Who Holds the Blame

Who Holds the Blame?

By

Sengbe Ben Yosef

   After nearly 500 years of slavery and oppression of the so-called African and let us not forget the Aboriginal black and brown people of the land we now know as America. Only one question comes to mind. Who holds the blame for the condition we find ourselves in today? Answering that question may prove to be one of the hardest things for us to do. The question is a bit more complicated to answer than it may seem. To answer this question we may end up hurting a lot of feelings in the process. People on all sides of the argument will most undoubtedly have hard feelings no matter how you slice the pie.

  You may recall a while back a lot of folks were up in arms over statements made by the world-renowned rap artist designer and media icon Kanye West. Back in May of this year, West made the statement "400 years of slavery; sounds like a choice to me". At that moment I didn't fully understand and like most people I was upset and appalled that a black man would say such a thing. After listening to Mr. West and removing my own ego I could clearly see that Kanye was trying to make a greater point about how we are in control of our lives no matter how bleak the outcome may seem. I believe he was trying to accept the fact that we all have a part to play in what happens to us in life.

   Kanye's words opened up my thinking and that's not to say I totally agree with all he said but I did understand he was trying to show us that we have a stake in this game. We have a stake now and we had one back then. He was saying that yes, evil men did start slavery and that was their choice and we had equal choices even though it may not have seemed we didn't. We have a duty in this life to be responsible for everything that happens to us good or bad. For the things that are the fault of others as well as the tragedies, we bring on ourselves. To that degree, I was willing to hear my brother out and respect his opinion on the matter.

   After listening to West a little more I remembered one of our great elders Huey Newton saying "Many of us are fearful of what's happening in America because we have overestimated the ability of white supremacy and greatly underestimated our own abilities".  With this understanding I move forward not giving an excuse to the evil and cruel institution of slavery or the oppressive system that followed slavery but to the higher understanding that I have power. My world can be shaped by my own thinking and we mustn't allow anyone to make me think otherwise. I also remember my own granddad John Robert tell me that " No one can hurt you more than you hurt your own self and the only thing holding you back is you". Granddad was right because the only times I could recall ever really been hurt badly was when I lived in my own ignorance and wallowed in my own self-petty.

   I would be leading you astray if I ended my store there because we all know people can sometimes do horrific things to other people and because of that we are sometimes at the mercy of the universe. Just as we have choices others have choices and we can't choose for them what is right or wrong. What we can do is defend ourselves against unwanted energies that disrupt our happiness and freedom. Once I read that a good man's job is to show the bad man the way back to the path and to also stop him from hurting others by showing him he is really hurting himself. You see, even in the actions of others we have some control and responsibility. The saying "Am I my brother's keeper "comes to mind and the answer is always yes, just as he is mine. We must take full responsibility for our lives if this world is going to change it will be totally up to us.

   I wrote this because I wanted to say something to shake the souls of men and to break us free from the mental bondage we are currently living under. Also wanted to stop us from engaging in the silly traditions of blaming others for what happens to us. We are the masters of our own fate and captains of our destinies. Never shall we bend the knee to man in fear or in hopelessness that we are without choices and power to shape our own path. In the past, the chains were present and very real the weight of them seemed unbearable yet just as it is today the chains are an illusion.  These chains can and will be broken and we have to do is think anew. Dream a new dream of liberty freedom and justice then do me a favor and wake up and get to work.  

Sengbe Ben Yosef

Not This Time

First let me say pussy and dick. I bet you're listening now right? Now that I have lowered myself to speak to you the least could do is rise up to hear me. Millions of liberals made excuses when they saw police shoot my people in the back. They turned a blind eye when the cops choked my brother to death. They cared not when my people where the victims of brutality.

Now because their life styles may be affected or effected they want me and my people to join their cause. They said we should have voted and we are the reason Trump won. We shouldn't even care to be truthful. When ever white people have a problem with white people they want the help of black people. Examples: American Revolution, Civil War, WWI, WWII, The Feminist Movement and many more.

When the system murders innocent black men women and children the liberal are for the most part silent. So now it's my people turn to watch you deal with the system alone. I ask all my people to take a step back and return to your own homes and communities to begin the healing process for our people.These same liberals will turn their backs on us when have what they want from the system.

Examples of their back turning: Slavery. Black laws, Jim Crow laws, Lynchings after WWI & WWII, Destruction of the Black Family after the feminist movement and so much more. I can't begin to list every time the liberals turned on us.This is there fight. Let us return now to the way of our ancestors before we came in contact with them. Let us now turn back to our universal God head and ask him/ her to deliver us from this hell... Let us start the work that will free the next generation from bondage.

Sengbe Ben Yosef

Indifferent to Suffering

If you are indifferent to the suffering of people because of their race creed color or lifestyle choices then you are a fool and you are not fit to be called human. All too often people turn their backs on other people who are suffering because of deep seeded hate that has been taught to them by ignorant people in their lives. Many of these people don't even know a single person who is different from them. They allow their ignorance to rule the day. These people live in a bubble and they have never been brave enough to test theory against the real world. They are cowards who hide in their comfort zone of hate and intolerance.

What I'm saying should come as no surprise for those of us who because of race creed color or lifestyle choices have had to live in the darkness of hatred and oppression. Now I may not agree with every life choice a person makes but I am not removed from caring for those who suffer simply because they don't live as I do or form their thinking to match my own. I feel every human being is worthy of the compassion and love of the human family. I believe it is cowardly to bar people from human rights because I don't like them or I hold some personal bigotry in my own heart. Each person deserves to have their humanity respected even if that person does not deserve your respect personally. Personal respect is earned but respect for all of God's creations is a mandate handed down by God almighty.

Many in the human family have taken it upon themselves to declare that they somehow are more deserving of human rights than any others groups in our great human family. How absurd is the notion that your skin color somehow affords you more rights on this planet? To have the idea that your skin alone should give you more access to liberty justice equality and happiness than other races or groups of people is in itself a deep form mental sickness. This sickness must be wiped from the earth completely or mankind will be doomed to an existence of war. The cowardliness of hatred bigotry and racism must die if we as a species hope to survive. We are now at a pivotal time in human history, a time that may very well be our last stand as humans. I fear will be destroyed if we don't change our ways.

I write to you not to try to convince you because we all know the facts. We all understand that racism sexism bigotry and class warfare is wrong even if some of us don't admit it openly we know in our hearts it's wrong. Many are too cowardly to face their fears about race religion and sexual orientation. They would rather reach for hate than to be courageous enough to look in their own hearts. They would rather seek out division than to find common ground that could heal the divide. They choose intolerance over understanding. If people of good nature do not stand against this now then most likely living in the last days of hope of the human family living in peace. It's time for every human to decide which side they will be fighting on. Will you fight for equality and justice or will you watch as we waste away?

Sengbe Ben Yosef ©2016

Forgotten Future

Black youth abandoned

This story I will speak on a subject that has affected me from the standpoint of a parent and as a black man who has not forgotten my days as a young boy growing up in the inner city. When I was young I thought that the problems I had were because of the place I lived. I never thought that some of the same problems existed for my people outside of the ghettos but as a parent who has been blessed enough to have my children grow up outside of the ghetto I quickly learned that black children face many of the same issues no matter where they grow up. Much of the reason they face these issues has to do with us adults not breeding purpose into our children's lives.

First, let me say don't take this as an attack but we as black parents we are lacking in many ways and our failures are having a really bad effect on the majority of our young people. To a large degree, we have been leaving the youth out in the cold for at least a generation or two. We haven’t been given them a proper understanding of the world they live in and it is hurting their chances for a better tomorrow. I know most black households have to have both of the parents working in order to maintain a decent life for their families. This dynamic of a two parent working household has left holes in the gates we try to build to protect our children and we compound matter by not teach the youth about their history and molding their greatness.

We must work to build purpose in the lives of our young people we must inspire them to do more and the way to do that is to fix the way we interact with them. Our children have to first know that they are loved above all things also that they are sacred and essential to the survival of our race. Leaving our children out of the planning for our new day will not help us reach the goal of being a free and liberated people. In fact to try to raise up our people without the young people front and center has been one of the biggest mistakes we have made as a people and it's time we rethink that strategy. The youth must be our priority because our lives have been wasted and we are old and fearful but they are young and strong. 

I guess my point is that we can stop a lot of what's troubling our children if we take the time to build them up and stop blaming them for not knowing what we don't teach them. We can put an end to drugs guns and violence if we help to redirect the youth's focus. Lastly, I just want to say build something for your children even if you can finish it maybe they will and by doing so they can bring our people closer to freedom. I pray that all of you are reading this in good health and I hope that you will take this and build upon it because we can no longer afford to let the youth linger in the world as a forgotten future because the world is killing them. The young people need us to stand up for them today so that they can stand up for the next generation.

Bless UP!!!

Sengbe Ben Yosef ©2016           

STILL DANCING

Recently San Francisco 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick refused to stand for the national anthem and it stirred up a lot of noise over the last week.  People having been very vocal about how they feel about Kaepernick not standing for the national anthem. Some have even gone so far as to burn Kaepernick’s jersey and make hateful videos about Kaepernick. Although I find that disgusting and I can understand that because after all, he is in America where a black man doesn’t have to do much to receive harsh criticism from a country that never had much love for black men.  You can imagine the names Kaepernick has been called and the attacks made on his character because he took a stand and chose to speak on some of the horrifying things that have been happening in America.

As I said I am disgusted with how some Americans are treating Mr. Kaepernick for simply using his voice for those who have no voice. This is what America has done whenever someone stands up and goes against the grain.  A lot of this was to be expected from some parts of white America and the mainstream media. Which by the way seem to be the PC police when the issue is something silly as how people stand or don’t stand for the playing of the national anthem. These issues took center stage meanwhile not a peep about the reason Mr. Kaepernick sat down in the first place. With all that said nothing has been as troubling for me as my fellow Americans of African descent coming out again Colin Kaepernick.

I wonder in my mind how anyone could find fault in what Kaepernick spoke on. He talks about justice not only for his people but justice for all peoples. Like I said it’s understandable given the history of this country that Americans of European descent would not agree with Kaepernick but how could any person of color disagree with what he said? Persons of color who choose not to side with Kaepernick I find this more deplorable than anything said by those outside our groups. Men I once had a great deal of respect for because of their work ethic and dedication to their craft are now speaking out against Kaepernick a man who has risked everything for people who look just like them. Men like Jerry Rice Victor Cruz and James Harrison making the statements you would expect  to hear from some part of white America but never from your own people.

These men have been on the front line of the racist culture in the NFL and they more than any fan or spectator should know about racism in America because they have faced it at the highest levels. These men are household names but their posters may hang on the walls of people who still refer to them as niggers. Of all the people you could think of that would not side with a black man taking a stand for justice freedom and equality you wouldn’t think these men would be the ones attacking Colin for his stance.  This is simply unthinkable and shameful in my opinion. Some of these men have even questioned Colin’s blackness. I mean really we should be questioning the minds of men that would stand against their own best interest.

The question I pose to these men in 2016 is: Why are you still dancing? The music has long since stopped yet some of my people can’t stop dancing. In all these years your dancing has gotten you nowhere so why keep doing it? To those men and women who don’t know what to do when a man or woman of African descent takes a stand for the people, let me give you some tips on what to do.

Step 1 when the media comes to you and you disagree with your brother or sister just simply say "No comment". Step 2 If you find yourself unable to escape the questions just say “I don’t have all the facts”. Step 3 If you must say something then say this “My brother / Sister has made a personal choice and it is not my place to question that so at this time I must continue to look into the issue and support my brother/ sister until I have a reason not too.

I forgive Jerry and those other guys because America has screwed us up and many of us are suffering from the effects of racism whether we know it or not. The pic for this story is a little over the top but I only poke fun at my brothers and sisters because no matter what I love them but I just wish they wouldn't dance unless some music is being played. To close we will listen to Colin in his own words.

Confused Love

Here is something that always troubled me... So called white people around the world; most of them hate us but they love our energy as long as it is not a threat to their ideas of white superiority... They love our slang our way of dress and our talents as long as we remain in the place they have prescribed for us... As long as we tow the line and portray the dumb down nigger they are happy with us... The minute we show any sign of self-respect self-determination or any of the values that an upright human should display they come around trying to put us back in our place... It all seems like a confused love affair to me… hat are they afraid of???

Well, let me say this to those so called white folks who believe that our place is beneath you: We came to this place slaves and some of us were already here and you caged us like animals but what you didn't know is  God was with us all the way... God knew that you would be irresponsible and immoral so he sent us in chains to deliver you from your own ignorance and as a sign, we are here to restore what you have trampled... We are here as a testament to the strength of the oldest people on the planet and what the power of God can do...

Now the time has come for God's glory to be realized and your salvation shell come from the very daughters and sons of those whom you have mistreated and enslaved... The will of God can not be avoided... I say this not because I think my people to be better than you...  I say this because you are unwell and the sickness you have been spreading is killing us all... All of humanity will be better off if you willing admit the lies of race that you have created... There is only one race, the human race... Also, you must admit that I am your big brother and it's time you respect that fact...

When you go against a part of the family you are against us all... Turn back from your evil ways and sin no more... In your fight to be superior, you have only proved how immature and ignorant you are... If you really want to show us something undo what have done and with the same energy, you used to give hate show the people peace... Some will get mad and not understand but that will only be because they have no desire to give up on hate... They will risk the lives of all humans to make their silly points; that at the end of the day mean absolutely nothing...

Once upon a time the so-called black man and woman ruled the world and they gave us 1000 years of knowledge prosperity and peace... You are leading the world now what will you do for the human race or is all you have us is chaos and war??? I got a little off from where I started with this but I will say this then I’m done… You may not like us or you may even hate us but when we ruled the world freedom and knowledge were abundant and people from every land shared wisdom and love…  So you’re the king now little brother; what will be your legacy???

The Orlando Shooting

On the Orlando shooting:

   Now some news sources are reporting the gunmen is a gay Muslim terrorist. Now this story is starting to make no sense. If the shoot was indeed a gay man that would mean this was a gay on gay crime and not the hate crime the gay community has been trying to frame up. If the shooter was apart of the gay scene then that makes this different than what the FBI has been saying as well.

   

   The news source RT has reported the gunmen frequented gay night clubs and they said he also used gay apps to meet people. These facts would suggest we don't have all the facts and we should take a step back. If the man was indeed inspired by terrorist and was acting as a terrorist then that would means the FBI dropped the ball. It has been reported that the FBI interviewed the shooter three times and investigated him twice. If that's the case what was the FBI doing and how did they miss this??? 

   Given what's being reported by the media and the government I'm confused. On one hand they want to say the shooter was a terrorist but on the other hand there seems to be evidence to suggest something else is going on here. Both the government and the LGBT community seem to want to make a political grab to use this tragedy as political canon fire. The FBI and police investigations haven't even been completed and people have already formed opinions.

Now the government will be using this tragedy to push forward their political agenda and I suspect that gay community will do the same. While they fight over corpses of the dead the truth will get lost and we will miss our chance to keep such acts of violence from happening again. We should be working to understand what really happened so we can come up with reasonable solutions that safeguards all peoples rights and give us the security we need. But more than likely we will get emotional and nothing will get solved. 

         

Wanting Weed

Wanting Weed

The Marijuana Take Over

By

Sengbe Ben Yosef

After many years of fighting to legalize marijuana, it seems the proponents of legalizing weed are on the cusp of a huge victory in the fight to legalize marijuana. However, even before they people who have worked the hardest and sacrificed the most can raise their glasses to celebrate, big business looks poised to jump in and take over. The states that have legalized the use of recreational weed, they have seen a boom in their economies and have made large amounts of money. In Colorado, one of the first states to legalize pot for recreational use has already seen the profit of legal weed to the tune of nearly a billion dollars in the first year. If all of the states pondering legalizing marijuana come online the pot business could become a 30 plus billion dollar industry overnight.

Sounds like a win, win situation for everyone involved, right? But it may not look so good when large corporations enter the picture. They have already started looking down states and lawmakers to try to corner the market and shut the small growers out of the game. In my opinion, it would be a tragedy if the people who risked everything to get legalization of the table got pushed out of the pot industry. The prospect of that happening seems totally unfair given the fact that some of these same corporations and their owners may have fought against the small marijuana farmers in the early goings of the fight to legalize weed. I sincerely hope that small businesses are not shut out by the large agricultural companies.  I hope lawmakers work to make sure the little guy can stay in the picture.

Outside of that one issue, I believe that weed could be good for the overall economy of this country especially given the fact that America doesn’t have many homegrown industries left in this country. Just think if lawmakers don’t drop the ball this could be a boost to our struggling economy and a way for smaller business owners to get back some of what was lost during the collapse of Wall Street. This could also be a way back for the American worker and may alleviate some of the fanatical hardships the people have endured over the last few years. I want to see this industry grow and blossom in our struggling economy but if that means it’s going to become one more thing that the masses of the people are shut out of then I don’t want to see it happen. This movement to legalize marijuana needs to stay in the hands of the people who have suffered the most and work the hardest. This industry should not become just another means for business to shut out those whom they deem unworthy.

So legalize marijuana because the people want it and it’s the most responsible thing to do when you consider that the alternative to legalization hasn’t worked. Think of the money that could be made if we execute this properly. Think of all of the jobs that could be created for the people and the lower crime rates because people will have dignified work instead of hopelessness. Think of the courts and law enforcement and all the resources that could be freed up to deal with more pressing issues in our communities. Think for the weekends and less drunken bar fight and more happy times. This is just the opinion of one former pot head and dealer who would like to see a change in this economy for all people. Plus I don’t big business growing my weed.             

The Cornerstone of Freedom

The Cornerstone of Freedom

The fight to save Forestville High School

By

Sengbe Ben Yosef

One of the cornerstones of a free nation should be the proper education of its children. In America, it seems that the education of some children is valued over the education of others. Many like to say that the black and brown community is always playing the race card on every issue, but in many cases, our communities are only playing the cards that we have been dealt. I do not see education as a race issue. I see it as a fundamental right for all citizens without regard to race, creed, or color.

With that said, one cannot overlook certain historical facts about race and education in our country. America has a history of sabotaging and under funding schools that have a core student population of black and brown children. Many years the education system has purposely underfunded schools in the black and brown communities, a tradition that seems to be still here sadly. All over this country, this phenomena, continues even though our government claims that such practices have long since been eliminated in America; however, for those of us on the ground, we know that this is not the case.

Schools in the black and brown communities seem to be on the hit list of some unforeseen force that doesn’t want productive schools in our neighborhoods. One such school that has come under attack recently is Forestville High School located in Prince Georges County, Maryland. This school has been scheduled to close at the end of the school year.  It is a part of a broader plan set forth by the P.G. County government,  along with PGCPS at the bequest of a County hired consultant firm.

The larger plan is to close twenty-nine (29) schools by 2035 according to the “Washington Post” newspaper reports. I can’t help but wonder if the people making the decisions for the residents of Prince Georges County have any vested interest in what happens in the County school system. Why is it always left up to outsiders, i.e., consultants, education experts, etc. to make plans for schools in our districts?

The plan seems to follow the same pattern in our communities. First, they play games with the school districts to offset the true numbers of children that actually live in the district and attend schools in the region.  This is done so that the powers can isolate their targets and soften them up for the kill. Then like clockwork, they under fund those schools identified by the consultants to create a problem where there didn’t have to be one. In the case of Forestville High they did all these things, and even went a step further. They removed the schools military academy, which was the first of its kind in the State of Maryland. According to school advocates, the military academy was a great success and it added value to Forestville High School and the PGCPS system a value that can't be replaced.

This action cut student enrollment, which some parents and alumni say helped to put Forestville High School on the chopping block.   Members of the school’s alumni association have made similar points and have been outspoken about their views on these issues.  At a county school board meeting on February 4, 2016, members of the alumni addressed the board about their concerns, and the education of children in Forestville, Maryland.  But how often have you heard that black and brown people don’t care about the schools in their community? This show of support by the Forestville High Alumni should dispel that myth.

Many people in the community have spoken out and one of those critics of the school board calling for the closing of Forestville has been Kimberly Harley, a longtime resident of Prince Georges County, and alum of the Forestville High School. Ms. Harley and many of her family members have attended Forestville High School, so for people like her, the closing of Forestville High School would be like cutting out a part of their family history.  Nothing preserves a community like family history and the pride that comes with being able to say I grew up on this block and I went to that school. These are the things that make a community whole and worth living in. At the school board meeting, Ms. Harley and others spoke to the school board and the following is some of what Ms. Harley and her fellow alumni had to say:

Ms. Harley spoke to the board for maybe three (3) minutes, but I believe the things she said summed up what school should mean to people and the community at large. Her words brought attention to the real reasons the school should be preserved for generations to come. Kimberly Harley is a shining example of what good schools produce. Kimberly said, “The school has produced doctors, lawyers, politicians, and yes, even P.G. County board members”. She explained to the board her concerns about the military academy being removed and how it has affected the school enrollment. Kimberly also stated, “The school had problems in the past but the school, its students, faculty, parents, and alumni have all helped the school to overcome those issues". Ms. Harley indicated that the school is still a valued part of the community and the lives of the people living in the surrounding areas.

Now, my friends, it is up to you to act. The residents of the Forestville High School community need your help. Together we can make a difference. We can save this landmark High School and its students past, present, and future. Join Kimberly Harley the parents and educators in their fight to save education in their school district. Forestville High School and Forestville Military Academy are pillars in our community, the cornerstones and foundations of all we hold dear in our lives. We should not deny a single child the opportunity to experience all that Forestville High has to offer.

Education is fundamental human right and no one should be denied access to a quality education in their own community. Forestville High School/Forestville Military Academy has so much to offer right now, the school has a nationally ranked girls’ basketball team, nationally ranked Drill Team, County and State ranking Dancers, Football & Basketball organizations. As we speak, the school is still making history and shouldn’t we work to safeguard that history? Friends we have no time to waste we must act now. Please come out and support the Forestville Knights at the next board meeting is scheduled for February 23, 2016, check the school board site for correct times and details.

Save a school and stabilize a community.                       

The Cam Jam

The Cam Jam

The Oppression of Manhood

By

Sengbe Ben Yosef

I didn't think anyone need to explain what Cam Newton is going through right now with the media but maybe I was completely wrong. America doesn't get it at all or, at least, she is playing blind to the fact they Cam Newton is being singled out because he is a black man who has chosen to use his voice. For many people, the Cam Newton story started during the two weeks leading up to the Super Bowl. But for me, the story started a year or so back. At that time Cam and the Panthers football team were having a tough year and Cam's responses to the press came under the microscope. His response was not widely accepted by the mainstream media and a lot of them started demonizing Cam for some of his responses. In my mind, Cam was only being himself and responding as he felt he was allowed to as a man.

See this is where the trouble begins for the young football star. Cam Newton a grown man was thinking, I can just be myself and America will understand and act accordingly. Maybe someone should have given Cam a lesson about what happens to outspoken black men in America. Those of us in the black community understand this and we know what can happen when a young black man speaks out. This is seen as a break in the slave code for the racist power structure anytime a black man takes a stand on principles of manhood America sees it as her responsibility to break that black buck down. In my granddad's time, they described what Cam is doing as being uppity. In their minds Cam is being ungrateful and uppity when he speaks up for himself and America has a long history of trying to destroy any black man who would be bold enough to display any kind of manhood.

There will be those who will say I'm playing the race card but that's only because they want to reserve the right of playing the race card for themselves. The history of this kind of reaction to black men speaking up is well documented and no one can claim otherwise. It's too bad the media doesn't take the time to really listen to Cam because I feel his message is a positive one for our children to hear no matter what their race may be. Cam is saying something that should be valued all over the world but in America most of all. In the America that prides herself on being freedom loving and a respecter of its citizens rights to be treated equally. She should of all peoples of the world be in total agreement with Cam's message of individuality and pride in oneself. Why is it so bad what Cam is saying??? When we can honestly answer that question then what's really going on here will reveal the whole racist scam.

If we all could be honest for a moment, I think we know that what is happen to Cam Newton is shameful. We should be embarrassed but sadly we are not because this sickness is so ingrained us that we don't even see a problem with what is going on. It's not just white folks either because there are many blacks who have because of their slave programming said just as ugly things about Cam as white folks. It seems they are just as blind to the racist tactics of the power structure. Cam is being held to higher standard than any of his white counterparts and everyone  knows this but they play dumb. I only wish I could have given Cam some advice back when he was having an off year. I would have told him what all black men in America should be told about this country.

We must begin to teach our sons that we are behind enemy lines. We must tell them the truth about this country and never allow them to get comfortable as long as America continues to live out her racist behaviors. Our sons must learn to speak in code when talking to the enemy's press. We must teach them the tricks that the media plays and how to avoid the traps they set for us in their questions. Cam Newton is changing the game of football forever and we need to change the way we respond to these racist tactics. When the media attacks one of our people we need to be united in our efforts to support them when it is clear they have done no wrong and the media is targeting them for assassination. Lastly, to my people I want to say, teach your children the truth and should they become successful like Cam instruct them well on the tactic of our enemies and let Cam Newton be the last black man they try to use their buck breaking tactics on. 

Master's Table

Master’s Table

Fighting for Master’s love

By

Sengbe Ben Yosef

For the last few weeks people have turned their focus away from Bill Cosby and began to focus on the Oscars. This year’s Oscars had no black nominees for any of the major awards. In fact there was a total lack of nominees of any color other than white. The New York Times even held it up, a joke on the front page of their paper a week ago. I don’t get why everyone is surprised; this has been the history of the Oscars and it really wouldn’t be a something that I would consider talking about, if it had not been for one of Hollywood darling black couples speaking out against the Oscars. Will and Jada Smith have been for some time Hollywood’s token black couple that is pushed on public to show how diverse Hollywood has become. If you ask me they seem to want to be the new Ossie and Ruby D. but they lack the strong convictions of our elders in too many ways to name.

I recall a few years ago Jada Smith was trying to justify her young daughter lying in bed with a 21 year old grown man. Everyone was, so understanding but not me I felt she was setting a bad example for not only her daughter but for other young girls as well. Sense it was Will and Jada’s child people let it die. Jada became quite after that whole thing blew up in her face. From that point anything Jada had to say, I found something about it a little suspect and I didn’t much care to hear from her. I thought to myself she seems a little off since her and Will got hitched. I didn’t think of her much as a rebel anymore because it seemed Hollywood and marriage had subdued her. So when she came out with her spill on boycotting the Oscars I look at it as her sharing her nonsensical logic again. How could this woman turn activist on the very industry that her and her entire family was making a living off and a really good one if you asked me.

The reason I have a problem with her stance on the Oscars is she never seem to mind going to the Oscars especially when her husband was a nominee. Now out of the blue she wants to go activist. I myself can think of plenty of things we should boycott as a people; things that are way more detrimental to our people than some dam awards show. I mean in 2016 with all the dirty nasty things that the system on a whole is been doing to people of color and it’s this shit she wants to go to war over? There are a whole bunch of things worth making noise over and this may be on the list  but it’s not a priority. It’s sad that black folk like Will and Jada never seem to be able to find there voice when the people need them to speak out. On the other hand they seem to want the people to come riding to the rescue on issues that directly affect them and their livelihood.

I have a problem with many of the so called prominent people of color who roll right along with the program until the system comes crashing down on them. They never can find time to speak out when black men and women are murdered by the police. In fact a lot of them make heavy donations to the same police departments that murder their brothers and sister. Most of them act as if they can see us on the ground as they step over us on their way to be super stars. When it was Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince we were needed because Hollywood didn’t give a fuck about them. I’m not saying they owe us anything but at least they could remember that they come from us and even now they are a part of us. Also they could be more thankful to us because after all we are the ones who watched their movies and pay for tickets when Hollywood say they couldn’t sell. We cheered them on when they had no name and we were the ones who help the world to see them as something more.

The other issue I have with these black Hollywooder’s is, most top celebs like Will and Jada have a tremendous amount of money prestige and influence and yet they are still begging for scraps at their master’s table. Can you imagine watching your parents fight and grovel at the feet of another for scraps that fall from the table especially when your parents did not have the means to care for themselves. Has it never accrued to them to start their own motion picture studios and form their own awards system to give praise and honor to whom they deem worthy. What is this obsession that lives in my people that make them want to suffer this society and all of its abuses? Even now when my people that are at the top of their professions with mass amounts of wealth and knowledge go back to their oppressors with hat in hand on bended knee to receive nothing except scorn and ridicule. What kind of madness drives them to need love from their rapist? Who would want love from a system that still sees you as sub-human no matter how much you achieve?

Only when we play the butler, the maid, the thug, or the slave and like it, will Hollywood award us an Oscar or give any kind of recognition to us in their beloved Hollywood. I bet the movie industry and the oppressors of the mind get a kick out of taking highly skilled black actors and turning into players in the new era minstrel show. The sad part for me is the fact that my folks are still lining up  for the job in 2016. You can’t get love from an industry that was built on destroying your very image. How can you act surprised and complain when your masters spit in your faces. I mean come on man; you really thought Hollywood would recognize work by actors and actresses that gives dignity to the image of the black race when for years Hollywood has done nothing but reinforce stereotypes. In this day and time given all that has happened in the last few years with regards to race you couldn’t really believe Hollywood would change. When the political butt heads like Trump say they to make great again they mean they are taking us back to a time that made them comfortable.

How much more abuse will it take before you see they will never change? Not only that but they don’t want to change so the best thing for you to do is take your talents elsewhere. What are you afraid of when you have everything you need to succeed? Not only that but the world already secretly adores and worships you and everything you do. Think about that and then I want every major black player in Hollywood to rethink their stance on being a part of the same system that denigrates demeans disrespects and destroys the image of your people. Then I want you to stop begging for a place at their table and gather yourselves to build your table. We people whom they call black are the leading influencers of the world yet we are at the same time among the poorest people in the world. Let’s come together and build our dreams into a vision; a legacy that we can leave to our children. One where we are seen as hero’s and not slaves and beggars pleading for scraps from another mans table.

Ms. Smith if you really want to use your influence to change things I suggest you turn to your brother and sisters in the entertainment industry and build something we can call our own. Also to my people let us not be so easily swayed to focus on things like this that in the long run are very low on the list of things we need to address. Even though it is an important issue that must be addressed at some point, we have more pressing issues and it may serve us better to address those first. I’m just trying to get my people to understand a lot of these issues are nothing more than distraction from the larger goals of our people. Lastly Ms. Smith if you were sincere in your message to us then be a little more constant in your activism so that we can take you at your word more easily. As a people we need prominent figures such as yourself to be more vocal and to use your influence to inspire others to get involved in the fight.                         

The Bullhorn of Hatred

The Bullhorn of Hatred

America Backs a Coward

By

Sengbe Ben Yosef

Since the presidential election of 2008 there has been something wicket brewing in the United States of America. It seems we are returning to familiar sentiments of race hate that has been for a long while hidden in the background of the American political landscape. Racism has always been a part of American politics but for a short while from the 1970’s until 2008 our country seemed to be headed in the right direction with regard to the people’s acceptance of the outward racism or hate speech towards others. Now days it seems more Americans are tolerable of hate speech's, and actions of hate that are perpetrated on the undesirables of our nation (Blacks Browns and poor Whites). Mainly, the acceptances hate speeches that are directed at so called black and brown people has gain favor as of late. Mostly because of men like Donald Trump who say the most disgusting things about people of color.

  One can’t help but think the election of Barack Obama has a lot to do with this resurgence of hate in our nation. Maybe Mr. Obama being elected was the last straw for many closet racist who have been waiting in the shadows for an opportunity to turn this slow burning fire of racial hatred up to full blast. I don’t know for sure if that is the true but, with all of the hate that has been handed down over the last few years it sure as hell feels that way. You may feel different about what caused this up tic in racial bitterness, but for me I see Obama’s presidency as catalyst for the emergence of Donald Trump and the views he puts forth to the American people.

 

In my mind Donald Trump has proven himself to be a clown and a buffoon, while at the same time it is also clear to me that Mr. Trump is no fool. In his bid for president Trump has set out on the same path that many men before him have walked upon in their bid to hold the office of president of the United States. Men like George Wallace and Ronald Reagan come to mind when I listen to Trump speak. All though some claim Wallace was a repenting racist at the end of his life I still see shades of his early days in our present candidate Donald Trump. I wasn’t around in the Wallace days so I could only go by what I saw on film.  However I did get to hear Reagan’s comments about coming to my hometown Washington DC and getting rid of those young bucks and welfare queens.   

 

Trump seems to be the bullhorn for the new age racist. In fairness I must say Trump claims not to be a racist but dam he sure sounds like one. When he started his campaign, a lot of people wrote him off as a joke and said he was just grandstanding and he didn’t have a chance in hell. They really didn’t understand how Trump was going to play the game. At his first press conference he made it clear that he was going to play the race card to the max. Foolish folks said that in this day and age that wouldn’t fly with the American public. They believed Americans would never go for that kind of politics but they were all so wrong. Just goes to show how blind people have become to the history of racism and the history of successful racist politics in America. Maybe Donald does indeed have a chance in hell; yes the hell that has become America.

  We can’t lay all of the blame at Mr. Trump’s feet because we must acknowledge there are a lot of folks in America that identify with the message of racial intolerance that Donald is putting out to the public. I don’t know why people act all surprised when his rallies are over flowing with people because what he is saying is what a lot of so called white Americans feel, and live by in their every day lives. Now he is indeed playing to their emotions and sickness just as the democrats play to people of color when they use Mr. Trump as a lighting rod to get our votes. The people falling for the demarcates line of bull are just as blind as the folks on the opposing side. Donald Trump is giving them forum to express the hate they already felt in their hearts. My concern is most of these ignorant people don’t understand he is playing them and he is stocking the fire for his own self-interest.

  What Mr. Trump is engaged in is very dangerous for our nation and just as irresponsible as anything I could think of in this life. For his ego he is willing to risk what little gains this country has made in the area of race and equality. Yes Trump has become the symbol of all that is wrong in the world but I’m not upset with him as much because what do you expect from a spoiled little rich boy who has never had to work for a thing in his life. On the other hand I am very disappointed in my fellow countrymen who would allow such a poser to rule over your good sense. We are letting a windbag with a bullhorn turn us back in this country hundreds of years. Why is this happening because we are supremely afraid to face once and for all the beast that is racism.

  America started as a racist cowardly nation and it looks like that’s the way she wants to end. I feel sad in my heart that there are still people in the world who believe the lie of racism, but I am really ashamed of the fact that people of good mindset and noble thinking are unable to puck the bullhorn from the hands of these weak minded men like Trump. Men who would destroy us all for the sake of having ex-president of the United States on their resumes. Donald Trump is only one man but the reflection of his ideology live in the hearts of many Americans. I wish it wasn’t so, but at least now we can own up to it and hopefully do something about it before our world is lost forever. Stand up for the world and the entire human race say something. Let’s not let dumb Donald be the death of us all.

  

  Mr. Trump says “America needs to be great again” but I say she was never as great as she could be if we would only rid ourselves of all our divisions. For many Americans, America has never reached her greatness because of the shame of slavery, racism, and oppression that has always held her back. America has a chance to achieve greatness but, she never will as long as we allow rich men to play the race card and divide us all. I think it’s time we give the bullhorn back to men and women of good standing and stand up against bigots, racist and the elitist who’s only desire is to control us. So they play black against white, young against old, and haves against have-nots, until we are all defiled and wicket. We are better than this, let's show them now once and for all that they will not rule our minds with this lie of racism. There is only race the human race and neither rich elitist or dumb Donald can change that fact.        

The Lie of Success

The Lie of Success

by

Sengbe Ben Yosef

 

  What is success? I know what the world says it is but what do you say? Most of us are programmed little dogs nearly none of our thoughts steam from our own internal thinking. Everything we think is the product of learned behavior. We allow the dictates of the world to inform our views and shape our thinking. We never stop to consider our own minds answers. So we become harden in our hearts and lack compassion.

  Let me offer you some proof of what I mean. A man by chance is born into a well to do family and has never had to work for a thing in his life... More than likely he inherit his father’s wealth. This man has done nothing to wart our respect. Yet we fall in line because he has money.  On the other hand there many more men born to chaos and misgivings none of their own making and we see these men as the scum of the earth. Our birth is a thing none control yet men like Donald Trump are treated as successful and seen as people to look up too. When in truth all they did was be born.

 

  But that isn't the true sickness of man to me. What I find truly appalling is when men look upon the misfortunes of other men and say it is the work of God that they suffer. How could you in your right mind think such a thing? So it is God that causes babies to die in war? Because everyone knows how deserving babies are of death. What kind of gods do you believe in? You believe in a God that would make people suffer for some hidden reason known only to him or her? How sick would that god have to be?

  We see a man living in a cardboard box and how quick we are to forget we all live under God's grace. Our hearts are quickly filled with contempt for men we don't even know, simply because we have been taught to hate the poor. The funny part of that is many of us are poor so in truth we hate ourselves. We never stop to think what hardships may have leaded that man whom we are judging to be in such a state. For all we know he could have suffered a great lost in his life or been the victim of tragedy.

 

  Funny how we want the compassion of others when we fall down but we are unwilling to do the same for others. How easy it become to forget all of the wonderful people God sent to aid you in your success once you have become successful. This brings me back to my question on true success and what it really means to be successful. Time for me to close out but before I do I have a few more things to say about success and what I feel about the subject.

  For me success has little to do with the world and my personal accomplishment. To me a man can't be truly successful if he lives without love and compassion for the suffering of others. That man to me is the greatest failure in life because he has lived without love and care in his life. How can one be seen as successful if his heart is empty? You may own a bigger house and drive the best cars. You may have money and live in so called high places and still be as poor as that man who live in the box by the freeway.

 

The true measure of success is not what a man has in his pocket but what he has in his heart is the thing that gives him his true worth. We all would be better served in this world if we measured men correctly. If only we would use our own minds to see men as children of God and weigh their success by the content of their character. The world would be a much better place to live. Then we could all enjoy the true fruits of life and success. That was my take on success. Now what's yours?