Volume 4 Issue 26…Dedicated to the Dialogue on Race… July 6, 2001

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. The DISH © 2001

by Yohannes Sharriff Smith

Please forgive if I act a little strange.

My particular straight jacket is a stylish expression of a detached yet sensitive soul.

So, be careful.

To know her love is hotter than the color pink.

Richer than the deepest green, this jaded canvas needs a new palette.

Clair and Bain sang the ballad California Love.

I licked my lips as a reminder of what was.

West Coast cactus flower child held an orange moon in her smile.

Red and blue make purple.

All I ever wanted was to be loved like that.

"Satisfy my soul" moans Marley, echoing the wrinkled whispers written across my brow.

Somewhere in the clouds my Aquarian moon resides, while Venus drowns in

Piscean waters of Afromantic erotica.

To watch her come is hotter than cayenne.

Cocoa-butter complexion cartwheeled into a summer dress and Afro puffs.

Tougher than she looks, bumblebee likes to blow the blunt and pulls smoke from my soul.

So, butterfly plays with her tongue ring, and fire truck sirens fail to convey the way her body language screams;

"I want your hands...your mouth... your body!

Yohannes, why don't you grab me and rock my blues into a sticky funky good sleep?!"

To taste her skin is hotter than cotton candy-sweet.

I can smell the peach lotion; I'm losing my composure.

The closer we get a thousand red light memories remind me of my indigo dreams.

Purple trees and wine rose tinted this cozy li'l Decatur laundry room filled with cob webs, dead bugs, dust and lint is Shangri-La right now.

And right now, we are more than friends but somehow something less than lovers.

Red and blue make purple.

So, why can't we love like that?

I cough and recover from the shotgun blast, just hoping the smoke lasts long enough for her to get comfortable and laugh so deeply it hurts...

Sigh, then, remember how good it feels to be loved by me.

In a crowded room, I look for you, is what my eyes say.

She listens to me talk about poetry.

And, I'm really thinking, could I feel like this forever?

Right now, can I breathe deeply cause someone understands, and I am not nervous or afraid to be vulnerable?

Tell me when I'm distant you will come for me.

Tell me you will be that someone I come home to.

Red and blue make purple.

So, why can't we love like that?

The Dark Knight-Batman/White Ninja/Zorro is eight, an age of developing character traits. It is an age at which a parent's patience can be sorely tested. When informed it is an age for young people to begin to take on some big folk responsibility, the Batman/Ninja/Zorro stated, "I know grandma, but not before I awake!"

A resounding success for its imaginative creators, Yohannes Sharriff Smith and Aqiyl Thomas, The Block brings community theater to a new level. Fusing their poetry with the everyday fabric of life, it reminds us of the slender threads holding our individual worlds together. The Block taps into the shared subconscious emotional reality we recognize but turn aside before it hits us squarely in the face! The Block cracks the curtain and shows black artistry enjoys broad appeal. Demonstrating its commercial value, The Block confounds and inspires.

Interviewed following the performance regarding, what stood out in his mind about the show, Yohannes said, "The unity! How the cast came together, committed to make it work. Our success is due to the dedicated, hard working people who supported us with love. I want to give a shout out to Atlanta artists of all types for their support all this year. And, I want to give a double shout out to spoken word fans around the world. It is for you that we do what we do. Peace and love! "

by John Burl Smith

As a child listening to great grandfather, Rev. Burl Lee prepare sermons, I had little comprehension of their magnitude. Glimpses of him roaring about the synergetic nature of Homo sapiens' soul, stand in relief against today's religious leaders. He was emphatic about the soul possessing the physical body, thereby mitigating animalistic behavior, while transforming individuals into spiritual beings. He believed, the soul acts on brain activity in humans causing them to behave in certain ways. According to Rev. Lee, responding to influences of the soul was the determinant of one's faith. An old-fashioned preacher, the "Circuit Rider" saw his calling as a challenge to educate people, ignorant of themselves, about the power of the spirit. He insisted, "the mission of the church of Jesus Christ is charity."

Presently, "faith based" is code for giving 'religious' political supporters a federal payoff in the name of charity. Charity is a response to one's belief in grace. Repentance acknowledges the harm of one's actions. Penitence also demands effort to repair harm caused by one's actions. Christians should be horrified at the prospect of charging the government to satisfy demands of penitence. Under such circumstances, how can one renew one's faith or show gratitude for bountiful blessings, if the government bankrolls the preacher? Paul will be back in the service of Rome. The "Circuit Rider" farmed the fields for a living not the church.

After learning at the knees of a real preacher, I find it impossible to follow imposters. If one believes the soul determines one's behavior, the impact is a changed person. Serving bad causes or supporting harmful actions because they are done in the name of the church is misguided faith. One does what is right because it is right. The soul helps one determine right and that is the reward of faith not personal gratification. Like poppa, I understand the obligation of my faith and I thank you for reinforcing all the lessons faith teaches. John 2001

Kudos! Kudos!

Venus' Photographer: A Loving Parent

Thousands, if not millions, of pictures are taken at tennis events around the world. An oddity, it hardly ever fails that when a picture of Venus Williams gets in the press, it is from an unflattering angle or some awkward moment. A beautiful black woman, Miss Williams has classic African features. However, her beauty is not reflected in the pictures published in the mainstream media. Last year, the press photos of Venus were simply atrocious.

If you mounted the Venus Williams pictures published in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, you would see what has to be a concerted effort to publish only photos of her that are uncomplimentary. Continuing last year's trend, on Tuesday (6/26/01), the official Wimbledon web site at www.wimbledon.com posted a really 'bad' shot of Venus, the defending Wimbledon champion, grimacing while hitting a forehand. The Harry Collins photograph is so dark, most of Venus' features are obscure. On the heels of last year, this is enough to spur a loving parent into action. Richard Williams, Venus' father, has taken up photography to capture some of the truly beautiful moments as his daughters make tennis history. Kudos to Richard Williams, a loving parent in action!

Disgruntled feels: Compassion for Cheney! Insiders say the problem is not his heart. Dogged and dogmatic, he does a yeoman job. Bush's gravitas and big dog on the Hill, he sticks to the right-wing message. But, Bush cannot stay this course, if he plans to seek reelection. Odds on favorite, Cheney will tender his resignation.

Disgruntled says: Brothers and sisters throughout the Diaspora unite in peace and love!

Disgruntled wants to know: The black American status is comparable to that of black and brown people in Third World nations. Victims of institutionalized racism, American blacks have no elected leadership. Unelected and incompetent, who selects those black talking heads portrayed in the Archie Bunker press as black leaders?

The Democratic Party continues to treat African Americans as second class members. Historically, race/color has been more important than party affiliation. Routinely, 90% or more of black voters loyally cast their ballots for Democrats. White Democrats voted for Bush. Had white Democrats voted for the party's candidate, the election would not have been in contention, because Gore would have won outright southern states like Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, etc. White Democrats like Bush's policies, particularly his strict construction promise. Georgia Democrats conceded the state before the first ballot was cast. Southern Democrats put Bush in office.

Senate Democrats did not contest Florida's Electoral College votes. Not one rose to join the gentle ladies of the US House of Representatives to challenge Florida's tainted ballots. Clearly, the Democrats dropped the ball or simply gave it to the Republicans. Run by white men, the Democratic Party did as much as Republicans to assure a Bush victory. This was not the first time this has happened and not the last. In fact, it is a tradition for the Democratic Party, which is run by Dixiecrats and right wing conservatives. As a rule, white Democrats vote for white Republicans against black Democrats, witness the recent Virginia election where a black Democrat did not get the white Democratic vote.

In the Virginia 4^th District election for the seat left vacant by the death in March of Rep. Norman Sisisky (D), white Democrats did not vote for Louise Lucas, the black Democratic candidate. Had white Democrats been loyal, Lucas would be Virginia's representative. Instead, white Democrats voted for the Republican Party's white candidate, Randy Forbes. This election show that race is thicker than party affiliation. According to a CNN news report, "during the campaign, a Forbes supporter was quoted as telling a white reporter that Lucas was, "working to get the people out to vote. Her people. Not Randy's people, not my people, not your people, but her people." Clearly a John Rocker - Archie Bunker- statement, it was downplayed by white Democrats and Republicans. On race, Democrats drop the ball, leaving blacks without representation.

by Cecil R. Washington, Jr.

Barry Braimah is a African American serving an 18-year sentence in a French prison. Barry did not know the person to whom he was referred for help with lodging in France was under surveillance for suspicion of trafficking. He had nothing illegal in his possession. Barry had no police record prior to his arrest anywhere. There was no presumption of innocence. No benefit of the doubt, only "guilt by association."

Independent investigations show Barry's arrest was a case of mistaken identity. French police mistook him for another man of African descent who was under surveillance before Barry's first ever visit to France. Police claimed to be arresting this suspect. The suspect is described as short and stocky, while Barry is very tall and lean. Barry and the suspect have their African descent in common. The US State Department is silent.

In May 2001, Barry Braimah began his 8th year of an 18-year sentence. He is scheduled for release in year 2012, minus any time credits. With at least l1 years to serve, Barry's family, friends and supporters ask all the brothers and sisters in the Diaspora and other to send Barry a letter, card or email. His birthday was July 2, and after eight years in a French prison something is needed to help lift his spirits and morale. Also, you will help put French authorities on notice that they are being "watched," because the more communication an inmate receives from the outside world, generally, the better he is treated. It puts the US State Department on notice.

Send letters, postcards and notes to: Barry BRAIMAH; 8674 B-Sud 227; Centre Pen. de Clairvaux; 10310 Ville sous La Ferte; FRANCE. Barry does not have email or Internet access. However, messages sent to us will be printed out and mailed to him. Send emails to either Trapped@casema.net (Lars); FreeBarry1@aol.com (Lallia); or BarrySupport@starmail.com (Cecil). For more background information about Barry's predicament, visit http://www.egroups.com/files/BARRY.

Hood Notes

by Matthew McDaniel

Thailand missionaries have tried to convert hill tribes for forty years. With a strong orthodox culture that resembles an environmental theology, the Akha have resisted. However, in the last two years, Chinese Baptist Missionaries from Hong Kong, Taiwan and the US have targeted this hill tribe extensively for conversion.

Villages do not convert on their own. Conversion is high-pressured. Money plays a significant role. Missionaries pressure them and take advantage of division. If none exists, they create one. After establishing a foothold in the village, they build concrete churches. With cookies, they pull as many children as possible into the church and teach them their parents are "wrong". The pastor is promised rewards for each house he "converts".

Conversion requires the Akha to abandon their traditions. They cease wearing traditional dress, singing and engaging in traditional ceremonies, which are referred to as evil worship. Mostly young girls are taken from the village to boarding schools, where they are forced to learn in Chinese. They do not hear their language. In all likelihood, they will not return to the village. Young village men grow up without girls to marry. These girls, still relatively uneducated, find themselves in poorly paid jobs, without the supports of their traditional culture.

The missionaries are racist against the Akha people, insisting on conversions that they would not dare insist on in Thai communities. With increased Chinese missionary presence the Akha may also loose their land to Chinese landowners. For more information, visit http://www.akha.org or email akha@akha.org.

Nailing Down Racism

by John Burl Smith

On August 31, 2001, the United Nation's World Conference Against Racism (WCAR) will begin defining, describing, identifying and examining the impact of racism on human society. A much broader discussion than what is currently taking place in America regarding reparations for slave descendants, Manifest Destiny or Israel's occupation of Palestine, this dialogue will be a definitive statement affirming the right of people to self-determination, equal access to the institutions of a society/nation, as well as, protection from acts of genocide.

Having lost its seat on the Human Rights Commission and the ability to control debate, President-select G. W. Bush, Jr. has made his opposition to this conference as clearly as his vow to appoint strict constructionist to the US Supreme Court. However, research by Dot M. Smith published in T.H.I.N.C. (Teaching Humanity In New Consciousness): The Chrysalis of Evolution on the Great Compromise (3/5ths) of Article 1 Section 2 of the United States Constitution has forced Bush to adopt a new stance. America is trying to force the WCAR to agree to block any discussion of reparation, Native Americans on reservations and Zionism for its agreement not to boycott the conference.

The Bush administration wants to prevent any recognition of Smith's conclusion that America's institutionalized racism has systematically maintained slave descendants as economic slaves since emancipation. Moreover, the entire American society has covered up its Adolf Hitler-style Holocaust. Massacres of blacks in towns like Rosewood and Greenwood, as well as, government assassination programs like Co-Intel-Pro attest to American genocide. Under segregation and sharecropping, whites used debt to tie blacks to the land. A new kind of bond servant, their only escape was the "midnight express" North to similar bondage in slaughter houses and steel mills. No matter where slave descendants resided, the 3/5ths Compromise determined their value.

Surveying U. S. Department of Labor data, Smith identified a stable relationship between race and income. Located between the interval .5 to .65, medium family income for blacks relative to whites mirrors the 3/5ths Compromise. Strict constructionist, whom Bush has vowed to place on the Supreme Court, pledge to maintain the 3/5ths value. Nailing down racism in America, Smith's research shows that in real terms, because the 3/5ths value was never repealed, slavery never ended! America's refusal to pay reparations to slave descendants for institutionalized racism denies us equal standing in the market place of goods and services. Gagged like Paul Roberson and Malcolm X, the Bush administration will not allow Dot to present her research to WCAR. Bush has put together a team to represent America's views on slave descendants. Anyone arguing differently will not be allowed a voice at WCAR. John 2001

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