I will scatter them, and then I will gather them: Deuteronomy 4:27; 28:64; 32:26; Isaiah 11:12;

Jeremiah 23:8

 

REPARATIONS  NOW  IN  OUR  LIFETIME!

 

N E W S L E T T E R…….#13

 

JANUARY  2001

 

“Take direct action against the U.S. government!”  Dr. Robert Brock

 

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GIVE POWER AND MEANING TO

THE REPARATIONS MASS MOVEMENT

GIVE OF YOURSELF!

 

Note from the REPNOW Newsletter Editor:

 

Well, now, after one long and sensational roller coaster ride, the United States finally has a very controversial president – President Elect George W. Bush.  And this is to the dismay of many an African American who cannot accept the election results.  There is no question that this Election 2000 year will go down in history as the most controversial of all times and for many reasons some of which are yet to be disclosed and/or revealed.

 

The prolonged determination for a new president made the U.S. appear like a small potato to the entire World, and the jokes were and still are endless.   Also, Blacks and other people of color will never forget this Election 2000 year because they feel they have been cheated – first, because their votes weren’t tallied, and second, because their candidate did not win the election.  While recently watching members of the Black Caucus exhibit their concerns for the voting fiasco in Florida, I was disturbed that they don’t realize that nothing they say or do will change the election results.  

 

I learned a long time ago, that elected presidents to the U.S. do not serve descendants of Slaves.  They serve the dominant race – White Folks.  Vice-President Al Gore was in office for eight years, and I cannot tell you one thing he has done to better the conditions under which Blacks and other people of color must live in this country.   A most rude wake up call for us was President Clinton’s statement that he doesn’t know why Blacks support him.  (Read The Debt by Randall Robinson)  I bet he knows why White Jews were most supportive of him!!!  Think about it!

 

I also learned sometime ago that it wastes time to cry over spilled milk.  And that is to say, we cannot do a darn thing about the results of Election 2000.  Therefore, we, Blacks, must make the best of it.  And it behooves us to encourage Representative John Conyers, the Black Caucus, and other members of the U.S. government to meet and discuss the matter of Reparations with the President Elect – very soon to be President of the United States.

 

President Elect George W. Bush WILL RUN AGAIN in the next presidential election, and he does not want to meet the same close and debatable election.  He will need the Black and Latino vote.  Therefore, it behooves him to hear our concerns if he wants to grace the White House for eight years.  Reparations must be high on his list of matters to discuss and resolve, and it is up to us to place it on his agenda.

 

Make the best of this Election 2000 by using wisdom to deal with the issue at hand.  We will get our Reparations, and it might be under another banner.  However, REPARATIONS, by any other name, WILL MANIFEST, as this will be the only way that justice can be served for the inhumane and merciless African Slave Trade and for the pain and suffering we continue to endure as a result of this heinous crime against Black Humanity.  If Whites today have a legacy from the enslavement of Blacks, then so also should the descendants of Slaves.

 

As I meet and speak with different ones, I urge them to read the REPNOW Newsletters for enlightenment concerning Reparations and justice for the Slave Trade. I am so very grateful and appreciative to all who continue to keep the Reparations issue alive.

 

There are many interesting articles in this issue of the REPNOW Newsletter.  Therefore, be sure to peruse the entire publication.   And by all means do read the very interesting article by Marie Roberts, a White woman, in support of Reparations for Descendants of Slaves.   If there were more people like her, there would be no need for this fight for Reparations, as the government would have corrected the ills and the discrimination resulting from Slavery a long time ago.  And those of us who choose to relocate would have our requests honored.

 

I am learning that more and more individuals are excited about Reparations and are interested in learning more.  I just started selling Reparations buttons and am doing considerably very well.  You’d be surprised at the people interested and quite pleased to wear these buttons in support of our fight for Reparations.   I also encourage everyone seeking information on Reparations to read all the REPNOW Newsletters, and I hope that you are doing likewise:  (http://www.thelawkeepers.org/ / click on Newsletter). 

 

It wouldn’t hurt for us to have a mock trial for the barbaric African Slave Trade and for all the other inhumane atrocities committed against us that ensued.  Let the trial air on National Television and call witnesses to the stand who yet live and once lived in the South, as well as others who experienced the worst of Jim Crow Laws and who know of first hand incidents involving Slavery in these United States.    And let my eighty-five (85) year old father be first on the stand to share the nightmare he lived being Black while living in Mississippi.    Let others also share their tales of race hatred while living in the northern States, as there wasn’t (and still isn’t) any peace for Black Peoples anywhere due to our being stigmatized by the African Slave Trade.  We cannot permit the indignities and degradation our forefathers suffered and that we now suffer to be swept under the rug. 

 

Unfortunately, I must admit, that not enough publicity is getting to the grassroots.  Too many people still continue to tell me that they don’t hear anything at all about Reparations.  Hence, we must work harder to bring even more awareness to this new thrust for REPARATIONS NOW IN OUR LIFETIME! 

 

Tziona Yisrael, Editor

REPNOW Newsletter

[www.thelawkeepers.org]

 

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REPARATIONS – A FUNDAMENTAL SOLUTION

TO THE BLACK COMMUNITY’S PROBLEMS

 

By Attorney Dr. Robert L. Brock

President, The Self Determination Committee

 

The United States enslavement of Black People some 12 decades ago and
prior has powerful residual lingering effects some 12 decades later. It
has produced a whole damaged people. Many would be surprised to know the
overwhelming patterns of behavior and activities in TODAY’S Blacks that stem directly from slavery.

 

The U.S. Black collective lost their ability to function and maneuver
independently. Slavery took it. Today, the masses of Black People still
work for White People via White-owned companies and corporations. This
was the exact “Black-White relationship” during chattel slavery: Black
folks working for White folks. This is not normal. And what is common
must never be mistaken for what is normal.

Black People must arise from this fallen state, and this money called
Reparations is the key. Reparations is a legal wealth paid to Black men,
women and children because of the damages done to them by slavery.

Reparations is the fundamental solution to many of the problems that
afflict the Black community. Reparations will counter “lack”. Reparations
will afford Black People the capital to implement their own ideas and
start their own businesses. Reparations will allow Black People the means
to produce jobs for their own children. Reparations will enable Black
People to develop the type of educational curriculum, schools and
universities that they deem necessary for their own children. Reparations
will afford Black People the opportunity to institute the type of
religious standard and training that they want from themselves and their
children. Reparations will free U.S. Blacks from the monthly worries of
paying for this and paying for that just to exist on Planet Earth.

Reparations is not something that Black People should run from, but rather should run toward it.

 

Attorney Dr. Robert L. Brock

P.O. Box 15288

Washington, D.C.   20003

 

Website:  http://www.directblackaction.com/

Information is compliments of:

Black Power - Black Power
http://www.bcentral.com/listbot/tellme1

 

*********

 

 [BRC-NEWS]

 

Volume 7, Issue 3 (Spring 2000)

 

THE  CASE  FOR  UNITED  STATES  REPARATIONS 

TO  AFRICAN  AMERICANS

Human Rights Brief

 

"Rep.a.ra.tions: Payment of a debt owed; the act of repairing a wrong or injury; to atone for wrongdoings; to make amends; to make one whole again; the payment of damages; to repair a nation; compensation in money, land, or materials for damages." --National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America

 

The political and juridical viability of reparations for descendants of enslaved black people is emerging as a highly contested concept in U.S. debates about justice and law. For decades, reparations have been an essential part of the international discourses of war and human rights. Even the United States has paid some reparations awards to Native nations. Today, Korean women seek reparations from the Japanese government as recompense for what amounted to sexual enslavement during World War II. And in addition to on-going suits against the German state, Holocaust survivors seek damages awards from corporations who enslaved them, banks who appropriated their funds, and insurance companies that refused to pay the life insurance claims of those murdered. Among the political mainstream in the United States, there is support for all of these reparations efforts. From newspaper op-eds to legislation, Americans have expressed their outrage about these immoral practices. California State Senator Tom Hayden wrote a law giving the state jurisdiction over claims stemming from World War II slave labor issues and extending the statute of limitations for filing such claims until 2010. Also, California, the sixth largest economy in the world, bars insurance companies who refused to pay or work to settle claims from doing business in the state. Within U.S. legal culture the language of economic rights and justice is persuasive and remedies seem natural.

 

Yet the U.S. government has refused to consider the need for domestic reparations to be paid for the labor and sexual slavery enforced in the United States for over two centuries. In contrast to Hayden's legislation, U.S. Representative John Conyers's bill H.R. 40, Commission to Study Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act, introduced in 1993 to study the economic effects of slavery on black Americans has not made it out of the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Civil and Constitutional Rights. At its initial vote, the bill received 28 cosponsors out of 435 members in the House of Representatives. Only ten of those co-sponsors were not black. Even as the United States demands other nations make moral and economic recompense for their actions, it declines to consider even the possibility of repairing its own history.

 

Since 1995, I have been involved in the black reparations effort, now well over a century old. I am a member of the three-year-old Reparations Litigation Committee convened by the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America.  The chair of that committee, Adjoa Aiyetoro, and I have co-taught courses on litigating reparations at the Washington College of Law (WCL), and supervised students in independent research efforts. To the best of my knowledge, WCL is the only law school in the United States to offer such a course.  What has emerged from our work is the conclusion that reparations for black Americans are warranted, justifiable, feasible, and fair.

 

The Case for Reparations

 

But what are reparations? What support do they find in law?  How are they different from ordinary civil lawsuits and other civil rights remedies? Who awards them and who gets them? The framework of reparations is the duty to repair injury imposed on another. Unlike tort law, which addresses individual injury, in their conceptualization, reparations suits frame harm as group-based, even when the plaintiffs are individuals. Unlike criminal law, the harm is explicitly conceived of as against the group, not the state. Therefore, unlike criminal cases, the decision for bringing and shaping reparations lawsuits should lie with the victims, not with the state. In this sense, these suits should be organized at the grass-roots level and should be designed to recompense the harm as understood by communities, not decided by lawyers.

 

Another distinction is that the explicit function of reparations would be national atonement for the moral wrong and financial injuries of enslavement to black Americans.  The primacy of atonement and morality differentiates such suits from ordinary civil suits that do not rest on these principles.

 

Finally, such suits emphasize the economic damage of enslavement to black Americans as serious and in need of national recognition and compensation. In this sense, they depart from other civil rights remedies that address post-slavery racial harms or rest on political or criminal remedies. Affirmative action, for instance, was a remedy to combat existing racism against blacks and the on-going effects of post-slavery racial apartheid. It did not compensate black people for slave labor, nor did it seek to.  The point of reparations is not to "make blacks equal" or to ensure racial opportunities, like affirmative action. These are necessary and important goals, but other causes of action and frameworks of analysis address them better. Instead, the theory of domestic reparations is to identify and atone for economic injuries and harms that blacks as a group suffered under enslavement.

 

We have identified two distinct, but related judicial legal principles that justify and support reparations for black Americans: the equitable remedy of restitution for unjust enrichment and the Thirteenth Amendment prohibition against badges and incidents of slavery. I will sketch the contours of the latter, as the former is not innovative in its inherent conception, although it is in its application.

 

Those who know American history are typically familiar with the political assaults and human rights depredations that enslaved people suffered. Enslaved people and many free blacks could not vote, serve on juries, or testify against whites in a court of law. In addition, the state authorized slaveholders to inflict with impunity horrific violence, including beatings that scarred and maimed, as well as rapes and other sexual coercion. In some instances, what would be criminal homicide if committed against a white went unpunished when done against an enslaved black. Literacy was denied in most states, and the slave-holding states employed a variety of mechanisms of varying brutality to suppress cultural, as well as political self-determination. These denials of bodily autonomy, citizenship, and dignity were the most visible deprivations.

 

But American enslavement also suppressed what I have called economic personality. Enslavement denied blacks the economic fruits of their 200 years of backbreaking labor. They could not make and enforce contracts. Property rights of use, ownership, or management did not follow from their market participation in the labor force, but were systematically denied by the state. The slave-holding states did not confer legal status on black families; through inheritance, the family is one of the primary institutions of wealth transfer, but black slaves were excluded from inter-generational wealth transfer, one of the centerpieces of Anglo-American culture.  From the public sphere of market work to the intimate sphere of the family, black economic relationships were systematically and often brutally suppressed. For the first 250 years of American economic history, the law excluded blacks from the market in a society in which market participation was emerging as vital to personal, political, and social well being.

 

Furthermore, political and economic personality are closely intertwined. For blacks as for many other groups, the denial of full citizenship rights, such as voting and jury service, was also accompanied by circumscribed market rights: property, contract, inheritance, and labor. Denial of economic rights marked lesser citizenship, as did refusal at the ballot box.  Reparations seek to remedy the suppression of over two centuries of black economic personality.

 

The Case Theory

 

Our primary theory of the case rests on the Thirteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, the first in the trilogy of post-Civil War (1865-1870) amendments. Its better known sisters are the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments; each of these spawned a compelling and contested twentieth century jurisprudence, on equal protection of law and voting rights respectively. The Thirteenth Amendment, passed in 1865, prohibits slavery and involuntary servitude. It has two sections: "Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.  Section 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation." The amendment was followed the next year by the Civil Rights Act of 1866, which overruled the U.S. Supreme Court's denial of black citizenship in Dred Scott v. Sandford in 1857. Significantly, the Civil Rights Act also authorized basic economic rights of property and contract in addition to access to courts. Each of the three amendments represented some effort to grant meaningful citizenship to blacks and to prevent Southern states from re-enslaving the race in new forms. But they have generated quite different jurisprudences. Although the Fourteenth Amendment is the best known, it is the Thirteenth Amendment that would best support a reparations cause of action.

 

All three amendments were fairly buried in the racial retrenchment following the Reconstruction Period after the Civil War. Despite congressional intent to ensure meaningful black citizenship, it was not until the mid-twentieth century that the U.S. Supreme Court began that effort in earnest. During the years in which Chief Justice Warren presided over the Supreme Court (1953-1969), the Fourteenth Amendment emerged as the original engine for combating racial supremacy. The Fourteenth Amendment provides for equal protection to all people before the law. The possibility of a fully racially liberatory interpretation was almost immediately limited, however, as the Court concluded that state action and discriminatory intent were required to trigger Fourteenth Amendment violations. Under this interpretation, the Fourteenth Amendment did not reach purely "private" acts-a jurisprudential category invented to contrast with the doctrine of state action-and mere racial inequity or racially biased acts did not constitute violations of the Fourteenth Amendment if invidious intent could not be proven. In its post-Warren incarnations, the U.S. Supreme Court interpreted the Fourteenth Amendment to be a guarantee of color-blindness rather than racial equality. Under this conceptualization, white Americans as much as black Americans suffer the harms of race, although blacks were enslaved and systemically denied all meaningful rights, while whites held them in bondage.

 

The Thirteenth Amendment has promise both as a cause of action for reparations and as an intervention into the jurisprudence of color-blindness. The critical twentieth century case law that gave anti-discrimination content to the Thirteenth Amendment was Jones v. Alfred H. Mayer, Co., decided in 1968. In that case, the U.S. Supreme Court resurrected the validity of the 1866 Civil Rights Act and the Thirteenth Amendment to conclude that a private actor's refusal to sell property to blacks violated federal civil rights law. The Jones decision focused on Section 2 of the amendment, noting that it specifically gave Congress power to end what the Court named the badges and vestiges of slavery. As legal scholar Douglas Colbert summarizes it in a Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review article, the Court refused to limit its interpretation of the amendment to eliminating only the formal "auction block," while allowing black slavery to continue unimpeded in new forms.

 

Although the Jones decision focused on Section 2 of the Amendment, many legal scholars and judges have urged a restoration of the meaning of the first section, which is arguably the more significant one. Not only can Congress pass legislation to eliminate enslavement under Section 2, there is a state imperative to actively eliminate enslavement and its badges and incidents, as required in Section 1 of the amendment. Constitutional theorists have argued about the applicability of this theory in contexts ranging from labor, to forced prostitution, to children's rights, to abortion. Despite these creative and promising scholarly treatments, the Thirteenth Amendment remains an under-litigated doctrine and its ban on slavery an under-theorized concept in the struggle for racial justice.

 

 

A Jurisprudence of the Thirteenth Amendment

 

Developing Section 1 of the Thirteenth Amendment is potentially valuable to a reparations movement for several reasons. The theory of reparations is economic recompense from public and private actors for the on-going effects of black enslavement. Starting with the last point, unlike the Fourteenth Amendment, the Thirteenth offers a direct framework to connect contemporary economic depredations to blacks to the economic violence of slavery. This is important because people working at the grass-roots elements of the campaign conceptualize reparations as repairing slavery. Casting reparations as less than this, a remedy for an abstracted racism for instance, would most likely lose political support from the black community, and sympathetic non-blacks. A crucial part of what reparations remedies repair is the psychic damage done by state-inflicted or sanctioned injuries. This implicates the essential core of the U.S. legal system: wrongs done for which injury can be shown warrant recompense absent a compelling reason justifying the harm. Reparations are more than an economic payment; they are a deeply philosophical recognition of the humanity and worth of one wronged. A cause of action for reparations that does not explicitly incorporate slavery will almost certainly fail as a political and moral, as well as, a legal matter. And because it exists as an anti-slavery imperative, the Thirteenth Amendment does not exclude considerations of the on-going racial effects of enslavement.   Slavery explicitly was a racial institution. In every state but Delaware, blacks were presumed at law to be slaves; proving one was legally white constituted a defense to slavery. The badges and incidents of slavery the Thirteenth Amendment opposes will overwhelmingly manifest in racial forms. The amendment does not prohibit, and even invites, analyses of racial harm.

 

The Thirteenth Amendment also diverges from the Fourteenth Amendment in the intent requirement. Unlike the latter, the Thirteenth Amendment has not been interpreted to require state action and intent to discriminate. Because its emphasis is on eliminating slavery and its relics, its jurisprudence recognizes that actors, private and public, can often unwittingly permit and perpetuate the customs and norms of slavery. Finally, the legislative history of the Thirteenth Amendment shows it was meant to protect economic rights as well as political rights. Douglas Colbert shows how the legislative debates explicitly were about, not just the end of servitude, but the extent of affirmative black rights. He concludes: "By linking present racial discrimination to this nation's history of slavery and apartheid, a Thirteenth Amendment analysis uniquely addresses existing racial and economic injustice as modern relics and badges of slavery."  It thereby offers the perfect theory for awarding black reparations.

 

In summary, the Thirteenth Amendment did not end slavery with the understanding that racial economic castes would replace formal black slavery. To prevent this, the amendment calls for policies and state efforts to end the economic manifestations of black slavery, whether perpetuated by the state or a private individual, with or without invidious intent. The goal of the Thirteenth Amendment is to end the badges and incidents of slavery, not to engender color-blindness.

 

 

Preparation for Litigation

 

Certain legal procedural obstacles are to be anticipated, such as statute of limitations, laches, standing, and sovereign immunity. Some can be avoided with expert technical lawyering. Others will require more substantive strategies. But rather than being viewed as diversions, surmounting some of those barriers may enhance the political and judicial viability of the suit. For instance, the statute of limitations on bringing suit may appear daunting. Reparations are based on a harm stemming from slavery; the statute has run on practically every cause of action we have conceived. However, under the doctrine of continuing violation of rights, a statute of limitations may be tolled. Reparations lawyers must therefore identify deprivations of black economic personality under slavery that continued post-slavery, into this century.

 

While there are several potential causes of action, one of the primary ones involves denial of federal benefits. Not only were enslaved blacks unable to enforce property rights, but much of the massive homestead distributions of land in the American West during the 19th century excluded blacks, either directly or de facto. In addition, black veterans returning from World War II found patterns of earlier wars repeated when they received lesser benefits than did their white compatriots. In programs initiated for returning soldiers in the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, commonly known as "the G.I. Bill," mortgage and school tuition benefits extended to black soldiers were devalued due to state endorsed and enforced segregation. There were far fewer places they could attend school or purchase housing. The schools they were able to attend and houses they were able to buy were less valuable because they were black institutions and neighborhoods, respectively, in an economy that valued whiteness. Finally, in the mid-twentieth century, the federal government took several steps to subsidize the construction of suburbs as racially segregated spaces, which simultaneously devalued black property in urban areas. Independent, private banks followed these federal guidelines, and blacks found themselves doubly squeezed into emerging ghettoes and out of suburbs being invented as white.  Like the homestead acts, the G.I. bills for soldiers and the federal housing programs were moments of massive government subsidization that supported an emerging middle class. Blacks were excluded from this process and denied economic personality in ways that reflected the badges of slavery.

 

Another obstacle may be resolved by distinguishing legislative and judicial reparations awards. Standing is frequently raised as a procedural obstacle to judicial reparations; unlike comfort women and internment victims, American slaves and their direct heirs are no longer alive. Moreover, part of the invidiousness of slavery is that the system ripped apart black families, denying them the possibility of keeping records and genealogies. The fact that few blacks can trace their ancestry to specific enslaved persons is part of the injury of enslavement. One could approach this obstacle in two ways. One could utilize equitable principles to argue that one who actively destroys records cannot then invoke that absence to recuse its own legal liability. Another approach is to craft a series of causes of action, stemming from different continuing violations, similar to the strategy for statute of limitations. Because these actions will have to conform to the statute of limitations and the harms extend into this century, blacks today should be more able to identify and prove legal relationships with those affected. In the case of World War II veterans, many will still be alive today.

 

Conclusion

 

Putting racism into economic language is important.  A significant effect of racism is its dissociation of blacks from markets and economics. Part of the reason so many Americans are skeptical of awarding reparations is the absence of a compelling discourse of black economic personality and desert of wealth. Reparations are recognition of the severe economic harm inflicted on blacks. Developing a reparations cause of action will yield several positive results. In defining the contours of a Thirteenth Amendment-based racial jurisprudence, it will turn the nation's attention toward what black slavery entailed, connect current acts, including private ones, to customs, norms, and history stemming from slavery and segregation, and comprehend slavery's on-going economic effects. When confronted with this history, then perhaps we can come to a national consensus on what the anti-slavery imperative of the Thirteenth Amendment means.

 

By Adrienne D. Davis

<davisad@email.unc.edu>

 

http://www.wcl.american.edu/PUB/humright/brief/v7i3/reparation.htm

--

For additional information, see the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America website at <http://www.ncobra.com>.

--

Adrienne D. Davis is a Professor of Law at the University of North Carolina, Chapel-Hill.

 

Copyright (c) 2000 Human Rights Brief and Adrienne D. Davis.

 

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N’COBRA  CALLS  FOR  APRIL  4^TH  REPARATIONS  WALK-OUT

 

FROM:  Alvin Brown

 

RE:        April 4th 2001

 

TIME:    1OAM-3PM

 

WALK-OUT OF SCHOOLS  INCLUDING COLLEGES DEMANDING REPARATIONS NOW! 

 

MARCH  ON  ALL GOVERNMENT OFFICES In Honor Of ROSA PARKS AND ALL COURAGEOUS Freedom Fighters Led by The TUPAC Generation

 

***

Sponsored by:

 

The National Congress of Economic Development Commissioners N'COBRA -

 

The National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America

 

Co-Chairs:

Ms Taiwo Kujichagulia-Seitu - Prairie View A&M University:

taiwoks@hotmail.com 

 

Alvin Brown St, Louis, MO:

abantu@swbell.net

 

Be In Touch, SAVE THE DATE, and Spread The Word!

 

Submitted by:  110100.1564@compuserve.com (onaje muid)

"Rev. Khandi Konte-Paasewe", INTERNET:khandi@netset.com

 

***

 

NOW, THAT’S WHAT I’M TALKIN’ ‘BOUT!!!!  It’s the squeaky wheel that gets the oil!   T.Y., Editor

 

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THE  RULE  OF  LAW,  JUSTICE  FOR  ALL,

AND  REPARATIONS

 

December 13, 2000

 

"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people" Proverbs 14:34

 

 

All Praises to our Elohim, The Elohim of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, The Creator of the Universe

 

“Although we may never know with complete certainty the winner of this year’s election, the identity of the loser is perfectly clear: It is the Nation’s confidence in the judge as the impartial guardian of the rule of law.” 

 

The latest presidential debacle should be a wakeup call to every African slave descendant in America that reparations are due. How can we not see that our participation in determining the direction of a government that has historically refused to address the wrongs committed against us as a people will never be to our benefit?

 

Once again, as in countless times in the past, African slave descendants have been political pawns used not to represent our interest, but the interest of a nation that has steadfastly refused to right the wrongs of the past. Justice is crying out.

 

The fact that not only both political parties refused to address the documented discrimination at the voting booth in Florida, and that the white-dominated media played down the significance of the voter disparities in largely African American precincts, proves that America does not and will not ever face up to the historical reality of its existence.  Florida only brought to light the corruption of the voting process as it relates to Africans in America of slave descent that has existed all along.

 

The fact of the matter is that all along the democratic way of governing "for the people and by the People" never applied to African slave descendants. Yet, when they GAVE us "citizenship" and "civil rights," we proceeded to act as though we were now "included." Florida demonstrates that we are not "included," that going to the voting booth in reality does NOT COUNT especially when it comes to people of color.

 

Our ancestors were captured and brought to this country to be slaves and we never agreed to become Citizens of these United States. And no amount of amendments to a Constitution we played no part in adopting can force citizenship upon a people who never agreed to it. No wonder our vote was disregarded.

 

What amazes me is that they will go all the way back to the Rutherford presidential election in the 1800's and the history of how the electoral process developed, yet refuse to deal with the reality that the process had its beginnings during the physical bondage of our ancestors and some have the nerve to tell us slavery happened along time ago and we should leave the past alone.

 

America boasts itself as the greatest most powerful country in the world and the promoter of Democracy worldwide yet refuses to address the injustices of African slave descendants. The integrity of the highest court of the land, the Supreme Court of the United States is now in question. It brings into question "the "rule of Law" and "justice for all," "for the people and by the people".  This is our wakeup call.

 

Law, righteousness, and justice are the issues that the Creator has placed before us.

 

We must continue to increase awareness to our plight as a people in this western hemisphere and the world that reparations are due. Until we strive to determine our own future and the future of our children, we will always be used to further the interest and agenda of our captors.

 

We are calling upon all of our people to keep the issue of reparations alive. In its effort to do so, The LawKeepers, Co., has made available, "Reparations Now In Our Lifetime," buttons that can be worn to increase awareness that reparations are due.  http://www.inetmgrs.com/hebrew/law/index.html.  These buttons are available for a nominal donation and represent our ongoing contribution to the reparations movement.

 

Please support our efforts in seeking Reparations Now, in our Lifetime and spread the word about Reparations for the African Slave Trade and support the fundraising, relocation efforts of The LawKeepers Co.

 

The LawKeepers. Co, a non-profit cultural organization of Hebrew Yisraelites who exalt the Creator of heaven and earth and the Law He gave to Moses for the children of Yisrael to follow, are seeking to return to the geographical location of our forefathers.

 

We believe as foretold in scripture, that the Nation of Yisrael was "scattered to the four corners of the earth".  That the book of Deuteronomy describes the curses that befell them and their descendants, and we are those  descendants.

 

We believe [and can prove] that the "African Slave Trade" and the slavery and bondage that resulted, is the final fulfillment of the book of Deuteronomy 28:64-68 and Chapter 30, that Yisrael would go into captivity in the lands of other nations to serve them. That we would call to mind our experiences and what is written in that book in the lands of our captivity, as we are doing this very day, and seek to return to YIHOVAH the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our forefathers, with our whole heart, soul and mind.

 

By Yehudah Benyamin Ben Yisrael

 

Yehudah Benyamin Ben Yisrael is the President of The Lawkeepers, Co., a TORAH based organization of Hebrew Yisraelites (not Jewish) of so-called African Descent (Blacks) scattered throughout the Diaspora, whose primary purpose is: to exalt, honor and give praise and glory to the Holy ONE of Yisrael YHWH; DO the Laws given to Moses to give to the children of Israel; and to return to the land of our forefathers, the land of Yisrael.  Also, it is our purpose to assist and act as an advocate for like-minded Hebrew Yisraelites who have returned to their heritage, and who desire to return to their homeland, the land of our forefathers the land of Yisrael.

 

http://www.thelawkeepers.org

Yehudah@thelawkeepers.org

 

"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people"

Proverbs 14:34

 

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NetWORKER Wayne Young sends us the article below, featuring longtime reparations activist Robert Brock.

 

As we enter the New Year, let's work together to heighten this righteous call for justice.

 

Peace and Power,

 

Ukali

 

***

PUTTING A PRICE ON SLAVERY’S LEGACY –

CALL FOR REPARATIONS BUILDS AS

BLACKS TALLY HISTORY’S TOLL

 

 

FITZGERALD, Ga. -- People begin trickling into the ramshackle recreation center an hour before the program is slated to begin, drawn by a promise that many of them believe speaks to the core of their existence as African Americans.

 

Leaning over the mismatched folding chairs, they buzz about the upcoming lecture. The speaker is Robert L. Brock, 75, a legal activist who for decades has been barnstorming the country spreading the word on reparations. He contends that black people are eligible for special tax rebates and, if they pay him $50 to fill out a claim form, they will one day collect a half-million dollars in compensation for all that slavery and state-sanctioned discrimination stole from African Americans.

 

The people eagerly awaiting Brock's message can hardly be called radicals. They labor on farms, in factories and at store counters, united in their belief that nothing shaped their often dour circumstances so much as the nation's history of slavery and racial discrimination. And although there is no assurance they will ever collect the promised $500,000, those who come to hear Brock deeply believe in the reparations quest.

 

"We're glad to be in America," said Gary Grant, a Pentecostal minister who helped arrange Brock's visit here. "But the white man has been taking advantage of the black man all our lives. Now, we want to get paid."

 

It is a refrain being sounded increasingly across the country, from this small city nestled amid the pine forests and cotton farms of southern Georgia to the Ivy-covered walls of Harvard University. The idea is catching on not just among those who could most use a financial windfall but also among civil rights groups, intellectuals and others who see reparations as the only way to get to the root of America's enduring racial problems.

 

For many years, any discussion of reparations to compensate the descendants of African slaves for 246 years of bondage and another century of legalized discrimination was dismissed. Many whites and blacks alike scoffed at the idea, reasoning that slavery is part of the nation's past that would only unleash new demons if it were resurrected.

 

But that attitude is slowly changing. At least 10 cities, including Chicago, Detroit and Washington, have passed resolutions in the past two years urging federal hearings into the impact of slavery. Mainstream civil rights groups such as the NAACP, the National Urban League and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference regularly raise the issue. And last summer, the Democratic Party for the first time adopted a plank endorsing the idea of establishing a federal commission to study the lingering effects of slavery.

 

*** Legal Team Gathers ***

 

A high-powered group of lawyers, including Harvard law professor Charles J. Ogeltree Jr., Alexander J. Pires Jr., who won a $1 billion discrimination suit on behalf of black farmers, and Johnnie L. Cochran Jr., have been meeting to plot strategy for a possible class-action lawsuit seeking reparations.

 

"There is a lot more happening around this issue now than ever," said Greg Moore, chief of staff for Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.), who since 1989 repeatedly has sponsored legislation urging a federal study of slavery and its contemporary impact. "This used to be talked about only in isolated, black nationalist meetings. But that is not the case any more."

 

The surging interest in reparations parallels a heightened sensitivity to the horrors of slavery, in which as many as 6 million Africans perished in the journey to the Americas alone. There also is growing attention being paid to the huge economic bounty that slavery created for private companies and the nation as a whole.

 

Earlier this year, Aetna Inc. apologized for selling insurance policies that reimbursed slave owners for financial losses when their slaves died. Last summer, the Hartford Courant printed a front-page apology for the profits it made from running ads for the sale of slaves and the capture of runaways. Next month, a new California law will require insurance companies to disclose any slave insurance policies they may have issued. The state also is requiring University of California officials to assemble a team of scholars to research the history of slavery and report how current California businesses benefited.

 

"As a result of the ravages of slavery and the racial strictures that followed it, blacks in America were consigned to this nation's economic bottom," TransAfrica president Randall Robinson said at a recent reparations conference held by the Washington lobbying group. "A yawning gap was opened. It has been a static gap since the Emancipation Proclamation. This condition can no longer be tolerated."

 

*** Slaves' Contributions ***

 

Proponents of reparations argue that the nation owes African Americans for their contributions to the nation's wealth and for the widespread discrimination they endured after slavery was abolished.

 

Black slaves helped to build white wealth as they toiled as unpaid stevedores, servants, craftsmen and farm hands across the South, and for many years, in the North as well. Slaves also built some of the nation's most hallowed symbols of freedom: They cut stone for the U.S. Capitol, cleared trees for the National Mall and laid the foundation for the White House.

 

The exploitation did not end with emancipation in 1865. For nearly a century after that, blacks legally were excluded from many opportunities that became the cornerstones for today's white middle-class. Segregated schools limited their educational choices, restrictive covenants barred them from many neighborhoods and rampant loan discrimination prevented them from financing houses and businesses.

 

In a book published this year, "The Debt: What America Owes to Blacks," Robinson argues that slavery "produces its victims ad infinitum, long after the active stage of the crime has ended." The disproportionate numbers of blacks who are in prison, undereducated or living in poverty are all today's victims of slavery, he says.

 

*** 40 Acres and a Mule ***

 

Reparations for slavery have been discussed since the conclusion of the Civil War, when President Andrew Johnson reneged on Union Army Gen. William T. Sherman's promise to furnish former slaves with 40 acres and a mule. In the early 1900s, several bills were introduced in Congress to provide former slaves small payments and a pension, but they all failed.

 

Ironically, the movement is beginning to gain mainstream credibility even as there seems to be a growing sentiment that the nation has gone too far in extending opportunities to African Americans.

 

In ballot initiatives that won overwhelming white majorities, voters in California and Washington state have outlawed government-sponsored affirmative action programs that gave an edge to minorities when it came to public contracting, university admissions and government employment. Likewise, Florida last year ended many of its affirmative action programs. Liberal mayors in cities such as Atlanta and Baltimore have restructured programs that set aside small portions of government business for minority-run firms.

 

Opponents of reparations contend that the fledgling movement overlooks many important facts. First, they argue, reparations usually are paid to direct victims, as was the case when the U.S. government apologized and paid compensation to Japanese Americans interned during World War II. Similarly, Holocaust survivors have received payments from the Germans. In addition, not all blacks were slaves, and an estimated 3,000 were slave owners.

 

Also, many immigrants not only came to the United States long after slavery ended, but they also were confronted with discrimination. Should they pay reparations, too? Or should they receive them?

 

And regardless of how much slave labor contributed to the nation's wealth, opponents say, blacks benefit from that wealth today. As a group, African Americans are the best educated, wealthiest blacks on the planet.

 

"This movement is counterproductive because it fixates African Americans on their victim status," says Myron Magnet, whose book "The Dream and the Nightmare" argues that poor minorities suffer more from cultural problems than societal ones. "I think that what blacks most need now is not to be shackled to the past, but to recognize that this is a society and an economy which is filled with opportunity for them and for everybody."

 

None of this dissuades reparations advocates. "The point is that there has been a series of arrangements, slavery, Jim Crow, discrimination, all of which were mechanisms that had the effect of transferring money from blacks as a class to whites as a class," said Richard America, a Georgetown University economist who has written two books calling for reparations. "Even folks who came to this country in the last 100 years or so had an advantage in that their whiteness was an asset in the marketplace."

 

Although there is no agreement among proponents, America suggests that reparations take the form of grants for education, homes and black businesses. "This should go on for about two generations," he said. "If done right, this should just about do it."

 

As he has traveled the country, Brock has been promoting a compensation idea that is apparently striking a chord: a $500,000 check from the federal government. The figure is drawn from an unsuccessful lawsuit Brock filed against the U.S. government in 1965.

 

In the past couple of months alone, several thousand people have come to churches and community centers in places such as Waycross, Ga., and Lake Wales, Fla., to hear Brock's lectures. Many of them have paid $50 to fill out his claim forms, which other reparations advocates, including Conyers, have condemned as an obvious scam because there is no settlement to claim. Similarly, the IRS in October issued a statement cautioning African Americans against being "misled" by offers related to reparations. The statement said that the IRS has received "a growing number" of reparations claims this year, even though there is no such provision in tax law.

 

Brock is elusive about where he would file his claim forms or precisely what happens to the money he collects. In his talk, he indirectly addresses the charge, telling people that "slavery was the scam."

 

That is enough for the people who come to hear Brock, often by the hundreds. Here in Fitzgerald, the turnout is smaller than most, no more than 75 people, but the audience is enthusiastic.

 

"We all deserve reparations," offered April Wilson, 38, a homemaker, as she waited for the talk to begin. "There was something to this years ago. We just didn't know anything about it."

 

After he takes the stage, Brock goes on for two hours. He offers angry lines about white and Jewish slave traders and chilling stories about the rape and torture endured by slaves. When he turns to his decades-long battle for reparations, the crowd is riveted. Before he finishes speaking, people are filtering to a table in the back of the room, where they can pay their $50 and fill out his claim forms. No one seems particularly concerned that Brock has nowhere to file them or that the tax rebate he talks about does not exist.

 

"I have been hearing about this thing for a long time," Harold Coney, 50, a farm worker and logger said after buying a claim form. "I've been through hell making the white man rich. Now I want my money, interest and everything."

 

By Michael A. Fletcher

Washington Post Staff Writer

Tuesday, December 26, 2000; Page A01

 

© 2000 The Washington Post Company

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A50095-2000Dec25.html

 

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JOIN THE BLACK REPARATIONS MOVEMENT TODAY !

IT IS A WIN, WIN CASE FOR US!

Oscar L. Beard

 

*********

 

The Reparations Movement’s goals are as follows:

 

   -  Obtain Reparations from all countries that prospered from Black Slave Labor

   Schedule Conferences, Marches, and Protests until the White Society apologizes and

   compensates Descendants of the Slave Trade

-  Speak at the United Nations on Reparations for Survivors of the Slave Trade in order

   to gain International Support of all or most countries

   -  Demonstrate in front of the UN in Geneva for World Attention

   -  Establish an International Fund for Descendants of Slaves

-  Target Companies that existed during the days of Slavery for Reparations, and if they

   do not comply, then list them as “Unworthy” for Black patronage

   -  Seek support for Reparations from Companies that prosper off of Black Clients

   -  Seek Celebrity support for Reparations

   -  Involve the Media

   -  Make “Reparations” the buzz word for 2000

   -  Etc., etc., and by “any means necessary” within the Law

 

*********

 

IN SUPPORT OF REPARATIONS!

 

WAKE UP!

    STAND UP!

         STEP UP!

             and  DO SOMETHING IN SUPPORT OF REPARATIONS!

OR THERE CAN BE NO REAL -  PEACE!

 

Ahna Tafari

 

*********

 

THE POLITICS AND MORALITY OF

BLACK REPARATIONS

FROM THE NEW YORK METRO BLACK RADICAL

 

The NY Metro Local Organizing Committee is

Working Hard to Build Massive Black Reparations Campaign

 

We are working to help build a National Reparations Campaign with other pro reparations organizations and individual which will culminate in a mobilization of several million Black people not only demanding reparations but actively engaged in the various efforts for its realization. We understand that a comprehensive reparations campaign embraces ALL of our sites of struggle and are of concern. 

 

There are many reasons why this campaign should be for reparations, not the least of which is the announcement to the US and the world, that people of African descent are determined not to begin a new millennium with this
UNRESOLVED issue of compensation for past and present crimes against African Humanity.

 

The following are some of the rationale for a National Campaign for Reparations for people of African descent.

 

o A Reparations Campaign enjoys major support within our communities.  It has the capacity to revitalize the Black Liberation Movement and reassert the leading role of the Black progressive forces.

 

o A Reparations Campaign is directed at the U.S. primarily (Federal and State governments) but also is directed at other Western Imperialist, Capitalist powers, corporations and individual families that have benefited from slavery as well. Foreign states who participated in the slave trade and slavery and the United Nations can still be used as part of an international Reparations strategy.

 

o A Reparations Campaign is fundamentally anti racist, anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist. It attacks the very heart of these oppressive systems.  We have never been compensated for the millions and millions of hours of unpaid labor conservatively estimated to be $97 trillion. Our ancestors were the backbone to the development of capitalism here in the US and throughout the rest of the world!

 

o A Reparations Campaign will include the demand to cancel the usury rates imposed upon us through killer mortgages and loan shark credit card interest rates.

o A Reparations Campaign will include a debt cancellation demand resonating throughout Africa and the Diaspora but also support the demand for reparations for African nations and the Diaspora.

 

o A Reparations Campaign is a powerful tool to educate the people of the U.S. and world societies about a brutal and savage system that is the basis for institutional racism and white supremacist oppression today. A system which inflicted on African people the most horrific form of cultural genocide (virtually complete destruction of historical memory, religion, language, traditions, ancestry) which continues to be the basis for the racist dehumanization and demonization of African people and other oppressed people of color.

 

o A Reparations Campaign will educate our people to the fact that our ancestral mothers have never been compensated for the reproduction of Human Capital (i.e. giving birth to an African child during slavery which meant that this child automatically had a “price value”) through rape/forced breeding. This most beastly form of slavery tried to humiliate and strip our ancestral mothers and fathers of their womanhood and manhood. The Black Woman has not only never been compensated for her brutal field work (and the tortuous work in the Master's house), but also her domestic chores within the slave quarters. In addition, a reparations Campaign will demand just compensation for the millions of Black children forced into horrific death inducing child labor from the age of 3 years.

 

o A Reparations Campaign will expose the additional injuries inflicted during slavery: the never ending war against free Blacks. This war was an anticipation of what would become of us during the post-slavery oppression period: rapes, lynchings, pogroms (state sanctioned and initiated murder) and anti-migration laws. For instance, this included 19th century anti-migration laws- often written into state constitutions- that were passed to stop African Americans from settling in Illinois, Indiana, and Oregon. This pattern of conscious legal exclusion denied our ancestors the possibility of benefiting from land grants made available for old and new members of these states. These are legal injuries that must be calculated into the reparations demands. We cannot look at the oppression and repression of our enslaved and "free" ancestors as two distinct realities. They were just two sides of the same racist and capitalist coins that fed the banks and wallets of the ruling classes of Europe and the Americas.

 

o A Reparations Campaign will educate our people to the fact that our ancestral fathers had to face systemic humiliating attempts to strip them of their manhood and dignity.

 

o A Reparations Campaign is a self-reliant movement; it is a nation-building campaign that allows Black people to address some of the fundamental issues confronting our survival today. It gives us the ability to create our very own self-determining institutions in developing jobs with a living wage, quality
affordable housing, healthcare and anti-racist education.

 

o A Reparations Campaign will include the fight to free all US political prisoners and prisoners of war as well as the battle to dismantle the racist prison industrial complex.

 

o A Reparations Campaign is the most powerful weapon that can be used against racism and the right-wing onslaught on affirmative action and political disenfranchisement (voting-while-Black).

 

o A Reparations Campaign will create a strategic bridge between Africa and the Diaspora. Blacks from Brazil, Costa Rica. Columbia, Honduras, and throughout the Caribbean are joining in the International Reparations Campaign.

o A Reparations Campaign is ultimately a political offensive. Issues such as homelessness, struggles for jobs, universal health care, decent affordable housing organizing against attacks on welfare, cutbacks on education, attacks on
affirmative action, anti - gay violence, discrimination based on sexual orientation, sexual harassment in the workplace, domestic violence, police brutality, racist and fascist attacks on the black community, amnesty for political prisoners, the genocidal incarceration of black youth, and the prison industrial complex, etc all can be connected to and enhanced by a Campaign for Reparations.

Given this political understanding, we in the NY Metro Black Radical Congress have developed a resolution that ORGANIZATIONS can sign onto supporting the work to fight for reparations. Included with each resolution is a fact sheet that answers the most commonly asked questions about Black Reparations.

Below are the documents. Feel free to duplicate them and distribute them. We would like to receive all signed resolutions so as we can keep track of this national campaign.

 

The Black Radical Congress

122 West 27^th Street

New York, NY   10001

Telephone # 212-242-4201

E-mail:  ebontek@earthlink.net

 

***

 

REPARATIONS CAMPAIGN OF

THE BLACK RADICAL CONGRESS

RESOLUTIONS ON BLACK REPARATIONS

 

Whereas, People of African Descent in the US have a just claim to compensation because of both historical and present-day violations of human rights, the right to
self-determination, imposed citizenship and property rights; and…

 

Whereas, The vast majority of the United States and corporate wealth was
created by enslaved labor; and…

 

Whereas, The United States government and many of its corporations maintain their wealth today, in large part, through the continued exploitation of Black labor
by practices of job and wage discrimination; and…

 

Whereas, The United States government and some of its corporations also uphold their wealth through the maintenance of its large pool of millions of
surplus labor; and…

 

Whereas, The issue of Black Reparations must also be seen in the context of the global issues as they affect the African continent, the Caribbean, Central and South America, due to the kidnapping and robbing of Africa's human and natural
resources as well as the ruthless colonization of Africa and the Diaspora; and...

Whereas, Reparations has been raised by Black People since the 19th Century and throughout the 20th Century as a legal, legitimate and moral demand; and...

Whereas, The United States government supports the just compensation of the Jewish People for the genocidal acts of the German state, and compensation they gave the Japanese Americans who were, during World War II unjustly held in concentration camps throughout the US.  

 

Therefore, be it resolved

 

______________________________________________________________

 

 

officially supports the Black Radical Congress’s Reparations Campaign and… 

 

Be it further resolved that

 

_________________________________________________________

 

will work with the Black Radical Congress to determine how best our organization can carry out the objectives of this campaign.

 

Resolution Presented and Affirmed

Name___________________________________ Title_____________________

Organization______________________________________________________

Date_____________________________________


You can work with us - The Black Radical Congress - in helping to build the Mass Movement to Demand Black Reparations.  Feel free to call us at:

 

The Black Radical Congress

122 West 27^th Street

New York, NY   10001

Telephone # 212-242-4201

E-mail:  ebontek@earthlink.net

 

***

 

FROM:  Rhazard988

DATE:   1-07-1

RE: Peace and Harmony to the NY Metro Black Radical Congress Reparations      Fighters

 

I am responding to "The Politics and Morality of Black Reparations-from the NY Metro Black Radical Congress," on "The BlackList News Letter #536"... dated 01-07-1....

 

I must say the article is well written & presents valid information as too why Black folks should join the reparations movement.  My concern is that there are already many REPARATIONS groups (legit. & non-legit.) in the US.  Many organizations are taking on the task of winning our overdue reparations payment. Each organization is recruiting members from the masses.  They are creating different reparations settlements. They are claiming leadership roles in the movement. They are in my opinion dividing & confusing Black people. AND... Giving the opposition fodder for argument. Do we need another Reparations organization??? Should we strengthen existing Reparations organizations??? Somehow and someplace we must get these organizations together and create leadership roles, define responsibility and develop strategy to present to the masses.  NCOBRA is a "Coalition" with a single agenda: "to win reparations..." Over 12 years NCOBRA has created programs to inform the masses, utilize the resources in the US Black Community to advocate for payment, and develop lawsuit strategies to win reparations from the US government and its agents. Brother Silas Muhammad is fighting on the International level and has been for years (already at the UN & World Court) to win reparations from the US government, etc.  "Given this political understanding," I encourage the NY-BRC to share in the ujima of NCOBRA and the December 12th Movement so that the reparations fight will demonstrate umoja to the masses and those responsible for "The Debt."  We need not confuse the people as to which reparations group do they support.  It must be clear that giving support to the leading reparations organization in America is a display of Self-Determination toward justice and a statement made for support of a collective work and responsible reparations demand for payment.   (From a united community we will collect a “Debt Owed.”)

 

It should also be told that our people can learn about and join forces with reparations fighters from other organizations out there such as "The December 12 Movement," as well as NCOBRA. The NY-BRC must be commended for getting into the struggle for reparations.  Yet, the NY-BRC should recognize the other warrior cadres who for years have been in touch with large numbers of Black Afrikan people and have won some skirmishes here and abroad for the minds of the oppressed.  We have already made reparations a household word in much of the Black African US community.  We must now unite the forces to form a collective strategy so that the Black masses are not confused as to which organization has their concerns at the core. Maybe NCOBRA... December 12 Movement... BRC... NBUF.... AARP... "Others" would delegate representation to speak on behave of their membership to support the development of a unification strategy. If there is an interest out there for a "National Reparations General Assembly Summit" in May 2001.  I offer Palm Beach County Florida as a possible location for the summit. If any one is interested please contact me:

Robert Hazard

P.O. Box 2186

West Palm Beach, Florida   33402

E-mail:   Rhazard988@AOL.COM

 

 

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REPARATIONS TO AFRICAN AMERICANS:

AN ABSOLUTE MUST!

           

Part I

 

In two recent articles I explained why I, a white American woman, ardently support reparations to African Americans. I believe that in permitting slavery, our country committed one of the longest-running and most heinous human rights crimes in all of history.

 

            THE FIRST CRIME

 

For 246 years we robbed millions of enslaved African persons of the wealth their labor created. The wealth that was rightfully theirs which they should have been able to pass down to their descendants, went instead into our pockets to be passed down generation after generation to our heirs, doubling and tripling in value all the way. That is the root cause of the huge economic disparity between blacks and whites that exists in our country today.

 

We also committed indescribable mental, physical, and spiritual brutality against enslaved African persons in order to coerce them into submitting to our exploitation. We robbed them of their very identities as we stripped from them their mother tongues, their traditional religions and original cultures, and forced upon them instead European language, religion and culture. We destabilized their social structures, relations between men and women, the family, and did everything we could to break their spirit, set one against another, and demoralize them as human beings.  The heart-wrenching, far-reaching results of this, too, are very much with us now.

 

            THE SECOND CRIME

 

Then, far from apologizing and making restitution for what we'd done during the enslavement—including robbing millions upon millions of African persons of their very lives--we followed it up with another crime: institutionalized racism which is still alive and current in our country even now, 135 years after the Emancipation Proclamation. This is because the mind-set slavery was based on--the belief that a person of African descent is less than a white person--has not changed centrally. Yes, laws have been passed that have forced people to refrain from some of the most blatant racist practices, but, as every honest person will admit, there has been and still is a colossal amount of discrimination that permeates every aspect of American life--in education and housing, in the job market and finance, as to medical care, and much more--all causing tremendous suffering to African Americans, as well as making it just about impossible for most to achieve financial parity with whites.

 

What this all means is that there has been one long, unbroken line of economic exploitation and racial injustice (the two are inextricably related) that has lasted from 1619, when the first captive Africans were brought in chains to these shores, to the present.  Therefore, we owe reparations for the wrongs committed throughout that entire span of time, not just up to1865 when the 13th Amendment was ratified, officially ending slavery.

 

            HOW MUCH AND HOW LONG?

 

In order to determine how much we owe in reparations, I believe the following must be calculated:

 

1) the wages that enslaved Africans were not paid for 246 years of labor,

 

2) the wealth their labor generated both directly and indirectly for others,

 

3) the wages African Americans should have been in an equal position with whites to earn since emancipation but were stopped from doing so due to institutionalized racism,

 

4) the money African Americans have been deprived of in numerous other ways--red lining, for instance--because of de jure and de facto racial and economic discrimination throughout these years,

 

5) interest on all of the above, and 6) damages for pain suffered.

 

When computed accurately, these six things will add up to trillions of dollars. Therefore, it is clear reparations will have to be the real thing, not just a few token social programs put in place to make it appear as though we're doing something serious when we're really just dropping a few crumbs from our table. Real reparations will require actions that are massive and far-reaching, and there must be careful and sustained study, done by African Americans themselves, to decide how best to carry them out over many generations. (Though it is up to African Americans to make this kind of decision, I am among those persons who see reparations as taking a collective form, going to African American communities as a whole rather than to individuals.)

 

In the meantime, even as the major settlements would be in the process of being figured out, numerous programs--for education, neighborhood improvement, housing, medical care, psychological counseling, etc.--could be put into effect immediately to begin to alleviate some of the worst long-range effects of slavery and its aftermath.

 

            REPARATIONS MUST NOT CREATE UNJUST HARDSHIP

 

I also see it as of paramount importance that reparations to African Americans be made in such a way that it doesn't create an unjust hardship for anyone of any ethnicity who is exploited and struggling financially themselves, because it is crucial that as we fight for justice to ourselves, we not lose sight of what's deserved by others. That would be stooping as low as our country's Founding Fathers who fought nobly to obtain their freedom from England while they themselves so ignobly enslaved Africans. Clearly, no African American should want to follow in these footsteps and do unto others what was so cruelly done unto them. Therefore, ways must be found--and there are plenty of them--for reparations to be paid by the US government, large corporations, and the wealthy who have profited from slavery and what followed, not, for example, by a woman who recently immigrated here from a country that was never involved in slavery and who is having a very hard time of it herself financially.

 

            THE GOVERNMENT MUST PAY

 

The United States government profited enormously from the enslavement of persons of African descent as it collected taxes from plantation owners on the money they made from unpaid enslaved labor. Huge amounts of money poured in to the government on the cotton industry alone. Therefore, I see it as right for the US government to pay reparations--and I believe it can quite easily.

 

For starters, our government could free up enough money to begin the reparations compensation process by reallocating tens of billions of dollars from the bloated military budget. Then, they could close up the tax loopholes for the rich and for giant corporations and vigorously collect the taxes, thus making tens of billions of additional dollars available. Next, they could do away with the corporate subsidies—the generous corporate welfare your and my tax dollars have been supporting--and use that money for reparations as well. In 1998 alone, our government gave $125 billion in tax breaks and subsidies to large corporations, and from now on this money could be collected and directed instead towards the needs of African Americans.

 

This is a mere fraction of the ways our government could start drawing together a sizable fund to begin reparations without creating an unfair tax burden to anyone who is poor, and without taking one penny away from well-deserved social programs that are serving others.

 

You can contact Marie Roberts at

mrobertsusa@yahoo.com

 

 

[Next: Reparations From Private Estates, Corporations, and Industries]

 

REPARATIONS TO AFRICAN AMERICANS:  AN ABSOLUTE MUST!  Part II

 

Continuing with the crucial subject of how the trillions of dollars owed in reparations to African Americans could be amassed without unjustly burdening anyone who should not have to pay, I suggest the following:

 

In addition to payment from the US government itself, private estates, companies and industries which profited most from the unpaid labor of enslaved Africans should be identified, and arrangements made wherever possible to collect restitution from them.  This inquiry would take place within our borders and also reach far beyond, for there are many foreign companies--as well as governments of nations such as Portugal, Spain, England, and France—which participated in and benefited enormously from the European slave trade.

 

This includes not only profits made directly from the actual trading in enslaved persons, but indirectly from all that enslaved labor created. Many early American industries were based on the cotton, sugar, rice, tobacco, and other products their labor produced. Railroads and shipping companies, the banking industry, and many other businesses made huge profits from the commerce generated by the output of enslaved labor as well.

 

            THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY

 

I am sure that once people start looking, numerous industries that profited from the enslavement will be uncovered--the insurance industry, for instance. Attorney Deadria Farmer-Paellman has researched Aetna Inc., the number one United States life and health insurer, and discovered that the profits Aetna made from their early policies taken out by owners on the lives of the enslaved formed the base for Aetna later to become a multibillion dollar corporation. She writes that these life insurance policies, issued in the 1850's, "were one of the first lines of business underwritten by the Hartford, Connecticut-based insurer, which now has 47 million customers worldwide and annual revenues of $26 billion." And she states, "They have a moral obligation to apologize and share that wealth with the heirs of the Africans they helped maintain in slavery."

 

Attorney Farmer-Paellman indicates, too, that her investigation has identified at least forty other US corporations which benefited and are still benefiting from their unjust practices during slavery.

 

I believe the British firm, Lloyds of London, should be looked at, too, for they also got their start and made an absolute fortune insuring slave ships. Then, of course, it would be pretty easy to find out what companies specialized in building ships specifically designed for this barbaric trade in "human cargo" and go after reparations from them as well. The possibilities of holding businesses accountable are endless. Billions of dollars could be collected without depriving any individual of what was rightfully theirs.

 

            REPARATIONS AND THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

 

In keeping with its recent apology for the injustices it has committed, I earnestly believe that the Catholic Church should be asked to pay reparations for their part in the slave trade. Writes Molefi Asante, the noted Afrocentric scholar and professor of African American Studies at Temple University:

 

"So profitable was the European slave trade that the Roman Catholic Church entered the business as a grantor of commercial privilege to prevent Christian nations from engaging in fratricidal wars of access to the African Coast. Usually the Pope signed an agreement with a slaving nation which insured that nation's right to a specific region of Africa. A fee was paid to the church for that asiento. Since no European nation exercised complete hegemony over others, the Church became--and remained for several hundred years--the primary moral sanctioner for the brutal institution of slave trading."

 

The Catholic Church was paid about $25 for each captured African, and in addition to paying (with interest) into a reparations fund, the millions they made in this way, it could be considered whether they--who ought to have been leading the fight against such atrocities instead of leading its organization--should pay even more in penance for the shocking immorality of their actions.

 

            COMPANIES PROFITING NOW

 

Along with the companies and industries that should be targeted for reparations because of the profits they made from slavery, there are additional corporations which I believe should have to pay because of the massive revenues they've reaped from the financial straits many African Americans are in now as a result of slavery. In other words, the ongoing misfortune of millions of African Americans has been their tremendous good fortune, and therefore, they should become major contributors to reparations.

 

For example, taken together companies such as McDonald's, Burger King, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and Wendy's--and their stockholders--have made billions of dollars from the economic difficulty that many African Americans have found themselves in as a long-range result of slavery. This economic hardship has enabled these companies to employ (some say exploit) young African Americans at disgracefully low wages while also selling their inexpensive products to the African American community-- often to the detriment of their health--because persons couldn't afford to eat at higher-priced restaurants.

 

As a beginning form of reparations, I would also like to see every big corporation doing business in African American communities--such as Disney, Starbucks, Old Navy, and Blockbuster Video which recently opened large stores in Harlem--required to develop partnerships with the communities so they actually do what they profess to do: put as much into the community as they take out. Though they claim to serve the community by creating badly needed jobs, in truth they don't provide that many, and the jobs they do provide usually pay very little. It's a sheer case of throwing around a few pennies to disguise the fact that they're carting out big dollars--dollars that should be staying with the black-owned establishments they're displacing. This hemorrhaging should be stopped through something in the field of reparations.

 

            THE EFFORT TO BRING ABOUT REPARATIONS

 

The main thing is, when it comes to procuring reparations, I don't think anyone or anything should be ruled out as long as there's no unfairness to other exploited people committed in the process.

 

As a person who benefits daily in more ways than I even know from the iniquity of slavery and from the ensuing white privilege that continues to rule our nation today, I will always feel ashamed until the horrendous crime committed by my people has been redressed. I am more grateful than I can say to every person who began working as early as the mid 1860s to bring this about as well as to all those who continue the effort so persistently now.

 

There is, for example, the late Queen Mother Audley Moore, the great pioneer for human rights and mother of the modern reparations movement, who began her work for reparations in 1968.

 

There is Dr. Imari A. Obadele who, in 1987, called for the creation of the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America--N'COBRA. Co Chaired by Dorothy Lewis and Hannibal Afrik, this important organization continues to grow in strength and number with every year.

 

There is John Conyers, the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, who, in 1989 introduced for the first time his H.R. 40 bill "Commission to Study Reparation Proposals for African-Americans Act." He continues to reintroduce this bill in every legislative session since.

 

And there is the Honorable Silis Muhammad, human rights and political leader as well as leader of the Lost and Found Nation of Islam. He began researching international human rights law in the late 1980s in order to deliver a reparations petition to the UN in 1994. In 1998 he began traveling regularly to Geneva, Switzerland to intervene before the human rights bodies on behalf of African Americans as a People.

 

And I am very glad to hear that plans are being laid by the Reparations Assessment Group, a powerful assemblage of civil rights and class-action lawyers headed by Harvard law professor Charles J. Ogletree, to seek reparations in the US courts.

 

I say let the thought about reparations to African Americans go as far and wide as the crime itself.  It will help cleanse America!

 

By Marie Roberts

You can contact Marie Roberts at mrobertsusa@yahoo.com.

 

Many thanks, Ms. Roberts, for your support of Reparations for Descendants of Slaves.  Your concern and ideals are genuine, albeit rare indeed.  T.Y., Editor

 

*****MARK YOUR CALENDAR*****

 

SUNDAY REPARATIONS MEETINGS

 

Muhammad Mosque of Islam in Boston, Massachusetts invites you to attend weekly meetings each Sunday at the Dillaway located at:

 

      183 Roxbury Street

      Boston, Massachusetts

      (Next to the Timilty School, in Roxbury)

 

Meetings start at 2:00 PM, but on the last Sunday of the month we start at 1:00 PM. 

 

For more information and to schedule free lectures on Reparations at your church, school, business or organization, feel welcome to telephone Minister Malik Al-Arkam at (617) 770-2017. 

 

*********

 

FREE THE MIND... FREE THE PEOPLE... FREE THE LAND

 

THE  NATIONAL  COALITION  OF  BLACKS  FOR

 

REPARATIONS  IN  AMERICA  (NCOBRA)

 

*********

 

February 24, 2001

 

REPARATIONS  AWARENESS  DAY

 

The Philadelphia Chapter of N'COBRA presents "REPARATIONS AWARENESS DAY".   We will be honoring our "elders:"  Calvin Robinson and Edward Robinson. 

 

Place:

Berean Presbyterian Church

Broad & Diamond Streets 

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

 

KEYNOTE SPEAKER:  Dr. Leonard Jeffries  

 

TICKETS ARE  $15.00   PLEASE CONTACT THE PHILA.

CHAPTER OF N'COBRA AT  (215) 604-3658  after Jan. 1 2001.

 

Submitted by J. Holmes

 

*********

 

April 4, 2001

 

N’COBRA  CALLS  FOR  APRIL  4^TH  REPARATIONS  WALK-OUT

 

FROM:  Alvin Brown

 

RE:        April 4th 2001

 

TIME:    1OAM-3PM

 

WALK-OUT OF SCHOOLS  INCLUDING COLLEGES DEMANDING REPARATIONS NOW! 

 

MARCH  ON  ALL GOVERNMENT OFFICES In Honor Of ROSA PARKS AND ALL COURAGEOUS Freedom Fighters Led by The TUPAC Generation

 

*********

 

 

August 31, 2001 - September 7, 2001

 

THE LEGACY OF THE BLACK POWER MOVEMENT

AND

THE UNITED NATIONS WORLD CONFERENCE AGAINST RACISM

 

The December 12th Movement, based in New York, and the National Black United Front (NBUF) are co-sponsoring a Black Power conference in support of the United Nations World Conference Against Racism.  The United Nations World Conference Against Racism will be held in Durbin, South Africa from August 31, 2001 - September 7, 2001.

 

By Dr. Conrad W. Worrill

 

***

YOU MUST BE IN SOUTH AFRICA NEXT AUGUST 2001!

January 10, 2001

 

To All Concerned African People:

 

 

The United Nations' World Conference against Racism begins August 31, 2001 in Durban, South Africa.  The December 12th Movement International Secretariat is seeking you to be a part of the Delegation of 400 African people to South Africa in support of two crucial issues:

 

1) Declaration of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade as a Crime against      Humanity

 

2) Reparations for Africans in the Diaspora and on the Continent.
   

Malcolm X said that we must put our situation on the international agenda, in the international arena.  We must be there in a massive presence to defend our human rights.

Join us, if you want to go to Durban in support of these issues. The application is included in the text of this message, as well as an attached document in .rtf format.

Costs:
We estimate that the total cost for the trip (the Conference is from August 31, to September 7) , i.e. travel, lodging and meals, will be approximately $2500.  If you are planning to go we need a deposit of $250.00 immediately.

We, along with the National Black United Front, are working with a Black Travel Agency based in Chicago which has already made airline travel arrangements to and reserved blocks of hotel rooms in Durban. Your check or money order should be made out to AARCO TRAVEL AND TOURS and should be sent to the:

December 12th Movement
456 Nostrand Avenue
Brooklyn,  NY 11216

For more information on the World Conference against Racism and the struggle to defend the human rights of African people, contact us at:

Telephone #718-398-1766
Fax #623-1855
E-mail:  D12M@aol.com

IF YOU WISH TO GO TO SOUTH AFRICA, PLEASE FILL OUT THE FORM BELOW.


APPLICATION FORM FOR THE DURBAN 400

NAME:

ADDRESS

PHONE :

FAX:

E-MAIL:

ORGANIZATIONAL AFFILIATION (if any):


YES: I want to be a member of the Durban 400.  Enclosed is my check in the
amount of $_______________.


_____________________________________________________________
NAME

 

*********

 

PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

STRATEGIC CONFERENCE TO THE UN WORLD CONFERENCE AGAINST RACISM

In August of 2001 the matter of addressing centuries old issues surrounding  anti-black racism will advance to the world table for discussion at the UN World Conference Against Racism in Durban, South Africa. While this date appears to be quite some time away community organizing is taking place all over the world in preparations for the conference. As a grassroots non-profit media initiative The Drammeh Institute will participate in this event along with several other NGOs (United Nations term for non-governmental organizations) that have over the years maintained a strong united front in matters of social justice and human rights for Blacks globally.

 

Due to poor media coverage many Americans are not aware of the potential impact the World Conference Against Racism may have on contemporary Black life.  Many others still are not aware of the conference being held. Therefore, to
promote greater exposure, and, as part of a fundraising mission to support NGO
representation in South Africa, we will hold a Strategic Conference to the UN
World Conference Against Racism on Saturday, February 10, 2001 in Co-op City, New York. This forum is being developed in co-sponsorship with N'COBRA, The December 12th Movement and Coalition of African American Churches and Community Organizations in Co-op City. The intent is to keep the greater public informed about the strategies of delivering a clear and unified message to the world table about crimes against humanity as respects African peoples
throughout the Diaspora.

 

The Strategic Conference will be taped and televised in the months leading up
to the World Conference and will also have a cybercast distribution. We ask that you lend your support by attending this important event and, or, support any of our co-sponsoring organizations to cover expenses related to their World Conference participation. The suggested donation for our Strategic Conference is $20 for regular admission and $15 for students and seniors. You will need to make reservations now to secure seating as seats will be limited.


Please feel free also to sponsor this event if you are not able to attend. Also,
you can visit our website on or shortly after December 19 when we will provide
full details for The Strategic Conference and other information.

The Drammeh Institute, Inc., New York

http://www.thedrammehinstitute.org/

 

*********

 

DRAW YOUR OWN CONCLUSIONS,

Asante Sana... Robert

RHazard988

 

PROPOSAL FOR

REPARATIONS  LAWSUIT  -  FEEDBACK

 

FROM:  rowireng@tampabay.rr.com (Robert Wirengard)

              (Published as was received)

 

      TO:  RHazard988@aol.com

 

i have provided a "settlement" proposal that each may choose to settle on in the united states.  each who rejects it may accept status quo and/or seek other remedy, holding toward the future, possibly in the hopes of greater reparations. i now address the similar structure that may be incorporated globally, and for each respective, local citizen to accept or reject.  This deals in reality and concept.

 

1.  Europe and the U.S. continue to limit trade from many southern hemisphere nations.  trade should be free from such self-interest protectionism.  in fact, given free trade, many emerging nations then, when they are in "feast", not "famine", will be able to sell/trade and, from such cash derived, repay debts rather than be subject to debt - financial slavery? - indefinitely (or humiliative "forgiveness" on the part or europe and the u.s.).

 

2.  instead of the corporate "welfare"/protectionism of, for example, $38 billion being paid annually to or for agricultural interests in the u.s.(to not grow food, or for gov't to pay for it, telling the agricultural investor to plow it under), such funds be given directly, say $100.00 to each individual person in an emerging nation.  Understand that that payment may reach 380 million people and that for many of them, within their economies, the $100 will constitute a third of their annual income.  Thus if europe follows suit to just double the u.s. dollars, individual people in emerging nations will be assured sustenance, life.  AND, understand that the reason this arrangement will work is because u.s. and european enterprise will want their dollars and deutschmark back: we/they will grow the food and make the products that other nations are being denied.

 

3.  i stress that the in-betweeners, those officials who are corruptible within many of our governments, are not the ones to receive or control the allocation of the above funds.  such funds must go directly to individuals and that they in turn have free choice not only to accept or reject, but also, in accepting, the free choice of how they may spend such funds (i assure again, free, unrestricted, competitive enterprise will find ways to reach the people, to let them know what wares they have to sell, and people, within and knowing their own surroundings, will know what will be important for them to purchase).  Understand some of the elements of capitalism and its financing:  fixed costs must be covered or a project is not doable, the investment will never be successful.  Governments, in relation to people, must cover the fixed costs of life - food, shelter and healthcare - or a society will never be successful.

 

 

From:  Robert Hazard

 

TO:     Bob Wirengard

 

 

I suggest that you put this "settlement proposal" in survey form and ask for feed back from the masses for their support and recommendations... We could generate interest and support for your proposals, if that is what the masses want. A good survey representing a cross sampling of individuals and organizations that promote self determination for the Afrikan descendents of those brought here as slaves could get the ball rolling.  Don’t forget the integrationists who have a vested interest in the reparations formula and payments.  They too must have a say.  Your settlement needs the acceptance of the people first.  And then, it must be taken to those who can make the payment.

 

 

 

FROM:  Bob Wirengard

 

      TO:  Robert Hazard

 

the beauty of the formula is that they may stand alone or side by side with what we have.  that is, they may be presented to people who may accept them, while others may reject them and stay as is (and work toward an alternative settlement, indefinitely).  Our masses, then, person by sovereign person, may accept or reject the program.  Those who reject it will not be subject to it, only those who do accept...we would wind up with a structural co-existence, still living side by side, some having settled, others not.

 

for example.  if only ten per cent of people in somalia, kenya, nigeria etc., (or 38 million of the 380 million african people that the u.s. could provide $100 each) accepted, then the u.s. needs only to cut back ten per cent or $3.8 billion for these people, of our $38 billion in agricultural subsidies.  everything else, for all other people, remains the same, status quo, and they have not yet settled.

 

within the u.s., our economy being different, the settlement is $750/month -$9,000 per year - to each man and woman until death, plus open market, universal healthcare coverage (valued at nearly $300 per month per person). (again, minimum wage is eliminated, because the aforementioned is equivalent to - actually greater than - minimum wages; i.e., the non-taxable $1050/month becomes a "living wage").

 

i do not understand your reference to the "integrationist" - but perhaps that does not matter (?) if they do not have to accept any of the above. but please teach me so that i may have a correct understanding and adjust any formulations accordingly, at least to have the integrationist in proper perspective.

 

i currently am trying to get my local u.s. representative to listen to my proposal, so that he will have an understanding of how the relationship of our government to "we the people" can work (an appointment is scheduled for monday afternoon, and it's one i've worked a long time to accomplish).  if i can explain so he understands the merits, your advise as regards a survey will be that much more easy; if he does not, this means having to work against my governance, and that, in itself, is information that would be critical as part of an informed survey (according to amendment 16, congress may tax and spend in any way it chooses, but it should not choose against the people's wishes).

 

Your thoughts are helpful and, I hope to let you know results of meeting my representative. 

 

Thank you,

 

Bob Wirengard

 

***

 

Descendants of Slaves must be compensated FIRST for the enslavement of our forefathers before addressing any “NEW” proposals or suggestions involving financial matters for Black Peoples.  We cannot afford to cloud the thrust or the purpose for Reparations, and much of Wirengard’s suggestion, therefore, should be pending until after descendants of Slaves have been justly served for forced migration, enslavement, and ethnic cleansing that has left us a degraded and second-class people in this World.

 

Tziona Yisrael,

Editor of REPNOW Newsletter

 

*********

 

 

 

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2000. NO. 147993. PRICE:ث1000

 

 

AFRICA  DEMANDS  REPARATIONS

 

 

THE Afrikan World Reparations and Repatriation Truth Commission (AWRRTC) Declared its intention to demand $777 trillion with interest from Western Europe, America, and institutions that participated and benefited from the enslavement and colonization of African peoples.

 

It said by December 2001, an international team of lawyers would be assembled to pursue legal means to demand justice in the form of monetary compensation.

 

This forms part of resolutions dubbed "Accra Reparations and Repatriation Action Plan" adopted after a three-day conference held in Accra.

 

The resolution signed by Dr. Hamet Maulana and Debra Kofie, Co- Chairmen of AWRRTC also reaffirmed its request that the OAU allocate one observer seat To AWRRTC to monitor the progress of reparations and repatriation to its successful

end.

 

AWRRTC called on the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) to allocate four Seats to representatives of the Africans in Diaspora.

 

It said the commission would facilitate the establishment of orientation centres to assist Diasporans to re-integrate into Africa.  AWRRTC would also disseminate information on repatriation through newsletters, magazines, brochures and on-line methods.

 

It said Ghana has taken bold initiative on the African continent by passing the Immigration Bill (Right of Abode) that would enable Africans in the Diaspora and others to settle in the country.

 

The commission said the illegal occupation of African soils which resulted in colonization, destruction and theft of Africa's human, mineral and material resources is "indisputably linked to the burdensome so-called "African Debt Crisis" as well as the socio-economic deterioration of the African society."

 

It reiterated its calls on African nations to either stop debt servicing or refuse to pay but rather use debt servicing for domestic development.  The commission therefore called on the National House of Chiefs to support reparations and repatriation efforts as well as release lands for resettlement and development of agriculture, small scale industry and education.

 

*********

 

BOOK LISTINGS

 

The book listing on Reparations and Black History can be found in REPNOW Newsletters 1 - 5.

 

 

WE SHALL WIN THIS WAR!

Imari A. Obadele

 

*********

 

“Without Sanctuary”

 

The web address for Without Sanctuary” is as follows:

 

http://www.journale.com/withoutsanctuary  Please pass this on to others.

            

This information is out of: 

 

AMERICA'S SHAME:  CONTEMPT & THE LYNCHINGS 

 

James Allen’s photos on the lynchings of Blacks in America

 

*********

 

E-mail Addresses & WebSites On Reparations, Black Issues, and Current Events:

 

Mr. Oscar Beard, Consultant in African Studies / Black Reparations Website:

http://ReadingDoctor.com/slavery.htm

 

Dr. Robert Brock’s Website / Self Determination Committee: http://www.directblackaction.com/

 

N’COBRA / www.ncobra.com | BRC | blackradicalcongress@email.com

http://www.blackradicalcongress.org/

 

Ukali Mwendo

nexusnet2000@yahoo.com

NexusNetwork@thestruggle.edu

 

Reparations WebSite:  http://www.reparationsusa.org/

 

All For Reparations and Emancipation – AFRE

http://www.afre-ngo.org/contents.html

 

The LawKeepers, Co. / REPARATIONS NOW IN OUR LIFETIME Newsletter http://www.thelawkeepers.org/ Click on Newsletter

 

E-mail CureAfre: CureAfre1@aol.com

 

Kweku Lundy, Publisher of Africeur

management@infocomn.de

http://www.africeur.de/

 

Dr.Farid I. Muhammad

(e-mail: muhammad@eastwest.edu). 

Further information concerning IHRAAM is available at http://www.ihraam.org

 

Salim Muwakkil

Senior editor at In These Times

salim4x@aol.com

 

SMS TAPES WEBSITE

The Web Master at SMS information Center with the latest United Nations updates

 

http://pnews.org/boards/racism/

A WebSite on Racism

 

(Gigante) / http://www.uaia.org/

 

http://www.themarcusgarveybbs.com/

 

Conferences, Festivals, and NEWS About AFRICA:

 

“Africana Bulletin” / AfricaWorld@comports.com

 

http://www.africana.com/

 

New Africa Publication:   http://www.africasia.com.icpubs/

 

http://www.everythingblack.com/

 

The Black World Today:   http://www.tbwt.com/

 

Lisa Denman, Editor

The Slaughter: An American Atrocity

phone: (828) 274-4517

fax: (828) 274-5179

http://www.theslaughter.com/

 

juneteentham@earthlink.net. - web site: http://www.19thofjune.com/

 

CUNY Debate (Slavery and Reparations): http://pnews.org/boards/cuny/

 

The Drammeh Institute, Inc., New York

http://www.thedrammehinstitute.org/

 

PURCHASE BOOKS AT:

            The Malcolm Generation

P.O. Box 74084

Baton Rouge, LA 70874 

 

TheBlackList Information

Digest for TheBlackList@topica.com, issue 536
A New "Negro World" - Satisfying the African Need to KNOW.  
Our Mission:

http://www.TheBlackList.net/images/garvey2s.wav

http://www.anti-slavery.com/

 

The Ballot or the Bullet

By El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Malcolm X)

http://www.indiana.edu/~rhetid/s302mx.html

http://www.indiana.edu/~rterrill/Text-BorB.html

http://www.humboldt.edu/~engl406/Z/malcolm/speech.html

 

 

Get Black World Event - BW-Events@topica.com

Events, Happenings and Time Specific News of interest to the World Wide African Family BW-Events-subscribe@topica.com

 

*********

 

COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT REPARATIONS

R E P A R A T I O N S  Defined:

The making of amends for wrong or injury.... Compensation in money, material, labor, etc. payable... to an individual for damages or loss suffered during or as a result of WAR.  (From the Random House Dictionary of the English Language 1966)

Question:

Is the demand for Black Reparations valid?

 

Yes! We have been wronged and injured for the past 500+ years! The European Slave Trade was not a "trade" but a war for unpaid labor and human capital waged against our African ancestors. This 400-year war resulted in social and economic devastation with millions of African people killed or held as captives. And in the past 100+ years of life after emancipation, Black people have been wronged and injured by white supremacy and segregation in every aspect of life in the US.

 

Question:

Is Black Reparations just for past grievances?

 

No! The economic, social, psychological and spiritual health of the African American is in worse condition today than ever before! There is more segregation, more unemployment and underemployment, more imprisoned Black folk, we have poorer health and education, more racial violence and police
terror than 25 years ago. All of this is the result of the continual abuse of power by white supremacists and institutionalized racism that evolved out of the legacy of slavery and Black Reconstruction-crushing Jim Crow laws.

 

Question:

Before which bodies would the Black Reparations demand be raised??

 

The Black Reparations Demands would be presented to the US Government, the United Nations, The World Court as well as numerous corporations, families, banks and insurance companies who owe their existence and wealth because of their extracting centuries of unpaid African labor and continual racist job discrimination.

Questions:

Is Reparations just confined to Black People in the US?

 

No!  For many years, Brothers & Sisters throughout the Americas, Europe and Africa have been organizing around and demanding reparations! The enslavement of African peoples was a global thing.  And wherever we are, we are in motion demanding reparations from the French, Portuguese, Swedish,
Germans, Italians, British, Dutch, and the Spanish governments and corporations who have amassed tremendous wealth and power out of the capturing and exploitation of tens of millions of Africans.

 

Question:

What form or forms would Reparations take?

 

Compensation (payback) will have many forms. It can take on a collective payback form with a central banking system that focuses on collective community economic development. It can also be in a form where African Americans pay no taxes of any kind- just like people of Native American descent do today. Or it can include free medical care and free education from Kindergarten through graduate school at any public or private school. Reparations may be realized also in the form of individual payment- either a lump sum amount or monthly payments over a lifetime. There are other forms in which Black reparations can be realized... these are just a few examples. Reparations on the international scale will have its own set of ways of being realized. The mechanisms for working this out will be determined by the masses of Black folk at a series of peoples' national conventions on reparations implementation.

 

Question:

Who would pay descendants of Slaves Reparations?

 

Reparations would come from the United States Government, other European governments, families, and corporations that have benefited not only from African unpaid labor but also post-emancipation racial discrimination.

 

Question:

Can the United States Government afford to pay us Reparations?

Yes!  By reallocating hundreds of billions of dollars from the bloated military budget and corporate welfare, there would be enough money to begin the reparations compensation process.  Also, by closing the tax loopholes for the rich and their giant corporations and vigorously collecting the taxes, there would be additional tens of billions of dollars available.

 

Question:

Who else has been raising the demand for Black Reparations?

Hundreds of thousands of people of African descent all over South and Central America, the Caribbean, Europe and Africa have been organizing for the past 30 years various conferences, studies and actions demanding not only the cancellation of national debts but reparations for the rape, plunder and ruthless exploitation of their respective nations and peoples. There's the Jubilee 2000 group (South Africa and throughout the Diaspora); The African Reparations
Movement in England; The Black Consciousness Movements in Canada, Brazil, Peru, Columbia, Venezuela, Panama, Surinam, Nicaragua, Belize and Honduras. Throughout the Caribbean there are reparations groups working within the frameworks of regional organizations or linked to Jubilee 2000 or the 50 Years Is Enough Campaign.

 

Question:

Will we ever get Reparations?

 

Yes! It is through consistent, organized struggle and resistance against what seemed to be impossible odds that our ancestors freed themselves from slavery. That same consistent, organized struggle and resistance spirit of our ancestors- taken to a higher more sophisticated level- will insure us that Black Reparations will be realized for our children. Remember Brother Frederick Douglass' powerful
words: "Power Concedes nothing without a Demand.  It never did, and it never will!”

 

Question:

How can I join in this Reparations Movement?

 

You can work with us - The Black Radical Congress - by helping to build the Mass Movement to Demand Black Reparations.  Feel free to call us at:

 

The Black Radical Congress

122 West 27^th Street

New York, NY   10001

Telephone # 212-242-4201

E-mail:  ebontek@earthlink.net

 

*********

 

HOW CAN I SUPPORT THE REPARATIONS MASS MOVEMENT?

 

1.)  I suggest that you approach the city in which you reside for reparations, support for reparations, or information as to how to obtain reparations.  Your strategy may be a model we all may benefit from at the local level.

 

2.) Next, demonstrate your willingness to join others in the struggle for reparations.

 

3.)  I would hope that you join or start an N’COBRA chapter in your locale area (if there is none) and become an active and energetic member/reparations information resource, for your Afrikan brothers and sisters.

   

Submitted by R. Hazard, N’COBRA

 

*********

 

Interesting Information of Significance and FYI:

 

CALIFORNIA JUNETEENTH NATIONAL HOLIDAY NEWSPAPER STORY

The Press-Enterprise Company for Riverside and San Bernardino Counties

Sunday, January 7, 2001

John H. Thompson Sr. and Trudy Coleman are leading a nationwide effort to have Juneteenth, which celebrates the freeing of slaves, declared as a national holiday. The official Juneteenth flag is to the right of Coleman. (Jay Racz / The Press-Enterprise)

Activists pushing for new national holiday Inland residents work for official recognition for Juneteenth, a day celebrating the end of slavery.

By Sharyn Obsatz
The Press-Enterprise

***

Several Inland black activists are leading a nationwide call for President-elect George W. Bush to declare a national, unpaid holiday in honor of Juneteenth, which celebrates the freeing of black slaves.

Juneteenth America Inc. founders John H. Thompson Sr. of Chino Hills and Trudy Coleman of Ontario argue that declaring it a national holiday would demonstrate Bush's willingness to reach out to the country's 35 million African-Americans, many of whom did not back his campaign in November.

"It's an acknowledgment of slavery being involved in America's history," said Thompson, vice chairman of the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation and head of Juneteenth America, which hosts a national convention each year. "All of us have worked together as Americans to make this country as great as it is."

July 4, 1776, did not bring freedom to the black slaves who toiled on Southern plantations and helped build the U. S. Capitol, he said.

Instead, freedom came through the Emancipation Proclamation, issued in 1863 during the Civil War. Slaves in Galveston, Texas, did not get word of freedom until June 19, 1865. Juneteenth is a state holiday in Texas, Oklahoma, Florida and Delaware.

People of many races fought to free the slaves, Thompson said, so the holiday should be recognized universally, not just celebrated by blacks.

Organizers of other Juneteenth events in Mead Valley and San Bernardino have mixed feelings about the proposed national holiday, which would be celebrated on the third Saturday in June.

National acknowledgment of Juneteenth would encourage people of all races to celebrate it, said Renee Hill, director of the Mead Valley Community Center, which is backed by the Family Service Association of Western Riverside County. Hill said the community center hosted its 3rd annual Juneteenth last summer, drawing about 600 blacks, whites, Latinos and Vietnamese.

But the organizer of last year's Cal State San Bernardino celebration fears making Juneteenth a national holiday could dilute its significance.

"It's a day that people are celebrating because it's important to them, not because it's sanctioned," said Wallace James Allen, board chairman of the IMPROVE Business Community Development Association of San Bernardino, which was the host of the Juneteenth event.

"When Martin Luther King's birthday was not a holiday, there would be thousands of people gathered" around a downtown San Bernardino statue of the civil rights leader, Allen said. Now that King's birthday is a holiday for everyone, he said, "fewer people understand why they're celebrating, and there's more people celebrating."

Last summer, more than 2,000 people traveled to Washington, D.C., to celebrate Juneteenth.

A small group from the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation met later in June with President Clinton's staff to urge him to make it an official holiday and establish a Nationl Juneteenth Commission to encourage its observance.

Congress passed a Republican-sponsored resolution in 1997 recognizing the holiday, but Clinton has never issued a proclamation to make it official.

Jena Roscoe, White House associate director of African-American Affairs, declined last week to discuss why Clinton has not declared Juneteenth a national holiday.

"Every year, he has put out a presidential message supporting Juneteenth Day," said Roscoe, who also declined to comment on whether Clinton might make it an official national holiday before he leaves office.

National Juneteenth Holiday Campaign leader Rev. Ronald V. Meyers, a medical missionary working in the Mississippi Delta area, said his group has sent Bush a letter urging him to proclaim the holiday once he takes office. Meyers said black activists nationwide have collected thousands of signatures backing the creation of a national holiday.

He sees the holiday as a litmus test for Bush, whose campaign won support from only 9 percent of black voters nationwide and 11 percent of black voters in California, exit polls showed.

"Embracing efforts to establish Juneteenth Independence Day as a national holiday is clearly a tremendous opportunity for President-elect Bush to embrace the African-American community in a very powerful way and acknowledge the need for racial reconciliation and healing in America," Meyers said.

In June, Bush sent a letter congratulating Washington Juneteenth celebrants, writing: "Juneteenth is a reminder, not only of how far we have come, but how far we can go together, as `one nation under God, indivisible.' "

Bush's transition spokesman, Scott McClellan, said the president-elect recognizes Juneteenth's importance but could not comment on whether he will make the day a national holiday.

"Right now, we're focused on the transition, but we certainly appreciate their input," McClellan said.

Legislators in several states are debating making Juneteenth a state holiday.

State Sen. Nell Soto, D-Ontario, is considering introducing legislation this year to make Juneteenth a holiday in California, Soto spokeswoman Rosie Gaytan said last week.

Coleman, whose ancestors were slaves, views the potential state and national holidays as opportunities to educate people generations removed from slavery.

Growing up in California, Coleman said, she never understood the historical reasons behind prejudice she experienced on cross-country road trips. At age 13, heading to a Washington, D.C., family reunion in 1969, she was chased out of a hamburger stand in New Mexico. The owner called her names and aimed roach spray at her.

But Allen, who has organized Juneteenth events for years, argued that if the government wants to get involved in recognizing and rectifying black slavery, officials should focus on making reparations for slave labor instead.

”I'd rather they not waste my time unless they're going to talk about reparations,” Allen said.

"People who are sincere are celebrating Juneteenth already."

Sharyn Obsatz can be reached at by e-mail at sobsatz@pe.com or by phone at (909) 245-2934.

Published 1/7/2001

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                                                         *********

 

"If you are thinking one year ahead, sow a seed.

if you thinking ten years ahead, plant a tree.

If you thinking one hundred years ahead ...

educate the people."

 

A Manchurian Proverb

Compliments of Shakira A. Ali

 

 

*********

 

Up You Mighty Race; We Can Accomplish What We Will!!!! 

 

I Remain to Serve,

Senghor Baye>>

 

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What is it going to take before Descendants of Slaves finally decide to do something about our predicament and the injustices we face?  Our children are suffering in every respect, and we have no legacy.  Let’s all become “Activists” in fighting for Reparations and our human rights, before our children start asking, to our chagrin, why we have permitted this unfairness and degradation to continue for so long.

 

Tziona Yisrael, Editor

REPNOW Newsletter

[www.thelawkeepers.org]

 

*********

 

 

WHY THE-POWERS-THAT-BE OWE US…BIG TIME!

 

In the year 1837 (alone), seventy-two newspapers published articles about the barbaric circumstances involving Slavery in these United States.  Some of them concern the following:

 

270 people tried to escape from slavery:  122 of them were males, 48 were females, 18 were children and young adults

 

44 of the men and 7 of the women were scared

 

22 had been brought from distant markets

 

13 were from separated families

 

4 men and 2 women had irons on or were marked

 

6 men and 1 woman had been freed but were later taken to prison and sold back into slavery

 

the ages of the fugitives varied from six months to sixty years

 

2 men were marked with shot, and 1 was branded

 

1 slave’s master had given permission to kill his slave

 

More statistics for the year 1837 follow:

 

5,400 total fugitives

960 female fugitives

360 child fugitives

80 women with children

880 men with scars

140 women with scars

260 separated from families

80 men in irons

40 women in irons

40 men marked with shot

20 men branded

 

20 licenses to kill

30,500 total persons advertised for sale

3,580 females for sale

2,000 women with young children for sale

8,400 persons sold in estates of deceased slaveholders

880 persons sold by the sheriff

13,400 persons sold by auctioneers

 

And White Folks have the nerve to state that we were treated well by the Slave Masters, and that Slavery was better than life in Africa.

 

Black Saga, The African American Experience, A Chronology, by Charles M. Christian

 

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LAST BUT NOT LEAST:

 

JUST IN CASE YOU FORGOT:

 

 

TITLE:  The Ballot or the Bullet

 

A speech given at a symposium sponsored by the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), at Cory Methodist Church in Cleveland, Ohio, USA:

 

AUTHOR:  El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Malcolm X)

 

DATE:  April 3, 1964

 

EXCERPT:

 

When we begin to get in this area, we need new friends, we need new allies. We need to expand the civil-rights struggle to a higher level -- to the level of human rights. Whenever you are in a civil-rights struggle, whether you know it or not, you are confining yourself to the jurisdiction of Uncle Sam. No one from the outside world can speak out in your behalf as long as your struggle is a civil-rights struggle.  Civil rights comes within the domestic affairs of this country. All of our African brothers and our Asian brothers and our Latin-American brothers cannot open their mouths and interfere in the domestic affairs of the United States. And as long as it's civil rights, this comes under the jurisdiction of Uncle Sam.

 

But the United Nations has what's known as the charter of human rights, it has a committee that deals in human rights.  You may wonder why all of the atrocities that have been committed in Africa and in Hungary and in Asia and in Latin America are brought before the UN, and the Negro problem is never brought before the UN. This is part of the conspiracy.  This old, tricky, blue eyed liberal who is supposed to be your and my friend, supposed to be in our corner, supposed to be subsidizing our struggle, and supposed to be acting in the capacity of an adviser, never tells you anything about human rights. They keep you wrapped up in civil rights.  And you spend so much time barking up the civil-rights tree, you don't even know there's a human-rights tree on the same floor.

 

When you expand the civil-rights struggle to the level of human rights, you can then take the case of the black man in this country before the nations in the UN. You can take it before the General Assembly. You can take Uncle Sam before a world court. But the only level you can do it on is the level of human rights. Civil rights keeps you under his restrictions, under his jurisdiction. Civil rights keeps you in his pocket. Civil rights means you're asking Uncle Sam to treat you right. Human rights are some thing you were born with. Human rights are your God given rights. Human rights are the rights that are recognized by all nations of this earth. And any time any one violates your human rights, you can take them to the world court. Uncle Sam's hands are dripping with blood, dripping with the blood of the black man in this country. He's the earth's number-one hypocrite.

 

He has the audacity -- yes, he has -- imagine him posing as the leader of the free world. The free world! And you over here singing "We Shall Overcome." Expand the civil-rights struggle to the level of human rights, take it into the United Nations, where our African brothers can throw their weight on our side, where our Asian brothers can throw their weight on our side, where our Latin-American brothers can throw their weight on our side, and where 800 million Chinamen are sitting there waiting to throw their weight on our side.

 

Let the world know how bloody his hands are. Let the world know the hypocrisy that's practiced over here. Let it be the ballot or the bullet. Let him know that it must be the ballot or the bullet.

 

When you take your case to Washington, D.C., you're taking it to the criminal who's responsible; it's like running from the wolf to the fox. They're all in cahoots together. They all work political chicanery and make you look like a chump before the eyes of the world. Here you are walking around in America, getting ready to be drafted and sent abroad, like a tin soldier, and when you get over there, people ask you what are you fighting for, and you have to stick your tongue in your cheek. No, take Uncle Sam to court, take him before the world.

 

COMPLETE SPEECH:

http://www.indiana.edu/~rhetid/s302mx.html

http://www.indiana.edu/~rterrill/Text-BorB.html

http://www.humboldt.edu/~engl406/Z/malcolm/speech.html

 

Compliments of the Black Radical Congress (BRC)

 

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Free The Mind... Free The People.... Free The Land....

 

Robert Hazard

N’COBRA

Board Member

S. E. Regional Representative

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Many thanks to everyone who has submitted support and information for publication to help make OUR Reparations Newsletter the success it is.

 

IF YOUR ORGANIZATION IS PLANNING A REPARATIONS RALLY, CONFERENCE, OR MARCH, PLEASE:

 

E-MAIL Afraqueen@AOL.COM TO POST YOUR SCHEDULED EVENT.

 

For previous postings on REPARATIONS NOW IN OUR LIFE TIME and Newsletters, please go to the following link and click on “Newsletter”:

 

http://www.thelawkeepers.org/

 

This REPNOW Newsletter is The LawKeepers’ contribution to our cause. For information about our determination and direction, please feel free to visit our WebSite and Delphi Forum:

 

http://www.thelawkeepers.org/

 

Yehudah Benyamin Yisrael, President (yehudah@thelawkeepers.org / jwright@blackomahaonline.com / Yehudah74@hotmail.com)

 

Yehudah Yacob, Vice President (MilzAhead@AOL.COM)

 

                           Tziona Yisrael, Executive Secretary (Afraqueen@AOL.COM)

 

    (We Exalt and Sanctify the GOD of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and profess the Laws HE gave to HIS Prophet Moses.)

 

               Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting, get understanding, Proverb 4:7 / Deuteronomy 28th Chapter:  The African Slave Trade