The Revolutionary Heat of Black August 2022

 We are now in the month of AUGUST.  The last month of the Summer.  A month known for revolution. A personal time of achievement and anniversaries for me.  This month is a very special one, so let's get into it.

"Second Chance Points" is entering it's 3rd month of publication.  Sales still have been pretty flat, despite my continued attempts to promote it.  I've even tried promoting it to two women's professional basketball leagues; the Women's American Basketball Association (WABA), and the Global Women's Basketball Association (GWBA).  I've continued to email both leagues, as well as tag them in posts on both FB and on Twitter, as well as sharing their information.  No response from either league, at this point.  Oh, well...all I can do is continue to promote the book.

August marks the seven-year publishing anniversary for my poetry eBook "Spittin' Lyrics N Waxin' Poetic" (Draft2Digital, 2015).  I don't really talk much about that project.  It's a collection of poetry that I've written, as well as rap verses and NLS songs that I wrote years ago.  Don't necessarily consider it my best work, but it's something that I published, nonetheless.  As you can tell, it's only available digitally.

August also marks the three-year anniversary of the production of "The Rough Draft"; officially on the date of August 23rd.  I'm closing in on 50 episodes of the show, and hope to be able to celebrate both simultaneously.  I've already come up with the concept for Episode 49, but haven't really come up for one for Episode 50.  You guys got any suggestions on what I should cover for that big 50th episode?  I'm open to any suggestions that you might have.  I tried asking on social media, but apparently nobody pays attention to what I post, smdh....

August also will mark the one-year anniversary that I've been living out here in Raleigh; officially on August 28th.  So far, it's been a good year.  I'm still working at my current day job, so that's putting money in my pocket, and keeping a roof over my head.  Haven't really made much progress as far as my writing career is concerned.  I was lucky enough to have done at least one radio interview since I moved out here, but I need to make more of  name and a presence for myself out here.  I definitely need to do more in-person events to make a name for myself.  I'm still looking into doing the Black/Brown Bookstore Book Tour, but that won't start until maaaaaaaaaybe next month.

That's all for now.  Hope to keep you guys updated on my progress.  See you guys next post.

Keep the fist raised.

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind 

Plans for 2022

 There's actually a lot that I want to do to get my writing career (back) on track. Being that this year makes it TWELVE years that I've been a published author, there are a few things that I'd like to do to improve my writing career, and boost my sales.

First off...publish my FOURTEENTH book.  My latest novel "Second Chance Points" (Kindle Direct Publishing, 2022) will be dropping on May 6, 2022.  I'm really excited about this project being published, and hope that it gets the support that I feel it deserves.  It's a novel about women's basketball, and follows the life and career of the main character Adwoa (Ah-joe-wah) Carrington.  I loved this project when it was originally a screenplay that I wrote back in 2001.  If I would've gotten the chance to produce it, the film would be a big budget studio project. 

Secondly...health permitting...I want to do more in-person events.  The coronavirus severely cramped my ability to do face-to-face meetings with people, and do in-person events like festivals, or stand-alone book signings.  I want to get back to doing that, especially here in my new home state of North Carolina.  There's a new black-owned bookstore in Durham that I want to do a reading & book signing in called Rofhiwa Books Cafe, as well as a Latino-owned bookstore in Chapel Hill called Epilogue Books that I would love to network with.  I'm really hoping to make that happen, once I get more settled in my new day job, and Covid restrictions ease up.

 

Thirdly....I need to get back on my grind, and do more episodes of my vlog series "The Rough Draft".  I would like to expand it, a little more.  Since I now have a smartphone, I could use it to shoot some field production footage, or even do some interviews.  Hopefully, I can meet more fellow authors out here, and interview them for future episodes. 

Fourthly....I'm still considering doing an Author Clothing Line.  If I ever do any vending in the near future, I could sell the clothes for some extra cash.  I'd done 2 more logo designs, bringing the total to five versions.  I need to choose which one I'm going to use, and print up some shirts, hoodies and hats.  Plus, the clothing line would be a great identifier for anyone that gets to meet me in person while vending, or doing my own personal events.

 

Those are the main goals, for now.  Other than improving my book sales, there's not much else that I'm planning on working on.  Those are the main goals for this year.  I'm putting my repatriation plans on hold, and hoping to complete that move in 2024.  I'll keep you guys updated on my progress.

 

Keep the fist raised.

 

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

 

 

Da Latest....

So, I'm continuing to do research into the new city that I want to relocate to.  I've actually been looking into relocating for about a month and a half already, before I even announced it here.  I'm now trying to make some connections there on the ground; networking with groups and people, researching possible employment opportunities, etc.  I wouldn't say that I'm trying to hit the ground running when I finally do move, but I just want to be prepared for when I finally get there.  I'm sick of being here, and need a change of scenery.  I'm tired of being broke, hungry, and frustrated.  I need piece of mind.

I'm considering working on a new literary project.  I'm putting together an ebook-only project; as in it will only be available in ebook format.  I'm compiling the project together now, and am considering my cover art options.  I don't want to say what the project is that I'm working on exactly at this point, but it will definitely be something different, and very creative.  I'll just say for now, that it encompasses some previously unreleased works that I've written in my past.  Stay tuned for more...

I'm still working on my other official literary projects.  I'm actually in the middle of writing several novels.  of the titles that I'm currently working on, I'm writing the draft for the sequel to "The Chronicles of The Black Fist".  It's an interesting universe that I've created, and I'm looking to expand upon it, possibly turning it into a series.  I'm also trying to complete two Sci-Fi novels that I've been working on for the past few years.  I'm also contemplating turning some of my screenplay ideas into novels. I have two of them that I think would work well as novels, and have already started working on them.  I'm not working on them as consistently as I should, since I'm now concentrating on moving, but they're still getting attention.  Maybe after I finally move and get settled into my new home base, I'll begin to work on them full blast.  Since the storyline  and character development is already there, the only thing that I really have to worry about is finally writing it out.

I know that I'm being a bit Secret Squirrel about where I'm planning on moving to.  I just want to have everything confirmed before I announce where I'll be moving to.  I'm not one of those types of people that will announce that I'm doing something, and then just not do it.  Unless there's some sort of official delay, I want to keep it under wraps until I feel that it's necessary to publicly broadcast it.  The one thing that I will say about it, is that I'll probably be returning to the Mid Atlantic region; it's conveniently located, as far as any travel that I want to do for my books.  I can travel to points in the north such as NY, Jersey, CT, and Boston, or points south such as my old stomping ground of Bmore, DC, parts of VA, and so on.  As it is, I was hoping to be able to travel because of my books, and have completely fallen off in that respect.  I was too busy focusing on this bullshit city, instead of just trying to be out and about.  Hopefully, I can rectify that once I move.

So, here's to the advancement of my travel plans, and the furtherance of my writing career.  I'll let you all know when my latest ebook project is released.  Hopefully, this newest project will actually be supported.  I'm sick of people just pressing the stupid ass "like" button, and not supporting my literary works.  I'm trying to make a damn living at this; the least that you can do is financially support me.  But, I digress...

Stay tuned!!!

"AfroLatinos: The Untaught Story" film screening 7-16-2015

I was lucky and honored to have been able to attend a film screening for the documentary film/series "AfroLatinos: The Untaught Story", screened at Subrosa in the West Village.  I had been aware of the film/series since around 2007-08, when I was writing for an an online e-magazine at the time.  They were promoting the film for the producers (Alicia Anabel Santos, and Renzo Devia), and I just knew that I had to come out and support them.  I've been lucky enough to establish a friendship with the producers/directors of the film since that time.

They had had an earlier screening for the film as part of this year's Afro Latino Festival NYC, but I was unfortunately unable to attend that particular screening.  I was able to get tickets for this particular screening, and attended with one of my closest friends, Robert Oriyama'at.  I was also lucky enough to see a few other friends attending the screening as well, and finally get the chance to meet a few people in person.

The film is WONDERFUL!!!  It was originally supposed to encompass 7 hours of footage, each hour to be it's own individual episode in the series; but even in it's currently condensed form of 90 minutes, it still made an impact.  They only screened an hour of it, a teaser if you will, and it left us wanting more.  The entire crowd was thoroughly satisfied, and really appreciative of the film.

It was especially wonderful for me, having always been a strong supporter of the project, ever since I found out about it.  I was lucky enough to have met Alicia three years ago at the first Afro Latino Festival NYC.  Last night was the first time that I got to meet Renzo in person, and it was well worth it.  It's great to be able to connect with people that you respect, admire, and support.  The plan now, is for the producers to take the film on the road, and do a college tour, screening the film on various campuses.  After that, the plan is to take the film abroad to Latin America, and hopefully have it air on television.  

If the film comes to a campus near you, PLEASE go out and see it!  It is very informative, and thoroughly enlightening and entertaining.  Please support the producers and the film.  They are telling OUR stories from OUR perspective, giving us a voice.

Aftermath--Ferguson Grand Jury Decision

Can't say that I'm surprised...

We've seen it happen time and time again.  Hell, I've seen it happen in my own hometown too many times to count.  Cop shoots Black/Latino person...DA takes it to the Grand Jury...cops get off scott free.  Hell, I remember the Rodney King beating case, and you had video evidence of the cops wrongdoing, and they STILL got off.  I'm basically going to reiterate what I've said before in this blog...

Forget the nonviolent marching crap.  They don't care about us marching.  It doesn't phase them, nor impress them.  What we need to do, is start practicing SELF DEFENSE!!!  This is going to continue to happen because they know that there will be no consequences for their actions; not by the legal system, nor by our community.  There is no trust there because THEY'VE NEVER EARNED IT!!!  Just because you wear a uniform DOES NOT mean you are to be automatically respected (if not, feared).

Again...to echo the ancestor El Hajj Malik El Shabazz:
"When you tell your people to stop being violent towards my people...then I will tell my people to put their guns away."

Even during the Civil Rights Movement, MANY who were actively involved in the movement questioned the use of nonviolence.  Marching and protesting have their time and place; THIS AIN'T IT.  These are not isolated incidences that occur; this is something that happens systemically in our communities TO US.  The only way that it'll stop, is if we FORCE them to stop.  You had the Deacons For Defense & Justice, the Black Panther Party For Self Defense, Black Liberation Army, Universal Africa Legion through the UNIA, and a few other formations that existed.  Hell, even the ANC had their paramilitary wing, the Umkhonto weSiswe (MK).  NOT having a defense stance is stupid.  It shows that you know nothing about history, nor about political strategy.  What we need is real unity, organization and direction, for proper mobilization of our people.  WE know our neighborhoods better than they do; that gives us the tactical military advantage.  A well organized resistance is the scariest thing in the face of an enemy.

"The single best weapon our enemy has, is a lack of consciousness among our people"--Osageyfo Kwame Nkrumah.

Study the past...
Study the elders and ancestors....
Study Sun Tzu...

Uhuru sase, y paz

Musings: The Ujamaa Effect (or lack thereof)

Since my return, I've been to at least three different festivals so far; two that I participated in as a vendor, and one that I just attended (and illegally vended).  With the first two, I helped to (imho) heavily promote those events because I was actively participating in them as a vendor.  The third was one that I was just hoping to attend, and be able to enjoy as an attendee.  With the activism that I do in/for the literary arts, I don't get the opportunity to attend and enjoy these events as I would like to.

What really disturbed me was the lack of commerce and support being given by the attendees with the vendors present.  The attitude that you sensed from the crowd was really a superficial one; they just came to show up, and show off.  They wanted to give the appearance of being so damn deep and cultural, but didn't really support the vendors that were there, myself included.  Certain attendees acted like they couldn't give you the time of day; as if you were beneath them.

#1-  If you're a female, I AM NOT trying to get with you!  I'm trying to make a sale.  This is how some of us make our livelihood(s).  We can't step up our game if you don't financially support us.  Our products cost money to make/purchase, vending fees have to be covered, travel expenses need to be addressed, etc.

#2-  If you don't support the vendors, they won't be able to participate in events like this.  If they don't participate in events like these, the organizers can't organize these events.  If the organizers can't put together these types of events, THEY WON'T EXIST ANYMORE!!!  Do you see a pattern forming here...?

#3-  You're NOT that deep or cultural.  You come to these events 'playing' African, wearing your 'African' costume.  You come to these events frontin' like you so damn deep and cultural, when after the event is over, you go back to being your ignorant, ratchet-ass self.  You're more willing to come out of pocket to buy some $1000 smartphone, or $250 pair of shoes/sneakers, but wanna bitch at a vendor to pay $10 for a fucking book, DVD, or CD?!

#4-  Not saying that there should be a dress code, but HTF you gonna come to a 'cultural' event dressed like anything?!?!  Your booty cheeks are hanging out of your shorts, you're wearing the tightest dress(es) known to man, or you're wearing little to nothing in way of clothing attire.  C'mon...really?!  But you so damn deep and African...

#5-  If you have NO intention of buying anything, YTF you bother coming out?!?!?!  That's a waste of everyone's time.  Cultural events like these are not about you being seen; it's about supporting the cause/purpose of the event, and supporting the businesses/entrepreneurs participating in the event.

We can't complain about not having such-and-such business(es) in our neighborhoods if we don't support our own businesses/entrepreneurs.  We can't complain about having 'alien' businesses in our communities if we don't support our businesses first and foremost.  The power of economics and spending habits speaks volumes to your priorities, and economic power and political influence.

If you have a nickle-and-dime mentality, you're gonna get nickel-and-dime results.

Think about that.... 

Aftermath of the Muder of Trayvon Martin Case: My 2 Cents

On July 13, 2013, the trial against George Zimmerman for the murder of Trayvon Martin, a young UNARMED teen gunned down by Zimmerman in the state of Florida, was concluded by the jury with a "Not Guilty" verdict.  This was a highly politicized and racially polarizing case.

in 2012, young Mr. Martin was walking home to his father's condo, wearing a hoodie and talking on his cellphone.  Zimmerman, a local Neighborhood Watch captain, spotted Trayvon, called 911, and reported a 'suspicious' individual in the vicinity.  AGAINST the instructions of the 911 operator, Zimmerman proceeded to exit his car, with gun in hand, and approached and confront Trayvon Martin.  A scuffle ensued, and Trayvon Martin was killed with two bullet wounds to his chest.  Initially, Zimmerman WASN'T charged with ANY crime, and was only charged AFTER political pressure was mounted by the local Black community (it also didn't help that it was an election year for the president, and didn't want to alienate his Black voter base).

The case went to trial. Political and legal pundits gave their opinions of the trail as it went along.  After closing arguments were made, the jury deliberated for about (I believe) two days before the "Not Guilty" verdict was handed down.  Many a Black and Brown person went haywire on social media digitally voicing their outrage at the verdict that was handed down.

My feelings on the case....?  WHAT did you EXPECT!?!?!?!?

We've seen it time and again, whether the cases have been high profile, or local.  A Black or Brown life is cut down, whether by cop or ordinary white citizen, and the murderer goes free by 'a jury of their peers', if not a grand jury.  Sean Bell...Amadou Diallo...Patrick Doresmond....Latasha Harlins...Abner Louima...Anthony Baez...the list is endless.  Even during the Civil rights and Black Power eras, you had our souljahrs and activists cut down, and no one held accountable for their deaths.  Law enforcement has been running even more rampant as of late, brutalizing our brothers and sisters in our communities; now this young man's life was cut down by a local nobody.

So...what's my solution for what we should do next...?

It's simple...I'll quote the great ancestor, our shining Black prince, El Hajj Malik El Shabazz....

"...When you tell your people to stop being violent towards my people, then I'll tell my people to put their guns down."

They brutalize our people because they know that they can get away with it without any repercussions, legal or otherwise.  We need to start protecting ourselves, and practicing community self-defense.  Whether it's the Deacons For Defense & Justice, Fruit of Islam, Universal African Legion, or any other fighting formation, we need to bring them back to let them know....this will NOT be tolerated ANY FURTHER!!!

Fuck the rallies and protests.  That shit is played out.  That was effective back in the 50s and 60s because it wasn't expected of us.  We were expected to be docile, and accept whatever treatment  they meted out for us.  Those tactics won't work nowadays; we need a new strategim.

Organize...strategize...MOBILIZE!!!!!

Be part of the AfroLatino Book Campaign

Be part of the AfroLatino Book Campaign        

Goal of the campaign AfroLatinos have made enormous contribution to their respective countries in Latin America. However, people don’t know or not acknowledge their contributions. We believe that knowledge will help to improve the respect for cultural diversity, promote tolerance and increase the self-esteem of kids and young AfroLatinos. Therefore, the objective of the “AfroLatino Book Campaign” is to collect donations from May 24th – Sept 20th, 2013 to give a gift of the book “Aportes del Pueblo Afrodescendiente: La Historia Oculta de America Latina”  to a poor school or community organization located on Black community in Latin America. For your information: The author of the book is Elvia Duque Castillo, who is also the program coordinator of the AfroLatino Book Campaign. The book provides more than 400 names/biographies from 17 countries from Latin America and has been identified as one of the most informative and comprehensive book in the subject. The English version of the book is called "Contributions of African Descendant People: the Hidden History of Latin America" and will be released in July, 2013.

Target: To send minimum 850 books to Latin America. 50 copies minimum of the book will be giving to 17 countries in Latin America (go to our website, www.elvia-duque-castillo.com to see a complete information of countries and local partners). The selected countries are among the countries studied as part of the book.

Get Involved!  How you can make your donations

You can make your donations online, by money order, checks or cash. Go to our website, www.elvia-duque-castillo.com and click on AfroLatino Book Campaign for more information or to give your donation online.

Donation process & transparency

• All donations will be registered in our website. You will find out the names/amounts of each donation.
• The donation will be given to countries by alphabetical order (see table), unless a donor requires to give the donation to a particular country.
• Our partners in Latin America are well known AfroLatino organizations in their respective countries.
• We will provide the name of the beneficiaries of this campaign through our website. Also, you will have access to pictures/videos of the campaign in Latin America.

Thank you for your support.

Elvia Duque Castillo
202-709-2744
afrolatinos@elvia-duque-castillo.com
www.elvia-duque-castillo.com 

Representing for my sister-comrade Elvia Duque!  PLEASE SUPPORT THIS CAMPAIGN!!!  SPREAD THE WORD!!!!!!

Goals & Objectives: 2013

So Christmas is tomorrow (also my youngest niece's birthday), and Kwanzaa is about to begin.  The day of the Winter Solstice has already passed, and the New Year is coming.  And, as this year comes to a close, it is time to reflect on the events of this passing year, and to start setting up my goals and objectives for the coming year.

These are NOT resolutions for the coming year.  These are concrete plans, goals, and objectives to take me to where I want to go in my career and life.  This past year was a bit of a struggle, and I had more downs than ups. This coming new year, I want to correct those mistakes that I made, and continue to advance myself and my goals to their proper heights.

DEFINITELY need to work on the self promotion part more.  Nobody can purchase my work if they don't even know that it exists, or where they can get it from.  I want to do more festivals, conventions, book fairs, panel discussions, etc.  Might also do a few solo book signings as well, and in more locations other than B'more and New York (if I can get the assistance to set them up).

I want to finally release at least two more book projects before 2013 is done.  I want to transition over to fiction, and finish up two fictional pieces that I've been working on.  One such project is a sci fi novel that I've been working on; a military space opera.  It's a tribute to my Speculative Fiction friends who have greatly influenced me through my association with them.  The other novel is a love story that's more closer inline with my two previous books about Afro Latino issues and affairs.  I have no idea which one I will try to release first; I have to go where the spirit leads me.

I also want to continue with the Consortium of Afro Latino Communities.  I want it to become a bi-annual event, running every Black History Month, and Latino Heritage Month. Hopefully, I can build enough momentum to turn it into an actual organization with stated objectives and goals.  A possible next book idea....?

Don't know if I'll continue on with my organization in the current capacity that I'm in right now.  I might have to take a step back to do the type of stuff that I want to do.  My goals fall exactly in line with the tenants of my organization's aims and objectives; it's just the issue of getting the support that I need to get this stuff done. We need to recruit more, and not have these half-ass, dead weight people dragging us down.  And that is all that I will say on that matter....

So, those are my goals and objectives for the coming year.  Stay tuned to my progress via the blog.  Looking forward to exceeding these goals, and surprising even myself.  :) 

Consortium of Afro Latino Communities

*In celebration of Black August/Afrikan Liberation Month, I decided to post an excerpt from my second book.  The article is titled, "Consortium of Afro Latino Communities".  Uhuru sase, y paz. *

"It's amazing how reality can come from fiction.  Just look at the effect that science fiction has had on modern technology.  Products and devices that were mere flights of fancy in science fiction of yesteryear are now modern marvels the some of us can't seem to live without.  As well as in the technological arena, that can also happen in the political arena.

The idea for the Consortium of Afro Latino Communities came about from an (unfinished) fictional piece that I've been writing.  The Consortium was developed as a means of regional consolidation to help uplift the various Afro Latino communities politically and economically.  The Consortium was to run along the lines as other organizations that practice regionalism such as the Organization of American States (OAS), The Caribbean Community (CARICOM), European Union (EU), and the former Organization of African Unity, now known as the African Union (AU).  The Consortium was to work in conjunction with other Afrocentric nationalist organizations throughout the Diaspora to help uplift all African descendents all over the glob politically, economically, socially, and educationally.  It was part of a greater blueprint from global Black power.

Considering the recent political climate that we live in, and organization like this is surly, and sorely, needed.  The various Afro Latino communities suffer from poverty, limited access to education, limited access to certain natural resources, political disenfranchisement and repression, and more recently, the theft of our ancestral lands by their respective government(s).  An organization like the Consortium can help us pool our resources together, and forward our progression in various social and political arenas.  We can create business cooperatives for trade and commerce, use our resources to build schools and other educational centers that will teach our children about their history, and amass political power to further our interests in the international political arena, influence foreign policy and investment in Africa.  We could be a force in international trade and travel, being able to work and pool our resources along with our international brothers and sisters throughout the Diaspora, all the way to the mother continent of Africa."

To read more of the article, please purchase a copy of Raise Your Brown Black Fist 2: MORE Political Shouts of an Angry Afro Latino at your local bookstore.

Blackout/Power Outage 2012

On Friday night, June 29th, a terrible storm ripped through the Mid Atlantic region of the eastern United States.  High winds, torrential rains, and lightning storms raged through the sky.  I was online when the storm initially hit, and didn't even hear it above the buzz of my AC unit, which I had JUST bought earlier that day.  Earlier in the day, it had been very hot and unbearably humid; there weren't previously any calls for storms that evening.  When my door keep flying open because of the high winds, I rushed to close the open windows that I had in my apartment, keeping the rain water from getting inside.  I then went back into my room, and continued my online endeavors.  I had finally finished up by about 10 minutes to eleven o'clock, shut down my computer, and turned off my lights, hoping to get a nice cool good night's sleep for once.

Then....the power went out at around 11:15pm or 11:20pm.

I was PISSED!!!!

My AC unit went out...then the lights from my clock radio went dark.

Okay...that's not normal.

My initial impulse was that I had blow a circuit with the AC unit, but quickly dismissed that when my clock radio went out.  Then I thought...maybe I blew a fuse just in my bedroom...?  I went into my living room, and tried to turn on the TV.

No dice...

I then went to the kitchen to see if my fridge was still working.
Nope....light was out.  It wasn't humming

Damn....I was caught in the middle of a blackout.  Without air conditioning.  In the middle of a heatwave.

F**K!!!!!!!!
@%#$^}|~*!!!!!!

Eventually, I was without power for about two days.  I had to suffer through the heat, and lack of access to food and liquids.  I had to drink tap water to stay hydrated.  My power finally came back Sunday afternoon.  Needless to say I was ecstatic.  Finally.....AIR!!!!!

I must admit...at the same time...I felt really demoralized after my power came back, looking at the aftermath of the blackout.   As a proud member of the 'conscious' community, and a community/cultural activist, I felt foolish at the level of powerlessness that I felt individually, and the utter unpreparedness of the so-called 'conscious' community overall.  We were totally ill-prepared to handle a situation like this.  Where were our relief efforts to save our struggling community members, suffering without power, food, and water? Are we even organized to handle such an event?  All we have to do is look at the example of Hurricane Katrina and Rita to see how unprepared we are to handle a natural disaster.

Is there anyone out there in the Pan Africanist/Black Nationalist community that has a contingency plan in place for an event such as this?  And, I don't mean an individual plan, just for themselves or their immediate family.  What sort of plans do we have in place to help our community if another (natural) disaster such as the blackout were to occur again?   Forget FEMA and the Red Cross; what plans have we developed to protect our people if such an event were to happen again, or any natural disaster?

Seeing situations like these arising just helps to reinforce the reason why a lot of people in our community don't really respect the 'conscious' community.  We spew all this rhetoric, and make all of these strong statements....but when a situation like the blackout arises...we're caught with our pants down just as much as the Average Joe.  We weren't any more prepared than the so-called 'unconscious' members of our community, at least, not on any mass scale.  We need to improve on that, and do more showing and proving.  I think that too many of us in the so-called 'conscious' community become arrogant and elitist just because we know a little something, something.  How about we start putting some of that talk into practical application?


Organize.
Strategize.
MOBILIZE!!!

Uhuru Sase, y paz

Nation-Within-a-Nation: From Concept to Reality

For those of us versed in Nationalist ideology, we consistently hear the term "nation within a nation" being used to describe the African descended population that exists here in the United States.  From our combined economic wealth, to our numerical population size, all the way to our cultural practices, we can be considered a captive nation that exists within the 'greater' national borders that surrounds us.

Many that are uninitiated, or are completely antithetical to our ideological beliefs, tend to disagree with this assertion whole heartily.  They consider this assertion to be utter drivel, and cling to their assimilationist/intergrationist beliefs about the supposed benevolence of this country.  Yet, there are others in our revolutionary past that have attempted to prove this theory true, trying to create our own African-centered nation here on this very soil. The Republic for New Afrika comes to mind when thinking of this concept.

My question is...is there any way that we can do this on a smaller, experimental scale?  Maybe an Afrikan-centered city-within-a-city?

Hear me out, now.  A project like this might actually be feasible.

Many of us have these Afrocentric names for our cities to represent our Nationalist beliefs; Banneker City (DC), Tubman City (Baltimore), Prosser City (Richmond, VA), and so on.  Why not actually create a city based on these concepts that we say we should practice?  In places like Detroit, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and a few other large cities, there are large swaths of the city that are completely abandoned.  Why not go into these places, block by block, and take them over?  Everything that we need to make this work, we can create:

1) a governmental center (city hall),
2) a banking system and our own currency,
3) our own police force and defense force,
4) our own educational system,
5) requirements for citizenship and residency,
6) diplomatic relationships for trade with the 'greater' city, and international governmental bodies, or similar settlements,
7) sovereign borders,
8) an Ujamaa Collective (business community)
9) our own local media (print, digital tv, web presence, etc.)


This was at once influence by a fictional work that I had written some time ago (but never completed).  The more research that I do, the more that I believe that it is feasible to do. We just need to strategize this out, and be totally dedicated to seeing this come to fruition.  Some of the literature that has influenced this is:

"The Rebirth of an African Civilization"- Chancellor Williams
"Black Africa: The Economic and Cultural Basis for a Federated State" Cheik Anta Diop
Race First: The Ideological and Organizational Struggles  of Marcus Garvey...."- Tony Martin
Ethiopian Sovereignty: African Nationhood"- Ras ESP McPherson
"Pawned Sovereignty" & "Sovereign Evolution"- Ezrah Aharone
"Afrocentricity"- Dr. Molefi Kete Asante
Constitution for the Universal Negro Improvement Association & African Communities League
"10-Point Program" for the Black Panther Party for Self Defense

The blueprints and guidelines have been left to us by our elders and ancestors.  It is time that we started to follow those examples left to us, and finally start to act on them.  Freedom ain't free.  Whatever doesn't work, we can discard, and create something else that can remedy that particular issue.  Whatever kinks that we can work out on a small, experimental scale...we can vastly improve upon when we finally decide to do this on a larger, more massive scale.

So what say you?  Can we do this...?