January 30, 2016

Why just America as it relates to

The Nations The Benefitted The Most From Enslaving African People
http://atlantablackstar.com/2013/10/01/nations-that-benefited-the-most-from-enslaving-african-people/3/

USA
According to Harper’s magazine (November 2000), the United States stole an estimated $100 trillion for 222,505,049 hours of forced labor between 1619 and 1865, with a compounded interest of 6 percent.

England
Between 1761 and 1808, British traders hauled 1,428,000 African captives across the Atlantic and pocketed $96.5 million – about $13 billion in value today – from selling them as slaves.

France
With over 1,600,000 enslaved Africans transported to the West Indies, France was clearly a major player in the trade. Its slave ports were a major contributor to the country’s economic advancements in the 18th century. Many of its cities on the west coast, such as Nantes, Lorient, La Rochelle, and Bordeaux, built their wealth through the major profits of triangular slave trade.

Netherlands
Slave labor created vast sources of wealth for the Dutch in the form of precious metals, sugar, tobacco, cocoa, coffee and cotton and other goods, and helped to fund the creation of Amsterdam’s beautiful and famous canals and city center.

Portugal
Portugal was the first of all European countries to become involved in the Atlantic slave trade.  From the 15th to 19th century, the Portuguese exported 4.5 million Africans as slaves to the Americas, making it Europe’s largest trafficker of human beings.

Spain
Starting in 1492, Spain was the first European country to colonize the New World, where they established an economic monopoly in the territories of Florida and other parts of North America, Mexico, Trinidad, Cuba and other Caribbean islands. The native populations of these colonies were mostly dying from disease or enslavement, so the Spanish were forced to increasingly rely on African slave labor to run their colonies.

another post on this topic
http://www.democraticunderground.com/118736992

The UN's intent is positive. I'm glad they are looking at it. But if we are looking at Reparations and statements of Apology -

1. There are five other countries that they are letting get away with ten kinds of murder. I don't care about their financial issues now, their instability, their focus on thir colonialist behavior in Africa, Asia and the old New World, their refugees from Africa and the Middle East etc etc. Dodge, deflect, defer - IF they are allowed to Deny the blood and misery on their OWN hands at the UN.

2. They in their high and mighty we are so above it all approach aren't understanding what will really help black Americans when any discussions of Reparations for American inflicted oppression should start. We need to start in the 20 th century.

If we start there - then again they are forced to hold a mirror up to themselves - From their causing the Rwandan genocide, to the Rape of Nanking, to 11 million Jews, Gypsies, Gays, "undesirables" in Europe etc etc to their ignoring Apartheid , etc etc.

Start when it matters or don't start at all. And we all know this is just grand standing. No country will ever come to the rescue of black Americans.

We are on our own here. Nice symbolic gesture but - they won't help us.

January 26, 2016

Birth of a Nation, Oscars (so white in 2017?) and challenging corporate America

Start Here:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4196450/

I follow Sundance on social media and yesterday evening what popped up on Facebook? A backstage view of the opening of Birth of a Nation 2016.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4196450/


http://deadline.com/2016/01/birth-of-a-nation-premiere-sundance-stunner-nate-parker-1201690343/
‘Birth Of A Nation’ Electrifies Sundance Crowd In World Premiere

It was not an easy road for Nate Parker.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/birth-a-nation-slave-revolt-857177


Further down at the same link:



See the thing is, Turner existed. He's as much a fabric of America as Robert E. Lee. He was here. He was not a work of fiction. He was a 'radical'. He was rebellious. He embodied every single characteristic of the 'Founding Fathers' who fought at Bunker Hill, Ticonderoga, Lexington, Concord, etc. etc.

“They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power.”
― Patrick Henry

“Give me liberty or give me death." - Patrick Henry


“Our cruel and unrelenting Enemy leaves us no choice but a brave resistance, or the most abject submission; this is all we can expect - We have therefore to resolve to conquer or die: Our own Country's Honor, all call upon us for a vigorous and manly exertion, and if we now shamefully fail, we shall become infamous to the whole world. Let us therefore rely upon the goodness of the Cause, and the aid of the supreme Being, in whose hands Victory is, to animate and encourage us to great and noble Actions - The Eyes of all our Countrymen are now upon us, and we shall have their blessings, and praises, if happily we are the instruments of saving them from the Tyranny meditated against them. Let us therefore animate and encourage each other, and shew the whole world, that a Freeman contending for Liberty on his own ground is superior to any slavish mercenary on earth.”
― George Washington



I assume everyone in this group is aware of where he got his title from - in case you aren't aware -
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0004972/


And for those who say - wait - there are other more pressing issues that the Corporate America that Hollywood with its huge exports abroad each year represents . . . I say no time is better than now. These are the days where Emmett Till is confused with Tamir Rice. The time is now.

The rest of the world - much like America - better learn to accept that WE are the real America. We are Americans. Our stories and lives and the lives of our ancestors matter. They helped build this country without the rights and HUMAN dignity that white Americans were provided. If those outside of America can't handle it then so be it. We do not have to subjugate our creativity and will to theirs. They don't SURVIVE here. And Mr. Turner - he might not have ultimately 'survived' here - but his rebellion certainly was an integral part of the birth of our nation as we know it today.

I will be going to see this movie - making it a priority when it releases. Based upon the standing ovation and the cell phones being hammered by buyers yesterday afternoon -

I think it's safe to say that the Oscars won't be so white next year - and the nominations won't be for cowering slaves and victimized maids. You know what? It's about god damned time!

Bravo Sundance and Mr. Redford. Your comments last year when you did your round table with Lucas - and your comments a few days ago make sense. Thanks for a safe space to display 'America' beyond the struggles of white men.

January 21, 2016

I don't believe it about O'Malley at all

His record is one of careful measured navigation to get things done within the framework he walks into. He is on the cusp of Gen X and it shows in how he does everything. In that smile and appeal to move America forward I also see that cynical assholism that I respect.

So i have zero expecation that he will get his three key initiatives done in 90 days. He's not talking about a revolution. Or a total decimation of how America works today. He could reimplement Glass Steagall in the first 90 days with the Republican House. There's a will to do it.

However - energy - minimum two years. He needs to allow the green focused industries time to develop thir lobbying efforts in the house and show how money can be me made by individual Americans. His record as Mayor and Governor - change course when necessary. When he speaks to American cities - he speaks to those who were redlined into those hell holes.

My laughter and derision comes from standing at the bottom of the valley of comeuppance. I have nothing in common with those on the left who can't wait for Obama to leave office. Many are Sander supporters who are angry that he didn't do every single thing they wanted. They are real quick to say, "What did he do for black people?". As You did. Here's number one - HE WON. TWICE. FAIR. ON THE UP AND UP.

As a person whose parent were black/white - he also shattered the "but what about the children' myth. Well the poor little mixed children can grow up to be the President.

So - I will hold my nose and vote for the Magical Sanders if he is the nominee - because I'm a Democrtic Party member. However - Sanders supporters should prepare themselves - there are people who know they are going to be disappointed and after they have treated Obama - they are going to hear: Whose A POS Used Car Salesman now? And nope - I'm not talking about at DU.


I'm talking about the people who knocked on my door on Sunday to try and get Sanders on the ballot here in June. They can't speak in depth about WIIFM - so I'm not signing it. Then to get angry? Ha! When I stand at my front door, pull up your candidates website and can't find a white paper abou the revolution - I'm not giving him the signature.

First things first - when Sanders supporters say they want a new FDR - they are talking about (when the don't give details) a seizing my home and/or making it illegal for me to live here.

Note - I'm extremely involved local politics /township driving initiatives to Trenton. This is a borough on the upswing. Without folks like me whose income has doubled since 2008 living here? These historic homes don't get renovated, the craft breweries don't come, the wine tapas places don't come . . . Make it illegal for us to live/own homes here - iE the recent influx of affluent blacks and immigrants and Hispanics - you will kill this town. And my investment (restoration costs) of my home.

Your job? Convince your fellow Sander supporters to drop this FDR nonsense. Black Americans are firmly planted in ths century and are focused on moving forward. There was nothing good for us in the good old days.

One last thing - its not hyperbole. In my line of business if things aren't written in stone - then anything left open to interpretation gets fucked up. What this revolution entails must be written in stone. FDR's policies - will send us back to Sharecropping in gunny sacks.