Let's go to the root of the problem: in any business transaction there are buyers and sellers. Africans sold us, Europeans and Arabs bought us, and this is still going on, down to the present moment.
One of my North American African brothers visited Africa not long ago, only to discover anyone could be purchased for $35.00. This reality broke his Pan African heart!
I was humbled a few years ago when a Ghanaian brother said to me in Oakland, "Marvin, I want to apologise to you because my people sold your people!"
At my Academy of da Corner Lakeshore, Pan Africans meet and discuss all matters. One North American African said to a brother from the Montherland, "Hey man, you ain't never apologized for selling us into slavery!" The brother from the Motherland quickly apologized, and our conversation continued on other matters, such as the fine women who come through Lakeshore by Peet's Coffee and Trader Joe's.
Sun Ra, Black Arts Movement Master Teacher and father of Afrofuturism, used to teach (listen to the audio version of his lectures at UC Berkeley on YouTube) that Africans owe us reparations along with the Europeans, Arabs, et al.
But as his student and associate (he told me I would be teaching in the Black Studies Department at UC Berkeley, along with him, 1972, even though Governor Ronald Reagan had me removed from lecturing in the Black Studies Department at Fresno State University, 1969, same time he removed Angela Davis from lecturing at UCLA)--I say North American Africans need to give ourselves Reparations for the pain, suffering, trauma and grief we have caused each other during our 400 year sojourn in this wilderness of North America. Our Reparations to each other transcends money, we need to ask for forgiveness for all the wrongs we have done to each other throughout the centuries down to the now: for the snitching during slavery down to the now, turning state's evidence on each other; for violating the laws of trust, love and respect that should have existed between us brothers and sisters; for inflicting emotional spiritual and physical abuse on our partners and children, siblings and parents, friends and others whose trust we betrayed in our persona as ungrateful bastards.
I wish somebody would hep me!
But let us stay focused, Harriet told us she could have freed more slaves if they had known they were slaves!"
How many more could Marcus Garvey have freed if they had known they were slaves? Negroes sold him out, yes, the Negro leadership, don't make name them!
We were not with Elijah, Malcolm X or Mlk Jr. Who are we with?
Nobody! Democratic party, Republican? Who? Democratic Socialists? White Supremacy Nationalists? Who?
Who can save the North American African? Can he save himself?
As Langston Hughes titled
his book I Wonder as I can Wander!
Black man in the wonderland, do not drift without aim or purpose!
Islamic teaching says the greatest Jihad is to win one's own soul!
So your greatest challenge is to conquer your own soul!
Thus your greatest enemy is yourself!
Forget about the white man, focus on you, yes, you are the priority!
--Marvin X.
