Harry Speaks

[Clifford Black]

http://www.democracynow.org/2013/2/18/we_must_unleash_radical_thoug...

[Clifford Black]

@Adisa & Kimeli

The two of you are THINKING!. The questions that you are asking must now evolve. And, the research that you have done to get to this point must be placed under the microscope.

B.

[Adisa]

Still not sure how to respond to this topic and I hope I can ad something of substance to this thread.  I decided to do some research before I attempted to provide a response and I learned of a few things I had never been informed of.  I wanted to get a better understanding of the award that was presented.  The award which consists of a gold medal was created in 1914 by Joel Elias Spingarn and is awarded annually by the NAACP for outstanding achievment by an African American.  I went a little further to discover what preceeded the NAACP and what caused the founding of the NAACP.  I also viewed earlier portions of the link in an attempt to pick up on more of what was/is being transmitted.  Cory Baker the Mayor of Newark New Jersey introduced the honoree, Harry Belafonte, and in his introduction speech spoke of the loss of life of so called black boys and spoke of the high incarceration rate of so called black men in New Jersey.  Harry Belafonte also mentioned in his speech the loss of life among so called black boys and spoke of radical thought to counter the current problems in so called black communities. 

I dont know why but as I watched this clip, I thought of the scene in the Matix when Neo meets the Architect and asks the question, "Why am I here?" After "answering" Neo's question, Neo in turn responds you have not answered my question.  As I watched the video here are the questions I had/have as I listened to these two individuals speak about the problems "we" face and what must be done to address those problems.

1)  Why is Cory Booker, the mayor of New Jersey, claiming injustice and inequality in a city that he was elected to be in charge of?  Why has he not caused a change?  Why does it sound as if he is not one of the leaders required to raise a voice?  

2)  What radical thought is necessary to cause a change?  What should the radical thought focus on and/or include?  How will the unleashing of this radical thought bring about change?  Who must be active in radical thought?

And finally 3)  Why does such an award such as the Spingarn Award, which is produced and awarded by the NAACP, an organization formed in response to an incident identified as a Race Riot even exist if the violence is still prevelant?  What were the outstanding achievements of the honorees who received this award?  What has been accomplished since the inception of the very organization created to address violence among colored peoples?  More simply put, why are people being awarded and honored if the problem still exists?  How are men such as T.R.M. Howard overlooked as honorees?

[Kimeli Wade]

"Blacks", who used to be very vocal about things that affected them individually and as a community, have fallen silent. Could it be because life is (perceived to be) much easier now, or could it be because they are waiting for someone to speak up for them and be the voice of the radical thoughts many silently entertain? Who wants to be the cause of them losing that piece of cornbread massa has so graciously decided to share?

[Clifford Black]

Listen to what is being said and think.

B.