Reminiscing, and acting, this September!

Emory-Douglas-Elbert-Big-Man-Howard-Billy-X-Jennings-Jahahara-by-Jahahara-web-300x226, Reminiscing, and acting, this September!, Culture Currents
Courageous members of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense: from left, Baba Emory Douglas, new Ancestor ELBERT “BIG MAN” HOWARD and William “Billy X” Jennings, joined by Baba Jahahara

Afrikans deserve Reparations! Cause Black lives truly matter! Asé.

by Baba Jahahara Amen-RA Alkebulan-Ma’at

6258 AAC (September 2018 JC-PG)

Greetings of IMANI (FAITH) Esteemed G-o-ds and Sister and Brother Leaders,

May our Divine Mother-Father Creator of and in All – and Beloved Ancestors from yesteryear and yesterday – find you and (y)our extended Family in healing Spirit and thriving.

A year ago this month, the Bay View graciously published my column titled “September, Please Remember.” (Visit: https://sfbayviewnews.wpenginepowered.com/2017/09/september-please-remember/ ) That piece, which was inspired by an African elder i met in Jamaica in the 6230s (1980s) regarding the then-hurricane season, focused on the capitalist-induced climate chaos, environmental destruction and human catastrophes wiping out thousands of lives in areas around Houston, New Orleans, Puerto Rico and other parts of the Gulf Coast and the Caribbean.

Big-Mans-Memorial-Kujichagulia-Carole-Emory-crowd-Bobby-Hutton-Fieldhouse-082518-by-Jahahara-web-300x298, Reminiscing, and acting, this September!, Culture Currents
Many of the huge crowd attending Big Man’s Celebration of Life on Aug. 25 were among the most important people in his life. Up front are griot Kujichagulia, Big Man’s beloved wife Carole Hyams-Howard and Black Panther Minister of Culture Emory Douglas. – Photo: Baba Jahahara

With our planetary situation worsening – from massive flooding in India to Bangladesh, fire-nados raging out of control from Siberia to California and record high temperatures in Scandinavia and the Arctic, etc. – you and your organization are encouraged to join the worldwide RISE FOR CLIMATE JOBS & JUSTICE (https://ca.riseforclimate.org/ ) on Saturday, 8 September. In our region, the march will convene at the Embarcadero in San Francisco, at 10 a.m. This major people’s mobilization precedes the so-called “Global Climate Summit,” called by outgoing California Governor Jerry Brown, who despite his “green” clean energy rhetoric is, in reality, still a foolish fossil fuel investor, protector and fracker with dirty oil and filthy coal.

It is with a very heavy heart, that i take this opportunity to reminisce … on our loooong list of recently-departed family members and contributors to humane-ity (to use a term from our A-Wisdom G-o-d Dr. Kujichagulia, fka Phavia). And, so WE continue to call the roll, for:

  • Deacon CLEVELAND LEE ARMSTRONG, SR, my beloved Baba who made his Spiritual Transformation on the Third of September 16 years ago. Asé.
  • JORDAN THOMAS ADAMS, my 22 years-young grand-nephew who was recently murdered in Kansas City, Missouri. Asé. Asé. Asé-O!
  • ELBERT “BIG MAN” HOWARD, an outstanding and compassionate leader as well as one of the original six founding members of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense. Asé.
  • RON DELLUMS, a life-long fighter for justice, freedom, workers’ rights, independence, reparations and peace; and, our former congressman and mayor of Oakland. Asé.
  • CARLOS RUSSELL, our great educator and founder of Black Solidarity Day in New York. Asé.
  • CHARLES KOEN, leader of the Black United Front, in Cairo, Illinois. Asé.
  • NIA WILSON, our 18 years-young Queen who was murdered by a sick white terrorist at the MacArthur train station in Oakland. Please pray for the strength and healing of Nia’s dear Sister, Queen Latifah , who was also stabbed by the murderous John “coward” Cowell. Asé. Asé. Asé-O!!!
  • THEO BEN GURIRAB, Pan-African liberation fighter, leader in the South West African People’s Organization (SWAPO), and independent Namibia’s first foreign minister and second prime minister. Asé.
  • KOFI ANNAN, from Ghana, West Africa, and the former Secretary-General of the United Nations. Asé.
  • ARETHA “The Queen of Soul” FRANKLIN, our inspiring preacher, composer, singer and contributor to many of our just causes. Asé.
  • LEO GATES, JR., our Oakland neighbor and “home-boy” from Kansas City, Missouri. Asé.
  • ART MCGEE who, among many contributions, helped grow and connect our Black Radical Congress (particularly using the then new public internet medium). Asé.
  • And, the THOUSANDS OF BABIES, YOUTH, WOMEN, SOME PREGNANT, and MEN of YEMEN and PALESTINE (and many other areas) … murdered by the Saudi Arabian terrorist monarchy and the state of isreal apartheidists fully supported and equipped by the corporate OILigarchy and military terrorists of the usa, England, Europe, etc. Asé. Asé. Asé-O!

Asante Sana (With Great Thanks and Appreciation) for your sacred condolences and shared wisdom to our family! Gratitude to our beloved G-o-ds Carole Hymans, wife of BIG MAN, and Billy X of It’s About Time/BPPSD Alumni for asking me to open this incredible celebration with a healing offering of Libations, and a shout-out to our powerful Ancestral Spirits, accompanied by G-o-ds Kujichagulia and Val Sarrant. Asé.

*******

Black Lives Matter!

Building our movements of love

Black Lives Matter!

WE value every one of us

Black Lives Matter!

Respect and recognize this Truth

That Black Lives Matter!

Please! Please! Think before you shoot!

– From my song “Black Lives Matter!” by Baba Jahahara. Listen for free at: https://soundcloud.com/user-424028583/black-lives-matter-by-baba-jahahara-c-p-6255-kmt-2015.

With special appreciation to our dear Sister founders G-o-ds Alicia Garza, Patrice Cullors and Opal Tometi, and thousands of other grassroots activist leaders around the usa and African Diaspora, WE commemorate the Fifth Anniversary of our Black Lives Matter/Movement for Black Lives movements, which powerfully was initiated in 6253 AAC/2013 JC-PG! As our youthful leaders often say, Stay Woke! Asé. https://policy.m4bl.org/

‘Invisible-Man-Black-Masques’-exhibit-by-African-English-artist-Zak-Ove-Civic-Center-thru-1118-by-Jahahara-web-300x225, Reminiscing, and acting, this September!, Culture Currents
Make sure to visit the stunningly powerful “Invisible Man, Black Masques” exhibit, by African-English artist Zak Ove, through November at San Francisco Civic Center. – Photo: Baba Jahahara
Democratic-Socialists-of-America-rally-for-progressive-candidates-Tony-Kelley-SF10-Cat-Brooks-Oakland-mayor-Jovanka-Beckles-Assembly-Dist-15-0818-by-Jahahara-web-300x225, Reminiscing, and acting, this September!, Culture Currents
Progressive candidates Tony Kelly (for District 10 Supervisor in San Francisco), Cat Brooks (for Mayor of Oakland) and Jovanka Beckles (for California Assembly District 15) are introduced at Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) rally, near Protrero Hill. – Photo: Baba Jahahara

IN THE SPIRIT OF BLACK AUGUST AND ANCESTOR GEORGE JACKSON … the nationwide prison strike has been launched. It is in motion from 21 August to 9 September. Check out the righteous demands and ways to support the campaign by going to the Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee’s website at https://incarceratedworkers.org/campaigns/prison-strike-2018.

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR BELOVED SPIRIT-WOMAN Ramona Africa and the Move Family in Philadelphia, as she faces some major health challenges: https://www.gofundme.com/helpsaveramonaafrica.

UP YOU MIGHTY AFRICAN PEOPLE! Gratitude to our commUNITY members and visitors who dropped by for our Sixth Annual Sacred Birthday Celebration and Read-In for Ancestor MARCUS MOSIAH GARVEY. Please continue reviewing Garvey’s great wisdom and works, like “Philosophy and Opinions”; and shop at or call to order your books from the oldest African-owned bookstore in the usa: Marcus (Garvey) Books, located at 3900 MLK, Jr. Way, Oakland (two blocks from MacArthur BART station), (510) 652-2344 or www.marcusbooksoakland.com.

Marcus-Garvey’s-birthday-Mama-Afua-Baba-Curtis-celebrate-Marcus-Books-Oakland-0818-by-Jahahara-web-225x300, Reminiscing, and acting, this September!, Culture Currents
Mama Afua and Baba Curtis celebrate Marcus Garvey at Marcus Books, Oakland. – Photo: Baba Jahahara
‘Sorry-to-Bother-You’-premiere-Chioke-Bakari-Damion-Gallegos-Jim-Ellman-Manuel-Riley-Boots’-bro-Grand-Lake-Theater-041218-by-Jahahara-300x225, Reminiscing, and acting, this September!, Culture Currents
At the premiere of “Sorry to Bother You” at the Grand Lake Theater in Oakland are Chioke Bakari, son of Baba Jahahara; Damion Gallegos, music producer and now actor who plays the “Jim Ellman” character in the movie; and Manuel Riley, brother of filmmaker Boots Riley. – Photo: Baba Jahahara

GO SEE BOOTS RILEY’S SORRY TO BOTHER YOU FILM! Or, go again, if you’ve already seen it. It’s enlightening! Edu-taining! Inspiring! And, exposes some of the ills of capitalism’s profit at all costs, corporate greed, gentry-fication and deadly homelessness, police brutality, sick “cloning” and genetic modifications … as well as our growing movements to unite and win justice and create better relationships, workplaces and societies. Asé.

Several readers noticed that our most recent Bay View was a combined July-August 2018 issue. As you are aware, the paper is struggling financially. WE desperately need your support to keep producing, printing, mailing and distributing the paper throughout the Bay Area and around the usa, including to numerous prisons. Please make a much-needed contribution, place an ad or subscribe now to keep the Bay View in print. Call us at (415) 671-0789; or send donations to 4917 Third Street, San Francisco, CA 94124. Asé.

Amen-RA Hotep!

#BlackLivesMatter #AfricansDeserveReparations #FreeOurPeople #LoveandDefendMotherEarth

Jahahara is a Baba (Father), a “FREE-tired” commUNITY-labor-environmental and justice organizer, writer, musician and author of several books, including “Many Paths to Kujichagulia (Self-Determination).” Check out songs from his musical catalog at https://soundcloud.com/search?q=jahahara Reach him c/o support@africansdeservereparations.com or FONAMI, P.O. Box 10963, Oakland, CA 94610 usa