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[click here to read what hedz are sayin' (comments) below]
"There are negroes who will never fight for freedom. There are negroes who will seek profit for themselves from the struggle. There are even some negroes who will cooperate with their oppressors. The hammer blows of discrimination, poverty and segregation must warp and corrupt some. No one can pretend that because a people may be oppressed, every individual member is virtuous and worthy."
xxxxxxx— Martin Luther King, Jr.
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First, let me say this... I am an extremist. Although we live in a society with other ethnicities including europeanz, there is no reason Y we Afrikanz should allow them to join with us in everything we do. Can't we Afrikanz have at least ONE thing for us without YT bein' there?!!? So before you pass judgment, ask yourself, Y IZ it Dat everytyme we have a function, there's at least one european amongst us?!
I write this piece in the spirit of millionz of Afrikanz who perished during the Middle Passage, correctly called the Maangamizi (many call it the Maafa, but this word is arabic and we should all know they never had luv for we Afrikanz either) as well as author/historian/activists Dr. Francess Cress-Welsing, Del Jones (Ancestor), Neilly Fuller and Kola Boof.
June 14th, 2003, the annual tribute to our Ancestorz who endured the MAAFA, or Middle Passage was held at Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York. I awoke to the vybrating heat of Ra (the Sun), with the sound of birdz spittin' the word for their flock. I arose still emitting high frequency charges from the Subliminal Movienite I attended the nite before. Needless to say, I was ready for what the day was to bring me...
I Linked up with my comradz and ventured to Coney Island to pay respect to those Ancestorz who physically sacrificed during the crossing of the Atlantic Ocean, several hundred yearz ago. Little did I know my day would awaken me to somethin' just as, if not more vital than celebrating our Ancestorz...
Upon reachin' the beach, I saw from afar a mighty red, black and green flag waving, serving as the welcoming spot for the congregation. It was nothin' but luv, poundz and handshakes as I merged with the vybration. After watchin' a few poets spit wordz of truth on our legacy, I ventured toward the water.
" ...[T]hey further consolidate white nationalism under 'The New World Order.' They're talented in disrupting, destroying and dismantling other cultures. This fact has never been truly dealt with. In fact, they propagate that the highest achievement to reach for is global integration, while making it impossible to obtain."
xxxxxxx— Del Jones, Culture Bandits
CULTURE
BANDITS
As I began my trek from the boardwalk down to the edge of the North Atlantic,
I thought my eyes were seein' white spots, because as I drew closer to
the drummerz circle—where a congregation of Afrikanz were dancing
and chanting encircling a collage of Afrikan drummerz, I saw a not so
pleasant site... WHITE PEOPLE! YT to the left of me, YT to
my right, sprinkled throughout! Some with jembe drumz, and many dressed
in Afrikan garb!!
I've notice over the yearz, europeanz showin' up at events that are blatantly (and should be) exclusively for Afrikanz. Even at my magazine's 10th Year/100th Issue celebration a few crackuhz came—they didn't get in though! Dam yo, cain't Afrikanz have just ONE THING EXCLUSIVELY FOR OURSELVES without YT showin' up?!!? But this was only the beginning...
My spirit changed, it went from celebrative to defense-mode. I suddenly felt our culture was subtly bein' attacked and, as alwayz, we were too asleep to recognize it. I've found this tolerance to be accepted amongst all events created around Afrikan celebrationz. Over the past year or so, I been starting to realize a lot of our Elderz are passing on to the next level of life, therefore makin' us next in line in the realm of the heirz of our legacy, so it was not a coincidence that my vybration turned to "battle-and-protect" mode.
As
the apparent distaste was evident on my face, a couple of my comradz spoke
and grimaced as well as speakin' under our breaths about the bullshit
we was seein'. I was vexed and even after a couple agreed facial nodz
of "I know, this is wack, but don't let it stress you,"
I chose to let it stress me... as stolen descendants from Afrika, we were
out there paying homage to our Ancestorz and the very descendants of the
culprits responsible for this tragedy flocked amongst us willingly practically impersonating us! Our
culture was under attack and somethin' had to be done!
I tried envisioning what our Ancestorz woulda thought had they seen what we were doing. Even though we were from various tribes on those ships, we understood one universal thought... we were bein' held against our will and it was these pale-skinned europeanz responsible! The rage that must've ran through their veinz long ago—seein' their mates, daughterz, sonz, brotherz, sisterz and elderz chained up and stuffed inside the bottom of the box like luggage on a Greyhound bus; watchin' countless Afrikanz, tied to large stones and dragged off the side of the ship, left as shark bate; the chopping off of limbz, armz and handz, the castration of the Elderz, all this used to instill the fear so there'd be no uprising on the ships; and the trail of blood visually seen in the sea, the stench of death, mixed with a concoction of fear, not knowin' if you'd be the next example—began to race through my veinz. What would they do if they saw us appearing to let them be amongst us in remembrance of their tragedy? There is no mistake in my mind they would attack these crackuhz 'pon sight!!
There was one situation where an inebriated white female that walked in and out of the circle, botherin' Afrikanz left and right, yet everyone seemed to ignore her. Now, this woman was already possessed by "spirits", so I looked at her as an immediate threat to the vybe we were tryin' to build! I noticed her peripherally from my left. I watched as she walked up to each Afrikan tryin' to get close and probably speak some nonsense. And of course, I was in her path. As each Afrikan stepped aside ignoring her, passing her off to the next like a hot potato, she began to walk towardz me.
I said to myself, "I ain't movin'! I'm not going to yield to this wicked spirit!" Sure enuff, she came up to me and began to slur somethin' to me. I told her simply not to speak to me and to keep it movin'. Of course, as with any wicked spirit, they don't back down easily. So this woman continues to walk closer to me and this tyme, in front of me! Before she could utter another syllable, I raised my voice on purpose, "Yo, get the fuck away from me!" I said it loud thinkin' otherz would see that you can tell YT what you really feelin'. But I was faced with a dilemma, see, she STILL didn't move! She took another step toward me, this tyme, she was inside my circle, about a foot or two in front of me. Initially, I felt I was within' my rights to check her chin, but instead, I mooshed her in the face, pushing her backward. She regrouped and began to walk toward me again, I clutched my fist, ready to defend myself, and she walked away callin' me everything in the book, except the 'N' word (no matter how drunk she was, she knew that was not the place to say that!).
After the small victory, I thought maybe the next Afrikan would be just as adamant as the woman continued to approach another Afrikan a few steps away. To no avail, I found no one took such action. Everyone else pretty much tolerated her presence by ignoring her. This is where the mistake is made.
See, as we continue to ignore YT as they come to our sacred events, they seem to get the notion they are welcome. Although the consensus (based on facial gestures) seemz we do not want them there, very few—to none, dare do or say something about it.
I can recall yearz back when I first noticed YT comin' to Coney Island for the ceremony. At first they stood on the outside of circle, as if they knew they could not just walk up and join the festivities. Nowadayz, they're wearin' garb, leading chants and even dancing in front of the drummerz circle, while we watch and do nothing. If we keep this up, in the next couple of yearz, they will be numerically the majority at the tribute! Now how backwardz is that?! A majority white audience "paying homage" to OUR Ancestorz?! Don't believe YT would try to take over? Need we yet anutha lesson?! Have not the theft of jazz, rock & roll, their current taking of Hiphop serve as evidence?! Makes me wonder if they're actually be thankin' our Ancestorz for makin' it over here, for had they not, they (YT) would not have the wealth they have! But the shit didn't stop there...
POPERATZY FOR PROFIT
As
individualz made peace with our Ancestorz in their own way—some
standing along the shoreline staring out as far as the eye could reach,
otherz dancing, as well as some standing in peace, praying—I noticed
there were several white photographerz taking shots. There were some amateur
photographerz, but there also were, what looked to be, professionalz.
What really did it was when I saw an entire film crew zoom in on many
of us as we "ignored" the oppressorz descendants capture us
on film—without our permission! I mean, they had the big cameras
as well as carrying big stage lights! This wasn't no fashion shoot, these
were Afrikanz tryin' to have a moment with our Ancestorz, this shit didn't
need to be filmed. What, they gonna put it on DVD and sell it back to
us or somethin'?!
Standing next to a good female friend of mine, we both were like, "What da fuck?! These hedz are takin' pictures and filming, disturbing our vybration, without even askin' us if we mind!!" No one, I mean, NO ONE was sayin' shit to them, yet you'd see a look of displeasure on many faces. It was then that my friend was like, "yo, handle that!" It was as if Queen Tiye had summoned me for a mission. She emphasized, "that's what we need you Bruthaz to do... defend us!" Up until that point, I was doin' exactly what everyone else was... NOTHING! Without hesitation, I headed directly toward the cameraman.
I
asked him who gave him authority to come out here and film us without
askin' our permission. He was shook, 'cause obviously he (1) didn't
expect anybody to say something and/or (2) he knowz (thinks) every Black person wants to be on
tv or print! We're born to entertain!
I made a point to be loud, loud enuff that otherz would hear, so that they would no longer fear! After makin' enuff of a scene, I was approached by Muriel A. Stockdale, producer and director of New York Spirit. I directed the same question to her regarding her authority. I made it known that we all did not feel comfortable with them bein' here filming without asking and not knowing what the footage would be used for. It felt like they was on some poperatzy shit! With her fake soft-spoken, "I-don't-mean-to-harm" voice, she stated she had gotten permission from the creator and promoter of the Tribute to the Ancestorz, Tony Akeem.
Shocked that Bro. Akeem would have this entire white crew out here instead of an Afrikan one, she further stated she thought he made us all aware they'd be there, which I find would be impossible unless you disclosed this on the flyer (which it wasn't). She explained she was using the footage as a documentary on the different wayz people in New York worship and practice their spiritual belief system. THIS WASN'T ABOUT ANY BELIEFS, THIS WAS A HISTORICAL TRAGEDY OUR PEOPLE FACED! And as enlightening as her project may've sounded, their presence should not have been there, so in a borderline, non-threatening way, I let her know it and advised her to leave.
Within a couple minutes, they packed up and left. Right after, several Bruthaz walked up to me sayin' how they felt the same way, that they shouldn't have been here. I said to myself, "Y didn't yaw say shit?!" I couldn't be mad at 'em 'cause before my sista friend "checked-me," I was doin' the same thing they were!
This made me immediately think about the 3-point program the elite white supremacist's put out during the 1960s. They noted that (3 being the highest and most threatening) any organization ran by men received 1 point; any organization ran by men AND women received 2 points; and any organization ran by women received 3 points!!
It took an Afrikan woman to check me, making me realize that we Afrikanz (men especially) need to standup and be the protectorz of our culture we're s'posed to be!! No longer should we hold our tongues when we plan events for our people. YT wearz clothes the way we do, try to speak the way we do, sleep with our women, sleep with our men, try to sing and dance to our music, again I ask, can't we Afrikanz have at least ONE thing exclusively for ourselves?!!? This will only happen if we demand it!
If YT wants to atone for what their foreparents did to us, they need not do it with us. They should have their own ceremony amongst themselves, one-on-one with THEIR ancestorz dishonoring the horrendous deedz they did across the globe! I seriously doubt that will ever happen! When Afrikan people decide to 'Never Forget' as the so-called Jew does, we will no longer allow them to be amongst us.
If you'd like to follow up on the status of the white group who were filming the tribute to our Ancestorz at Coney Island, the contact person is Muriel A. Stockdale, Director/ Producer of New York Spirit (www.newyorkspirit.us), Manech Ibar and Casey Fitzpatrick. Muriel can be reached at 810 Broadway, NYC 10003, (212)475.1875 | email: muriela@nyc.rr.com. Swarm them with questionz of what they intend to do with the footage, do they intend to make a profit/are they receiving some kind of funding/corporate support and if so, how do they plan on compensating those used in the footage (without permission) as well as donoating proceedz toward a monument honoring the millionz of unknowned who's bones are still at the bottom of the Atlantic!
As the next generation of vanguardz to the Afrikan legacy, we must ask overstand that if we continue to stand idle, YT will come and colonize our culture just as they colonized Afrika.
LIK SHOT!
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To
date, we were unable to get a response from Bro. Hakeem. We will surely
post his reply if he respondz. If you'd like to contact him, his office
number is (718)270.4902. There's one question you could ask him, Y didn't
he get a group of Afrikan videographerz to document this monumental occasion
instead for ourselves??
Comments | Send Us Your Comment • Growing up as an African American drummer here in the US, I have witnessed that kind of activity even amongst ourselves. I have been told by other drummers that when they were coming up through the ranks and learning the craft, they were told by their teachers (Afro Cubans, Africans) that they are not to show or teach these things to white people, but if you do, water it down. Don’t show them the real shit! These same teachers (including the Africans) began to contradict themselves and started teaching YT, more and more. I am not sure if they were teaching the watered down shit or not but maybe it was also a matter of “YT is willing to pay”. I have always know that this was not their culture and always very resistant to want to participate in any activity that involves YT and drumming. I totally agree with you. The pictures looks like the white folks got a hold of some Ghanaian drums and probably were taught a little Ghanaian style drumming. This is a very typical trend that has been going on for quite a few years. YT is actually saying that “We will go to Africa and learn a little about African culture, buy some drums and come back to the US and throw it into the face of the African American”, thinking that it makes them authentic or we (who are not thinking and don’t know anything about African culture) are not. Maybe some of us are not authentic because we have sold our culture out to the point where there is nothing left (another reason for keeping and developing our culture to ourselves).
So when I saw the picture, it was nothing new to me. You are one of the first (maybe non-drummer) that I have come across that has mentioned this.
Another excellent case in point is how YT has accepted the spread of the steel band culture into the Universities and Colleges across American. Most, if not all of the University steel bands are composed of white students. Most of the instructors are Trinidadian though. I could list some detailed cases but I don’t want to be too long winded. • You've made a number of credible points. I have many thoughts regarding the use of expressions emanating from Black culture being used against the same (such as gangsta rap), and further appropriation of cultural expression that has garnered wealth for non-Black people (yts) as well un-discerning Black people. In the case of gangsta rap, it instructed the descendants of Afrikan (African) slaves on self-annihilation. The rappers had no concern for its destructive content and were only [saw] its potential for lining their own pockets. What about Black pirates? The style continues to be embraced by European capitalists who still make a great deal of money from it (gangsta rapping and ghetto culture), albeit derived from a differently complexioned source. The unfortunate thing in all of this is that many black youth and others lost their lives because of the attrocious behavior patterns that are upheld in that type of banter. I suppose the point that I'm making is that we (Afrikans) have carved out a dangerous place for ourselves. We don't speak out on atrocity; we just sort of co-exist with it. We don't attempt to plan a better way of being, we just sort of go with the flow of what's currently happening (yourself in the case of the sister having to TELL you to do something and further, why didn't she DO something more than tell you?). Black youth have traditionally driven popular culture. One unfortunate thing is that it goes unchecked (such as gangsta rap). Where are [the] responsible role models? The other is that Black youth are generally penalized for their raw, creative expression (profiled, arrested, denied an education, and generally ostracized). Then, three or four years later, yt youth acquire a reasonable amount of skill in the creative expression, enabling them to (appropriate) take charge of it (using what they've learned to star in commercials, produce their own groups centered around the creative expression, make a great deal of money on this now socially acceptable mode of behavior). They don't get profiled, arrested, denied an education and generally ostracized. When they take charge, it is considered clever. So what else is new? As you imply in your article, Black people really need to STOP and take stock of our condition. After taking a look at what's really driving our lives, a course must be chartered and action taken. This leaf on the wind thing is kind of old is quite inadequate. Time for positive and productive CHANGE. The GHETTO needs to become proactive; that is, become intelligent, enlightened and EVOLVE.
PEACE
Trying to be with you.. • I LOVE YOUR Pieces!!!! Especially the one back about the Sean Bell Rallies and getting arrested. I wrote a reply to the site but it didn't post, and I didn't save it so when I tried to post it I lost it. I didn't re-write it, plus it wouldn't have had the same flow as the original writing/thoughts. Anyway. Your thoughts are so right, exact, on point, etc. I know arguments can be made about freedom to access, public space, civil disobediance, (RE: the Sean Bell community getting arrested nonsense), but when it comes down to it, really real, I feel and I know many others probably feel exactly as you wrote. Maybe folks will start to straigthen up their backs. One. xxxxxxxxxxPosted by Miles McAfee (Miles@mec.cuny.edu) on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 at 11:08 AM |
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