Universal Street Academy

E-Newsletter

  The Makers and the Owners

Peace!

 

We will that this newsletter finds you in a state of peace and happiness. We have been very productive since our last correspondence. We are in Master Allah Why and we are showing and proving Why Allah is Master; because he is the best of planners, the best know-er and owner of the planet. Historically we've settle on the best part; however the Universal Street Academy is settled in what many may call the worst part (of the city); WE WILL make it the BEST PART. We are building righteousness and destroy that which is not. The Gods and Earths have never been more determined. We are writing history in advance and the future is bright!

 

We have much to catch up on; from the fish fry fundraiser, to the raffle results, our other institution in PowerHill and the huge turnout at the U.S.A. 'Build to be Born' Cleanup. Let's get right to it!

-Universal Street Academy

 

All For One. One for All.

On Saturday, May 18th 2013, the 5% made history. Universal Family from Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York traveled to PowerHill to add on to the massive clean out. More than 60 Gods and Earths came together to build and bond. This was a monumental day! Collectively, we removed more than 20,000 lbs (>10 tons!) of metal, wood, and debris!This was the last major demolition and removal before we begin designing our home. We worked from 12PM to about 4PM. Afterwards we nourished our bodies with the meal the Earths, who were gracious enough to provide, and enjoyed our social equality. It all happened in a flash. The Gods were on their way back north by 6PM.

New bonds were built, old ones continued, and new borns were sparked. The neighborhood USA is located in had never seen so many dedicated original men and women working as one for one common cause in the name of righteousness. May 18th 2013 will be remembered as one of the greatest days in Universal Street Academy's history...And When the call comes from abroad to build the next academy, regardless to where it is, your family from PowerHill will be there to show our supreme equality.

 

 

 

Top Left: Almighty Radi Allah and I Supreme Allah pause for a reflection.
Bottom Left: Um Allah putting the finishing touches on the second floor.
Top Right: Just some of the scrap metal from the basement.

Bottom Right: Gods hauling 'fill' to the dump truck.

Left: Allah Sha Sha showing his carpetry skills.   

Top Right: Gods drawing up plans for the basement.  

Bottom Right: Wisdom Understanding and C-Mecca ensuring all attendees are accounted for; "Make sure you sign the shirt!"

 

The Universal Street Academy Salutes

The Black Writers Museum

 

Our brother I-Supreme of the Desert in PowerHill has relocated his famed Black Writers Museum (BWM) to 5800 Germantown Avenue at the historic Vernon House (seen above). The Gods and Earths are making our mark and creating institutions that will stand the test of time! The Black Writers Museum is a cultural institution that emphasizes on black, historically significant language, poetry, and prose. Only minutes from the Universal Street Academy, the Black Writers Museum will build hand and hand with USA in bringing civilization to the forefront of our communities. Let's rewrite our history one word at a time! The Black Writers Museum will be conducting their 'Expressive Arts Summer Camp' from 7/8/13 to 8/16/13 featuring African Dance, drumming, and black classical literary arts with academic enrichment, sports, recreation, and nutrition. Look out for the official BWM Grand Opening September 2013!

SEEN AND HEARD: True-Skool Radio Interviews the Gods

 

Allah Universal Lord Life, Divine Universal Allah, and Khazire Knowledge Allah interviewed with True Father Allah on True Skool Radio in April regarding the Universal Street Academy, its early impact, and future plans. The interview was peace. We want to thank Saladin Quanaah Allah, who brokered the interview and of course True Father Allah for giving the Gods and opportunity to speak about our beloved Academy. You can check out the Full Interview HERE

 

U.S.A. April Raffle Winners...

Congratulations to the Winners of our April Raffle Drawing!!!

 

1st Prize: Ms. Destiny Smallwood (top left) $300 

2nd Prize: Mrs. Dee Click (bottom left) $200 

3rd Prize: Mr. Shabazz Dow $100

'Fresh Never Frozen' Fish Fry

In April we hosted our first fish fry and it was a great success! The doors were open, the music was on point, and the foood?! Just ask the people! All the funds raised went to Universal Street Academy incurred and inherited debts. We would like to thank everyone for coming out and supporting our event. Be sure to keep an eye out for our other upcoming events in May and June!

Builder's Build

'A Nation Needs its Icons, Institutions

 and Monuments'

Nation n. (from Latin--nationem, accusative of natio/gnatio; (g)natus "to be born," "nation, race, birth"): A chronologically constituted "stable" community of people, formed on the basis of a common language, territory, economic life, ethnicity and/or psychological make-up manifested in a common culture. [knowledge/ awareness + culture= nation].

Building our nation is something to get enthused about. Establishing its' institutions is what its all about. We have a project in which to pull our arm, leg, leg arm, head together, to achieve something great as a single entity (NGE, our universal family) and that makes me feel excellent. We are growing together as a nation, and we have a focus project that we are excited about. It is so great to see us coming to together for a common cause. Social means to advocate a society. . . for one common cause and equality means to be equal in everything (8/1-14).

Ironically, the discussion in this lesson was why the devil keep our people from their own social equality. They were always about "divide and conquer." There is no future for a man without a country. We are a people who need to come together. During slavery in this country, as a practice, they would never export slaves from the same locale. Once we (as several different groups) were brought to the wilderness of North America, we witnessed the White mans deeds from 1555 (in Jamestown, Virgina) until present. We were brought over here to be his tool; "his" slaves of mental death and power (14/1-40). So we were sold to slave owners like ox and mule and kept in the barns and plantations of White America as a smart beast of burden (with no culture of our own), helping our owners build his free nation, while we remained enslaved without any architecture, without any monuments, without land or homes. We were subject to the will and desires of these colonists--soon to be called Americans (this was 1555--221 years before America won their independence from England). Our people witnessed those people called the colonists, double-crossed the Native Americans (the two million/the brown man)--after they helped them survive America's harsh winters. They systematically stole the land from the Natives by way of broken treaties and aggression. They annihilated them with germ warfare (syphilis, gonorrhea), disrespected them through deceit, and all out war with the objective to take their land. We watched Whites, not as fellow human beings--not as man--but as a beast of burden who could comprehend the chronicles and posture of the Whiteman's progress in America.

Though we were on plantations all over the thirteen colonies, as well as the lands obtained after the Louisiana Purchase--slaves did not look at themselves as the same people with the same ethnicity and common suffering--but different people from different tribes, just as the devil wishes us to believe--because there's strength in numbers ( Why does he like the devil (7/1-36)(8-10/1-36)(6/1-14)(8/1-14); Why does the devil teach that (12/1-40).

We lost everything including our language and the knowledge of who we are as a people. To subjugate means to forcibly impose obedience or servitude. We were a people who were separated from our culture and not allowed to even speak or practice any of its elements by the colonists who subjugated us. We were their property, their tool--their inventions, their religion and manner of doing things was the only consistent thing in our lives (10/1-40). In early American history, their was no punishment for a slave-master killing a Blackman who was considered a slave to a White man. And generally speaking, in this society, killing a Blackman in America has a different consequence than killing a White. But worst of all, was the psychological perspective these acts had on Black people. If someone keeps telling you something over and over--aaand you don't take the time to investigate to see what is true and what is not--eventually you will give into their psychosis (13/1-40). As subjugated people, one is subject to what the other culture feels about or concerning them.

We seem to be more of a collective--more like one people or nation--during the Separate But Equal/Jim Crow Era. That is because we had no help, no assistance from White America--we had to rely on ourselves or perish. Sure fear and thoughts of inability entered the minds of our former Self (ancestors) but we had to make a way or perish. Necessity is the mother of invention. We got used to it and began to grow as people. We begin to prove to ourselves, their psychosis perpetrated upon us--was wrong. We became more confident in ourselves, given the experiences we were making. We began to know better. The message came through during 1933/1934. The Blackman was exposed to it, but he didn't fully get it. Elijah did, Malcolm did, the Father got the Morse code, but a lot of us seem to not be able to recover from the "sleepy slumber and psychosis" that the White man's culture placed upon the Blackman in America. Our people did not have that much belief in ourselves. Unless we saw it with our own eyes, we didn't believe the Blackman capable of ever doing much. White society had been downing us directly and indirectly for so long, until we subliminally started letting it seep in! It would take some time for us to totally see who we are as a people, but we know it will come from what we show and prove to ourselves.

When The NGE came about, we had to learn the culture and integrate it into our living. We had to make it our identity. We had to forget what the Whiteman taught us and taught their own people. We had to forget the tricknowledge (4/1-14). We were taught that the Blackman is God and that there is no God but Allah, but it took us time to understand that that meant we were one awareness operating through several forms. It took us even longer to work together and be advocated for one common cause--but as we grow older and steadfast within these principles or lessons--we are getting that clear mental picture known as understanding. We are not as reluctant to pull resources. Slowly we are considering the possibilities. We are waking up to what we can achieve by knowing what knowledge our former Self believed.

Right on Broad Street, near Broad& amp; Ridge Av., stands the Divine Lorraine Hotel. The hotel was purchased for pennies by the Father Divine group as a collective entity. This is exactly what Ron Karenga meant by collective economics (Kuji-chakalia). A lot of these things never made the major news because These were not things the Whites like to put in the papers because they didn't want to encourage us. Many Blacks were using the "power in numbers strategy" in the 1930's. There's strength in numbers, and our adversaries know this. Pretending like they are making some concessions, is how they usually diffuse our momentum. Just look at the Civil Rights chronology and you'll see. Simply put, the powers that be want to rob all and and live in luxury (12/1-40). The Father came to address our First Born's time, as they came to address ours, and we come to address the babies here and on the way. But still the colored man pollutes our playing field. . .

The NGE needs visual institutions for the community to see. A building that people passing by can say, "The Gods and Earths mean business!" We need a building where people can come by and see that we are a serious force within the community. We need "home" to provide "shelter from the storm." We need a place to come home to; an operation base for community opportunity. That's what the Universal Street Academy is. It is a place for brilliant minds to landscape. We need a place to gather together, to strengthen one another; a place of fellowship. We need a base to enterprise. Marcus Garvey had his members working during the Depression because they sold various necessary perishables to its' members (toilet paper, paper towels, brooms, shovels, car tires, etc). They kept their money in their own hands.

We are living in some exciting times. My persons is very pleased at the developments here. This isn't the first time we thought about developing a school/ academy, but my personal perspective is--then our desire was there but our individual development and maturity--as a group--was not up to the level where it is today; nor were our skills as entity. "Life" has taught us a lot about the other side of Allah: "The I am because we are part." The Universal Street Academy is a much better building in terms of features, it is situated in pivotal neighborhood that services several Black areas. It is on a major avenue, Germantown and around the corner from Broad Street--one of our city's "main vein" streets (Market Street being the other). It is also very close to Temple's Medical School. It has two major auditoriums with stages, which can double as ballrooms for our own activities and can be available for rental. It has two accompanying store fronts for rental and money making ventures. But most of all, it is something our nation owns, so it can generate its own income and enterprises, as well as a place of refuge.

This is a real good move to begin controlling our own destiny.
Allah U Akbar! This is great!

Peace,

A.U.L Life Justice Shabazz

 

Let's Get Dirty

We Meet at the Academy every Saturday between 8AM and 1PM
3306 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia PA 19140

 

Save the Date

Mark your calendar, set your reminders, notify your family and join us in celebration of our 31st

Annual Family Day.

Cookout July 7th 2013, LEMON HILL PAVILLION, PowerHill, PA 12PM
 

 

If you would like to subscribe to our newsletter please send an email to Ustreetacademy@yahoo.com

Visit us at:

UniversalstreetAcademy.com
Facebook.com/UStreetAcademy

 

For Secure Online Donations, please visit:

Fundly.com/usacademy
 

Until Next Time....

Peace!



Silhouettes of the Soul

A Book of Poetry and Prose by Roger A. Talley

 

Silhouettes of the Soul is the second book published through my company Quanaah Publishing and this has been a very inspiring journey reading and editing Roger A. Talley's writings. As a Poet myself, who hadn't written in this style in quite some time, Roger reawakened in me feelings that I hadn't poetically articulated in a while. Silhouettes is his personal testimony of being embraced by love, strengthening his spirit, and learning to live a full life; a poetic commentary about his quest to gain understanding and increase the value of family, friendship, and faith in his own abilities.

The Author, Roger A. Talley, was born and raised in Los Angeles, California until moving to Detroit, Michigan in his late teens. At 21 he joined the U.S. Army and dedicated eight years of service to the military.

A career in Law Enforcement soon followed until a tragic accident ended his career and the new millennium brought new career opportunities. Roger found himself pursuing a career in the Casino Industry, and currently holds a position in Management at Seneca Niagara Casino in Niagara Falls, New York with the vision and intent to achieve a top level management position. He is currently in pursuit of his Master's degree in Business Management at Empire State College to attain his goal. His leadership and intellectual abilities have been augmented by his love of life, willingness to learn and new found opportunities for growth. Roger has an uncanny ability to navigate through the negative inevitabilities of life always effectuating a positive end. He strives to keep his public and private life aligned, always keeping his eyes on the prize.      

I want to thank Roger for sharing his intimate experiences and illustrations about love in a way that reminds me of what I've once shared and strive to share once again. His book, and a Woman very close to me, were the inspiration behind various poems I've written recently and my musical piece My Tapestry of Love.

 



My Tapestry of Love...

I want to thank Author Asia M. Jackson (Rarity of Beauty and The Rose Thorn's Purpose) who helped in the editing and artistic development of Silhouettes of the Soul and Author D. Scott (Stay in Your Lane) for her consulting and business acumen.   

If you would like to purchase a copy, Silhouettes of the Soul is now available directly through our E-Store, Quanaah Publishing, Amazon, and can be ordered through any bookstore or store that sells books Globally.

 

Peace,

Saladin


True Skool Radio Presents

The Universal Street Academy

(3306 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19140)

 

 

Yesterday, the U.S.A. (Universal Street Academy) in PowerHill held a Raffle/Fundraiser to support our Institution's Restoration Project. Aside from the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Prize Winners that were drawn from our Raffle, all of the proceeds from the Raffle/Fundraiser go to our Restoration Project. The Winners of the Raffle were as follows:

-1st Prize: $300 -Destiny Smallwood
-2nd Prize: $200 -Dee Click
-3rd Prize: $100 -Shabazz Dow

 

As a follow-up to this Event, I will be co-hosting a Show tonight at 6:00pm (EST) with True-Father of True Skool Radio (TSR) to discuss the establishment of the U.S.A., our present Restoration process, and how people can assist in this endeavor. We will be joined by Special Guests, U.S.A. Representatives, Khazire Knowledge Allah, Divine Universal Allah, and Life Justice who will give us more insight into the U.S.A., a recap of yesterday's Raffle/Fundraiser, and the importance of building/supporting our own Institutions. This Show's live feed cuts off at the 30 min mark so if you want to hear the whole Show live please call in before the 30 min mark, otherwise you can listen to the whole show in the archive section of TSR.

 

The Call-In Number: (619) 566-0922

Listen Online at: True Skool Radio (TSR)

What is U.S.A.?

The Universal Street Academy, affectionately referred to as U.S.A., is a nonprofit organization located at 3306 Ger­man­town Avenue in Philadelphia, PA that it focused on the cultural, academic, and social education of all people; with emphasis on the original indigenous peoples of the planet.

It's function will be to serve the North Philadelphia community where it is located and beyond. U.S.A. will provide educational, recreational, and social services, both public and private. The Universal Street Academy is currently under reconstruction. The end result will be a full service center with three (3) multi-use eventing areas; two (2) kitchen facilities; two (2) educational facilities equipped with computers, multimedia equipment, smart-boards, library, and smart podiums; a video/audio studio; meeting and conferencing facilities.

What is True Skool Radio (TSR)?

 

TSR is Hip Hop 101 and the Peoples CNN, a grassroots expression of the community's wants, needs and desires.

Peace,

Saladin

Community Circles
-How The Mighty Have Fallen-

 

Our Communities are not destroyed for lack of knowledge. People know what's wrong, especially those of us who live within the Community, that confront these problems each and every day. Our Communities are apathetically destroyed for lack of sacrifice. Many of us are simply unwilling to look out for one another, even our own children, in order to secure personal possessions and creature comforts for ourselves.

My father, Philip Frank, is a Painter by trade and an Artist/Musician at heart. As a teenager he played the bass in a group called The El Moroccos. It was my father’s influence where I developed a great love for music, nature, and culture. In second grade when I was asked what I wanted to be when I grew up I told my teacher Mrs. Smith, “A Zoologist!” My favorite animal was a ‘jaguarundi’ and my father, my twin brothers, and myself would watch animal/nature programs religiously. Whether it was National Geographic, Wild America, Nova, Wild Wild World of Animals, and etc., if it was on, we saw it. My father also collected African art and taught us about our classical civilizations and cultural traditions prior to slavery. Recognizing the Dinka tribe from the Masai tribe, learning the story of General Hannibal, and understanding our story in America was common knowledge in our household. I also learned that I am the great-great-great grandson of Josiah Henson; forerunner of the Underground Railroad, founder of a Community of fugitive slaves in Dresden, Ontario Canada and the British-American Vocational Institute. It was through my father that I gained my cultural consciousness and developed my interpersonal relationship with the Planet.

My mother, Lois Frank, was a Psychologist/Sociologist by trade. One of my earliest memories of her is being gathering up on rainy days with a few of my siblings and put into our Pontiac Grand Safari to go look for "our buddies". She'd drive us around the city until we found our buddies and once we saw them she would tell us to wave, and we would return home. Our buddies were a group of four homeless people who sought shelter from the rain underneath an overpass. Over time, my siblings and I began to initiate these outings by asking our mother could we go look for our buddies when it rained. With that simple gesture, our mother successfully taught us to identify with others and a social condition synonymous with rain. Years later I would implement the same Parenting techniques by taking my school age daughters to "the lunch place". Nine years later my eldest daughter, Asiyah, would write about these experiences, the people she met, and how this positively shaped her life on College entry essays. All this time she never knew that the lunch place was the Community Soup Kitchen. Asiyah is now graduating High School and will be pursuing a career in Forensic Psychology at Howard University in our Nation's Capitol. It was through my mother that I gained my social consciousness and developed my interpersonal relationship to the World.

Along my journey there are many who have added onto and reinforced the foundation my parents have laid. Those people who have played and often still play the most significant roles in my growth and development have been people who understood the meaning of sacrifice. From my eldest sibling Brad Frank who would invest his own money and get resources to train my peers and I in the summer for the upcoming football season, to Rev. Kenneth James who kept his office, church, and home open to us who were seeking guidance and support in becoming boys to men. There were business owners like Carmen Jones, Mr. Brown, Beechie, Mr. Williamson, Arthur Ray, Howard, Ms. Theresa, Ms. Price, and etc., Youth Advocates like Knuckles, Virgil, Greg Lewis, Reggie McCreary, Hamp, Garth and various others too numerous to mention who took ownership of our neighborhoods and sacrificed their personal time and finances to insure that my present generation would be here today. It was through their collective work, responsibility, and examples that I understand what Community is about, and I actively build upon this legacy with the things that I do.

One thing that I've found in common with all of the people that I mentioned above was their sense of sacrifice. As Business Owners it was never about making themselves rich off of the support from the Community. It was about providing a service and  reciprocating the money the Community paid for these services by supporting other Businesses, Organizations, and Institutions within our Community; Beechy would buy groceries at Mr. Brown's store down the block, and Mr. Brown would get his hair cut at Beechie's Barbershop. Our dollar circulated a few times before leaving our Community and this type of support for one another strengthened the socioeconomic integrity of our families and thus our Community as a whole. We sacrificed personal gains to ensure that we collectively prospered.

I was  recently asked, "What type of vision do I have for our Community?" My answer is that is, I have the same vision as those who came before me. The same vision I benefited from that I share with my own children and our present generation: our greatest natural resource and Ambassadors of the future. I see people taking more pride in our Community because they're home owners. I see people who were once discriminated against because of a non-violent offense they committed fifteen years ago being business owners, employed, and providing a service to a neighborhood they once took from. I see Sunday no longer being the most segregated day of the week because our Religious Community is now working as a Community; collectively supporting, protecting, and providing programs and activities for the most vulnerable elements of our Society: women, children, seniors, the poor/unemployed, and the handicapped. I see our Community no longer relying on an underfunded, understaffed police force to resolve all our problems and keep our neighborhoods safe from ourselves. I see us policing ourselves, as guardian angels, who have taken an active stance against crime, juvenile delinquency, and family dysfunction. I see our Community investing in our youth by supporting the cultural arts, recreation centers, entertainment, and educational opportunities that encourage their positive growth & development. Lastly and most importantly, I see our Community as ours; a place our ancestors migrated to with goals of building, supporting, and perpetuating a better life for each other.

The decline of any Community is marked by its members unwillingness and inability to protect and provide for its most vulnerable elements: women, children, seniors, the poor/unemployed, and the handicapped. Establishing resources to protect and provide for these family elements builds the compound called a Community. In order to restore this place, we must be willing and able to sacrifice the "I" for "We", the "Mine" for "Ours", and the "Me & You" for "Us". If we all do a little, no one needs to do a lot. In the rebuilding process one of our greatest enemies is apathy; the lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern for each other and rebuilding our Community. Many of our Politicians, Religious Leaders, Parents, Businesses, and Organizations are apathetic. It's impossible for a Community to deteriorate, on the watch of those who care. When we care we're concerned. Concern means we're able to relate and when we're able to relate we can establish relationships; the intimate glue that holds our families, neighborhoods, and Communities together. This is a rebuilding process that doesn't happen over night. It's a long term investment in each other, and more specifically our children. It's the type of posture that inspires, empowers, and educates our children to develop a relationship with our Community. It's also the type of posture that encourages our children to take ownership of our Community when we are no longer here. I am the result of this posture and learned, through the sacrifice of others, my role, relationship and responsibility to our Community. After studying Therapeutic/Recreation at Central State University in Wilberforce, OH, I returned to WNY and have diligently worked as a Youth Mentor for over a decade. I have authored/published several books on the subject of Social Commentary, worked as a Program Consultant for an episode of the History Channel Series 'Gangland', started a Prison Correspondence Project, created/financed various other Community Initiatives/Youth Programs, and have partnered with many Institutions that advocate for the same common Community causes. While many have praised me for these efforts I constantly remind them that I am because we are. I am the result of many others, known and unknown, who have sacrificed their time, finances, and lives to pave the way for me to have these opportunities to contribute to a rich ancestral legacy. I am not apathetic because I saw many who cared and demonstrated their love for one another.

When a Community doesn't function as a circle-like Ecosystem of positive human resources, it simply becomes a negative, vicious, parasitic cycle amongst its members. If we, as members of our Community, are apathetic about the process of building it, we are the very elements that bring about its destruction. In conclusion, I leave you all with this question: What type of vision do you have for our Community, and what sacrifices are you willing/able to make to help bring this vision to life?

Peace,
Saladin



Temptation Commentary

For Those Who Saw The Film

 

I recently saw the film 'Temptation' and thought it was an excellent, insightful film. For those of you who've ceen the film, here's short list of 9 things I took away from it:

1.) Pick up the book 'Stay in Your Lane'. Among other insights you'll learn from Author D. Scott, there's a Chapter called 'Hoe Stroll'; a great psychoanalysis of Judith's "itch" and how to address that. 

 

2.) Fellas, add spice to your life or you will end up being a Brice. 

Brice
 

3.) Although Harley was living in Judith's head rent free, with all his paper he was still a predatory chili pimp; we wasn't no BIG GAME Hunter. If he was really bout dat life he would have acquired Mademoiselle's Business and made her Manager.

Harley

4.) Judith had no identity in her marriage or her home: The decorum in the living/bedroom and kitchen had no semblance of a womanly touch, and their bathroom didn't even look feminine. It was HIS (Brice's) Life and she was just in it. Top it off with that homely Bricemobile and you have what is called an "Invisible Woman" -or maybe a female "Hollow Man"...

Judith in the living/bedroom

 

5.) When Brice ran up in Harely's spot, he should have gave 'em a Hulk Hogan Leg Drop.

6.) Moesha did her thing.

7.) The grass ain't greener on the other side; it could end up being a brownfield.

8.) A Father, carrier of the seed of life, was absent throughout the film until the very end. This symbolized the potential to end a previous cycle and birth (renew) another life in its place.

9.) LOLA = Turnt Up!

 

Peace,
Saladin



Marquise de Merteuil and Cécile de Volanges

 

Misogyny = Misandry

 

Western Society, without a doubt, is historically and presently Misogynistic, Male Chauvinistic, Sexist, and Gender Oppressive. I've never supported this and have always been a firm advocate of Equality, regardless of gender. Many others also bear witness to this inherent problem with Western Society yet the important question to ask ourselves is, "What are we doing about it?" For females, this question is even more critical to answer because through her is potentially born the solution to these social ills.

There are females who have taken and are taking successful steps to solve this problem via embracing Cultures that are non-Western, engaging in the Political Process to create legislation that brings about levels of Equality, and creating their own Institutions/Businesses that promotes Gender Equality. At the same time you have other females who haven't taken successful steps to solve this problem. So instead of addressing Misogyny they become Misandrists; an unhealthy response to an unhealthy situation.

Misandry is defined as "hatred or strong dislike for males, boys, and men". The word "misandry" didn't appear in most dictionaries until the mid 1900's and in the 1970's it was considered a new term being introduced into mainstream American English (language). Misandry, as a concept, still hasn't been totally aknowledged within mainstream Western Society because if you were to go to Microsoft Word right now and type in the word "misandrist" a red line will appear underneath it meaning 'this is not a word' or 'this word is mispelled'. The point here to consider is that words, and their function, still shape our reality -even if Microsoft Word doesn't acknowledge them. It's also important to consider that just because words are not common within mainstream American English, it doesn't mean they don't exist, they're harmless, or neutral. In fact, oftentimes it's those things that appear nonexistent, innocent, and indifferent that actually end up being the most real, harmful, and political.

There are many reasons, in addition to a Misogynistic Western Societal atmosphere, that females become Misandrists. Sometimes they were raised by Lesbian Parents. Othertimes they may have been taken advantage of or abandoned by the males in their life. Maybe they were influenced by a Feminist. Perhaps they were in relationships with serial cheaters. Regardless what their rationalization is for this contempt for males, it doesn't solve their problem of reconciliation. Over the years I've watched females group together based upon mutual pain and insecurities. Many of these support groups are often nothing more than bitch sessions to trade war stories about mental, emotional, and physical abuse. Many of these groups do not even consider or explore healthy ways to reconcile a dysfunctional family unit and bring males and females back together. Oftentimes their Mission Statements are "It's all about my sisters" and the background music is the Covergirl, Queen Latifiahed Theme from Living Single. There's nothing wrong with Sisterhood; I think that's very important for our families and communities! Yet when these girlfriend pow-pows are not providing females with effective/healthy ways to come together with males to advocate one common cause of (re)building a family and community, that's a fundamental problem. Whenever I engage a group of females who're advocating any kind of Woman's Group I always ask them what is their plan of action and goal in regards to coming together with males/men for the purpose of family and community. If they don't have a plan, goal or even try to rationalize their Mission as "focused on what females/women need to do for ourselves" I know right then and there that I, as a male/man, am not an essential part of their plan or goal in regards to family and community. This mentality and approach is no different than the plans of action Western Society has historically advocated with no goal for coming together with Black/Brown families and communities. In other words, Caucasians as a group in America, have historically and legally kept Black/Brown apart from their own social equality from 1776-1965; 189 years of America's 237 year existence. Instead of finding healthy ways to address this alienation/seperation, many Black/Brown people have adopted the same mentality and approach towards eachother. So many of us keep eachother apart from our own social equality based upon cultural, ethnic, religious, academic, economic, gender, and etc. differences too. One of these differences I am pointing out is along gender lines; where Black/Brown females, in response to the 'blackfaced misogyny' that may/may not have been directly/indirectly perpetrated against them by Black/Brown males, are now promoting Misandry. 

Many females don't even realize that deep down inside they're holding this contempt for males, boys, and men. One of the biggest indicators is when the bulk of a their conversation is about how worthless males are and how men are beneath them. It reminds me of this female having a conversation with me about how dudes just wasn't on her level, as if she was The Last Unicorn. I perfectly understand the frustration of socializing with 'some' people; I've gotten frustrated myself. Yet to take a position that "males", "men", and "dudes" are ALL a certain way is deeply problematic. The females who think and feel this way about ALL males have basically reduced themselves to three abiological options in life:

1.) Denounce all males and become a Lesbian.
2.) Denounce all males, become a female eunuch, and promote Fratricide/Patricide.
3.) Use males as a tool and also as a slave.

While the issue of Gender Equality is a legitimate concern for any female (and males), these three abiological choices are not a healthy response/answer to the problem of Misogyny. They're not legitimate solutions because they do not demonstrate a female's commitment to assist in (re)building families and communities for our future generations. For without males there are no children or future and a Society without offspring will cease to exist; just like Societies without females to bear offspring will also cease to exist. So ceeing that these three options are obviously not a healthy response/answer, what is a legitimate solution to the problem? Do these solutions insure the production, provisions, and protection of a future Society?

I think before we even answer that question we have to be aware that we, as Black/Brown people within North America, are not the primary architects of this Society. We were given legal permission to participate in this Society about 48 years ago -even though America will be celebrating it's 237th Birthday this year. So we as Black/Brown people are not the status quo nor does this Society we reside in primarily reflect our Ancestors culture (core values, language, customs, traditions and etc.). Because we reside in North America and were subjected to its cultural conditions, all of us in some form or fashion have adopted many of these core values, language, customs, traditions and etc. We we all assimilated and some of us are striving daily to recapture our culture. So this is the lens we should be looking at eachother through; a filter of consideration for being made other than ourselves from eating the wrong cultural foods. In other words, present day Black/Brown males who perpetuate Western Society's Misogyny, Male Chauvinism, Sexism, and Gender Oppression were taught this from the most Misogynistic, Male Chauvinistic, Sexist, and Gender Oppressive people on the Planet. Likewise, Black/Brown females whose unhealthy answer to Misandry (and Misogyny) are also perpetuating a Western Ideology. Realizing this gives us the ability think about and seek answers outside of the Western box many of us are stuck in. In thinking outside of the box we must ask ourselves: How did we relate to eachother as Black/Brown people before July 4th 1776? How did we relate to one another 1200 years ago? What about 10,000 years ago? The further we go back, the resources/references we have to solve the problems of today. In many cases we'll come across practical solutions from people who thought about our problems many moons ago.

In closing, I want to encourage my sisters (and brothers) to realize that whatever problems we face as a people today doesn't exist in a vacuum. Also, the problems we're thinking about today are problems we have already considered; Archeologists have documented us as being here hundreds of thousands of years so that's alot of thinking about life and living. In striving to solve our problems, any solutions we come up with MUST involve a  commitment to assist in (re)building our families and communities for our future generations. If this bond is  not present, our lives will continue to be broken. Again, we've been documented as being here for hundreds of thousands of years so there are plenty of examples to put our theories to the test. Misogyny and Misandry is flawed logic; there is no life that has ever come from that. Hatred, strong dislike, or disatisfaction with one another only breeds dissention. This dissention causes division and before long we make Devils. Ladies, yes there are males who need some work, just like you do, and we need to work it out together. It's an excellent idea to come together as women/sisters to address issues related to females b.u.t. don't forget about us males! -smile- We need your insight and answers about ways we can (re)build our families and communities; our future generations depend on us providing these answers, together.

Peace,
Saladin