Soulbook13 1980
Soulbook13 1980
Soulbook13 1980
SOULBOOK
Editorial Board
Administrative Board
International Editor
Eusi Kwayana
_
wnich were forced cm our ancestors^ our
art-empts to bring about a new cohesion and National Libe
integration of our people would have been
destroyed long ago.
Therefore, in a word, it was because
of the PAN AFRIKAN character of our soli-
darity we were able to become a NEW nation-
ality in the face of resisting the de-
struction of our old Afrikan nationalities
by the imperialist slave traders1 and
slavemastersf plantation system. Thus, in
a real scientific and historical sense we
are Afrikans, but also a new Afrikan nation-
ality and hence we are NEW AFRIKANS and not
Afro-americans as we have been led to be-
lieve on account of the lack of maturity of
our Black nationalist ideology; which like
everything else which characterizes a
colonized people: our nationalism has been
forcibly arrested and distorted because we
have been denied the free development of
nations.
LONG LIVE NEW AFRIKA.1
REMEMBER THE JONESTOWN MASSACRE!
THE BLACK NATION CHARGES GENOCIDE.1!
'WE ARE OU
Black Struggle LIBERATO
THE LEGAL FOUNDATIO
OF NEW AFRICA, NEW
AND THE PRESENT NEW
MENT
'the traffic
united state
confined to t
That these enslaved Afric
of property prior to the
Proclamation is made abun
the same Chief Justice Ta
v. Sandford, Supra. He s
10
extend the abolition of slavery to the individually, though left
whole class of persons held in slavery in american political-social
the united states - became part of the nevertheless possessed the
organic law of the united states when it right of liberty. Indeed
was ratified by the requisite number of of this right becomes of i
states in December 1865. Again, like the tance precisely because th
Consfication Acts and the Emancipation left outside of the americ
Proclamation before it, this Amendment
confirmed the creation - in legal social community.
contemplation - of a new class of free 5. And what exactly
men but, significantly, left this class of liberty? Mr. Chief Jus
outside of the american political-social writing for a unanimous co
community. Like the Emancipation 1954 decision in Boiling v
Proclamation before it, the Thirteenth US 497, 98 L.ed 884, 74 S
Amendment contains no statement of
political or social rights in the american Although the Co
community which were, by either the Acts, assumed to defi
the Proclamation, or the Amendment, with any great
conferred by the american community, at term is not con
that time, upon this former class of freedom from bo
property now became a class of free men. Liberty under l
And subsequent history makes clear that the full range
no conferring of political or social rights the individual
in the american community was intended. pursue, and it
The new class was simply created and left. restricted exce
governmental ob
4. But, being composed of free
men, as the Proclamation so emphatically 6. It is of relevan
insisted and the Amendment confirmed, this here that since the new c
new class and its members individually outside of the american p
were possessed of rights - irrespective community, a "proper gover
of action or inaction by the american could not be determined b
community - simply because they were no the americans alone: the
longer property but free men. We take as because of the Confiscatio
our guide the american Declaration of Emancipation Proclamation
Independence, the foundation upon which Thirteenth Amendment, two
the united states Constitution itself rests. communities, each with it
This Declaration tells us that men, as a proper governmental obj
opposed to property, are endowed with definition no limiting of
certain "unalienable rights11 and that among class or for individuals
these rights are life and liberty. The
new class of men, and its members
12
as an inherent right can ever occur in a their inalienable liberty
legal sense without the consent of said to the new class by the u
class or individuals. And as we shall government when first con
show, the nationalist portion of the new existence of the class.
class never gave such consent to the
american community either explicitly or 8. In his first me
implicitly. Congress in December 1865
President Andrew Johnson
7. Above all the right to liberty right of the new class to
inhering in the new class and its tion, including necessari
individual members necessarily extended return home, to Africa.
to political activity. And the most Johnson: "While their rig
pressing political matter facing the new migration and expatriatio
class was the matter of its future questioned, I would not a
political construction and/or future forced removal and coloni
political relations. Certainly the
liberty of the class would extend to the 9e Earlier the uni
right to seek admission, as citizens, President Abraham Lincoln
to the american community. The right to authority given him by th
liberty for the class would extend to the Act of 17 July 1862, soug
right to return home, to Africa; for, slaves freed by the war,
these iTiea were in atnerica as the result this same period Mr. Linc
of kidnappirg and wrongful transportation. island from Haiti, by ce
The riprt 1 liberty would extend to the he attempted through the
r; ! Amoral emigration. And, not Interior, in 1863, to se
t.he right of liberty in the new the new class in an inde
vrviiid extend to the right to set their own, similar to Li
up an independent State of its own: for, hundred members of that
aitcr ftll. this class had been legally Class which sought indep
»?^nf i ructed by the Confiscation Acts and actually went to the isl
flie Emancipation Proclamation, and project was ill-supporte
confirmed by the Thirteenth Amendment, The rest returned to the
r?ide of the american community, and in a united states naval
] '>!d itself on Mamericann soil in great * their fellows in the str
ners, extreme poverty, enforced full sovereignty for the
ignorance, and severed homeland ties African nation - but, no
precisely because of wrongful kidnapping, where they had been for
wrongful transportation, and wrongful activity of the american
exploitation, all by the americans. nment,11 to use President
Importantly, all four options - all in negotiating with this
four of which would actually be pursued created in the united st
by members of the new class in exercise of
Council representing t
alist portion of the new class, point::s a result of these nego
clearly to the fact that the americani- Sherman issued his Spe
government understood that in additiorn Number 15, dated 16 Ja
to the right to join the american order set aside for Bl
community and the right to return homa-ie from Charleston south,
(to Africa) and the right to emigrate: rice fields along the
elsewhere, the new class also possessed, back from the seas and
as a matter of that liberty which is bordering St. Johns Ri
an inalienable right of men, a fourth The Order further sai
right: the right to establish formally possession of which l
own independent nation. Moreover",, authorities will affo
having worked in conjunction with chant until such time as th
ion s Government in the united statttes themselves or until C
in the Haiti-ceded island project thees regulate their title.f
american Executive Government had give-2n accordance with the n
recognition to the independent New Af*rican of this Savannah-base
nation that had already formed among £» New African Governmen
ion of the new class. Lincoln's Order also provided t
ion was completely consistent with the and in the settlement
obligation which the Emancipation Procla- established, no white
mation placed on the united states to unless military offic
recognize and maintain the freedom of: detailed for duty, wi
such persons". It was, moreover, conssis- reside; and the sole
with the directions given by management of affairs
Congress in the Confiscation Act of 18162. the free people thems
to the united states
10. In like manner, proceeding and the acts of Congr
under powers granted by the united staltes thousand members of
Constitution and by Congress in the settled under this o
?°n!"cJtion.Acts and ^the President
-he Emancipation Proclamation otheur 11. Here, the
representatives of the united states ment of self-governm
xecutive Government extended recognition communities under th
to other centers of Government of the united states on lan
itew African nation. During the cans claimed ultimat
Christmas season of 1864 for instance the New Africans had
united states Secretary of War EdwS title by General She
GenP?^ S-?^nt°S 3nd United states A™^ for the Congress and
General rWilliam Tecumseh Sherman met inn must be recalled tha
avannah, Georgia, with a Black Government united states Congre
Ib
Wade-Davis bill of 4 July 1864, and right to liberty, inclu
confirmed later by the Reconstruction determination, just as
Act of 1867, was that the States in British colonies in am
rebellion had all committed "suicide" parallel with the Thirt
as States and were now in the status with Liberia, is furthe
of territories. Under Article Four, the language used by Ge
Section Three, Paragraph Two of the Saxton, who was placed
united states Constitution, Congress Executing the Sherman or
had and has "Power to dispose of and General Saxton, was cal
make all needful rules and regulations to testify. Said he:
respecting the territory or other Special Field Order Num
property belonging to the united states,' their colonization on f
and General Sherman - proceeding under ... Public meetings wer
the Confiscation Acts and the exertion used by those
Emancipation Proclamation - was acting was to execute this ord
as agent not only of the President but emigration to the Sea I
of the Congress. Thus, his transferring faith of the Government
of the land to the New African communi- pledged to maintain the
ties was completely in accordance with
the law. And the placing of the communi- 12. Similar cente
ties under united states protection with African nation under Ne
only possessory titles put the New ments were established
African nation here on a footing with Captain John Eaton, nam
the various Indian nations. That of Negro Affairs by Gen
neither General Sherman nor the South Grant in 1862, had, by
east Coast New African Government 72,500 members of the n
expected the New African communities cities on plantations a
to remain for long under united states villages, "almost all o
protection is clearly captured in the tendant Eaton reported
words of General Sherman's order which self-supporting - the s
envisioned the development of New African industrial class anywhe
military capacity. The General promised planters, mechanics, ba
the protection of united states military, draymen, etc., conducti
authorities "until such time as they can on their own responsibi
protect themselves ..." It is to be as hired laborers." Da
kept in mind, however, that this center ippi, in what is now Wi
of the New African nation, while in a including the plantatio
subject relationship to the united rate President Jefferso
states, was nevertheless a center of occupied by the Union A
free men possessed of the inalienable 1864. Here a New Afric
was established with al
16 under its control and w
logistics of removing
under New African sheriffs and judges and or, at least, nthe Negr
other officers. Again, as on the East armed and disciplined.1
Coast, the centers of New African Lincoln went on to add
Government in Mississippi remained that it would be bette
under the protection of the United all to some fertile co
States Army and ultimately subject to climate, which they co
united states law, like many of the themselves.11 Thus, by
Indian nations. But also, like the did the american gover
East Coast centers of the New African the fledgling New Afri
nation, these communities were the right of the new c
established on land that was in terri- of its inherent libert
torial status, and they were composed Statehood.
of persons who, like the residents of
the Thirteen Colonies, possessed the
inalienable right to liberty.
13. Moreover, the Liberian
experience was quite close in point of
time to Presidents Lincoln and Johnson,
their subordinate officials, and the In its mild form,
united states Congress. Liberia was
settled by the private enterprise of means civil diso
freed slaves and white supporters, with non-compliance,
united states government help in 1822. resistance. In its
In 1847 it was declared a republic. treme form, it
The words and deeds of the said united rebelliousness, r
states officials with respect to the subversiveness,
Haiti-ceded land, with respect to the
South Carolina Sea Islands, and with tremism. All of
respect to the Mississippi frontier were applied by
make clear that a similar establishment States governme
was envisioned by them. leaders and to a
Black protest th
14. Consistent with this impressive sojourn in Amer
pattern of recognition and with an
understanding of the right of the new especially durin
class to independent Statehood, Presi- These same wor
dent Lincoln, following the passage of used against us
the Thirteenth Amendment by both houses our deterioratin
of the united states Congress in the 1980s.
January 1865, and his signing, but prior
to ratification by the States, directed
General Butler to report to him on the
20
r
New Afrikan Literature
The thrust of this b
to show the need for a c
among Afrikan People in
by Baron James Ashanti tential role that literat
the movement towards Afri
the North Amerikan Contin
of this independent Afrik
insured by its scientific
mental form.
!!Theart of revolutionary This is not a survey
literature linked with terature, but rather a t
concrete social practice ... venue, a catalyst for di
can raise the consciousness kan writers in amerika.
of an oppressed people.11 progress within the lite
ternal struggle, in the
philosophical debate. T
are certain trends within
plines and the possible
dencies have on the mass
as the perceivers of art
dencies mentioned may be
in one discipline than a
cies are quoted because
are universal within the
I have mentioned th
and Neo-Afrikan literatur
(first installment) comes by way of explanati
Conferences and seminars
arts and letters it is d
that as one listens one
and sisters born in the
the afrikan diaspora as
This is said as if we ar
happen to be black, as i
people came to amerikan
legal settlers and immig
tionary Black Nationalis
11 just because you1 re bor
make you a biscuit." When Afrikans from from chattel slavery CL863
the continent refer to us as Black amerikans or reject amerikan citizen
a dichotomy is drawn between us and they captive Afrikan people who
Perhaps our continental brothers do not per- up the Afrikanity,
ceive the alienation which is caused by Taking an objective l
their perpetuation of that kind of social of oppression which Afrika
balkinization. The dynamic mentioned is in amerika, we must clearl
particularly interesting because some of the tool such as culture, whic
same brothers who participate in it claim into weapons of colonial
to be Pan Afrikan in their world view. be allowed to exist in an
Although Afrikans in amerika have developed of upward mobility or righ
New Afrikan culture where we populated the
south as slaves, we are still nonetheless
Afrikans.
Using an empirical approach to Jamaica's
cultural mores, who can deny that there exists
Twi, Hausa, and Igbo linguistic influences
upon the Jamaican Nation-Language? In
the same country, Jamaica, who can deny
the fact that the Pocaimina and John Canoe
religious sects have large Afrikan influen-
ces which guide their modus operandi? Who
can refute the fact that there are start- We, as an Afrikan peo
ling similarities between the Haitian Re- amerika by an illegal set
ligion of Voodoo and the Continental Afrikan in a life and death strugg
religion of the Yoruba Peoples? Who then worlds1 colonizer, amerika
has the falsfied courage to examine the cul- more apparent and explicit
tural mores of the Sea Islands (located off closures that the amerikan
the coast of South Carolina and Georgia) fered with the internal a
and say that the presence of the Ewe, Yoruba, vereign governments of: A
F^nte, Twi, Bambara, Melinke, Wolof language MPLAfs Angola, the People
does not exist in the Gullah Dialect? Viet Nam, Revolutionary C
The present study,by revealing the the Congo, etc., etc,,, As
very considerable influences of several we have in amerika, a fir
West Afrikan languages upon Gullah with the world's jailer.
will, it is hoped, remove much of the slavement of Afrikan Peop
mystery...(1) as one nation within the
As an Afrikan people kidnapped from our in- legal settler nation, whic
digenous and original sociological environ- form for the euro-amerikan
ment, we, in amerika, were never given a tion which in turn create
choice after our so-called "emancipation" basis for the rise of ind
as a system of world wide
workers, Yes, Afrikan Pe
do have a specific first
the world's jailer, for a
mother country of world w
anti-imperialist and to the
the world's jailer. that they are a free people
Afrikan People in amerika exist in a and be telling the truth at
modern age which holds historic significance We may be the only slaves
for mankind. It is a time for celebrating drive luxury limousines, bu
the victories of the world's National Libera- slaves.
tion Struggles, It is a time for cele- If we are not free, th
brating the victories of a United Vietnam, of Andy Young notwithstandi
of Angola, and Mozambique. It is a time are we? We are a colonized
for the destruction of the racist regimes colonized People we can onl
of southern Afrika, It is inhumane for one through political struggle,
to submit to one's oppressor, because relen- to culture only a National
ting to oppression denies the oppressed their can produce a National Cult
humanity. terature is an extension.
The fact that the Afrikan masses are beration front should creat
lander seige from the dominate euro-amerikan dialectical materialism whi
proletariat of amerika is more palpable in jective reality, which when
view of attacks of certain white left forma- with historic due process,
tions in Atlanta, and New York and Boston, definition of themselves an
using physical intimidation of Afrikan Grass- ship to self determination:
roots organizations and workers; in Boston To fight for a nationa
as members of the white proletariat (some in the first place to
would call the working class comrades) beration of the nation
went on a rampage, culminating in an Afrikan keystone which makes t
Lawyer being clubbed with an amerikan flag; national culture possi
in New York as Afrikan Workers' homes were Culture is a survival vehic
bombed after they moved into a predominately It is through a literate fo
white neighborhoods. Amerika's bourgeoisie, that scientific investigati
after erecting a world platform of exploita- of scholarship can be pursu
tion from profits squeezed from an Afrikan be truly said that there is
underclass goes even further. The amerikan of civilization without the
bourgeoisie, in the form of Nelson Rockefeller scientfic investigation and
own a monopoly on the synthetic heroin, Me- sive techniques of scholars
thadone. Methadone maintenance is in fact The role of literature
a chemical war of attrition. a vehicle of literal commun
As Revolutionary Black Nationalist, our the stage of the Afrikan Li
analysis of any portion of our liberation inside amerika, can carry b
struggle must be scientific, for we can no and supportive impact on th
longer allow critical analysis to be directed Movement. In the sphere of
from a vague emotionalism which was the hall- Afrikan Literature can be u
mark of Black Cultural Nationalist in the elements of their working c
mid 60's and early 70's. These are hard Manifestoes and position pa
times. valid forms of literature,
Try as we might, Afrikan People cannot
prove to themselves, nor to the world's ture can support a National
on a day to day basis throu
tion of revolutionary princ
poetry, drama, novels, songs, etc. When
the disciplines mentioned are produced with
the intent of political struggle and Afrikan
Self Determination those themes become Popula
understood by the Afrikan Masses on a daily
pragmatic level and internalized.
The art of revolutionary literature
linked with concrete social practice and
scientific political development can raise Is
the consciousness of an oppressed people
domestically colonized as an Afrikan Nation.
The function and phenomenon of conscious
raising is particularly relevant to oppressed
peoples. It is through this aspect of self-
determination that a people can analyze their
alternatives to colonization.
2.6
The Editor:
It is the general opinion
Guyanese/Peoples View of The of Guyanese that the Jones
took place because of the
cratic way in which the r
governs under a fairly de
written constitution.
Jonestown Massacre For example, on Janua
not two months after Jone
parliament, by a majority,
law which postpones local
; (municipal and district c
by Eusi Kwayana elections for the fourth
The disputed referendum t
referenda took place only
Thus the massacre is symb
wedged in between two majo
of democracy.
Guyana is a country
ministers and other leade
ruling party (PNC) were r
declare in writing to the
Mr. Burnham, by March 31,
their assets, "wherever h
The Leader in turn w
to submit his own assets
The opposition in parliam
from the government in 19
lf ... in Guyana 914 persons, some that assets would be publ
80% of them Black ... could die, mostly July or August, 1975. Th
in one locality and alf on the orders published then.
of one man.11
Finally, after other
publish, in a press inter
Guyana Chronicle during t
campaign, the PNC Leader
and a party committee had
30
Apart from the poli
assets submitted and found them to be Guyana Defence Force, Gu
in order and that he had decided not to the Guyana National Serv
publish them. armed force - and the Gu
Militia, which is a PNC
It is this climate that Jonestown there is the YSM cadres,
became possible. For this reason also, military group of the PN
the issue is seen at home as human Socialist Movement.
tragedy made possible only by the
political culture of Guyana, or rather, A University of Guy
the culture of its ruling party. into our "military balan
Dammas) has estimated th
As organisations which fall outside officially armed unit to
the ruling party and its sphere of inhabitants of Guyana.
influence, members of the Council of loyalty of the troops -
National Safety are painfully aware of been little question of
the readiness of the security forces and regime is able to deal w
their various intelligence arms to threat to security and a
infiltrate, penetrate, impose surveill- peace.
ance over and carry out searches against
those who do not toe the line politically, When, therefore, it
that the police and the
Powers callous or cowardly to i
shooting at Port Kaituma
The security forces, the leader- what were the general in
ships of which have all proclaimed these forces in relation
allegiance to the ruling party and the Temple. Our information
Prime Minister personally, are armed had always been told tha
with tough laws such as the Firearms not within their jurisdi
Act and the all embracing National developed as a "state wi
Security Act. This NSA bestows certain on the direct instructio
emergency powers without the need for regime.
the declaration of a state of emergency.
The Gover
Under the Firearms Act firearm
licences are issued on the decision of . ^wors
the Minister of Home Affairs. and
spends
There are laws for the expulsion
of undesirables. In fact two Afro- on the
americans were in January 1973 simply comfort
arrested and expelled without ceremony.
3Z
Minister Burnham, in National Service uniform
Rather than seeing it
The Council of National Safety was american problem, we see i
formed as a response to the fact that linking the people of our
in Guyana 914 persons, some 80 percent - one large, one small, an
of them Black, an undisclosed number of aims at attempting to esta
them Guyanese, some 200 of them children, at the level of press, org
a number of them Amerindian and all of and individuals, around th
them human beings, could die, mostly in issue.
one locality and all on the orders of
one man.
It was also formed.because of the
certainty that this could happen only Commonweat
because our government, well reputed for
its powerful defence of dispossessed
Africans in Southern Africa, could urged on Hum
violate our national sovereignty by
aiding and counselling the development
of a state within a state, based on violations in
undemocratic rule, within its borders.
Although the Prime Minister who
heads this government has not condes-
cended to address Guyanese on the issue
of Jonestown, he has given interviews
to sections of the u.s. press. In one Far from working to "
newspaper, he is reported as saying that the people are demanding a
he wants to "close the chapter of the enquiry" into the secret hi
People's Temple as soon as possible11. Jonestown, from the granti
land and the renaming of a
The state-owned Guyana Chronicle Kanaua Creek basin to the
and radio stations have declared that the inventory taking.
the government has no intention of
holding an enquiry. The whole thing On December 19, 1979,
is, it seems, Man american problem". citizens broke a police ba
And it is only left for the u.s.a. and a one-mile demonstration i
the Guyana governments, we are told, demand an independent enqu
to work things out. police failed to break up
although they made physica
This is not the view of the Council do so. A rally held the s
of National Safety. The majority of Bourda attended by a crowd
the small and dwindling population of "the largest in recent tim
our country is far from callous. the CNS demand for an enqu
Jonestown.
Issues
As a result of overwhelming demands
from the people, the state-owned Guyana
Chronical has vaguely reported that the
government has agreed to set up a
Commission of Inquiry into the "entire
tragedy of Jonestown11 headed by a person
of "judicial stature". No information
has been given about the terms of
reference and the personnel of the
proposed Commission.
EUSI KWAYANA
Secretary,
Council of National Safety
(CNS) Georgetown
3b
A Black Political Prisoner's Appeal
Dear Soulbook:
I am in real need of you
state as briefly as I ca
surrounding my case:
Firstly, let me state th
been once convicted of a
24 and Scott, 26, were b
the Federal Prison syste
consider ourselves membe
taking into view the tre
the many others that are
here receive, i.e., our
we had hopes of going ho
leaving this place, the
Being we have in no way
Mahali Mchawi Obadele citizens. This letter t
true need. As we have n
time and are in dire nee
assistance. I will now
it
of our situation, and wi
... near a place called Leland, honest and directly to t
Mississippi I passed a patrolman who
signalled me to pull over. I did, and In September, 1977, whil
when I looked up through the rear Mississippi, North on Hi
veiw mirror the patrolman had drawn at a small store near Vi
his revolver and was taking aim .... co-defendant went in to
He then fired at our car." good articles and cigare
time he had a verbal exc
store owner, a Mr. Max H
words and Holden called
stated that he could not
in his store. My co-def
punched Holden in the face, out of anger.
He got back into the car and told me what
happened. We then drove up the highway to two different court ap
and stopped and purchased the things we Each of them said, after
wanted at another store. that they could not handl
various reasons. Like th
When we left Holdenfs store, he called go to court, the court ap
the police and stated that we robbed him J. Mack Varner. They sai
of $350.00 and pistol whipped him in the lawyer we had, had taken
head. him if they really think
trial for our lives on th
A few hours later near a place called moment with him. We sat
Leland, Mississippi I passed a patrolman felt him out. His true
who signaled me to pull over. I did, shortly. He even made a
and when I looked up through the rear : "I'd rather be out somep
view mirror the patrolman had drawn his to be here messing with
revolver and was taking aim. I was said shit, We decided t
shocked.1 He then fired at our car. best thing to do was to
The bullet hit the upper door on the and see if we could obta
driver's side, and knocked a piece of tance from some other pl
chrome from the door. (This evidence deal with our own defens
however, was completely overlooked and him to see if he could g
skillfully covered up with the help of • in order for us to get a
our so-called attorney). Also, let me him and him with our cas
state here that we were traveling with flatly refused this. He
all of our personal belongings in the car. were going to trial that
A number of firearms included. The made it clear that he wa
patrolman received return fire and was to go to trial. We prot
wounded in the face. I did not make the what they were attemptin
connection of this exchange, with Holden The judge continued the
until the other officers that arrived afternoon! Stating that
stated that we were suspects in a bank enough time to acquaint
robbery in some town that I can't recall Varner and him with us
the name of. When the F.B.I, came they did. The man was clearl
must have realized that they made a sell us out. When we we
mistake. Then I heard something about court that afternoon, we
a store robbery. dismiss Varner and try
see'k legal assistance e
We first went to court for the alleged to defend ourselves. G
robbery, Vicksburg, Ms. in Judge Ben We then began to protes
Gouder's court. While there we talked let the people be aware
attempting to do to us.
they tried to go on with the railroading The trial in Washington Co
procedures, we protested. Each time we Ms.) was a repeat of the s
were taken out .of the courtroom to the was not as overt. We were
judge's chambers and threatened by Gouder, the court, attorney's John
Finally, he ordered us gagged in the Sidney J, Martin, I can r
courtroom and that was how the trial went, objecting not once during
With us gagged and handcuffed and Varner the whole proceeding. We
acting as if he was defending us. him to fight, but he would
just sat there. He even
pass color photos, picture
wounds that were taken bef
You can imagine the affect
the jury. Some even openl
in court,
We were convicted and sen
thirty (30) years, after w
life without parole sente
patrolman who was wounded
We had not heard from Mart
a week ago, he came here
some research he had under
that by Mississippi law, w
death of said patrolman,
time be re-indicted for c
and to use his words, nyou
get the Gas Chamber11. He
would return with a paper
sign if we wanted to. Wh
bringing us was another "
They had already intimidated Forbes, age done before our trial. T
wanted us to sign was sta
17, the day that we were arrested, and would like to drop our ap
told him that he would get total immunity supposed to have filed, a
from the charges if he said what they time, drop all possibiliti
want him to say. You know how that is in the future. He also s
done, don't you? He did as he was told one else knows about this
and was not charged of anything to my we should not make waves
knowledge. We were tried and convicted appeal thing, and chances
and sentenced to serve a term of life in won't hear anything else
prison without parole, all in one after- All the times that I've w
noon there in Judge Gouder's court in in the past, I RECEIVED N
Vicksburg, Mississippi.
now all of a sudden he ma
down here to talk with us about the
appeal thing. He made it a point to keep
a picture of the gas chambers in our
minds. We did not sign the papers, and POETRY
asked him to get a continuance on his
brief time limit. He said he probably •*
can.
This is our present situation here. You
can probably see what the thing is. Our
situation is bad. Being both parolees,
poor and on top of that, Black. You
know also that in this race/class orientec
society that this does make a difference,
I realize that I am sometimes blunt here.
Believe me, its only in my efforts to
be totally honest and to the point with
you. We need help in the form of a
criminal attorney who is "willing11 to
help us attempt to bring out the facts
in this matter, and bring this into the
courts. A grave injustice has taken
place, and I guess it will even be taken
further (the gas chamber) if we don't
somehow retain an attorney who truly
wants to get at the truth and defend my
co-defendant and myself. You have our
permission to share this letter and
statement of facts with, anyone that you
believe to be interested in the courts
dispensing justice, and assist us in
this matter.
Any effort you make to help us in this
case would be greatly appreciated, as
we are on trial here for our lives,
You have our regards,
Sincerely,
The Lorrrd works in mysterious ways, friends. Stranded in Paris, with Kat
from all that is fine and decent; filled time itself. Then love sm
with barbaric passions, utterly lost. upon me: blessed with Grace
Yes Friends, as the scriptures say, He meet mine and quickly dart
my birthright, spat upon OUR FLAG, life and death (those same
smoked dope, hung out with Black looting our cities in orgie
52
—MBoy from Chicago Message sur 1'Etat
is it always true that you
are equal to a white?1! Sans riref j f imagine au Co
He believed so. Even at the edge of night 1'Etat de lfUnion: situation t
at the edge of the Mississippi drifting between
the high banks of racial hatred its bars, its plus ne nous reste au
barriers, its sepulchral avalanches he believed. 50 ans de cobalt
He believed that a negro was equal to a white. mais pour 35 ans de so
bauxite, au coeur quoi
—-l!Boy from Chicago..."
Rien, zero,
So much sweeps away the wounded pride of racial
vanity and it. cracking of whips mine sans mi
listen to the smooth singing of the bird of the caverne ou r
blood in the blue hedge of the veins de sang plus
he foresees, mounting in the surprisingly blue
field of sky Ermet Till
above the drowsiness of the bluffs
—the step of a mourner, the step of a gleaner— tes yeux etaient une conque ma
your stealthy step, 0 vehement sun bataille de
vin de ton sang de quinze ans
then the night remembered its arm Eux jeunes n'avaient jamais eu
and Big Millam's heavy pistol ou plutot sur eux pesaient
on the living black wall of golden flesh plus que tous les gratte-ciel,
wrote in rusty letters the sentence and the tortionnaires v
state of the Union: de bruleurs de sorcieres,
cinq siecles de mauvais gin de
panting hunming screeching de grasses badaines remplies d
boring drilling bobles rancies
the earth says barks bibles cinq siecles bouche amere de p
bulldozers ils avaient cinq siecles Emnet
the sky says sky-scrapers cinq siecles est 1'age sans ig
I say silence Emnaet T
I say enough
20 years of zinc flau coe
20 years of copper de sang
15 years of petroleum
and the 180th year of these states et pur le tien, qu'il me cache
but in the heart—painless clock mon pain
nothing, zero il se nslle
not a drop of blood --"Garcon de Chicago
in the brutish sterilized white c'est-il toujours vrai que tu
Jieart. autant qufun blanc?"
Oi by aime cesaire
II ciroyait. Mane au bord de la nuit
au bord du Mississippi charriant entre les
hautes berges de la haine raciale ses barreaux,
ses barrieres, ses tonbales avalanches,
il crut. II crut qu'un n^gre valait un blanc.
-"Garcon de Chicago..."
Autant en enporte le froissemont du vent racial
et son
cliquetis de fouets
lui eccute dans le bleu toitsson des veines
chanter egal 1'oiseau du sang
il devine par-dessus le soraneil des berges
tranter dans le bleu chanp surprenant
—pas de pleureuse pas de glaneuse—
ton pas furtif soleil vehement
alores la nuit se souvint de son bras
et le gros colt de Big Millam
sur le noir mur vivant de chair aurorale
en lettres de rouille ecrivit la sentence et
1'etat de 1'Uhion:
haletements vronibissenients miaulercents
forenEnts perforements
la terre dit banques bibles bulldozers
le ciel dit gratte-ciel
je dis silence
je dis assez ASSATA S
20 ans de zinc
15 ans de cuivre Black Free
15 ans de petrole
et lfan 180 de ces etas
mais au coeur-indolore horlogerie
rien, zero
de sang pas une goutte^
au carne blanc coeur desinfecte^.
par aime cesaire
(reinprime de Presence Africaine)
New
Special Focus I
PORTRAIT OF A BLAC
WOMAN: DARA ABUBA
REPUBLIC OF NEW AF
Of late, much contr
focused on the flrole of
in our struggle for nati
Amid this furor we must
clear delineation of Afr
European development dem
Cheikh Anta Diop. He sh
different material reali
in alternate paths of ci
development and also pro
in the perceptions and s
in these two fundamental
superstructures.
-r.T^kPj? .*.ii'•;«,;•. .:.-..- •-'.> .9,:'•--*•: .
•- •-'%i*(n^iV5
It must be further noted that our
current struggle against white colonial all of our resources - hum
settler domination is not only a struggle fernale) and material - in
for political and economic independence, self determination is Sis
it is also a confrontation between our Abubakari.
"Afrikan ethos and the attitudes of our
colonizer. Of course it goes without Dara Abubakari was
saying, we cannot build a new nation third (3rd) President of
without rejecting the values imposed of New Afrika at a nation
upon us by the slaveholders. Such is the Waveland, Mississippi in
case with our perception of our women - on She thus becomes the firs
which Diop counsels us, "... when the " this nation building Blac
security of the group was the primary to be "born and bred" in
concern, the respect enjoyed by either Her life spans sixty-five
of the sexes was connected with its -. which she has been both a
contribution to this collective security.ff witness to the evolution
This axiom is still functional for us as struggle.
we are engaged in a collective struggle
for survival. Born into ?n activi
Garveyites, Dara soon joi
bO
a Baptist minister and her mother,
a Missionary in their struggles for
Black self determination. In the 1930fs
she was an activist in the defense of has been engaged in buil
the Scotsboro Boys, five (5) young Black nation for Black people
men who were framed for the supposed borders of the present d
"rape11 of two white women on a southern
freight train which stopped at Scotsboro, Sister Dara's poli
Alabama while enroute to Memphis, Tennessee. have also included strug
Sister Dara»s deligent involvement in welfare rights front. S
court cases concerning injustices against Queen Mother Moore are
Black people from the 1930fs to the of the Universal Associa
present gained the recognition of Women, a southern based
Amnesty International in the inter- organization incorporate
nationally known organization that inves- in 1958 and instrumental
tigates acts of political repression Black families restored
in countries the world over. rolls in Louisiana after
denied welfare benefits
In the late 1950fs Dara helped mothers in these familie
organize the New Orleans Public Education to have given birth to c
Association and later became president wedlock, so called ille
of Citizens for Quality Education, two
groups working for improved public Also at this time,
school education. She was a founding with the struggle for we
member of the Southern Conference 23,000 families of Louis
Education Fund (SCEF), a southern based Universal Association of
inter-racial education organization. Women, under the leaders
Dara served as assistant to the Executive Mother Moore, the organi
Director and a member of the Board of President, and Sister Da
Directors of SCEF. Dara was also both a Secretary, began a refin
Vice President and President of the SCEF concept that Black peopl
Board of Directors. constituted a nation in
captive nation for which
"Way back in '53 I used to think necessary and to which r
that there was hope that maybe Black due. This claim of reco
and white people together could solve nationhood status for Bl
all the problems," she states, "... I u.s. was filed in 1958 a
learned it is not true. I am a self Nations by Queen Mother
declared separatist now." So from 1968, the Universal Associatio
when the Republic of New Afrika was Women.
founded in Detroit, to the present, Dara
Also engaged in vo
in New Orleans in 1963,
bfc
voter registration proje
day and evening classes
and mounted a series of
against discrimination i
registration. Dara was
times for this campaign
"citizens11 of the u.s, i
exercise their right to
ironic, because years la
President of the Nationa
now President of the Rep
Afrika, Dara is register
people in the south and
u.s. to seek land and in
asking them to become ci
Republic of New Afrika.
Sister Dara f s trav
her to Cuba (during the
travel to that country)
in Latin America and Eur
occasions representing t
Nationalist Movement in
efforts to secure intern
recognition and support
liberation struggle. Su
for over 45 years is rem
you realize the toll of
and setbacks we've faced
to a very active public
Assassinations has been married for 44
Police Murders mother of 10 children, g
40 children and great gr
Drug Deaths She is truly a testament
lishments of Black women
for national liberation.
POLITICAL PRISONERS
Armed with the the
derived from practice we
GENOCIDE!
way for a greater utilization of our
resources in our struggle for indepen- a Tribute to:
dence. Discarding european derived
perceptions we can build a movement
that expresses our needs and aspirations
"So, Comrades, let us not pay
tribute to Europe by creating states,
institutions and societies which
draw their inspiration from her.
Humanity is waiting for something
other from us than such an imitation,
which would be almost an obscene
caricature.
NAME:
ADDRESS:
THE
ZIP CODE:
New Afrikan ANNUAL ONE
Zimbabwe