Trust brother, when you bring a child in this world, YOUR WORLD will change. Until that great day, keep on bring needed views on various topics as you do. I don’t know a lot but I am willing to learn as much as possible on anything Black. You have just given me some homework to do by mentioning Dr. Amos Wilson and Dr. Claud Anderson. I am very much interested in what these gentlemen have to say. Peace.

C love, In terms of Nationalism. That is going to be the only logical solution. What is nationalism though there are several perspectives of which one may debate upon. Though Malcolm X spoke about owning and controlling the Politics and Economics of your own Community. Many politicians think that we can control the politics without controlling the Economics. This is an Negro Integrationist fantasy as Dr. Amos Wilson would say. It makes black people half human beings when 100 black folk buy from a Korean when 100 Koreans would never buy from one Black person. There is a Trade Deficit in Black America. C Love, you can first begin by addressing the Trade Imbalance between black and other ethnic groups. This takes discipline research and methodical study and networking. We’ve come as far as we can go with integration. I was at a conference one brother said that integration allowed for some black persons to learn management skills. Yes some black people learned Management skills to manage the wealth of everyone else that is what folk learned. These persons have no aptitude towards building Black Businesses in our own black community. Some folk have this thing twisted. In terms of solutions who is their to see? Well I have a few Real Networks/Operations/Underground railroads that you must become familiar with. I’m about the business of Self Development, Accountability and Personal Responsibility. I’m also about the business of producing and increasing our value in this society, which should be our bottom line. We must not become Obsolete i.e. our skills and our value are no longer needed. So yes, I have some real self development, self empowerment operations going on. I don’t have time to be entertained, we must get free!

BTW: I lost respect for MED a couple of years ago. He speaks a lot of foolishness and nonsense. But because he wraps his foolishness and nonsense up with beautiful, 50 cents, scholarly words, folks have a tendency to think that the brotha is speaking truth and light. Wrong, wrong, wrong….

Heber, keep up the good work and the good writing.

Love,

A

I disagree with you on this Bro. Parenting is THE most important thing that a Black man or woman can do for their child. Raising children has seemingly lost its importance in our race. Luckily for me, as hard as my parents worked, struggled and sweated(and they don’t have a lot to this day), they always did right by me and my four other brother and sisters. And what I mean by that is that they first and foremost loved us, be it sweet love or tough love. They shaped our value system by not accepting wrong behavior, a lazy work ethic, being disrespectful but also at the same time teaching us to not let anyone walk over you without you confronting them.
We grew up poor and today I would have to say that I am borderline middle-class(working poor) but I can’t complain. I’m doing better than my parents which is all they ever really wanted for their kids and I am proud to say that my son is on track to do better than me.
The points you make about economics, nationalism and self determination have big time merit but that will never be achieved if we abandon our children. Bill Cosby’s comments remind me of Cod Liver Oil or Castor Oil that our parents used to MAKE us, let me say that again, MAKE us take. It tasted so bad, but it was necessary to clean out your system. Right now, Black America needs some Cod Liver Oil to clean out all of the apathy, lies, bad behavior and materialism that we have been brainwashed into accepting. I thank God every day for my parents and by them having enough love in their hearts for me and my brothers and sisters to care enough to teach us and give us a chance to succeed. The rest is up to us. You can in no way, shape, form or fashion discount the power of your parents…..before you even became Bro Haki. It’s all love Bro.

If you ruled the world (hypothetically) and could make “anything” you are doing or know someone is doing - WORK……what would it be. Practical steps for black Americans of all socioecomic backgrounds.

I am willing to do what I have to do.

Unfortunately for far too long far to many people have spent time telling us “how and why we were bought here” and reitterating the harsh realities our existence in America.

Today’s Black American (AA or African) people need to start with small steps. I ask anyone on here……to offer me something tangible that I can do? and something tangible that my circle can work on …so that we can grow and help our community. I like the principles of the N’guzu Saba and think that people of color could benefit from living by these 7 rules….but at the end of the day….I havent quite figured out a tangible way to apply the principles in a way that I can bring others in. Take cooperative economics…what is something I can do to utilize that concept in Baltimore? Self-Determination….how can I truly feel this and inspire this in others. I believe in myself and I work very hard, but I often feel like I am not progressing. Where are the people in the community addressing the self esteem of black people. I try to smile and be polite, but many people (not just black people) are angry and distant.

To the brother that mentioned Nationalism…I dont think that would ever happen within America and to mention that will immediately make some people tune off.

When you say that….are you talking about us (AA, black or Africans) being given land in some country like the Nation of Isreal?

If thats what you are talking about….that would be nice as long as black people figure out a way to turn the tide on the pervasive ignorance that plagues our community. If we can figure out a way to make the up and coming youngsters and current million and billionaires understand the importance in them giving back in tangible ways then a seperate nation would be awesome. I love black people.

Isreal Works- We are not jewish people. We do not understand the concept of silent solidary (even if for economic purposes). Unless this nation comes with a “code of conduct” that all people subscribe to and a legion of people that know how to survive (making money or utilizing the land)…..I fear that a seperate black nation is centuries away.

I used to think about places like that……anyone that knows me knows that I know who I am, I’ve visited Africa and knew instictually I was home….but I having seen Africa as a tourist and compared that in contrast to how the locals live…. I know that we take too much for granted….I love this country. We are soooo blessed. I feel that our ancestors payed with their lives for us to be here.

It is our fault that we as a collective are not “pimping the system” in the way that we should be. Also…if the power structure of the world remains that same….how will we compete and flourish in an economy that we must create?

Many of us live in a multicultural society and have benefitted greatly from our relationships with people of other colors and nationality. Seperation may render these relationships uncomfortable or non-existent. Honestly, I think the country would go to war again before allowing that to happen.

Now if we up jump and buy and island….I think they’d make us care packages.

So while I support your fight for Nationalism…..what can I do to make sure that for as long as we are in America and my lineage continues….I (we) progress?

I get together with my brothers (a few sisters too) and fellowship….getting to know them over the last few years…..but I know as a woman that I cannot tell them how to evolve into men. I see the potential, but most need mentorship. Where is the adult mentorship? buddy systems?

I have lots of skills…including a background in the mental health profession…….I recognize mental illness, particularly depression in many of them

(expressed in the hopelessness you hear in their mentality and various philosophies on life, the content of the music [in my case, I promote Baltimore Hip Hop] and total disregard for their responsibility not only to their family, but their community)

…..and I know curing that illness (manefested in suicide by homocide, drug use and overarching recklessness) will fix all the ills of our society…..but what can I do to help them? Im know pastor and most of these folk have no understanding of a God…even the ones that say things like Lord Knows and thank you Jesus….. Those are cliche’ ……colloquialisms…….and bring up fond memories of church with grandma.

I dont think that talking about it is enough any more. A whole lot of black men are ready to step up…..but what is stepping up in 2007 in Baltimore?

I too am tired of the same ole boy club in Baltimore….all these people with famous names really dont have the “pull” to get an average “joe” to come out….if they did we would have seen a drop in the murder rate.

Solutions. who is the man or woman to see?