Will Ta-Nehisi Coates' Case for Reparations Begin a National Dialogue?

Ta-Nehisi Coates

Ta-Nehisi Coates' case for reparations tackles the decades of crying out by African Americans, who've long fought against the unjust system of exploitation here in America.

Deriving from the personal experiences of those who lived through the Jim Crow era and interjecting valid facts about slavery, and how it transitioned in to institutionalized racism; the writer lets us know that this is more than an issue -- this is an epidemic. 

In the Atlantic article written by Mr. Coates, you'll receive a brief insight into America's shameful past through the eyes of those that lived it. History always makes a comeback when scores haven't been settled -- when debts haven't been paid. For centuries black bodies have been treated like credit cards that never max out, and now in the 21st century, Ta-Nehisi Coastes readjusted the "black bodies bill" and shipped it off by first class mail to the public, in hopes of finally attaining payment -- or at least a discussion for the masses, on a past due balance.....that's long overdue.

#ThankYouToAllThatFoughtForReparationsInThePast
#ThankYouToAllThatContinueToFightToday

2014 LA

Ta-Nehisi Coates Talks Reparations

Writer Ta-Nehisi Coates talks reparations, stay tuned....

Alexis Wilkinson: First Black Female President of the Harvard Lampoon

MSNBC contributor and MHP substitute Jonathan Capehart, made history yesterday on 'The MHP' show as he interviewed the first black female President of the Harvard Lampoon in 138 years! The Harvard Lampoon's first issue was released in 1876.

Alexis Wilkinson (seen above) wrote for the Lampoon for two years and broke extraordinary barriers, as she referred to the almost century and half year old organization as an "all boys club."

Wilkinson stated that her ultimate career goal would be to write for a film/TV show, or write for her own late night program as she enjoys comedy.

Kudos to Ms. Wilkinson for making progressive history.

2014 LA

Black Oscar History Making Moments

Since its founding in 1929, only seven Black women have made Academy Award history with the seventh winner seen above, Lupita Nyong'o.

1. Hattie McDaniel won an Oscar 74 years ago and was the first black woman and person, to ever win such an award. She won Best Supporting Actress for the film 'Gone With the Wind.' 

2. In 1991 Whoopi Goldberg, won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in the movie 'Ghost.'

3. Halle Berry was the first black woman to win Best Actress for her role in 'Monsters Ball.'

4. Jennifer Hudson won the Academy Award in 2006, for her role in the musical film 'DreamGirls.' The American Idol contestant was the first black actor to win for a debut film performance.

5. Mo’Nique took home the gold for Best Supporting Actress in the jaw dropping film 'Precious.'

6. Octavia Spencer won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her comedic and dramatic role in 'The Help.'

7. In 2014 Lupita Nyong’o is the seventh black woman to win an Oscar, in which she won for Best Supporting Actress in the film '12 Years a Slave.' 

Congrats and much thanks to all these lovely ladies for breaking down barriers and making history in the process.

2014 LA

'Free Angela Davis And All Political Prisoners' - Documentary Review

For Black History month BET (Black Entertainment Television) played a documentary directed by Shola Lynch and titled, 'Free Angela Davis And All Political Prisoners.' 

Never fully knowing the story behind the woman I felt it was my duty to tune in, and learn a more detailed version of this particular time in history.

Ms. Davis' background proved to be challenging because she grew up in the deep South of Birmingham, Alabama. Her early recollection of childhood memories referenced the fact that her father often kept weaponry in the home, as a defense mechanism used to deter outsiders that wished to do his family harm. Just in knowing the latter, makes one understand why in her adulthood she chose to defend herself with a gun.

Death threats by letters and in person became the norm for Ms. Davis, while she taught Marxism philosophy at UCLA (University of California Los Angeles). Moreover, the Alabama native who was lucky enough to attend school in the Northeastern part of America during the Jim Crow era, and who eventually proceeded to study German philosophy abroad -- was a natural target when she came back to the states unapologetic about her communist roots.

President Richard Nixon, Governor of California Ronald Reagan, and FBI leader Herbert Hoover, all completely denounced Ms. Davis' appointment as a professor at UCLA and felt she would use her position to indoctrinate students with her political views. 

And when a heinous attack took place leaving some dead and others injured (a sitting judge included) with all weaponry at the crime scene identified under Angela Davis' name, that was fuel which set federal officials on fire in hot pursuit of the liberal activist.

The young intellectual didn't turn herself in but instead flew to Chicago, Miami, and then New York, where she was later arrested and taken to jail. While in prison she was put in solitary confinement for a majority of the time, and she said it was done as a means of "breaking" her; being forced to be anti-social. Then Ms. Davis said something remarkable on her reflection of jail life, "Prison can either break a person or make a person stronger," in which she disciplined herself to do the latter. 

She use to fight for the rights of political prisoners and now she had become one herself, and all those who she came to know, teach, and love all around the world -- loved her back by rallying together in protest for her release.

Roger McAfee, a middle class white man with a wife and children, used his entire farm as collateral for the bailing out of Angela Davis. Her bail was over one hundred and two thousand dollars, but because the rural resident believed in Ms. Davis' message of equality with regards to jobs, housing, safety, education, and civil rights, that was enough for him to put his family's entire livelihood on the line in hopes of a more progressive America.

Leo Branton, one of Davis' defense attorneys had this to say during her trial: "I knew I had to prove that Angela's plight was not their nest of guilt. I said to the jury, I want you to play a role with me. For the next several minutes I want you to think black, I want you to be black; don't worry, I'll let you return to being white when this is over."

[...] "If you're black, you know that your fore parents were brought to this country as slaves. And the United States Supreme court ruled there are no rights that a black person has that a white man is bound to respect. An intellectual like Angela Davis knew this, she also knew that during the 60's, every time a black person raised his voice in support of liberty and freedom of the black man, he was assassinated. And so if you know all of those things, if you are Angela Davis or if you're black, you don't wonder "why" she fled. You only wonder why in the world did she allow herself to be caught?"

[...] "Angela Davis is no fool, why would she buy a gun to blow a judge's head off and buy it in her own name?" 

And as the all white jury came back with a verdict of not guilty on all charges, people began screaming out "Power to the people" and "Power to the jury!" 

When fearless activist Angela Davis (seen below) finally got a chance to speak with the people, she thanked them for their tireless support while grinning from ear to ear about this day being the "happiest day of her life." And then as usual she got serious and back into her teaching mode as she stated,  

"Throughout this country people are becoming increasingly aware of the fact that whatever the government does is not a priority -- the truth. And it's not only the struggle around political prisoners that has begun to change the climate in this country so that an acquittal like this could occur, but also the reaction to the war in Vietnam and the reaction to Nixon's economic policies, I think there's a lot more resistance now and that means we have to continue to build that resistance and allow it to mature."

Wise words from an extraordinary leader whose inspirational story should empower women and men all over the world. 

This documentary was excellent and proves once again that knowledge is a powerful tool that can be used to change the world, and even though there are those who denounce education for this very fact, that alone should set a spark inside of everyone to learn more -- in order to figure out what a certain "few" are trying to hide.

2014 LA

Happy 85th Birthday Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

In remembrance of a man that gave power to the powerless and a voice to the voiceless, a man who nullified fear while taking on full responsibility of a people; fighting for our right to freedom. 

This day we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the man, the leader, the hero, who in a 1954 sermon proclaimed that, “The real problem is that through our scientific genius we’ve made of the world a neighborhood, but through our moral and spiritual genius we’ve failed to make of it a brotherhood.”

And today, as we press on to continue the dream of this legendary and admirable figure, we must keep in mind that although things don't always come easy -- taking a stand for justice has always been the ladder of continued progress towards realizing a more peaceful world. 

Dr. King, thank you good sir, for everything you've done to enrich the lives of millions, and thank you Congressman Lewis for co-authoring the federal legislation that made today a national holiday in which to honor our extraordinary leader.

Happy Birthday, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

2014 LA

The Man of Non-Violent Defiance: Nelson Mandela Makes His Exit

The iconic anti-apartheid man named Nelson Mandela, was laid to rest this past Sunday in Qunu, South Africa, where he was born and raised. Over 4000 thousand mourners paid their last respects on Sunday, after a 10 day celebration and remembrance of an extraordinary human being.

Mandela was a man that meant hope to all who knew him and knew of him. He made his purpose in life a forever mission to free the people of South Africa, and was often vilified and ridiculed -- even by America, for trying to do so. He was labeled a terrorist by some, but a terrorist he was far from; terrorists kill and Mandela wanted people to live, and live freely within their own land. This was a man that committed himself to death so that others may enjoy life.

Twenty-seven years Mandela spent in prison; 27 years of innocence behind bars -- paying the price for speaking truth to power. And although his physical being was imprisoned his mind was not. He refused to give his oppressors the one thing that enabled him to press on, so he gave his body instead. After 27 years of reading, writing, praying and struggle, Mandela became more powerful than ever before which ultimately led him to become president of South Africa. His dream had been realized and not just for himself, but for all his fellow South Africans who seemed more like close family than citizens.

Mr. Nelson Mandela may you eternally rest in peace good sir, for your purpose on this earth has been fulfilled; in which I'm sure new works await you on the other side.

2013 LA

12 Years A Slave - Movie Review

Preparing for this film was a breeze; saying to myself it's another slavery film I can handle it. Not true. 

Paying money to view this work of art is what kept me glued to my seat had I been able to pause it, I would've gotten up and walked away for a breather. I needed a breather more than a few times because the truth from this film spoke so loud that it shook me to my core. 

I tried conquering the brash truth by rubbing my forehead, breathing deeply, crying, blowing out strong wind, shaking my legs, twisting in my chair, and yelling f*** you at the evil slave owners. This film was so raw and unapologetic that it left me feeling dehumanized and violated, as if I were too reliving my ancestors' tragic past. 

Freedom looked real good at the beginning of the movie, where the main character Solomon Northrup (played by actor Chiwetel Ejiofor) lived peacefully with his wife and two children in Saratoga, New York, in 1841. 

His freedom would end abruptly as he was blind-sided by two gentlemen who pretended to need his musical services for a particular event, fixing Solomon's drink in a way that would knock him unconscious only to wake up in slave chains. Those slave chains would mark the beginning of Mr. Northrup's twelve years of hell. 

An unspeakable evil took over the screen for most of the film's duration, making the atmosphere tensely thick and uncomfortable. Watching families be torn apart for the purposes of money and power, is reminiscent to our 21st century politics. Furthermore, listening to the white Southerners in the movie preach from their Christian bibles referring to themselves as lord and master, reminded me of the extremists within our government who use the bible consistently to make their points valid -- but to no avail. 

It reminds me of a passage I read by the notable philosopher Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche which does state, "To have glued this New Testament, a kind of rococo of taste in every respect, to the Old Testament to make one book, as the "Bible," as "the book par excellence" - that is perhaps the greatest audacity and "sin against the spirit" that literary Europe has on its conscience." ~Beyond Good and Evil~

Annoyance became the norm for me every time I watched a slave master preaching to the slaves, from a Bible that the slaves themselves weren't permitted to read. 

The drilling of obedience and servitude by the slave masters was a strategic mechanism used to brainwash the victims, and it made me sick to my stomach. The Book of Eli with actor Denzel Washington playing the main character of Eli, makes even more sense to me now.

The "missus" of the house (played by actress Sarah Paulson seen below scratching Patsy's face played by Lupita Nyong'o) was a bitter, miserable, evil and jealous

woman, who took pride in abusing her slaves especially Patsy, whom her husband highly favored and repeatedly raped. 

Patsy endured the most grotesque beatings, rapping's, labor, and mental abuse. She was beat nearly to death for traveling to a nearby plantation to retrieve soap, since the "missus" of the house refused to give her any. That scene is permanently engraved in my mind, remaining as a constant reminder of how far we've come and how much further we still have to go.

Solomom Northrup was called an "exceptional ni****" by the Southern white men because he could read, write, play the violin, and knew math very well, so well that it pissed off his overseer who automatically deemed himself more intelligent because he was white. 

Jealousy and envy drove the overseer crazy in which he attempted to beat Solomon, as a result of his own inadequacies. This particular scene reminded me of present corporations that house supervisors and directors who are threatened by "exceptional" minorities, and will go insofar as to deny promotions for fear of competition. 

And no matter how dangerous it was to trust any white men in the South, Solomon entrusted two; one who stole his money and lied for personal gain, and the other who was less ignorant and more humane which ultimately led to Mr. Northrup's freedom -- again.

This film isn't for the faint of hearts but if you love history and if you wish to view the act of slavery through the eyes of the man who lived it, this is definitely a must see. Kudos to the writer John Ridley and director Steve McQueen, for making us confront the real evil of our time.

2013 LA