Your Work is Spendid
Just over one year ago I started collecting material for a subject I have
made numerous attempts to address, in the form of an essay or publish
material, since the late 1980's....the use of the word "nigger." I happened
upon the Ferris State University site, Nigger and Caricatures. I read part
of it, no, let me correct that, I actually skimmed through it, downloaded it
to a hard copy and put it away.
Once again I was hit with the spirit and inspiration to finally commit to
expressing the history of that word and how it affects Afrikan people today.
I retrieved your essay first and read it. I was blown away and overwhelmed
with the background, research and directness of your writing. It filled me
with a spirit and enthusiasm that said in many ways that what I was reading
was eloquently what I was attempting to express.
I am a self-taught historian, and have uncovered much what you have published in your essay. My
interest in history covers a broad spectrum of world history in order to put
into full context the puzzle of the history of the Afrikan in ameriKKKa. I
am over fifty years of age, and have been a political activist for more than
forty years. I am not a racist, and cannot be a racist since Black people
are not in control of any political, social, or economic institutions here
in the United States that can affect/effect any other people's
cultural/national existence or livelihood. Black people in the United States
adverse feelings, actions and opinions are reactions to white supremacist
racism. I gave this explanation so that you may understand my spelling of
America. I am a Black Nationalist Reparationist. I do not approach the
political issue from an emotional view, but from factual, archival and
historical perspective. I am not a multiculturalist, nor a cultural
diversity advocate because my belief system warrants that I respect all
people irregardless of their heritage, culture, nationality or
background...leaving the term multicultural, cultural diversity useless in
my regards.
My introduction to history was of course Dr. Carter G. Woodson. I was
educated in the era before Black History Month was honored, but was
recognized as "Negro History Week." I have read the works of Dr. John
Henrike Clarke, J.A. Rogers, and Arthur Schomburg amongst others, and have
followed the teachings of Dr. Claud Anderson, National Co-Chair of the
National Reparations Convention, and founder of the Harvest Institute (you
can find the Harvest Institute website online). My initial understanding of
Black Nationalism came as a juvenile from studies of Marcus Mosiah Garvey
and his Universal Negro Improvement Association movement. At that period,
my mother enlisted my sisters, brothers, and myself in the NAACP, and
A. Phillip Randolph Institute. This gave me a background and association with
the works of W.E.B DuBois, Thurgood Marshall, Roy Wilkins, the labor
movement (which was important since at that period, most Black people were
domestic housekeepers, janitors, unskilled laborers, and performed similar
such menial tasks for their livelihood), and the like.
I abstain from the universal brotherhood of man in search of a lovefest,
negotiating, begging, crying or pleading with people throughout the world to
accept me, the Afrikan of ameriKKKa, the descendant of enslaved Afrikans
from ameriKKKa. I am sure that my education and intellect will force others
to recognize and respect me as a person and as a man of the world. Although
my educational experience is not limited to the individuals that I have
listed above, I explained all of this so that you would not get the
impression that by being a Black Nationalist, that I was a hate-monger. I
practice the Christian faith...the historical Afrikan Jesus (some people say
that Christ's nationality and culture is unimportant. If that was so, why
did the Europeans make him white?). Actually, true Black Nationalists are
above and beyond racial hate. Our major objective is to build an
intelligent, productive Black nation that will contribute to the world
without compromise. That does not mean that we exclude white people. Many
white people such as Dr. Howard Zinn, and Herbert Aptheker among others,
have been instrumental in our quest and have been allies. One such person is
James Allen. Mr. Allen is the author of Without Sanctuary, a study of
lynching in the United States.
I am sure you are a busy man. At your convenience, I would greatly
appreciate communicating or corresponding with you. I cannot say that I will
complete my writing project, but in the event that I do, because your work
parallels mine...and in many instances, outdistances mine, as I put my
material together, I would like permission to use some of what you have
uncovered as a reference source. Money is not my aim, goal, nor objective,
it is the education of the gangsta rap/hip-hop generation, who are
misinformed about the real politics of the world, I am trying to reach (I am
sure you are familiar with the brother, Michael Eric Dyson. A very
intelligent brother, but I do not agree with his philosophy on rap and
hip-hop.). Of course, if I am successful, and have your permission to use
any part of your material, whatever monies that are bestowed upon me you
will share in royalties.
Thank you for your time.
O.K.
-- September 3, 2007
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