The Juneteenth Holiday and Kujichagulia, or self-determination

by Baba Jahahara Amen-RA Alkebulan-Ma’at

23 June 2021 JC-PG / 6261 AAAK 

Sacred Birthday AMIR STEPHEN ARMSTRONG. Africans Deserve Reparations! ‘Cause, Black Lives Matter!

Blessings of IMANI (FAITH) Beloved G-o-ds, Esteemed Elders, Sis-Stars, Bro-Stars and Youthful Revolutionaries!

May our Divine Mother-Father Creator of and in All – and incredible Ancients and Ancestors from millennia past, yesteryears and, literally, yesterday – find you and (y)our extended Family in positive and healing Spirit. Though most venues have re-opened, WE encourage you and yours to continue practicing proven measures for protection against the known and the unknowns. 

Right now, i’m choosing to continue masking up when in public; physically distancing; a supreme live-t (“die-t”) of mostly veggies and fruits; plenty of clean water; meditate\ion and prayer; exercise and healing sun rays; inspiring social connections; as well as always conducting my independent research to self-determine the best medicinals, if any. Asé. 

Honoring our new Ancestors

Asante Sana (many thanks) to all of you who offered our Family your sacred prayers and thoughtful condolences on the recent Spiritual Transformation of our dear blood Brother, Baba CHARLES EUGENE “GINO” ARMSTRONG, on 13 May. Asé. WE are also remembering the sacred Birthday and life of our beloved nephew, AMIR STEPHEN LAMONT ARMSTRONG, who was murdered by prison officials in the state of misery (Missouri) in 1993. Asé. Amen. 

WE also lovingly remember and honor the special contributions of several other new Ancestors. These include Baba ABDUS LUQMAN, Pan Afrikan leader in the d-m-v – Washington, D.C., area. Asé. 

Our high school classmate DENISE “NEICY” MITCHELL. Asé. The great LEE EVANS, a scholar, human rights advocate, businessman, Olympic athlete and coach in the usa and on our Alkebulan/Africa continent. Asé. 

Our fellow SEIU leader, MARGARET LEONG. Asé. Rev. J.T. AKINWALE, formerly of Nigeria and then active in Kansas City, Missouri. Asé. Ev’erybody’s friend, Baba AHMED ANANE APARA here in OHLONE/Oakland. Asé. And, the great independence leader and first president of Zambia, KENNETH KAUNDA. Asé. 

Our sympathies and solidarity are with the victims and survivors of the deadly volcanic eruption in the heart of our Alkebulan/Afrika continent, the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Dozens have perished, and many more are missing or displaced. Asé. 

Finally, WE close in memory of the innocent victims of numerous mass shootings, including nine transit workers at Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) in the South Bay, murdered by a co-worker; as well as at our Lake Merritt here in OHLONE/Oakland. Asé. 

Long Live the Spirit, legacies and numerous contributions of these new and all our incredible Ancestors. Asé. Asé. Asé-O!

Juneteenth and Kujichagulia, or self-determination

i admittedly was quite surprised by the voice call in the U.S. Senate, a quick vote in the U.S. House of Representatives and President Biden’s signing of our Juneteenth commemoration as a new official “National Holiday.” Didn’t see that coming.

To be upfront, a Juneteenth National Holiday, while certainly worthy of full recognition, wasn’t something that’s been a high priority for the movements that i’ve been a part of. Certainly, i’ve signed petitions over the decades calling for a national recognition circulated by friends. And, i’ve marched in many parades and spoken or performed music at numerous Juneteenth events over the decades. 

i’ve always tried to use those opportunities to expose the past and continuing crimes against Black people by the usa and state governments, like Texas, and raise the need to organize for our just kujichagulia, or self-determination. This means that WE, not others, particularly those who oppress us, collectively decide what WE need! What our priorities are! And, how to go fetch it! 

But, i, while saying this very respectfully, don’t view this announcement as an action that would benefit a large number of African-ascended people, other than some federal workers. This action will not alleviate our massive suffering from so many other systematic ills. That’s why WE have to keep pushing hard for full hearings, a vote and passage of our national legislation for full Reparations, H.R. 40 and S. 40 respectively! 

And, continue advocating for the forms that our people’s movements decide on – including fertile lands, support for our independent nations, amnesty for our political prisoners, release of all the unjustly incarcerated, monetary payments, education and training in building trades and sciences, repatriation funds and much more.

And, for full voting rights! As well as the lifting of the so-called “qualified immunity,” which unjustly and legally protects murderous police from liability and real justice! 

So, that’s my opinion. What’s yours? How do you feel about the process to sign into law Juneteenth Holiday legislation? And, what are your political and economic priorities? Looking forward to hearing from you. 

Destination Reparations

On 1 June 2021, the State of California’s Department of Justice held its first meeting of the newly-established nine member Task Force to Study and Develop Reparations Proposals for African Americans Act. The California Reparations Task Force is mostly based on our federal legislation, H.R. 40 and S. 40, that our National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America (N’COBRA) envisioned, helped introduce first in 1989 and have championed over the past three decades plus. 

Congratulations to Sister Attorney Kamilah Moore of Southern California and Rev. Dr. Amos Brown of San Francisco, who were selected as Chair and Vice-Chair of the Task Force, respectively. Contact me to view my statement and that of our current N’COBRA National Male Co-Chair, Baba Kamm Howard of Chicago, to this body. 

i/WE encourage persons of African ancestry and others to seek participation in Reparations Task Force hearings. Asé. Go to https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/media/task-force-notice-agenda-060121.pdf.

FREE THEM ALL! Asé. Please visit the website of our Jericho Amnesty Movement to learn more about the situations of our many long-suffering political prisoners and brave warriors for justice; as well as how you can best assist them, at https://thejerichomovement.com/

NAMIBIANS WILL IMPLEMENT KUJICHAGULIA! Germany recently offered an “apology” for its deadly genocide against the people in Namibia and says it will pay 1.3 billion in Reparations. However, many in Namibia say not so fast. That is far too little and too late. More on these developments next month. Asé. 

WE are grateful to all of you who took time to call Sen. Alex Padilla and helped convince him to become a co-sponsor of S. 40, our Reparations legislation in the U.S. Senate. Please encourage your relatives and friends in other states to call their reps as well to support reparations. Asé.

Gratitude to all who have registered for the 32nd Annual Convention of our National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America (N’COBRA), 25-27 June 2021. As WE did last year, due to the ongoing global deadly pandemic and continuing capitalist economic depression, which have disproportionately devastated our families and communities of African ancestry, this will again be a virtual gathering. Go to our website for updates and to become a member, www.ncobraonline.org.

Please take a moment to review, consider, sign-on and forward our “Change the Name of the ‘white’ House Petition“ to your networks.

Finally, you know our Bay View Newspaper deserves your support! Help us keep producing and sharing the truth from outside and behind the walls! Send your check or money order in any amount to us at 4917 Third St., San Francisco, CA 94124 or, go to www.sfbayview.com/donate.

Continue to take (y)our righteous steps, knowing our Divine will do the rest. And, walk in the Power of IMANI (FAITH) on each and every day. Amen-RA Hotep! Asé.

#BlackLivesMatter #AfricansDeserveReparations #BringOurEldersHomeNow #AbolishPrisonsandPolice #LoveandDefendMotherEarth #BlackNewDeal

Jahahara Amen-RA Alkebulan-Ma’at traces his ancestral roots to the Yoruba and Ewondo nations in Alkebulan-Afrika. He is a Baba (Elder), Pan Africanist, socialist and (inter)nationalist. He is also a “FREE-tired” community, labor union, environmental, solar and social justice organizer; a writer, composer, yogi, martial artist, vegan and author of several books, including “Many Paths to Kujichagulia (Self-Determination).” Baba Jahahara is, in addition, a life member, former National Male Co-Chair And Acting West Region Representative of N’COBRA. Take a listen to a few songs from his musical catalog at https://soundcloud.com/search?q=baba%20jahahara Invite Baba Jahahara to present at your group, school, spiritual gathering or event c/o [email protected] or FONAMI, P.O. Box 10963, Oakland, CA 94610.

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