Posted on 03/31/2006 11:59:04 AM PST by FerdieMurphy
The poem by seven–year-old Autum Ashante ”White Nationalism Put U in Bondage,” has caused quite a stir in some circles but it shouldn’t have.
It is the truth and Blacks who read their history know it is. The fact that the Pikesville, N.Y. school system has banned this young child from performing without doing its homework, is an indication of how little history our children are learning in our schools about what really happened in this country from slavery days to the present.
Autum, the daughter of a Nation of Islam poet and activist, is no stranger to the Black community. She has performed at HBO's Def Poetry Jam, The Cotton Club in L.A., The Apollo Theater in Harlem, the African Street Festival, Caroline's on Broadway, the Russell Simmons Phat Farm Fashion Show, Steve Harvey's "Big Time," a prestigious Grammy Foundation event, and at universities.
She recites her verses in English, and fluently in Swahili and Arabic (she attended the Islamic Darul Arkam School in Mount Vernon).
According to various sources on the internet she has also appeared at a tribute to Black Nationalist Marcus Garvey, at Amiri Baraka's annual family cookout, and at the New Black Panther Party's Million Youth March. It was also reported that the city of New York presented her a proclamation for inspiring "her peers, as well as adults, while also demonstrating the power of a father’s love, the importance of education and the limitless boundaries of the human mind."
New York City councilwoman Yvette Clark reportedly called her "one of the most precious young talents that this world has ever known."
Here is the poem she was invited to perform for Pikesville middle and high school students during Black History Month, which has made her more popular than ever. Does it lie?
White Nationalism Put U In Bondage
White nationalism is what put you in bondage
Pirate and vampires like Columbus, Morgan, and Darwin Drank the blood of the sheep, trampled all over them with
Steel, tricks and deceit.
Nothing has changed take a look in our streets
The mis-education of she and Hegro -- leaves you on your knee2grow
Black lands taken from your hands, by vampires with no remorse
They took the gold, the wisdom and all of the storytellers
They took the black women, with the black man weak
Made to watch as they changed the paradigm Of our village
They killed the blind, they killed the lazy, they went So far as to kill the unborn baby
Yeah White nationalism is what put you in bondage
Pirates and vampires like Columbus, Morgan, and Darwin They drank the blood of the sheep, trampled all over them with
Steel laden feet, throw in the tricks alcohol and deceit.
Nothing has changed take a look at our streets.
This well-educated talented girl who remind you, is only seven-years-old, speaks four languages, and has been reading since she was two-years-old, asked all of the white students to remain in their seats and asked the other children to stand and recite this pledge:
"Black Child's Pledge," which reads in part:
I pledge allegiance to my Black People.
I pledge to develop my mind and body to the greatest extent possible.
I will learn all that I can in order to give my best to my People in their struggle for liberation.
…I will discipline myself to direct my energies
thoughtfully and constructively rather than wasting them in idle hatred…
I will train myself never to hurt or allow others to harm my Black brothers and sisters…
These principles I pledge to practice daily and to teach them to others
in order to unite my People.
If this has been done before an all Black audience as it has been done in the past, there would have been nothing but the usual applause. But the fact that it was done in a mixed audience has drawn outrage from both students and parents. Therefore, the school sent out a tape recorded message to over 3,000 parents “apologizing” for inviting this young child to speak. Obviously they felt threatened by allowing their children to hear a poem about history. How much better it would have been if these Pikesville students had been briefed before Autum appeared, and then afterwards been given an opportunity to dissect the poem and connect it to historical facts. History is history. It has happened. It can’t be changed. We just want others to know the true facts so that it will not be repeated for any other race of people. The bottom line is that the children who heard Autum will not soon forget the presentation. And that is good. Those who want to apologize for her appearance should remember one thing, we who have suffered because of slavery. And we have long past the day of hiding the true facts about slavery and today’s racism in America. For that we thank Autum for speaking out.
She speaks four languages, none of which can be understood by another human being.
Eddie Murphy! Saturday Night Live!
The commedy segment "Prose and Cons"!
Funnier than hell.
It was indeed appropriate because seated on the dias were two rockheads. I did love Hillary Rotham's hat.
She was sporting a very large ass even then. (Actually this would pertain to both Angelou and Hillary.)
Bitter at such a young age!! What oppression has a seven year old black girl encountered in modern day America? Maybe she should spend a weekend in Rwanda or the Congo. She come back with a completely different view of her treatment in America.
Why those thrilling lyrics could only come from the golden pen of Snoop Dogg.
Does anyone really believe a 7-year old wrote this?? Talk to a few 2nd graders and get a read on their poetry-writing faculties.
Just look at the credits this little racist has racked up. Ever hear of any of them?
Yeah and three of them are: Hatred, Bigotry and Racism.
Don't forget, little Autum is fluent in Swahili.
How do you say "BULLSH*T" in Swahili?
Being a poet, and being compared to Maya Angelou is an insult to the highest degree.
Like being an actor and being compared to the Apple Guy in an underwear commercial.
Poor kid, never had -- and never will -- have a childhood. Did she ever have a doll house? A bike? A puppy? She ever sit on the curb with her friends and eat snow cones on a hot August afternoon? She ever been invited to a kid's birthday party -- you know, with balloons, cake & ice cream, silly games with junky prizes? Has she ever gone roller skating? Been to the zoo? Has she ever read a comic book? Has she ever pet a bunny rabbit? Has she ever gone on a walk through the woods with her parents, with her dad pointing out "See these foot prints? That means that a deer had been here not too long ago.And over there..." and her mother says,"You know, when I was a little girl your grandma and grandpa -- my mommy and daddy -- used to take my brother and me out in the wood to look for mushrooms. One time..."
In short, like I said before, poor kid, never had -- and never will -- have a childhood. But then that is so bourgeois.
I sure wouldnt let her play with my 6 yr old daughter.
Pirates and vampires like Columbus, Morgan, and Darwin
That Capt. Morgan is my favorite pirate
"She speaks four languages, none of which can be understood by another human being."
Supposedly she speaks Swahili, Arabic, and English. What's language number four -- Ebonics?
I celebrate Christopher's birthday every October.
Maybe she should spend a week at a working ranch out in Montana or Amish farm in Ohio. Where she'll get plenty of fresh air and sunshine. Where she'll get honest sweat on her back and God's good earth under her nails. Where she'll escape from that oxygen tent she's living in now.
Actually, one could follow the path of another premise and state that "Slavery Put White People in Bondage".
A) slavery bound the plantation owners to a, supposedly, free labor model (the modern equivalent is the illegal alien issue) that was doomed to fail
B) slavery bound the non-plantation owning whites to impoverishment because the slaves were doing the jobs for 'free' that whites should have been doing and getting paid for
C) the sudden emancipation of millions of slaves, that had few or no possessions and little or no money, created a poverty bubble that, otherwise, would not have existed, plus
D) millions of emancipated slaves flooded to the cites taxing the physical and economic infrastructures which,
E) mandated the creation of social programs to alleviate the abject poverty of former slaves and their children and were paid for by ever increasing tax dollars, that were primarily paid by whites, further putting working class whites in a form of political/economic bondage
F) the political correctness that resulted from government imposed sensitivity towards the descendent's of slaves continues to maintain whites in a state of bondage for fear of government, economic and social reprisals if a white should say or do anything that 'offends' a descendant of a former slave
Of course, that's just me talking.............
Very lovely post, it brought back memories. My mother used to do that with me when I was around that age. I learned so much from her and both my folks and my love of nature is to this day all encompassing. There is also nothing like seeing the wonder of God all around you and knowing Gods, and a parents love.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.