This generation of people who love liberation and humanity

by Michael Zaharibu Dorrough

Greetings and Solidarity, 

This generation of people who love liberation and humanity is making a magnificent effort to free us all from the chains of slavery. They have imagined a world that is free from the horrors of white male supremacy and patriarchy; and they are daring to make that world a reality. 

Every generation has a responsibility to take struggle to the next level. And this includes crafting language that brings us closer to creating the kind of world we imagine – language that expands the framework that has existed for centuries. And this generation of abolitionists has done just that: Defunding law enforcement is such an expansion of the framework that is needed now.

The historical record does not seem to have much of any discussion by anyone (other than magnificent abolitionists, such as Angela Davis and those kindred spirits like her) on defunding instruments of oppression, and this I believe, is a critical step in the dismantling of white male supremacy and patriarchy.

At this point, whether defunding is actually accomplished, inserting this issue into the discourse is important. It is the act of introducing something new and different that takes it to the next level – in this case, supported by the acts of civil disobedience that are occurring. 

For the past several centuries there has been a constant, non-stop assault on the humanity of people. And that non-stop assault on our humanity has consisted of people being pitted against each other through the use of various forms of hate, such as racism, sexism, misogyny, homophobia, anti-young, religious bigotry etc. 

And this hatred has found its way into every aspect of our lives and expresses itself in a variety of ways: from the assault on the humanity of women and our acceptance of it to the manner in which we compete against each other for the small spaces that we are allowed. 

We have a responsibility, a duty to care for each other the minute we arm ourselves with the knowledge of what oppression is, because it is in that moment that we understand we all count for something.

We do not compete with each other for jobs, housing and education; we compete against each other for those necessities. And that competition is usually along cultural, racial, gender and class lines, contributing to the daily assault on the humanity of people who are Black and Brown and the public’s acceptance of it.

And this is expressed in the lynching of Breonna Taylor, Yvonne Smallwood, Sandra Bland, Aiyana Jones and Atatiana Jefferson; Bothem Jean, Renisha McBride, Johnathan Ferrell, Stephon Clark and Trayvon Martin; Tamir Rice, Emmett Till, Amaud Arbery, Jordan Edwards and Jordan Davis; Alton Sterling, Mike Brown, Sean Bell, Oscar Grant, Philando Castile and Amadou Diallo; Corey Jones and John Crawford, Terrance Crutcher, Keith Scott and Clifford Glover; Claude Reese, Eric Garner and Freddie Gray … “The Charleston 9”!

The only people who have and do benefit from the inhumanities that we are subjected to are the people who occupy positions of power and who maintain the ideology of white supremacy and the system of patriarchy. 

Patriarchy is not simply a system of government in which males are considered at the head of the institution or family. Patriarchy is the effort by males to control and dominate the planet and people in it.

White male supremacy and patriarchy also expresses itself when we see people weaponize cars and kill us at rallies and when people arm themselves with assault weapons and kill hundreds of people at nightclubs because they happen to be gay or lesbian or transgender.

We have a responsibility, a duty to care for each other the minute we arm ourselves with the knowledge of what oppression is, because it is in that moment that we understand we all count for something.

History will be kind to those of us who choose to fight for the humanity of us all.

Please know that we cannot become whatever it is that we aspire to be without you. And please know that the efforts you engage in, the sacrifices that you and others have made are most appreciated. 

Love and always with You, Zaharibu (Zah)

On behalf of the NCTT (New Afrikan Collective Think Tank).

Send our brother some love and light: Michael Zaharibu Dorrough, D-83611, SATF-CSP, Corcoran, P.O. Box 7100, Corcoran CA 93212.