The Kingdomz X

*Vending special for the month of June!!! Also, seeking African/Caribbean drummers, dancers, poets, singers etc., Get @ us Blackaugustweeked@gmail.com Spread the Word!!! BLACK AUGUST 30th ANNIVERSARY WEEKEND & THE 7th ANNUAL HAPPILY NATURAL DAY A Black Family Reunion Where Political Activism Meets Cultural Expression The Black August 30th Anniversary Weekend- Atlanta, GA August 14th-16th August 14th Black August Poets 4 Political Prisoners (7pm – Midnight) This is an evening that not only highlights the beauty and creativity of our people, but also emphasizes the importance and benefits of community organizing. Poets 4 Political Prisoners is a tool used to educate through the use of poetry and hip-hop, highlighting freedom fighters and activists. August 15th The Happily Natural Day Outdoor Festival (11am – 7pm) Celebrating its 7th year of existence, Happily Natural Day, the nationally recognized festival out of Richmond, Virginia, will spread its wings and fly to Atlanta to add an extra dose of flavor to The Black August 30th Anniversary Weekend. Happily Natural Day is a powerful summer festival dedicated to holistic health, cultural awareness and social change. Some past guests that have participated in Happily Natural Day include: Queen Afua, dead prez, Ashra Kwesi, Dr. Llaila Afrika, Rev. Phil Valentine, Del Jones, Runoko Rashidi and more. August 15th The Black August 30th Anniversary Commemoration Concert (10pm – Until) Guaranteed to be one of the most powerful events of the summer, more than just a concert, this commemoration is where some of the most necessary and accomplished freedom fighters and community activists unite with some of the most relevant artists of our time to bring about a unique form of edutainment. This is where theory meets practice! August 16th The Marcus Garvey RBG Family Reunion (Noon – 6pm) As we are aware, one of our Great Ancestors, Marcus Garvey’s birthday is on August 17th, so in the spirit of the unity in which he aimed for we will conclude the weekend with the Marcus Garvey RBG Family Reunion. The goal of the day is to have a beautiful family gathering with free food, relaxation, swimming, athletic competitions and events for the children. It’s a family affair! Locations TBA WHAT IS BLACK AUGUST? Black August originated in the concentration camps of California to honor fallen Freedom Fighters, Jonathan Jackson, George Jackson, William Christmas, James McClain and Khatari Gaulden. Jonathan Jackson was gunned down outside the Marin County California courthouse on August 7, 1970 as he attempted to liberate three imprisoned Black Liberation Fighters: James McClain, William Christmas and Ruchell Magee. Ruchell Magee is the sole survivor of that armed rebellion. He is the former co-defendant of Angela Davis and has been locked down for 40 years, most of it in solitary confinement. Prison guards assassinated George Jackson during a Black prison rebellion at San Quentin on August 21, 1971. Three prison guards were also killed during that rebellion and prison officials charged six Black and Latino prisoners with the death of those guards. These six brothers became known as the San Quentin Six. Some of the past guests who have participated in the Commemoration of Black August include: dead prez, Pam Africa, Mos Def, Boots Riley, Common, Dave Chappelle, Erykah Badu, Black Thought & Many Others. WHAT IS HAPPILY NATURAL DAY? Happily Natural Day, originating in Richmond, Virginia, is an African Heritage festival committed to cultural awareness, holistic health and social change. Seven years ago, we saw the need for an event that says that natural hair was something more than just the latest style, and way more than just a chic look or fashion trend. At Happily Natural Day we identify with natural hair as a statement. Locks, afros and braids are socio-cultural symbols that are used as public proclamations of self-love and deep pride in being a person of African descent, and so, through Happily Natural Day, we promote the natural beauty of African people. Happily Natural Day is a continuance of the “Black Is Beautiful” campaigns of the 1960s and 1970s – started by Elombe Brath and the African Jazz Art Society and Studio (AJASS) via its “Naturally” shows and Grandassa Models. Happily Natural Day is ultimately married to the cause of redeveloping the maximum human potential of people of African descent through information and inspiration. Our annual August festival features workshops, lectures, live music, and merchants with one of a kind products from around the globe. It inspires us to love ourselves, to support Black-owned businesses, to heal ourselves holistically, and to live for the freedom that comes with doing for self. The mission of Happily Natural Day is to raise consciousness and cultural awareness, and to inspire collective works, self-determination and social change in the African community. *Vending During Black August Weekend Price: $75 Product Vendor Per Day (Friday August 14th and/or Saturday August 15th) $75 Product Vending on Sunday August 16th $125 Food Vendor (Saturday August 15th Only) Email: BlackAugustWeekend@gmail.com Vending fee may be accepted via paypal or Money orders should be made payable to “Black August Weekend”. Please print, fill-out and mail your vendor application with the full registration payment by June 30, 2009 to Black August Weekend / 8075 Mall Pkwy Suite 101-309 / Lithonia, GA 30038. Download Vendor Application: http://happilynaturalday.com/vendor.pdf Stay Updated on the Black August 30th Anniversary Weekend & the 7th Annual Happily Natural Festival, go www.ftpmovement.ning.com and http://happilynaturalday.com. ________________________________________________________________________________ Black August Oakland will be August 21st, 22nd and 23rd. Visit www.myspace.com/dragonspeaks for more information. The 7th Annual Happily Natural Day Richmond, VA will take place on August 28th and 29th. Visit www.happilynaturalday.com for more information. ________________________________________________________________________________ How Can You Get Involved with Black August/Happily Natural Day Atlanta? Flyer Distribution: We need the addresses, emails, & websites of Poetry Venues, Cultural Centers, Bookstores, Natural Hair Care Salons, Barbershops, Restaurants, Art Galleries, etc. Media Outlets: Send us info on your favorite progressive radio stations, newspapers, magazines websites etc. Volunteers: If you're interested in helping make Black August successful email us at BlackAugustWeekend@gmail.com and someone will get back to you. Edutainers: If you are interested in Performing, Holding a Workshop or Speaking please email your electronic press kit to BlackAugustWeekend@gmail.com with a bio, workshop proposal or mp3 of your music/lecture for review. YOU: Attend, organize a bus trip from your area, repost this message on your MySpace/Facebook bulletin, forward it as an email, or add it as a blog on your website/BlogSpot. Help us spread the word!!!

By S.G. The identification of Marcus Garvey with the "Back to Africa" slogan is familiar to all who have heard of Mr. Garvey, irrespective of allegiance. Let me say at the outset that not all of those who have perpetuated this fallacy have done so with malice in their hearts, but of those of clear conscience many, if not most, fall into one of two categories: those of myopic vision and little faith who can simply could not and can not grasp the depth of Garveyism; and those who accept the teachings of the descendants of the Slavemasters and their Black puppets without challenge; thereby allowing themselves to become victims of the mental bondage that stems from the absence of the compulsory self-education which must be prioritized for those who truly desire liberation. How was this universal identification of Marcus Garvey with the words "Back to Africa" able to stick so successfully if this were not in fact his premise? Because of the singleness of purpose exercised by Marcus Garvey for the redemption of the motherland. "The U.N.I.A. is reversing the old-time order of things. We refuse to be followers anymore. We are leading ourselves. That means, if any saving is to be done, later on , whether it is saving this one nation or that one government, we are going to seek a method of saving Africa first. Why? And why Africa? Because Africa has become the grand prize of the nations. Africa has become the big game of the nation hunters. Today Africa looms as the greatest commercial, industrial and political prize in the world." These words we uttered in 1923! "We are not preaching any doctrine to ask all Negroes to leave for Africa. The majority of us will remain here, but we must send our scientists, our artisans and let them build railroads, great educational institutions and other buildings necessary." The redemption of the motherland was necessarily central to Garveyism because of Mr. Garvey's belief that every people must have a nation and that no nation can exist without land. He therefore reminded us that we can build a nation because we do have a land. "Awake! The day is upon you, go forth in the name of the race and build yourselves a nation, redeem your country Africa, the land from whence you came and prove yourselves men worthy of the recognition of others." Garveyism dictates that the Negro can never achieve an independent place of respect in relation to other races and nations until he has proven, beyond doubt, that the beliefs about his innate inferiority and lack of a contribution to Western Civilization are in fact lies; And the Negro needs his own environment, "undisturbed and unmolested", in which to accomplish this. "The Negro needs a nation and a country of his own, where he can best show evidence of his own ability and the art of human progress. "The Negro will have to build his own government, industry, art, science, literature and culture, before the world will stop to consider him. Until then, we are but wards of a superior race and civilization, and the outcasts of a standard social system." For the reader who is daunted by Mr. Garvey's above referral to the race and civilization of Caucasians as a "superior race and civilization" and other referrals such as the "great white race" please know and understand that these referrals have nothing to do with Divinely appointed superiority but rather with worldly superiority as evidenced by their present domination of most of the modern world. Mr. Garvey was well aware of the African contributions and origins of Western Civilization. It is not our intention or purpose to send all Negroes 'Back to Africa'. Those Negroes who leave this country (the United States) to settle permanently in Africa will be pioneers - the Pilgrim Fathers - of the new nation. It is the decision of the Negro to make Africa a nation, to which the Negroes of the world can look for help and support, moral and physical, when ill-treated or abused for being Negroes." It should now be clear that although Marcus Garvey did want some Negroes to go 'Back to Africa' for the purpose of building up the country, he neither advocated nor intended that all Negroes should go. "We do not want all the Negroes in Africa. Some are no good here, and naturally will be no good there." Although Mr. Garvey knew that all members of Our Race would not want to go 'Back to Africa', and that indeed some would be undesirable there, he was acutely aware that our failure to appreciate the imperative of the redemption of our motherland would eventually lead to our extermination as a race - just like the American Indian. "The thoughtful and industrious of Our Race want to go back to Africa, because we realize it will be our only hope of permanent existence. If you do not want him to have a country and a nation of his own; if you do not intend to give him equal opportunities in yours, then it is plain to see that you mean that he must die, even as the Indian, to make room for your generations." Many of those of our Noble Race have gone 'Back to Africa', heavily influenced by the teachings of Marcus Garvey, and have set up independent governments there; Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana and Jomo Kenyatta of Kenya immediately coming to mind. We of the Negro race, (Africans, African-Americans, Caribbean's, West Indians, African-Europeans, Melanesians and every breathing soul of African descent), are the custodians and guardians of our noble history and yes, our possible future. Our history and hope for the future have been and are being continually exploited with a ferocity that has destroyed much of that history and threatens that possible future to such degree as to make it obligatory that some of us go 'Back to Africa' to reclaim and redeem Our Motherland. "It falls to our lot to tear off the shackles that bind Mother Africa. Can you do it? You did it in the Revolutionary War; You did it in the Civil War; You did it at the Battles of the Marne and Verdun; You did it in Mesopotamia; (Viet Nam, Grenada, Panama, and now Iraq: EDITOR'S NOTE). You can do it marching up the battle heights of Africa. Let the world know that 400,000,000 Negroes are prepared to die or live as free men. Despise us as much as you care. We are coming 400,000,000 strong. We are coming with our woes behind us, with the memory of suffering behind us - woes and suffering of three hundred years - they shall be our inspiration. My bulwark of strength in the conflict for freedom in Africa, will be the three hundred years of persecution and hardship left behind in this Western Hemisphere. The more I remember the sufferings of my fore-fathers, the more I remember lynchings and burnings in the Southern States of America, the more I will fight on even though the battle seems doubtful. Tell me that I must turn back, and I laugh you to scorn. Go on! Go on! Climb yet the heights of liberty and cease not in well doing until you have planted the banner of the Red, the Black and the Green on the hilltops of Africa." *originally published in the 'Garvey's Voice' March 1992

The black nationalist ideals of the UNIA were executed through the organizations economic programme. Real political freedom, Garvey felt, would be facilitated by an independent economic base. thus, the independence suggested by race first, self-reliance and nationhood, would first have to be an economic independence. By linking the millions of blacks in Africa, the Americas and elsewhere into one vast network of production, trade and political co-operation and eventual independence for the black race. In an attempt to achieve this goal, the Black Star Line Steamship Corporation was launched in 1919. Between 1919 and 1925, the Black Star Line and its succesor company the Black Cross Navigation and Trading Company, operated four ships which carried passengers and cargo between the USA and Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, Costa Rica and Panama. This was the most ambitious venture undertaken by the UNIA. Another venture of the UNIA -- also started in 1919 -- was the Negro Factories Corporation, which sought to, "build and operate factories in the big industrial centres of the United States, Central America, the West Indies and Africa to manufacture every marketable commodity." A chain of grocery stores, a restaurant, a steam laundry, a tailor and dressmaking shop, a millinery store and a publishing house, were started. The UNIA identified good business opportunities and tried to interest blacks in developing them, providing executive and technical expertise where necessary. The first convention of the UNIA, held in Harlem in 1920, significantly altered the course of the association. A programme based on The Declaration of the Rights of the Negro Peoples of the World was adopted, marking the evolution of the movement into a black nationalist one, seeking the upliftment of the black race, encouraging self-reliance and nationhood and emphasizing that blacks should put themselves first as other races do. The declaration detailed the injustices meted out to blacks, especially in the United States, and condemned discrimination and the deprivation of the rights which were due to all people. These rights were set out in a series of 54 Articles. The document protested against the practice in th education system whereby black children were taught white superiority and demanded that the word "Negro" be spelt with a capital "N" in keeping with the dignity and self-respect of the race. This particular campaign achieved success over the next 10 years. The official colours of the movement, red, black, and green were also endorsed. Convinced that blacks should have a permanent homeland in Africa, Garvey's movement sought to accomplish this by colonizing and assisting with the development of Liberia. In Garvey's words, "our success educationally, industrially and politically is based upon the protection of a nation founded by ourselves. And the nation can be nowwhere else but in Africa". The Liberia programme, launched in 1920, was intended to build colleges, universities, industrial plants and railroad tracks among other things but the project was abandonded in the mid 1920's after much opposition from European powers with interests in Liberia. In connection with the affairs of the Black Star Line Steamship Corporation, Garvey was charged with mail fraud in the United states and imprisoned in the Atlanta Federal Prison in 1925. On his release in November 1927, Garvey was deported to his homeland where a large crowd met him at Orrett's wharf in Kingston. A huge procession and band marched to the UNIA headquarters at Liberty Hall, where Garvey impressed the crowd with his usual impassioned oratory. He then worked to rebuild the membership of the UNIA in Jamaica and visited branches in the other West Indian territories and in Central America. Going on to London, he established a European headquarters and soon after opened a Paris branch. He travelle to Geneva in 1928 where he presented the Petition of the Negro Race, on behalf of the blacks around the world, to the League of Nations. The petition outline the abuse of blacks around the world and sought redress through this Organization. One improtant aspect of the petition was its expose' of the barbarities of the South African regime and its unfitness to administer Namibia. In September 1929, Garvey founded the People's Political Party (PPP), Jamaica's first modern political party. A 14 point manifesto -- the first of its kind in the island's electoral history -- was put forward by Garvey. The points contained in the PPP's manifesto were far-reaching and perceptive as illustrated by a few of them, such as: * an eight-hour work day; * a minimum wage; * a larger share of self-government; * protection for native industries; * a legal aid department for the poor; * technical schools for each parish; * land reform; * libraries and civic improvement for parish capitals; * city status for Montego Bay and Port Antonio; * a National Park at the Kingston Race Course; Some of Garvey's visions as expressed in his manifesto have been fulfilled. Others are yet to be realized. Garvey was elected Councillor for the Allman Town division of the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC) in 1929. He lost his seat, however, because of his absence from council meetings while serving a prison sentence for contempt of court. In 1930 he was re-elected , unopposed, along with two other PPP candidates and he agitated for the adoption of some of the points outlined in the PPP's manifesto. In April 1931, Garvey launched the Edelweiss Amusement Company at 67 Slipe Road. This was an important cultural project as through it Garvey sanctioned the necessity for artists to make a living from their work. In addition to this, much of the entertainment was based on traditional church, school, and folk entertainment.

Dillema in Consciousness and Revolution