Civil Rights Progression

Look how far we've come! Let's keep moving!

#PROGRESS

2013 LA

Happy 150th Anniversary to the Emancipation Proclamation

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation (seen above). This single document changed the course of history in our country, leading us past dark centuries of slavery and into freedom, reconstruction, and civil rights.

The Emancipation Proclamation above does read:

Whereas, on the twenty-second day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, a proclamation was issued by the President of the United States, containing, among other things, the following, to wit: 

"That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all person's held as slaves within any State or any designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever, free; and the Executive government of the United States, including the military and naval authority thereof,will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make for their actual freedom."

Slavery was officially abolished in 1865, however, it took one state almost 150 years to date to receive word on the dismantling of an era.  

On February 17, 2013, Mississippi, became the last state in the nation to ratify the 13th amendment to the Constitution of the United States. 

Wow.

2013 LA  

Black Activist, Actor, and Singer Paul Robeson On Racial Inequality

   Testimony before the House Un-American Activities Committee, June 12, 1956

"My father was a slave and my people died to build this country, and I'm going to stay right here and have a part of it, just like you. And no fascist-minded people like you will drive me from it. Is that clear?" ~ Paul Robeson 

2013 LA

Happy Birthday Mr. Bob Marley!

Bob Marley was born Nesta Robert Marley on February 6, 1945.

Mr. Marley was more than a Jamaican singer/song writer and musician, he was a proud activist of his homeland; forever bringing light to the horrid issues that long plagued his community through his music. The "Stir it up" singer spoke avidly about the atrocities of racism and why it shouldn't exist. He wanted so much for the white race and black race, to come together and unite as one for a greater good as he stated,

"Me, only have one ambition, y’know? I only have one thing I really like to see happen. I like to see mankind live together – black, white, Chinese, everyone – that’s all."

Speaking of freedom through his "redemption song" while screaming for all people to "Get up, stand up, stand up for your rights", made Marley an instant hit with an oppressed people. Due to his outreach through song and electrifying dance moves he touched people, he felt people, he nourished people, as a matter of fact one of Bob Marley's quotes was,

"My life don't mean nothing to me. My life is about people. If my life is just about me and my security, then me no want it." 

Those two quotes along with his picture quote seen above, was the true character of this man; unselfish, full of love, and all about helping people. Bob Marley understood that until mankind could live in peace with one another, that his job would never be done.

You are not physically here with us sir, but your words and music will live on forever within us. Thank you for your music, your efforts, and your love. 

We march on!

Happy Birthday Mr. Nesta Robert Marley, and may you continue to rest in peace.  

2013 LA 

Happy Birthday Ms. Rosa Parks!

Happy Birthday to "the mother of the freedom movement!" You are NEVER forgotten as we pay tribute to you during Black History month.

For more information on Ms. Rosa Parks, click here.

2013 LA

The Ku Klux Klan - A Secret History

For all KKK history videos click here.

Nazi Leader George Lincoln Rockwell: Our 21st Century Republican Party?

George Lincoln Rockwell (seen above-middle), leader of the American Nazi party (ANP) ran for the presidential election of 1964, as a write-in candidate receiving only 212 votes. 

In 1965, he ran unsuccessfully for governor in Virginia as an independent -- polling 5,730 votes or 1.02 percent of the total vote, and finishing fourth out of four candidates.

Mr. Rockwell's vision for America was viewed as extreme, almost as extreme as the views of the current Republican party candidates running for the oval office right now.

The difference between Mr. Rockwell, Mitt Romney, and Paul Ryan, is that Rockwell admitted his racist views to the American people and didn't try to cover them up with other terms such as; repealing entitlement programs, taking from the poor to give to the rich, leaving women with no right to choose, and banning education deeming it only worthy enough for the elite. 

Basically, Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are Mr. Rockwell in the 21st century, because they're adamantly trying to revert America back to the 1950's and 60's, when Rockwell and like-minded individual's venomous ideas were large and in charge. 

Rockwell's racist video statements include: 

1. "Hitler didn't exterminate 6 million Jews."

2. "Hitler was the second coming of Christ and a gift from providence."

3. "Let Blacks self-deport" (Mitt Romney also said that Hispanics should self-deport).

4. "The White race is the master race."

5. "Favors violence towards Blacks."

6. "Negroes like to get a couple of wine bottles, heroin, and crawl all over each other."

7. "The average Negro is inferior swine."

8. "I'd rescue homosexuals from the life" and "I would gas a queer quicker than anybody else."

9. "Liberals are queer."

Mr. Rockwell referred to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., as a "coon". Rockwell also stated that he, "has operatives in government and in congress."

Since Mr. Rockwell was a staunch racist it surprised me when he took part in a meeting held by Muslim leader, Elijah Muhammad. Moreover, the reason Mr. Rockwell was comfortable sitting in a room full of black people, was because their agenda was the same. 

Mr. Muhammad wished for his black brothers and sisters to be exported back to Africa, and Mr. Rockwell who stood behind the podium while admitting his strong disdain for black people -- concurred with Muhammad that a plan should be devised to ship blacks back to Africa as soon as possible. However, the black Muslims in the room did not agree with this stance, and booed Mr. Rockwell for his aggressive truth. 

Black Muslims sought to own half of America while whites, would own the other half since both races couldn't seem to co-exist with each other peacefully. This idea of course never made it to fruition, as more minority Americans fought for equality and freedom which ultimately forced the races to co-exist.

If Mr. Rockwell were still alive he'd be completely disturbed at the fact that there are so many interracial couples. How ironic that today we have a mixed President of the United States, exactly what Mr. Rockwell fought avidly against. 

In Mr. Rockwell's words,  

"Muhammad has gathered millions of the dirty, immoral, drunken, filthy-mouthed, lazy and repulsive people sneeringly called ‘niggers’ and inspired them to the point where they are clean, sober, honest, hard working, dignified, dedicated and admirable human beings in spite of their color."

"Muhammad knows that mixing is a Jewish fraud and leads only to aggravation of the problems that it is supposed to solve."

"I have talked to the Muslim leaders and am certain that a workable plan for separation of the races could be effected to the satisfaction of all concerned—except the communist-Jew agitators."

George Lincoln Rockwell was murdered by one of his own followers John Christ Patsalos who referred to Rockwell, as an "evil genius who must be stopped." 

In the end if you live by the sword you die by the sword, same for gun and same for violence in general. You can't expect to sow bad seeds and receive good seeds in return. In this case Rockwell sowed many, many, bad seeds, and one of his bad seeds came back with a vengeance. 

"You reap what you sow," isn't a statement that should be taken lightly. 

2012 LA

Footage of George Lincoln Rockwell's racist views

America's Voting History

Oppressor: the exercise of ones authority or power in a burdensome, cruel, or unjust manner.

The United States of America has been a divided country for centuries, so when listening to news correspondents speak about the history of this country I often hear, "this is not America" or "this isn't the Republican party of the Reagan years", and "we need to get back to the principles on which this country was founded." 

Really? The principles? What country have they been living in?

The United States of America that I've come to now know, has an extended history of assassinating our extraordinary leaders for extending a helping hand to the oppressed. 

Leaders like our 16th President Abraham Lincoln, our 35th President John F. Kennedy, John F. Kennedy's brother Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Civil Rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Civil Rights activist Medgar Evers; not to mention the countless lynchings and murders left untold. Yet America still has a reputation of being the best and most powerful country in the world.

"Of course he wants to vote for the Democratic ticket" "You're as free as air. ain't you?, say you are, or I'll blow yer black head off!" (Blacks seeking protection of the law from KKK efforts to keep African-Americans from voting in free elections.)  

~Harper's Weekly political cartoon, October 21, 1876 Politics, Government, Elections. 

This country couldn't have been much better in the past as some say, especially when so many people weren't factored into this "better" past history. 

Abraham Lincoln abolished slavery in 1865, giving African Americans the right to vote; literacy tests, poll taxes, hiding the locations of the polls, economic pressures, threats of physical violence, and other strategies were conducted to suppress the African American vote. 

Thanks to the pressure of Civil Rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., non-discrimination at the polls received public attention when the Federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 was written into law by our 36th president, Lyndon B. Johnson. 

Women didn't earn the right to vote until the year 1920, and is now written into law as the 19th amendment. White women attained the right to vote first, and eventually African American women would also receive the same right. 

Asian Pacific Americans didn't vote in large numbers until 1965; Mexican Americans didn't receive the right to vote until 1975; Native Americans didn't truly become citizens until 1924, although they are the original founders (Indigenous people) of American soil. 

These race of people all have one important thing in common; when trying to exercise their right to vote they were often met with violence and intimidation and were even subjected to rules that not all men had to follow. 

As President Obama stated, "America is a place where if you work hard enough, you can make it." 

This I do believe however, it would be simpler to attain life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, if there were not a constant "oppressor" unjustly and cruelly working to demise the American people at every turn. 

So the next time a news correspondent speaks nonchalantly about the "good ole days", I can only hope that they clarify what days they're talking about because as you can see the "good ole days" weren't very good for many. We've come a long way indeed, but there is more work to be done.

Our ancestor's struggle to vote should propel us all to emulate their actions. Their sacrifices to make a better place for future generations, our generation, should never be taken lightly. 

We must make them proud by consistently exercising the one right that truly made them American citizens and what binds us altogether as Americans; the right to vote. Vote like your lives depend on it because guess what? It does!

2012 LA
 
Register to voter here.