The Economic Basis of Blackness

In the context of the US Civil Rights struggle and a US/Soviet Cold War - #MalcolmX was about that Black/Pan-African United Front and was a master of strategy. His post Nation of Islam positions on the "Haves versus the Have Nots" were important to bridge his influence closer to the base of the Civil Rights movement, the leaders of Continental African anti-colonial struggles and other international liberation movements. Malcolm, as a master of self-branding, strategy and organization building - has to be viewed in that manner.

Regarding today’s #COVID19 pandemic - Malcolm X (imagining that he was born in the 1980s or 1990s, as opposed to 1925) would be getting information to Black people about basic survival, in the last two months. He would of been coodinating the attainment of masks or how the Black community can make their own masks. He would be getting sanitizer and showing the community how to make their own. He would call the people that make light of this pandemic "baffoons" for putting our people at risk, because they could get us all killed, "and that is what the white man wants". He would teach that for the white capitalist, this crisis is an investment opportunity to create more wealth. Consistent with his Harlem-rally speaking style, he would be asking, "We have to be careful with a man that sees profit over saving the lives of people. They are willing to let their own people die for money. If they would let their own grandmother and grandfather die for this white capitalist nation, what kind of fools would we have to be to trust this man?”

In regards to today’s MAGA Movement - would Malcolm be aligned with them? In truth, traditional Black Nationalist organizations would meet with the Ku Klux Klan and negotiate space for separation, going back to the 1920s. This would be a critique from some in the Black community. These meetings would be for the allowance of Black business, with the compromise of staying out of local politics in territories where overt white racists controlled. Malcolm X, formerly a number two leader in a religious-based Black Nationalist organization would be assigned to negotiate space with American Nazis for his leader’s group to have economic access.

We have to be self-critical too:

In 1987-1989, the Stop the Violence Movement with the National Urban League made an error in combatting an incorrect framing of "Black on Black" violence. A framing created by white mainstream media.

Because they divorced community violence from the political economy of crack, they made an error in framing it as a battle against Black self-hate. The material basis for gun violence was taken away while weak connections to crack, was mostly to demonize addicts - not the dealers. There was no popular Black analysis on the exodus of low-skilled manufacturing jobs, making an economy of crack a bad choice for young Black men.

For #ADOS #afrocentrists #afrofuturists #blacklivesmatter #civilrights #nationalists #panafricanists #blacksocialists & #wakandans what is the plan under climate collapse? In this context, what is survival? What is advancement?

Capitalists do believe in the climate data, but don't care.

They are seeing investment opportunities as opposed to saving people.

In this context, what is Black liberation? Will climate change survival be addressed as part of our scattered agendas for 1) Pan Africanism, 2) A separate Black Nation, 3) as full US citizens, or 4) building a Wakanda?

Whatever our political tendencies are, how does climate survival intersect with it?

Wealthy people do not respect the shine of your brand new Jordans. Black people cannot buy their way into acceptance from white people. Nor should we use those same notions with ourselves.

Poor Black people spend more than their means to appear rich, while wealthy white people drop over $500 to appear poor - because their status allows them to not GAF. They are socially and economically secure to not worry.

This is a blessing that should end Black working poor peoples' infatuation with their perception of wealthy culture.

Black advancemment in the US has always been connected to an economic concession or a decision, best for capitalism. The Nike contract for #Kaepernick is no different.

Chattel #slavery partly ended because of capitalism's advance with an Industrial Revolution and the cheaper costs of employing sharecroppers, instead of "caring" for enslaved people.

#CivilRights was a Cold War concession because the US was competing with the USSR for African resources. The US could not win over Continental Africans, with Blacks as protesting second-class citizens.

#Nike wants to sell sneakers, so they co-op Kaepernick's coolness and cutting edge political image for their marketing theme. This deal is closer to the Black Power movement falling back to a "Black is Beautiful" movement - making it vulnerable for marketing to sell make-up, soda and other commodities to take our dollars. Capitalism can sell "feel good" Blackness without our conditions becoming better.

But every stage provided some opportunity and space - although not the best.

The economic basis for Civil Rights.

Is it coincidence that both 1965 Acts are being rolled back? The Voter Rights Act (already compromised) and the Immigrations Act (passively by Obama and aggressively by this Administration). It is argued that the US opened immigration doors to neutralize Black labor power. With the power of organized Black people, we were transforming American democracy. If the above is true, now that the Black working class do not have full democratic voting rights, then why need immigrants anymore? Is this part of the long view perspective of the ruling class? Is this what’s playing out? These struggles are more linked for shared dreams, but easily manipulated against one another.

The Fall of A HipHop Hero: The parallels of Kanye West and Anakin Skywalker:

Just like Anakin Skywalker, Kanye started following a dark path after experiencing the loss of his Mom.

He also turned on his mentor, Jay-Z (his Obi-Wan).

Just like Anakin, they both had a marriage that outsiders would not approve.

Anakin was a slave, Kanye is a descendant of slaves.

Both appear insane.

Like Anakin, joined a fascist empire. He did endorse him.