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

Jeremiah 23:8 / Read about the African Slave Trade in Deuteronomy 28^th Chapter.

REPARATIONS NOW

IN OUR LIFETIME

N E W S L E T T E R!

>>>>> #29 <<<<<

AUGUST 2002

***

SPECIAL EDITION

ON THE

“MILLIONS FOR REPARATIONS RALLY”

WASHINGTON, D.C.

“NEVER AGAIN,”

AND

“WE WILL NEVER FORGET!”

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WE ARE HUMAN BEINGS, AND WE OWE IT TO OUR CHILDREN TO ESTABLISH AND DEMAND BETTER LIVES FOR THEM AND FOR OURSELVES!

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GIVE POWER AND MEANING TO

THE REPARATIONS MASS MOVEMENT - GIVE OF YOURSELF!

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

Dr. Robert Brock

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Note from the REPNOW Newsletter Editor:

Although (for religious reasons) I couldn’t make it to the August 17^th “Millions for Reparations Rally” in Washington, D.C., I was able to see the recorded taping of the entire program that Saturday night. I greatly appreciate C-SPAN for being considerate enough to air the Rally for those of us who were not in attendance.

Speaking of attendance, where were the Civil Rights VIPs? You know who I’m talking about! There are Civil Rights Chapters all over the nation, so where was even just its smallest representation? If Black Civil Rights Advocates cannot move in directions that benefit Black Peoples in every respect, then do we really need them? Of all times, those of us involved in the fight for Reparations need them now - where it counts! We need them and most Blacks, if not all, to make it known that REPARATIONS MUST BE PAID and regardless of which Whites or other Peoples were here during the time of the TransAtlantic Slave Trade. This DEBT is the responsibility of the U.S. Government (and all countries) involved in this peculiar institution!

Several of us have criticized the Rally, but I prefer to criticize those who flatly refuse to support the REPARATIONS NOW IN OUR LIFETIME MOVEMENT. To not support Reparations is to say that you are satisfied with the status quo. It is to say that you have no problems with the way Descendants of the Slave Masters are treating Descendants of Slaves.

There is much injustice against Black Humanity throughout this globe, and it’s been evident ever since our enslavement. Those Blacks who don’t see and understand this reality have their own agendas and could care less about those who suffer and who lead miserable lives in impoverished communities under the control of White Folks.

The “Millions for Reparations Rally” was a huge success!!! And Marcus Garvey, founder of the United Negro Improvement Association, and founder of The Black Star Shipping Line would have been really proud.

If some organizations could have planned better for August 17, why didn’t they and in their communities? A Rally, Demonstration, and Protest March could have marked Marcus Garvey’s 115^th Anniversary in at least 30 states. AND THE MORE, THE MERRIER AND THE BETTER in order to get the word out about the meaning of Reparations and why every Descendant of Slaves should get out and support this “OUR” Movement. These gatherings give everyone an opportunity to get involved, speak out, and share their souls, testimonials, songs, RAPS, poems, history, etc. These rallies are also all about letting our people know that we are making our move and are preparing Descendants of Slaves to get ready for a long awaited renaissance, whereby, Black Peoples will once again be the “Movers and the Shakers,” but in a compassionate and positive sense that will bring new meaning to World Leadership.

The Internet, countless newspapers, and radio stations carried stories about this August 17^th Millions for Reparations Rally. As well, C-SPAN broadcast the gathering LIVE - TWICE! Accordingly, at least - AT LEAST 500,000 more Black Folks were awakened to knowledge of Reparations and got the message that many organizations are involved in a fight to acquire Reparations from the government to end all the affliction, degradation, mis-education, ghetto life, and injustice we withstand in a land of plenty where there is supposed to be freedom, liberty, pursuit of happiness, and justice for all. You can be sure that August 17’s “Millions for Reparations Rally” was an eye opener for many Blacks who knew nothing about Reparations and who will now volunteer their services in this our fight for REPARATIONS NOW IN OUR LIFETIME! Let’s face it, WE ARE TIRED OF THIS LIFESTYLE and of WORKING LIKE A SLAVE!

Yes, indeed, there is no question that the “Millions for Reparations Rally” was a huge success!!! And it has even made the efforts of having other Reparations Rallies that much easier. Future planners can now design a program on a larger or smaller scale and with or without VIPs. But whatever is planned, we now know from August 17^th that it is so important to inform as many people as possible, organizations, and churches so that all will get involved. Also, because of this Rally, we have learned that we must all write to our government officials for their support of H.R. 40 which is for the study of U.S. Slavery and the feasibility of Reparations.

And besides, these rallies are also an opportunity for Black Folks to come together during the summer months to enjoy each other’s company in outdoor settings and even during the winter months to enjoy some good indoor, Black entertainment, as well as hear factual history about our people that we don’t see and hear on television or read about in the newspapers. There are any number of things to do to raise Reparations awareness. Hey, make plans for a Fashion Show sporting Afrikan Garb around a Reparations Conference. Now, that would be exciting. In any case, just remember to take your children and especially our teenagers so that they, too, will get involved in this phenomenal thrust for Reparations.

Personally, I would have liked to have seen more famous names in sports, the entertainment industry, authors, educators, attorneys, politicians, and clergymen speaking out for Reparations. However, between now and next summer, there is plenty of time to organize scores of Reparations Rallies throughout the country and from one coast to the other enabling everyone to attend and support this our Reparations Movement. And don’t you just know that this lead will encourage Blacks all over the world to get involved, also. And once we have these Conferences, Demonstrations, and Rallies down to a science, I would like to see AN INTERNATIONAL FUND established for contributions from ALL Nations that grew wealthy from the free labor of Blacks out of Africa.

Make no bones about it, the “Millions for Reparations Rally” was a huge success!

We must build a UNITED FRONT in fighting for Reparations. And the sooner the better! Make every gathering a success! It’s our input and our great NEED for Reparations that will bring this DEBT to fruition. If Brothers and Sisters are desirous of putting on a REPARATIONS RALLY and seek assistance as to how to go about setting one up, then we should make it our business to help them in every way possible. Bottom line, this is a BLACK TOGETHERNESS THANG!

Many thanks to everyone responsible for making the August 17^th “Millions for Reparations Rally” possible!

Tziona Yisrael, Editor

REPARATIONS NOW IN OUR LIFETIME Newsletter

www.thelawkeepers.org

(Click on “Repnow”)

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PLEASE CONTACT YOUR CONGRESSMEN AND SENATORS

(As soon as they return from their summer vacations in about a month from now.)

Viola Plummer, Conrad Worrill, Representative John Conyers, ((D) out of Michigan), Bob Law, Ken Bridges, and many others who attended and spoke at the August 17^th “Millions for Reparations Rally” all encourage us to write to our Congressmen and Senators to let them know that we mean business - if they want our vote then they should know to support H.R. 40 which is a STUDY of the legacy of Slavery and the feasibility of Reparations. Therefore, suggested letter to these government officials follows:

SUGGESTED LETTER TO OUR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS

REQUESTING THEM TO SUPPORT CONYERS’ BILL H.R. 40

Date

Your Address

City, State Zip

Your Telephone Number

Name of Your Government Official

Address

City, State Zip

Dear Representative (or Senator, whatever the case may be):

Please be advised that I am involved in the Reparations Movement for the benefit of Descendants of Slaves, and accordingly I am seeking your help to correct an historical injustice of an untold magnitude that effects Blacks in all facets of life in these United States.

I am requesting that you be so kind as to support Rep. John Conyers Bill H.R. 40. Please know that this Bill is only a STUDY of the legacy of Slavery and the feasibility of Reparations.

Your help in this regard could very well be a first step in enabling Descendants of Slaves to heal from the horrors of our past, as well as from the many injustices, race hatred, and discrimination we now endure.

Your speedy efforts to support H.R. 40 would be most appreciated. And if I can count on your assistance in this regard, then you can be sure that you can count on my support in the next election.

Respectfully,

Your Name

(You can obtain your government official’s D.C. addresses from the Internet or from “Information” by dialing 411. If you dial the Information Operator, ask for the telephone number of the Congressional Representative of your district, as well as the telephone number of your Senators for your state.)

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REPARATIONS MARCH: A SOBER ASSESSMENT

August 18, 2002

When people said things like, "I'll see you at the Reparations Rally" -- I laughed it off as impossible, since my experience from the Million Man March was that finding any one particular person in the crowd, would be like finding a needle in a haystack. Of course I didn't expect a replication of the numbers of folks at the Million Man March, but I hoped for at least a quarter million (250,000) Africans to turn out.

Well, I went to D.C. yesterday and I saw nearly every friend and comrade whom I knew would be in attendance at the March.. This is because the crowds were so disappointingly thin. There were only a few thousand people (top estimates 20,000 -- low estimates 5,000) in attendance and the hundreds of people whom I personally knew were very visible. The positive spin on this march was that it was "a beginning." Hopefully so. But others, self-included, had reasonable fears that such a low turn out could have more negative impact than not having a march at all, as it would be exploited by the white media to show there was little support among black people for reparations

In examining the pros and cons of a March which was designated "Millions for Reparations" yet turned out perhaps only 10,000 die hard nationalists rather than the masses of our people (it did not even attract the local masses from the immediate DC/Baltimore area), we have to examine the role of leftwing opportunism. This event was prematurely organized by a small cadre anxious to seize a vanguard position in the reparations struggle --- and therefore, a vanguard position in the black struggle since reparations is the key black struggle of the 21st century. (This is not to negate the serious work that this organization has done in Durban and on other local, national and international issues; it is merely to say that a serious and avoidable mistake is a mistake, and in fact, a major strategic error, and that no group is above criticism).

After the March was first announced some months ago, another more established reparations organization reluctantly joined in to give an outward show of solidarity to the masses. But behind the scenes there was much animosity and infighting between organizations, as they each struggled for hegemony over the movement, or the vanguard position in the movement.

A Friday evening pre-March rally in DC --which actually amounted to a counter-rally -- featured ketnote speakers Minister Louis Farrakhan, Maulana Karenga, Prof. Charles Ogletree of Harvard (Randall Robinson's ally), as an effort by one reparations organization to re-assert its centrality and leadership in the struggle and take it back from the usurping organization. Yet these speakers should have been at the Saturday rally (but only one was there: Farrakhan).

This march could have been successful if it had not been called prematurely, and if it had had the broad support of many groups, rather than being the work of one or two small organizations seeking the limelight, and another larger organization seeking to undermine the limelight-seekers. A march like this, needed at least two years preparation, building momentum from city to city with smaller pre-March rallies, in the same fashion that the NOI built up support from city to city for The Million Man March.

We are still unfortunately in a stage of development, where this movement is fractured due to the rivalries, jealousies and egos of various political players and their organizations.

Can we afford this sort of petty rivalry and jealousy when our LIBERATION is at stake???? Are we gonna repeat the same mistakes of the sixties and seventies which allowed COINTELPRO agent provacateurs to exploit inter-organizational and intra-organizational rivalries and thereby derail and destroy our movement?

Wake Up, Black people, Wake Up!

Submitted by wewinnin@juno.com

***

THE REPARATIONS MARCH: A SOBER ASSESSMENT

August 19, 2002

Dear, "Correct-To-A-T" Brother Statesman!

Fear NOT! Although you are ABSOLUTELY correct about the Reparations Demo on Saturday, we must be glad that ANY effort is made...we also recognize that self-aggrandizing motivations are self-defeating in the long run, and we ARE in the struggle for actual SURVIVAL in this racist/colorist-diseased society FOR THE LONG DAMN RUN!

Worry NOT! We, who have been partially 'behind-the-scenes-Blacktivists,' are fully AWARE of HumanTraits like envy, fear-of-being-in-the-background and counterproductive jealousy which permeate ANY human movement - but because those of us who know WHO "WE" are, will not be deterred, confounded, dismayed OR derailed by the recognition of such MINOR, flea-bite, frenetic peregrinations, the attempts of small-minded, paranoid Blackfolk will NOT tangentialize the movement or determination of strong minded Blacktivists!

Remember! Yea, though I walk through the Valley of Racism/Colorism, I will fear no evildoers, for my BlackAncestors' MONUMENTAL SPIRITs are with me!

And YOUR contribution, by stating the obvious is NOT to be downed....we're fighting not only for reparations, but for FREE SPEECH FOR BLACK FOLK too! (Remember the U.S. Congress denunciation of Brother Khallid Muhammed's speech in Keane, N.J! I certainly will NEVER forget THAT! - They have NEVER denounced David Duke OR Prat Buchanan!)

Hope to see YOU at The International Conference Against RACISM, in Barbados, WI 2nd through 6th October, 2002!

The Struggle Continues!

Your Sister-in-THE-Struggle,

Carol Taylor R.N.

President/Founder:The Institute For "Interracial" Harmony, Inc.

littleblackbook@juno.com

Submitted by TheBlackList

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THE REPARATIONS MARCH: A SOBER ASSESSMENT

August 18, 2002

Dear Scholar Statesman:

I will stay with your positive assessment that at least it is a beginning. Well, actually a second beginning because Dr. Brock had a national Reparations march from Frederick Douglass' home to the National Jewish Holocaust site some 6 or 7 years ago.

But we will need to work through the issues you present. I feel that it is important to look at the fundamental human dynamics of these problems in addition to the fact that we are grappling with some slave mentality. I just don't want us to Black out on ourselves. Neither Dr. Brock nor The Honourable Silis Muhammad were invited to this Rally. What could account for such an error as that? These are major, major players in the Reparations Movement, especially as pertains to International Law. So, were these the domestic law Black Reparationists at the Rally? Does it break down like that? At any rate, we must go forward to a larger more organized gathering as Nurrudin is calling for and to coordinate that gathering through the people who have been attempting to organize it over the years.

Thanks for your insights. I think a much overdue statement was made to the world nonetheless via C-Span. That is progress!

Omowale Za

African Reparations Activist

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THE REPARATIONS MARCH: A SOBER ASSESSMENT

August 18, 2002

I, believe your assessment is on point, concerning the March. These "leaders" were well aware of the efforts of others in the field of Reparations, most notably, The Honorable Silis Muhammad, whom these same people had seen and been within the United Nations, as Mr. Muhammad pointed the finger at America and her utter destruction of Black Human Rights.

By trying to ignore the valid legal argument of Mr. Muhammad in the United Nations, their stated basis for Reparations trivialized the argument and plight of our people. It made them appear as scam artists trying to extort a dollar.

The ending of the March played to that theme, by a rapper chanting "I
want a house on the hill, with a 2002 Cadillac Coupe Deville."

*********

A FORWARDED MESSAGE FROM AN N’COBRA MEMBER

FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH PT. II

August 18, 2002

To: N'COBRA

These are my feelings and observations the morning after the August 17
reparations march and rally.

As I said in my last e-mail N'COBRA's town hall meeting on Friday evening
would be a great contribution to the reparations movement. From what I
have been told by Adjoa Aiyetoro, by phone, it was just that. In fact that
event was the highpoint of the weekend-and in fact the participants in that
event, and others, should have been the body to call for the march and
rally, in the first place, if in fact the call should ever have been issued.

Somebody please tell me what I read in Rev. Sun Yung Moon's Washington
Times is untrue. If what I read is true or even close to true then-

>From where I am sitting the reparations movement is in a crisis-on the
brink of losing all credibility. In order to regain credibility N'COBRA
must take the lead and declare that something larger, more expansive than
N'COBRA is needed to advance the movement. N'COBRA must be serious about
building a coalition. We can do this by shifting our focus, not our
support, our focus away from the lawsuits and towards politics. We must
engage America politically on the issue of reparations. This has yet to be
done as far as I can see.

In no way am I saying N'COBRA should become something else. In fact
N'COBRA needs to become stronger but we need to be about building something
that is bigger and broader than we are. Once again I return to the issue of
H.R. 40. Here is the tool to move and empower the reparations movement.
(I've been saying this for some time.) Don't get stuck on the bill itself.
The point is creating the political power, and the tool through which the
political power is expressed, to get the bill passed. In this way we can exercise hegemony over the issue.

> The second element that August 17 exposed is that there needs to be some
organizational structure to this movement. At the moment it is totally
anarchistic with everybody going off in different directions filing this
lawsuit and that lawsuit. There needs to be, it seems to me a reparations
coordinating council, made up of delegated organizational representatives,
that actually do the work. People like Johnetta Cole and Richard America
have no place on such a body. Though I know Johnetta well and love her
dearly, she sits on the board of Coca Cola and is inaccessible to the
people. Richard does great research and should be utilized thusly. If such
coordination is developed never again would a national reparations rally
and march be called in such a sectarian, politically stupid manner. All
regions of the nation should be represented on this coordinating council,
that would not need to meet more than once or twice a year. John Conyers, or someone from his office should chair this body.

Adjoa informed me that Ajamu suggested N'COBRA hold a meeting of all the
chapter chairs. This is an excellent idea. If such a meeting were held
the main points of discussion, it seems to me, should be the political
development of the reparations movement and how to take this issue to as
wide a spectrum of black America as possible. Another point would be the
development of the above discussed co-coordinating council. A third point
could be defining short term achievable political goals for the movement.
Everybody needs to win sometimes. An Army that never wins any battles has
no hope of winning the war.

Finally, N'COBRA needs to distance itself from the most reactionary, sectarian elements of the Black movement. More than at any time in the past, the class nature of the African-American community is most pronounced. The Reparations Movement needs to develop relationships within and without the Black community. Those Black elements that would sabotage those goals and needs are not to be trusted. I am referring, of course, to the New Black Panther Party. In the Bay Area (San Francisco-Oakland) where the New Black Panther Party has absolutely no presence, David Hilliard, Fredericka Newton and Erica Huggins (former Black Panther Party leaders)
have denounced the New Black Panther Party as being likely agent provocateurs. This is the organization that created the only incidence of violence during last springs anti-war rally. Using them as security for the reparations rally was as politically brilliant as the Rolling Stones hiring the Hell's Angels as security for their Altamont concert. Obviously N'COBRA didn't ask the NBPP to do security but why would we have anything to do with anyone who would?

So where do we go from here? Where we should have been going all along-away from the NBPP, D-12 etc., toward Black workers, Black Churches, those within the black community who are already organized and have been so for some time. And who knows, just maybe, it might be possible someday (in the distant future), to build an insurrectionary movement within the NAACP, around the issue of reparations that would turn the whole organization around.

***

FORWARDED MESSAGE FROM N’COBRA MEMBER

August 19, 2002

To: All Reparationists

I am Gregory Carey, President of Reparations Central

And I am very proud of the exposure that reparations is getting. All events and activities are precursors to the things to come. In the future we will know exactly what else can better serve the reparations movement but for now, this was an excellent start.

We all know we can criticize or analyze this historic event that has just taken place, but the beauty of it all is that it happened and was televised world wide. I say to all of you, THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING OF THINGS TO COME!

We need a National Congress where delegates from all over the world can come and strategize and plan for the winning of reparations. Once we have a couple of those we will be taken much more seriously by all nations. Once we have a National Congress we can come to agreement on everything that we are in disagreement about, mainly what form reparations should take and who should pay reparations.

Just remember for me; we didn't get out of slavery on the very first insurrection or meeting by abolitionists, but we did get out of it. We didn't get out of segregation when we gave the first march or protest. There had to be further planning and strategic meetings. So for now, be positive because this event August 17th did a lot for the reparations movement.

G. Carey

greg@carey.net

http://www.reparationscentral.com

[I agree with you completely! T.Y., Editor]

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A NATIONAL CONGRESS!

August 19, 2002

To: Reparationists

Here's a challenge to all of you....A NATIONAL CONGRESS!

Let's work on having one next year in September or October. Let's contact people that
would be interested in helping to have this Congress, so delegates from all over the world can come and bring resolutions, analyses, and remedies on the subject of reparations. That way a National Congress would break up any negativity or cooptation from just a few that have their own agendas.

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MILLIONS FOR REPARATIONS RALLY

August 19, 2002

To: All Reparationist

That rally August 17th was just that, A RALLY.

It was a place where people came together to show some support for the reparations movement, that's all. Now it's time to get serious and to do what we need to organize an InterNational Congress.

- At an InterNational Congress we can establish policy that we can circulate to our political bodies for endorsement,

-We can create and pass resolutions supporting reparations,

-We can figure out in committees exactly how to move the Conyers Bill forward, and

-We can have worldwide participation from reparationists from all corners of the globe present their issues about reparations.

It will cost millions of dollars to launch an InterNational Congress but it is necessary, so we can get down to business.

The rally in Washington, D.C. was not a place where they wanted to get down to business. Nor was the town hall meeting set up for that. This issue of reparations deals with Afrikan people from all over the world, and we must make the Congress one that will include our people from all over the world.

If you are serious about reparations then you need to talk about convening an InterNational Congress. I don't care to talk about the rally because it served its purpose.

Now it's time to get real! Even the first InterNational Congress might not go off without errors, but at least it will deal with the political, economic, social, and cultural aspects of reparations. And it will be represented by people from every organization that deals with reparations and people from all walks of life.

G. Carey

[If there is anything positive to be said about the White “Jews,” it is that they can organize effectively, politically and socially, to meet every single one of their objectives!!! And with our intellect, if we just work together, we will be just as successful. No, we don’t have the money, but there are many Black celebrities that do! They must see that we are serious, and then we will see all the fruits of our labors. T.Y., Editor]

***

INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON REPARATIONS

Count Reparations Central in on the planning for a worldwide congress on reparations. I will have to attend your meeting through conference calling, and I would like to suggest you set up a way that all out of country, town, or state people can join the discussion via teleconferencing or web conferencing.

THE FOLLOWING IS AN EMAIL I JUST SENT REGARDING WHY AN INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON REPARATIONS IS NEEDED: Can you think of anything else that I might have left out?

Whereas I think that the upcoming conference will serve some specific purpose it does not come close to what I am talking about. In the past we had Pan African Congress' led by such notables as George Padmore, W.E.B. DuBois, Kwame Nkruhmah and others. They were designed to deal directly and specifically with the Negro, as we were called then.

The Congress that I am talking about will deal only with the worldwide issue of reparations. The only way that you solve any problem is to bring together your educated elite and let them criticize, analyze, and theorize the problem. Then have them make suggestions for solving them. This InterNational Congress on Reparations will firstly bring all the reparations organizations together from all parts of the world so we can understand the international aspect of this movement.

Secondly, this Congress will bring resolutions from the common people from all parts of the world that they think are important to the movement.

Thirdly, this Congress will have information sessions, seminars, lectures on every aspect of reparations that is needed for a clear understanding.

Fourthly, this Congress will start the process of unifying the movement.

And fifthly, policy, resolutions, and a clear set of remedies will start to formulate from it. We have to stop playing games and get serious about getting reparations and the only way to do that is to come together....

G. Carey, President
Reparations Central

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NEED FOR A NATIONAL REPARATIONS ASSEMBLY

August 18, 2002

Within six months of this high energy mobilization march and rally, we must assemble somewhere to have a serious national grassroots conference, parliament, assembly or congress (or the first of a series of such conferences, parliaments, assemblies, or congresses) where we plan our strategy and our destiny.

At this First National Assembly, First National Congress, First National Parliament --whatever we choose to call it -- we need delegates from all of the major cities and regions were our people are concentrated. Usually national black conferences are dominated by high profile organizations and high profile charismatic leaders. Without excluding the high profile organizations and leaders, this needs to be a conference of grassroots organizers representing the rank and file of our black nation. This congress needs to reflect collective leadership.

There needs to be a national call for position papers, before this congress actually meets. These position papers should lay out how reparations should be implemented and should deal with issues such as how much money is owed to us; how it should be dispersed (my own view is that they should pay us annual installments for the next 100 years); whether it should be allocated to individuals or to communities; if allocated to communities, what the major projects should be (building universities, public elementary and secondary schools, hospitals, our own radio and tv netwooks, our own publishing houses, our own factories, by our own farmlands), etc.

We need to get serious about this and approach the issue of reparations payments as a self-governing people. . . .We need to see this struggle as wrestling a payment from the United States such that we can become as sovereign and independent as possible.

Black people, this reparations payment is supposed to be the money that finances the institutions which become the foundation of our own nation-state. We shouldn't be begging for this as their head-scratching, "yes-suh boss" second-class citizens looking for a hand-out, we should be demanding this. In short this is payment from one government to another for war crimes. That's why we need to self-organize into a National Congress. . . a black government of our best and brightest revolutionary minds. We need to create 5, 10, 25 and 50 year growth and development plans. Once we have decided upon a plan that is national in scope, then the black National Assembly needs to issue our demands to the white government.

Reparations Now! One God, One Aim, One Destiny! It's Nation Time!

Peace and Blessings,

Brother Yusuf

YusufNuruddin2@aol.com

Submitted by TheBlackList@topica.com

[It would be better for Blacks to determine how REPARATIONS should be spent than to wait for Descendants of the Slave Masters to do it for us. Therefore, any National Assembly, National Congress, or whatever it might be called is, of course, definitely necessary for disbursement of Reparations monies. And we would be remiss and irresponsible NOT to include the grassroots. T.Y., Editor]

*********

A REPARATIONS WEBSITE

August 16, 2002

I sent a suggestion to TheBlackList recently about the need for a National Assembly, which would be preceded by a call for position papers and policy papers. I think that a lot of people have various ideas and formulations about how reparations should be implemented.

I myself have a position paper with footnotes, “Promises and Pitfalls of Reparations," which is too large to post in its entirety. I have tried to send it to TheBlackList as a file attachment and it bounced back to me as undeliverable. I do thank the person who posted the entire text minus the extensive footnotes. Is there a website, or can some of you brilliant young brothers and sisters create a website, which would be solely for the purpose of posting position papers and policy papers on reparations?

In fact those of us who are at universities, should do a call for papers and put together symposiums, so that we get the best and brightest formulations from all over the country, as well as from all over the world, since reparations is a global issue. But a website for posting position and policy papers is crucial and while I don't have the skills to set up a website, I know that several of you out there do have the skills and I hope that someone will take up the challenge.

Perhaps this website is already accomplished. A brother whose email is greg@carey.net informed me about a website named Reparations Central. Below is an excerpt from his email. I am not sure if the website is up and operating or under construction. I will send a copy of this email to him to solicit his response.

From greg@carey.net: On Reparations Central...One of the main objectives of this organization is to unify the reparations movement. We plan to have everyone working on reparations place a link on the website, so people can support them or at least know what they are or are not about. We also plan to put all reparations information on this website from all sources so we can be a major database so reparationist can see what other reparationists are doing. It's mandatory to have a central database to work from. Our goal is to have everyone use this database to do scholarly research so we can solve the issue at hand.

Submitted by Yusuf Nuruddin <YusufNuruddin2@aol.com>

TheBlackList Discussion Forum -

http://themarcusgarveybbs.community.everyone.net/

[The Greg Carey’s Reparations Central is up an running, and his E-mail address and WebSite are as follows: greg@carey.net http://www.reparationscentral.com]

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RALLYING ‘ROUND REPARATIONS

August 17, 2002

WASHINGTON - “They owe us. I want justice. They built this country off the free labor of our ancestors” Antoinette Harrell-Miller, at the rally

(CBS) A few thousand black demonstrators rallied on the Mall in Washington on Saturday to demand that the federal government pay blacks reparations for slavery and decades of discrimination.

"I want to go up to the closest white person and say, 'You can't understand this, it's a black thing,' and then slap him, just for my mental health," Charles Barron, a member of the New York City Council, told the crowd.

The demonstrators, numbering about 2,000 to 3,000, came from all parts of the United States, many traveling by bus from as far away as Texas.

With the U.S. Capitol in the background, they chanted "Black power! Reparations!" and "Start the Revolution!"

"Apologize White America," said a sign carried by one demonstrator.

Barron, a self-proclaimed "elected revolutionary," said if the government did not act swiftly he personally would storm the Treasury Department and take the money for reparations.

Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan told the crowd, "America owes the black people a lot for what they've endured. We cannot settle for some little jive token. We need millions of acres of land that black people can build.”

“We're not begging white people,” said Farrakhan, one of several speakers at a rally organizers billed as “Millions for Reparations.” “We are just demanding what is justly ours.”

While Farrakhan and Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., attended, many major names in the black civil rights movement were absent, including the Rev. Jesse Jackson and the Rev. Al Sharpton.

“The people on the ground are the ones we want to give exposure to,” said one speaker, Hannibal Afrik, 68, of Port Gibson, Miss. “If it's grounded in the people, it will be victorious.”

Conyers, who for 13 years has been proposing a commission to study the institution of slavery, urged the crowd to pressure Congress.

“Only the Congress can do what we want done,” Conyers said. Lawmakers are now on their summer break until September.

The reparations movement has gained momentum in the past year.

Earlier this year, a group of slave descendants sued three companies, claiming the companies - or their corporate predecessors - unjustly profited from slavery.

The Reparations Coordinating Committee, which includes many prominent attorneys and scholars, is working on a separate lawsuit against the federal government.

Those at the rally said it was time for action.

“They owe us. I want justice,” said Antoinette Harrell-Miller, who drove 19 hours from New Orleans with her husband Dennis to attend. “They built this country off the free labor of our ancestors.”

Jaki Mungai of Philadelphia called the rally “a dream that's starting to come true.”

“Every other group has been compensated for the wrongs done against them. Africans in America - we are the only ones who haven't,” said Mungai, who heard about the rally on the radio and decided to join in.

Ken McDouall of Durham, N.C., one of a handful of whites at the rally, said the reparations issue “cuts to the core of the history of injustice of America.”

“America likes to pretend there are equal rights for everyone but look at the history of black people,” McDouall said.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/04/13/national/main506099.shtml

By Antoinette Harrell-Miller, at the rally

CBS Worldwide Inc.

Submitted by ALARKAM@webtv.net

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ORDER YOUR REPARATIONS RIBBON-PINS TODAY!

The Reparations Ribbon is now Available!

From: Reparations Mobilization Coalition

The ribbon-pin has been a very popular item! It is a small plastic lapel pin shaped in the form of a red, black and green ribbon. The Reparations Ribbon is appropriate for any style of clothing that a Sister or Brother would wear.

If organizations and individuals need 100 or more pins, please allow 3-5 weeks delivery time due to the fact that we have to re-order an even larger quantity. Now, that's a great "problem" to have!

They go for a donation of at least $1.00. Include 75 cents for every 10 ribbons ordered for shipping and handling.

All organizations and individuals interested in bulk quantities as well as any correspondence, please email the Reparations Mobilization Coalition at: <reparationsnow@tbwt.com>

Please make checks payable to: "Brecht Forum/Reparations" and send to:

Reparations Mobilization Coalition

122 W. 27 Street 10th Floor

New York, New York 10001

All proceeds go towards the Coalition's Reparations Update! Newsletter and its grassroots educational/mobilization work.

Thank you to all who have responded so positively

Reparations Mobilization Coalition
<reparationsnow@tbwt.com>
Visit: www.murchisoncenter.org/joshua/reparations

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HUNDREDS OF BLACKS RALLY IN WASHINGTON D.C.

FOR SLAVE REPARATIONS

SAYING

COMPENSATION OVERDUE

The Associated Press

August 17, 2002

W A S H I N G T O N — Hundreds of blacks rallied in front of the Capitol on Saturday to demand slavery reparations, saying that compensation is long overdue for the ills of that institution.

On the Net:

Millions for Reparations: http://www.millionsforreparations.com

Submitted by The BlackList

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CASH ALONE CAN NEVER RIGHT SLAVERY’S WRONGS