Sun, Moon, and Stars

We're Moving!!!

2006-03-02T21:55:00.000-05:00

Peace,

Pardon to all for the extended hiatus! I am moving to www.authorofchange.blogspot.com. See ya when ya get there!!

The Return

2005-10-03T10:42:00.000-04:00

Theme Music: "Beautiful" by Jr. Gong & B. Brown (Yes, that B. Brown)

Peace,

First, I want to say pardon self to my delay in posting. It's been a matter of productivity rather than lack of interest. Besides that, I've had 3 drafts erased by google maintenance or computer shutdowns. I have a lot to say, b.u.t. now I'm going to space it out so that I'm more consistent. Here we go:

- Both Justice Rajee and Sha-King posted earlier this week about how they began the process of getting Knowledge of Self. It took me back to those respective times and allowed me recollect on my own experience of adding on to the NGE. It was 1991, and positivity in Hip Hop was in the throes of it's downward slope. Coming from a "conscious" family, it was easy for me to identify with the earlier ideas of PE, KRS, Rakim, etc... I'll never forget seeing the Universal Flag in Rakim's video for 'Move The Crowd', and wondering "What the hell is that?" As time went on, however, I began to become more interested in the music of those who identified themselves as "Five Percenters", specifically Brand Nubian, PRT, & King Sun (Righteous But Ruthless is the joint to this day).

Around the same time, I began to look for more than my Muslim background provided me with. My uncle, (who was/is a Muslim) began to tell me about the "five percent" who would hold ciphers at Temple University and use all kinds of "funny names and numbers"(little did he know that I was already interested). Based on what my uncle told me +Who he introduced me to + the music, I wanted to learn more. At that time, there was a large Ansaar community in Philly, and they were selling a book entitled "The Book Of The Five Percenters" (I now know that the purpose of the book was to deceive, and I wouldn't suggest that anyone learn from a source other than a qualified God or Earth, which I eventually did, b.u.t. I'll get into later). One September night while grabbing a cheesesteak at their restaurant, I noticed the book, and asked my Old Moon(Mother) to buy it, which she did.

After getting the book, I learned Supreme Mathematics and the Supreme Alphabet, and tried to get a basic idea of the history of the Nation. At this point, I would meet different Gods and build with them, b.u.t. I wasn't in the NGE per se. During Kwanzaa of 1991, my mother and father held a large party/feast (depending on how cultural you are) at our home for friends, family and members of their extended network. The surprise guest of the event was a girl who I hadn't seen for a number of years due to her family moving to Allah's Garden (Atlanta, GA). The true surprise was that she came back from ATL with the knowledge of herself! (Remember, I was 15) We got down and started to add on based on what we both knew,which wasn't very much.
Within months, The young sister eventually moved back to Philly, and met another young Earth at Overbrook High. The Earth in turn introduced me to her father, Divine Justice Allah. He took me under his wing, and the rest is my history...

Sha and Just, I am honored to be apart of both of your respective histories, just as I am honored that great men like Divine Justice Allah, Zyhier Allah, and Ramel Supreme Allah assisted me in the process of uncovering the greatness of myself. We will continue to teach and make Allah World Manifest for all people at all times.

Winds Of Change

2005-09-08T12:38:00.000-04:00

Theme Music - "Crack Music" by Kayne West

Peace,

I build that all are well physically and mentally during this time. I must apologize for my infrequent postings during the last two weeks, as I've been travelling and doing community work. I also watched in amazement over the last 7 days as Black and Poor people were left out to dry/die in the tragedy that is/was Hurricane Katrina. Even now, I'm still somewhat speechless based on what occured. If this doesn't provide a wake-up call to original people in this country to see what's really taking place, than I'm hard pressed to see what will. It also speaks to the intersection of race & class in our society, and how an idea eventually becomes a reality, when it comes to black = poor.

The chasm between the haves and the have-nots was so obvious that Stevie Wonder could've seen it. In a sense, N.O. reminds me of Jamaica as far as the disparity between the rich and the poor. In the best case scenario, everyone can do for themselves, b.u.t. in a turbo-capitalist society where you have to have a large poor and working class, who's going to do for theose who can't do for ourselves? This should also be a wake-up for the "progressives" within our community who seem to be allergic to money or the acquiring of resources. True Nation Building requires resources and capital. Until we as a community get that, we'll never step out of the status quo.

The following is an editorial from Immortal Technique regarding Hurricane Katrina. As you all know, I don't get down with the "God in the sky" thing, b.u.t. it is a good read nonetheless.

The Hand of God (Katrina’s Ghost)By Immortal Technique

We all know that natural disasters are unavoidable; you cannot fire missiles at a tornado and expect it to stop. Armed troops are as useless in a gunfight against an earthquake as they would be marching towards heaven to challenge God. Dropping a nuke on a hurricane would be like pissing in the wind, the radiation alone blown to every part of the nation would poison this country and everything around it.With that said, things that can be done to avert tragedies when they are known to be coming are a completely different story. Cutting the funding for the now imperative job of rebuilding a levee, and the complete disarray of a nation's forces when the people of America needed them the most is inexcusable. Many comments have been made, both by the left and right. People have acted as if racism has reared its ugly, head. As if its eye had not been watching us from across the perched eagle and gained from our loss over the years. I'm not one for conspiracy theories. I wrote a song called "Bin Laden" and Green Lantern put together a hook to grab people’s attention but the lyrics were focused on what was going on in America, not Bush and the Towers. I wrote in "The Cause of Death" that Bush was not responsible directly, that he didn't plan 9/11. Still, he and his administration have definitely benefited from the end result of all those people dying. Like it or not no matter what your political views are - realize that. And then remember how in a murder case, a simple one that a local sheriff’s department. may get, we always examine those who stand to benefit from the death of that individual. Why did we never ask ourselves the same of 9/11?Well, now with the Katrina disaster we have another opportunity, to ask ourselves: Who benefits from the tragedy that has befallen the people of New Orleans? Who will have that land? Who will buy it out? Will the Federal government assume more control of the nation because of this pressure that it acted to late? And now that we know racism is still an issue because of the media’s portrayal. Can we actually sit down with the Right wing and ask them why they think that Blacks are not victims, but rather the recipients of their just due in America? Why Latinos and Blacks are graceful when we swallow racism and hatred and belligerent disregard for our people? But to them we become racist ourselves, spiteful and 'radical' for simply pointing out what everyone else, even other white people see as truth. America is seen as brave and resilient for striking back at its enemies but when we even criticize the system that enslaved us, stole our religion, raped our women, our land and our spirit we are not brave, we are traitors and ungrateful for the place we were brought to. We are lucky to work here so we cannot complain about picking strawberries or making up the jail populations since it’s probably better than whatever we got in Latin America right? I don’t believe in justice in the hereafter I believe in having it now…

Then there are the people who are wearing the Emperors clothes for him, talking as if Bush was some rock of Gibraltar. As if he had led us like Ulysses Grant thru a Civil War instead of running this country thru the mud. This man is a complete failure as a president and this has finally awoken some people to it. Sept. 11 was a cover up of mistakes, dark alliances and economic power moves. The campaign to remove the Taliban should have never been conducted after 9/11/2001, but rather in 1998 when they started ethnically cleansing their own people the Asiatic so-called "Hazara." We have always put corporate profits before the living standard of people in American foreign policy and now that echoes in our own nation. That is the very nature of Capitalism. But nothing in the form of corrupted Russian Communism offers a viable alternative, only an unmasked totalitarian rule without the details that we have and the choice between Pepsi and Coke. I’m not a Marxist, a Communist or an anarchist I am just a Peruvian/Black muthaf**ka from Harlem but I could see this truth if I were blind.Bush ruined his invasion of Afghanistan by not capturing Bin Laden and leaving that country in ruins while being run by Dick Cheney's b***h Hamid Karzai. The closing in on Al-Quaeda was interrupted and we only sent in a few thousand troops whereas we sent in more but not enough in Iraq now it seems. Iraq…Another blunder, a place we should have never gone. And since Saddam’s guards were not trained by the SOA (Check out www.soaw.org) like most of Latin America’s puppet presidents, he had to be removed by invasion instead of assassination. Fighting the “idea of terrorism” is like boxing the waves the ocean sends at you at the beach. An idea cannot be killed, good or bad it has to be found at the root and explained, then and only then can we understand how to resolve issues. This president hasn’t resolved any issues or finished one thing he started since he was doing lines in college. No Child Left Behind is a disgrace and a secret draft, this economy is crap, gas is damn near $5 in some places in the South and its still $3.40 up here. This president hasn’t resolved anything by flying by the city of New Orleans or taking photo opps in deserted parts of town. Hold on, now that this mess is unfolding and you’re distracted, John G. Roberts will be Supreme Court Chief Justice and another conservative will join in the fray. But the public will not care, they will be split. Blacks and Latinos and poor/conscious whites shaking their heads at the way the people were treated, and racist rich white people and house n***az shaking their heads at the blacks and broke people they see on TV. Their gonna march in backwards and say they were retreating...

That said, I don't blame Bush for all this, he didn't kill all those people personally. In the same method that Hitler didn't kill all of the Jews...it took the complacency of the German people. It took generals, officers and soldiers in the SS, it took the Gestapo. It took people betraying each other. It took Europe and America doing nothing for 4 years while this was going on. It was an entire system that engineered a malicious purposeful chaos.In the same fashion, FEMA, The Dept. of Homeland Security, the local disorganization and a federal soundtrack to ignorance bumpin’ in the background created this great mass to commemorate death. The melodic tune of accepting race relations the way they are, accompanied by a harmony of class fed indifference created a musical soundtrack for the South's misery. And on the drums, fresh off the war drum tour in the Middle East where another disaster is taking place daily, a religious spirit that deducts 40 percent of donations for "administrative purposes." Every option to help these people, our brothers, mothers, grandmothers, sisters, and babies was not exhausted. For that the souls will never know peace, just as my Native American peoples’ souls know no peace. America will never know peace, no matter what religion it hides behind, no matter what it donates in a tax deductible package. This is another example of why it will never know…Our president was on vacation until 3 days after people had been drowning and starving, and now you act like you didn’t know, Jesus knows and so do I. We all know now.

This Friday (Sept. 9, 2005) - after I get out of Superior Court....One of my n***az is about to do 10 years upstate hold ya head G - I’m sending my stuff to specific Black organized charities, people with a personal connection. People who are donating not to receive a cut, but because something doesn’t let them sleep until these people get the supplies that they need to create a new life. The Republican and Democratic Party in the end are not so different. They place blame on each other and yet both have toppled democratically elected government in Latin America, ordered Asia invaded, both voted for Iraq and now both defend the president. I have donated, most of my clothes, jackets, survival items and my services to at least 3 or 4 benefit shows in the near future. Give what you can. Remember empathy is the only language that God can hear your prayers in. For those that believe in God that is, I know some of my soldiers do not, but I do. I believe there will be retribution for this betrayal of our people, and if God is busy then I and others will take up the task. I will be the Hand of God...RBG, muthaf***a. Sadly the mirage of equality shattering was also a wake up call for those of us who thought they cared. Oh you thought they cared?

Intelligent Design or Deceptive Intelligence?

2005-08-23T16:05:00.000-04:00

Peace,

Recently, I've been following the discussion regarding Intelligent Design(ID). For those of you who don't know, ID is the new psuedo-scientific theory pushed by conserative christians that states that there is a scientific way to prove the existence of a astral being. The reason that this is important is that the theology is being advocated in school districts across the country. Many people have many perspectives, b.u.t. we have to deal with what is empirical in order to truly be universal. The biggest problem with ID is that it asserts no scientific proof for the existence of a mystery god. See how you see it, b.u.t. let's be universal.

At a recent scientific conference at City College of New York, a student in the audience rose to ask the panelists an unexpected question: "Can you be a good scientist and believe in God?"
Reaction from one of the panelists, all Nobel laureates, was quick and sharp. "No!" declared Herbert A. Hauptman, who shared the chemistry prize in 1985 for his work on the structure of crystals.
Belief in the supernatural, especially belief in God, is not only incompatible with good science, Dr. Hauptman declared, "this kind of belief is damaging to the well-being of the human race."
But disdain for religion is far from universal among scientists. And today, as religious groups challenge scientists in arenas as various as evolution in the classroom, AIDS prevention and stem cell research, scientists who embrace religion are beginning to speak out about their faith.
"It should not be a taboo subject, but frankly it often is in scientific circles," said Francis S. Collins, who directs the National Human Genome Research Institute and who speaks freely about his Christian faith.
Although they embrace religious faith, these scientists also embrace science as it has been defined for centuries. That is, they look to the natural world for explanations of what happens in the natural world and they recognize that scientific ideas must be provisional - capable of being overturned by evidence from experimentation and observation. This belief in science sets them apart from those who endorse creationism or its doctrinal cousin, intelligent design, both of which depend on the existence of a supernatural force.
Their belief in God challenges scientists who regard religious belief as little more than magical thinking, as some do. Their faith also challenges believers who denounce science as a godless enterprise and scientists as secular elitists contemptuous of God-fearing people.
Some scientists say simply that science and religion are two separate realms, "nonoverlapping magisteria," as the late evolutionary biologist Stephen Jay Gould put it in his book "Rocks of Ages" (Ballantine, 1999). In Dr. Gould's view, science speaks with authority in the realm of "what the universe is made of (fact) and why does it work this way (theory)" and religion holds sway over "questions of ultimate meaning and moral value."
When the American Association for the Advancement of Science devoted a session to this idea of separation at its annual meeting this year, scores of scientists crowded into a room to hear it.
Some of them said they were unsatisfied with the idea, because they believe scientists' moral values must inevitably affect their work, others because so much of science has so many ethical implications in the real world.
One panelist, Dr. Noah Efron of Bar-Ilan University in Israel, said scientists, like other people, were guided by their own human purposes, meaning and values. The idea that fact can be separated from values and meaning "jibes poorly with what we know of the history of science," Dr. Efron said.
Dr. Collins, who is working on a book about his religious faith, also believes that people should not have to keep religious beliefs and scientific theories strictly separate. "I don't find it very satisfactory and I don't find it very necessary," he said in an interview. He noted that until relatively recently, most scientists were believers. "Isaac Newton wrote a lot more about the Bible than the laws of nature," he said.
But he acknowledged that as head of the American government's efforts to decipher the human genetic code, he had a leading role in work that many say definitively demonstrates the strength of evolutionary theory to explain the complexity and abundance of life.
As scientists compare human genes with those of other mammals, tiny worms, even bacteria, the similarities "are absolutely compelling," Dr. Collins said. "If Darwin had tried to imagine a way to prove his theory, he could not have come up with something better, except maybe a time machine. Asking somebody to reject all of that in order to prove that they really do love God - what a horrible choice."
Dr. Collins was a nonbeliever until he was 27 - "more and more into the mode of being not only agnostic but being an atheist," as he put it. All that changed after he completed his doctorate in physics and was at work on his medical degree, when he was among those treating a woman dying of heart disease. "She was very clear about her faith and she looked me square in the eye and she said, 'what do you believe?' " he recalled. "I sort of stammered out, 'I am not sure.' "
He said he realized then that he had never considered the matter seriously, the way a scientist should. He began reading about various religious beliefs, which only confused him. Finally, a Methodist minister gave him a book, "Mere Christianity," by C. S. Lewis. In the book Lewis, an atheist until he was a grown man, argues that the idea of right and wrong is universal among people, a moral law they "did not make, and cannot quite forget even when they try." This universal feeling, he said, is evidence for the plausibility of God.
When he read the book, Dr. Collins said, "I thought, my gosh, this guy is me."
Today, Dr. Collins said, he does not embrace any particular denomination, but he is a Christian. Colleagues sometimes express surprise at his faith, he said. "They'll say, 'how can you believe that? Did you check your brain at the door?" But he said he had discovered in talking to students and colleagues that "there is a great deal of interest in this topic."

Polling Scientists on Beliefs

According to a much-discussed survey reported in the journal Nature in 1997, 40 percent of biologists, physicists and mathematicians said they believed in God - and not just a nonspecific transcendental presence but, as the survey put it, a God to whom one may pray "in expectation of receiving an answer."
The survey, by Edward J. Larson of the University of Georgia, was intended to replicate one conducted in 1914, and the results were virtually unchanged. In both cases, participants were drawn from a directory of American scientists.
Others play down those results. They note that when Dr. Larson put part of the same survey to "leading scientists" - in this case, members of the National Academy of Sciences, perhaps the nation's most eminent scientific organization - fewer than 10 percent professed belief in a personal God or human immortality.
This response is not surprising to researchers like Steven Weinberg, a physicist at the University of Texas, a member of the academy and a winner of the Nobel Prize in 1979 for his work in particle physics. He said he could understand why religious people would believe that anything that eroded belief was destructive. But he added: "I think one of the great historical contributions of science is to weaken the hold of religion. That's a good thing."

No God, No Moral Compass?

He rejects the idea that scientists who reject religion are arrogant. "We know how many mistakes we've made," Dr. Weinberg said. And he is angered by assertions that people without religious faith are without a moral compass.
In any event, he added, "the experience of being a scientist makes religion seem fairly irrelevant," he said. "Most scientists I know simply don't think about it very much. They don't think about religion enough to qualify as practicing atheists."
Most scientists he knows who do believe in God, he added, believe in "a God who is behind the laws of nature but who is not intervening."
Kenneth R. Miller, a biology professor at Brown, said his students were often surprised to find that he was religious, especially when they realized that his faith was not some sort of vague theism but observant Roman Catholicism.
Dr. Miller, whose book, "Finding Darwin's God," explains his reconciliation of the theory of evolution with his religious faith, said he was usually challenged in his biology classes by one or two students whose religions did not accept evolution, who asked how important the theory would be in the course.
"What they are really asking me is "do I have to believe in this stuff to get an A?,' " he said. He says he tells them that "belief is never an issue in science."
"I don't care if you believe in the Krebs cycle," he said, referring to the process by which energy is utilized in the cell. "I just want you to know what it is and how it works. My feeling about evolution is the same thing."
For Dr. Miller and other scientists, research is not about belief. "Faith is one thing, what you believe from the heart," said Joseph E. Murray, who won the Nobel Prize in medicine in 1990 for his work in organ transplantation. But in scientific research, he said, "it's the results that count."
Dr. Murray, who describes himself as "a cradle Catholic" who has rarely missed weekly Mass and who prays every morning, said that when he was preparing for the first ever human organ transplant, a kidney that a young man had donated to his identical twin, he and his colleagues consulted a number of religious leaders about whether they were doing the right thing. "It seemed natural," he said.

Using Every Tool

"When you are searching for truth you should use every possible avenue, including revelation," said Dr. Murray, who is a member of the Pontifical Academy, which advises the Vatican on scientific issues, and who described the influence of his faith on his work in his memoir, "Surgery of the Soul" (Science History Publications, 2002).
Since his appearance at the City College panel, when he was dismayed by the tepid reception received by his remarks on the incompatibility of good science and religious belief, Dr. Hauptman said he had been discussing the issue with colleagues in Buffalo, where he is president of the Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute.
"I think almost without exception the people I have spoken to are scientists and they do believe in the existence of a supreme being," he said. "If you ask me to explain it - I cannot explain it at all."
But Richard Dawkins, an evolutionary theorist at Oxford, said that even scientists who were believers did not claim evidence for that belief. "The most they will claim is that there is no evidence against," Dr. Dawkins said, "which is pathetically weak. There is no evidence against all sorts of things, but we don't waste our time believing in them."
Dr. Collins said he believed that some scientists were unwilling to profess faith in public "because the assumption is if you are a scientist you don't have any need of action of the supernatural sort," or because of pride in the idea that science is the ultimate source of intellectual meaning.
But he said he believed that some scientists were simply unwilling to confront the big questions religion tried to answer. "You will never understand what it means to be a human being through naturalistic observation," he said. "You won't understand why you are here and what the meaning is. Science has no power to address these questions - and are they not the most important questions we ask ourselves?"

True Confessions

2005-08-19T13:09:00.000-04:00

Theme Music:"I Call Your Name" by Switch

Peace,

Last night, I watched an "All eyes on me" special on Kayne West. Now many people have many different things to say on Kayne and his rise within the past few years.These days, he's being presented For myself, I think that he embodies the subtle tension between different mentalities within Hip Hop and weaves them together in a engaging way. He's one of the few artists that can do a video for "Workout Plan" (Which I thought was pretty corny) and then turn around and do the video for "Two Words" (Which I thought was the best video in the last 3-4 years). In a art form where everyone's lying and posturing, his honesty was refreshing. Here are some of my reflections after watching:

- When Sway asked him if he felt disloyal to Dame Dash based on the breakup, he was stumped and was silent for almost 30 seconds. West actually stated that he was and regretted that he couldn't do what was best for him and Dash. For those who don't know, it was Dash that gave him a chance as a rapper. For him to be honest about that was powerful and telling because for some reason, the whole Roc breakup has been played as business as usual vs. the breakup of some of the most powerful black men in the business. There's a very political component to this that's being kept under wraps

- On the program, West also spoke about the role his mother played in his life and being accused of homosexuality as a young man. He went on to appeal to Hip Hop to curtail homophobic behavior. One of the main reasons that many young men are homophobic is their uncomfortability with what it means to be a black man in America. Another reason is the lack of positive male role models around that can provide a balanced picture of manhood beyond tv and hood crime. While I'm not into the destruction of gender roles (far from it actually), youth have to see manhood outside the parameters of what you can do to someone

- Also discussed was West's perceived cockiness and brash personality. On a larger level, I see it as a discussion as on Black Manhood in America. Point blank, Black men are not allowed to be outspoken about where they stand about how they see the world. Granted, some brothers that do speak out say dumb things, however there's still a double standard a far as how Black Men conduct themselves. As men, we should make no apologies for protecting our interests and the interests of those who we represent. Many big stars in Hip Hop have no problem speaking out against each other, b.u.t. are noticeably silent when it comes to speaking out against cultural & structural inequities. Because of the fact that these brothers serve as role models for many of our youth, we have to intervene in our communities and change that dynamic

A Different look

2005-08-15T16:40:00.000-04:00

Theme Music - "Angel" by Anita Baker

Peace,

I've been traveling like crazy over the last few weeks, so I have lots to post, b.u.t. for now, I like to post a essay that I found on www.BlackElectorate.com (Shouts out to Brother Cedric Muhammad).
While you know by now that we are our own culture and have our own values, I think that this essay brings up some very good points regarding the existence of a astral being.

Theology Thursdays: The Buddhist Attitude to God By Dr V. A. Gunasekara

The standpoint adopted here is primarily that of Theravada Buddhism. But most of what is said will be applicable to most other Buddhist traditions. The Theravada tradition, also called the Southern school of Buddhism, is based on texts maintained in the Pali language, which are the oldest of the existing Canons of Buddhism and reputed to be the closest to the teaching of the Buddha himself.There is no place for God in the Mahayana traditions of Buddhism as well, and indeed some of the early Indian Mahayana philosophers have denounced god-worship in terms which are even stronger than those expressed in the Theravada literature. Some later Mahayana schools, which flourished outside India, ascribed some degree of divinity to a transcendent Buddha, considering living Buddhas to be a manifestation of this âdhi-buddha. But even here it cannot be said that the Buddha was converted into a Divinity comparable to the God of the monotheistic religions.

Buddhism as a Non-Theistic Religion

Buddhism is unique amongst the religions of the world because it does not have any place for God in its soteriology. Indeed most Asian religions (with the possible exception of some extremely devotional forms of Hinduism) are essentially non-theistic, in that God does not occupy the central place that is accorded to him in monotheistic religious traditions. But Buddhism goes beyond most of these other religions in that it is positively anti-theistic because the very notion of God conflicts with some principles which are fundamental to the Buddhist view of the world and the role of humans in it (see section "The God-Concept and Buddhist Principles" below).However Buddhism is not atheistic in the sense that modern secularism, rationalism, humanism, etc. could be regarded to be atheistic (although it has much in common with them). Buddhism is not concerned primarily with refuting the notion of God (as some atheistic writers have done). It is principally concerned with developing a method of escape from the worldly ills. This involves undertaking a method of mental discipline and a code of conduct, which is sufficient to satisfy the most demanding of spiritual requirements. Indeed only very little of the Buddha's voluminous discourses deal directly with the question of God. He was more interested in expounding a way to personal salvation, and to improve the weal of mankind both in this world and in the worlds to come. It is this task that informs most of the discourses of the Buddha which later came to be compiled into the various Canons of Buddhism.

The Buddha did not take an ambiguous or agnostic position on the question of God as he is sometimes represented as having taken by theistically inclined writers. The Buddha has stated his position on God in clear and unequivocal terms.

The Notion of God

It is first of all necessary to establish what is meant by the term "God". This term is used to designate a Supreme Being endowed with the qualities of omnipotence and omniscience, who is the creator of the universe with all its contents, and the chief law-giver for humans. God is generally considered as being concerned with the welfare of his human creatures, and the ultimate salvation of those who follow his dictates. God is therefore a person of some kind, and the question whether such an entity exists or not is fundamental to all theistic systems.In contrast to this notion of a personal God some modern theologians have interpreted the term "God" as representing some kind of abstract principle of good (or "ground of being"). This view was first developed in the ancient Indian Upanishads where God is equated with an abstract principle (Brahman). The ancient Indian philosophers could entertain such a view because they also had a theory of karma, which really does away with the need for a personal God. Buddhists too have a theory of karma, which is different from that of the Hindus, and which even more unequivocally dispenses with the need for a Deity. The use of the term "God' to denote an abstract reality by monotheistic theologians who have no theory of karma is difficult to justify; one suspects that this is merely a device to explain away the contradictions that arise from the notion of a personal God. In fact the actual practice of theistic religion proceeds as if God is a real person of some kind or other.Just as Buddhism rejects the notion of a Supreme God it also rejects the notion of an abstract God-principle operating in the universe. The notion of Brahman (in the neuter) is not discussed at all in the Buddhist texts, and even in India it may well be a post-Buddhist development resulting from the attempt to reconcile the belief in God(s) with the powerful critique of the Buddha. It is therefore the attitude of Buddhism to the notion of a supreme personal God animating the Universe that we must consider.Buddhism speaks of the existence of category of beings called devas. This term is generally translated as "gods" (with a simple `g' and in the plural). The term deva literally means a shining or radiant being, and describes their physical appearance rather than their supernatural powers (as the translation "gods" seems to imply). To prevent confusion with the notion of a supreme personal God we shall refer to these beings of Buddhist cosmology as devas. Many other religions also postulate the existence of non-human beings who are referred to as `gods' or `angels' if they are considered to be in a better position than humans (with respect to their material conditions of existence). Buddhist cosmology recognizes thirty-two planes of existence some of the higher planes being either states of meditative abstraction or actual domains for the devas. Generally we have direct experience of only two of these 32 planes (those of humans and animals). Planes of existence below these two realms are also said to exist and are characterized by greater degrees of suffering and discomfort. The actual physical location of these planes need not concern us here because the dimensions of the Buddhist universe are even greater than those envisaged by modern astronomy and will contain enough places to accommodate all these planes of existence.We can easily dispose of the devas in the context of the Buddhist attitude to God because the devas are essentially irrelevant to the human situation. Beings are born in the deva-worlds because of particular karmic factors they have accumulated, and after these karmic factors are exhausted they could revert to any of the other planes of existence depending on their unexpended karma. The devas are not particularly endowed with special powers to influence others, and far from saving anyone else they themselves are not "saved". Salvation in Buddhism comes only from full enlightenment, which could be best accomplished from the human plane of existence.

The Vedic and Brahmanical religion of the Buddha's day postulated a large number of gods, many of them personifications of natural forces. However Brahmanical theology had advanced to the point that one of these gods was considered to be superior to all others, and was even considered to be the creator-god (Ishvara). This supreme god could then be considered as the equivalent to the single God of the monotheistic religions which emerged in the Middle East.Different names have been given to the supreme god in the Brahmanical and later Hindu literature, but in Buddhist texts the supreme god is referred to as Mahâ-Brahmâ (or simply Brahmâ) who was the chief of a class of gods called the Brahmâs. Brahmâ of the Buddhist texts may be considered to be the equivalent of the God of the three monotheistic religions that was to emerge in the Middle East. The first of these was Judaism, which promoted one its gods Yahweh as the one God sometime about the 6th century BCE. Next Christianity adopted the same god under the name of Jehovah who is represented as the "Father" of Jesus. Finally Islam adopted the name of Allah for their only God. To get the Buddha's views on God we must therefore consider his views on Brahmâ.One popular misconception of Buddhism must be dismissed at this point. This is view that the Buddha is some kind of God figure. In the Theravada tradition the Buddha is regarded as a supremely enlightened human teacher who has come to his last birth in samsára (the Buddhist cycle of existence). Even Mahayana traditions, which tend to think in terms of transcendental Buddhas, do not directly make a claim for Buddha as God. Thus the Buddha cannot be considered as playing a God-like role in Buddhism.

The Buddhist View of God

In the Buddhist texts Mahâ Brahmâ is represented as claiming the following attributes for himself:"I am Brahmâ, the Great Brahmâ, the Supreme One, the Mighty, the All-seeing, the Ruler, the Lord of all, the Maker, the Creator, the Chief of all appointing to each his place, the Ancient of days, the Father of all that is and will be." (Dîgha Nikáya, II, 263).The Buddha dismisses all these claims of Mahâ Brahmâ as being due to his own delusions brought about by ignorance. He argues that Mahâ-Brahmâ is simply another deva, perhaps with greater karmic force than the other gods, but nonetheless a deva and therefore unenlightened and subject to the samsâric process as determined by his karma. In such Suttas as the Brahmajâla sutta and the Agga¤¤a Sutta the Buddha refutes the claims of Maha Brahmâ and shows him to be subject to karmic law (i.e. cosmic law). Even though long-lived Mahâ Brahmâ will be eliminated in each cycle of inevitable world dissolution and re-evolution. In the Khevadda Sutta Mahâ Brahmâ is forced to admit to an inquiring monk that he is unable to answer a question that is posed to him, and advises the monk to consult the Buddha. This clearly shows the Brahmâ acknowledges the superiority of the Buddha.The Buddhist view is that gods may lead more comfortable lives and be addicted to all the sense pleasures, but in terms of wisdom might be inferior to humans. They are even represented as coming to receive instruction from monks and even lay persons. Later on with the Hindu revival and proliferation of God-cults the Buddhists were increasingly vocal against the pretensions of God and his retinue of lesser gods. Nargarjuna the Indian Buddhist philosopher of the 2nd century CE expressed a commonly shared Buddhist view when he wrote:

The gods are all eternal scoundrelsIncapable of dissolving the suffering of impermanence.Those who serve them and venerate themMay even in this world sink into a sea of sorrow.We know the gods are false and have no concrete being;Therefore the wise man believes them notThe fate of the world depends on causes and conditionsTherefore the wise man may not rely on gods.[Lamotte trans. I, p.141]

In the West a number of "arguments" have been adduced to prove or disprove the existence of God. Some of these were anticipated by the Buddha. One of the most popular is the "first cause" argument according to which everything must have a cause, and God is considered the first cause of the Universe. The Buddhist theory of causation says that every thing must have preconditions for its existence, and this law must also extend to "God" should such an entity exist. But while the "first cause" claims that God creates everything, it exempts God from the ambit of this law. However if exemptions are made with respect to God such exemptions could be made with respect to other things also hereby contradicting the principle of the first cause.But the argument which the Buddha most frequently uses is what is now called the "argument from evil" which in the Buddhist sense could be stated as the argument from dukkha (suffering or un-satisfactoriness). This states that the empirical fact of the existence of dukkha cannot be reconciled with the existence of an omnipotent and omniscient being who is also all good. The following verses from the Bhûridatta Jataka bring this out clearly:

If the creator of the world entireThey call God, of every being be the LordWhy does he order such misfortuneAnd not create concord? If the creator of the world entireThey call God, of every being be the LordWhy prevail deceit, lies and ignorance And he such inequity and injustice create? If the creator of the world entireThey call God, of every being be the Lord Then an evil master is he, (O Aritta) Knowing what's right did let wrong prevail!(Translated by the Author)

The Buddha argues that the three most commonly given attributes of God, viz. omnipotence, omniscience and benevolence towards humanity cannot all be mutually compatible with the existential fact of dukkha.From the Buddhist standpoint the classic theistic statement that "God created man in his (i.e. God's) image" has actually to be reversed. It is man who has created God in his (i.e. man's) image! And as man's own image changes so does that of his God. Thus in the present time with the rise of feminism there is an attempt to change the gender of God from a man to a woman (or perhaps even to a neuter). To liberate himself mankind has to shed his delusions, and one of these is the existence of God.

The God-Concept and Buddhist Principles

Quite apart from explicit statements refuting the God-idea there is a fundamental incompatibility between the notion of God and basic Buddhist principles. We have already mentioned that God cannot be reconciled with the Buddhist notion of causality, which is contained in the theory of "dependent origination" which is one of the discoveries of the Buddha during his enlightenment. Certainly nothing like this theory has been propounded prior to the Buddha.A fundamental Buddhist belief is that all phenomena without exemption (including all animate beings) have three essential characteristics. These are dukkha (explained above), anicca (impermanence), and anattá (insubstantiality, "no-soul"). The attributes of God are not consistent with these universal marks of existence. Thus God must be free from dukkha; he must be eternal (and hence not subject to anicca); finally he must have a distinct unchanging identity (and therefore lack the characteristic of anattá).Another concomitant of the God-idea that is fundamentally incompatible with Buddhism is the belief that God acts as the final judge and could determine if individuals go to heaven or hell. According to Buddhism the destination of individuals is determined by the karmic law, which cannot be interfered by any external process. Only individuals can effect their karmic destinies; even a Buddha cannot "pardon" or otherwise interfere with the karmic process. In Buddhism there is simply no place for a God even if one were to exist.There is also no place for the notion of vicarious salvation, or atonement for human sins by a "suffering" God. The Buddha affirms that "by oneself is kamma done and by oneself is kamma undone". According to Buddhism no one (and this includes gods or God) can save another. This is a cardinal principle of the Buddha, which cannot be reconciled with the declared attributes and actions of God.The Buddhist path to salvation is based on deeds (including mental culture through "meditation") not prayer. God appears to Buddhists to be a vain being expecting all others to pray to him and worship him. Indeed such prayer seems to be the most decisive factor in a person's salvation, not necessarily any good or bad deeds by him. But as mentioned above in Buddhism it is volitional action with determines the karma of an individual.There is no doubt some similarities in the moral codes of Buddhism and some theistic religions. Things like compassion are inculcated in all religions. But in Buddhism this does not arise from a heavenly dictate and there is no limitation in the exercise of these virtues as occurs in some theistic religion. The Persistence of the God-IdeaThe Buddha's refutation of the God-concept was formulated some 2500 years ago, perhaps at the very time that the idea of a single supreme God was mooted in India and in the Middle East. With the rise of modern science, and the discovery of natural causes for phenomena, which were formerly ascribed to the action of God, some philosophers have restated the basic fallacies of the God-hypothesis using modern science and logic (and not the Buddha's Dhamma) as their point of departure. Yet many people in the world formally subscribe to the notion of God. What is the Buddhist explanation for this phenomenon?There are many causes for the persistence of the God-idea. Some of these are induced by social and other factors. These include the institutionalization of theistic religion, the use of vast economic resources to propagate it including the mass media, and the legal right given to parents to impose their religions on their children. There is also the attractiveness of vicarious salvation, or salvation through prayer or forgiveness which permits the committing of many moral crimes for which the doer does not "pay". We shall not consider these here. From the Buddhist point of view the root causes are ignorance and fear, with fear itself ultimately the product of ignorance. Atheistic materialism has failed to dislodge the God-idea not because of any deficiency of its arguments when compared to those put forward by the theists, but because it too has not been able to eliminate ignorance.The ignorance (avijjâ) that is meant here cannot be eliminated by formal education and the propagation of scientific knowledge. After all some leading scientists are themselves completely deluded by theistic suppositions. The progress of science has resulted only in a minor diminution in the power of theistic religion, and in any case theologians have become adept at "reinterpreting" dogma while the general followers continue to do what they have always done.

The Buddha himself grasped the over-pervading nature of ignorance because of his titanic struggle to liberate himself. He even initially displayed some reluctance to propagate his knowledge because of the formidable nature of the task. Nonetheless he proclaimed his knowledge out of compassion for the world because he felt that at least a few "with little dust in their eyes" would be able to benefit fully from his ideas. From the Buddhist point of view the persistence of theism, with all its evil consequences seen in history, is a necessary consequence of the persistence of ignorance.While intellectual and scientific knowledge is not the sole (or even essential) constituent of wisdom it could in the modern world with high levels of educational attainment be a good basis for it. But what is really required is the cultivation of the mind (bhâvanâ, samâdhi). This is usually referred to as "meditation" even though this term is quite inadequate to convey the full implications of what is meant. Many modern-day "meditation teachers" do not give instruction in Buddhist mental culture, and even some of those who claim to do so may take a literal view of a few classic Buddhist texts on the subject. The Buddhist path requires a correct balance between three components: wisdom, morality and mental culture. Progress in all these three areas must be made simultaneously, and exclusive concentration on any one these, especially "meditation" of a highly stylized form, is not the balanced path. The Buddha has asked all his disciples to go to the Dhamma as their guide rather than to specific teachers. The Buddha's final instruction to his followers was to "work out your own salvation with diligence" with the Buddha's teaching (the Dhamma) as the only guide.The path of the Buddha cannot be followed if a person is deluded by the notion of God. This is why a correct understanding of all the ramifications of the God-idea is essential for anyone seeking to progress along the Buddhist path to total liberation.

Culture and Lifestyle

2005-08-10T08:29:00.000-04:00

Theme Music: "Love Come Down" by Evelyn Champagne King

Peace,

This past weekend, I facilitated a workshop on Hip Hop & Social Justice. The conversation centered around the direction of the music, the conditions of the community, and how to have the music assist in improving the community's conditions. Usually, I hate convos like this because you tend to get a revisionist yearning for the "good ol days"of Hip Hop when everyone was conscious and positive and everything was good in Black America. This discussion was different, mainly due to the makeup of the participants. There was a good mix of artists, concerned community members, and social activists participating. Additionally, many of the artists were also activists and organizers. Another difference was the discussion of solutions versus bemoaning the current state of hip hop. The workshop was part of a much larger initiative to use the music to help repair and/or develop distressed communities. Here are some of my reflections from the discussion:

- We have to realize that hip hop is neutral, and not positive or negative like many make it out to be. The music will simply reflect the prevailing conditions and mentality of the time. You can't blame the music, you have to blame the conditions that produce the people who make the music. And while you can't change the music, you can help develop the conditions within the community to produce healthier people.

- Regardless of if we want to admit it or not, there is a economic component to this as well. As I've written before, when kids want to be a rapper to make it out of their conditions, then they'll say anything to be rich and famous. We have to create alternatives to the attractive options beyond sports, drugs and hip hop.

- One of the biggest things that we're battling is the idea of a "Hip Hop Lifestyle". The whole idea of a HH lifestyle is to market products to a young and naive demographic who thinks that HH is their Culture for more profits. To them, I say this: If HH is your culture, what does it teach you about women? What does it teach you about politics? How will it ensure your survival? The main reason that people think that HH is a culture is because we exist in a time devoid of a movement (i.e. Civil Rights or Black Power). In the absence of true Culture, the young people cling onto the music as a form of definition. If HH is a culture, that shows the vacuum that we have allowed to exist in the place of a vehicle of development for the youth.

Understanding the Culture

2005-08-02T14:57:00.000-04:00

Theme Music: "Politics As Usual" by Hov

Peace, Pardon my delay, as things have been very busy. I had a interview with Wise Intelligent last week, and traveled out of town for the weekend, so I've had plenty to do. I'll cover those things in another post, b.u.t. for now, I'd like to present a email that was sent by my Earth, I Medina Peaceful Earth to a listserv regarding the dress code of women in our nation. In my unbiased estimation (sure), I think she did a great job of explaining the transformation that one goes through when growing into the knowledge of themselves.

Peace Queens, and especially Queen Shamika! Pardon me for the late response to this, but my hotmail was trippin. This has been an interesting topic and I thank all sisters who shared their understanding. This is how we learn and grow together.
Queen Shamika, thank you so much for sharing that wonderful jewel, as this is all of our history, those of us who are striving to be or consider ourselves true and living earths (it's a journey, not a destination), and knowledge me when I say that it has taken a minute for me to gain proper understanding within my own self of this jewel and history, and I'm still workin' at it cause the growin' don't stop. But what you posted cannot be denied in my own mind. You were there from damn near the beginning and helped build this nation and culture, especially in regards to sister's protocol, and you building how you do and lovingly sharing your understanding shows and proves the importance of the preservation of our culture. Many, and I would like to say most sisters throughout the world are refined and it is the devil's civilization and western attire that is the minority (although it has been spreading) and I have to constantly keep this in mind as a woman who strives to be the true and living Earth...not just a positive Black woman, but the Earth, the mother of civilization, who is 3/4ths covered (not hidden), as the only life bearing planet Earth is ( and please understand me when I say in the beginning, I heavily argued, challenged and resisted, so what I am saying now is a reflection of my gradual growth and development over the past year). If I chose this and acknowledge this as my nature, I have to strive to manifest it in as many ways as possible, through breath and depth, from the surface to the core.
So many of our people don't have a culture with principles that serve as a foundation to live out. A lot of cultural people don't live out a culture with identifiable principles that can be taught. But this is the gift that Allah, the Father gave us, and countless others have built, and without a foundation, we are lost in this wilderness and are more vulnerable to being influenced by the culture of America in the mental and physical (and it is powerful!). And I realized that as much as I spoke against America, as much as I detested the United Snakes, I was very American in my personal choices, and unconsciously at the time wanted to continue to reflect that culture, especially through my way of dress. And that's part of that schizophrenia or double consciousness that so many of us are conflicted with. I wanted to be that sexy, revolutionary sista who could speak at rallies, rhyme, spit poetry and rock a J. Lo catsuit at the club with the twins out, 1) because that's how I liked to dress at the time (unaware of the foundation of that), and 2) because I wanted people to see a different representation of a sista with cultural awareness (that you can still be "cute" and don't have to wear a mumu to have some semblance of cultural and political awareness). And I still don't wear mumus (no disrespect to those who do). But I was caught up in that 6 or limitation, thinking every sista had to look the same.
I can now take pride in knowing that I am striving to live out a culture which manifests itself in the mental and the physical. I can speak of cultural awareness and knowledge of self, knowing that I am a part of a living, breathing culture, and am engaged in getting true KOS and have an avenue to live it out wholistically. I can pride myself in knowing that I am a part of a culture that has its' own use of language and family system and that I do not look like everyone else does (although the "Earthy" look has been co-opted over the years to where nowadays, you can't visibly tell who is an earth and who is not). I have to remember that a lot of what is "in style' is dictated by gay white men! And rockin' 3/4ths does not have to separate me from other sisters (this is something I worried about...looking so different, that I would repel). But today, I get much positive acknowledgement from young sisters (who are my largest concern at this point) who know who I am and what I represent and have seen my change, because of how I wear it and the foundation it is built upon. You attract through your knowledge and wisdom, which can bring forth the understanding that my Allah Self Savior doesn't have to be out to be acknowledged, and if it needs to be, then I don't need that kind of attention (and this has been a struggle since middle school...Conscious and unconscious!)
This is our culture and history. It is what we do and how we distinguish ourselves, and I definitely strive to keep it funky. And I feel regal, whether I'm wearing a long skirt made out of some jeans and fabric with my adidas, a fly leather skirt below the knee with some boots, or a skirt with thin breathable fabric that blows in the wind with some sandals. And the response is definitely different, and I am acknowledged as a queen because I look and carry myself like one. First impressions give someone an entry into how they should address you. So what I project is what I will get. And I still have to fight within myself to take the devil off my planet cause those clothes still attract, when I know according to Supreme Mathematics and our history, they are not a right and exact physical representation of the planet Earth as it is seen and lived out within this culture that I advocate. What light am I trying to reflect? What world am I striving to manifest? The Devil's or Allah's? Can I live out Allah World Manifest as the Earth, which is 70% covered with water, with a halter top and a miniskirt? The two didn't add up, and my physical had to reflect more of my mental. I had to get to the root and really ask myself why I wanted to wear clothing that flaunted my hills and mountains. What part of my self-esteem was that serving and was it healthy? Was I objectifying myself and covering it up with shallow reasoning like, "I wear this because it's cute." I had to realize that the point was to be different, and to provide a different representation of a woman for the girls who are around me daily that look up to me. I had to realize that I could not let the Devil's civilization control me, and that I had to master and control my relationship to it.
What I had to come to after questioning and debating was, this is what we do and how we represent ourselves and I can either accept it or reject it, and I grew in to it. I thought I would have to sacrifice my sense of "style," but every thing that I wear is clothing that I choose, that I see as right and exact and fly! Every day, when I choose what to wear, it is a conscious decision to not let the colored man's laws or civilization colonize my mind and body. And I know there are sisters who are more refined or covered than me (i.e. showing no arms or skin at all) and I am thankful that there is diversity within 3/4ths so that every sister does not have to rock it in the same way, like a basic uniform. I am seeing that wearing 3/4ths represents the beauty of an original woman respecting her mental and her physical and distinguishing herself by being a physical representation of a queen, an Earth. Ever notice that in movies or pictures or representations of queens back in the day, they wore beautiful flowing long dresses with crowns? Those who dressed scantily were courtesans, concubines, or common. So I am now seeing the beauty in the historical correlation between past and present.

Wisdom & Power

2005-07-25T13:10:00.000-04:00

Theme Music: "Family Business" by the Fugees

Peace,

A few reflections:

- This weekend, TV Land had a Good Times marathon. They actually showed Good Times all day saturday and sunday. Due to the fact that I recently critiqued the Cos, I won't go as in-depth as I usually would, b.u.t. here's what I dug:

- You could see the show becoming more coonish as it went along, and especially after John Amos left and J.J. became the star of the show

- It was deep when they subtly replaced James senior with Mr. Dixon, Micheal's boss at the hardware store to have a male figure

- Michael went from Black Nationalist in the early years to loverboy and intellectual at the end

- From watching the credits, it was plain to see that they had a high writer turnover, which may have accounted for the lack of consistency

- It would've been cool if somebody could have moved out just so that had a little taste of reality

- As strong as gangs were in C-Medina (Chi-town)during the 70's, they should've had a larger presence

- As my brother C'bs Alife Allah pointed out on his blog, learning 120 is not optional for Gods in the NGE. Please don't come trying to shape our Culture according to your personal tastes.

- I don't know what he did, b.u.t. Dame Dash sure is getting the short end of the stick these days

- With that said, Dash's signing of Sizzla is extremely promising. A roster of Beans and Sizzla Kalonji? Strictly fire and brimstone

- I read the Lauryn Hill interview in Trace magazine the other day. From my perspective, we may never know what she could have brought to the table if she didn't get hurt

- You know what Hip Hop lacks? An element that bridges original people in America with the diaspora. The last person to do it was the fugees, and look how many records they sold. And no, Ludacris going to Africa does not count, noble as he may have thought it was

- To all those who are not of NGE, please do not call Allah "Clarence 13 x". It's disrespect. If you're religious, and have a problem calling a man God as you understand him, then call him Father Allah. It's exactly the same as calling El Hajj Malik Shabazz Malcolm Little. OR Elijah Muhammad Elijah Poole

- Where is Osama and Mullah Omar?

The Caged Tiger pt.2

2005-07-20T08:30:00.000-04:00

Theme Music: "Philadelphia" by Oschino

Peace,

In my previous post regarding street organizations, I discussed some of their history and examples of consciousness and politicization within said organizations. The discussion among those of us who are dedicated to the growth & development of the youth is now how to educate and politicize them in this day and time. Like with many issues within the Black community, there's a segment of the population that romanticizes the 60's and the efforts of Fred Hampton, the Young Lords, and others. What they fail to see is that we are living in a vastly different time where the efforts to destroy the youth have been magnified. Simply put, the youth of today face many more obstacles than 40 years ago. There were no crack babies, ADHD, or 50 cent in 1969.

Another element that has changed is the intent, structure, and organization of the street organizations. During the 60's and 70's, many of the street organizations were just beginning and had not become staples within our communities. Additionally, some of them were outgrowths of clubs that were formed to protect the Black Community from White social clubs, so they had a different orientation than the street organizations today (A great example is the Slausons, who protected members of the then-developing Black community from White mobs. The Slausons, who at one time were led by Black Panther Bunchy Carter before he was killed by the US organization, eventually formed the base for the Crips). Additionally, the SO's weren't the multi-million organization with dues, picnics, bylaws, and mandates that they are now.

So what to do?

With all that said, I see that there are some interventions that can change the direction of the SO's. It entails the following:

1) Stop using tactics and rhetoric from past generations - As I stated, It's a new day and while many of the conditions remain, there are a number of elements that have changed. It's 2005 and when we look back, it's for ammunition and not comfort.

2) Utilize contemporary mediums and elements to teach and educate - Gangs use websites; So should you. Anything that they use, you should use b.u.t. reverse the polarity, and communicate positive pertinent messages. The Bloods have grown like wildfire due to the music of Game and the Diplomats. We have to use music and create street movements to reinforce our messages and ideas.

3) Make sure that our approach is wholistic - The issues are not only social, they're also economic. We have to be able to provide solutions to the variety of issues that the youth face, and empower them to solve their own issues and the issues of the future.

Cosby & Class

2005-07-14T15:21:00.000-04:00

Theme Music: "Lady of My Life" - MJ (Way before the Drama)

Peace,

Today's Mathematics is Knowledge Culture all being born to Power. In the NGE, we make sure that Knowledge is the foundation of our Culture, so that it can be quantified and qualified. Also, you have to look at the relationship between Knowledge and Culture, as Culture and it's various
mainifestations serve as the foundation for your viewpoint on life.

The other day, I watched a Cosby Show marathon on TV Land. As I'm watching, I'm thinking back to the whole brouhaha (?) over Cos and those bougie statements he made last year. In reality, his comments just underscored the rift between middle class and poor Black folks. Micheal Eric Dyson and others berated Cos for his statements, and him turning his back on those still in the "Ghe-to", as J.J. from Good Times would say.

If you look at the Cosby Show from a class perspective, you'll see some interesting things. Here's what I got out of it:

- While the show was kept up to date in an international sense (hence, the anti-apartheid sentiment), it was totally oblivious to the reality of the Black Community in America. No Black family in the 80's was out of the reach of the Crack epidemic, unemployment, or the rising incarceration rates of Black Men. It either happened to you, or it happened to a family member, b.u.t. no one was unscathed.

- Hip Hop played a very small role in the lives of the Huxtable children. Where the hell did they live in Brooklyn?

- Cos had a lot of love for Jazz, which isn't as bougie as it seems. To me, his musical and artistic taste had more to do with exposure than class.

- It didn't really seem as though they lived in Nueva York. The show was so general, they could have lived anywhere.

- The first 5 or 6 seasons of the show was like middle class heaven. It wasn't until the last few seasons that things started to change.

- All of Theo's friends at NYU were just like him. Whatever happened to diversity?

- All black families have some class mixing, b.u.t. with the Cos, that didn't happen until Cousin Pam came to live with them late in the game.

- Issues like Teen Pregnancy didn't come up until Pam got there, and even then it wasn't discussed in the context of the community.

- Religion wasn't discussed much, however you got the feeling that they were at least nominal Christians. It's interesting to see that no other religions or cultures were introduced to the mix. Speaking of which, all of the names of the children were straighter than 6:00. Cos was trying to paint a fantasy world like he came through the 70's with no black after- effects.

- Remember Theo's spin-off? It was him going into the hood to mentor and work with young boys. Cliff never showed that inclination.

- When Denise came back, you could tell that she was on some other sh!*,b.u.t. they didn't go into it. She was into organic foods and had locks down her back. The way they played it, she acted like a upper class black hippie.

- When Vanessa brought home the plumber, that was the first time you saw any class tension.

Life & Death

2005-07-12T13:37:00.000-04:00

Theme Music: "1964" BY Tru N Livin

Peace,

Last weekend, while in Medina for the International African Arts Festival, I received news that Rageim Supreme Allah returned to the essence (What people commonly term "dying") in a car crash. Rageim was Knowledge Power (15) years old, and is the Sun of Ramel Supreme Allah, a God who figures prominently in the overall Growth & Development of the NGE in Power Born. Additionally, Rageim lived in Pittsburgh for many years, and was part of our family. When anybody returns, it can be tough due to the physical absence of the person, b.u.t. when a child returns, it's even tougher because you start to think about the potential of the child. In our Culture, the children are the best part, so for any of them to return prematurely, it's impact is magnified.

On Saturday, a number of Gods and Earths from Power Born attended the funeral in Maryland. What emerged from the event was a testimony to the young God's life by those who knew him. Here are some points I gathered from the event:

- Make sure that a "Homegoing Celebration" (as it was called) is truly a celebration of life vs. A celebration of death. When we come together for those kind of events, it's best to focus on the positive versus reinforce the negative (in this case, the fact that the young God returned).

- If a child's life is made up of more than one Culture, than make sure that all the cultures are properly represented in that ceremony. Contrary to popular belief, there's more than Christianity in the Black Community.

- The whole cipher made me reflect on my relationship with my young Moon (Daughter), and how deeply I treasure her and her life. We must be diligent in letting everyone we love know that we love them and where we stand with them in the now.

Rageim Supreme's young life was not in vain, and we will continue to build Allah World Manifest in his name as well as all of the Gods and Earths that came before us. Within the universal cycle of life, everything has a purpose and a reason, and everyday more of that cycle is understood and acted upon. Life and death have no partnership, yet within the great cycle, they are connected and intertwined.

Build & Destroy

2005-07-07T08:43:00.000-04:00

Theme Music: "A Love Supreme" by John Coltrane

The past weekend, I traveled to Medina (Brooklyn) and Power Allah (Philadelphia). Had a great time, and here are some of my reflections on the weekend:

- On Saturday, 52nd street in West Philly felt like a Arabian or North African Bazaar. Brothers with long beards and skirts selling oils and White T Shirts, and sisters with all black abayas on going to buy Islamic books. There should really be some study on the effect of Islam in Philadelphia and surrounding areas

- You know Mike Jones is huge when my Old Earth (Mother) has already developed a distaste for him. You ain't heard nothing till you heard a 55 year-old woman try to mimic the chorus to "Back Then"

- Why does every radio station sound the same no matter where you go? Corporate control has made everything so homogeneous

- It's very easy to get lost in Brooklyn

- The Head of Medina (Fort Greene) is barely recognizable due to gentrification. It went from the Hood of Hoods to Yuppie and Boho heaven. While I'm all for communities becoming more livable, we have to make sure that people aren't priced out of their neighborhoods in the process. For all those who may not know, Fort Greene is called the head of Medina because that's the first place where the Knowledge came to Brooklyn. It was brought by ABG#7, who is known as the father of Medina.

- Dashikis are expensive as all get out. You gotta have money to look cultural these days

- The International African Arts Festival was beautiful. It was a zone where looking and acting civilized was the rule and not the exception. With that said, the whole scene felt just a mite fake. It was like some people were playing the Afro - Cultural role.

- Why do people wear shirts of people whose ideas they're not totally in line with? If I see one more shirt of Che worn by someone who isn't a internationalist, I'ma start hollering at people

- Original people eat a lot of Fried Fish

- Rastas have so much Culture that you can actually put together a 'How to be a Rasta' Starter Kit. At the Arts Festival you could buy everything you need to be a Rasta

- Even though they left the NOI years ago, Orthodox Muslims prepare Fried Fish like it's 1972

- If Hip Hop is any indication of Black life, we are far too fractured. These days we're playing the the extremes of either holier than thou or mega-ignorant

Crime & Culture

2005-06-30T15:14:00.000-04:00

Theme Music: "Magic City" by Buju Banton

Peace,

First I want to say thank you who come through and check the site regularly. I also want to say Peace to my brothers and sisters within the Nation of Gods and Earths who contribute to the NGE blogosphere. Your work is continually adding Understanding to the Cipher. Earlier this week on my brother C'BS Alife Allah's blog (www.allahsfivepercent.blogspot.com), he spoke of being questioned about speaking on NGE "beliefs". If anyone wants to know of our values, you can contact us for further information, b.u.t. one of the purposes of our blogs is to show you the Understanding (result) of how we think and live. Everyone that I know that has a blog has knowledged 120 degrees and is qualified to teach.

Last week, I picked up a book entitled "Philadelphia's Black Mafia: A Social and Political History" by Sean Patrick Griffin, a professor at Penn State University. The book covers the history of Philadelphia's Black Mafia from the late 60's in Temple #12 to the present. The book is somewhat well-researched, b.u.t. it's coming from a law enforcement point of view, and therefore doesn't present the most balanced story. Similar to the story of the Mafia and other organizations, there's more to it than racketeering, extortion, and murder. In this case, it involved a powerful religious movement and the shaping of the consciousness of a community (In this case, Philadelphia's Black Community). To truly get a idea of how the NOI (known as the first resurrection) and later Orthodox Islam affected the city, you have to go to Philadelphia and see 20 and 21 year old Black Males standing on the corner with their pant legs rolled up in accordance with the sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad and beards longer than most Imams. Earlier this year, a influential Imam in Philadelphia was indicted for fraud and accepting money from local drug dealers, who also happened to be muslim. What I'm saying in no way indicts the vast majority of Black Muslims in Philadelphia, just like what I'll speak on in the next paragraph doesn't represent all Gods and Earths.

Two days ago, I grabbed a DVD entitled King Of Kings. It was advertised a a documentary on the Feurtado brothers, who were alleged to be the biggest wholesalers of Marijuana, Heroin, and Cocaine in Queens during the late 70's and 80's. What it ended up being was a documentary on how the 7 Crowns gang in Queens merged with some members of the NGE in Queens and created one of the largest and most deadly criminal organizations that New York has ever seen. By now, everyone knows about Supreme from the Supreme Team from his run ins with 50 Cent and his affiliation with Murder Inc., b.u.t. this DVD details how Supreme was able to organize his operation with support from other Gods. The DVD starts with the narrator saying "Queens was once known as a desert, but overnight it became a oasis." Ironically enough, Desert and Oasis are NGE names for Queens. Now, from reading my and other NGE blogs, you would already know that the NGE does not advocate the selling of drugs in any way, shape, form, and fashion. In reality, these two examples underscore the depth of the struggle that we have in our communities, and the need to create a holistic change that impacts all aspects of our lives. It's a tough road saying that you are the supreme being and you don't have a pot to piss in or a window to throw it out of. In Philly, although brothers have converted to a new way of life, they are still in the same city.

Being frank, the medicine that we take to change our lives doesn't work overnight. It didn't take two generations to get where we are, so it won't take two generations to get us up out of it. We have to ensure that the events of the past are not held as a sword to define the direction of future generations.

The Wisdom Of God

2005-06-27T08:42:00.000-04:00

Theme Music: "300 Bars" by Game

Peace,

I'm not into the whole "Hip Hop Beef" thing, cause it reminds me of when I used to watch WWF in the 80's and wrestlers like Hulk Hogan and "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndoff would be friends, then Enemies, then Friends again all within one year. That said, Game Killed G- Unit on his new track 300 Bars! During the song, he takes time to dismantle every rapper in G Unit, One by One. To me, the wildest revelation is when Game states that Young Buck had his chain stolen in Chicago and didn't have the 10 stacks to get it back. The fact that he had his chain stolen at all is a reminder that the hood has a different perspective of rappers than the magazines report. When you're a millionaire, and don't contribute anything of note back to the community, how can you really purport to speak for those who still live in abject poverty?

Secondly, if Young Buck really couldn't afford to get his chain back, then why do we continue to allow the music to lie to our children about the true financial standing of rappers? Most young people are interested in being rappers because they see it as a way to get out of their present conditions without much "work", similar to basketball or the dope game. By perpetuating the mirage that the rappers are financially well off, more youth decide to abandon the idea of getting a education or a trade, and instead move forward with their "dream" of making it big as a rap star. Like anything in American economics, it's a pyramid, with a small amount of people doing very well, and a large amount of people doing bad at the bottom. Meanwhile, because the youth aren't acquiring skills, they cant take advantage of the many jobs that Hip Hop creates (Tour Managers, Booking Agents, Sound Engineers, Publicity Agents, etc..)

Bottom line, those of us who know better have to do a better job of educating the youth about what's going on around them. The vast Majority of Black and Brown youth will be used as cannon fodder for the Prison Industrial Complex or the Service Industry if their not assisted by those who understand the system. In order to prepare themselves for the world that they will soon encounter, we have to teach about the relationship between politics, society and economics. Hip Hop can be a great place to start that process.

The Caged Tiger

2005-06-22T15:35:00.000-04:00

Theme Music - "Maybe We Crazy" by 50 Cent

Peace, I build that this finds everyone in the best of conditions mentally as well as physically. Firstly, although I'm no fan of snitches (unless you're over 60 and scared to come out the house because of gunshots), I'm actually feeling his new song. Last week, when I was in Now Why (New York), Kay Slay brought it back a couple of times. 50's been gave up on lyricism, b.u.t. he spills the beans pretty well about his former life.

Here in Power Born (Pittsburgh, Pa. for those who don't speak the language), there's been a re-emergence of "Street Gangs" over the past 2 years. Out here, you'll find Bloods, Crips, and local variations such as O.G.'s and LAW. From my perspective, the re-emergence is due to 2 main factors:

1) Gang members who are returning home after 8-10 years in prison

2) The influence of Gang- related music in Hip Hop

Within the community, reaction to the development of gangs falls into two categories: containment and eradication (Conservatives, Moderates. and Liberals) or transformation (Progressives, Revolutionaries). The perspective of the former just isn't viable due to the inequities of American society that create the breakdown of the family, which sends youth to the streets looking to belong to whatever they can. As soon as you get rid of one gang, another incarnation pops up.

The view of the latter is based on the events of the Black Power movement and the efforts of Black figures such as Bunchy Carter, Fred Hampton, and George Jackson, who were able to politicize former gang members, and move them into activities on behalf of the people. Additionally, many members of the NGE were once gang members until the Gods taught them Knowledge of Self. Due to the interaction between conscious/progressive organizations and street organizations, many of the street organizations have retained conscious/civilized elements. For example, while watching a DVD entitled "Hood 2 Hood", I saw a GD (Gangster Disciple) explain that GD stood for "Growth & Development". Almost every street organization has a constitution and values.

The point of all this? In my next post.

Reflections of a Journey

2005-06-14T13:01:00.000-04:00

"Diamonds Remix" Kayne West & Jay - Z

Peace,

After reading my brother's reflections on the Show & Prove (www.allahsfivepercent.blogspot.com), I decided that he pretty much summed it up for me and everyone else in the NGE blogosphere, so I've decided to give some snapshots of my experience that may give you a view into my weekend:

- New York is an amazing place. Even though I've been there hundreds of times, It's always something new to see or experience. I took my young moon to Times Square, and just looked at all the visual stimulation around us. Plus, it's one of the few places where you can get a good Falafel at 4 in the morning (Shouts to Mahmouds!)

- The redevelopment of Downtown Brooklyn is starting to look a lot like to redevelopment of Times Square. Bringing the Nets in is going to change the face of that area

- You haven't eaten until you've eaten at a Halal Chinese restaurant!

- If you're in the New York area, you should check out the El Hajj Malik Shabazz exhibit at the Schomburg Library. I wasn't able to attend, b.u.t. my brother Knowledge Build did, and he was very impressed

- We've got to work on relations between so called African- Americans and South Asians. There's a general lack of understanding and trust at play that pits us at odds. Both communities should study the history of the other, and try to see the similarities. Recommended reading is Everybody was Kung Fu Fighting by Vijay Prashad

- Puerto Rican Weekend is off the hook! For one day, everyone in Nueva York was Boricua. And for all who don't know, there's more to Puerto Ricans than Big Pun and Rice & Beans. Remember, once upon a time, P.R. wasn't a state.

- Radio in New York is like indoctrination. You hear the same songs so much you could start to think that you should hear them. One good development however , is the inclusion of more reggae in the playlist. It was the move to hear "Can't Satisfy Her" by I-Wayne and "Welcome to Jamrock" by Damian Marley in rotation

- On that note, Medina (Brooklyn) is like Jamaica, the Gaza Strip, Eastern Europe, and Senegal in one. It's not quite like Toronto, b.u.t. it's very diverse

- It's deep to see how technology has become the enemy of the major labels and movie houses. There's no way I'm going to the flick for 8.75, when I can get the bootleg for a pound (5 dollars). Besides that, try to convince someone to pay $13.00 for a CD when they can get 2 for 5. These corporations need to try to streamline costs and their infrastructure so they can be more competitive.

- On another note, please check out the Diamonds Remix with Kanye and Jay. Kanye pushes the bar with his verse about Sierra Leone. After that, check out "Conflict Diamonds" by another Chi Town artist, Lupe Fiasco, and tell me if Kayne lifted his verse or not. For both songs, hit www.hiphopgame.com

Always has been, Always will be

2005-06-09T15:12:00.000-04:00

Music: "Chi City" by Common

Peace,

This weekend, the NGE will hold our 34th annual Show & Prove, which commemorates the physical death of the founder of our Nation, Allah. For those who may not know, the S&P began as a Science Fair exposition that consisted of young Gods & Earths creating science projects in honor of Allah the Father and what he taught. The first S&P was held in 1971 at Harlem preparatory High School, A College Prep program that sent a number of Gods & Earths to college. In fact, Allah made a deal with the headmaster of Harlem Prep that the school would accept any God or Earth who asked to be enrolled. The day consisted of singing, dancing, and science experiments, done by Gods, Earths, and other community members.

Over time, the event has become a "family reunion" of sorts, as Gods and Earths from all over the world come to the place where our Nation was founded. The event also serves as a good way to note the Nation's development over the past year, as it can give you the opportunity to illustrate the accomplishments of the past year. This year, we'll have a renewed focus on the children with a Science Fair Exhibition, and a Children's Olympics. There will also be performers, and a youth talent show. Admission is free for children 16 & under, and 5 dollars for everyone else. All are invited, as we continue to mark the reality of God & Earth in this day and time.

Similarities & Differences

2005-06-03T10:44:00.000-04:00

Music: Come Fly With Me - Foxy & Sizzla Kalonji

Peace,

First, I want to give kudos to my brother Khalik Allah for completing his short film "The Absorption Of Light". The film is very well produced, and chronicles to process of self-development within our Culture. If you're interested, please hit me and I can get you one.

The second thing I want to discuss is my brother Sha-King's recent blog on his perspective of farad Muhammad, and the resulting conversation and dialogue. I am aware that MFM is respected as Allah to the NOI, and they are understandably protective of his history and legacy. From a research perspective, it is very difficult to get accurate background info that can be corroborated by more than one source. While I don't buy the FBI's info on MFM, I also can't blindly accept the story of him being born in Mecca to a mother named Baby G and a father named Alphonso (which interestingly enough means "noble" in German, and was used for over 1300 years in Spain). One of the positive impressions that the NOI did leave on the NGE was that of research and evaluation, and even the story of MFM is subject to that rigor.

There's also the point of the relationship between the NOI and the NGE. Extremists on both side paint a picture that obscures the true history between us. As foolish as it would be to say that the NGE did not develop out of the NOI, it would also be foolish to ignore the reality of the differences in our respective worldviews. In a way that is not dissimilar to Rastafarians and Christians, we could use the same words and have the same books, b.u.t. use them in totally different ways. Allah as we understand him held Elijah and Farad in high regard, b.u.t. did not worship either of them, as he understood that the greatest power is the developed power within self. That difference is substantial as it relates the the worldviews between the NGE and the NOI.

There's also a difference in the development of our value system. The NOI defines itself as an Islamic community, while the NGE does not. Discrepancies and arguments on this issue aside, we see the world differently based upon this development. It is true that the NGE & the NOI have much in common, and and many current members of both communities were once adherents to the other. What we share primarily is the use of what is commonly called "the lessons", a historical dialogue between Elijah Muhammad and Master Farad Muhammad. Although we both use them, the manner in which we use them is strikingly dissimilar. In another post, I'll discuss this at length. At best, we should be able to come together to celebrate our similarities and respect our differences. Many of us are working together in our communities for the common goal of the Growth & Development of our people. For example, the minister of Mosque #22, Jasiri Muhammad & I work together on a number of projects in the community for the good of the youth. If we employ honest respect for our similarities and differences, we can go beyond bickering and pot-shots and build for the common good.

Wise Words, Ways, & Actions

2005-05-27T17:36:00.000-04:00

"Lyrics of Fury" - Eric B. & Rakim

Peace,

By it's very nature, Hip Hop is an art form that continuously looks back for ammunition to go forward. From musical samples to fashion to actual lyrics (aka biting), Hip Hop has been known to grab from it's past. Every 5-7 years, you see an "Old School Revival" of sorts where songs are recycled for the new generation's conspicuous consumption. While on one hand, it can be seen as the death of creativity, in certain instances, it can serve as the base for younger audiences to learn about the world that proceeded them.

One example is the infatuation with Black & Latino crime lords of the mid 80'- early 90's. When youth hear names life Alpo, Rich Porter, the JBM, and Wayne Porter in their favorite rapper's songs, it can give you a chance to explain to them the reality of the Crack Era, and the political environment that created it. Because many of our youth have a dangerously short attention span, we have to utilize all possible means to transfer information that can help them understand the past, present, and future. By showing them the recurring tragedies that plague our communities, we can give them a framework to identify their role in changing our communities.

Another positive example is the platform and exposure given to "positive" Hip Hop artists of the music "Golden Era". Approx. 2 weeks ago, Cedric Muhammad of Black Electorate conducted an in-depth interview with Wise Intelligent of the group Poor Righteous Teachers. After that interview, I saw a number of articles and interviews regarding not only PRT, b.u.t. other groups from that era as well. In this day of Hip Hop having very little substance (on both the "underground" and "mainstream" level), a level of awareness and consciousness is needed. Additionally, it's imperative the the Hip Hop community produce thought leaders and not only artist that shy away from principled activity and stances based on their fear of being blackballed. While I don't put the responsibility solely on the artist, I do expect to see the logical extension to the rhetoric that many "positive" artists kick. If we're going to look back, let's look back and ensure that we grow from out past.

The making of a martyr

2005-05-20T14:44:00.000-04:00

"Welcome To Jamrock" - Damian Marley

Peace,

Yesterday (May 19) was Al-Hajj Malik Shabazz's birthday. If still physically alive, he would have turned 80 yesterday. First things first, I don't call him Malcolm X because that's not the name he went by at the time of his death, and to me it would be disrespect to call him other than what he went by after his conversion to orthodox Islam. Malik Shabazz looms as a special and distinctive figure all over the world because so many people take aspects of his life and then claim him as their own. For example, Black Nationalists use him as an example of self-determination, The Nation Of Islam uses him as an example of the life-changing teachings of Elijah Muhammad, Socialists use him as a mascot for the international socialist revolution, and Muslims see him as a representative of the power of Al-Islam.

One of the reasons that he represents so many things to so many people is that he underwent a number of changes throughout his life. Towards the end of his life, he developed a complex outlook that found him challenging many of his former perspectives and acknowledging that he still had a ways to go as far as defining the best way to obtain Freedom, Justice, and Equality for oppressed peoples across the world. One of the more interesting things was his retaining of the name Shabazz even though that name was a hallmark of the NOI. Like many others who were killed before their time (MLK, Allah, Fred Hampton), we will never know where they were headed as far as their perspectives and viewpoints. To me, the best way to preserve his legacy is to see him as a man who was brave enough to challenge his views in order to grow.

If you're Black, get back! If you're Brown, stay down!

2005-05-10T12:45:00.000-04:00

"Hail The King" - Fanton Mojah

Peace,

Today's Mathematics is Knowledge Cipher all being born to Knowledge. When in any cipher, it is imperative to have the Knowledge of what's taking place in that Cipher, and also to know what Knowledge is driving the Cipher. For example, if you happen to find yourself on my blog, you should be aware of what I blog about, as well as the fact that my worldview is based on the Culture of the Nation of Gods and Earths. When you're not aware of what's taking place around you, you can become a slave to your environment.

Over the past few weeks, there's been reports of Black - Brown discords in Los Angeles Area High Schools. The resulting riots led to the banning of white t - shirts and large belt buckles in the high schools(Just as an aside, how do you ban white tees as a "gang symbol"? What's next, blue denim?). Just last week, reports surfaced of a plot by Mexican gang members to kill 500 - 1000 Black men. While this report was found to be false, thousands of Black youth stayed home from school. On a larger level, these events have the ability to effect the May 17 mayoral election, where Antonio Villaraigosa is running to become the 1st Latino mayor of the countries' 2nd largest city.

To me, this rupture represents a general lack of understanding of the social and political situation by both sides. To be sure, Blacks and Latino have some different issues, b.u.t. for the most part, both suffer from similar maladies in our society. The truly progressive among us must make sure that we build bridges to create greater understanding amongst each other. On a historical, political, and social level, we have much more in common than we do not. One need look no further than the late 60's ( i.e.Black Panthers, Brown Berets, Young Lords) to see a time when original people had a sophisticated understanding of their respective conditions and were able to come together to build for a common cause of Freedom, Justice, and Equality.

Only when we look beyond each other to see the real issues will we grow beyond petty territorial beefs and squabbles. When you see the link between original people, a consciousness emerges that allows you you to elevate to your highest equality. On a individual as well as a collective level, we need to apply that each and every day, in each and every way.

Show & Prove pt. 1

2005-05-05T10:24:00.000-04:00

"The Color Purple" - Saigon

Peace,

This month's Source Magazine has an article of the 40th anniversary of the NGE. It also features a editorial by the new EIC Fahiym, who was a member of the NGE in the late 80's. To me, the article and accompanying editorial serve as a reminder of the effect that the NGE has has on the Black Community, Hip-Hop, and by extension, youth culture over the last 20 years. While the Source has been going through some deep issues lately (See the Sexual discrimination and harassment charges levied against them by former female employees), it's important that they would take time to acknowledge our influence on Hip Hop culture. You can see the effect when devout Muslims call Rakim "The God". While it's obvious that they don't see him as such, the fact that they use the term to acknowledge him speaks volumes. Thousands of young people all over the world can trace their introduction to consciousness to the NGE through either personal interaction or music from a NGE member (Rakim, PRT, Wu-Tang) or an influenced artist (Nas, AZ, The Roots). You can also see our influence in many rappers who call themselves "God" (Jay-Z, The Lox, Lil Wayne).

One of the reasons that you see a resurgence in the discussion about the NGE is that many writers and editors who came of age during the late 80's to mid 90's are now in a position to discuss the elements that had such an effect on their lives. As my brother C'BS Alife Allah (www.allahsfivepercent.blogspot.com) mentioned in one of his entries on "God - Hop", even Kool Herc (Considered by many to be one of the fathers of Hip Hop) has acknowledged that by the Gods providing security, many of the parties of the mid to late 70's were able to go off without a hitch.

There is also an increased academic interest in the NGE from a sociological perspective trying to identify the reason(s) why the NGE is still around and flourishing when many other groups and movements from the Civil Rights/Black Power era are no longer in existence. Only recently have we begun to get the respect we deserve in academic circles as a culture and not some "proto-Islamic" sect. Time will tell how historians acknowledge who we are, b.u.t. it's looking better.

Pretty Ricky & Hip - Hop's Feminization

2005-05-02T12:33:00.000-04:00

"Find A Way" - Dwele

Peace,

This is a bit of an departure from some of my other entries, b.u.t. what's up with the lack of beards amongst men on TV? It seems that all the Black men on television are as clean - faced as a newborn child. Now I'm probably biased because I'm originally from Philadelphia where Orthodox Islam is so deeply embedded into the culture of the city that even youth who are not Muslim have long beards, b.u.t. you can't really find original men on television who have hair on their faces.

Part of the problem is that many of the stars in contemporary are in their late 20's - mid 30's, b.u.t. have to keep a teenage fan base, so they try to look 25 forever. The best example is Dr. Dre. Exactly how old is this guy? He's been in Hip Hop for almost 20 years and he didn't look like a spring chicken when he did "Turn out the lights." In turn, the kids mimic what they see, and try to outdo each other in being "pretty boys". Many of the young dudes today have bigger earrings than the girls!

Coming out of the Black Power Era, many Black men wore beards as a symbol of their manhood and culture. While it goes without saying that manhood is defined by more than your physical appearance, it is connected in some way. Many of the athletes and entertainers of the 70's were proud to wear beards and hairstyles that distinguished them as men. Additionally, in many cultures, a beard indicates wisdom, learning, and good stature in their community. While I acknowledge that we are a diverse people and represent ourselves in many ways, it would be good for the youth to see a balance in the media.

Return From Home

2005-04-26T10:09:00.000-04:00

"All Is Fair" - Living Proofe (Peace to the God!)

Peace,

My daughter Azania returned to Pittsburgh last week after being in South Africa for a month. Azania's mother is South African, so for them it was a return back "home" in a sense. My daughter's name is what the original people of that land called South Africa during apartheid, and dates back to Zanj, which is what the Arabs called the people of East Africa upon their arrival. She had a great overall time, and saw and experienced things that many of her classmates could never imagine. As she recounted her experiences to me, I thought "So many of our children never leave their immediate environments, much less the country."

In order to our children to be world citizens, it is imperative that we give them an international scope. All over the world, many children speak more than one language, and some speak three or more. Although my daughter can communicate in Spanish and Mandarin, in SA she had a slight problem communicating because the first language is Afrikaans. With the world "shrinking" through increased channels of communication and globalization, we must make sure that our kids know things outside of their ethnic and cultural experience. The babies are the greatest, b.u.t. only if we prepare them properly.

Travel To the North

2005-04-18T18:27:00.000-04:00

"Be" - Common

Peace,

To further show who we are as a Nation of Gods and Earths, I want to give a review of my trip a couple of weeks ago. Knowledge Build Allah and I traveled to the Buffalo/Niagara Falls/Hamilton Ont. Area in order to see the Gods and Earths in Our region. For those who may not know, the NGE has been structured into regions in order to increase local and regional development. Areas that have a close proximity to each other can share best practices and build together to develop the infrastructure needed for functional community building. Our region includes Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, Western New York (Which includes Buffalo, Rochester, and Niagara Falls), and Southern Ontario (Which includes Hamilton and Toronto).

Our first stop was Buffalo. We visited the God Divine Allah who welcomed us into his home, and gave us a brief rundown of the city and it's history. Later Divine and the God Shatik took us on a tour through the streets of Buffalo, and allowed us to interact with the people of that community. We then traveled to Niagara Falls (Known as Atlantis) to meet with the God Saladin, who recently had a profile done on him in the local newspaper. The God also runs a mentoring and youth development program in the community. We built at length about a variety of topics and then dined at a Indian restaurant blocks from the U.S. - Canada border.

After breaking bread, Knowledge Build and I departed and traveled to Hamilton (Steel City). Fortunately, we were able to cross the border with a minimum of hassle, and made it to Steel City in about 45 minutes. For those who may not know, there is a thriving community of Gods and Earths in Hamilton, and the Nation has had a presence in that area for the last 10 years. Putting to rest the idea that the NGE is a "Black" (African American) thing, In my time in that area, we met Gods & Earths whose families were from Jamaica, Mexico, The Philippines, Trinidad, and Ghana. In many ways, this area represents both the goal and the future of the NGE, speaking to and representing the needs of a global community with a value system that makes more of the similarities than of the differences. We attended their annual Asiatic New Year celebration (more on that later), and departed that evening with a weekend full of memories and a renewed appreciation for the work that Gods and Earths are doing across North America.

It's been a longer time...

2005-04-13T10:41:00.000-04:00

Song: "Black Girl Pride" - Talib Kweli

Peace,

Pardon for the delay, as things have been very busy and productive. Number 1 on the list is the death of Pope John Paul II, which sent shockwaves throughout the world. With the passing of the pope, many are waiting to see who will be the next pope. The thing that makes the choice interesting this time is that the largest population growth for the Catholic Church is in Africa, while growth in North America and Europe has stalled. Because of this, the Face of Catholicism has become darker over the last 50 years. The question is this: Does the Church have the guts to elect a African Pontiff if he represents the future of the church and it's largest population? If they do, it will represent a new day for the relationship between Christianity and African people and allow the world to see Catholicism as a religion of acceptance vs. Paternalism.

Number 2 on my "hit" list is the subject of Globalization. Last Sunday, New York Times writer Thomas Freidman tackled the subject in a article entitled "Globalization 3.0" that chronicled the technological advances that are taking place in countries like India and China. These changes and advances are having and will continue to have a profound effect on all Americans, as other countries make up the curve that was created by imperialism and the industrial revolution through technology that levels the playing field and gives the advantage to the worker who is most qualified and/or the cheapest, no matter the location. When you call for tech support, there's a good chance that you're speaking to someone in Bangalore instead of Boston. Ironically, the field was leveled in part by the internet rush and subsequent telecom infrastructure development. This has enabled people all over the world to do business together and to compete.

In last year's election, much was made of outsourcing without the average person realizing the true issue at hand. Globally, Americans are falling behind in the areas of Science & Math, and the Black community is even further behind in being able to compete in today's economy. After reading the article, I was able to reflect on Allah's wish that his suns and daughters become scientists, mathematicians, and architects so that we would be able to create and maintain a civilization. We need to reinforce these lessons to our youth so that they are prepared and even ahead for the world that they will be left with.

Finally, My beautiful daughter Azania I Queen turns Build or Destroy (8) today. Nothing makes you more aware of your duty and responsibility to the world than a child, and as God, realizing your Equality in your daughter is doubly inspiring. The first universe is the family, and through the children, we see our future.

The Gods & Earths as Hip Hop's "Intelligensia"

2005-04-01T18:28:00.000-05:00

Peace,

On monday, I will to build more about this, so please check out this article on Hip Hop and the NGE.
http://www.popmatters.com/music/features/050401-edutainment.shtml

Ascension

2005-03-28T18:52:00.000-05:00

Theme Music: "Just one of those days" - Sizzla

Peace,

Many people regard the NGE as a New York/East Coast movement that doesn't have any members in other parts of the country, much less internationally, so it may surprise you that I spent the weekend with NGE members in Buffalo, New York; Niagara Falls, New York; and Hamilton, Ontario. I plan to give a more in depth account of my trip later in the week, b.u.t. I can safely say that Gods and Earths all over North America are strong and growing. The NGE in Canada is particularly interesting, as it allows you to see things outside of American racial politics. In America, the NGE is thought of as a "Black"(African-American) thing, while in Canada, the population is diverse and represents a large cross section of original people, which underscores the reality that the NGE is not for just one segment of the population. Canada paints itself as a "mosaic vs. A "melting pot", so it allows you to see Culture as dynamic and constantly shifting vs. Stagnant and uniform.

Understanding this I now utilize the term "polycultural" versus the commonly used term "multicultural". To me, polycultural indicates that we are affected and influenced by a variety of ideas that shape our worldview and values, while multicultural communicates the concept of a host of equal b.u.t. separate cultures that exist among each other. Multiculturalism says respect the history and values of the indigenous people of the land, while polyculturalism shows you that everytime you have a piece of cornbread at a soul food joint, you are acknowledging the Black-Native connection in our country, as Native Americans introduced that food to what we now know as America.

Understanding that Cultures interact and share ideas, influence, and values with each other can lead lead you to research and study what you do and how you live, which will aid you in self knowledge. Do enough research, and you'll see that most of the Cultures on the planet have much more in common than you think, and when you connect the dots, you can identify the values that are found within most civilized cultures of antiquity. Armed with that, you can know yourself as you know the world, and know the world as you know your self.

What does Victory look like?

2005-03-22T15:17:00.000-05:00

Music: "Wrath of Kane" - BDK

Peace,

I visited Black Electorate today (www.blackelectorate.com) and found an article on Roland Fryer a 27 year-old assistant professor at Harvard. ( http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/20/magazine/20HARVARD.html) Fryer is an up and coming economist who has impressed many within the halls of academia with his research on the relationship between economics and social behavior. Basically, Fryer is trying to identify where Black folks went wrong, and the root of the myriad of social and cultural disparities that exist between Black people and other races within America. Anybody worth their weight in Black studies has a theory on the destruction of our people, ranging from slavery and PTSD to Capitalism to divine decree. Regardless of the view of the root, the solution will have to be multi-pronged and comprehensive in approach.

After thinking about that issue, I started to think "with all the focus on our current situation, what does the solution look like"? What does Freedom look like? Is it Zion-like? Is it scientific socialism or distributive black capitalism? Is it the freedom for everyone to live how they see fit, even if it's counter productive in the long term? Is it reform or revolution? Is it total participation in American society, or is it sovereignty? These are the hard questions that have to be answered if we intend on seeing a new day for ourselves specifically and all people generally. In the Supreme Alphabet, today's degree is Victory, and the first key to achieving victory is to be cognizant of what it looks like so that you can create a blueprint for success. We need to come up with individual and collective recipes for the the results that we want to see.

I Wanna Be Like...

2005-03-18T14:21:00.000-05:00

Music - "Baltimore Love Thing" by 50

Peace,

First thing on the update side is that my brother Supreme Scientist Allah now has a blog located at www.thescientificcommunity.blogspot.com that I build will provide more insight into why we espouse certain positions and viewpoints. At the end of the day, it is important to understand that the bottom line of our Culture is responsibility and self-determination on a individual and collective level. When you acknowledge that you hold ultimate responsibility for success or failure on a individual & collective level, you can start to become focused on the reality that you wish to bring into existence. Whle some may take issue with us for different aspects of our value system, it is my perspective that those things can be explained if one is a serious student of history and Culture.

As C'BS explained in one of his posts(www.Allahsfivepercent.blogspot.com) , Man proclaiming himself as God and Woman identifying herself with the Earth is nothing new, and actually can be well documented throughout history. If you agree or not is another story, however the position has precedent and logic behind it. I may not agree that a man named Jesus was nailed to a cross, died and ascended to "heaven" three days later, b.u.t. I understand the history of the story of crucified saviors. Many people have a misunderstanding of our Culture in theory as well as in practice, so that contributes to minimizing the positive effects that our Culture has had in the Black community and all over the world. That's not to say that people haven't been given the wrong impression by members of our nation, b.u.t. all Cultures, religions and value systems have a wide spectrum of people who claim to represent them, and we are no different.

Because of the work we do amongst the most disaffected populations within our community, our principles can be evidenced in many places within the original communities within America. For that reason, many consider us to be a gang or gang-like. The funny thing is how many gangs do you know with bloggers, writers, policemen, and scientists among their population? I'm a case manager and a intervention specialist for a CBO (Community Based Organization), so what interest do I have in perpetuating that which I'm trying to stop? Criminal populations exist within all the different populations in this country, and the NGE is no different. To be defined by that small population of Gods and Earths who may have committed crimes is laughable. Allah taught us to end crime and to be good citizens of this country as long as it doesn't involve force or coercion.

Earlier this week, I picked up the DVD on the "original" 50 cent. On the DVD was a expose on the Sex, Money and Murder Bloods out of Brownsville. On it, the leader of the set was asked why young people get into gangs and he replied that young people are looking for something to get into, and they don't care if it's positive or negative, as long as they feel like they're part of something. That simple fact is something that we all need to face. When it's all said & done, would you rather the young want to be Gods & Earths or Bloods & Crips?

Was he right? So what?

2005-03-14T10:05:00.000-05:00

Music - "Reasons" by Earth, Wind, and Fire

Peace,

If you've been keeping up with the news lately, you've seen the protests in Lebanon calling for Syria to leave, The talks between the Palestinians and the Israelis, and the "success" after the elections in Iraq. These events have some journalists proclaiming that Bush was "right" about his hunches in pushing for "democracy" in the Middle East. For one, the jury's still out on all three, as time will have to tell if the events of the last month will really lead to an increased quality of life for residents of that region. Two, you spend $160 Billion with another $80 Billion in the chamber on a hunch and a hope? If that's the case, please get a "hunch" and spend that kind of money on education, workforce development, and health disparities in the distressed communities in America. As you could glean from my earlier entries,I'm for the development of humanity, b.u.t. it boggles me to think that youth in countries with rich oil reserves are getting access to health care that is restricted to the indigenous people of this land who have been forced to live on "reservations" as if it was a good table at a restaurant!

Secondly, I don't like to beat dead horses into the ground, b.u.t. isn't it amazing how contemporary Hip Hop is so intent on dumbing the children down and speaking to their base instincts? I'm speaking specifically of "Crunk" and it's Northern California counterpart "Hyphy"(Yay Area!). Now, I'm well aware of the power of music in the lives and cultures of original people all across the world, and I'm not trying to "hate" per se, however, when the music encourages you to not "give a f@3%" or to "go dumb", and you don't have any other influences, that's a recipe for disaster.

In this day and time when the world hangs in the balance and varying populations are vying for economic, social and political control of land, resources, and people, we can have fun and release stress, b.u.t. we damn sure can't get any dumber than we already are. I actually like some of the music (More Hyphy than Crunk), b.u.t. as a adult with discipline and self control, I can put it in it's proper context. The subtle implication of this is that we are to exercise force and energy over intelligence. Nothing happens in a vacuum, and the developing trend of Hip Hop that is less challenging is no accident. When a people lose Knowledge of their Culture (and therefore themselves), they can be pushed around by any force that is moving in a determined direction
Let's keep it funky, b.u.t. let's keep it on point as well.

Peace,
I Majestic Allah

It's been a long time...

2005-03-08T15:17:00.000-05:00

Music "Can't go on this way" by Beans, Freeway, and Young Chris

Peace,

Pardon for the delay. Things have been rather productive, and hence busy for me the last week. Here are my thoughts on the following topics:

1) 50 vs. Game

Hip Hop has truly become a circus at this point, and nothing underscores this fact like this new Hip Hop "beef". The lines have become so blurred between what's "real" and what's entertainment that everyone's just confused at this point. 3 weeks ago Game is screaming G-Unit to who ever will listen, and now those same people are sending subtle character attacks his way. Another huge point is the power of the Hip Hop industry in determining what's real to the youth of the world who take this as life and death. The fact that Jimmy Iovine(Interscope chief & major power player) made the recommendation for Game to join G-Unit is mind boggling for a crew of supposed gangstas and killas. Hopefully, things like this can be used as ammunition to explain to the babies that it's all a big circus and when you go see Ringling Bros., you shouldn't take the show as real. The unfortunate thing is that there has been some violence associated with this whole debacle that could turn it into something serious. Hip Hop as a industry is in serious need of values beyond short term vision and financial comfort.

2) The Lecture Tour Model

The past weekend, I attended a Black Male Development Symposium in Philadelphia. The symposium consisted of nationally noted speakers on a variety of subjects, and workshops covering topics including youth, economics, health, and male-female relationships. The conference was relatively well attended and served as a opportunity to network with those who are stakeholders in the success of Black Males. That being said, I have a serious problem with what could be called the "Lecture Tour Model". This is the model when well-known lecturers from across the country come and wax eloquently about the crisis in the Black community and seek to inspire people to action. In the lecture tour model workshops, you discuss the problems in the Black community and say things like "we are at war!" My issue with this is it's not solution based, and if you're at the conference you already see the problems, and don't need a battery in your back.

At this point, we need information vs. Inspiration. If I come to a conference, I want to hear your best practices, and see what you've learned from your years of experience and implementation. If you're going to speak, please keep it at about 20-30 minutes and make sure that you have visuals to go along with the speech. At this point, we need to be action based and methodical in the way that we go about re building our communities. If not, we'll be having the same conferences in 10 years with a new set of "lecturers" and "workshop presenters".

Peace,
I Majestic Allah

Today's thoughts on life

2005-02-25T18:04:00.000-05:00

Theme Music: "Queen" - Masta Killa

Peace,

A couple of things to play catch-up, if you will. First, the NGE celebrated the birth of the founder of our nation, Allah on the 22nd. In this day and time, celebration of venerated figures can tend to border on worship. When one looks at the birth and life of respected men or women in a healthy sense, You appreciate the contributions of said figure, and look to embody the principles that they espoused. In the case of Allah, it gave me a chance to reflect on the what he taught and the worldwide effect of those principles, not wax incessantly on how great he was (Although I am consistently aware of his greatness). In our society, many of the things that great people stand/stood for have been obscured by the "Cult of Personality", and therefore reduced to a soundbite and a yearly McDonald's commercial or a stamp. Although flash sells better, in the long run we will come to venerate aesthetic over ethic. Ponder this for a second: What would the world be like if people really embodied the ethic of those that they respect instead of worship them?

Next, what the hell is going on with Black religious leaders? I'm not a proponent of religion from the door, b.u.t. if one chooses to express themselves in that way and accept the mantle of leadership, then there needs to be a certain level of consistency. In this particular case, I'm speaking of Conrad Tillard, formerly known as Conrad Muhammad. In a recent article in the Boston Globe, http://www.boston.com/news/local/Massachusetts/articles/2005/02/27/heeding_a_new_call/ Tillard speaks of his conversion to Christianity, and his desire to build a vehicle for Black mobilization. For those who may not know Conrad Muhammad at one time was heralded as the "New Face" of the Nation of Islam, and a heir to Louis Farrakhan. Their was a split, and Muhammad moved on to create a non-sectarian group in New York focusing on issues in the Black Community. Armed with a degree from Harvard Divinity School, Tillard is now a pastor.

In a interview with Davey D, Harry Allen defined spirituality as consistency. While I respect all people's search for truth, too many of our leaders follow the path of apparent success vs. Consistency. If Br. Tillard has reverted to Christianity out of sincerity, than peace to him, b.u.t. people may not want to follow you if they're not sure you know where you're going.

A Quick Update

2005-02-20T18:14:00.000-05:00

Peace,

Just a quick update on some things that worthy of being checked out:

www.yellowseed.blogspot.com - My brother Sha-King Cehum Allah has a blog now that promises to be challenging and informational. It is my will that the different blogs that are on the net representing the NGE will show the diversity of those within our Culture. We are often painted as being a one-dimensional group of convicts and rappers that use funny words that no one understands, and that happens when you don't have any influence on how people perceive you. As we continue to grow and develop, you will continue to see the many manifestations of our Culture...

www.muslimwakeup.com - Michael Muhammad Knight wrote an article entitled "Nazi Fathers and Muslim Sons" that mentions his experience at a parliament here in Power Born (Pittsburgh). Check it out and let me know what you think. More to come.

Peace,
I Majestic Allah

Thoughts on music, and recognition

2005-02-16T18:14:00.000-05:00

Peace,

As far as the Hip Hop "industry" goes, one of the more interesting and downplayed stories to come around in the last few months is the breakup of Rocafella Records as we previously knew it. Being that hindsight is often 20/20, I can now see that the split between Dame Dash, Biggs, and Jay Z was years in the making, and underscores a reality that seems to be pervasive in Hip Hop: Business (and other) breakups. Hip Hop is a ever changing animal, and that can beget the lack of commitment on a variety of levels. It's to the point that I can't imagine a Hip Hop group or crew together for 15 years or more. This is not to say that it doesn't happen in other musical genres, it is just more obvious in ours (I am not "Hip Hop", buy Hip Hop is mine).

Anyway, the directions they've taken since the announcement are indicative of where both of them have been for quite some while. Jay Z went right into the corporate world and accepted the job as the president of Def Jam, while Dash went the rugged entrepreneurial route and created the Damon Dash Music Group, which he will run with Biggs, and will be distributed by Universal. The wrinkle that peaked my interest the most is that fact that Jay Z will retain the name Rocafella for Def Jam, and will soon release albums by Memphis Bleek and Foxy Brown (All of this "CEO" talk didn't dissuade Jay from becoming involved in yet another controversy with The Game last week though). One thing that stands out with Jay Z's deal is that he owns all of his masters from his recording career. So in one sense, he put his money where his mouth is by attaining ownership of his work. The question must be asked however: Wasn't the Roc slightly more than just Jay? Seems a mite cutthroat to take the name and the masters and not offer everybody on your former label a deal.

Dash on the other hand is continuing with the entrepreneurial tradition they started by forming DDMG and giving labels to RZA, M.O.P., N.O.R.E. and Beans. Another subtle however noticeable twist is the old team yelling "Roc4Life" now just like they yelled Rocafella before. If I could play the reductionist and simplify the moves over the past few months, it would look like this:

Jay Z - Corporate Ownership
Dash & Biggs - Entrepreneurship through partnerships

In business, the above differences alone are enough to drive a wedge between two people, to say nothing of different personalities. The result of this may well create a new model for others to emulate in the industry.

Finally, My brother Saladin Quannah Allah was profiled in the Niagara Gazette for Black History Month. Check it out at www.niagara-gazette.com/story.asp?=1160 . Much respect goes to the brother for showing and proving who we are, and why we're here (To save the babies, of course!)

Peace,
I Majestic Allah

Mathematics & The Manual

2005-02-10T18:11:00.000-05:00

Peace,

Recently, The RZA released a book entitled "The Wu-Tang Manual" that chronicles the rise of the Wu Tang Clan from an idea to a platinum plus hip-hop group that affected fans the world over. Away from all of the rah-rah and hyperbole, it's basically a list of the elements that infuenced RZA's vision (comics, martial arts, soul music,etc.). Of particular interest is the section entitled "The Way Of The Wu: The Grand Spiritual Megamix", where he breaks down the Cultures and Value Systems that developed his worldview. Being that The Nation Of Gods And Earths (NGE) is his foundation of sorts, he provides a detailed explanation of the NGE and what we espouse, if you will.

He even goes as far as listing the Supreme Mathematics and Alphabet, and a breakdown of our Universal Flag. As many reading this post may know, the value system of the NGE is usually passed down orally, and some feel that passing it down any other way is tantamount to treason, especially for any perceived financial gain. This has long been a matter of contention within our culture, and this may very well be the next chapter. While I may not agree with all of the actions of brothers within the Wu while representing my Culture, from my perspective, The RZA's action was fueled by a sincere interest in allowing the rest of the world a view into the beauty of our values. With the book being released, it is imperative that we in the NGE give those who may want to know more a opportunity to learn about the greatness of Allah, the Father and his mission. Everything has a context, and our Culture is no different. We should turn this into a "teachable moment" that benefits all who are interested in our God-Centered Consciousness.

Also can't forget to hip you to my good brother C'BS Allah's blog at www.allahsfivepercent.blogspot.com. I guarantee that you won't be disappointed! More to come.

Final bit of info: My young Moon(daughter for those who may not know) Azania I Queen made the high honor roll! The babies are the greatest!

The Tsunami Aftermath & Reflections

2005-01-31T14:53:00.000-05:00

Peace,

We all should have acknowledged the devestating impact of the South and Southeast Asian Tsunami tragedy, and see that when an event like that takes place, it's best to try to be in silent or vocal solidarity with those who experienced such enormous pain and loss. If you can't be in solidarity with them, just keep it to yourself. It's sad that in this day in time, you could have altenative responses by people who have a public platform, b.u.t. the HOT 97 debacle proves that the unthinkable is possible. There are many deep, deep issues with what took place, b.u.t. what worries me in particular is the positioning of African-Americans vs. Asians. One of the effects of white supremacy is the pitting of one racial or ethnic group vs. another. The idea that Miss Jones & company would stage an act like that for ratings without being conscious of how that would come across is damn near obscene, and could only be pushed by the corporate machine. On a positive note, people of all races and ethnicities came out to speak against HOT 97 and it's corporate parent, Emmis communications. The bad thing is they'll just skew Miss Jones, pay any fines that might be leveled against them, and get another coon show to parade before the tri-state area.

The proverbial drop in the bucket of the weeks' salary means nothing in the long run, b.u.t. sprint and mcdonalds taking away their advertising may. When you possess the understanding that all original people are one and connected, the idea that you would make light of a tragedy would not exist.

Look at the equation: Corporate station hungry for a rise in stock share + Washed up Black hosts looking for ratings + Asian Tsunami tragedy = idiots on radio splitting the Black & Yellow from each other

Peace,
I Majestic Allah

Peace, and an Introduction

2005-01-14T12:49:00.000-05:00

Peace,

My name is I Majestic Allah, and welcome to my blog. I'd like to begin blogging by giving you an idea of what this won't be:

- A random, seemingly meaningless collection of thoughs that have no larger purpose

- A way to attract women and find hookups in cyberspace

- An opportunity for people to reply with non-sensical garbage that has nothing to do with what I originally posted

- A way to get my rocks off for the sake of doing so

I build that the time you spend reading this is beneficial and productive as far as seeing some perspectives that you may or may not have considered. If that is the case, then I have accomplished one of my goals. All of my posts won't be as somber and straightforward as this one, b.u.t. I think that it's important to set at tone. Now that we got the basics out the way, let's go!

For those who don't know, I am a proud member of the Nation Of Gods And Earths. While I'm sure that people have a number of ideas about who we are and who we aren't, I want this blog to give you an idea of how I see and apply the science of Living Mathematics to all things. While I'll be building on a variety of topics, most if not all of my viewpoints will be from my cultural perspective. As I do understand that people from different religions/cultures will read this, please do leave your comments. I don't expect you to be disrespectful or to use this to spread your doctrine. This is not the corner, and you can't pass out pamphlets!!

I'm also a avid student of business and entrepreneurship, and the interplay of business, culture, and contemporary society, so I will also post about these issues and the way they affect original people all over the world.

I also want to introduce readers to interesting people, places, and things from across the spectrum that can be a base for individual & collective growth and development. If I get all of this done on a consistent basis and you think it's interesting, then show love, and let others know about it.

So, until next time, may the Power of Equality Allow you to Consistently Elevate!! (PEACE)

I Majestic