The responsibility of self and leadership

[Kefentse_Bandele]

Let's see now, we have many organizations and individuals who fight for the civil and international issues of Black people. The issue of today is criticizing without self critique. I have listened as brothers and sista's alike complain about the direction and tactics of Reverend Al Sharpton and Reverend Jesse Jackson as well as the N.A.A.C.P. and the Urban League. My question to them is; what are your tactics? And why do they feel the need to come to your city to protest or fight for injustices? It's simple...it's because you are not there.

The fact that you mention their names during events of struggle is clear and present of their commitment to their respective causes. The truth is, if we stood up more, they would sit down. They are present because we are not! It is usually said "I wish they would go away" , "they're self serving"..etc.. While these accusations may be true, it doesn't take away from the fact that we are missing in the struggle. By us I mean those born after the 60's. Yes us late 60's, 70's and 80's children. Why can't we pick up the footballs of struggle we continuously blame and scorn our predecessor's for fumbling?

I believe it is an act of cowardice to attack the person who makes an attempt to liberate us, whether or not we agree with their methods, than assist them in attacking the obvious enemy. Do we have any organizations of substance created after the Black Power Movement of the 60's and early 70's? Or have we gotten fat off the blood and sweat of our ancestors and became Monday morning quarterbacks? Arm-chair revolutionaries?

In my personal opinion, the internet is a perfect opportunity for Africans to attack other Africans who don't see the struggle the same as they do. I myself suffer from this Willie-Lynch tactic of divide and conquer. People are separate even in our struggles to be free. We gotta find some common ground in this struggle for our lives. We gotta start protesting when we see problems in our own communities. There is enough of us to attack every problem we have. Liberation is not a one way street and neither was our MAAFA to this new world. Liberate your people yourself!

Uhuru Sasa

[MamaDahomey]

Originally Posted by Kefentse_Bandele

Let's see now, we have many organizations and individuals who fight for the civil and international issues of Black people. The issue of today is criticizing without self critique. I have listened as brothers and sista's alike complain about the direction and tactics of Reverend Al Sharpton and Reverend Jesse Jackson as well as the N.A.A.C.P. and the Urban League. My question to them is; what are your tactics? And why do they feel the need to come to your city to protest or fight for injustices? It's simple...it's because you are not there.

I too have criticized, not because I did not believe that their intentions had never been pure. But I simply never trusted things when they seemed to get "fishy". For many, if the path is not completely grass rooted from start to finish, it is not right. I stepped away from this philosophy a while back when I was living in Florida. It was then that I realized that there are no pure tactics. We lost a lot of support from conscious brothers and sisters who did not realize it is damn near impossible to do everything grassroots because educating our people is just the beginning. Changes can be made within us, but there are bigger things to tackle.
The way I see things is that every group of people except for African people were and still are supporting their own. In Florida it was Cubans for the Cubans, Jews for the Jews, and African people simply consumed everyone else’s ideals and products without producing any pure philosophy for themselves, or product for themselves. I can remember a brother storming out of a meeting because of some local radio interviews and a local cable show interview that he felt he did not want to be associated with. Why are we turning to the tell lye vision people etc. Claiming that "we" are getting lost and simply criticizing the tactics we choose to use in order to continue our efforts. When another brother produced a documentary, a sister left because it included an interview with himself conducted by a white. She didn't realize how vital that interview was to the overall meaning of the documentary, all she saw was what she wanted to see, not the intentions that he was trying to bring about. I remember when I was like 12 or 13, I was sick and home from school. I just so happened to catch Donahue with Khalid Abdul Muhammad. A family member was very upset, claiming that he was wrong for saying this and wrong for saying that. Not realizing that not only was the brother valid in his details but not everyone is going to march peacefully. On the other hand, for a long time I had a “preference” for Malcom X over Dr. King because I he wanted our people to be peaceful when I felt they should have been displaying outrage and, he was a christian. I was ignorant in doing so, because I was not there and still gained so much from this honorable ancestor’s effort. I am sure Dr. King tried to utilize tactics that were safest for him and his supporters; and they were appropriate considering the overt racism and discrimination that was dominate. We have to realize that liberation can come in all shapes and forms. I may not agree with all of our black leaders but I try to look for the positive, rather then negative aspects of their efforts. Most of all, they need our support. If you can do better, then tell me, tell him...and let us get things started.

[Kefentse_Bandele]

Originally Posted by MamaDahomey

I too have criticized, not because I did not believe that their intentions had never been pure. But I simply never trusted things when they seemed to get "fishy". For many, if the path is not completely grass rooted from start to finish, it is not right. I stepped away from this philosophy a while back when I was living in Florida. It was then that I realized that there are no pure tactics. We lost a lot of support from conscious brothers and sisters who did not realize it is damn near impossible to do everything grassroots because educating our people is just the beginning. Changes can be made within us, but there are bigger things to tackle.
The way I see things is that every group of people except for African people were and still are supporting their own. In Florida it was Cubans for the Cubans, Jews for the Jews, and African people simply consumed everyone else’s ideals and products without producing any pure philosophy for themselves, or product for themselves. I can remember a brother storming out of a meeting because of some local radio interviews and a local cable show interview that he felt he did not want to be associated with. Why are we turning to the tell lye vision people etc. Claiming that "we" are getting lost and simply criticizing the tactics we choose to use in order to continue our efforts. When another brother produced a documentary, a sister left because it included an interview with himself conducted by a white. She didn't realize how vital that interview was to the overall meaning of the documentary, all she saw was what she wanted to see, not the intentions that he was trying to bring about. I remember when I was like 12 or 13, I was sick and home from school. I just so happened to catch Donahue with Khalid Abdul Muhammad. A family member was very upset, claiming that he was wrong for saying this and wrong for saying that. Not realizing that not only was the brother valid in his details but not everyone is going to march peacefully. On the other hand, for a long time I had a “preference� for Malcom X over Dr. King because I he wanted our people to be peaceful when I felt they should have been displaying outrage and, he was a christian. I was ignorant in doing so, because I was not there and still gained so much from this honorable ancestor’s effort. I am sure Dr. King tried to utilize tactics that were safest for him and his supporters; and they were appropriate considering the overt racism and discrimination that was dominate. We have to realize that liberation can come in all shapes and forms. I may not agree with all of our black leaders but I try to look for the positive, rather then negative aspects of their efforts. Most of all, they need our support. If you can do better, then tell me, tell him...and let us get things started.

Great Post sista! I also gave up the "preferences" and now make it my business to adopt the programs and ideas of elders and ancestors. Even those who I have disagreements with.

Peace

[Majadi]

Beautiful discussion, it is all about strategy, what is yours, what is mine, what is ours. That which we can use as a group and what we do as individuals, because this war is multi-faceted the only thing that cannot work in my opinion is cooperation with the beast (Amerikka, Global Aryanism, Global White Supremacy). When Malcolm said "...by any means neccesary!" I take that ish literally, by any means, but at least come to the table of liberation with more than your mouth, your pen or your keyboard.

2008 I am calling the Year of the Afrikan Family, we need food, shelter, and clothing for all Afrikans. I am organizing some brothers here in Charlotte, NC I will train in certain arena of thought, and then the physical manifestation of that thought as reality! I won't get specific...Shhh! spies are everywhere! lol, lol,lol. Let's just say we plan on doing some things!