Revolutionary Daily Thoughts: The Philosophies and Opinions of Our Ancestors/Elders

[Akua Ma'at]

"...African women were never singled out for marginalization, subjugation and alienation. The role of the woman in the family is not subordinate, but rather complementary to that of the man... Unlike Europeans, Africans regard women as indispensable to the home and society."

Catherine Obianuju Acholonu

[Akua Ma'at]

"Not having created this hell is no excuse for abandoning our children to it. Because we have not provided them with a sufficiently empowered social, cultural and spiritual base, it is understandable that they rebel against our demand that they be uncompromisingly Afrikan.

We have not fulfilled our role of establishing and strengthening a fortified space where they can freely be Afrikan. Consequently, they continue to be left as easy prey for the wolves."

Mwalimu Baruti

[Akua Ma'at]

Our Ancestors courageously fought back against these barbaric destroyers of African life, and we their descendants have and continue to shamefully dishonor them (our African cultural sovereignty) by forming these intimate associations with the religious/belief systems and cultural structures of the enemies of our Ancestors, the enemies of African people, hence, our own enemies!

Kobi K. K. Kambon

[Obadele Kambon]

"If a race has no history, if it has no worthwhile tradition, it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world, and it stands in danger of being exterminated. "
Carter G. Woodson

[Obadele Kambon]

"Just because a cat has kittens in the oven, that doesn't make them biscuits." Malcolm X

"What you and I need to do is learn to forget our differences. When we come together, we don't come together as ...Baptists or Methodists. You don't catch hell 'cause you're a Baptist, and you don't catch hell 'cause you're a Methodist. You don't catch hell 'cause you're a Methodist or Baptist. You don't catch hell because you're a Democrat or a Republican. You don't catch hell because you're a Mason or an Elk. And you sure don't catch hell 'cause you're an American; 'cause if you was an American, you wouldn't catch no hell. You catch hell 'cause you're a black man. You catch hell, all of us catch hell, for the same reason.

So we are all black people, so-called Negroes, second-class citizens, ex-slaves. You are nothing but a [sic] ex-slave. You don't like to be told that. But what else are you? You are ex-slaves. You didn't come here on the "Mayflower." You came here on a slave ship -- in chains, like a horse, or a cow, or a chicken. And you were brought here by the people who came here on the "Mayflower." You were brought here by the so-called Pilgrims, or Founding Fathers. They were the ones who brought you here.

We have a common enemy. We have this in common: We have a common oppressor, a common exploiter, and a common discriminator. But once we all realize that we have this common enemy, then we unite on the basis of what we have in common. And what we have foremost in common is that enemy -- the white man. He's an enemy to all of us. I know some of you all think that some of them aren't enemies. Time will tell." Malcolm X

[Akua Ma'at]

"If it's true that 'right knowledge' belongs to the people, why do those who bootleg the works of our tireless thought provoking brethren, charge and make a profit for the purchase of the very same product which they themselves have bootlegged? This is unscrupulous behavior. One must consider the fact that those who've actually produced the product for the people, have invested time, money, and resources to bring this 'right knowledge' to the people. Are you saying they shouldn't be compensated for their efforts, efforts that are necessary to elevate, enlighten, and liberate our people? It is because of thieves such as this, Dr. Chancellor Williams died broke and living in a Nursing home, instead of being taken care by the very community he was so desperately trying to save. it is the very same reason Dr. Yosef Ben Jochannan is in a similar situation. We must begin to act above board, with honesty and integrity, in our dealings with one another. This is the true meaning of Ma'at."

Baba Olatunji

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[Akua Ma'at]

"...the key to getting along and living with other folks is to keep clear whose weight is whose."

Toni Cade Bambara
"Medley"

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[Akua Ma'at]

"To become independently Afrikan, we must do what is necessary, and never concern ourselves, unreasonably, with the actions of others. We must act as if we must answer to, and only answer to, our Ancestors, our children and the unborn. We must act as if this is our testing ground, as if what we righteously do here will determine whether we will be honored as warrior scholars or dismissed as traitors when we make our transition and are judged."

Mwalimu K Bomani Baruti

[Akua Ma'at]

Wogye di sɛ oburoni pɛ w’asɛm a, hwɛ kwantenten a watwa de aduru ha.

If you think the white man (the colonizer) came to promote your welfare, see the long journey he has taken to get here.

- Akan Proverb

[Akua Ma'at]

"I am fully aware, in making this appeal to my much afflicted and suffering brethren, that I shall not only be assailed by those whose greatest earthly desires are, to keep us in abject ignorance and wretchedness, and who are of the firm conviction that Heaven has designed us and our children to be slaves and beasts of burden to them and their children. I say, I do not only expect to be held up to the public as an ignorant, impudent and restless disturber of the public peace, by such avaricious creatures, as well as a mover of insubordination -- and perhaps put in prison or to death, for giving a superficial exposition of our miseries, and exposing tyrants. But I am persuaded, that many of my brethren, particularly those who are ignorantly in league with slaveholders or tyrants, who acquire their daily bread by the blood and sweat of their more ignorant brethren -- and not a few of those too, who are too ignorant to see an inch beyond their noses, will rise up and call me cursed -- Yea, the jealous ones among us will perhaps use more abject subtlety, by affirming that this work is not worth perusing, that we are well situated, and there is no use in trying to better our condition, for we cannot. I will ask one question here. -- Can our condition be any worse? -- Can it be more mean and abject? If there are any changes, will they not be for the better, though they may appear for the worst at first? Can they get us any lower? Where can they get us? They are afraid to treat us worse, for they know well, the day they do it they are gone."

David Walker
David Walker's Appeal

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