For discussion...

I ran upon this editorial from the Seattle Times.

Four Little Girls

Spike Lee’s Four Little Girls is a movie that is very important to black history. I’m glad that Lee was the filmmaker to take on this project and tell this story. He was the perfect person for the job from a film standpoint as well as a historical standpoint. As I was watching old interviews of his on YouTube where he discussed the movie, I came across this quite comical one. The link is at the end of the post. In this interview he talks about the interview from the movie with George Wallace. In Wallace’s interview he calls over his black “friend” as a way to testify that he is no longer a racist bigot. The scene in the movie is funny but at the same time it’s kind of messed up. It’s funny because it’s an awkward yet authentic exchange between the black nurse, Ed, and George Wallace. Ed is visibly uncomfortable with the situation and as Lee points out in his interview, he has a tough job. I’m wondering how he got in the position to be George Wallace’s nurse. That in itself is comical to me. I’d like to avoid saying anything along the lines of “look at how far we’ve come”, but it was interesting that a black filmmaker was interviewing a white former governor who was responsible for horrible acts of racism, for a movie about the bombing of a church, an act of terror, that killed four little girls.

-Jada

Midterm

Study Guide is Now Available.

Small Group About Race Starting Tomorrow

I'm not sure if anybody in our class is on this UWT page but I'm reposting this here to invite you all. I feel like there's some people in our class that may be interested in something like this and there will definitely be relevance to issues we deal with in class. Hopefully I'll see you a few of you tomorrow https://www.facebook.com/events/1709568569321255/

A Love Supreme

A note: Coltrane's A Love Supreme gives back whatever you put into in.

It's 33 Minutes long.

A streaming digital version isn't quite as good as a crackling vinyl record, but it'll work.

Sit down.  Take a load off.  Do whatever the kids do these days to relax.

If you want to know more...

Prince

Going up in the 80’s and playing Let’s Pretend We’re Married” with the neighborhood kids, allowed me to hear some of what I think is the greatest music. Prince Rogers Nelson was among some of those I listened to. On April 21, 2016, I woke to several text messages and Facebook notices stating that the world has lost a music mogul Prince. As the news registered in my brain, I begin to feel the sting of death. I felt like a close family member was taken from me and I never got the chance to say goodbye. My mind went back to how every time a Prince song would be played, I would sing and dance sexually till I was completely out of breath and those around me were thinking “Do Me Baby.” I love the way he screamed and gave life to a song and this the reason I sing “Darling Nikki” for karaoke. Prince was like he was my family, and today I am deeply disturbed by the fact that I never see him in concert. The African American community has lost a star, role model, and music genius. To all that mourn, “I Feel For You.” So as we say goodbye to Prince we can imagine him riding off into the sunset in a “Little Red Corvette” singing when “Doves Cry.” Therefore, let it be known that the African American community is going to “Party Like It’s 1999 as our tissues get “Soft and Wet” and “While My Guitar Weeps” we just think lets “Partyman.” There are many great artists but I am sure they are thinking “I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man Prince” that “Sexy Motherfucker.”

-Josh

Debrief

To go off of what I was talking about in class about my son and how I believe that he doesn't really know his self enough. I think the public school system just fails to educate our African American children about their history. They only take the time to tell them about it one month out of the whole year and most of it is negative, oppressing , and shameful. Just like any other culture or race you have to teach them about their history first before you can teach them about anyone else's. Native Americans have their own schools that teach them of their ancestries and the importance of their culture. More African American families are starting to homeschool their kids to protect them from the public school system that is taught to make African history invisible only showing the bad things about Africa. I think we discussed that on the first day of the class. I have been dancing around this idea and I just wanted you guys to be able to understand the concept of what I was trying to discuss earlier in class. I think their should be course taught in school that let kids of any culture be able to know more history of their ancestors and to know the truth about their culture before slavery.

Below is two videos of some Afrocentric educators that speak on the topic.

Addendum to our conversation today...

Good day brothers and sisters of African American History!  During the lecture today of the freedom movement and the filmed showed of the lunch counter sit-ins, and the freedom rides of the civil rights movement.  As I sat there watching the peaceful demonstrators protest for equality. I observed that when the peaceful protestors where brutality attack by vicious white segregationist who wanted to maintain apartheid (Jim Crow) of the South. I presented a question to the class concerning, “Why did not the peaceful protesters fight back”?   At least defend themselves?

Ladies and gentlemen if I may for your consideration take a moment and ponder on this question.  I heard one of my brother’s answer “because they were non-violent”.   Another person stated “passive aggressive respond to violence”.  I would like to direct your attention on my reflection.  From the first African that was brought to Amerikkka and was made into a slave to build this nation of ours.  We have been in a state of war, what do I mean by this?  We were taken from our homeland against our will striped of our customs, values, religions, language and were made to denounce our way of life.  If we did not denounce our way of life.  We were stripped down totally naked and beaten into submission.  I highly recommend you read the infamous Willie Lynch Letter “The Making of a Slave.”  The reading of this book will be very helpful to you  understanding our condition today.

In war you have two opposing sides fighting with military weapons.  Each of the opposing sides have to some degree of military might, and power, and weapons.  Since the first slave in this country we have been fighting this war for our freedom, rights, and our human dignity.  In this war I am referring to, the two sides as; White supremacy (Anglo Saxons, White people), and a once free people from Africa Negroes, Blacks, African Americans.  Have been fighting since 1617 to present. 

However, this war is not being fought as a normal conventional art of war.  Blacks have been denied the right to take up arms, unlike the Anglo Saxon who has  rights to take up arms making this  a war of unfair proportions.  For example, an Anglo Saxon can kill, hang, rape, and beat a black person with complete impunity. On the other hand, in fighting  this war it was unlawful for Blacks to take up arms. How can you fight a war without weapons?  The non-violent movement tactics  was of the belief you fight back with love, and kindness, and passive resistance non-violent civil rights approach, love our enemy, do good to them who despitefully miss use you. This was kind of passive resistance was led by Uncle Tom Bayard Rustin. I bet in our class some of you believe in this reasoning.  During the sit-ins and demonstration, and the marches. Blacks did not have the proper military might to fight an unequal war.  However, you did have a part of the movement who did take up arms led by Robert F. Williams who and his group were militarily trained for combat.  This segment was not fully received by the peaceful protesters  of the civil rights movement, and the Whites, as a result,  williams fled the country.

In this war for freedom there was the Nation of Islam, there slogan was “by any means necessary.” Their leader was the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, the national minister was Malcolm X.  The Nation of Islam did not adopt the view of passive resistance.  The Nation of Islam believed in self-defense, and fighting back and to take up arms.  During an interview I had the distinct pleasure of speaking with Dr. Joann Anderson the wife of Dr. Claud Anderson the founder of powernomics  and author of “White Wealth Black Labor.”  During the interview she explained to me that she and her husband and many others left Dr. King's non-violent movement and, began to follow the teachings of the Nation of Islam.  She went on to state her reason, her reason was; that Malcolm X message was better articulated than King's message .  Malcolm X was better educated, more factual than King.  

Finally, fighting this war was another group, The Black Panther Party founding by Huey P. Newton.  The Black Panthers took up arms and taught Blacks  to defend themselves against White Supremacy.  In fact, the “Panther Bill” was introduced to the Sacramento State Assembly to dis arm the Black Panthers, so they could not take up arms and protect themselves against the Anglo Saxon.  Huey’s message was self-defence against armed Whites. 

My brothers and sisters would you go into a combat zone unarmed?  Supposed you were attacked would you not fight back? My brothers if your wife or daughter were raped by a white man or any man, would you not want justice?   My beautiful black brothers and sisters please explain to me the logic of a non-violent approach?  Is it better to forgive a white person over a black person?  I wonder if I were to attack a white person would they turn the other cheek?

Closing thoughts, I am very grateful for all those who have fought, and continue to fight for our collective freedom.  The sacrifices made on the non-violent approach, and the self-defence  approach. If were not for the millions of those who since our un-invited arrival in the United States who have fought the good fight of faith so, that I can attend The University of Washington, to sit in integrated classrooms, write this paper sitting next to a White woman in an integrated library.  My brothers and my sisters, the lives lost, the sacrifices made by my our ancestors that we are able to enjoy the freedoms we now have, we must never forget them, be proud of your Blackness, love your Blackness, love your heritage, most importantly, love your brothers and sisters.

Much love to all of you my brothers and my sisters

Herbert B. Collins