Marima Ani: Was the Obama Election Good for Black People?-gctid51517

[Kala Kambon]

This short lecture was part of the Great Harlem Debate, where the question was posed to various people as to whether they think the Obama Election was good for Kmtyw people. This is Marimba Ani's response.

[Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé]

BlackCellent speech. When he got elected that was the near-fatal dosage of novacaine to put any hopes of the Kmtyw revolution there into a deep sleep.

[Ekundayo]

Excellent commentary by Marimba Ani. I read the transcript when it came out (will watch the speech later). However, my concern is that we, well, some of us anyway, would even ask this question in the first place. Interesting.

[Agya Yaw]

@Ekundayo...you should listen to some of the other opinions in particular Viola Plummer, Charles Baron & Dr Jefferies who all thought (or still think) Obama election was/is good for Black people. There are some of us I found out after the election who feel like there is some hope in navigating the system of white folks here and it being of some benefit to us. Perhaps? But I think we ultimately need to burn this thing down (in our heads) and return to our source new and improved.
Garvey -> Malcolm -> Nana Dinizulu ->

[Ekundayo]

I have, and will continue to listen to some of the opinions regarding President Obama....as an intellectual exercise. However, in my life (and work) the discussion is a moot point. Again, many of us didn't need this election or presidency to know that one, many black folk believe in Amerika AND that many Kmtyws here, and around the world, have never had any faith in this undergraduate school ____________________ (insert your favorite liberal arts major) project better known as America. Even a cursory read of Kmtyw history here in America will bear this out.

Lastly, if you burn this down black folk, in the main, will get fatally burned. Besides, even if you got rid of America and her children what would black people do? Recreate the whole sordid tale just in blackface/kente? What is the cultural framework in which black people would live, do, and be? The objective is to get yours-ReKmtywization.

[Agya Yaw]

@Ekundayo...that's why I said, "....burn this thing down (in our heads)...". But we know not all Black folks are going or want to re-Kmtywize.

[Ekundayo]

Yeah, but that is part of the tragedy. I'm not talking to "Black Folk" (nor were they on that or any other program concerning that or any other issue because we all know, weather or not we want to admit it or not, that "black folk" weren't at that program-or any like it). I'm talking to those of us who have read all of the books and been to all of the lectures and have defied the same humans; and somehow think that this election would magically change the fortunes of Kmtyw people anywhere in the world in any substantive way. That's not naivete. That's not an error in judgement. It's like thinking that somehow charter schools are better than independent schools. Or that you no longer need tones or tonal markings in your tonal language. That's a fundamental belief in something-whatever that thing is-something other than you. It's like I was saying to someone on here the other day; some slaves ran from the plantation, some slaves stayed on the plantation and tried to make it better, some slaves burned plantations only to get burned in the process, some slaves left the plantation, never looked back and sought to recreate the reality of their ancestors elsewhere. Ifa teaches us that there is only one thing ALL humans share in kind, that is the ability to make choices.

[Agya Yaw]

Ampa(true), we agree.

[Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé]

Ekundayo;51541 wrote: Yeah, but that is part of the tragedy. I'm not talking to "Black Folk" (nor were they on that or any other program concerning that or any other issue because we all know, weather or not we want to admit it or not, that "black folk" weren't at that program-or any like it). I'm talking to those of us who have read all of the books and been to all of the lectures and have defied the same humans; and somehow think that this election would magically change the fortunes of Kmtyw people anywhere in the world in any substantive way. That's not naivete. That's not an error in judgement. It's like thinking that somehow charter schools are better than independent schools. Or that you no longer need tones or tonal markings in your tonal language. That's a fundamental belief in something-whatever that thing is-something other than you. It's like I was saying to someone on here the other day; some slaves ran from the plantation, some slaves stayed on the plantation and tried to make it better, some slaves burned plantations only to get burned in the process, some slaves left the plantation, never looked back and sought to recreate the reality of their ancestors elsewhere. Ifa teaches us that there is only one thing ALL humans share in kind, that is the ability to make choices.

Have you ever seen the movie "Burn"?