Organizations from the state of Texas played a prominent role in the historic national rally for reparations held on the 115th Anniversary of the birth of the legendary leader, the Honorable Marcus Mosiah Garvey at the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. Kofi Taharka, National Black United Front – Houston Chapter Chairman (NBUF) and Local Organizing Committee (LAC) member sent a profound message to those gathered and a national C-Span audience stating, “In Houston, we said the issue of reparations is too monumental for any one group or one leader, so we called together the collective and it is the collective that I am representing…. and we’ve taken Dr. Khallid Abdul Muhammad’s advice and said enough of the Negro stuff when it comes to the reparations movement…..we must go to the door of our oppressor and if need be kick the damn door down.”
The rally which concentrated on grassroots mobilization in 66 cities also attracted a cross section of national figures including: National Rally Co-Chair and NBUF National Chairman Dr. Conrad Worrill, Grassroots Organizer and NBUF-New York Chairwoman Maxine Flowers, New Black Panther Party National Chairman Malik Zulu Shabbazz, Nation of Islam Leader Minister Louis Farrakhan, Detroit Democratic Congressman John Conyers, award-winning flutist Bobby Humphrey, National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America (N’COBRA) National Co-Chair Dorothy Benton-Lewis. The most spirited and intense participants at the rally was the LAC for Reparations from Houston that traveled 1,400 miles (30 hours) to reach the destination. Undaunted by the sweltering August heat, the group which was a combination of diverse organizations, hit the rally site filled with spirit and entered marching with fists clinched in the Black Power Salute chanting “What do we want? REPARATIONS, When do we want it? NOW, How we going to get it? BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY!”
Different LAC members took turns leading the group of over 100 while national media and participants from across the country rushed towards the delegation, which engaged everyone with a rhythmic cadence of “Reparations, Black Power, They Owe Us, Reparations, Black Power, They Owe Us.!” New Black Panthers from Dallas, a part of the national security force jumped into formation with the LAC proclaiming, “It’s on now, Texas is here!”
The LAC had large representation from many groups including: the St. Saviour Church and the Sankofa Pan Afrikan Student Organization. National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America (N’COBRA) Dallas Chapter members stood side by side with LAC members during the rally. The Houston delegation was supported by a strong community outpouring during multiple fundraisers to sponsor students for the trip with major contributions coming from African-American News&Issues, Mt. Ararat Baptist Church and the Black United Fund of Texas among many others.

LAC members were energized by what they described as old-fashioned hospitality provided by volunteers at the Imani Temple Church in Washington, D.C. The volunteers received them at 3:30 a.m. when the two Houston buses arrived, complete with dinner and a lot of down home courtesy. Ms. Gloria Johnson of the Mt. Ararat Baptist Church explained, “The reception we received at the Imani Temple was first class and showed the caring that Black people need to have for each other everyday.”

Akuyaa Addy of the Sankofa Student Organization expressed her analysis of the activity by stating. “This trip was tremendous. For the first time in history on a mass level, African people have come together to address the issue of reparations. African people on the continent and throughout the diaspora have a vital interest in this struggle. The key lies in grassroots organization like we have begun in Houston.”

Houston Poet Dr. Obidike Kamua performed his hit “I want my money” on Friday at a preliminary event and again at Saturday’s rally. It was well received by the national audience. National Co-Chair of the Rally, Viola Plummer closed the day’s activities with a spirited charge saying, “Let the historical record show that we won this one, brothers and sisters. We must now take this energy back to our local areas to press the issue of reparations even harder. Many forces have tried to block, undercut and neutralize today’s action, but let the record show we won this one.” LAC meetings are held every Monday at NBUF headquarters at 7:00p.m.Call 713-942-0365 for more information.