My name is Mychal Bell and I was one of the Jena 6 that was charged
with attempted murder down in Jena, Louisiana, in 2006. As of now,
seeing that we have a Black president, and with the anniversary of the
assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. tomorrow, I wanted to share
with you my dream like Dr. King shared his dream with everybody.
I even had the chance, although I was in shackles and handcuffs, to
meet Martin Luther King III when he came to visit me in prison. So I
feel like I have a connection to the King family.
When I look back at the day that I got in a fight with Justin Barker
at my high school, I now realize that I should have done what Dr. King
preached, which was non-violence. A few months before the fight, I
remember seeing nooses hung from a tree at my school, and none of the
few Black students knew who was responsible. But what came to my mind
was images of Mississippi burning, seeing how Black people were hung
and killed, and it felt very disrespectful. In the small town that I
grew up in, I had always felt that Black people and white people didn’t
get along. After all, this was Louisiana.
When I first entered prison, I was young, only 16, and I had been
charged as an adult with attempted murder for the fight. The kids who
put up the noose - nothing happened to them. Being in prison, I could
only see my parents once a week and it was really hard to get by. But
being in prison, it helped me become a better man in life and become
stronger and realize my dreams.
I spent over a year in prison before I took a plea bargain in
juvenile court for a simple battery and was given time served and sent
home. Since that time, my life hasn’t been easy. A lot of people talk
bad about me and the media has portrayed me as someone who I am not.
I know the truth about who I am and I know I am not a bad person.
The media pushed me to a point where I tried to kill myself, which I
didn’t want to do, but that incident has made me a stronger person, and
now I can finally see my dream in front of me. On May 13, I will
graduate from high school and in the fall I will attend a four-year
university on a football scholarship.
As me being a young Black man I know that Dr. King died for me, so I
can be in the position that I am, to become anything I want in life.
- Mychal Bell
This commentary, written April 3, first appeared on Global Grind. It was reprinted by TruthOut with an introduction by James Rucker, executive director of ColorofChange.org,
whose 500,000 members raised $250,000 for the defense of the Jena 6.
Rucker noted: “The reality is that Black boys, especially those from
low-income communities, making the kind of mistakes all young people
make, face horrible odds. Their skin color and class make them suspect
- it’s as if the outside world is waiting for evidence of their
criminal essence, waiting for a reason to deny them their humanity.
Black boys like the Jena 6 don’t get the benefit of the doubt; they
don’t get the second chances quickly afforded to others; and any brush
with the law can catapult them into a system that’s bigger than them,
biased against them, and impossible to navigate alone.”

I'm sad to inform you that Kiilu Nyasha, revolutionary extraordinaire
and former Back Panther, broke her hip on Thursday in her home in San
Francisco.



She is scheduled to have surgery possibly on Friday or after the
weekend. Please send prayers to her as she goes through this terrible
ordeal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D69f9fkwiRQ

From Goddess to Gangstress:
The Devaluation of the Diva

by: Min. Paul Scott

My friend, Jae told me about an incident that she recently had on her way home from work. These two teenagers were having a loud public/ private discussion in the back of the bus, tellin' the interested and uninterested, alike, about everything from the graphic details of their sexual escapades to the best way to roll a blunt. What really concerned Jae was that these were not guys but teenage girls who turned her ,otherwise, quiet and uneventful ride home into a combination of the Jerry Springer Show and Def Comedy Jam. She could only sink down in her seat and think about how her generation had failed these two girls and wonder what will happen to these black women of the future.


I used to be clear about the definition of a diva. In the 60's, it was all about Diana Ross and the Supremes with the big wigs and expensive gowns. During the 70's the epitome of diva-ness was Patti Labelle or the Three Degrees. During the 80's and 90's you had Kylmaxx, En Vogue and Whitney Houston (before Bobby Brown).


But according to Beyonce's alter ago "Sasha Fierce" the 21st century definition of a diva is "a female version of a hustler."

Forget Jennifer Hudson, the new Dream Girl is a sista that will stick you for your jewelry and slit your throat while you sleep. Yeah, that's what I call a lady.


It is a case of historical romanticism to suggest that all black women have always carried themselves as perfect ladies. Uncle Jack can tell you stories about how "Mustang Sally" could out drink, out smoke and out gamble even the toughest Stagger Lee-type dude. But for the most part, black women have always carried themselves in a respectful manner; divas in every sense of the word. However, over the last 20 years, the value of "the diva" has been on a steady decline; rapidly accelerating, downhill, over the last decade.


At first unlady -like behavior by sistas was condemned by male rappers. I remember Run DMC chastising a "Dumb Girl" back in '86. And who can forget Brand Nubian's "Slow Down" when they dissed some sistas by saying " a 40 and a blunt, that's all they really want."

At the beginning of the 90's we saw the emergence of the female versions of NWA (Nigga's With Attitude), the now forgotten HWA (Hoez With Attitude) followed by BWP (Bytches With Problems.) Also, during this period, the behavior that was once condemned by the male rappers began to be glorified by artists such as Apache who proudly pleaded for a "Gangsta Bitch."

This period was followed by gangstress successors like Da Brat and Boss, whose "street cred" was busted when it was discovered by the Wall Street Journal that her tales of gangta-ism took great liberties with the truth.


Next came the age of the "Ride or Die" chicks, sistas who would do what ever it took to hold their men down whether legal or illegal. The movement was headed by rappers such as Lil Kim and Foxy Brown, rappers who built upon the "Bonnie and Clyde" theme that was established by Ice Cube's female protege, Yo Yo, a few years earlier.


While this "ride or die" theme may have been glorified on CD, the real life results of following this path resulted in dire consequences. One just has to look at the life of Kemba Smith, the former Hampton University student who ,beginning in 1994, served a six year prison sentence because of her involvement with a crack dealing boyfriend.


The legacy of the "gangstress" has been carried on courtesy of rappers such as Khia, Trina and Jacki O, who often compete for the crown of the "Baddest Bitch" in Hip Hop.


To blame the negative image of black women on today's entertainers may be unfair since one could argue that Millie Jackson and Vanity 6, women whom Slick Rick James would have called "the super freaks that you don't take home to mother," set the standard for female vulgarity, during the 70's and early 80's. However, regardless of the past, in real time, you now have teenage black girls in every mall in America with baggy jeans and bandannas tied around their heads, cussin' louder than the boys. Not to mention the fact that some of the once teenage fans of Lil Kim are now grown women with nothing more on their minds then gettin' their hair and nails "did" and hittin' the club on the weekend to find a "balla."

Maybe, we have spent too much time discussing the plight of black boys instead of paying attention to what was going on with our black girls. Perhaps their emulation of gangstas is a disparate cry for attention.


Suppose instead of just reading street novels, black women, of all ages, would start reading books like "Black Women in Antiquity," a collection of essays by Dr. Ivan Van Sertima that discusses the great black women of history. Maybe reading about the great queens of ancient Egypt and Ethiopia, whose beauty and intelligence were legends of mythical proportions will improve the self esteem of black women, young and old.


Some believe that it is too late to do anything to save this younger generation of black women. Some men believe that even older black women of today have been so influenced by pop culture that if you greet them with "Peace, Queen" they will only roll their eyes and suck their teeth. But if you yell, "Yo, Shawty," you might get a response.


However, there are still a lot of examples of real black women, sisters who carry themselves like beautiful black queens, true divas. And I'm not just talking about the soon to be first black first lady, Michelle Obama. I'm talking about that intelligent sister at work who has her stuff together. Or that caring wife and loving mother who has dedicated her life to raising a strong black family.
How about that honor roll college student who is working her way through college by doing something other than working at a strip club ?

When I think of them, I realize that there is hope after all.


Even for the girls in the back of the bus.


TRUTH Minista Paul Scott writes for No Warning Shots Fired.com.
He can be reached at http://www. nowarningshotsfired.com
(919) 451-8283
info@nowarningshotsfired.com

WHAT HAPPENED TO FREEDOM?
by: Jamal Hart


"Known worldwide as an almost mythical birthplace of liberty, the hope and freedom acted as a kind of psychic magnet, drawing the poor and oppressed from the class-bound aristocracies of Europe in rivers of emigration as well as Black captives escaping from southern bondage and Black freedmen and women fleeing a humiliating and soul-sapping southern apartheid. The Philadelphia that the stalwart Frederick Douglass beheld with snarled contempt would more than double in size in half a century rising from 650,000 people in 1860 to 1.5 million by 1914."

-"A People's History of the United States" by Howard Zinn. Quoted from "We Want Freedom" by Mumia Abu-Jamal


Firstly, I would like to take this time to request a moment of silence for all of our fallen heroes and sheroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom against the oppression of this wicked injustice system among innocent people.

I humbly would like to thank each and every one of you who came out in support of this year's Class-War Prisoners event. Your solidarity is greatly respected. I give the greeting in many tongues to everyone in attendance by saying As-Salaam-Alaikum, Hotep, Ona MOVE, and Greetings to the masses who sacrificed their time to attend this important event. You have been chosen to become informed, abreast and intuned with a constant struggle that connects us all. I thank the Partisan Defense Committee for their massive support and love over the years throughout this atrocious ordeal. I stand in total solidarity with the labor force and with all people who take a stand against injustice and oppression.

I want you all to know that I have been constantly pushing for liberation quite vigorously and many of you inspire me to push harder and remember the words of a great freedom fighter Sis. Harriet Tubman who said, "I started with this idea in my head. There's two things I have a right to: Death or Liberty." (Quoted from the book "We Want Freedom" by Mumia Abu-Jamal).

From the beginning, as many of you know all too well, we are fighting for Mumia Abu-Jamal to be exonerated to freedom. We the people here today and abroad will not compromise in the liberation and freedom of him from behind enemy lines. The supporters constantly expressed this urgent message: FREEDOM OVER A NEW TRIAL!

So many times we have witnessed the vile injustice orchestrated in those so-called rooms of justice (AKA the courtrooms). Too many have been unjustly persecuted and railroaded either because of the color of their skin, a poor person or even a combination of both. God forbid they publicly oppose this outright oppression! They will be prosecuted, ridiculed and even have their character defamed to a demoralized state by this mendacious legal system.

By you being here today either to support this movement or join it for the first time, you are showing your awareness and solidarity to expose and demolish the unsavory racist courts the police state and racist Death Penalty Act that feeds off the working poor. We must collaborate and fight to achieve the one goal to free Mumia and all of our freedom fighters including myself from behind enemy lines.

The senseless murders at the hands of these racist rogue law enforcement officers nationwide are robbing the lives of our youth, women and men to feed their taste for blood like vampires. We cannot allow these injustices to go unchecked and accept their lies thereby causing their behavior to be justified.

The Courts from the lower level to the Supreme Court wants to act as if they cannot see that Mumia Abu Jamal is innocent. All of the evidence is clear and convincing and it is either overlook or dismissed by these rogue courts. However, when a rogue police officer opens fire on innocent working class people and immigrants, somehow they get swift justice and are freed of all charges.

As a man who didn't think twice to become the voice of the voiceless, Mumia stepped up to the plate to expose this demonic system. A system that was and still continues to enforce intense oppression on African Americans throughout this nation by murderous police officers who hide their venomous ways behind their shields. It then allows them to freely practice corruption, extortion and murder among other unpleasantries. A prime example of this is what happened on Osage Avenue on May 13th, 1985 where 11 MOVE members were brutally murdered by this murderous government. Another example is the attempted assassination of my dear father Mumia on December 9th, 1981 in downtown Philly when these rogue police officers not only shot him, but beat him even while inside the emergency room of Jefferson University Hospital. WHAT HAPPENED TO FREEDOM?

Comrades, the only way we will get freedom for our political prisoners who are suffering in the prison hells of this country is to come together becoming a solid force for the poor and working class. We must reach one to teach one and educate the masses on the political history of America's oppression.

Many of you assisted in change history in America by voting for the first African-American President showing the world that anything is possible in America. As that was an accomplishment, so should the goal of galvanizing the people and educate them on the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal and too many more being railroaded by a mendacious legal system.

Comrades, we all know that these are trying times. We must step up to the plate and push harder until my dear father Mumia is ultimately free! At some point we need to get a grip and demand the freedom of this innocent man.

Lastly, I remind all of you as I remind myself everyday that we must not allow our adversaries to wag the tail of a dog and allow them to spoon-feed us with their deceiving lie that America does not have any political prisoners.

I am before you today in spirit to express to you that the only way Mumia will be free is for all of us to mobilize like never before and demand that freedom he and all of our freedom fighters so rightfully deserve. We must let them know that we will never give up! There is NO compromise!


FREE MUMIA NOW!!!

This was read at the Partisan Defense Committee's Holiday Appeal held on December 13, 2008 in New York City.

Jamal has been incarcerated since 1996. Please write to show a brother some love at the following address:

Jamal Hart 50597-066
FCI Loretto
P.O. Box 1000
Loretto, PA 15940-1000

Peace Family!

Heads up: There's an Email circulating throughout my address book from my Hotmail account that I'm in Malaysia stuck with a hotel bill that I can't pay. I don't even know anyone in Malaysia and I wouldn't go that far away without being able to pay that type of bill. HELLO!

Anyway, please delete it from your inbox immediately. It's a scam and I'm doing fine. All is well.

Thanks to all for your concern.

OK. Stick a fork in Sarah Palin because she's done! The REAL father of her daughter's baby speaks out! Check out this video.

http://www.blackbottom.com/watch.php?v=WdBJd9b9i8A

Much love to UNO the Prophet for providing Lil' Wayne's song some substance. Right on Souljah!

Bashir Hameed (born James D. York on December 1, 1940) was a member of the Black Panther Party and the Black Liberation Army. Hameed was convicted of the murder of New York City police officer John Scarangella, and the attempted murder of Scarangella's partner, Officer Richard Rainey. Officer Scarangella was murdered on 16 April, 1981, after he and his partner pulled over a van carrying Hameed and Abdul Majid, then known as Anthony LaBorde. Hameed and his co-defendant were both convicted of murder, and Hameed is serving a sentence of 25 years to life.

Hameed passed away on August 30, 2008 at the age of 67 years of age. His contributions to our struggle for liberation will never be forgotten. RIP Brother!

FROM BET.COM

Aug. 20, 2008 — Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-Ohio), one of Sen. Hillary Clinton' s strongest supporters, died shorty after 6 p.m. this evening.

Earlier today, sources reported that she had died but soon the rumors were dispelled and she was listed as "unstable and in critical condition."

She was being treated at Huron Hospital where she was taken after she was found Tuesday night unconscious behind the wheel of a moving car.

Nicole Williams, her press secretary confirmed Tubbs Jones had the aneurysm while driving her car in Cleveland Heights on Tuesday.

Williiams told me the congresswomen had no public events yesterday and was working in her district most of the day.

It included "planning for an upcoming forum on electoral reform, scheduled for September 4, 2008 at Cleveland State University."

Williams told me earlier today, according to police reports the congresswomen was discovered in her car unconscious and was transported to Huron Road Hospital in East Cleveland. She was listed in stable condition at that time.

WOIO, a Cleveland television station is reporting Tubbs-Jones, 58 was pulled from a fast-moving sedan around 9 p-.m.. The police managed to stop the car in a near by field and discovered during the rescue it was the Ohio lawmaker.

Tubbs Jones, a super-delegate, was a strong supporter of Hillary Rodham Clinton. Now supporting the presumptive nominee, she was scheduled to attend the Democratic National Convention in Denver next week.