Every year, we fight a battle on the birthday of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
On one side is the U.S. state. Forced to offer a concession to the middle-class elements of the Black civil-rights movement in the form of a birthday observance for Dr. King, the state has suspended Dr. King from the movement that produced him and reduced his legacy to banal statements made by Black misleaders like Barack Obama, which only reinforce the fantasy of U.S. exceptionalism.
On the other side is the Black resistance movement. We counter with a Dr. King in transition, one who was being influenced by the analysis and politics of the radical Black Liberation Movement that was grounded in the realities of the urban and rural working classes and poor.
In this annual ideological battle, those of us attempting to define Dr. King’s legacy highlight one of his statements because of its poignance and continued relevance: He said the United States is the “greatest purveyor of violence in the world.”
After elements of the Black Liberation Movement (the real BLM) spent years opposing the Vietnam War and U.S. imperialism in general, Dr. King finally broke with the pro-war Democrats, embraced an economic-justice program with the Poor People’s Campaign, and openly questioned the viability and ethical legitimacy of capitalism.
And in making that declaration during a Democratic Party administration, liberal Democrats, members of the civil-rights community, the press and almost every major institution in U.S. society—including most faith-based organizations—turned against Dr. King. This pivot in Dr. King’s politics likely cost him his life. When he was murdered, polls showed Dr. King was one of the most unpopular people in the country.
Liberals hated Dr. King then—as they likely would have hated him today if he was still alive—because he exposed their hypocrisy and collaboration with state violence. Today, they probably would condemn or most likely attempt to ignore Dr. King, who we can imagine would point out how in less than 48 hours after the Biden administration assumed power, 1) more U.S. troops were deployed to Syria, 2) NATO announced plans to expand its presence in Iraq, and 3) the violent U.S. campaign to undermine the right of the Venezuelan people to determine their political leadership, free from external interference, is being continued.
We speculate Dr. King would have to ask the question about how one can claim to be opposed to something one calls “fascism” in the United States, while supporting fascist political movements in Bolivia, Honduras, the right-wing opposition in Venezuela, the Saudi attack on Yemen, and the brutal occupation of Palestinians—just to name a few.
King likely would raise those questions today. But, in reality, he also supplied the answer close to 54 years ago:
“I am convinced that if we are to get on the right side of the world revolution, we as a nation must undergo a radical revolution of values. We must rapidly begin the shift from a thing-oriented society to a person-oriented society. When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights, are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, extreme materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered.”
That radical revolution of values did not happen. The spiritual rot at the center of U.S. culture only worsened with the politics and policies of the Bush, Obama and Trump administrations. We are compelled to act because we are certain these policies will continue with the Biden administration.
The Black Alliance for Peace (BAP) is adamant we will not allow the U.S. peace and anti-imperialist movement to disarm and demobilize ever again. We are not confused. We know the legitimation crisis of neoliberal capitalism will deepen and the reliance on force and repression—including ideological repression—will increase.
We are preparing and urge you to do so, too. Peace and human rights are threats to the rulers. But they are our only means for survival, and so, we must be prepared to fight for them.
Please join us to discuss this contradiction during our next webinar, “The Challenge of Radical Black Movement Building In the Context of Crisis: An Intergenerational Discussion,” to be held January 26. Register here.
PRESS AND MEDIA
On the January 12 episode of “Voices With Vision” on WPFW (89.3 FM in Washington, D.C.), Netfa Freeman, who represents BAP member organization Pan-African Community Action (PACA) on BAP’s Coordinating Committee, and co-host Craig Hall, spoke with Ahjamu Umi, author, blogger and organizer with the All-African People’s Revolutionary Party, about a Pan-Africanist perspective on the January 6 white/right-wing attack on the U.S. Capitol and the current imperative for the liberation struggle of African people. They also interviewed Thomas Hanna, director of research at the Democracy Collaborative and author of Our Common Wealth: The Return of Public Ownership in the United States about Trump being banned from social-media platforms and why people need to be concerned about the power of Big Tech companies to collect, sell and control information. Music selections by Shomari Mbasi and random clips from the animated adult sitcom, “Boondocks,” were featured. Political prisoner Mumia Abu Jamal also spoke about the case of death-row inmate Roderick Johnson.
The January 19 episode of Voices With Vision featured BAP Coordinating Committee member and Black Agenda Report senior editor and columnist Margaret Kimberley, who opened the show with a monologue about U.S. crimes around the world at a time when politicians are condemning the damage the white racist mob did to America’s image as a “beacon of democracy” with the storming of the Capitol. Meanwhile, BAP member Erica Caines discussed why the police are not and should not be classified as workers. Then Tunde Osazua, coordinator of BAP’s U.S. Out of Africa Network speculated what kind of U.S. foreign-policy thrust toward Africa can be expect from the Biden presidency. Plus, Dr. Kelechi Egwim, executive director of APPEAL Inc. (the Association of People for Pan-Africanist Economic Advancement through Leverage), explains efforts to launch a nationwide Black credit union. The following songs were featured: “Africans Don’t Need AFRICOM” by Dee The Peacemaker, and “Black Cop” by KRS1.
BAP National Organizer Ajamu Baraka was one of the featured speakers on a webinar hosted by BAP supporting organization Dissenters. “Is This Normal? Neoliberal Dems, White Nationalists & How We Resist the Status Quo of U.S. Imperialism” was livestreamed on Facebook.
Ajamu also recently appeared on Black Agenda Report’s “Left Lens” on the observance day of Dr. King’s birthday to discuss with Margaret and Black Agenda Report editor Danny Haiphong the legacy of Dr. King as the U.S. legitimacy crisis unfolds.
On Inauguration Day, Margaret appeared on PressTV’s “The Debate” and 73 minutes into Radio Sputnik’s “The Critical Hour” to discuss the U.S. security state, censorship and Biden’s domestic terrorism legislation.
Netfa discussed the Capitol storming through a southern African lens, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the Uganda elections and the United States placing Cuba on a terror list 17 minutes into “Freedom Now” on KPFK (90.7 FM in Los Angeles). Netfa also appeared on PressTV’s “The Debate” with journalist Daniel Lazare to discuss the U.S. system breaking down, as reflected in the heightened security as Inauguration Day drew closer.
BAP member Jacqueline Luqman interviewed Erica and Onyesonwu Chatoyer of BAP member organization All-African People’s Revolutionary Party-New Mexico on the internet show, “Luqman Nation,” for a radical analysis of the Capitol storming. The show also discussed in another episode why U.S. foreign policy matters domestically. Plus, Jacqueline interviewed Black Star News founder Milton Allimadi about the Ugandan elections and U.S. involvement in the country's and region's instability to exploit the African resources.
EVENTS
January 26: BAP will host a webinar on intergenerational organizing featuring Ajamu; former Black Party Party Chair Elaine Brown; Erica; Dedan Waciuri, who represents BAP member organization Black Workers for Justice on BAP’s Coordinating Committee; Dissenters’ Asha Ransby-Sporn, BAP member organization Horn of Africa Pan-Africans for Liberation and Solidarity’s Yolian Ogbu. Register here.
February 9: Haiti Week at Vanderbilt University. Register here.
February 11: The Sojourner Truth School for Social Change Leadership is hosting a training featuring Netfa called, “The Ballot and Community Control Over Police.” Register here.
TAKE ACTION
Dedan is being charged for inciting a riot and damaging government property. Sign this petition to demand charges be dropped.
Our brother, former political prisoner Jalil Muntaqim, faces the possibility of re-incarceration for filling out a voter registration form. Sign this petition to demand charges be dropped.
The Black Latina Girls and Women Fund was created by BAP member organization AfroResistance, a Black Latina women-led organization in the service of Black Latinx women in the Americas. This fund offers financial support by giving money directly to Black Latin womxn, girls and femmes who are experiencing severe financial need across the region, especially due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether in Brazil, Colombia, United States or Panama, Black Latina girls, women, and femmes are organizing in their local communities in the fight against several forms of state violence. You can donate here and people are encouraged to use the hashtag #BlackLatinaGWFund.
Sign up to join BAP’s U.S. Out of Africa Network to receive the bi-weekly AFRICOM Watch Bulletin in your inbox.
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No Compromise, No Retreat!
Struggle to win,
Ajamu, Charisse, Dedan, Erica, Jaribu, Margaret, Netfa, Nnamdi, Paul, Rafiki
P.S. Freedom isn’t free. Consider giving today.
Photo credit: AP Photo