My most-intimate life in the Black ‘Movement’ of the 1960s and 1970s was overfilled with purpose and action, learning and growth, responsibility and commitment, tears and more tears….
Many many many unnamed Blacks were ‘intimately’ involved in the ‘Movement’. This is dedicated to the memory of one such brother.
Media reports of the c.1973 death of a young brother at the hands of law enforcement in New York quickly became yesterday’s news as other stories-of-interest gripped media attention. There is a story beyond media reports.
Mace Brown was a victim of – and a survivor of — racism up to the time of his death. Although I only had the privilege of knowing Mace Brown briefly, he had the keys to my home as many in the ‘Movement’ did.
Brother Brown was a Black man in search of answers and solutions. I met brother Mace Brown at one of the many conventions, conferences, or meetings I attended and/or helped organize. And, as I often did, I gave Mace a key to my home so that he would have a place to stay whenever he found himself in DC.
Mace Brown – a Black man involved in the ‘Movement’ – was placed on the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted List and killed by Law Enforcement c.1973 in New York. Some rumors equated ‘Black’ Mace Brown with ‘Robin Hood’….
Although I never knew the side of Mace Brown reported in the media reports, I publicly thank him for his involvement and encouragement and ‘giving’ spirit. The Mace Brown I knew was humble, respectful, and a brother who did what he was able to do to further the cause of righteousness as he grew.
Happy Kwanzaa and Undying love for Black people!
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I am today reminded of ‘Black and Beautiful’ Queen Mother Moore! I first had the privilege of meeting Queen Mother Moore during the 1960s. Queen Mother Moore was a strong and determined Black elder – a woman who urged us Blacks in the ‘Movement’ to never forget our reparations. It seemed that almost always after a Black convention or conference I attended, there would stand Queen Mother Moore waiting in the exitway to give me a big hug, embrace, and encouragement. Queen Mother Moore ALWAYS exhorted me to not compromise our fight for righteousness. And, Queen Mother Moore always spoke her famous words to me “Don’t forget our reparations”.
Queen Mother Moore was one of the many Black women who supported, encouraged, and lived the Black ‘Movement’. She inspired me to always remember and to never forget – no matter the pressures and/or inducements to do otherwise.
As I share these words and memories with you, I reach beyond myself to publicly thank Queen Mother Moore and so many many other Black women who lovingly gave and continue to give of themselves. They – and yours truly — were some of the Black sisters who fought and continue to fight for righteousness. I am convinced that my life in the ‘Movement’ was and is deliberate and intended – ‘many are called, few are chosen’….
Be Aware!
A trend has developed and is developing that is unsettling at best. The trend is to have a Black man with White women introduce and present race-related talks and training sessions. The audience is almost always White or majority-White. The Black man and White women team receives compensation for enabling the myth that particular Whites are ‘for real’ in their search for knowledge, growth, and racial healing. Such presentations and discussions are designed to make Whites comfortable … plain and simple. And, seldom — if ever — does anything significant change following such trainings and presentations.
The Black man with White women presentations almost always applaud those Whites present for their courage in turning out to engage in the ‘most-difficult’ discussion relative to race and racism in America…. The Black man and White women teams express that their presentations are NOT about blame or guilt. They warn against loud voices (i.e. genuine emotion that could come from any Blacks present in the audience) and urge ‘civil’ dialogue and conversation.
Give me a break!
Applauding Whites for their courage relative to racism is akin to thanking a White arsonist for burning down ‘only’ seven hundred and three Black-occupied homes as opposed to seven hundred and four! It is akin to thanking a White man for stabbing a 90-year-old Black woman eighty-seven times and not stabbing the woman eighty-eight times. It is akin to thanking a White person for setting off a bomb at the Boston Marathon rather than setting off the bomb at the Pentagon near Washington, DC!
Reality is that Whites are both historically and currently guilty of racism. Reality is that Blacks were and are the victims of White racism. Reality is that Whites were and are the perpetrators of racism. Reality is that White folk owe Black folk for 400 years of slavery and more…. Fact is that Whites will forever be faced with their own guilt and inhumane ways until they repent-in-earnest and atone. Blacks are beyond entitled to reparations. And, until Whites atone for their sins against Black people, Whites will continue on their journey towards hell.
Any ‘real’ attempt at Black and White racial healing in America must include reparations for America’s Blacks. Individual Whites have the obligation and calling to ‘give’ as able and when able if they truly seek and desire racial healing, peace, and salvation. The fact is that Whites will continue to condemn themselves and their progeny to perpetual guilt and condemnation as long as they ignore and dismiss their humongous debt to Black folk. The curse that White folk function under will remain until they do that which is called for, that which is just, that which is right. Know that the ‘sins of one generation follows the next and generations to come’.
White folk must begin the process of action with regards to reparations. White folk can start by establishing a Reparations Body-of-Purpose, a body with the sole (soul) ‘initial’ mission of pressuring, influencing, and persuading the US government and US monopolies to pay reparations to America’s Black populace. America’s Blacks are due reparations and, as a side note, each of us Blacks has the individual right to do with any and all cash payments as each of us chooses!
Do I expect Whites to eventually move in the direction of doing the right thing – to move in the direction of reparations for Black people? Yes. Do I expect to receive any of the reparations due me and mine in my lifetime? No.
‘Don’t forget our reparations’.
Happy Kwanzaa!
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Black Angry Women 