Open letter to Afrikan Elders – Pt2

Derrion Albert, the 16-year-old murdered student from Chicago, was not the first tragic killing of an Afrikan by an Afrikan. It also wasn’t the last, unfortunately. What it was is the latest in a series of acts of self-hatred. Malcolm X called that Afrikans wearing the mask of self-hatred. He said that making Afrikans wear that mask was (is) to worst thing white supremacy did to us and that it was (is) our responsibility to get the mask off our face and our people’s face (mind).

Any of us, who truly believe that Malcolm was “Our Shining Black Prince” disrespect his memory if we continue to seat silent while other deaf, dumb, and blind Afrikans continue to wear that mask. We disrespect the tremendous sacrifice of the Three-Ms – Medgar, Malcolm and Martin -- by not doing something to remove the mask from the mind of “our children”. We disrespect the principles of our Afrikan Heritage and Ancestry by not teaching “our children” to respect Black Life.

Whether we say it elegantly and Ebonically, our Elders’ Voices must make the point to “our children” that every Black Life has real value and must not be senselessly extinguished before it has fulfilled the Creator’s intent. Our Elders must pass on the wisdom, rituals and traditions of living an Afrikan-centered life-style to “our children” for be they cursed deaf, dumb and blind for eternity yet we fail them.

The alternative for Afrikan people living a cursed life is to live life to become the kind of people that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., envisioned us becoming when he described us by saying, “When the history books are written in future generations, the historians will have to pause and say, “There lived a great people – a black people – who injected new meaning and dignity into the veins of civilization.” It is that majestic vision of black people that we must imbue into “our children” that will have them “believing in the spirituality, humanity and genius of Black people, and in our renewed pursuit of these values” (from the New Afrikan Creed).

And by-the-way, Jacksonains do not need to go to Chicago to witness senseless violence in the Black community. Most recently, we simply need to remember, and never forget the 27 year nurse who simply wanted to enjoy a night out at Birdland. Yatashi Johnson has to be the straw that broke the camel’s back of “Silent from the Elders” in our community. We do not have to wait for the next one. We have to hear Medgar Evers telling us “Every time I think about kids and their innocence, I would wonder how whites can make the youngsters suffers so.” Although, today he undoubtedly would ask how we can make our own children suffer so.

These messages from Malcolm, Martin and Medgar has to resonate today in the Black community through the Afrikan Elders in our community as a message to the next generation to value Black Life. That message must be sent out to “our children” repeatedly by Our Elders until it sinks in for “our children”. And mechanisms must be put in place for “our children” to be able to properly deal with and release their anger and frustrations without harming themselves and others. The Afrikan Village must begin to raise “our children”.

To get it started, I make myself available, and/or will organize a panel of Afrikan Elders from our community, to mediate any dispute where the combatants are receptive to mediation. Simply contact Brotha Lukata at 601.957.2969 for a free consultation on setting up an African Village Meditation Session for yourself and/or a family member. We have got to make the effort for “our children”.

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Jackson-MS Chapter of N'COBRA
African People
"Pulling Together to Repair Ourselves"
601.957.2969 or 601.982.0861

Chokwe Lumumba Is Running For Jackson, MS City Council

Chokwe Lumumba For Jackson, MS City Council

Building a New Jackson, Building a New South, Building Self-Determination!

The Malcolm X Grassroots Movement (MXGM) is taking a bold step to advance the cause of New Afrikan Self-determination. Building off the experiences of developing the Freedom Party in Selma, Alabama and the Reconstruction Party in New Orleans, Louisiana, MXGM co-founder, Chokwe Lumumba, is running for City Council in Jackson, Mississippi.

The aim of this run is to implement a program of progressive social and economic change that will not only improve the lives of New Afrikan people in Jackson, but also empower Black and other oppressed people throughout the Kush District (the Mississippi Black Belt) and the Deep South by advancing a new social and economic agenda and strengthening their self-organization.

"The People's Platform"

So, what is this new social and economic agenda? As we are all too well aware, we are facing extremely trying economic and social times. With the economy in freefall and capitalism in deep crisis, MXGM believes that we have an agenda and an approach that can adequately address this crisis and transform the future of Jackson and the Southern region. Our agenda as expressed through the campaign's "People's Platform", is centered on the following four points:

1. An economic, social, and cultural human rights based approach to solve the economic crisis afflicting the city and state. We will use this approach to stop evictions, foreclosures, mass unemployment, and hunger.

2. Economic growth and job creation that brings Jackson into the forefront of the struggle to create a Green economy and increase employment opportunities.

3. Create job training programs and a better educational system that supports the real needs of our youth.

4. Public safety and an end to police misconduct. To explore the full Platform visit www.electlumumbaward2.com

Be a part of the change

Help us build this movement for genuine development and self-determination in Jackson. You can do this by:

1. Donating money to support your aspirations and interests as reflected in this campaign.You can make an electronic donation at www.electlumumbaward2.com or send a check payable to the "Committee to Elect Chokwe Lumumba". Mail the check to: 440 N. Mill Street, Jackson, MS 39202.

2. Throwing a fundraiser for the Campaign to Elect Chokwe Lumumba in your city or region. To conduct a fundraiser please email electlumumba@gmail.com or call 601-353-5566 to obtain the information and materials you need.

3. Spreading the word to your family, friends, co-workers, and congregants; ask them to make donations, promote the Peoples Agenda, and raise media attention for the campaign and its agenda for change in your local and regional media outlets.