Love! Life! Healing! Reparations now!

 

Donald-Lacy-at-remembrance-for-daughter-Loesha-by-Jahahara-1021-1400x1201, Love! Life! Healing! Reparations now!, Culture Currents
At our sacred remembrance in October, Baba – Elder – Donald Lacy remembers and offers prayer for his precious then 16-year-old daughter LOESHA, who was murdered on 20 October 1997, and so many other victims in our communities in Oakland and beyond. LOVE! LIFE! REPARATIONS NOW! Amen. Asé. – Photo: Baba Jahahara

by Baba Jahahara Amen-RA Alkebulan-Ma’at

6261 AAAK / November 2021 JC-PG

Africans Deserve Reparations! ‘Cause, Black Lives Matter!

Blessings of IMANI – FAITH – Esteemed G-o-ds, Elders, Sis-Stars, Bro-Stars and Youthful Revolutionaries! May our Divine Mother-Father Creator of and in All – and Beloved Ancients and Ancestors from millennia past, yesteryears and, literally, yesterday – find you and your extended Family in positive and healing Spirit. 

Whether you’ve made the self-determined decision to get “vaxxed” or not, WE encourage you and yours to continue proven measures for supreme health; as well as protect yourselves against past and present traumas and known and unknown killers. 

This includes developing consistent practices, such as meditation, prayer, deep breathing and reflection, healthy positive relationships and service to those in greater need than you are, reading, study and creation – of art, music, prose, poetry and more – drinking sufficient clean water daily, gardening and consuming primarily vegetables and fruits, organic whenever possible; getting as much fresh air and delicious sunshine – Vitamin D – as you can get, generating movement, yoga, exercise, hiking, dance and more, continuing to mask-up and physically-distance and getting tested for Covid and other potential dis-eases regularly. 

As WE are learning, utilizing many of these methods, and more, can enhance our well-being. And, even save our precious lives. Amen. Asé.

Honoring a few of our new Ancestors

WE honor the recent Spiritual Transformations of our great political activist TIMUEL BLACK, JR., who passed away on Chicago’s south-side, at the youthful age of 102. Amen. Asé. CHARLES “CHUCK” SIMS AFRICA, one of our dear MOVE Family relations, in Philadelphia. After finally being released in February 2020, Baba Chuck succumbed from cancers contracted during more than four decades of unjust government terror, torture and encagement in Pennsylvania prisons. We still charge genocide! Amen. Asé.

Dr.-Timuel-Black-Jr.-with-Baba-Jahahara-50th-Year-March-on-Washington-2013-by-Jahahara-1400x1050, Love! Life! Healing! Reparations now!, Culture Currents
Our incredible human and civil rights advocate, political strategist and professor Dr. TIMUEL BLACK JR. – with Baba Jahahara at 50th Year March on Washington commemoration in 2013 – recently joined our Ancestors at 102 years young, on Chicago’s south-side. Amen. Asé. – Photo: Baba Jahahara

One of my beloved friends, classmates and track teammates, STANLEY HAYNES. Amen. Asé. And, another dear classmate BARBARA REED. Amen. Asé. My brilliant, fun and beautiful “SisStar-in-Love” DIANE WASHINGTON. Amen. Asé.

WE mourn with the family of SHAMARA YOUNG, just 15, who was murdered in a violent “road rage” incident here in Oakland. Amen. Asé. And, Mississippi LEE WILLIAMS, one of my Queen Mother ELIZABETH’s favorite gospel singers, who, with his group The Spiritual QC’s “just stopped by – this life – on his way home – to Heaven – !” Amen. Asé.

Long Live the Spirit, legacies and numerous contributions of these new and All our incredible Ancients and Ancestors. Asé. Asé. Asé-O!

Love life through Reparations! Increase our healing, end the self-hate and killings

One of our infrequently discussed aspects of Reparations is the need for Spiritual healing of Alkebulan-Afrikan people. As i have written in my previous books like “DRIPPING WITH BLOOD!,” Seeking MA’AT Works and HOPE Publications, 6239/1999): “For WE ascendants of Alkebulan-Afrika, Reparations must be centered on acts and processes of repairing, recovering, returning, restoring, reconstructing and resurrecting our people, our humanity, our nations, our economies, our cultural values, our languages, indeed our very Spirits … back to our rightful place as the original people, first builders and as some of the greatest contributors, caretakers and stewards in the development of human civilization.”

Unfortunately, for the past 500 plus years, WE Alkebulan-Afrikans have been subjected to some of the worst-ever crimes against humanity. From the European and american terrorist wars of mass enslavement, kidnappings and family separations, colonization and – “white” usa, “white” south african, etc. – apartheid, to their continuing imperialist genocidal wars of mis-education, impoverishment, denial of human rights and basic necessities of life, mass imprisonment, destruction of our environment and more. 

Out of 17,754 recorded murders, more than 56 percent, 9,913, were of Afrikan ancestry. while WE are only around 12 percent of the total population.

One of the most horrific results of these numerous crimes against our people is that the Europeans and american profiteers have created such dire conditions that have us, unfortunately, attacking those closest to us. i have often said that not only have our oppressors separated us from and destroyed our true family values and structures, but they have traumatized and “trained” some of us to become the worst self-haters. 

This current pandemic, combined with repeated capitalist economic depressions and lack of meaningful living and economic opportunities, has intensified these crises. Witness, for example, the number of homicides across the usa for just the past year, 6260/2020. Out of 17,754 recorded murders, more than 56 percent, 9,913, were of Afrikan ancestry. Remember, WE are only around 12 percent of the total population.

The projections for the current year are even higher. This does not just apply to our mostly young Brothers dying in the streets. Our Black Sis-Star Queens are now being killed at an alarming rate of four a day. And, not just in big cities like one of my former hometowns of Chicago, which saw a sharp rise of 300 more homicides in 2020 compared to 2019. 

Smaller towns such as Oakland, Kansas City, even Jackson, Miss., are all experiencing record numbers of homicides recently. Certainly, WE must work together to collectively change these unjust systems that are the root causes of this deadly situation. Amen. Asé.

Sugar-Pie-DeSanto-with-Jahahara-by-Jahahara, Love! Life! Healing! Reparations now!, Culture Currents
Legendary R&B singer Sugar Pie DeSanto celebrated her 86th sacred Birthday on 16 October – also the anniversary of our Million Man March. She has also released her latest album, titled “Sugar’s Suite.” Click here to purchase. – Photo: Baba Jahahara

Over the past decade, Baba Donald Lacy, supported by many of us, convinced our City of Oakland to adopt the motto of “LOVE LIFE!” Donald’s young 16-year-old daughter LOESHA LACY, whose first name translates to “Love Life” in Ibo, had been murdered in 1998 near McClymonds High School in west Oakland. 

Prior to her tragic killing she had lost another classmate and decided to start a foundation. With the assistance of her dear Father, this grassroots institution continues to promote peace in our neighborhoods and support for our grieving families on both sides of the shootings, similar to groups like LIFE – Love Ignites Freedom through Education – Camp, led by our incredible Goddess Erica Ford, a profound peacemaker over many decades, in the streets of New York City. WE encourage you to learn more and support this local work by Baba Donald and the Lacy family as well as many others.

It is in this Spirit that our Foundations for Our New Alkebulan-Afrikan Millennium – FONAMI – and AFRICANS DESERVE REPARATIONS NOW! campaign is launching our LOVE! LIFE! HEALING… THROUGH REPARATIONS! efforts to support the LOVE LIFE Foundation. WE are bringing forth innovative art and music projects as well as special gatherings. 

Ras-KDee-at-Indigenous-Peoples-Day-Sunrise-Ceremony-on-Alcatraz-101121-by-Jahahara-1400x1050, Love! Life! Healing! Reparations now!, Culture Currents
Native Pomo-Afrikan Kenyan activist, musician and KPFA radio host Ras K’Dee performs sacred music at Indigenous People’s Day Sunrise Ceremony on Alcatraz isle on 11 Oct., 2021. Aho. Amen. Asé. – Photo: Baba Jahahara

Our goals are to further inspire more commUNITY OVERstanding of the root societal causes of this horrific situation, fruitful dialogue and necessary actions to encourage more Truth, Justice, Opportunities, Uplifting and Peace in our neighborhoods. As well as to utilize positive alternatives and share practical skills to help release the “beefs,” quiet the violence and remind us all that Every Life is Sacred! 

WE can start by referring to ourselves and others as G-o-ds and God-desses. Or, say, greeting one another with, for example: “LOVE! LIFE! HEALING! REPARATIONS NOW!” Amen. Asé. 

Destination Reparations

Our National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America (N’COBRA) and our allies, including our Movement 4 Black Lives, has scheduled a Week of Nation-wide Action from 8-12 November 2021. WE are collectively demanding a vote on HR 40, our Reparations Remedy bill, in the usa House of Representatives. 

Jahahara-at-Emory-Douglas-Reparations-mural-at-SFMOMA-1021-1-1400x961, Love! Life! Healing! Reparations now!, Culture Currents
Baba Jahahara stands at our great Baba Emory Douglas’ recently installed REPARATIONS mural at San Francisco’s Museum of Modern Art. Baba Emory is, of course, the former Minister of Culture of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense. You can visit this mural and others, like that of Ancestor DIEGO RIVERA, for free at SF MOMA. Amen. Asé. – Photo: Baba Jahahara

Earlier this year, the Judiciary Committee finally voted on, passed and advanced our Reparations legislation. Unfortunately, it has taken a back seat in the priorities of the House leaders, though WE have collectively worked to get nearly 200 co-sponsors thus far, the most ever. WE demand a vote to pass HR 40 in the House! Immediately! 

Please, join us here in the Bay Area, as WE march on the office of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has the power to call for a vote, Friday, 12 November 2021, 4 pm outside Speaker Pelosi’s office in downtown San Francisco. This will be an outdoor, masked-up and physically-distanced action. We demand a vote for Reparations! Or expect no votes for democrats in upcoming elections! Amen. Asé.

Gratitude to all of you who participated in the recent state of California’s Reparations Task Force’s four days of virtual hearings in September and October. As WE have stated previously, the RTF is mostly based on our federal Reparations Remedy legislation, HR 40 and S 40, that our N’COBRA envisioned, helped introduce first in 1989 and have championed over the past three decades plus. 

Nube-Brown-receiving-bandana-from-Tyteanna-at-Indigenous-Peoples-Day-Sunrise-Ceremony-on-Alcatraz-101121-by-Jahahara-1400x1141, Love! Life! Healing! Reparations now!, Culture Currents
San Francisco Bay View Editor Goddess Nube Brown receives sacred Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women bandana from Goddess Ty’teanna at annual Indigenous People’s Day Sacred Sunrise Ceremony on Alcatraz isle. Save and Return Our Stolen Sisters, Girls and Two-Spirits! End the Kidnappings, Violence, Rapes and Murders Now! Aho. Amen. Asé. #MIMW. – Photo: Baba Jahahara

The first expert testimony presented was from our N’COBRA National Male Co-Chair Baba Kamm Howard of Chicago. To view his full remarks, go to ncobraonline.org, where you can also become a member. You can sign-up for upcoming meetings of the RTF by going to https://oag.ca.gov/ab3121/meetings

FREE THEM ALL! Amen. Asé. Please visit the website of our Jericho Amnesty Movement to learn more about the situations of our many long-suffering political prisoners and brave warriors for justice as well as how you can best support their release at https://thejerichomovement.com/.

Asante Sana to Bay Area residents who have signed our petition to add the name of Ancestor THOMAS L. BERKLEY – founding publisher of the POST Newspaper – to the 19th Street Oakland BART station.

Also, take a moment to review, consider, sign-on and forward our “Change the Name of the ‘white’ House Petition“ to your networks. 

Finally, our Bay View Newspaper desperately needs and deserves your support! Help us keep producing and sharing the truth from outside and behind the walls! Go to sfbayview.com/donate or send your check or money order in any amount to us at 4917 Third St., SF, CA 94124. Or, call our office at 415-671-0789. 

Continue to take y-our righteous steps, knowing our Divine will do the rest. And, walk in the Power of IMANI – FAITH – on each and every day. Amen-RA Hotep! Asé.

#BlackLivesMatter #AfricansDeserveReparationsNow #FreeTheLand #FreeThemAll #BringOurEldersHomeNow #AbolishPrisonsandPolice #LoveandDefendMotherEarth #BlackNewDeal

Jahahara Amen-RA Alkebulan-Ma’at is the fourth of seven Suns of beloved Ancestors God-Mother ELIZABETH ELIZANN OAKS ARMSTRONG and Baba CLEVELAND LEE “The Deacon” ARMSTRONG, SR. He traces his ancestral roots to the Yoruba and Ewondo nations in Alkebulan-Afrika. Baba Jahahara is a Life Member, former National Male Co-Chair and Acting West Region Rep of N’COBRA. Take a listen to a few songs from his musical catalog at https://soundcloud.com/search?q=baba%20jahahara Invite Baba Jahahara to present at your group, school, spiritual gathering or event c/o support@africansdeservereparations.com or FONAMI, P.O. Box 10963, Oakland, CA 94610.