Volume 3 Issue 23…Dedicated to the Dialogue on Race… June 16, 2000

Note: The DISH is based on themes from T.H.I.N.C. (Teaching Humanity In New Consciousness): The Chrysalis of Evolution. According to the President's Initiative on Race, "The issues that this book brings to the forefront are important in our efforts to achieve the goals set forth by the President for the Initiative. This work will serve as a solid resource for us as we begin to examine these critical issues." For your copy of T.H.I.N.C., The DISH or to submit comments, contact ICIM, Inc. at (404) 244-6023 or email us at icim@bellsouth.net. The DISH 8 2000

White Supremacy: US. Imperialism (1900)

On January 9, 1900, following his visit to the Philippines where American soldiers were fighting to put down the Filipino independence struggle, Senator Albert J. Beveridge of Indiana declared: 'The Philippines are ours forever, 'territory belonging to the United States' as the Constitution calls them. And just beyond the Philippines are China's illimitable markets. We will not retreat from either. We will not repudiate our duty in the archipelago. We will not renounce our part in the mission of our race, trustee, under God of the civilization of the world... Mr. President, this question is deeper than any question of party politics; deeper than any question of constitutional power. It is elemental. It is racial. God has not been preparing the English-speaking and Teutonic peoples for a thousand years for nothing but vain and idle self-contemplation and self-admiration. No! He has made us the master organizers of the world to establish system where chaos reigns. He has given us the spirit of progress to overwhelm the forces of reaction throughout the earth. He has made us adepts in government that we may administer government among savage and senile peoples. Were it not for such a force as this the world would relapse into barbarism and night. And of all our race He has marked American people as His chosen nation to finally lead in the regeneration of the world."

The anti-imperialists, represented by the likes of Andrew Carnegie and William Jennings Bryan, shared Abraham Lincoln's view, "No man is good enough to govern another man with that man's consent. When the white man govern himself, that is self government, but when he governs himself and also governs another man, that is more than self-government - that is despotism...Our reliance is in the love of liberty which God has planted in us. Our defense is in the spirit, which prizes liberty as the heritage of all men in all lands. Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves, and under a just God cannot long retain it." (Source: American History: A Survey (4^th ed.), R.N. Current, T.H. Williams and F. Freidel)

FUBU?

Who is FUBU? My grandson has a shirt with the four letters printed on it. What is For Us By Us (FUBU) apparel? How does FUBU differ from the other commercial labels black people buy? Is FUBU like the alleged term of endearment "boo," which I associate with boo-boo, i.e. screw-up or 'boo!" I am scared of you, as in ghosts and hobgoblins. Pardon me for being old fashioned, but just don't call me boo.

Back to FUBU! Since many name brands are on our list of boycotted people, places and things, we need to know about FUBU. Could widespread acceptance of FUBU be a boo-boo on the part of black people who are spending big to own FUBU? How does it help US when overcharged to own FUBU? Boo! I'm scared of you!

Disgruntled says: All-American John Rocker got demoted to the minors to master double-thinking. Feeling as he does is okay; he can not express his prejudice and expect warm receptions from the majority of the world, which he detests.

Disgruntled feels: Grandmothers with straight jet-black hair scream hypocrisy when standing alongside their sons, who sport their naturally graying beards and balding noggins.

Disgruntled wants to know: How does the in-house Equal Employment Opportunity process, as practiced in the federal government, function to address minority employees' complaints?

The Dark Knight/Batman/White Ninja/Zorro is only seven, but he already responds to the siren song of women. According to the Dark One/Ninja/Zorro, "Grandma, they are too strong, I can't resist them!"

by Yohannes Sharriff Smith

"Don't you carry nothing that might be a load...

Ease on down..."

I'm easing on down these ghetto-built roads.

Smelling frankincense fresh, cool breeze

Steps out the Gypsy Market in Little 5-points.

The artist creatively loafing thru moments

Shaded by indigo lady wearing a red do-rag

Walking pass Copper-John.

Caught in the numbing hold of insufficient funds,

I quantum leap like from axon to dendrite.

"Dyno-mite"... existential calligraphy

Tele-kinetically embroidery across loose-leaf or textile.

My thoughts style the textured fabric of a life.

Time and space mold in my hands

Like the clay of red flesh.

Word-Smith effectively manipulating

The molecular structure of college ruled paper.

And all of this to say, "Love is."

My breast-fed lyrics enchant spirits to re-enact ancient battles of self.

The past holds the candle illuminating the contrasting

Colors of this artful tapestry. Thru the seams,

I weave powerful subject matter for support,

Like big girl's bra straps.

No, I don't lack brains, heart or courage.

As a matter of fact, I'm clicking my heels

Waving my magic wand, conjuring up a new Kamet.

Servant quarters of pie are burning for redemption.

Working in blistering spring temperatures got me

Easing on down these ghetto-built roads.

With the promise of ruby slippers,

Hustling wizards beguile Dorothy on the corner of Colt 45 and Gresham.

No longer guessing how my kin

End up old withered souls posted at the Amoco.

Niggas wishing to do mo' better than po' pimp tin men,

Singing Soprano songs covered in Wiz.

"Don't you carry nothing that might be a load...

Ease on down..."

Somewhere in Ellenwood a poet writes, "Hold on!"

As the side-show carnival reveals... Oz is a prison.

HBO bought the screenplay, but I retain the rights

To edit the script and change my condition.

Critical... the needle is in the red.

The shit is getting thick.

So, the doctor writes prescriptions for enemas on Enter-prise rent-a-car note pads.

Perhaps to foster the thought of traveling without moving,

So many are running from themselves.

Caught out in the rain, I'm thundering, "the sky is falling!"

But my minimum wage nametag says I'm Chicken Little.

The overseers keep pretending they don't see the masses

Drowning under a sea of collapsing glass ceilings.

The Wicked Witch of the West heads east.

Dressed as Lady Liberty, Evilene rides her broomstick

Sweeping up tornadoes to drench my village in apathy,

abject poverty and a false sense of freedom.

Mr. Charlie got me easing on down these ghetto-built roads

With Nino and Pookie, no Bruce Wayne in Buckhead to flash a bat symbol,

Lighting my dark night in gritty Gotham.

But there are plenty of hobgoblins robbing the community.

Good, God-fearing Christians pay taxes for the privilege of second class citizenship.

Gleefully masked in Easter suits and 4^th of July customs,

Scared crows and cowardly lions try to Passover slavery with time off for good behavior.

Melancholy clowns hope for diplomatic immunity,

But ethnically refined ass kissing won't block

The cocked hammers of cops that don't stop

Until they achieve their goal. Know the status on the quota;

Both houses of congress, state legislatures,

And local commissions are committed to using

Political power to promote personal interests.

And, I'm not finished, ...but I got to end this.

"Don't you carry nothing that might be a load...

Ease on down..."

Exploding Language Arts

The growing popularity of spoken word, especially poetry with a dramatic flare, has led to a renaissance for the language arts. No other period in recent human history do we find evidence that people congregated in coffee shops, night-clubs and restaurants to hear spoken word, at least not among poor people. Wordsmiths serious about their language art consider themselves poets. Their mission is to tell a story, which raises consciousness by trying to answer the questions who am I and why am I here? The people come to hear because they seek knowledge too. Do not miss your opportunity to hear Atlanta's premier spoken word artist Yohannes Sharriff Smith and other poets in the Atlanta Vibe.

by John Burl Smith

Turnout 75 %: Run Children Run is a voter education effort by the Richard L. Kirksey Jr. Memorial Foundation designed to reverse the slave /colonial mind sets victimizing people of color the world over. T.H.I.N.C. (Teaching Humanity In New Consciousness): The Chrysalis of Evolution by Yohannes Sharriff Smith developed Richard's values into a philosophy of living. For those in search of a system of understanding or a sense of relevance to life, T.H.I.N.C. is a guide aiding their journey to clarity. Richard believed the highest calling was "protecting children and giving them hope."

A term denoting protection, "child restraint devices" is a curious construction. Synonymous with "traditional family values," which refers to the 3/5 Compromise of Article 1 Section 2 of the United States Constitution, it communicates hidden meaning. "Free thinking children are a threat that must be contained." If children have rights, why are they suppressed when they assert them?

Cobb County Georgia Pebblebrook High School's graduating senior class president and all around good student, Tanisha Harvey is such a victim. Denied the opportunity to address her class, Tanisha was gagged by Principal Randy Bynum, who took serious exception to remarks made to juniors at a school function. Proud of her accomplishments, Tanisha shared her experiences and challenged juniors to speak up for what they deserved. She believed her class missed opportunities by not doing so. Tanisha admonished juniors to look positively, yet realistically at life and take responsibility. Her remarkable appeal should have drawn praise, instead it drew scorn from the Principal. Hoping to break her spirit, he replaced Tanisha with someone named Rajai Bimbo.

T.H.I.N.C. describes linear secularism (LS) and conditioned subordinate psychology (CSP) as mindsets taught descendants of slave masters and slaves respectively. Schools are expected to teach children to function in society. Major portals for downloading societal norms and goals, schools should reward initiative and self-expression. Mastering such skills should be the object of public education. Consequently, Bynum punishing rather than rewarding Tanisha shackles her with Booker T. Washington's legacy. The quintessential "house nigger" drowning in CSP, Bynum practices Willie Lynch's philosophy "Less Make A Slave." Lynch said of black females, "When it comes to the nigger woman, you must extract that last bit of bitch out of her. Do not hesitate to use the whip on her to put her in her place." America's schools convince black children to accept less than what they deserve. Child restraint devices shackle students at all levels of education. Legislatures are passing laws to restrain their personal freedom and expression. Police are regulating their mobility and congregation with profiling. Communities are restricting their access with age limits and curfews. Zero tolerance demand young people reflect only mainstream images. Yet, adults ask, why youth behavior is so drastic and desperate? Through their eyes, that is what life shows them. Oz is a prison with real bars and The Corner is where life is sliced so thin, children are transparent. Young people today see no difference between a barred six by six and a cage for one's mind, both are prisons. Run children run, if you want to change the world. John 2000

Hypocrisy 500: Bush on Zero Tolerance

As a young man and beyond the blush of youth, the man who would be America's king, George W. Bush, Jr., sowed wild oats like many baby boomers that sampled everything. Youthful indiscretions galore were smoothed over; lives were not ruined, though many of those acts involved drugs, including alcohol, cocaine, marijuana and nicotine, the same drugs today's youth abuse, but go to prison. G.W. did it all; he loved coke and alcohol. A real party animal, what price did Bush pay for his youthful indiscretions and still run for President?

Today, as with his zealous support for the death penalty, there are contradictions in Bush's staunch advocacy of zero tolerance. Like many baby boomers, especially when it comes to minority Americans, Bush supports putting non-violent drug offenders in prison. Ipso facto, bulging prison populations in Texas are mostly minority Americans. Those youthful indiscretions G.W. enjoyed bring prison time for this generation, especially children of African descent. What do you call this revolting development, if not hypocrisy? Like compassionate conservatism, zero tolerance is a political oxymoron run on today's youth. When it is good enough for kings, how dare we imprison our children for mimicking?

On "Yes Nam"

by Dot

I am fortunate to have been born an aunt. It is always a pleasure to meet a great grandnephew or niece. Oftentimes, they are a source of inspiration, like Larry who inspired this piece.

We had barely begun our first conversation when he responded to a question with "yes nam." After the third time, I asked him to repeat it. He said "yes nam" quite clearly. Understanding the error, I thought I detected, I explained he really meant to say "ma'am" for madam. Larry responded "yes nam."

Aware blacks were forced during slavery and Jim Crow segregation to say sir and ma'am to whites, even the young ones, I assured him that it was not necessary to say "ma'am" to me; it seemed painful. He explained the "boy" his momma slept with made him say it. The venom in his voice conveyed deliberateness in the mispronunciation. When you THINC about it, how can a man demand respect from the son of the woman he fornicates with outside marriage, while he drags you to church every Sunday? The conversation with Larry sheds light on what is happening today. It is hypocritical to demand children show respect by saying sir and ma'am, when "yes" or "no" works just fine for answering questions unless more in the way of explanation is required. Moreover, those who want respect from the young will have to earn it; those who demand it up front are in for disappointment. Young people want the respect that is being demanded from them! Show me respect, they seem to be saying, and I will respect you, but don't expect me to say sir or ma'am to convince you I hold you in high esteem, when you have done nothing or too many of the wrong things to earn my respect. When you force hypocrisy on the young, as in Larry's case at seven, you may be called "nam" instead of ma'am.

John Rocker and the Media

The press hounds John Rocker, as though he is some kind of apparition worthy of news coverage. Rocker is the norm; hence, he receives standing ovations at home when he trots to the mound at Turner Field. Ironically, the newsworthy aspect of the Rocker controversy is his superiority complex or linear secularism, which is ignored by the media. Examining the psychological underpinnings of Rocker would expose America. So, the real story in the Rocker fiasco is obscured to minimize, as the Confederate flag controversy overshadows legal racial inequality.

The media pretend the news is in the symbols, so they air everything and anything, including Elian Gonzalez' cousin to avoid discussing the chasm of inequality. Fox News even resurrected O.J. Simpson in its quest to be "fair and balanced." I also threw up; it was just that sick. Fox ran the trash - Brown and Simpson - all weekend. Fox did not mention the news about milk and Monsanto. Simpson is no more news than Rocker or Elian Gonzalez! The scoop on milk is news that will get everybody's attention.

South DeKalb goes without its rail connection, but MARTA plans a $3.5 billion commercial development in Buckhead. It wants to raise the fare to support new stations, parking areas and other regional transportation needs, rather than serve the needs of those who fund MARTA through a 1-cent sales tax. Not known for its efficiency, MARTA's expenditures include a $5,000 baseball purchased to promote the All-Star Game. Georgians asked MLB Commissioner Bud Selig to move the event to another city as support for Georgians participating in the international boycott of states that officially display Confederate symbols, which includes Georgia, Mississippi and South Carolina.

We asked Georgia Attorney General Thurbert Baker to seek a ruling on the constitutionality of GRTA controlling MARTA, the taxation without representation aspect of extending the MARTA 1-cent sales tax to 2047 without voter referendum, etc. We await his response. (For more on MARTA, see our MARTA-Tax-Sucks.Com web page.

ICIM Boycotted people places and things: The death penalty, Bush babies, designer labels, milk and meat, the Confederate flag and institutionalized racism, Rocker-types, Coke, Trent Lott and other weapons of mass destruction. (For a more complete list, see ICIM Home page for the Consumer Alert)

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