"Before a group can enter the open society, it must first close ranks."
Stokley Carmichael
Sometimes without meaning to , folks , can be so cruel in our reactions to situations, they often do not even under stand . No where is it more apparent than amongst those , I affectionately refer to as Global Afrikans. About one week ago , a story caught my eyes, and with no real malice,I twitted a forthright response ,and thought no more about it. 46 year old Milikah Shabazz,a daughter of the late ,Civil Rights , Political activist Malcolm X,was arrested, committing ,fraud , against the wife of a former body guard , belonging to her father. In addition, she breach of probation , for traveling outside the jurisdictions of NY State.
Sometimes without meaning to , folks , can be so cruel in our reactions to situations, they often do not even under stand . No where is it more apparent than amongst those , I affectionately refer to as Global Afrikans. About one week ago , a story caught my eyes, and with no real malice,I twitted a forthright response ,and thought no more about it. 46 year old Milikah Shabazz,a daughter of the late ,Civil Rights , Political activist Malcolm X,was arrested, committing ,fraud , against the wife of a former body guard , belonging to her father. In addition, she breach of probation , for traveling outside the jurisdictions of NY State.
I twitted that outside of the musical Jackson family , the Shabazz ,were the most dysfunctional, in the entire planet. For this ,I was harshly chastised, in a response , by one of the daughters , eager to protect her family’s legacy. How dare you , attack my family like that without showing some empathy , and understanding , she enquired ? I quickly did a double take , and apologize ,in recognition that I might have gone a bit over the top .
Absentee fathers, I believe is the cause of most of the problems across most Black families. Even worst is the case of lingering trauma that persist all the way sometimes to adulthood. Compound that with the taboo , of fear of confronting , much less discussing them , and so I am not too saddened by the response. Dysfunction obviously, has derogatory connotations and so ,I am not surprise at the forceful response. but a way of saying hey , we have a problem that still needs addressing .
It unstated , but well known that these two men, were of the same mole ,and had similar ambitions ,which included , the full liberation of their people , and elevation of America ,to a morally just, and socially sound level. They were however treated differently because of their dissimilar approaches . Both , in the end ,received in the same venomous blow back from the powers that be. At the peak of their lives , both were cut down tragically , leaving young ,courageous wives, to fend for themselves, and kids , then fast forward today, what do we see?
MLK kids are rolling in financial dough, way up , at the Mountain top , their mama died peacefully , and dignity , in the autumn of her life ,they are all living purposeful lives , while obtaining national accolades , including commemorating not only a national holiday , a billion dollar memorial , all at no cost to them personally.
As for the Shabazz clan ? With few exception , the all female siblings ,have mainly struggled , with little help , or support mechanisms , while still obviously suffering the traumatic fall out of the white tragedy, and Black betrayal of their father. Since their fathers came to prominence ,via differing social back grounds, their approaches , and appeals , were likewise dissimilar.
It’s 2011 , and as can be gleaned , the issues that both Malcolm, and MLK fought for are sill unfulfilled .Yes ,a few folks have excelled , but others still languish far behind. The tragedy as played out with this arrested daughter ,though embarrassing , to any concerned with the legacy of an ‘American Afrikan Founding Father ,’ should not be a treated with derision ,but cause time for reflections, and action.
My concern is encapsulated in a few poignant questions however ,and here they are. Has Euro American , divide and rule, ‘worked so masterfully that folks within the Afrikan diaspora , cannot recognize that they historically, got played for suckers , one against each other? Who is responsible for ensuring that all past heroes receive the same levels of respect ,and dignity, they richly deserves, their kids, conscious intellectuals , middle class folks, or the solely ,confused , hopeless masses ,on the ground, in need of help themselves?
The need to begin dialogues as to the merits of bridge building communications, remain’s critical , if the end goal is the same. Not only must MLK get his due , for contributing to the fuller development of this country , but so does Malcolm X, Skokley Carmichael ,aka Kwame Ture, CLR James , and Marcus Garvey , and the reasons are simple. For proper perspective , and self love , our young kids , need to identify with all their heroes, irrespective to how white , numerically dominant America accept them. Folks like Booker T Washington, MLK,Maya Angelo , Professor Gates, Barrack Obama , Condi Rice, Colin Powell,Herman Cain ,Frederick Douglas ,Clarence Thomas , and Michael Steel,must not be viewed as mere appeasers , for choosing their own part to the struggle, that they deem fit.
Likewise, prudent radicals ,such Stokley Carmichael,Derrick Bell, Cornel West, Dr du Bois , Louis Farrakhan ,Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Kanye West , Michael Eric Dyson, and Randell Robinson , must be applauded , for having the gumption to stand up , and demand justice , as they deem fit .
Many might not remember ,but Stokley Carmichael had to run for his life and live in Afrika ,to escape death or persecutions due to his positions , re struggle for the cause of freedom. Pan Afrikanist Marcus Garvey, along with CLR James, were both deported, the former with the direct help of NAACP founder ,Dr du Bois, who saw him as a treat . The doctor much later, in disgust, had to run to Afrika, to live out the autumn of his years
All due to inconsequential differences , Malcolm and Dr MLK , were portrayed, by white establishment media , as diabolical enemies, as was Malcrom , Mohammed Ali , and his one time leader ,Prophet Elijah Mohammed . Sadly though , divided Afrikans folks, in 'These United States ,'are of no use whatsoever , to themselves ,much less America, and the rest of the global Humanity.
Without the Black Caucus , SA's Nelson Mandela ,would be still rotting in Jail , under the American and European supported, savage ,racist , Apartheid system.After years of toiling for the cause of global Afrikans , including against racist Apartheid ,Randell Robinson, packed his bags in disgust, and first ran to Afrika , then settled in the more peaceful tranquil Caribbean, where he now is focused on issues affecting troubled Haiti.
'Rise up ye mighty people!'
Many might not remember ,but Stokley Carmichael had to run for his life and live in Afrika ,to escape death or persecutions due to his positions , re struggle for the cause of freedom. Pan Afrikanist Marcus Garvey, along with CLR James, were both deported, the former with the direct help of NAACP founder ,Dr du Bois, who saw him as a treat . The doctor much later, in disgust, had to run to Afrika, to live out the autumn of his years
All due to inconsequential differences , Malcolm and Dr MLK , were portrayed, by white establishment media , as diabolical enemies, as was Malcrom , Mohammed Ali , and his one time leader ,Prophet Elijah Mohammed . Sadly though , divided Afrikans folks, in 'These United States ,'are of no use whatsoever , to themselves ,much less America, and the rest of the global Humanity.
Without the Black Caucus , SA's Nelson Mandela ,would be still rotting in Jail , under the American and European supported, savage ,racist , Apartheid system.After years of toiling for the cause of global Afrikans , including against racist Apartheid ,Randell Robinson, packed his bags in disgust, and first ran to Afrika , then settled in the more peaceful tranquil Caribbean, where he now is focused on issues affecting troubled Haiti.
'Rise up ye mighty people!'
With the collective hands on deck, history shows , that the job becomes much lighter, especially for a people still struggling in pitiful neglect, and self delusional power. A people , must not let others define who they should love ,and adore, when all are fighting in the trenches on the cause for scio - economic - com political justice. ‘Diasporic Solidarity,’ remains a useful key, as it ‘s all about an ‘end game,’ I say.
Luv Humanity!
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