Tom Porter, long-time activist, educator and radio host (Jazz and Justice, Mondays 1-3p WPFW) joined the show this week with Head-Roc, “The Mayor of DC Hip-Hop.” We all talked about the boundaries of Black allegiance to the state and its constraints on options considered for making change. We talked about the recent upheaval blamed on YouTube and racist film-making, the history of anti-Arab media, measuring the “evil” in the Obama electoral option (“lesser” or “effective”) and the future of Black American politics. All this plus some great music and calls in the edition of The Super Funky Soul Power Hour.
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The concept of “Black Allegiance” should have no boundaries. The only reason it’s an issue in this instance in time is because it has a folksy “Pan”-African feel good, “were all in this together” narrative that has no substantive or unifying principles that are agreed upon (and most importantly enforced). The types of politicians that are symbolized by an Obama are just representations of how politically retarded we’ve become. Evidence of this can be seen in how organized parasites can pray upon our collective power for their own gain of political diffusion. Today we exist in an unorganized community that is galvanized around images and disregards substance. The substance of collective (more than 50,000 people), organized and politically informed people as to their group’s material, political and commitment responsibilities is wholly absent in our community. So even on the off chance there was a person that was bestowed upon us by Goddess or god that would truly represent our peoples interest, we wouldn’t be able to comprehend, demand or field them. Making that individuals or group of peoples arrival utterly worthless in the space and time of their usefulness. The reason being is that we are being devoured by the enormous behemoth of factional non-racial, religious and political organization that are represented in the myriad of major and minor political parties that has completely stifled and suffocated the prospects of the group moving forward with any clear vision that is based off the specific and detailed needs of our group. This is emblematic of the type of backward and redundant blending of power that breeds the climate for the likes of an Obama. This misused power and polity allows an atmosphere for people who don’t plan for power to simply give up their own to support others with the allure and hopes they will be remembered and rewarded. This is the type of lurid hope that will have you checking a thousand different solidarity roles and professing everyone else’s interest and leaving you willfully ignorant and unfocused on your own peoples needs, on the other hand it may allow you to nurse an inferiority complex with desperate prayers for saviors or to walk in the proximity of pity for the same reasons. The tragedy of much of this situation is rooted in broken communities and our belief in messianic leadership. Leaders of substance are cultivated by their communities and are not simple gifts from the sky. Kwame True always emphasized organize… organize…organize!, but something I think that is completely “under”stood is that he said, “We are the only people that allow the enemies within our race to walk right in front of us and we do nothing” and I think this is a key point as to why the political situation is as it is today. Until we are truly willing to risk and work in our collective intrest we can gain nothing.