Many people have been mourning, not celebrating the death of Moammar Gadhafi. Over the years foreign media agencies have failed to tell the whole story about the often misrepresented Gadhafi. Over the years, the Libyan leader was portrayed as a money and power hungry tyrant for the world's uninformed to believe. They would leave out stories about the good deeds that the former Libyan dictator did for blacks Africans and other people of color across the diaspora. He was one of the last Pan-African leaders left with enough courage to stand up to outside powers. Gadhafi brought millions of black people who were in the shadows under King Idris when he took power to the forefront, afforded them education, and gave them towns and opportunity. His next move of pushing the gold standard and wanting his oil bought in gold would have created a shift in global economic power for years to come. His idea of a universal gold currency in Africa was going to be the catalyst for the unification of Africa and its economies. It called for a dramatic decrease in foreign economic dependency which would of given Africa more leverage in future deals.
On this date in 1932 Dick Gregory was born in St. Louis, Missouri. Over the years Gregory was used his many talents as a comedian, social activist, social critic, writer, and entrepreneur to talk about race and its impact here in America. He is often best known for his autobiography Nigger which is still selling well since its release in 1964. His activism is still going on as he continues to live in the DC area. Please check out the clips below to get a better idea of just who this great man is.
This has been the most played song by #YEBies since it dropped. Cole did his thing with this beat as well. West Coast Rap is in good hands with Kendrick and #BlackHippy at the forefront.
On this date in 1971 the great African leader Kwame Nkrumah left us to be with the ancestors. While alive Nkrumah was the first President of Ghana and the first Prime Minister of Ghana. He was one of the biggest supporters of Pan-Africanism and was a founding member of the Organization of African Unity(OAU). Kwame was a great leader for the people of Ghana and shining example for leaders of the newly independent African nations. His pro-Africa stance came at a cost as outside forces in 1966 would help overthrow his government in a military coup. He lived in exile in Conakry, Guinea, as the guest of President Ahmed Sékou Touré for the remainder of his life.
On this date in 1994, South Africa held its first ever all-race elections. This was a historic moment for a country that had been so deeply rooted in apartheid for so many years. The election of Nelson Mandela caused the nation to truly start the process of becoming a unified. This new leadership ushered in a chance of a new harmonious country and started the removal of the thick overcast of racial tension that had hovered over the land for decades.
On this date in 1949 Gil Scott Heron was born in Chicago, Illinois. Heron, a Lincoln University alum, is one of my favorite poets and musicians. You can see the influence he had on hip-hop with is poetic and musical styles. Last year Gil released his first new album in 16 years, entitled I'm New Here.
"This ain't politically correct, this might offend my political connects" Jay-Z "DOA"
The last few days I have been on my Twitter account ranting about the current wars throughout Africa and how the one in Libya should be the least of our concerns if we are truly going over there for the reasons we have been telling the world. Somalia, Darfur, and Ivory Coast have needed outside help for their situations for some time now yet they continue to get the blind eye from the world. There have been no "non-fly zones" created to stop the governments or fighting from rebels in any of these nations. In Libya there is leader that has done a lot for his country and people over his reign. There has been no leader in the history of man who has was ever been loved and accepted by all of his people. It should never be the role of America or any other nation to create or get involved in Civill Wars of of another country. Domestic issues should be handled by governments and officials, not outside nations and rebels. As we get deeper into this current situation with Gaddafi this continues to look like old American politics with oil playing a huge role. Is this America's true idea of globalization? Occupation, removal of leaders, new governments, and control of oil and other goods for the good of America and its allies? If you look at the U.S.'s foreign policy and the CIA's track record since World War II many would say this is exactly it.
The news like schoolbooks, movies, oral history, museums, all have a story to tell of a nation's history and evolution. For generations across the world the main story has always been that of the experiences, lives, and issues of privileged white males and silence to the voice of others. We have to realize that news and history is not just a bunch of dates and facts but more of a interpretation of events that should come from multiple point of views. History should always have a chance to be rewritten because of the narrow filters we look through to see the world. Today we have the opportunity to have history written by many writers with incredible stories to tell. However we continue to let a select few control how each one of these great moments in history will be viewed for future generations. Here in the U.S. we like to make our history develop through a perspective that reduces the role of slavery, native removal, conquest, as well as racism, genocide, power of class. Without these often forgotten people this country would be far from the super power it became and lack the authority it currently still has throughout the world.
I hope for our sake and the future of America's legacy that things change quickly. We have to be honest and more transparent with our policies. We can't say we have a history of making moves that save people from their leaders, when we let Rwanda happen while Clinton was in office and Castro lasted in Cuba for nine different U.S. presidents in our backyard. We consistently back Israel and their terrible politics as they continue to take from the Palestinians. America's history in the Arab world shows us that there is really only one reason we are in North Africa right now. We can no longer let "black gold" control and determine our policies as the world continues to watch America and its leaders ever so closely each day.
On this date in 1827, the Freedom’s Journal newspaper was founded. It was the first Black-owned and operated newspaper in the United States. The paper was started by a group of free Black men in New York City. It served as an counter to racist commentary published in the mainstream press. Samuel E. Cornish and John B. Russwurm served as its senior and junior editors. The Journal consisted of news of current events, anecdotes, and editorials and was used to address contemporary issues such as slavery and "colonization," of blacks back to Africa. The paper only lasted until March of 1829.
Forces backing Alassane Ouattara continue to attack loyalist to disputed President Laurent Gbagbo in Abijan, the former capital of Ivory Coast. Gbagbo still refuses to step down although Outttara is widely recognised as the winner of last year's election throughout the country and world. More than 370,000 have also fled their homes in Abidjan and there are more than 450,000 overall refuges across the country. Ouattara has gone to fellow west coast nation Nigeria to get help ousting his rival. Former rebel forces who support Ouattara still control the north while most of the army remains loyal to Gbagbo. The 9,000 UN peacekeepers who are in the country can not end the violence and the fighting has caused more than 70,000 civilians have crossed into neighbouring Liberia.
Former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide will finally end his exile and return to Haiti within the next week. Aristide, Haiti's first democratically elected president in 190 years, was overthrown in 2004 and has been living in exile in South Africa. He's been in exile for seven years and wants to return to his homeland to get his medical school up and operating given the conditions in Haiti after the earthquake in 2010. Through his attorney Ira Kurzban, Aristide said he has no interest in meddling or being involved in the election. He has no interest in being involved in politics. There are mixed reactions from Haitians all over the globe as their former leader gears up to return to the land he ruled with a iron fist for thirteen years.
Being that today is the 21 year anniversary of Nelson Mandela's release from prison, I thought this would be a great episode of A Different World to put up. Freddie discovered that the company funding the scholarship is a subsidiary of a corporation with investments in South Africa. Julian proposed a boycott which angered Whitley by recommending that Hillman cut all financial ties with the corporation, as this would cost Kim her scholarship. A young man from South Africa argues against the termination of scholarships, because he feels that the success of African American students serves as a beacon of hope to black South Africans mired in poverty and oppression.
On this date in 1990 Nelson Mandela was released from Victor Verster Prison in Paarl. The event was broadcasted live all over the world. In 1962 he was arrested and convicted of sabotage and other charges, and sentenced to life in prison. Mandela served 27 years in prison, spending many of these years on Robben Island.
On this date in 1944, Angela Davis was born in Birmingham, Ala. Angela Yvonne Davis lived in a section of town called “Dynamite Hill,” because of the violence used by white on black to maintain residential segregation. She would go on became involved with the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), the Black Panthers, and the Communist Party. The government tried to make a case that Angela brought George Jackson a 9mm pistol hidden in her Afro hair. Angela was on the FBI ten most wanted lists. After apprehension she was jailed for almost a year and a half before being tried for murder and conspiracy. She went under ground until caught and put on trial. In June 1972, Davis was acquitted of both charges in a highly publicized trial.
Like so many great African leaders of his time, on this date in 1973 Amílcar Cabral was assassinated. Cabral was killed by Guinea-native agents of the Portuguese colonial authorities. His murder was a few months before Guinea-Bissau declared unilateral independence. Cabral was the leader in the African nationalist movements in Guinea-Bissau and the Cape Verde Islands and led Guinea-Bissau's independence movement. Because of his affiliation as a Marxist and guerrilla warfare tactics, he was viewed as a enemy and huge threat to the west.
Today Cabral is a national hero in Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau. Cape Verde's principal international airport at Sal, is named in his honor. Also the only privately owned university in Guinea-Bissau is named after him, Amílcar Cabral University.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial was an idea created by the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity to erect a monument of the late civil rights leader. The fraternity wanted to build something after his death, and their efforts gained momentum in 1986, after King's birthday was designated a national holiday. The project cost a reported 120 million of which 108 million has been raised. Construction of the memorial began in December of 2009. King is the first black man honored with a memorial in the National Mall area and the third non-president.
CNN International and MultiChoice have officially launched the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2011 Awards. The winners of these annual Awards will be announced at a gala ceremony to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa in June 2011.
This year, the competition will recognise excellence in the following categories:
