I BROKE UP WITH MY GIRLFRIENDS

Yeah I know I am a little late with this but Girlfriends is cancelled. Oh My God, the Network made the ballsy decision to cut the Negro Show and say it was mostly due to the WRITERS STRIKE. I hear you, I mean all those other sitcoms were just fortunate to have that little extra to stay afloat and make another season at it. I hear you, it was a “HARD” decision to make with all those other shows you have on the line up. I guess the viewers should be fortunate that it make the cut from UPN to CW. I mean, 9 years is something to be honored, especially as a Black Television show or even a Black ensemble series (a record in television circles) and even more so, an honored show (Nominated for Prime time Emmy. Another 7 wins & 35 nominations) at best (THANK YOU KELSEY GRAMMER aka Frasier).

As you all know, I take to research before I go on the repeat and spread gossip as News but here I get this all up in my eyes:

We hear from a source within the "Girlfriends" writing camp that the CW has decided to cancel the series immediately instead of bringing it back for a ninth season.

While no official announcement had been made as of press time, we were told the CW will not even film this season's remaining nine episodes that were suspended during the writer's strike.

Ironically, news of the show's cancellation comes just as the strike has ended and the writing staff was preparing to return to work. We were informed by one of the writers yesterday that Monday night's one-hour block of new episodes served as the show's last.

"Girlfriends" became the longest-running live-action comedy series currently on network television with the debut of its current season in October 2007. The writers strike suspended production after only 13 of 22 ordered episodes were completed.

The series, created by Mara Brock-Akil, was consistently the No. 1 show in black households since its Sept. 11, 2000 debut. Original cast members Tracee Ellis Ross, Golden Brooks, Persia White and Jill Marie Jones starred as a group of close friends dealing with life and love in Los Angeles. Jones left the series in at the end of Season 6. – EURweb Feb. 12, 2008

WHY IMMEDIATELY? This makes me suspect. I will admit, in the beginning it took me a minute to warm up to the Sistah’s Show (that’s what I call it because it was kinda WEST COAST GHETTO) but I grew up in a house full of girls and in each one of those heifers; Joan Clayton, Lynn Searcy, Maya Wilkes, Toni Childs and the fifth Girlfriend William Dent, all represented at least one of my sisters. I think, like the Huxtables from the Cosby Show, we all had someone in our family that we could relate to, which was and still is part of the success of shows like Girlfriends. Granted, this was a "BLACK" sitcom and most of its honors reflected that, none the less, it was the number one watched Black Show on television for 9 years straight.

I guess my favorite and unfortunately moderately short-lived was Toni Childs, played by Jill Marie Jones. Her leaving once the show transitioned from UPN (Urban Peoples Network) to the CW (Colored What?), the rumors of contract renewals, money issues and story lines became true. Still, she was my character and the one I think I’d love to hate the most …. Toni Childs was DRAMA, more quality drama than Joan who in my right mind I would never want to be LOCKED in a room with … can you say ISSUES. But regardless of your views of the characters, they were all family, Black Families, Black Friends, they where the people in my family, my sisters growing up.

While in Chicago I had the pleasure of meeting Reginald C. Hayes. NICE GUY. He not only was approachable but he is/was humble for the work he received on Girlfriends. That in itself was a reason to respect the work on the show. My ear to the acting world has told me that everyone on the show shared the same sense of the pride and dignity and that energy displayed and put out reflecting the inspiration that the entire cast and crew wanted to portray.

Thinking back, this was reminiscent of another ensemble cast of Black Women, Livin' Single on the FOX network back in 1993. Originally Livin’ Single was to be a mid-season filler, the show lasted for 5 seasons being at that time, the longest Black ensemble show to date. More Afrocentric than Girlfriends, it was Ghetto East Coast and rough around the edges but soon found it stride and became the blue print for young successful urban youth and young families. What I enjoyed most between the two shows was that although both were centered on the successes of Black (women) progress, both captured a detail struggles of Black identity, pride, independence, mainstream, assimilation, beauty, spirit, history and economics within communities on the SMALL SCREEN. Call it a toned down version of the Cosby Show, you can not dismiss the fact that what Bill Cosby had accomplished in terms of Black Images on television with his brand of family open an acceptable door for Livin’ Single (Urban Realness) and Girlfriends (Jack and Jill Realities).

There may have been other shows, ensembles that all shared the same formulas of the four aspects of Womanhood; Age, Sex, Intelligence, Humor, but none spoke deeper to the Black community as Livin’ Single or more so than Girlfriends. Take The Golden Girls, which became a CLASSIC even before it was in re-runs. You have Blanche, Dorothy, Rose and Sophia; these names are ingrained in television lore, were the bright and safe journey to retirement telling a fearful world that it is OK to get Old. And over the years, with the lessons and laughs learned from watching there women, that once you find your first grey hair, pluck it, look at it in wonderment, and then laugh your ass off because now you can officially, "SAY WHATEVER I WANT CAUSE I EARNED THE RIGHT TO BE OLD, BEAUTIFUL AND BOLD". I have caught many of Black folk (Brothas as well) sneaking and watching these Grandmas. I can admit that in my youth I never saw the fascination of looking at four wrinkled grey haired women sitting around a kitchen table eating cheesecake and calling each other sluts, old maids and idiots and yet as the years pressed upon me and my personal friendships became deeper, I now find myself sitting around my table eating bowls of organic cereal while calling my friends with their building potbellies and receding hairlines calling each Ho, Fat Ass and Mr. Dirty Boy. We may not be all that "Golden" but we are catching a bit of SHINE nearing our mid-life years.

By the time Sex In The City arrived on the scene, my television days declined into serious and conscious driven viewing. I also made it a point to only support those shows that made real efforts to employ Black actors in real roles and represented what I considered real like ME. There were very few choices and if I subtract the over saturation of Black Athletes, shows trying to make Rappers into Stars with bad behavior, there wasn’t much to choose from in Black television outside of pushing the sitcom as the only image of who Black people were in America. With the soon to be absent Girlfriends; we can look forward to shows like Lipstick Jungle, Cashmere Mafia and Gossip Girl. I know, I know I don’t want to get all-RACIAL and all but I only see is one Asian in all of the three shows mentioned which is Lucy Liu. So much for diversity on television. I guess Hillary and Obama can address that in their next debate. Then again, maybe not.

THE MISDIRECTION OF BLACK FOLK

I preach a personal point , and not just due to this year's Pre-Presidential Race (because that is what it is, this is just the preliminaries, the actual race hasn’t even begun) but a point of Politics that has frustrated me for years.

Before I even get to what it is that I am most frustrated about, I need to inform you where this ENERGY comes from. I am a Political Scientist. I am also an International Studies person. I gravitate to all things that make up the World’s International community, its languages, its history, dress, its relationships etc. My specialty in International studies specifically; Political Boarders. This is the study of how Nations carve out boundaries based upon Geography, Ideology, Treaties and Social Agreements, Wars and Economics. As part of my background I have worked with Mayors, Governors, Congressmen in the House and the Senate, eventually got disenchanted with the politics of it all and began to turn to writing and activism (while working for the MAN because Brotha ain’t feeling the starving artist gig). Don’t get it twisted, I will sacrifice for a Cause even in the face of knowing that I will not have many bodies to catch my back when I am knock back or fall. That is the life of a leader, of an activist and person with Social Vision. So my point that I preach and is deeply rooted in my frustration with the American people especially Black Folk is WHY DO PEOPLE FEEL THAT POLITICAL POSITIONS ARE CAREER JOBS?

I responded to a recent Blog that was ranting about how BLACK FOLK got their eye on Black Super Delegates who don’t vote for Obama (mind you, we aren’t even NEAR the point of considering whether we need to look to a Super Delegate to vote).

This was my response"

"This speaks loudly of MISDIRECTED ENERGY.

The fact that this representative is serving in his 11th term speaks of the laziness, ignorance and lack of oversight of your community. You mean that it took an issue of a Black Man running for President to wake Black Folk up to get involved in your community's POLITICS? Every time I read a Blog with this PUNISH BLACK DELEGATES topic I laugh.

The issue isn't with John Lewis; the issue is with you for allowing him 11 terms in office. And if his service is/was so GREAT that it merit him being in OFFICE that long ... WHY WOULD YOU SABOTAGE his good efforts because YOU WANT A PRESIDENT THAT IS BLACK? It makes no sense.

Come check out on my Blogspot: THE PUNISHING OF BLACK FOLK, THE FATE OF BLACK LOYALTY pts 1,2 , I'M GONNA KICK YOUR HILLARY LOVIN ASS.

.... because the issue isn't WHAT BLACK DELEGATES SHOULD DO but more about WHAT BLACK FOLK NEGLECTED TO DO."

You pretty much get the jest of my point and whom I was referring to. As a child growing up in an Activist family, I often wondered why so many Politicians were in office for so long. As a child I also remembered in both my Civic and History classes that there was something called "TERM LIMITS" that were placed upon the President of the United States. This was to avoid the United States Government from becoming much like that of England, which was a Monarchy. I know that in New York City, its mayor has term limits and in many other offices in various States, you only get 2 or 3 shots at getting the job done. So when I see politicians in office for what, 11 terms, we are talking about, in some Congressional offices, a service time anywhere from 22 to 44 years in the same title. I don't know too many private and or corporate positions that last that long without question and definitely without ACCOUNTABILITY.

There is currently a Senator, Robert Byrd, serving since 1956, pushing 90 plus years old. Not knocking the Man, because anyone that can live to 90 years old is blessed BUT the the Senator can barely stand without a walker and his VOICE gives off body vibration that makes him look like his personal screws are coming loose and the body parts fall to the ground. I personally think that the people who keep electing him should be charged with Elderly ABUSE. I mean, he just fell and he's most likely shopping for a NEW HIP. Come on people, you mean there is no one in the whole state, Democrat, Republican, Independent, ALIEN that can be elected to office? Whenever I hear, while watching C-SPAN or my Sunday Morning Political Talk Shows how whomever Representative is on at the moment has 10, 20, 35 40 years in the Congress, I immediately fault the community that elected him or her, NOT the Representative.

My point is, when Political officials repeat their roles in Congress, it isn’t their fault that they work the way they do, it is the PEOPLE’S FAULT for their contentment and ignorance for the way things work. It speaks to more than an accountability issue, it speaks to the role of the Politician and the definition of a Civic Position that anyone can turn a short term contribution to the American fabric for service and tool it into a permanent career with perks and benefits. To be a politician is suppose to be a "privilege" and not a RIGHT and once in, you do not have the RIGHT to be there until you RETIRE even more so, pass the position to family.

If you take out your wallet full with your life’s savings and you set it on a park bench and fall asleep, how can you possibly blame the World or even the thief for ripping you off? This is what Americans have been doing for years and keeping it even closer to HOME, Black folk have been doing this for years and complaining about it without action. This very argument is what fuels Black Conservative to associate with the Republican Party (Lord knows they never have an answer for me when I asks, why Republican when you could consider being an Independent?) because in that complacency within Black communities they see the Democratic Party capitalizing on it and profiting as well.

My experience working in Politics, my Representative and organizations would do everything but give away free money to get people involved or even INFORMED. Millions of dollars spent to inform American citizens on the comings and going, the defeats and wins of their local politicians cannot be calculated and yet Americans argue that they don’t know anything about their local officials. I won’t even diverge into my issues and reasons why people decide to NOT vote but whatever the reasons, it never makes sense. As a local activist, in order to get people to pay attention to what ails the community, one needs to spend thousands of dollars for a local radio station or park convention, free give-always, celebrities and sometimes a mini concert to inform them that, “YOUR HOUSE WILL BE KNOCKED DOWN TOMORROW AND WE NEED YOU TO HELP US KEEP YOU IN IT!!!” At which point shock, blame and anger ensues and a rush to replace Black Leaders as being incompetent, uppity, con-artist and self-serving or the Thanks but No Thanks for not getting their attention earlier.

Now I will fess up, there are some really trifling Politicians and community leaders out there BUT for the most part, they usually work within the limited resources that they have which would be a Community that is so disconnected with the WORK that the Politician has no choice but to uses their best judgment to make the HARD CHOICES. Which brings me to my next point, Black Folk have had a HANDS OFF treatment with their Politicians for YEARS and now that there is this rush to make a difference in this election of CHANGE (mind you it was an election of CHANGE in 2000 and 2004 when the same people today who are voting, pretty much haphazardly participated then) are demanding from their REPRESENTATIVES to do as "I SAY". There is this "I am in the Driver’s Seat" voter mentality when for years Black Folk rode like Mrs. Daisy. complaining all the way to the Service Entrance of the White House. Then there is the LACK OF KNOWLEDGE of what a Super Delegate is, their role, and their individual RIGHTS and limitations as an INDEPENDENT VOTER, which are not bound by the DEMANDS of the Community.

So now we have a dilemma since the multiple term Politician was giving free reign to make policy (regardless if it was good or bad for the community) and is now FORCED almost threaten, to give up their FREE RIGHT to vote as their JUDGEMENT would be for the demands of the people he represent. One would argue, that for years free of NO OVERSIGHT, to do this one thing for the community is a good trade off and yet it is still a violation of the rules and standards of the democratic process, especially since he or she has done their job as well as any politician could accomplish with the resources, or lack there of, for years.

My understanding of this all is this; a Political Position is NOT a Career. These are Civic roles people play for a short period of time and anyone in office more than 2 terms should be questioned and anything more than 4 terms should be suspect. No matter how well a job the Politician does, an American Man or Woman should not hold that type of Power that long. To add, any community that allows this to happen in their community should be suspect and held accountable for corrupting the Democratic system.

Black folk are only at the crest of understanding this but they are getting there. Unfortunately they may get there with a lot of Political Blood being shed. Those that make up the National Black Caucus do need a good cleansing, possible DRY CLEANING with extra starch and pressing BUT we also need to look at the labels and see if the fabric of who they are REQUIRE that type of treatment or just a good home grown HAND WASHING. I have my opinions on a few but like I said, I can only do my part locally.

I think it is too late to TEACH Black folk as a whole how putting Super Delegates on a WATCH isn’t the answer before the Presidential election, considering that there are over 700 Super Delegates and Blacks make up less than 90. Subtract the Latino, Native America, Asian and Women and you are left with WHITE MALES in huge numbers. If the Super Delegate voting is of major concern, I THINK YOU NEED TO PUT SOME WHITE FACES UP ON THAT LIST. The light from the Watchtower (not to be confused with the Jehovah’s Witnesses conversion material) shines on EVERYONE. If Black folk are willing to BEAT UP on the Black Delegates then they need to get MIKE TYSON on the others as well.

THE POLITICALLY CORRECT NIGGA

Don't say African, say Slave.
Don't say Slave, say Nigger.
Don't say Nigger, say Negro.
Don't say Negro, say Colored.
Don't say Colored, say Black.
Don't say Black, say Pan-American.
Don't say Pan-American, say Afro-American.
Don't say Afro-American, say African-American.
Don't say African-American, say Nigga.
Don’t say Nigga, call me the Jigga
Jigga this my Nigga that, say it Politically Correct.

Correct me if you may.
Is there something wrong with what I have to say.
To think my essence is still the same,
Yet my true being existing in a hollow frame.
Not knowing what to be called
When I enter a room filled with gasping breaths of people awed.
Whistled and jeered,
Shunned and revered.
And all in all I still do not know my name,
Oh mother and father, what a crying shame.
Who is to blame? Me. Myself. I
Really do not know if my existence is but a lie
When my pictures and books do not open up to tell me.
Not showing me what my skin is suppose to be.
So says philosophy, psychology, history, sociology
All of which painting my world in shades of mythology.

I may never know why I am king no more.

The Politically Correct Nigga by Shazza Nakim
Copyright © by Peace of Mind Publishings and with permission by Shazza Nakim

DEBATE BURN OUT

I watched, I yawned and I didn't learn anything more than I did the day before. No one talked about the DEEPER ISSUES that people are concerned about. No urban and rural policy conversations and what about FOOD RECALLS? We can forget about either one getting into the issues that will help people sleep well at night so no more debates for me. The most we got was a Louis Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam SCARE (cause you know how White Folk and Jews fear him) and possibly how to pronouce the name of the NEW leader of Russia. My predictions after this debate; Obama 63% and Clinton 37% in OHIO and Clinton 54% and Obama 46% in Texas. the issue we all will be pulled through the MUD with is the N.O.I. and Farrakhan endorsement, SO PEOPLE, PLEASE TAKE THAT RED PILL, THE MEDIA IS ABOUT TO MIND FUQ YOU ALL WITHOUT LUBE ALL THE WAY INTO INSANITY.

Now that that is out of the way, found this LOCAL Internet Radio Show called THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN POLITICAL PUNDIT. I took a while to check it out and found that this was a really good resource for a variety of opinions. The show is scheduled and the host allows for people to call in and participate. The most recent show was very good and drop some interesting behind the scenes from a Black American point of view.

Check it out and add him to your blogsphere or blogroll.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/africanamericanpoliticalpundit

http://AApoliticalpundit.blogspot.com

AND I ENDORSE THIS AD .... I THINK?

There is a saying that there are three things you never talk about; Race, Religion and Politics (although I’d argue a fourth topic which is Income and Salary but that’s just me). To put what you know or the lack of knowledge to an adult and or legitimate conversation can do more than make a person like an idiot, a racist or extremist, it can make you dead. For instants we have in the GOOD OLD UNITED STATES actions that we normally see in the Japanese Cambers of Government when they disagree. this just happened the other day:

FEBRUARY 25--Meet Jose Antonio Ortiz. The Pennsylvania man allegedly stabbed his brother-in-law in the stomach after the pair quarreled about their respective support of Democratic presidential candidates Barak Obama and Hillary Clinton. According to cops, Ortiz, 28, stabbed Sean Shurelds last Thursday night in the kitchen of an Upper Providence Township home. According to a criminal complaint, a copy of which you'll find here, the 41-year-old Shurelds, an Obama supporter, told Ortiz that the Illinois senator was "trashing" Clinton (apparently in regard to recent primary and caucus results). Ortiz, a Clinton supporter, replied that "Obama was not a realist." While not exactly fighting words, the verbal political tiff led to some mutual choking and punching. And, allegedly, a stabbing in the abdomen. Ortiz, pictured in the mug shot below, was charged with a felony aggravated assault count and two misdemeanors and jailed in lieu of $20,000 bail. Shurelds was flown to Hahnemann University Hospital, where he was admitted in critical condition.

I recently Blogged about the changing psychology of Black and Brown folk over this election and it would appear, the pockets of America are being turned out all over the country. I am not as much up in arms over this event because I have witnessed this type of behavior already. What I now have thrown in my face FRONT PAGE bombardment with is the shear ignorance of a CULTURAL PHOTO. The dreaded Barak Hussein Obama in Kenya, Africa photo. A non-issue of a photo and yet it is something of a conspiracy to OVER THROW AMERICA from within. I mean HOW DARE OBAMA BE IN AFRICA? HOW DARE HE PUT ON THOSE SAVAGE CLOTHES and HOW DARE HE NOT TELL US CIVILIZED AND INCLUSIVE AMERICANS HE WORE CLOTHES THAT WEREN’T PURCHASED FROM BROOKS BROTHERS OR THE GAP?

I am holding off about giving my DEEP opinions on the subject, BECAUSE like all things served to people by the Technology Mafia it is a bunch of BS wrapped in stale toilet paper, but the PHOTO that has America up in arms an allegedly to be LEAKED by “THE CLINTON CAMPAIGN” has been floating around the Internet for quite awhile. To be honest I have not only seen the PHOTO before online but I have a few extra that would be considered even more Controversial (if you have a SMALL MIND) on my HARD DRIVE that I have collected from SPAM E-MAILS questioning Obama's loyalty to both his Christian faith and his Country.

On the train today I listened to two women (Obamaholics) ranting about how Hillary Clinton is so EVIL she should burn in Hell. So in my Passive Aggressive way I asked if they were Christians to which they responded, “Yes”. I then responded, I never knew it was your place to cast people in HELL but my real question to you is, "Should it matter if Obama is Christian or not to run for President? I mean is being Christian pre-requisite to hold the position of president?"

The women looked at me as if I have kicked them in the coochie when I asked that and in their (and I love this in our people) I DON’T GIVE A FUQ MIND YOUR BUSINESS, GHETTO GIRL UPTOWN HARLEM ATTITUDE one of them responded, “NO BUT IT HELPS”.

As usual I fell back into my reading on WALL STREET'S take on the election knowing that the majority of people have a disconnect with what we know and what we should know about manipulation by the MEDIA. From the very beginning it has been a constant churning of distortion on both candidate’s credibility. Since both Clinton and Obama had agreed to a fair and clean election, they are finding out all too well that in doing that, neither one can get a clear advantage and really break away from the other. Since both are now locked in this St. Augustinian type of behavior of sanitary Politics, a mild, but peripherally watching hands-off treatment to their Staff is opening up the Nasty Politics that we all stated we didn’t want to see BUT like patrons of the Coliseum, we DO WANT TO SEE IT WITH BLOOD. This election has given America a COLD TURKEY approach to understanding what can potentially be the best opportunity for research, comparing and contrasting, open dialogue and knowing the players behind the scenes. The Nation’s withdrawal symptoms for sensationalism as oppose to intellectualism has opened a void that media groups can drop gossip, innuendos, false leads and predictions based upon FUZZY MATH with the people being sated with sugary delight.

I tell you people, we are living in the LAST DAYS of Common Sense if we don’t get a grip. I mean I took the time (yes it meant that I turned off the television and ignored that GOD AWFULLY ACTED, A RAISIN IN THE SUN MOVIE) and surfed on FactCheck.org to compare what each candidate faults the other for doing in distorting the other’s Platform. What I found was that each side is doing the distorting (OBAMA ‘s team doing it more than Clinton's) as it pertain to the Economy, Foreign Policy and Race. There are also details pertaining to points on each candidate's web sites and speeches which the Media seem to forget all about, points about the DEEPER concerns that neither candidate or side are discussing. I WONDER WHY? When asked in public, both Obama and Clinton play the wounded party but we know it isn't true. Both candidates are taking short stabs in places unseen so as to look as if their damage made was insignificant. It just depends on who's side you are on to notice the other side as having the larger horns and the longer tails. Then I remembered the Golden Rule established several elections ago, UNLESS the flayers or Ads and or other outreach media have “SAID candidate's endorsement published on it with He/She APPROVES THIS MESSAGE", it isn’t legit and a lie. So spit out that BLUE PILL and take the RED ONE. Don’t forget it.

THE FATE OF BLACK LOYALTY

This election has created a major rift within the Black Community. The affects aren’t quite evident as of yet but it is there. Look at it as the BIG PULL BACK of a tsunami wave. That one wave that rolls back about one or two miles then rises up fifty feet to then crash and destroy everything in its way. I wrote an observation of a Harlem altercation over one BLACK man’s support of Hillary Clinton over Barak Obama (I'm Gonna Kick Your Hillary Lovin Ass). The scene was centered upon members of the community physically beating up a man who worked for the Hillary Clinton campaign based in Harlem. I will admit, based upon the tensions in the air, the history of the community, the legacy of activism plus the fact that many people felt betrayed by Bill Clinton’s presence in the community and the economic incentive he brought in relation to the continued political and financial down turn of Black and Brown people in Harlem, any reminder of the OLD GUARD would be seen as being a JUDAS to one’s race. It did not matter if the man was exercising his right to choose or even work for a candidate of his choice; he was in enemy territory and as a result, paid the price.

It’s been a few weeks since then and I really didn’t concentrate on that event until now. Since we are entering into the last round of Preliminary votes to determine who the Democratic Presidential candidate will be, words and actions for or against one candidate over the other is quickly becoming more than just a debate of words but THREATS to more than just the livelihood of people, particularly Black People and Black Community Supporters.

I have stated on many occasions, not only is the United States venturing into new territory of Political participation, so are Black people in America. The ability to effect this type of Political change has not been seen since the days of American Reconstruction, an era no one Black person alive has experienced but was the foundation for Black Intellectualism which sprung wells of purpose and direction for generations. Black people did not just talk about politics; they SPOKE to it in ways that was NEW and exciting, the inaugural seeds for inclusion in modern America growing into Black communities or at least the potential of it.

The drawback of this inclusion of political vigor was that many were not necessarily searching for all the required information and or only accepting information from bias sources. Taking this part of past history and applying it today. the price for accepting bad political advice diminishes any person voting and the process limits where one can find the complete information needed for future consideration. Granted, Black people are still behind the starting line and slowly inching toward the “Merge Here” lanes of the Information Highway, they are, however, are quickly moving to get into the flow with the help of Black youth and those few that have taken advantage of technology and willing to get the information out to an information starved community. As a whole, like all things involving Class and Black America; those opportunities are slightly below the National average. Just the nature of knowing HOW the political machine works is below average enough, almost POOR. So while this campaign continues to CHANGE and TRANSFORM a Nation, America is on the other side of the ethnic line while others are looking to Black People to catch up with their numbers at the same time they are looking for their active VOICES. Not saying that WHITE America and other ethnic groups are better as a whole, but it is statistically true that other groups, by their numbers, positioned themselves in AMERICA as practicing their political participation more efficient and more effective for their community needs with better results. This meaning, ethnic groups POLITICALLY know when to be heterogeneous in living the American Dream and homogeneous then voting as a BLOCK for a desired goal for Self and Community. The closest Black Folk have come to this phenomenon was the 1960’s and even then, Blacks were not monolithic enough to move forward as a block to effect complete CHANGE. So when Michelle Obama says that, "for the first time in my adult life, I am proud of my country because it feels like hope is making a comeback", her words reflect not only her political history but her social reality in relation to her History as a Black person living in America. The Civil Rights Movement transformed an OLD America but it did not evolve enough to move with a continuing advancing America. To question this as a non-White experience and you know that the naiveté of it is rooted in one’s lack of knowledge of Black struggles. To question it as a White American, you sense that the question comes from a rejecting and or resisting the importance of Black "struggle". So that there is no mistake or clarity issue for those reading this with a Conservative or Republican slant, I define “struggle” as, a means by which Black people pushed for equality and fairness Politically, Economically, Legally, Socially and Ancestrally to be on par with those Groups that have benefited from constraining Blacks as a whole from evolving in America as human beings with full citizenship. This would include individuals, groups, businesses, religions and countries.

I define “struggle” this way because too often I have been asked by WHITES and challenged by Conservative BLACKS that Black people in America should be Proud to be in America. If not for the “sins” of America, Black people as a whole would still be in Africa and not part of the Greatest Country in the World. To which I quickly remind them BOTH, “So who holds PRIDE for all those hundreds of thousands of Africans thrown overboard during the Trans-Atlantic Middle Passage? What you seem to be arguing is much like kidnapping 300 people in America and sending them all by plane to Europe and half way over the Atlantic Ocean the plane explodes or crashes. When asked my reaction, I respond that they all should be happy they had “experienced” what it was to fly on an air plane.”

This type of response would be in total IGNORANCE, total ARROGANCE and ultimately a total DISCONNECT with people’s lives and history, their family and their potential. Especially since the practice of African slavery extends beyond 500 years with America constituting the worst of its practice. The nature and existence of America is in the writing off people's existence as insignificant no matter who they are. This is why I use the word, ”struggle” because it takes work to CHANGE the perception of people who do not SEE, even when the limitation of vision comes from within one’s Race.

So as Black folk continue to “struggle” through this election, we are finding not all are familiar with the terms and terminology that comes with a complete understanding of elections and government. Blacks that are new to the process (be it a young generation with a lack of history to base sound judgment upon or an older generation plagued with apathy and betrayal) all are not astute in the thought process just to prepare, judge, question and finally decide on issues and or candidates. I basically refer to this as missing the prerequisite VOTING 101’s course. Distressingly so, this is also an American phenomenon (excluding the foreign born and naturalized citizens for most often they come from countries where voting is not a Right and once in America their responsibility to voting is exercised as strongly as their Faith).


As an educator, the lack of the basic understandings of the American political structure is not due to any malignant force or hidden agenda group (or maybe so); it has more to do with the direction the American educational system had evolved into. The moment ETHICS, GEOGRAPHY, PHONICS and CIVICS were removed from the core curriculum of schools, the need to know “the what and the who” of the REPUBLIC became moot. Couple this with age and complacency and you have several generations of Government Illiterates pulling leavers for unfamiliar names with unfamiliar agendas come election time. With Black folk leaving the line, thus leaving all other Americans behind a BIG 8Ball to move from behind. Although History is fundamental for understanding American’s past, it is Civics and Ethics, which makes clear it’s present.

There are many reasons why it is important to question everything about voting and our candidates. Politicians have for years come to Black communities with promises of contributions and economic incentives only to fall short of many. Elections have placed political pawns that depend upon the PORK from Top Government to skim while giving the gristle to the reserved few. Black communities have seen career Politicians live out several generations of stagnation only to leave in shame and scandal. Many of these Politicians enter with a genuine interest in Civic Duty and grow into self-satisfied Political Royalty throwing crumbs to a hungry community. Wrap it all in the traditional clothe of Spirituality and you have bonifided stereotypical Leader of Blacks as oppose to the Self-Proclaimed Black Leaders for an extended lease on a community. And yet, this can only happen when a community has a HANDS OFF approach to their voting and voting knowledge.

For years you had Politicians in New Jersey’s largest city of Newark plunder and deprive the citizens of improvements and social gains. In a period of over four decades, the city had two mayors, Kenneth Gibson and Sharp James, each holding on to that title without CHANGE or challenge. The mantra for each was that of Change and Hope and Renaissance but it was all code for VOTE FOR ME BECAUSE I LOOK LIKE YOU. And Black folk did. This, for years, was the standard TOP DOWN way of doing Politics and a sure way to guarantee the success of the DREAM KILLING MACHINE and deter any “Excitement of the New”. No one could challenge the establishment because no one KNEW how or even if they could. No one knew the rules. No one knew what the mayoral title and responsibilities entailed. In not knowing, no one questioned how a Mayor of the largest city of the State can simultaneously hold a seat on the NJ State Legislature or questioned if it was a conflict of interest for the City of Newark. So when a community doesn’t know the basics, the VOTING 101’s, voting and politics, government becomes a perpetual machine that is self sustaining and hostile to its citizens. Long story short, a gentleman OUTSIDER, by the name of Cory Booker who no one knew, arrived with EXCITEMENT AND A MESSAGES OF HOPE AND CHANGE. No one initially trusted or wanted to take a chance on the unknown, untested Politician. Who was this Man who wasn’t even a Newark native? Words where exchanged and the politics got ugly but after his second attempt, Booker eventually replaced Sharpe James as the Mayor of Newark (who is at the time of this posting is under indictment for several charges of impropriety).

Booker, a schooled Politician with a DOWN TOP style of governing, is now working to undo almost 40 years of political abuse. Part of that undoing is bringing People to the table and making sure they understand the inner workings of the Government, the very basics of how a City works. The task is great and the issues deeply rooted as well as his criticisms on the time and speed of his results but it had to be done and can only be done with the help of the people.

The moral of the story; knowledge of the political system, no matter how basic, is a community’s saving grace. Unfettered “passion” can do more harm than logic because even in the absence of logic, COMMON SENSE should kick in and rule. But in the rare cases of the absence of logic and common sense, PASSION can be a "wicked bed fellah" if the people serving up the EMOTION, also controls the OCEAN. It was passion that kept the previous mayors in office, it was trust, which grew into Hope, and then CHANGE to move the city forward; SLOWLY, to get this one in the driver's seat.

What Black folk currently lack with this new found Political energy is "Sophistication". I say this meaning that when you compare the Latino vote (which is near 15% of the Nation’s population, surpassing the 13% that make up Black Americans), there are inherent differences, which should be acknowledged, but the major social and economic concerns are shared with Black Americans. The diversity within the Latin communities speaks volumes and yet when it comes down to voting, as a collective, their vote always comes with DEMANDS, even from their own Latin Officials. Demands that regardless of the region of the Americans they come from; the Caribbean, Mexico, Latin America, South America, the boughs of New York, the barrios of LA, the end result is “all Latinos” move that much closer in closing the Brown “struggle”. How does this affect Black folk? Well, it depends.

There is no doubt many of the social achievements of Blacks have benefited many other People of Color. Many of those benefits have opened the door for whole groups to move quickly to the front for social and economic gains. The only difference when it comes to voting is that Black folk traditionally VOTE for the Rights for “ALL” and other groups vote for benefits of the “Group”. While Black folks are politicking for fair and affordable housing, education, equal opportunity in employment, other group’s vote for the zoning for specific businesses within their ethnic communities, language inclusion, Green Card and VISA extensions, Grants dedicated for specific cultural reparations that will collectively aid in the growth of their community. It doesn’t matter that Blacks win fair housing because the result will benefit all communities (Asian, Black, Latin, White) but those groups politicking for economic gains win for their communities WITH the additional benefits of fair housing. Blacks fall short with their GAINS and often see the small gains of other ethnic communities as SELECTIVE TREATMENT and not their POLITICAL SAVVY. Again, like the Latin vote, no politician will get it without a solid DEMAND by them. To Black folk, this may appear unfair and showing favor, especially when all groups benefit with their demands and in the end, it shows how much Black folk are slow at catching up in their Voting 101’s.

This political practice from other ethnic groups (LATINS, ASIANS, EASTERN EUROPEANS) has clearly defined their “Sophistication” to the politician and Political Party Groups. Politicians know going in that they are not loyal to any one Party. Bi-partisan is a fantasy for what is real to non-Black folk is WHO IS IN THE MAJORITY. It is in their lack of LOYALTY which lies their political POWER. Black Americans aren’t there yet. In the 1960, Malcolm X prior to his assassination preached to Black people in Harlem that as a collective, the Negro should change his political affiliation to Independent. This would allow the Negro to be courted by both Republican and Democrat. This would also place the Negro in a position of bargaining and thus economic positioning within his own community to own property, expand business and self-determination from under White domination. Almost 50 years later, the idea maybe slightly different, but Black people are on the precipice of getting it.


Continue to THE FATE OF BLACK LOYALTY pt.2

THE FATE OF BLACK LOYALTY Part II

In this election between Clinton vs. Obama, the radical knowledge of party loyalty has the Black community stressed at its foundations. The notion that one can, might, should or be threatened is becoming a "psychological conflict" that can reverberate and affect the true sight and vision for what Black people need to focus on as the Deeper issues of America. Words such as "Betrayal", "Hypocrite", and "Judas" are terms that speak to those Black people that would question Obama’s legitimacy or just the very basics of his commitment to the Black community in the form of Political Demands, is cascading into a psychological backlash of an Us vs. Us conflict. The argument has become more about WHO will be in the White House as oppose to the "whose mindset" is in the White House. In doing this, Black folk miss the big picture with that being that OTHER peoples are extending their votes with DEMANDS and Blacks are being portrayed and accused of ignoring the Accountability and the Power behind putting a Black person in office with their Passion as oppose to their Logic behind voting. By tradition, America has had the luxury of voting with Passion, but under current circumstances and the Bush Administration’s dismantling of America, logic as well as caution, is now merited.

Obama holds Black experiences, agendas, expectations and their demanding of accountability to the very root of the vote and the only capital to PAY IT FORWARD as his only guarantee. Many Blacks earlier in the political campaign held this against Obama when he limited his speeches and physical appearance in Black communities. So initially their belief for their Vote for him was worth but a lump of coal in their eyes. The means by which Black folk don’t get hurt, as well as stay focused on the DEEPER issues, Hillary Clinton had the opportunity of numbers by Obama’s initial absence. Knowing that Black folk were not always for Obama, Hillary Clinton, running a smarter and bolder campaign than her husband, Bill Clinton, pushed a strategy was to continue catering to the community Demands of Blacks and thus re-open a dialogue for Bartering for the votes of Brown folk. Those Voters caught in the middle or undecided, for both Hillary and Obama have the ability to see through Race and Gender to bring those people together to get beyond the past and bring them over to either side. As the campaign progressed, I saw an interview with Michelle Obama where she was asked about the Black Vote. Without paraphrasing, her response pretty much was that she was not worried about the Black Vote. She had gone on to state that Black people know what time it was and how important it was to Black People to support her husband.

Soon after that interview, there was the rally with Oprah in South Carolina, visits to HBCU's, a visit to the Apollo in Harlem New York, pulpit appearances at Ebenezer Baptist Church, television appearances discussing his ties to Kenya, Africa and the contrasting principles, approach and image of Obama’s style as oppose to polarizing people such as Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, Louis Farrakhan, or Andrew Young. The marketing into the Black community was placed in overdrive because as the last pat of the Obama campaign, you need your MOST loyal base to complete the Machine. So as History has determined, once Black Voters saw that Whites were willing to support Obama, unlike his Black predecessors; Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, the cast was made and Hillary Clinton lost her most loyal fans. Since Latin Voters do not know Obama and he has not campaigned to them what he wanted besides their LOYALTY, a platform of community wants (which is still too early in a presidential race) and a dialogue hasn’t been made, "yet".

In light of all the conflict over who is voting for whom, there is a reality that no candidate, no matter what side of the argument you are on, for Obama to want to be the catalyst or icon for CHANGE, he must be willing to accept the Criticism that comes when he preaches to become leader of the Free World. For Black folk, this criticism is necessary and part of the process, which means a level of “indifference” to RACE, has to blanket the over-charged racial consciousness that is justifiably shared by All. If Obama campaigns in an absence of his RACE, than Black folk have to accept his criticism with an absence as well. Even Obama states he isn’t running as a BLACK President but as President of the United States of America. Disenfranchised as Black folk may seem to be, an insignificant part of what is needed for that journey to be President, any candidate using that State of Being (socially or psychologically) for the use of running for the presidency, Blacks MUST criticize, examine, talk about, understand …. CHALLENGE him or her to the end. Cornell West stated in the recent State of the Black Union 2008 convention that he has much love and support for his Brother Obama and he has gone all over the country to show his support. West goes on to say that although he supports Obama all the way to the Presidency, the day after he takes office, he will start to criticize him because that is what we do as Americans. This is how we keep ALL Politicians honest.

Do you LIKE me through your politics or do your LOVE me through your politics is the only answer that has to be satisfied in the end? If this question isn't answered to the humanity of Black people, then ALL VOTERS RESERVE the right to hold out until the RIGHT PERSON comes calling. Be it a Barak Obama, a Hillary Clinton or a John McCain.

No matter how you look at the process, as it stands right now, Loyalty is the dominant social and political omen affecting the Black Vote today. When you hear and experience people who are threaten for whom they support or are physically attacked for their affiliation prior to the primaries, you have to look at the emotions behind those actions. The issues can be tied to pride and or Race, but it can also be tied to desperation and longing to put things right with the Soul of America. It is said that Black people have survived the injustices of America by holding on to their Humanity. Black Intellectuals have argued that to understand the state of America you need only look to it’s poor which is disproportionately the Black and Brown population of America. The economics and politics that creates the social barriers pertaining to the under belly of a nation, details the disconnect of the leadership of a TOP DOWN Government. In theory, America is an inclusive experiment of participatory governments (i.e. REPUBLICS), in theory and yet from its inception, it began with a taint of Old European prejudices and moral and religious discontent towards Class. Race was never a consideration for the ethnic make up of a peoples' nation since Non-Whites were considered sub-human, un-Godly and ultimately disposable merchandise. And yet these people of Color and Creed were expected to give unwavering LOYALTY to a people and a system of government hypocritically faithful to Itself. Fast-forward 400 years later and a movement to stab at the very heart of that Constitutional inclusion is creating a tone and tenor for one part Excitement, one part Healing, one part Panic and one part Anger. In essence, OLD lines are being erased or moved back to new dimensions and NEW lines are being created and moved into the place of that old line. For Black folk, that line is the CLASS DIVIDE.

How loyal are Black folk when you talk culture, politics, religion, gender and class? In the past, Pre-Obama era, Black folk’s only divide for debate may have come internally from Class but externally, the "in" for Blacks politically was RELIGION. Republicans studied this, used it and marketed heavily into the Spirituality of the Black community knowing this was the only avenue left for courting the Black Vote. This being as such, Religion was the only means by which one could shake up a debate within Black culture (the good, the bad and the ugly), gender (family values, homosexuality, marriage), politics (breaking the traditional bond between democrat and the church) and class (linking church, private corporation and community empowerment) and had been used by both sides for years. That was then. Now, after being socially and economically burned and spiritually used, that opportunity has come and gone and CLASS is now the final divide which can potentially be Black folks redeemer or annihilation as it relates to Self-determination. And those that parley on the sides for Capitalizing on the Black Class Divide may find that in doing so, Black folk will no longer be as forgiving, especially if that play on the Divide, is tactically old, obvious and presumed.

As consummate FORGIVERS, Black folk are quickly becoming a people who can begin turning backs on those within the community and leaving it that way. Those they consider toxic and ill-intentioned to the elevation of the community will no longer get a PASS for being BLACK and as such, will have to fall into place before receiving the NEW BENEFITS that will come with a Black America of the 21st Century. The learning curve can and will be quick “IF” the community can get past the Hillary vs. Obama phenomenon. You see, POWER can be benevolent and it can be self-destructive. In Black folk’s bid to have it their way (a Black President) the PRIZE can be lost if those needed are turned away or turned off. In the in-fighting to give Obama his opportunity, which is Black Opportunity (historically), which is a Party Opportunity (Democrat), which is a National Opportunity (a new direction) and a Global Opportunity (the healing of International relations) we can splinter the Democratic process, weaken the chance of a unified Party and allow the old guard to continue as is. Ultimately, the HIGHS of the Black community can come crashing down like a house of cards with those emotions and political frustrations being taken out on those Politicians that look most like them.

So this is also a question that needs to be address. The “what if” aspect of not getting what you want, the healing from dreams deferred. Langston Hughes wrote in his much beloved and most notable poem, “A Dream Deferred” about the effects of dreams not met and the residual emotions left behind. The poem’s last lines read:

Maybe it just sags
Like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

Does it explode? Like bombs randomly placed through out the political system, disrupting the short and long-term political futures of all those currently in office. The one true thing about explosives, the effects are usually permanent. Can Black folk afford that type of political destruction? And if so, is this or will it be Progress? The casualties will be deep and extended exponentially. Are Black folk mature enough with this new BURST OF VOTING POWER to know the differences between the long term Good Politician and the Short term Politician with hidden agendas? Can Black folk re-align and re-direct a Political agenda with its co-companions, sometimes competitor, Brown folk? And when do a standard procedure of DEMAND making be places before the NEXT elected officials as a customary procedure for doing Political business in the Black community?

To avoid “deferment” simple steps to relieve the weight of not knowing or the explosion of an out pouring of anger and violence toward one’s opposing voting decision, know that whomever is selected to lead, you know that their state of mind will allow for community DEMANDS to be met; Democrat, Independent, Republican, Black, Latin, Asian, White and or Female.

The specter of past wrongs in America; Class, Imperialism, Manifest Destiny, Jim Crow, assisted Genocide and Nation Building has imprinted itself upon the lands globally stunting the self-determination of many cultures, many countries and many religions. There is a new theory for Self-Determination for Black America for the 21st Century. Although the old philosophies and social theories have value, taking this aspects and applying them to an increasing Global Economy, International conflict, an Open and Free Economy, Open Boarders, and slow but stirring re-connections to Africa, the improvements for Black Americans require The Right Diagnosis to new issues. New loyalties and greater demands will be made of Wealthy and Influential Blacks. Even at the breaking of traditional ties and the taking back of generational wealth from those whom supported Black folk in the 20th Century will necessitate the continuation of Black Communities through transparency historical records and reclaimed ownership. These are not threats; they are all the end results of an America becoming AMERICA, what the Bush Administration has opened up to the people as it participated in opening up the Pandora’s Box of lies and deception. American minds are starting to open for the TRUTH and it’s a good taste for their soul. You can not hide the truth about places like Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Israel, the Middle East Conflict, China, Cuba, the Drug Trade for Dollars, Arms Sales in Africa and South America, Outsourcing, Germ and Chemical Development, Lack of Oversight just to name a few wars where American people are caught in the middle. As part of "The Right Diagnosis of America", the sources of survival will not be in the knowing, but in owning the resources of Black survival through the control of its political loyalties.

DIRTY LAUNDRY

I wiped a dark stain from off his shirt
and what was left
I wiped on my white shirt breast.
Smeared with Blackness,
I washed that stained piece of clothing,
and the color ran
on everything it touched
in the wash.
Blackening everything.
My clothes,
died in shades of Blackness,
I was forced to wear it all
from head to toe,
where it saturated and seeped into my pours.
Covered in Blackness,
my skin was wiped
to soon leave Blackness upon the breasts of another.

Dirty Laundry by Shazza Nakim
Copyright © by Peace of Mind Publishings and with permission by Shazza Nakim

THE DREAM

Dreaming of seven cows of plenty,
Consumed by seven cows of famine,
Complexed and perplexed
The Knower of All,
The Keeper of Knowledge,
Pharaoh happened upon a chanced fantasia.
A euphoria,
Dancing like mists of silhouette tapestry,
Woven by the Gods
Of air, earth, fire and water.
Pharaoh, on a cold and arid night,
Was mystified by feelings of inadequacy.
This emphirial enigma,
The Dream.
Pharaoh peered, pondered, and prodded
Magical mages and scared sanctums
Of this moment of meticulous movement.
For he had to know
The answers to this dream most undream like.

A man of the wakened world
Stepped forth from the land of God.
Ethiopia.
True Hebrew.
True Joseph.
He taught the lessons of the dream.
He said, " The meat of plenty shall feed the people of the few."
Thus it was told.
Thus it was learned.
"They will suckle from the breasts' of their mothers and taste the milk
of Isis, daughter of creation" Joseph sang.
"A goddess to nourish what the soul will crave."
Pharaoh sighted the seven cows of famine.
Joseph then shared, " Seven seven your land will rule,
Seven years fat,
Seven years thin."

And with a signet ring
Joseph was created equal to the land of Egypt.
A union most sacred was formed.
For the Gods did leave for seven by way of the Nile.
All people dreamt dreams of fat cows
For seven of seven.
And famine, seven more of seven.
But Egypt did not weep.
She smiled upon the land,
And embraced her freedom from the Gods.
I know this to be true,

For I write with scroll and pen.

The Dream by Shazza Nakim
Copyright © by Peace of Mind Publishings and with permission by Shazza Nakim