Controlling The Narrative!

~The role of our Emissary~



     The majority of people that are watching what's going on in Ferguson aren't actually there. So I wanted to share what we we're presently doing and what others can do to take advantage of this opportunity to assist and learn from our people who are in Ferguson. Young black males have historically died and continue to die like Mike Brown for no justifiable reason and we need to continue to do what's necessary to stop this.

     In addition to the obvious injustice surrounding the cold blooded execution [murder] of Michael Brown by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson, another concern people have is the media blackout, media bullying by law enforcement and the outright inaccurate reporting on behalf of mainstream media. Because of this, the people have been echoing the importance of "Controlling the Narrative." Well what does that mean? Controlling the narrative is accurately relating and elaborating on a clear sequence of events that occur over time. In regards what's going on in Ferguson, that narrative began when a 17 year old unarmed youth named Micheal Brown was executed [shot six times] by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson. Outside of accurate 'on the ground' Ferguson sources some of us are connected to directly or are following on social media, the overall narrative has been manipulated and controlled by Fox News, CNN and other mainstream media sources that do not represent the eyes, ears or identity of our people in Ferguson. Historically, this has been a living nightmare for any unrepresented, marginalized, oppressed or disenfranchised group of people living in America and any society where European Colonialist/American values serve as its status quo.

     Several years ago when I started this website A.S.I.A. I had three faithful readers; me, myself and I. Fast forward to 2014 and I've nurtured a consistent readership of over 100K per month with 60% of July's web traffic being new visitors. That's phenomenal for a niche website that's not selling secrets, streaming porn, razzle dazzling you with products or entertaining you with gossip and paparazzi pictures. As a writer and public speaker, my goal was to do my part in positively controlling the narrative of black, oppressed and poor people in general, and Five Percenters [Gods and Earths] specifically. Before I embarked on this endeavor, I understood that when we're not in a position to accurately relate and elaborate on any sequence of events that occur over time to the world, we're relying on others to do it for us. We've empowering others to write and define our destiny so our narrative, by forfeit, becomes his-story, not even herstory and definitely not ourstory. So from this platform I expanded to establishing a popular youtube channel/vlog A.S.I.A. TV and took it further by founding Quanaah Publishing; a company I've successfully published and distribute eleven of my books through and assist other independent artists with producing, manufacturing and distributing their own literary [Book] and audiovisual [CD/DVD] projects. During that time when I started A.S.I.A. there were various other writers who were an active part of controlling our narrative as well. Today, there are few if any. Today we need them, videographers, creative artists and others, more than ever to be a consistent source of information, empowerment and perspective of this world. If we aren't that worldview, than who will or can be?

     On a local level one of the things we're doing is we created a Ferguson Fundraiser Initiative that's two-fold. First to help fund the travel expenses of one of our community members trip to Ferguson and to provide financial assistance to any families that are in need of food, clothing or shelter when they get there. Secondly to send our own Emissary there on a fact-finding mission to publically document what's actually going on and to connect with local organizers to learn strategic planning that can be shared to prepare our communities here for potential incidents like this. Again, in the interest of controlling our own narrative, if you live in a City/Community outside of Ferguson and aren't able to get there to see for yourself and learn what's actually going on, support someone in your City/Community who is able to get there. I think it's a worthy investment and makes more sense than just complaining about the propaganda and bias reporting in mainstream media; establish and invest in our own main stream of media by supporting our own Emissaries. Even if you're the type of person who isn't interested in actually doing anything yet appreciates a good debate around the water cooler at work, supporting a local Ferguson Fundraiser Initiative is like buying a new reloadable Talib Kweli VIP Card. Anytime you get into a discussion with people that have opinions based upon second or third hand information about Mike Brown or Ferguson, you can pull out your VIP Card and own the conversation by letting them know you personally helped send someone there and THIS is what's actually going on. Think about it, you're actually putting money where your mouth is and can talk all the sh*t you want for a $5, $10 or even a $50 donation! If you would like to support us, just click on this link: Ferguson Fundraiser Initiative. Anything you're willing and able to give is much appreciated.

     In closing, I would encourage those of you who are reading this article to continue to be informed about what's going on in Ferguson and involved in events/initiatives in your area in support of Mike Brown. Continue to put pressure on your local, regional and national public officials to get involved and work to make our communities safer. Sign online petitions and participate in National Blackouts to leverage our economic power! Also, here are a few other reputable sources I encourage you to follow and support:

Organization For Black Struggle

Hands Up United 

Salim Adofo [NBUF]

Tef Poe

Davey D

Peace,

Saladin

Maat: Truth, Justice, Order, Morality, Righteousness, Reciprocity

Righteousness (Right-Justness)

Within The NGE, we do not subscribe to the idea of being 'a subject to' or 'immobilized by' “the unexpected”. We identify our True (Essential) Self as Infinite Potential and “rightfully” hold the power to transform any and all circumstances; based upon what we choose to do, and how we choose to respond (not react) to these circumstances. The 24th Letter in the Supreme Alphabet is ‘X’, which means “The Unknown”. This only means ‘not known’ or that there is a lack of experience (2) in dealing with a certain cultural (4) phenomenon on our part. According to the 1/1-40, “we write History or Koran in advance” and “there is no Mystery God” (10/1-40). This is especially true when we’re actively writing/charting a plan and give “our word is bond, bond is ‘life’” to others involving the manifestation of this plan (11/1-14). In otherwords, as Infinite Potential, we are not subjected to the whims of Society, we are not only human, we are not helpless, we are not enslaved to habits/tendencies, and we are not imprisoned to our feelings, personal desires, and sentimentalities. We teach that the Operating System of The Universe is Mathematics and Mathematically speaking, everything in this System is based upon what is ‘Just’ (Fair) and ‘True’: AKA “Righteous”. The True (Essential) Self being The Author of this Operating System means that our Nature (Essence) is likewise “Righteous”; “His (and Her) own Self is ‘Righteous’…” (14/1-36). Even wrong is based upon what is “Right”, and according to our 38/1-40, the Devil and the chaos (aberration/deviation) surrounding him, was ultimately made by God to serve a “Righteous” purpose: “To show forth and prove his (God’s) Power that he is allwise and ‘Righteous’…” So as “Righteous” People, our bottom line must be to make the “Right” choices (“allwise”; ‘right discernment/judgment’). It's also important to understand that the “Right” choices may or may not include our personal feelings, our individual desires, or our sentimentalities. Living in a Hedonistic Society that constantly bombards us with ideas about gratifying our senses, identifying solely with our emotions/feelings, and defining our Self according to the form/flesh, many People have a very difficult time distinguishing what they personally feel from what is “Right”. In terms of “Righteousness”, what we feel, our individual desires, or our sentimentalities are only as valid as their ability to coincide with what is ‘Just’ (Fair) and ‘True’. Sometimes we may feel deeply about what’s Right and everything works out Right. Other times we might really desire something for ourselves (and others) that’s unfair/unjust, and doing what’s Right isn’t working out well. This is what distinguishes the Integrity of the Righteous and those who are lacking in Righteous Integrity (Integrity is: a sense of justness, and consistency with our word, actions, values, methods, principles, etc.). When confronted with situations that question our feelings, personal desires, and sentimentalities, are we going to do what’s ‘Right’, or try to justify doing what we really wanted/feel? So whether we may perceive/believe something to be “the unexpected”, it does not suspend the “expectation” and Law of Righteousness, nor does it change the “expected” Integrity of our word as being a bond, and that bond being life. In otherwords, just because we find our Self confronted with a situation that appears “unexpected”, we are still “expected” to make the Right choice -especially when that choice involves a consensus and affects the livelihood of others.

Some time ago I posted on my FB Page about going to The Annual Father/Daughter Dinner Dance with my youngest Queen ‘Aziza’ who was graduating from the 8th Grade. I attended the Dance with my oldest Queen ‘Asiyah’ so this meant a lot to me and I made sure that I was there! Although I planned, it did not go as expected… Once I got there, I found out that a dress was made for Aziza via her Mother, and I didn’t cee it until the day of the Event. Long story short, I definitely didn’t approve of this type of dress (and heels) for my 13 year old daughter, which Aziza was also uncomfortable with. All of my feelings about being there with her, my personal desire to cee my Queen happy, and my sentimentality about the significance of her Graduation all weighed heavy on my Mind. I discussed my stance, I strived to make some other arrangements b.u.t. her Mother was determined to follow through with her investment. Eventually, I chose to sit it out. Yes I “felt” bad, yes her Mother was mad because she got the dress made, and yes my Queen was upset that I was probably the only Father not there. Since my decision, I have since received a couple Modifications to my Support Order in the Mail via her Mother, and Aziza has just started building with me again after just a week ago. Emotionally, this wasn’t an easy decision for me at all, yet it was the ‘Right’ decision to make as a standard bearer of ‘Righteousness’ and maintaining my degree of Integrity in regards to what I know to be Just and True. When this so-called “unexpected” situation arose, I kept my word (Integrity) as bond and bond as life “regardless to whom or what” (11/1-14).

There have been situations in my Life where I wasn’t as fortunate to do what was ‘Right’ (Just and True). Instead, I chose to identify with how I felt, go according to my individual desires, and ignored my reasoning in order to be sentimental. In all of these situations where I chose to do what I wanted/felt -especially when it involved making personal sacrifices or considering others who had a voice in the situation, I paid for it. Why? Because since “Righteousness” is about doing what is ‘Just’ and ‘True’, our choices either reward or penalize us. At one time I ‘felt’ like a Woman would never lie on me in Court and I’m paying for it, literally. I once had a strong ‘desire’ to do everything within my power to educate someone, who didn’t want to learn, and almost lost my physical life in the process. I’ve also been too ‘sentimental’ about fulfilling the needs of Fatherless children and ended up being positioned/propositioned by their Mothers.

In regards to ‘Right’ as it relates to LOVE, HELL or RIGHT: LOVE is a Virtue that gives context/clarity to our feelings, desires, and sentiments yet ultimately transcends them. It is the highest degree of Understanding (Comprehension/Cognition/Clarity) between People. HELL is like ‘a tempering fire’ of experiences all Relationships go through, in order to remove it’s impurities and unveil the true substance of their bond (unity). This is the testing grounds of their individual forms/flesh that appear to separate them; where their bond (1 Mind) experiences the drama/conflict of duality (2 Forms/People), in order to Cee (3) above these physical veils. Then and only then will we reveal what’s ultimately RIGHT; ‘Just’ (Fair) and ‘True’. LOVE is a reciprocal process which demands that individual considerations and sacrifices be made in the interest of what’s ultimately RIGHT ‘Just’ (Fair) and ‘True’ for the collective. This process can be like HELL because in a Relationship we’re called upon to be considerate of others and make sacrifices above our personal feelings, desires, and sentiments. Like fire, how we handle this ‘friction’ is what ultimately determines if we shape/mold (forge) our Relationship into the ‘Divine’ work of Art it was destined to be, or ‘Destroy’ our Relationship and turn into nothing more than smoldering Ashes. We can’t receive unless we are willing to give, we cannot be felt unless we are willing to feel, and to get to it, we must be willing and courageous enough to go through it. And if “Righteousness” is our bottom line, then no weapon formed against us, our Relationships, or our endeavors will/can prosper… “regardless to whom or what” (11/1-14).

So in conclusion, I want to emphasize the fact that living out Righteousness, and also doing what's Right in a Relationship is not a walk in the park. WE WILL be called upon to make choices that don’t coincide with how we may have ‘felt’ about things our entire life. WE WILL be called upon to sacrifice our personal ‘desires’ in order to do what is fair, and WE WILL be called upon to do what’s right in the face of what we are ‘sentimental’ about and really don’t want to give up. As Righteous People, making the ‘Right’ choices in these situations is the greatest example of our allegiance to what we know to be ‘Just’ and ‘True’. This exemplifies the Integrity of a Person whom we can truly depend upon, respect, trust, and find security in because even in situations that appear to be the most “unexpected”, you can still “expect” them to do the ‘Right’ thing…

Peace,
Saladin