to pledge to something that symbolizes sheer white supremacy, and to perpetuate that ignorance at historically Black institutions of higher learning is an ill-informed tradition that should be abolished.

I know I am going to piss a lot of folks off with this question...but why are Black people still pledging Greek? Why aren't we pledging African? Or is it still politically incorrect to appear to be anything "African"? I am convinced that this is a collective mental illness that Black people refuse to get treatment for [self-loathing]. We are trained to love and worship things that look nothing like us...from our God, to our authority figures, to our affiliations. Break the cycle, and move towards the truth. You are the truth, the originators, the true intellects. But you can't embrace that greatness if you are running around trying to leave up to the standards of thieves.

Badilisho, freelance writer and a newbie to proper commentary-
http://ibwriting.blogspot.com