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Showing posts with label slavery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label slavery. Show all posts

Monday, October 31, 2016

Conspiracy Theorists Guide to The Birth of a Nation


#TheBirthOfANation 


   Before I saw The Birth of a Nation I, like many of you, have been bombarded with controversy surrounding this film. Unlike the original 1915 American silent film The Birth of a Nation (The Clansman) that revered the KKK and was screened at the White House, this version by Nate Parker focuses on the life of Rev. Nat Turner and his slave revolt that took place in 1831 in Southampton County, Virginia. From two-faced people who praised The Great Debaters now crucifying Nate Parker about a decades old rape allegation, to people critiquing its weekend box office numbers like its a rap album trying to go platinum. From black feminists who didn't see the film debating about scenes that didn't exist, to white folks writing bruised ego reviews because they looked bad. Everybody and their dog has had something to say about this film that has evoking many people to feel some kinda way. Many reviews have been calling it a strait box office flop. My question is, how Sway? How? To begin, this was a $100,000 personal investment for Parker. That's how much he put up. The rest of the $8.5 million production budget was made possible by other investors. Premiering at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, the largest U.S. independent festival which annually takes place in Utah, The Birth of a Nation was honored as the Best of the Fest and won the Audience Award of a U.S. Drama and the U.S. Grand Jury Prize. To get this kind of reception at this festival is BIG! It was so big that following its premiere Fox Searchlight Pictures, The Weinstein CompanySony Pictures Entertainment and Netflix got in a bidding war to buy it. That doesn't look like a lemon to me. Parker eventually sold its "worldwide rights" to Fox Searchlight Pictures for an unprecedented $17.5 million. Remember, this was a $100,000 personal investment for Parker. When the film was finally released in 2,105 theaters across America on October 7th, the opening weekend brought in $7 million. At the date of this writing, the film has grossed $15 million; a $6.5 million profit when you subtract the $8.5 million production budget. The only way to describe that is profitable and this profit is not even considering its Lifetime Gross potential. For example, The Color Purple had a budget of $15 million and in a generation has grossed $98.4 million to date. Naw The Birth of a Nation didn't have no $245 million production budget like Star Wars: The Force Awakens, a package that was flipped almost 9 times since December 2015 to reach $2 billion worldwide, but The Birth of a Nation is still a profitable investment that will appreciate in value over time. It's modest slow money.


   One of the main criticisms surrounding this film, that has been levied at Nate Parker, has been some 1999 rape charges Parker was acquitted for in 2001. I cannot say for sure what went down yet the court transcripts can offer those of you some insight. What I will say is that black actresses, actors, producers, directors and etc. are treated very different in Hollywood and in the Media. For example, take white writer, actor and Oscar-winning director Roman Polanski who was arrested and charged in 1977 for rape by use of drugs, perversion, sodomylewd and lascivious act upon a child under 14, and furnishing a controlled substance to a minor. Polanski took a plea deal of a lesser charge of engaging in unlawful sexual intercourse but before the sentencing he fled to France and has been living as a fugitive ever since. Now living in Poland, its Prime Minister Zbigniew Ziobro has recently called upon its Supreme Court to extradite Polanski to the US. Here's the kicker, over 100 Hollywood directors have stepped up in the past, even signing a petition, to show their support for Polanski while well aware of his plea deal. One of those supporters, another writer, actor and Academy Award-winning director Woody Allen who actually married his step daughter who was thirty-five years younger than him, has also been accused of molesting a 7 year old child. I mention this to give context to a double standard. At this very moment Roman Polanski and Woody Allen are still praised, awarded and looked upon as Hollywood Icons yet people aren't really talking about how pervasive this sickness is in America, including women rights activists and feminists. I did back in January when the Bill Cosby accusations came out. All things being equal, I would love to see a larger discussion about men like Polanski, Allen, other men and women like them, and even boycotts of their films -especially from those who are leading these critiques about Nate Parker's accusations. 


My Grandmother, Inez Dorsey Frank

   In regards to the film itself, let me start by saying I appreciated it in a way that some may not be able to relate to. I am a direct descendant of prisoners of war [slaves], literally. My great-great-great grandfather Josiah Henson was born into slavery in Charles County Maryland on June 15th, 1789. A forerunner of the Underground Railroad, Henson was enslaved for 41 years until he escaped to Canada with his wife and four sons. Once settled he was instrumental in helping other blacks organize to find the land and found the Dawn Settlement through negotiating the purchase 400 acres. He was the catalyst behind establishing the British-American Institute for fugitive slaves and military strategist who organized a Black Militia who fought in the Rebellion of 1837. In addition, he continued to travel back into America many times helping hundreds gain their freedom. I was blessed to learn this as a child and it gave me a sense of pride in a legacy that many of my people didn't have the benefit of knowing. Josiah had twelve children altogether and from his family was born a great grand-nephew named Matthew Henson; a famous explorer who traveled to the North Pole that many learn about during Black History Month every year. Matthew Henson fell in love with a beautiful Inuit woman named Akatingwah and they had a son, his only child, named Anaukaq.  



     I mention some of my ancestry because throughout the film I couldn't help but recognize the striking parallels between the life of Josiah Henson and Nat Turner. In fact, I would not be surprised if Nate Parker used elements of my great-great-great grandfather's life for Nat Turner's narrative. Why wouldn't he? Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of one of the greatest American novels Uncle Tom's Cabin, didHere are just some of those parallels:
  • Both Josiah and Nathaniel are biblical names.
  • Both were born into slavery and prophesied by elders to be great leaders among their people when they were children. This prophesy was true in both cases.
  • Both learned scripture as children. 
  • Both of their fathers, at three or four years old, were separated from their family after assaulting a white man.
  • Both were raised by their mothers.
  • Both became Reverends in their late teens.
  • Both were given permission to travel to various plantations to preach.
  • Both were married in their early twenties.
  • Both organized black militias to fight against oppression.
   One of the most important parallels is both of these freedom fighters have been buried in American History with their names used to shield its dirt. As mentioned, elements of Josiah Henson's life were used for the novel Uncle Tom's Cabin, yet he was no Uncle Tom. In the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Confessions of Nat Turner that Time Magazine included in its TIME 100 Best English-language Novels from 1923 to 2005, Nat Turner is characterized as a sex crazed bisexual simpleton. That is why it's important to share and control our narrative. If not, our future generations will think Josiah Henson was like Uncle Ruckus and Nat Turner was Ray Lewis. That is a tragedy. It's also tragic if this happened to our life when we're no longer here. 

   Because The Birth of a Nation is still very new I encourage you to see and judge it for yourselves. Regardless if you choose to see it or not, I also encourage you to do further research on slave revolts in North America. One of the best resource books I've read on the subject is Black Rebellion: Eyewitness Accounts of Major Slave Revolts by author Dr. Sujan Dass.

Peace,
Saladin 

Monday, December 31, 2012

Django Unchained Review
 
 
Peace! For those who didn't have an opportunity to check out The Geek Supremacy Project Radio Show I was on, I just wanted to give you a quick Review of the Film 'Django Unchained'.

1.) First and foremost I approach all Films as a Social Study and being Entertained is not the primary reason why I invest my time in checking it out. Quentin Tarentino is an Action Movie Maker so if you're intention for going to cee 'Django Unchained' was to cee him tackle the Institution of Slavery on Film from a "Drum", "Mandingo" or "Sankofa" Perspective you'll be sadly disappointed because that's not his Genre. This is an Action Film stylized as a 'Spaghetti Western'. Spaghetti Westerns were low budget Westerns produced in the 1960's by Italians, usually filmed in Europe and hence the association with 'spaghetti'. If you've checked out other Tarentino Films you'll cee these Western elements in there.

2.) What I most appreciated about 'Django Unchained' is it showed how complex and sophisticated the Institution of Slavery was on a psychological and sociopolitical level. Many people are under the false impression that "White People had Black People as Slaves." The reality is, various people of European Descent/Nations directly and indirectly participated in the Institution of Slavery and brought with them their own cultural nuances/considerations to the table. For example, French, English, so-called Jewish, German and etc. Slavers did things alittle differently. If you know anything about the French, they were historically more sexually (sadomasicism) orientated than the English which painted a different social backdrop for their Plantations. These Europeans didn't always get along either and definately didn't just group themselves together as "White People". This Film clearly shows how a German (Dr. Shultz for example) didn't "entirely" identify with a Southern American or a Frenchman. The concept of Race Relations (White vs Black) was a sick smelting process that took many years to forge in America in order to have these European Descendants buy into the idea of being "White Americans". Prior to this, they were simply Jews, Scottish, American and etc. Slavers and Colonial Transplants (Rural/Towns People) that didn't always group all "Black People" together because all Black People in America pre the Civil War weren't Slaves. If you really want to do your research you'll find that there were many Black People here before any Europeans that were NEVER Slaves. When America declared Independance from Britain they signed a Treaty of Friendship with Morocco in 1777 which consequently reasserted the sociopolitical status of some of the Moors who were living and doing business here. 'Django Unchained' does an excellent job expressing some of these historical, cultural nuances and subtleties. For those of us who study 120, this gives you excellent cultural context to your 1-36 or "English" C Lessons that primarily deals with Slavery under the English.

3.) 'Django Unchained' also showed the "congnitive dissonance" that came along with ceeing a Free Black Person (Django) and other Blacks (Enslaved Blacks) occupying the same place at the same time. This "congnitive dissonance" or difficulty trying to reconcile new information that conflicts with our presently held beliefs is something that affected both the European/American Slavers and Enslaved Blacks alike. Ceeing Django express a sense of 'Self Determination by dressing himself, speaking for himself and performing basic human functions (like riding a horse) was something that many European/American Towns People, Slavers and Enslaved Blacks never experienced. The same phenomena exists today...

4.) There's a beautiful Black Woman named 'Sheba' who Slavemaster Candie keeps by his side. Because of the way she dresses, expresses herself and what she has access to you actually get the impression that she's Free. Sheba holds this position all the way up to the point where Lara-Lee (Candie's Sister) enters the room and automatically demotes her to being "The Help". Not because of Lara-Lee asserting her hierarchical position b.u.t. based upon the glorious marbled pedestal the White Woman was primarily placed upon in America by White Men -for show of course! You also cee an incestuous relationship implied between Candie and Lara-Lee which is something wasn't uncommon on Plantations and amongst early European Colonialists. What this Film also makes perfectly CLEAR is how the unsoiled Lara-Leeized fantasy was being forged in the minds of Black Men/Women that many of us still salivate (lust) over and/or use as a standard model of beauty today. This non-verbal Power Dynamic shown between Lara-Lee vs Sheba is a historical relationship (and rivalry) that still colors relationships between Black and White Women today!





5.) The Slave 'Steven' (Samuel L. Jackson) looked like Gollum (Lord of the Rings) and was a House Nigga that made James David Manning (ATLAH Worldwide Missionary Church) appear like Khalid Abdul Muhammad.

6.) Django had a Mission; to save his Woman. The torture, torment and inhumanity he and his Woman were exposed/subjected to during the process, while he maintained his composure and focus to fulfill that Mission is a Lesson in and of itself for any Black Man. Many of us get easily sidetracked by the most trivial things and loose sight of the fact that Cultural Freedom and Family is vital to our survival as a people.

7.) The subtleties! The conspicuous handshake between Django and his 'Master' Dr. Shultz (cee Tubal-Cain; Metallurgy) initiating him into the Bounty Hunting Profession. The Candie Plantation (of 'French' orientation) being in Mississippi instead of Louisiana where Plantations like this primarily were. The emphasis on Law/Legalities by 'The German' Dr. Shultz (cee Muhlenberg). These are all worth looking into to gain a larger Persepctive of the Backdrop that eventually forged America's Sociopolitical landscape we're living on today.

8.) Spike Lee, as I said last week, is a Red Hook Hater. The only one I've ever heard him give credit to were The NY Knicks. Welp.., willfully he can Direct/Produce a Film about the subject matter of Slavery that shows respect to our Ancestors. I will definately check it out and critique that too.

9.) All in all I think 'Django Unchained' is an excellent Social Study for those of us who're are interested in getting a better understanding of the conditions, complications and complexities that came along with the various Relationships during the time of Slavery pre the Civil War. This Film definately doesn't show you everything and many things are simply implied yet analyzing/assessing these implications are well worth the research!

Peace!


Thursday, February 16, 2012

Actual Facts/Solar Facts
by Allah Universal Lord Life Justice Shabazz



Knowledge of Self begins with a quest and a desire to be whatever your findings conclude as being true. If not, you have not found the real you-- you have found an opinion: The opinion is that you are right and this knowledge is not. One of the principles concerning Knowledge of Self (at least from the NGE perspective) is that “Knowledge is the Foundation”. This means the beginning of any building starts with the foundation, which we have agreed is knowledge. This means actions should be based upon the known. Science comes from the word "scire" (Latin) which means to know-- as a scientist is one who is devoted to knowing, following a procedure known as the Scientific Method. You should be sure about things before you do it and the only true way to be sure is to put knowledge first. When building a home, often people start with architectural plans. These plans are based on Knowledge. In life, we look for confirmations concerning what we BELIEVE to be true but ultimately you are the judge. In order to be right and exact, you must have knowledge and facts as the foundation. We have learned through schooling that one source (reference) does not make a good term paper. Therefore, if one is to say something is knowledge, it should be confirmed from various sources that it is true. In your Alphabet, that which is true is on the square which is known as the "right" angle (20th Letter is T; Truth or Square). Directional compasses are constructed from the four corners of the square: North, South, East and West-- to cover all directions. So it is with knowledge of Self, you have to cover all directions and examine their basis or foundation to know where you are coming from-- whether or not your reasoning is sound and based on a strong foundation, which is knowledge or truth. This starts with the first degree in your Student Enrollment; “Who is the Original Man?” This is the first statement in the quest to know yourself, yet you can always tell who are persons of that said ability versus those who are still searching for something that does not exist, on the basis of how they see this degree. It is this degree and the awareness of triple stage darkness that forms the basis of your origin in this world. The first degree in the one to ten along with the knowledge of triple stage darkness are two things which define whether or not you are one of us or just talking the talk. Yet with some, there is a presence that these persons have taken an "outsider" or spectator's point of view when they attempt to build on aspects concerning "our origin in this world." (14/1-40) It is almost as if they are describing creation with them as the lecturer and not them as the Subject and Author of the story-- not something they have trust or belief in. There is a difference between theory and personal experience. Although both may write books, only the one with experience can deliver words that you can really understand and feel down in your soul! When you read something and the idea is not properly understood, the burden of proof lies not with the reader but upon the Author-- who supposedly knows but could not make understanding understood. The subtle truth is: If he or she knows and cannot make understanding understood it is questionable whether they are truly familiar enough with their subject to say they know it at all themselves. To know something you must have intimate details concerning (as in intercourse). To know the truth you must live it and live as it, that's how you get the intimate details to tell the story!

If you tell the story or chronicle of Creation and you are not visualizing your true self AS the Creator then you are a spectator. The best movies are the ones where the Hero (or Heroine) compel you to think and feel the ways they portry as actors. When you say Asiatic Blackman and you think of it as "those people" or "my ancestors," you are a spectator with the wrong perspective or point of view. When it says Maker, the Owner, the Cream of the Planet Earth... and you don't see this as a testimony towards who you are supposed to be now, you are on the outside looking in-- not the inside looking out. This is Knowledge of Self and this story is about you. This is the proper perspective and if you cannot see yourself as the Father of Civilization and God of the universe you have the wrong perspective and therefore do not have the ability. As John the Baptist said, "I am NOT the LIGHT but I came to bear witness to the light." One is a testimony based upon what one believes through observation to be true. The other is a testimony through the eyes of one who is. For the true and living God, one twenty is intimate details about the role and the characters assumed to show forth and prove God's powers in human form. The intimate details are obtained from putting that knowledge to the test and seeing what the results manifest-- of course this is with an honest and impartial observation. What this means in street vernacular is, "Just because it's you who is causing all this to happen, don't B.S. yourself, give yourself a pass or give yourself the benefit of the doubt." Knowledge of Self is about research and development: Ups and downs-- strengths and weaknesses. Cultivation based upon acknowledgment and obligation. Either you see yourself AS or you come to interpret. (28/1-36)

One of the things which might have you as a spectator is an opinion. Is that difference based upon the presence of another truth? Quite the contrary. Much of this is based upon belief originating from the way one is raised. Since we are in the West, it only stands to reason that most of the concepts are Western. Since most of us have only lived in America, it is hard for us to see or think outside of Western concepts. An opinion is not knowledge or a hypothesis [educated guess] (in most cases). An opinion is (in most cases) a belief that one has or a view one might have based upon your assessment of an experiences one had and is having. This assessment may or may not be true, but it is how one feels. Feelings have a strong influence over our physical composition. It is our nerve endings that tell us many things. It is responsible for touch. Feelings are the major resource for how we judge physical sensations and stimuli. However, for wise and intelligent People, there must be other sources of confirmation-- other ways of making sure that things are what we believe them to be.

In the course of my lifetime within this physical form, I have witness many who masquerade strong feelings for intuition or habits as the way things are. This is ludicrous behavior. Those feelings are the impressions the event left upon you. That, however, does not make those impressions the truth. Nonetheless, those that do this feel that their feelings are just as real and as valid as knowledge. This takes us into another chamber one experienced as a child, a chamber where fear, envy, jealousy, lust and hate rule in place of better judgment. A place where anxiety and fear of something maybe more overpowering than what is actually occurring. As fantastic as it may seem, many People live their lives according to these feelings and impulses. In a word, the act is called impressionable. People who can be stirred in this way are called excitable and fanciful People. These are people led by their feelings instead of true knowledge. This is a very dangerous way to live. Knowing what the truth is-is half of the battle in overcoming adversity. The other half is letting go of bad habits.

"We wanted to go back to our own country but we could not swim 9,000 miles." (32/1-36) Our subjection to our captors and the laws of slavery allowed our children to grow up without their parents and doing what they had to do in order to survive. As said earlier, most of us knew nothing about any worlds outside of Western concepts (culture) until we saw Knowledge of Self. Without the guidance of our parents, the knowledge of our past rapidly deteriorated. We pieced together what we could in those days in order to be civilized and survive in the Western world. Until Knowledge of Self, the Blackman in America concepts were derived from Western ideas. The schooling: Western. Ideology: Western. Beliefs: Western. Even some of our People became Masons during the period before Knowledge of Self entered this country in the attempt to gain higher knowledge (“but there is no reason to do that today” -Elijah Muhammad in Theology of Time). But what is taught to the Black masses in the West (Western ideology) conflicts with the truth within our Lessons. It gives many of our People opinions that will not allow them to "rise above 6 miles from the earth's surface" to become the "Sun" or "Knowledge" that they are, nor see the fallacy in Western Empirical thinking.

"Me and my people who have been lost from home for 379 years (457 years from the date of this recitation) have tried this so called mystery God for bread, clothing and a home and received nothing but hard times, hunger, nakedness, in and out of doors, also beaten and killed by the ones who advocated that kind of God. And no relief came, until the son of man came to our aid, in the name of your prophet W. D. Fard.” (11/1-40) This is a statement that all Blacks can relate to. This is the American cultural experience for a large number of Blacks in America. This is the “One Nation under the God” mentioned above that passed laws and forged these sentiments. What this says in essence is, we tried to go along with what the culture advocated and this is what we got; “nothing but hard times, hunger, nakedness, in and out of doors, also beaten and killed by the ones who advocated that..” This Lesson says how we were during the date of these acts and we tried to do what so-called White Christians advocated as a Society and look what happened. Anyone who knows anything about impressionable persons would have to say that the overall aversion that Black people have concerning the study of slavery can be traced back to the impression that slavery made upon us. What this statement says in this Lesson is THEIR WAYS ARE NOT OUR OWN-- WE TRIED THEIR WAY AND GOT ABUSED. This is the good old God, Religion and Country aspect of life taught by the West. The European had successfully stole the land from the Native American, imported us like beast of burden to do their menial labor, while carrying a religious, philosophical and cultural perspective that allowed plenty of them not to have a problem with what their Society was doing. Post-slavery we had other concerns. While enslaved it was pretty clear who's World it was and what you had to do to stay alive. After slavery we had to concern ourselves with what would keep us employed-- and in most cases alive! Segregation was "alive and kicking" up until the sixties in the North and South; separate toilets, restrooms and hotels for Blacks and Whites! Those were tough times for Black people, especially during the time these degrees were transcribed (1934). Many of our People were doing the "Rodney King" (doing what it took not to upset the powers that be), looking for charity and humanity (civilization) out of so-called White Christian people. Most of us even tried to learn their religion and the above treatment is what we received.

This is the same fear that has manipulated many of us not believe anything we didn't learn in this Country or beyond Western concepts-- "because the devil taught them to eat the wrong foods.” (10/1-36) This allows a Man to study degrees about God and still behave like a Devil. "Who made the Holy Koran or Bible?" (1/1-40) If you agree with the answer and say that the Blackman is synonymous with knowledge, then the knowledge contained within these books is knowledge that is synonymous with how we live or strive to refine into living. After all, you wrote it. The "light" that John the Baptist spoke of is Jesus, but Jesus' teaching was not Christianity. Christianity is a story and practice based upon those (disciples) who came to bear witness to the light and subsequently organized those teachings. Those teachings were in Hebrew, which means in order to have them in English, they had to be interpreted. The path of the interpretation went from Greek and Latin, then English. Constantine the Great made Christianity the state (Roman) religion. King Henry VIII used it in an attempt to have his marriage annulled. King James used it for political reasons.

Black people who lived in 1934 (as well as the times of Slavery and Reconstruction)-- after facing such adversity-- had no other choice but to depend on their own! From 1900-1934 was a time of many great discoveries in America for Black people. Engineers, Entrepreneurs (Businessmen), Sports Teams like the Negro League all came around during the first half of the century. The Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) was developed within this slot of time-- its' founder, Marcus Garvey was in communication with Booker T. Washington. Marcus had great admiration for Booker T. As a matter of fact, Booker T. knew George Washington Carver. As a matter of fact, plenty of our people cooperated with each other during the Segregation time period; we only had each other. We really didn't have much of a choice: You couldn't go to a white cleaners or mechanic during those times-- most of your services were only performed by people who look just like you.

"I, John, who also am your brother and companion in tribulation and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God and testimony of Jesus Christ.” (27/1-40) The Romans didn't treat Jesus that great either. THIS PART OF THE TWENTY-SEVENTH DEGREE SIGNIFIES THAT PEOPLE OFTEN BAND TOGETHER DURING HARD TIMES. And segregation was just that. Not only did our people face a "Separatist Society" but we often faced their jealousy when our businesses, discoveries and inventions were doing well. Did you know that our people had a Black Wall Street? Did you know it was highly successful? Did you know that an angry mob of Whites burned Tulsa down to the ground? These were the type of odds we faced during the time period of 1934, yet our comradery and success greatly out-shined what we do today. The way we got out of the Segregated, "come in through the servants entrance in the back" was the "we're fired up-- we ain't gonna take it no more" attitude of the Civil Rights Struggle. Of course laws reflect the level of the people's mentality, so going up against the system in a racist World meant to get Freedom, Justice, and Equality. This meant you will be going against the status quo and therefore breaking the laws of a Segregated Society. And of course, they would try by all means necessary to reestablish equilibrium to their unjust Society by means of military force, invasion of homes and meeting places, letting attack dogs loose on the protesting populations and etc... Our ancestors risked a lot to change this racist segregated Society into a fairer World.

In this regard, Martin Luther King Jr.’s angle was very shrewd indeed. By following some of the non-violent protest techniques implemented by Ghandi (of India), King engaged the violence of the segregated, racist regimes on an international media platform clearly showing no signs of violence while those elements in American Society unleashed theirs. Like apartheid, in the world's eye, their acts were an embarrassment to the Western community. They were sic’ing dogs on innocent women and children, fire-bombing churches and etc. No way could they justify their actions in the World's eyes. Something had to be done to change the appearance of such things: Tokenism, olive-branches, affirmative actions, law revisions and etc. However, this was done at a great amount of personal sacrifice by those who practiced non-violence. Though I commend those and appreciate their sacrifices, as well as recognized their efforts-- along with the UNIA, OIC, The Black Panthers, NAACP, SNCC, The Nation of Islam, Moorish Americans, Organization of African American Unity, Malcolm's efforts towards a stronger Pan-African Movement and etc.-- a non-violent practice would never work for me. Not that I am violent, I just know how hard that is to stand back while being treated unfairly. I am an Activist and subscribe to progressive philosophy, therefore I am convinced that the progressive elements within the five percent work best for what I know and understand.

Personally, I think we lost something when we tried to integrate and fit into the Caucasian man's existing program. Many of us would just like to forget about it. Many White people would like for us to move on and pretend like it didn't happen. This would mean that if this were true, they would not have to work at building a free Black Nation, they could live under the one that the Whiteman created. But then again, what position would that place White people in since it is their World? Acts like this would allow Western Society to escape the atrocities it perpetrated on us as a people. As said earlier, "This is a very dangerous way to live." It's like a person having been violently robbed in the subway, then avoiding ever going near a subway again: Many of our self esteem issues as a people can be related to how the ruling class in this Society treated us as a result of slavery. This is the reason why we have to replace our opinions with knowledge and actual facts, to dare to be willing to struggle to learn how to rise above-- outside of the Caucasoid dimensions. That's a Solar Fact!

What I see in these days and times is consciousness manifested as boys and girls, as well as men and women, just don't get it family. They are under some foolish notion that they are individually Allah and Earth-- how ludicrous. “Holy is something that has not been mixed, tampered or diluted with in any form” (9/1-14) and this is precisely what Allah is: One consciousness and one mind with one means of making the will of that consciousness manifest. As we exist within these various forms, with each generation-- our unity is becoming increasingly harder and harder to see. This is mainly due to an emphasis by immature thought process by ego-centered persons who only look to achieve things for their limited circumference; which does not focus on family units or those advocated for the same common cause but what they can get from others. This means while they "won't give you a dime", they depend on the charity of others to further their cause and once they get it. They are not interested in teaching civilization to others so that all may prosper. May I remind you that “if the civilized does not perform his duty which is teaching civilization to others-- he (or she) will be punished with a severe punishment.” (19/1-40) You have heard me say numerous times that "God is a group reality seen through individual eyes". How can you expect to get which you yourself are not willing to give? All which raises consciousness depends on a mind which focuses on the whole: A King and or Queen has subjects and despite the obvious perks, he or she has to consider at all times what is best for the entire kingdom. A person predisposed to these considerations will get how all these lessons have their relationship to him or her, while the ungodly will miss the point every time. Take the King's degree (knowledge knowledge) within your knowledge to culture cipher: It mentions 379 years ago. How many of you thought about the date the degree was written? How many of you young souls considered the social conditions (social equality) those of our people were enduring during the date of the degrees writing? You don't need the Devil to "keep our own people apart from their social equality" (8/1-14) because you are performing the task yourself by thinking more like them (the Devil) by adapting to his customs and ways and being so ego-centered. Didn't the Romans live off the decree: "Divide and conquer?" This is mainly due to an emphasis of immature thought processess (plural process) by ego centered persons, who only look to achieve things for their own limited mental circumference: People who do not focus on family units or those advocated for the same common cause-- just what they can get from others. “To make Devil one must begin grafting from the original” (31/1-40) and when you only focus upon your being, this is precisely what you are doing. You have to think Globally and Act Locally. Somebody has to put you on in order for you to be with it. As a baby you are vulnerable and have to depend on the charity of others... My point is our people are us and the social conditions are very important in figuring out the level of social equality and civilization at any given point in time. Did you realize chronologically that this chronicle was written in the Great Depression? What conditions were happening during the Depression? How were race relations between Blacks and Whites at that point and time? How does that compare to the conditions of 1555 (some 379 years ago)? Besides the obvious, this degree is building on that and saying the God the ruling class of America serves cannot be a force for good when it comes down to Black people, yet “he continues daily to teach that all that we see and hear comes from that mystery God." (13/1-40) And while you say that you don't subscribe to that philosophy, lacking the ability to work collectively is somewhat like waiting on a mystery God to bring you food -because you don't do for yourself and would sell us out to profit separately. That is why these actual facts elude you because you don't think of the collective (family, people, etc.) as your true Self and therefore do not focus on doing for Self-- so you miss the subtleties and the whole picture eludes your understanding. If you could think of how our people were fairing in both time periods and do just a little research, what a benefit this might be. But you are sleeping on your Self and not truly benefiting from what the group has to offer which advocated for the same common cause.

Peace Family,
Allah Universal Lord Life Justice Shabazz