Volume 2 Issue 42 .….Dedicated to the Dialogue on Race….. October 29, 1999

by Dot Smith

Conditioned Subordinate Psychology (CSP) is the term used in T.H.I.N.C. to identify specific characteristics exhibited by African Americans. CSP is the inferiority complex produced by the psychological conditioning necessary to maintain slavery and segregation. Fear was used to achieve the slave mind-set. An effective conditioning tool, fear kept blacks on the back of the bus during segregation; it prevented many from participating in civil rights struggles. Fear is deeply embedded in the African American psyche.

Some African Americans exhibit an unreasonable fear of new information, especially when it contradicts tradition or is offered by the "wrong people." Consequently, CSP helps produce generation after generation of uninformed second class citizens. It led black mothers to teach their children to ride on the back of the bus, drink from "colored only" public fountains, say "sir" and "ma'am" to whites and other apartheid rules. We learned our lessons well and passed acceptance of the restrictive codes on to the next generation. Ignorance and tradition maintain blacks in a state of mental and, therefore, physical subjugation.

When asked about the acquiescence and subsequent second class status, the elders say, "we did what we could to stay alive; it was bad back then; a black man could be killed at a picnic for talking about civil rights and equality." Essentially, they prayed and held onto their "blind faith" that things would get better; to help it along, they did their best to be "good blacks."

However, conditions never improved enough to remove the fear; it is still there; hence the conditioning remains. Some elders say the fear they still feel is justified, given 30% of black men are mired in the criminal justice system. Today, black mothers are advised to caution their children about police brutality and social injustice. Under current conditions, CSP thrives, reinforcing our black second class status.

Unclear about CSP? Need some examples? See the movie "Blind Faith,' a serious drama starring Lonette McKee, Kadeem Hardison and Charles Dutton, who portrays a 1950's black cop crippled by his inferiority complex. If you read non-fiction, check out the book, "The Good Black: A True Story of Race in America," by Paul M. Barrett. While I have not read the book, I know its main character Lawrence Mungin, "the good black," from personal experience. Read a synopsis of Mungin's story online at http://www. Barnes&Noble.com or catch Paul Barrett on C-Span's Book Notes.

CSP abounded at the Free Mumia demonstration recently held in Atlanta, GA. Blacks who happened along Five Points never heard of Mumia Abu-Jamal. How? By avoiding information! Some refused our info; others held counter demonstrations. Two trash talking, Bible-toting black mother figures called Dr. King a troublemaker and us "bastards." I recognized the classic CSP. Tony B. Conscious, a poet and urban entrepreneur, characterized their behavior as "responding to a different spirit." More Hot DISHes

by John Burl Smith

On behalf of Landon Deshard Mosley, Donzell Lewis, Andre Burgess and Nathaniel Jamal Abraham, The Richard L. Kirksey, Jr. Memorial Foundation commissioned a study of The Economics of Poverty. On November 7, 1997, responding to that study, Yohannes Sharriff Smith addressed America's genocide against African Americans. In a letter to United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, he charged America with crimes against humanity, for its treatment of African and Native Americans; Yohannes requested assistance with bringing America before the International Court of Justice. The study concluded that these four African American youths are representative of millions of slave descendants victimized by America's judicial, political and socioeconomic systems. (See Chasm Studies by Dot)

Reagan/Bush targeted young black males as "the face of crime in America." Using the "War on Drugs" as its catalysis, they criminalized behaviors, which were considered pranks ten years earlier. Republicans filled prisons with children and emptied mental hospitals of the old and sickly. Lockstep with the security and gun industries, Republicans used poor children like e-mail. Sending messages to their financial and political supporters, they turned back the clock on civil rights.

Currently, Nathaniel Jamal Abraham and Mumia Abu-Jamal are trapped in this hostile system. The fact that Nathaniel has a low IQ, perhaps functioning on the level of a six-year-old, shows signs of deprivation and his mother having sought help for him before the killing carry no weight with the state. A George W. Bush Jr. vice-presidential hopeful, Governor Engler is making an example of this unfortunate child in order to one up his rivals. Admitting it wants to send a message with Nathaniel, the state insists he could reason as an adult at the time of the killing. The DISH asks, if that is the case, then why not allow eleven year-old children to sit on juries? Then, Nathaniel would have a jury of his peers.

White America sees Mumia as the anti-hero, the "smart nigger." However, for blacks, Mumia is the tragic figure: Paul Robson, Emmett Till, four (4) little girls in a Birmingham, Alabama church. Twenty years earlier, whites would have lynched Mumia on the spot. Mumia's real crime is speaking out about poverty, racism, police brutality and genocide.

Becoming a target, Mumia was like black power advocates targeted by the FBI's Counter Intelligence Program: Philadelphia Police went gunning for him. Had Mumia died, public official would have called it justifiable homicide, i.e., Tyisha Miller or Amadou Diallo. Instead, Mumia is scheduled to be executed December 2, 1999. We still await the UN's response. Other Essays by Mr Smith /This Issue

Mumia Abu-Jamal needs your assistance. If you oppose the death penalty, write a brief letter or send a postcard to the judge and the governor. All correspondence to the judge is being sent through Mumia's attorney at his request. The addresses are:

Hon. William H. Yohn, Jr., c/o Leonard Weinglass

6 West 20^th Street, Suite 10A

New York, NY 10011

Governor Tom Ridge: 225 Main Capitol

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120

Telephone: (717) 787-2500

Get involved and help save a life; one day it may be your own or your son's. Too lazy to write, hit up the governor's website and send him an electronic message at governor@state.pa.us or call him at the above number. What could be easier? Do it today! Please! Other News You Use

Phantom Scribbler

New York did the right thing and allowed the Ku Klux Klan to march. N.Y. Mayor Rudolph Giuliani had refused to issue the hooded bandits a permit. The Klan raids and marches incognito; they do not want to be recognized for the hate they spew in masked moments. Unmasked, less than twenty showed up to march.

Masked, we do not know who they are; it is time to put a face on the hate. Giuliani should be commended for getting the ball to rolling on unmasking these criminals. With faces hidden, Klansmen could be church deacons, appointed or elected officials, hold public positions of trust; who knows they may be doctors, lawyers, teachers of public and private school students or members of Congress. Rep. Bob Barr, Sens. Jesse Helm, Trent Lott and others may well be one of these masked men. They are known associates of the Council of Conservative Citizens (CCC), another name for the Ku Klux Klan. Phantom Scribblers

Cultivating the Mind!

by John Burl Smith

Love Reciprocity: the fifth and final principle of T.H.I.N.C. is the reality of oneness. If all actions proceed from truthful intentions, loving relations grow into oneness. Thoughts form beliefs, which develop into attitudes that underlie behavior. Consequently, what one thinks becomes their reality.

Admonishing about thoughts, Circuit Rider Rev. Burl Lee preached, "Be careful what you allow to get into your head, anything will grow there." Cultivating the mind is analogous to a farmer's field. Like productive fields, minds must be fertile. A kind of seed, thought must be selected for its potential bounty. As with crops, mentally one can only harvest what is cultivated. Therefore, engaging in unproductive, demeaning or self-absorbed thought is like a farmer cultivating weeds.

Manifesting the soul, love is the truest expression of humanity and its only salvation. Racism is counter to Love Reciprocity. Racist behavior is supported by attitudes grounded in thoughts of superiority. Such concepts as slavery and segregation are political and socioeconomic expressions of those thoughts. America's sheepish hypocrisy seeks to hide its shame and guilt about slavery and the annihilation of Native Americans. Drowning in denial, whites feverishly block out thoughts of reparations owed slave descendants and restoration rights for Native Americans. Conservative Republicans sent a clear message with their votes against African Americans appointments by President Clinton.

In New York City, Ku Klux Klan marchers, claiming first amendment rights, do not want to show their faces. Using the anonymity of crowds, Republicans in Congress throw bricks and hide their hands, while denying charges of overt racism. Trent Lott, Jess Helms, Tom Delay, Dick Armey and Bob Barr are supporters of the CCC. Fronting for the KKK, their goal is to turn back the clock on integration by dismantling affirmative action. Espousing the same beliefs, these United States Congressional leaders support flying confederate flags honoring the fact that their fore-parents were traitors against the United States. Mr. Smith's Essays

In what is shaping up to be another one of those "Read my lips, no new taxes" episodes, Elder Bush, former U.S. President, ex-CIA Director and father of George W., said Barbara would head up sonny's bid for the Republican nomination. His impressive campaign war chest makes G.W. a shoo-in; money is all that matters in the grand old party. Its nominees need not possess a scintilla of substance. Money does the talking. Voter concerns are placed on the back burner, unheard over the racket being made by a few with deep pockets.

True to form, as soon as elder Bush made his "hands-off" declaration, his actions contradicted the statement. Before the words are out of his mouth, he is featured in campaign photo opts, waxing eloquent about his son's clever deception in getting around questions about past behavior. In another photogenic moment, he denied playing a role in his son's avoidance of military service. We are to believe, the elder did not help George W., step over other men's sons to get a choice reserve position, which put him out of harm's way, while a war raged on and other sons died for home and country. Recently, "Fortunate Son" by J.H. Hatfield gave elder Bush campaign fever; the book fell victim to elder Bush's scorn. Already being pulled off store shelves, want to bet elder Bush had nothing to do with that decision? The elder's "hands-off" would be a departure from the norm. Over a lifetime, he has orchestrated numerous covert operations to bail out his "where's the party" son. He will not stop now. Read his lips! Politics 2000

Disgruntled says: The public is growing increasingly leery of unscrupulous men who wag the dog on prostrate cancer and other health conditions to avoid prosecution for their alleged criminal actions.

Disgruntled knows: If Seminole Landfill started in the 1970's, before waste disposal techniques used today were in place, where are those dump-sites? Could they pose health hazards?

Disgruntled feels: assuming personal responsibility trumps group protests, such as marching. More Disgruntled Moments

by Tony B. Conscious

Come to me, my mighty children

Come yonder one and all

I have long awaited your arrival

In numbers, both big and small

Come to me kings and queens

Long ago you were snatched from my loins

By the wicked man who raped my body

And taught you to deny me

Every since you were born.

He tells you I am savage and diseased

He calls me backwards and uncivilized

He says I will not accept you, my children

However, this is a lie.

Come to me, I will teach you to be free

I will raise your spirits to new heights

With me, you have no need to be afraid

Of being portrayed in a negative light.

Here, there is no crack, nor crime

No tobacco or poisons in what you eat

Vegetation is plentiful, juices flow endlessly

And the water is always pure and sweet.

You may run on my shores completely raw

With bare feet, breasts and backs

For, here your body is recognized as beauty

No need for self-consciousness, just relax.

So take that journey, I wait for you children

Why stay away confused and alone?

When with open arms and patience

I've awaited your arrival

I'm your mother, Africa saying:

"Please come home!!!"

About Me: Tony B. Conscious is an entrepreneur and a poet who has been featured in several poetry magazines, newsletters and on the Internet. He has self-published numerous works, including "Black Luv" and "Hue-Manity;" both are collections of his poetry. Other Artists

Born in 1922, Julius K. Nyerere, former president of Tanzania, educator and statesman recently succumb to leukemia. In the words of Yemi Toure, "Mwalimu was a strong, original and creative leader of his country. I sincerely believe he will not be fully appreciated until after he is gone." Nyerere fought colonialism and was architect of the union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, which became the republic of Tanzania; he served as its president for more than twenty years.

In 1954, Nyerere helped form the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU). The political party was victorious in legislative elections in 1958 and '59. Following the general elections of 1960, the U.K. agreed to self-rule for the former colony. Nyerere was named chief minister. Tanganyika became autonomous in 1961, and Nyerere became Prime Minister. Full independence was achieved later that year, and Nyerere was elected President, a position he held from 1964-1985. Africa and the world will truly miss the wisdom and guidance of this native son. Julius K. Nyerere was 77. Bits of Black History

To be effective, we must come together on the message. Regarding the Confederate flag, the message is, we want it removed for all official places of prominence in the U.S. The Confederate flag represents a rebellion put down by civil war; the "stars and bars" are the most divisive national symbol, akin to the German swastika Its retirement from official places is overdue; it should not be allowed to fly atop buildings or included in state flags and official documents.

The NAACP is to be commended for boycotting South Carolina, which flies the battle flag. It must expand the boycott to include any states where these Confederate symbols fly. Georgia comes to mind. With no success, the state's Black Caucus has worked to change Georgia's flag, which is mostly the divisive emblem. When you really think about it, Georgia is worse than S.C. Support the boycott, and write, fax, call or email the NAACP and encourage them to expand the flag boycott to include Georgia and other southern states, which display this symbol of division and hate. More Hood Notes

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