In the not too distant past, a great number of our great-grandmothers and great grandfathers, going back towards slavery, spent countless hot hours from sunrise to sunset in the cotton fields of Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama or Georgia.
If the venue was not cotton, it might have been some other crop, but the fact remains that the backbone of the economy of the United States was built on the backs of African Americans.
I heard White right wing radio personality, Rush Limbaugh, say that African Americans have no reason to complain in this country, because we live in such a “great country” that we should be able to go anywhere and do anything we want. He went on to imply that racism was a basic myth, because other races have immigrated to the U.S. and faired very well.
However, Rush failed on one major point. HE IS NOT BLACK and like many other right wingers, knows nothing about the history and true struggles of African Americans in the United States.
Limbaugh and his stupid “call-in cronies” fail to realize that the free labor of slaves built the banks, funded major corporations and lifestyles, and created the huge fortunes in White and Jewish Americans. One hidden truth is that slaves were even used by our government, former U.S. presidents on plantations, and in construction projects that helped build what today is at the heart of what is the U.S. Government.
Because Limbaugh and his followers choose to ignore the real history and contributions Blacks have made to America, does not change the vital truth that Black People Built America.
My great grandmother’s and great grandfather’s work in the cotton fields of Arkansas and Mississippi have never been recognized or rewarded as one of the main pillars and foundations that helped cement the economy of this nation.
Our ancestors were cheated and today the government and financial institutions want to leave us out of the prosperity circle when they have built their empires on the backs of people who were forced to live in sub-substandard housing and work under outside conditions that would make a sweat shop in Bangladesh look like a frozen food chill box.
For example, not only were we free laborers denied the right of an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay, but we were never considered when the “fruits” of the labor were passed from the hands of government purchasers and market moguls who purchased and used the raw goods and foods our forefathers produced to build and support the growing industrial complex.
It was not “dumb” luck or chance that made many of these people today rich and financially free.
The real truth is many of these same people in financial, industrial worlds and the government, enjoy the finer luxuries of life and hefty finance portfolios because of the dollars handed down to them from the generations of taking advantage of Blacks and building the American economy at the expense of our ancestors.
The Sankofa experience is one truth that proves what Blacks did to help build this country and the abuses we endured from Whites, despite of our outstanding efforts.
In 400 years, neglecting that damage done to Blacks from the first African taken from the shores of Africa to the giant financial district called Wall Street, demonstrates the insolence and arrogance of White America to continue to live off the “interest” accrued over 400 years of abuse, brutality, neglect, lynching, murder, intimidation, raping and cheating us out of lands and inheritances.
There has never been an apology for slavery… the latest attempt to apologize for lynching was lame and came too late for at least two relatives my grandmother told me about in my own family.
These institutions owe our ancestors and the descendents of slavery a great debt. However, rather than balance the scales and paying the bill, the intent is to allow the Black race to dry up, dissipate and blow away with the wind across the dusty plains of history.
That would allow Rush Limbaugh and others “spin-doctors” not only to forget about us as people, but also shape a story that blames Blacks for our own problems and our own extinction. We must never let this happen. We must never allow the “right-wing thinkers” to tell us about us.
The issues of reparations is serious and one that every African American should sound off about. It’s not about getting a check. It is about making it right and recognizing what my great grandmother and grandfather did to help build this country.
It is about the hardships we have faced and the people we have lost in our families to greedy White men who intimidated and lynched my kin people and took their land in Arkansas.
It is about fighting for the “voices” who can no longer speak for themselves and for the “African American” voices yet to come.
We must right history and pave the way for the future of our people.
We are a creative, intelligent, hard working, industrious and proud people.
Each one of us has the same spirit and genes our ancestors had that help us endure and gives us the strength and faith to keep on keeping on.
We are the real “survivors”…
We walked through “deserts” without water.
We have crossed “oceans” not knowing the destination – yet we survived.
We have a rich tradition and history and it is up to us not only to stand united and take pride in it, but also propagate the real truth among our people.
The move towards Black unity, self-reliance, self-empowerment and independence is one of the greatest movements on our lifetime.
African Americans are waking up to a second “civil rights movement” and this time it should lead us to real freedom.
Our own hands will guide us away from a white news media that belittles us and our history and our own efforts will cause us to look past the hopelessness and negative conditions that plague us and see real “Blackness” and true grit of a people who don’t know the meaning of the word quit.
We are a strong race that has survived and endured and this generation is the one who is gathering steam and truly setting the stage for great things right now.
However, America must still repent and balance the scales too.
This time “RUSH IS WRONG.” And you know what I mean…