African Liberation Day 2014: worldwide solidarity with African Independence

By Charles Brooks

May 25th marks the worldwide celebration of African Liberation Day. Yes – African Liberation Day and although you will not find no mention of this in any of the American mainstream press – nevertheless, African Liberation Day is indeed a worldwide celebration. In addition to a continent wide celebration in Africa, there are also celebrations taking in France, Martinque, Trindad, Ireland, Melborne, Australia, Norway, and Sweden. In Africa, The Congress of South Africa Trade Unions in Limpopo will host a joint Africa Day with the Labour Federation from Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, jazz concerts taking place in South Africa and Malawi, a workshop on African Unity in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and many more events planned.  May 25^th is indeed a significant day to remember the African nationalist movements that demanded and then wrested independence from their colonial masters. 

Advancing Malcolm's work...

By Charles Brooks

Typically, when there are ceremonies honoring Malcolm X, there are subtle reminders about Malcolm X as an iconized mythical figure.  Dr. Peniel Joseph, Professor of History at Tufts University, recently wrote: “In death, Malcolm became larger than he had been in life. Black radicals embraced him as the revolutionary avatar of black liberation in America and around the world. His posthumously published autobiography became a best-seller, and his legacy inspired numerous books, a U.S. postage stamp, a major motion picture and a Malcolm X revival during the early 1990s,” Dr. Peniel continues, “In 2014 Malcolm X matters now more than ever. His political integrity and personal sincerity set a high bar for all future black leaders. His identification with, and love for, the black working class set an enduring standard. Malcolm didn’t just love black people—he respected them enough to challenge them, offering stinging criticism in some instances and gentle prodding in others.”

Let’s grapple with the first sentence for a moment…Malcolm became larger than he had been in life – there may be good reason for this. For example, the influence that Malcolm's work had, not only on the formation of Black Power and Black Liberation movements but on the civil rights movement as well. Organizations such as the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), Congress of Racial Equality (CORE),  the Black Panthers, Revolutionary Action Movement (RAM), and the Republic of New Afrika to name a few were all inspired and shaped by Malcolm's Black Nationalism. 

When you can begin to understand the pivotal role these movements, organizations and individuals had in carrying this struggle forward – then you can begin to understand exactly what Malcolm X meant to so many who advanced and carried his work forward.  That would begin to explain why the Brother Minister grew larger in death.  

Happy Birthday Brother Minister!

By Charles Brooks

We celebrate the birthday of Malcolm X, who would have been 89 years old today. With May 19^th quickly approaching, the question for me, was a typical one for any writer – what can I write about Malcolm X that has not been written before?  But after a few short moments of reflection and thinking about his significance, his legacy, I realized writing about Malcolm X would not be too difficult. When I think about Malcolm X, my first thought is how much this man is sorely missed considering today’s empty space of true leadership.  After re-reading through a few of his speeches, I was reminded that although he was taken much too soon - how so much material he left behind, almost a blueprint to be followed.  The significance of Malcolm X, that is his legacy deepens as his words carries the heavy weight of relevance to the current issues of the day. Malcolm X was a teacher but he was also an organizer, a builder.  He was unflinching. Uncompromising.  Courageous. He confronted the face of American apartheid and the body of white supremacy. That’s why it is so disturbing when revisionist history attempts to casts Malcolm as civil rights activist  - Malcolm X was always a human rights activist and organizer. He was a Black Nationalist and a Pan Africanist, who believed in and was committed to building a movement where Black people controlled their community and one that connected Blacks across the world from America to the Caribbean to Africa.  The words of Malcolm X continues to resonate very deeply in the Black communities all over the country because those words were delivered with such a powerful clarity coupled with a forward thinking that is unseen today amongst those who are self-called leaders.  That is why the Brother Minister means so much today – why the legacy of Malcolm X continues to grow and inspire. Its no mystery why Malcolm has such an undeniable strong connection with Black communities all over the country – he stood toe to toe against white supremacy and did not blink.

To Friends and Supporters of The Blackboard

To the Friends of the Blackboard

If you are reading this – I want to extend my many thanks to you for taking valuable time out of your busy schedule to read my posts to my blog here and to The Blackboard’s Facebook page.  I am truly honored and remain committed to providing you with a quality product – sharp analysis and thought-provoking commentary.  I am going on vacation for two weeks and will return with new posts May 19th – maybe sooner!

What’s new to The Blackboard:

You can now enter your email address to sign up for automatic email alerts when there are new posts to The Blackboard.

There are real-time streaming news feed of four top political stories about the 2014 elections.

A new page: Multimedia – Culture, Politics and History page contains archived iconic photographs as well as links to interactive web sites related to history and culture.

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With the executions reigniting the death penalty debate – Take THE BLACKBOARD SURVEY on the death penalty – are you FOR or AGAINST the death penalty

Updates to the Resource page – for education – see the recent report on New York’s segregated schools, and links to resources on the Common Core as well as the emerging opposition to it and the political implications. There are also links on the recent $98 million Black firefighter settlement.

We have new posts providing a critical look at the recently released Clinton Papers and, the Obama’s new initiative – My Brother’s Keeper’s.

The Blackboard publishes content every week – so check back with us on Monday and Tuesday for new posts.  If you like what you see on The Blackboard – send somebody you know a link to The Blackboard so they can be informed too.  Check out our page on Facebook for political and cultural posts – and Follow us on Facebook!  Thanks again for taking the time out of your busy schedule to connect and read what we publish on The Blackboard. 

Charles Brooks