Millions of Blacks Coming to DC for Reparations Rally

The Black World Today ^ | June 9, 2002 | Conrad W. Worrill

[H8DEMS]

The Millions For Reparations Rally that will be held on August 17, 2002, the 115th birthday of the Honorable Marcus Mosiah Garvey, in Washington, D.C. promises to be one of the most historic gatherings of African people in America.

Day-by-day, African people in America are becoming more familiar with the concept of reparations and what it means to our continued struggle in America for self-determination, liberation, independence, and freedom. Therefore, we must be clear that reparations means repair for the damages inflicted on a people or a nation.

In pursuit of this repair, we are conscious of the fact we must engage in the process of assuming responsibility for repairing ourselves that includes: changing the way we think, supporting our own institutions, particularly financially, supporting our families, supporting our own Black business enterprises, cleaning up our own communities, and changing the way we relate to, and think of, each other as a people. These are just a few of the internal repairs we must constantly work on.

In this connection, part of our internal repair is to struggle, fight, mobilize, and organize to demand external reparations from those governments, corporations, and institutions that are responsible for our historical and continuing state of oppression. Just as Jewish people proclaim “Never Forget,” African people should do no less.

We should “Never Forget” that “They Owe Us!” Part of our internal repair is to consciously understand that, “We Are Owed” and have a historic responsibility to demand reparations from those forces of white supremacy that continue to benefit from what they did to us that lingers on as part of the vestiges of our enslavement.

As we prepare for our participation in the Millions For Reparations Rally on August 17, 2002, we should be clear that They Owe Us For:

1. The Trans Atlantic Slave Trade and Slavery - The United Nations World Conference Against Racism declared that the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade and Slavery were Crimes Against Humanity. Crimes against humanity have no statute of limitations.

2. Expropriation of Our Labor- For more than 250 years, we were forced to work for free. Our free labor was a major ingredient in the building of America and its wealth as a nation. Also, the thousands of white individuals and their families’ accumulated wealth that continues to benefit them as a result of our free labor.

3. Slave Code Laws- The slave owners developed their own codes of what they could do to enslaved African people in America that permeated throughout the emergence of this country. In many ways, informal slave codes exist today (racial profiling).

4. Destruction of the African Family- The Trans Atlantic Slave Trade and Slavery had a devastating impact on destroying and dismantling African families.

5. Raping of African Women- Our capture and enslavement provided white men with the power to rape African women and girls by the thousands without reprisal.

6. Fugitive Slave Laws- When our enslaved ancestors resisted their enslavement and fled plantations, the government of this country sanctioned laws and policies that supported the capture and return of so-called runaway enslaved Africans. The Dred Scott Decision should be consulted to fully understand the implications of the Fugitive Slave Laws.

7. Colonizing of Our African Culture- Created systems by law and societal practices that forbade African people, in our captured state, to engage in our traditional spiritual cultural practices.

8. KKK Night Riders and Lynchings- The Ku Klux Klan was established in the late 1860s as a secret society whose mission was to exterminate, by any means necessary, African people in America. They were known to have been responsible for the lynching and murdering of thousands of African men, women, and children.

9. The 13th and 14th Constitutional Amendments- The abolishment of slavery was really a constitutional scam and the 14th Amendment that allegedly made African people citizens of America was imposed on us. We were never asked if we wanted to be citizens.

10. Denied Our 40 Acres and a Mule- We didn’t get it! It was sold down the river and the land was given to white confederate soldiers.

11. Jim Crow Laws- The Jim Crow Policies of America became the fabric and foundation of American society after the period of Reconstruction. Jim Crow Laws and Policies reinforced the foundation of white supremacy and Black inferiority in every aspect of American society.

12. Fighting and Dying In Imperialist and White Supremacist Wars- We fought and died for the freedoms of others and were denied our own freedoms and civil rights.

13. Assassination of Black Leaders- Malcolm X, Dr. King, Fred Hampton, and Mark Clark to name a few.

14. COINTELPRO- This was a government program, established by the FBI, under the direction of J. Edgar Hoover, designed to destroy the Black Power Movement of the 1960s and 70s.

15. Crack Epidemic- Research reveals the United States Government, through the CIA, targeted Black communities for the dispensing of Crack Cocaine.

16. Criminalizing Our Youth- It should be obvious that the aim of the Prison Industrial Complex is to Criminalize Our Youth to insure a young and viable work force for this multibillion-dollar industry.

17. Jailing of Freedom Fighters- The incarcerating of our Freedom Fighter thus, making them Political Prisoners.

18. & 19. Centuries of Mis-Education and Mental Atrocities- This has caused serious damage to our people, which continues to cause much mental confusion about our true reality as an African people in America and around the world.

I am sure, as we approach August 17, 2002, you can add to this humble list of why “They Owe Us!”

(Dr. Worrill is the National Chairman of the National Black United Front / NBUF located at 12817 S. Ashland Ave., Fl. 1, Calumet Park, IL, 60827, 708-389-9929, Fax 708-389-9819, E-Mail: nbufchi@allways.net, Website: nbufront.org)

[biblewonk]

bump for a great laugh!!!!!!!

[unixfox]

Love your culture?
Love your language?
Love your religion?
Love your country?

THEN GO HOME !!

[Windsong]

"What a scam, and one to really increase racial divisions"

Actually, I use to think another Civil War was brewing. Not anymore. Instead, we are being slowly conditioned for an Invasion. We are fast approaching the point where we have NO social cohesion at all.

[Paul Atreides]

If they spent as much time getting an education, or looking for a job, as they put into organzing and participating in these pity parties, they would be much better off.

[timestax]

There is NO legal basis for reparations. NONE!

[mhking]

1. The Trans Atlantic Slave Trade and Slavery
2. Expropriation of Our Labor-

The United States did not exist when the slave trade began, and by the time that the country was founded, the importation of slaves had slowed to a trickle of what it had been when the US were British Crown Colonies. The US cannot be held accountable for actions that occured prior to their existance.

3. Slave Code Laws- The slave owners developed their own codes of what they could do to enslaved African people in America that permeated throughout the emergence of this country. In many ways, informal slave codes exist today (racial profiling).

The laws were based on the British Crown. They were the law of the land. Slave trade was legal, period. It may not have been morally right, but it was legally correct. And there is no way that profiling can be equated with any sort of law based on slave trade. Next...

4. Destruction of the African Family-
5. Raping of African Women-

Again, the US didn't exist, the trade was not sanctioned by the US, the bulk of slave traders were private vessels and private firms. And when you can prove a crime - rape - was committed, directly, then you would have a course of action -- of course, provided it was adjudicated within the statute of limitations.

6. Fugitive Slave Laws-

The laws governing slaves were legal, based upon the laws of the land at the time, period. Using contemporary legal standards cannot be used. Next...

7. Colonizing of Our African Culture-
8. KKK Night Riders and Lynchings-

These acts were perpetrated by private citizens; once again, subject to the laws of the time and the statute of limitations. Next...

9. The 13th and 14th Constitutional Amendments- The abolishment of slavery was really a constitutional scam and the 14th Amendment that allegedly made African people citizens of America was imposed on us. We were never asked if we wanted to be citizens.

No problem - Delta is ready when you are. Otherwise, you can be deposited at the nearest international border so you may begin your soul searching and traveling there.

10. Denied Our 40 Acres and a Mule-
11. Jim Crow Laws-
12. Fighting and Dying In Imperialist and White Supremacist Wars-

I'm sorry - which is it, you don't want to be a citizen, don't want to defend the homes that you have made here (you do have a home in the US, don't you?), but then you want to own land in this country? If that isn't a contradiction, then I don't know what is. As for the Jim Crow laws, they were legal. If a law is wrong, there is a mechanism for rectifying that. The Jim Crow laws were eradicated through this process.

13. Assassination of Black Leaders- Malcolm X, Dr. King, Fred Hampton, and Mark Clark to name a few.

Evidence indicates that Malcolm X and Fred Hampton were killed by members of their own organizations; the jury is still out on Dr. King, but even if he were killed by government agents, how does that entitle you to anything?

14. COINTELPRO-
15. Crack Epidemic-
16. Criminalizing Our Youth-
17. Jailing of Freedom Fighters-
18. & 19. Centuries of Mis-Education and Mental Atrocities-

COINTELPRO was an outgrowth of the McCarthy era search for Communist spies within the US. The Crack Epidemic that is alluded to here is a pipe dream of US Representative Maxine Waters' that provides an excuse for the sorry state of affairs within her district. As for the prison system, if our youth were not perpetrating the crimes, they would not be in the prison system to begin with. And as for the "freedom fighters," I'm sorry, Mumia Abu Jamal isn't anybody's freedom fighter - he's a cop killer.

And with the "mis-education and mental atrocities," you have not demonstrated nor provided any support for your assertions for me to refute.

Please go back to the drawing board and try this again. Maybe you can come up with some valid arguements to discuss next time.

[Paul Atreides]

Ewww gross! That looks like something out of the cantina in Mos Eisly.

[kcvl]

Last November, a high-powered legal team announced their intention to seek reparations for the descendants of American slaves by suing the US government, as well as specific American corporations and individuals who directly benefited from slavery and its aftermath of Jim Crow segregation. Charles Ogletree, a Harvard Law School professor and prominent legal theorist, is spearheading the move. Among those joining Professor Ogletree in his efforts are Alexander Pires Jr., who won a $1 billion dollar settlement for black farmers in a discrimination suit against the US Department of Agriculture; Richard Scruggs, who won a $368 billion dollar settlement for states against tobacco companies; and Johnnie Cochran. Their arguments, just now gaining nationwide media recognition, are as complex as they are controversial. In an interview with Africana.com, Professor Ogletree talked about his views on the legacy of American slavery, and the desperate need for reparations for African Americans.

What would you say to critics who would argue that welfare and other social programs of the last 35 years have effectively been a reparative means to correct past wrongs, particularly those committed against American blacks?

I think if you look at the status of African Americans in our society today, these programs, while well-intentioned, certainly haven't been successful in solving the problems and they certainly haven't eliminated disparity or racism or profiling or prejudice. So I think there's still a lot of work to do and we can't look at some well-intentioned efforts and then assume that we've solved the problem or really adequately addressed the problem. We're not there yet.

First published: August 28, 2001

[timestax]

Pretend they each get about $10,000. It would all be spent on wine, and dope, and Cadilacs and in five years they will be back saying it wasn't enough, and they will be wanting more.

[4CJ]

I do think they were cheated out of "40 Acres and a Mule". Unfortunately the back-taxes are due, so now each owes $2,180,015. Line forms to the right.

[aristeides]

They're not going to get millions of demonstrators. Maybe a couple of thousand. Remember how it was claimed the Million Man March had a million men, when actually it had considerably fewer. And this rally is going to be a bust in comparison.

"They Owe Us" is not a slogan that is likely to win much support. And very few of even the most radical blacks can actually believe that they are owed reparations for the 13th and 14th Amendments, of all things.

[kcvl]

Mr Ogletree said the intention was not to eliminate or shame the worst offender.

The lawyers will be looking to find an "agreeable solution," with the companies and the compensation money will be awarded to charities helping the least successful members of society.

"We are talking about trillions not billions, if you look at the magnitude of the profits. Corporations have been unjustly enriched by this," he said.

Mr Ogletree declined to name specific companies, but agreed that insurance companies and commodity companies are among those likely to be targeted.

[ethical]

A Seattle public school, the African American Academy, says that part of their mission is to educate students to the undeniable fact that ALL humanity originated out of Africa. Most of these black reparation "leaders" believe this. Hence, we are all black, end of reparations argument.

[4CJ]

Excellent rebuttal. Kudos to you, sir.

[KansasGirl]

This guy sounds abosolutely nuts! Completely irrational...

[Lizavetta]

The Millions For Reparations Rally that will be held on August 17, 2002, the 115th birthday of the Honorable Marcus Mosiah Garvey, in Washington, D.C. promises to be one of the most historic gatherings of African people in America.

Honorable Marcus Garvey? Hardly. This is the man who sold his own people false stock in the non-existent Black Star shipping lines, which was to take them all back to Africa. Ripped them off wholesale, over and over again. How ironic that a rip-off artist who would screw his own people is the patron saint of this ridiculous event.

[JimRed]

In pursuit of this repair, we are conscious of the fact we must engage in the process of assuming responsibility for repairing ourselves that includes: changing the way we think, supporting our own institutions, particularly financially, supporting our families, supporting our own Black business enterprises, cleaning up our own communities, and changing the way we relate to, and think of, each other as a people. These are just a few of the internal repairs we must constantly work on.

Please, guys! Had you started these "repairs" a couple of generations ago, you wouldn't "need" the reparations!

Sounds like another scheme for the so-called leaders to enrich themselves.

[Polybius]

......the 14th Amendment that allegedly made African people citizens of America was imposed on us. We were never asked if we wanted to be citizens.

Except for adult immigrants, nobody ever becomes a U.S. citizen voluntarily. It is merely an accident of birth or the decision of the adult immigrant parent.

If this guy does not want to be a U.S. citizen, all he has to do is leave the country and renounce his citizenship. Paying for his one-way airfare back to the Old Country is one form of reparations I think we can all agree on.

[kcvl]

Charles Ogletree was formerly a partner in the Washington, D.C. firm of Jessamy, Fort & Ogletree and is now "Of Counsel" to Jessamy, Fort & Botts. Beginning as a staff attorney in the District of Columbia Public Defender Service, he served as Training Director, Trial Chief, and Deputy Director of the Service before entering private practice in 1985.

In 1991, Professor Ogletree served as Legal Counsel to Professor Anita Hill during the Senate Confirmation hearings for Justice Clarence Thomas.

Professor Ogletree has been married to his fellow Stanford graduate, Pamela Barnes, since 1975 and they are the proud parents of two children, one attending Florida A&M, the other at Columbia University.

[kcvl]

"An apology isn't enough. What are you going to do after you apologize? And why is all this (the apology and commis sion) occurring at this time?" asked Worrill, who, on May 21, delivered a 157,000-signature petition on behalf of NBUF to the United Nations charging the government with genocide.

Congressman John Conyers' (D-MI.) Congressional Black Caucus' support of Reparations Bill HR-40.