Black History Beyond February

The Origin Of Black History Month In Canada

The parliament of Canada officially recognized February as Black History Month in December 1995. The Honorable Jean Augustine M.P of Etobicoke- Lakeshore who was the first Black Canadian woman elected to parliament introduced the motion. The motion was carried by the House of Commons. In Canada for example we are more familiar with names such as Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Rosa Parks, and Nelson Mandela. For the ones more involved in Black History you may hear Fredrick Douglas. We need to teach our own people and non blacks about Shaka Zulu, Toussaint L’ Overture, we need to learn about Canadians such as Mathieu Da Costa the first recorded African to set foot in Canada over 400 years ago in 1604. Da Costa despite not having his original name worked as an interpreter providing a link between the Mik’Maq natives and the Europeans. He was a man of Intellect, Education and Sophistication. Let us also appreciate Ms. Rosemary Sadlier President of the Ontario Black History Society.

The Origin of Black History Month in the U.K

Black History Month in the U.K took place as part of the African- Jubilee year 1987 -1988. Celebrations were Organized by the Former London Strategic Policy Unit. Black History Month is held every October in Britain, the aims are to: Promote Knowledge of the Black Experience, Disseminate Information on Positive Black Contribution to Britain Society, Heighten the Confidence and Awareness of Black People in their Cultural History. African Arts Culture and History has been celebrated by African Britains in the Diaspora since the 1970’s. Akyaaba Addai- Sebo after speaking to many black teens discovered their reluctance to identify with anything from Africa, he felt this came from the negative representation of Africa in the media and many distorted images of Africa. Akaaba with help from others in 1986-1987 organized key events that led to the trend of African History Month. This included many debates about African Contributions to Civilization with leading U.S Historians. Len Garrison one of the Founding Members of Black Cultural Archives (B.C.A) said “Remember what we inherit today has been won with bloodshed and sacrifice by others yesterday”. Current history books still serve imperialist purposes. African American John Henrik Clarke a historian commented that” to control a people you must first control what they think about themselves and how they regard their culture. When your conqueror makes you ashamed of your culture and history, he needs no prison walls and no chains to hold you”.

The Origin of Black History Month in the United States Of America

We owe a lot of the evolution of Black History Month to Dr. Carter G Woodson. His parents were former slaves and Carter spent his childhood in Kentucky until he entered high school at age 20. In 2 years he graduated and went on to Harvard where he earned a PH.D. Carter became disturbed in his studies seeing how the contributions of Black People was so over looked. He challenged himself and established the association for the study of negro life and history in 1915. He founded the respected journal of negro history a year later. In an event to bring national attention to the contributions of Black People he launched negro history week in 1926. The Popularity gained momentum and officially became Black History Month in 1976.

Favorite Quotes

Cowardice asks the question: is it safe? Expediency asks the question: is it political? Vanity asks the question: is it popular? But conscience asks the question: is it right. – Dr. Martin L. King, Jr
Every man is rich in excuses to safeguard his prejudices, his instincts, and his opinions. – Ancient Egypt
If the future doesn't come toward you, you have to go fetch it – Zulu Proverb
It makes no difference what language Africans speak if our first language is not Truth – Hilary Muhammad (NOI)
Leave no brother or sister behind the enemy line of poverty. – Harriet Tubman
Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will – Frederick Douglasss
Songs we would never hear! Histories we would never know! Art we would never see! Because the European had the capacity to destroy and didn't have the moral restraint not to - Maulana Karenga
The most pathetic thing is for a slave who doesn't know that he is a slave – Malcolm X
Until lions tell their tale, the story of the hunt will always glorify the hunter – African Proverb
We are not Africans because we are born in Africa, we are Africans because Africa is born in us. – Chester Higgins Jr.
What kind of world do we live in when the views of the oppressed are expressed at the convenience of the rich? – Owen 'Alik Shahadah

Inventions

Black Inventions

1) Traffic Lights 11) Street sweepers 21) Folding Bed

2) Cellular Phone 12) Ironing Board 22) Remote Control

3) Elevator 13) Fire escape ladder 23) Lantern

4) Refrigerator 14) Printing Press 24) Golf Tee

5) Gas Mask 15) Toilet 25) Eye Protection

6) Clothes Dryer 16) Stair Climbing Wheelchair 26) Lawn Sprinkler

7) Clothes Dresser 17) Mop 27) Heating Furnace

8) Ice Cream 18) Shoe 28) Fire Extinguisher

9) Guitar 19) Alphabet 29) Typewriter

10) Helicopter 20) Chess 30) Piano

Asian Inventions

1) Desktop Calculators 2) Collapsable Umbrella 3) Compass 4) The game of Soccer

5) Toilet Paper 6) Suspension Bridge 7) VCR 8) Bristle Toothbrush 9) Scissors

10) Noodles 11) Satellite 12) Paper Money 13) Mirror 14) soap 15) Play Station

Hispanic Inventions

1) Color Television 2) Reversible Motor 3) Magnetic Brakes 4) Yo-Yo 5) 5) Windmill

6) Rocket-belt 7) Birth Control Pills 8) Ochoaplane (plane with collapsable wings)

9) Improved Photograph Print Wash method 10) Acceleglove- A glove that can translate sign language into speech 11) Submarine 12) Discovered Mosquito that transmitted yellow fever 13) Braille Cell Display System

Caucasian Inventions

1) Military Tank 2) Rifle 3) Bullet 4) Rocket 5) Nuclear Reactor 6) Telescope

7) Microscope 8) Microwave Oven 9) Barbed Wire fence 10) The game of Basketball 11) Telephone 12) Car 13) Computer/ Internet 14) Motion Picture Camera 15) Airplane

Native Inventions 1) Totem Pole 2) Toboggan 3) Snow Shoes 4) Kayak 5) The game of Lacrosse 6) Chocolate 7) Boomerang 8) Fiber Optics

Canadian Inventions

1) James Naismith – Basketball 1891 2) Canadian Dry Ginger-ale- John A. McLaughlin 1907 3) Electric Street Car- John Joseph Wright 1883 4) Goalie Mask- Jacques Plante 1960 5) Jolly Jumper- Oliver Pode 1959 6) Snow Blower- Arthur Sicord 1925 7) Standard Time- Sir Sanford Fleming 1878 8) Prosthetic Hand- Helmut Lucas 1971 9) Zipper- Gideon Sunback 1913 10) Hockey Ice 1875 J.G.A Creighton

Famous Women Inventions Josephine Cochron- Dishwasher 1886 2) Marion Donovan-Disposable Diapers 1949 3) Bette Nesmith Graham- Liquid Paper 1929-1980 4) Gertrude Belle Ellon – Anti Leukemia Drugs 1918-1999 5) Helen Free- Glucose Detection For Diabetes 1923 6) Helen Blanchard- Zig Zag Sewing Machine 1840-1822

NATIVE & ASIAN HEROES

Born: around 1825, Jackfish Lake, Saskatchewan
Died: 17 January 1888 on Poundmaker Reserve, Saskatchewan

Big Bear (Mistahimaskwa) was the son of the chief of a small, mixed band of Cree and Ojibwa. By 1874, he was the head of sixty-five lodges and a man of considerable influence. When the Canadian government presented Treaty #6, Big Bear refused to sign. He believed that his people would lose their lifestyle and that they would be condemned to a life of perpetual poverty.

From 1878 to 1880, Big Bear travelled throughout western Canada and the United States in an attempt to establish a confederacy to negotiate with the government. This was nearly impossible so he turned his attention to uniting just the Cree people. The government still refused to negotiate however and, facing starvation and destitution, Big Bear was forced to give in. He signed an adhesion to the original treaty in 1882.

By 1884, Big Bear had begun to lose influence with his band and he was unable to keep his warriors from joining the North-West Rebellion. When members from his band killed nine white people at Frog Lake, Alberta in 1885, Big Bear was held responsible, even though he had continuously counseled peace. He surrendered at Fort Carlton on 2 July 1885 and was sentenced to three years in prison for treason. He was released early (March 1887) due to failing health and died on Poundmaker Reserve ten months later.

Born: 26 May 1919 on Six Nations Indian Reserve, Brantford, Ontario
Died: 5 March 1980 in Woodland Hills, California

Jay Silverheels, a full-blooded Mohawk, was a champion wrestler, a boxer, and a star lacrosse player with Canada's national team before setting his sights on Hollywood. He worked as a stuntman and extra before landing some bit parts in the early 1940s, almost always credited as simply "Indian" or "Indian Brave". He started to gain some notice in 1948 when John Huston cast him as Tom Osceola in Key Largo but it was television, not the movies, that would bring him fame.

In 1949, Silverheels landed the role of Tonto, the Lone Ranger's faithful sidekick, and found himself forever typecast. He continued to act in movies, appearing several times as Geronimo, but he was often called upon to perform as Tonto for commercials and comic spots long after the series ended. He founded the Indian Actors' Workshop in 1966 with Will Sampson and offered free classes for Native Americans who wanted to work in the industry. Silverheels was partially paralyzed by a series of strokes in 1975 and died in 1980.

Born Harold Jay Smith, Silverheels legally changed his name in 1971. He was the symbolic Indian to an entire generation but, more importantly, he was an inspiration for aboriginal actors and an activist to improve the portrayal of Native peoples on television and in the movies.

Men of Steel
In 1863, construction began on the transcontinental railroad—1,776 miles of tracks that would form a link between America's West and East coasts. While thousands of European immigrants worked on the westbound Pacific Union rail, there was not enough manpower to build the Central Pacific line, which snaked through the rugged Rocky and Sierra Nevada Mountains. In 1865, Central Pacific officials hired 50 Chinese laborers to lay down a section of track. Their work was so well done, they decided to recruit more Chinese men. In the end, nearly 12,000 Chinese railroad workers were hired to perform dangerous work that white men refused to do. They dammed rivers, dug ditches, and blasted tunnels through mountain ranges. Hundreds of men died on the job. The Chinese also faced discrimination because they looked different from the white workers. Although they often outperformed other laborers, they were paid less. Despite all of the hardships, the Chinese laborers never quit. Thanks to their hard work, America became the first continent to have a coast-to-coast railroad.

A Scientific Genius
As a young child, Steven Chu loved to build things—from model airplanes to metal girders. As he grew older, Chu even hoarded his lunch money to pay for the parts of his homemade rockets. As a senior at Garden City High School in New York, he discovered the thrill of experimentation once again. In physics lab, the Chinese American teen built an instrument to measure gravity. After studying physics in college and graduate school, Chu worked as a scientist at Bell Laboratories for nine years. In 1997, all of Chu's years in the lab paid off when he received the Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on cooling atoms. Why is this important? Chu explains to Scholastic.com, "The ability to cool atoms down to very low temperatures allows us to hold onto and move them with incredible control. This control has allowed us to make new measurement tools such as precise atomic clocks and sensors that can measure gravity and rotation with extraordinary precision." Today, Chu is the Director of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. He is also Professor of Physics and Professor of Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of California, Berkeley.

Wyllie Lynch Letter

The Willie Lynch Letter: The Making Of A Slave!
This speech was delivered by Willie Lynch on the bank of the James River in the colony of Virginia in 1712. Lynch was a
British slave owner in the West Indies. He was invited to the colony of Virginia in 1712 to teach his methods to slave
owners there. The term "lynching" is derived from his last name.
December 25, 1712
Gentlemen:
I greet you here on the bank of the James River in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and twelve. First, I
shall thank you, the gentlemen of the Colony of Virginia, for bringing me here. I am here to help you solve some of your
problems with slaves. Your invitation reached me on my modest plantation in the West Indies, where I have experimented
with some of the newest and still the oldest methods for control of slaves. Ancient Rome's would envy us if my program is
implemented.
As our boat sailed south on the James River, named for our illustrious King, whose version of the Bible we cherish, I saw
enough to know that your problem is not unique. While Rome used cords of wood as crosses for standing human bodies
along its highways in great numbers, you are here using the tree and the rope on occasions. I caught the whiff of a dead
slave hanging from a tree, a couple miles back. You are not only losing valuable stock by hangings, you are having
uprisings, slaves are running away, your crops are sometimes left in the fields too long for maximum profit, You suffer
occasional fires, your animals are killed.
Gentlemen, you know what your problems are; I do not need to elaborate. I am not here to enumerate your problems, I
am here to introduce you to a method of solving them. In my bag here, I have a foolproof method for controlling your black
slaves. I guarantee every one of you that if installed correctly it will control the slaves for at least 300 years [2012]. My
method is simple. Any member of your family or your overseer can use it. I have outlined a number of differences among
the slaves and make the differences bigger. I use fear, distrust and envy for control.
These methods have worked on my modest plantation in the West Indies and it will work throughout the South. Take this
simple little list of differences and think about them. On top of my list is "age" but it's there only because it starts with an
"A." The second is "COLOR" or shade, there is intelligence, size, sex, size of plantations and status on plantations,
attitude of owners, whether the slaves live in the valley, on a hill, East, West, North, South, have fine hair, course hair, or
is tall or short. Now that you have a list of differences, I shall give you an outline of action, but before that, I shall assure
you that distrust is stronger than trust and envy stronger than adulation, respect or admiration. The Black slaves after
receiving this indoctrination shall carry on and will become self refueling and self generating for hundreds of years, maybe
thousands. Don't forget you must pitch the old black Male vs. the young black Male, and the young black Male against the
old black male. You must use the dark skin slaves vs. the light skin slaves, and the light skin slaves vs. the dark skin
slaves. You must use the female vs. the male. And the male vs. the female. You must also have you white servants and
overseers distrust all Blacks. It is necessary that your slaves trust and depend on us. They must love, respect and trust
only us. Gentlemen, these kits are your keys to control. Use them. Have your wives and children use them, never miss an
opportunity. If used intensely for one year, the slaves themselves will remain perpetually distrustful of each other.
Thank you gentlemen

Lets Make a Slave
It was the interest and business of slave holders to study human nature, and the slave nature in particular, with a view to
practical results. I and many of them attained astonishing proficiency in this direction. They had to deal not with earth,
wood and stone, but with men and by every regard they had for their own safety and prosperity they needed to know the
material on which they were to work. Conscious of the injustice and wrong they were every hour perpetuating and
knowing what they themselves would do. Were they the victims of such wrongs? They were constantly looking for the first
signs of the dreaded retribution. They watched, therefore with skilled and practiced eyes, and learned to read with great
accuracy, the state of mind and heart of the slave, through his sable face. Unusual sobriety, apparent abstractions,
sullenness and indifference indeed, any mood out of the common was afforded ground for suspicion and inquiry.
Let us make a slave. What do we need? First of all we need a black nigger man, a pregnant nigger woman and her baby
nigger boy. Second, we will use the same basic principle that we use in breaking a horse, combined with some more
sustaining factors. What we do with horses is that we break them from one form of life to another that is we reduce them
from their natural state in nature. Whereas nature provides them with the natural capacity to take care of their offspring,
we break that natural string of independence from them and thereby create a dependency status, so that we may be able
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to get from them useful production for our business and pleasure
Cardinal Principles for making a Negro
For fear that our future Generations may not understand the principles of breaking both of the beast together, the nigger
and the horse. We understand that short range planning economics results in periodic economic chaos; so that to avoid
turmoil in the economy, it requires us to have breath and depth in long range comprehensive planning, articulating both
skill sharp perceptions. We lay down the following principles for long range comprehensive economic planning. Both
horse and niggers is no good to the economy in the wild or natural state. Both must be broken and tied together for
orderly production. For orderly future, special and particular attention must be paid to the female and the youngest
offspring. Both must be crossbred to produce a variety and division of labor. Both must be taught to respond to a peculiar
new language. Psychological and physical instruction of containment must be created for both. We hold the six cardinal
principles as truth to be self evident, based upon the following the discourse concerning the economics of breaking and
tying the horse and the nigger together, all inclusive of the six principles laid down about. NOTE: Neither principle alone
will suffice for good economics. All principles must be employed for orderly good of the nation. Accordingly, both a wild
horse and a wild or nature nigger is dangerous even if captured, for they will have the tendency to seek their customary
freedom, and in doing so, might kill you in your sleep. You cannot rest. They sleep while you are awake, and are awake
while you are asleep. They are dangerous near the family house and it requires too much labor to watch them away from
the house. Above all, you cannot get them to work in this natural state. Hence both the horse and the nigger must be
broken; that is breaking them from one form of mental life to another. Keep the body take the mind! In other words break
the will to resist. Now the breaking process is the same for both the horse and the nigger, only slightly varying in degrees.
But as we said before, there is an art in long range economic planning. You must keep your eye and thoughts on the
female and the offspring of the horse and the nigger. A brief discourse in offspring development will shed light on the key
to sound economic principles. Pay little attention to the generation of original breaking, but concentrate on future
generations.
Therefore, if you break the female mother, she will break the offspring in its early years of development and when the
offspring is old enough to work, she will deliver it up to you, for her normal female protective tendencies will have been
lost in the original breaking process. For example take the case of the wild stud horse, a female horse and an already
infant horse and compare the breaking process with two captured nigger males in their natural state, a pregnant nigger
woman with her infant offspring. Take the stud horse, break him for limited containment.
Completely break the female horse until she becomes very gentle, whereas you or anybody can ride her in her comfort.
Breed the mare and the stud until you have the desired offspring. Then you can turn the stud to freedom until you need
him again. Train the female horse where by she will eat out of your hand, and she will in turn train the infant horse to eat
out of your hand also. When it comes to breaking the uncivilized nigger, use the same process, but vary the degree and
step up the pressure, so as to do a complete reversal of the mind. Take the meanest and most restless nigger, strip him of
his clothes in front of the remaining male niggers, the female, and the nigger infant, tar and feather him, tie each leg to a
different horse faced in opposite directions, set him a fire and beat both horses to pull him apart in front of the remaining
nigger. The next step is to take a bull whip and beat the remaining nigger male to the point of death, in front of the female
and the infant. Don't kill him, but put the fear of God in him, for he can be useful for future breeding.
The Breaking Process of the African Woman
Take the female and run a series of tests on her to see if she will submit to your desires willingly. Test her in every way,
because she is the most important factor for good economics. If she shows any sign of resistance in submitting
completely to your will, do not hesitate to use the bull whip on her to extract that last bit of resistance out of her. Take care
not to kill her, for in doing so, you spoil good economic. When in complete submission, she will train her off springs in the
early years to submit to labor when the become of age. Understanding is the best thing. Therefore, we shall go deeper
into this area of the subject matter concerning what we have produced here in this breaking process of the female nigger.
We have reversed the relationship in her natural uncivilized state she would have a strong dependency on the uncivilized
nigger male, and she would have a limited protective tendency toward her independent male offspring and would raise
male off springs to be dependent like her. Nature had provided for this type of balance. We reversed nature by burning
and pulling a civilized nigger apart and bull whipping the other to the point of death, all in her presence. By her being left
alone, unprotected, with the male image destroyed, the ordeal caused her to move from her psychological dependent
state to a frozen independent state. In this frozen psychological state of independence, she will raise her male and female
offspring in reversed roles.
For fear of the young males life she will psychologically train him to be mentally weak and dependent, but physically
strong. Because she has become psychologically independent, she will train her female off springs to be psychological
independent. What have you got? You've got the nigger women out front and the nigger man behind and scared. This is a
perfect situation of sound sleep and economic. Before the breaking process, we had to be alertly on guard at all times.
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Now we can sleep soundly, for out of frozen fear his woman stands guard for us. He cannot get past her early slave
molding process. He is a good tool, now ready to be tied to the horse at a tender age. By the time a nigger boy reaches
the age of sixteen, he is soundly broken in and ready for a long life of sound and efficient work and the reproduction of a
unit of good labor force. Continually through the breaking of uncivilized savage nigger, by throwing the nigger female
savage into a frozen psychological state of independence, by killing of the protective male image, and by creating a
submissive dependent mind of the nigger male slave, we have created an orbiting cycle that turns on its own axis forever,
unless a phenomenon occurs and re shifts the position of the male and female slaves. We show what we mean by
example. Take the case of the two economic slave units and examine them closely.
The Nigger Marriage
We breed two nigger males with two nigger females. Then we take the nigger males away from them and keep them
moving and working. Say one nigger female bears a nigger female and the other bears a nigger male. Both nigger
females being without influence of the nigger male image, frozen with an independent psychology, will raise their offspring
into reverse positions. The one with the female offspring will teach her to be like herself, independent and negotiable (we
negotiate with her, through her, by her, we negotiate her at will). The one with the nigger male offspring, she being frozen
with a subconscious fear for his life, will raise him to be mentally dependent and weak, but physically strong, in other
words, body over mind. Now in a few years when these two offspring's become fertile for early reproduction we will mate
and breed them and continue the cycle. That is good, sound, and long range comprehensive planning.
Warning: Possible Interloping Negatives
Earlier we talked about the non economic good of the horse and the nigger in their wild or natural state; we talked out the
principle of breaking and tying them together for orderly production. Furthermore, we talked about paying particular
attention to the female savage and her offspring for orderly future planning, then more recently we stated that, by
reversing the positions of the male and female savages, we created an orbiting cycle that turns on its own axis forever
unless a phenomenon occurred and resift and positions of the male and female savages. Our experts warned us about
the possibility of this phenomenon occurring, for they say that the mind has a strong drive to correct and recorrect
itself
over a period of time if I can touch some substantial original historical base, and they advised us that the best way to deal
with the phenomenon is to shave off the brute's mental history and create a multiplicity of phenomena of illusions, so that
each illusion will twirl in its own orbit, something similar to floating balls in a vacuum.
This creation of multiplicity of phenomena of illusions entails the principle of crossbreeding the nigger and the horse as we
stated above, the purpose of which is to create a diversified division of labor thereby creating different levels of labor and
different values of illusion at each connecting level of labor. The results of which is the severance of the points of original
beginnings for each sphere illusion. Since we feel that the subject matter may get more complicated as we proceed in
laying down our economic plan concerning the purpose, reason and effect of crossbreeding horses and nigger, we shall
lay down the following definition terms for future generations.
Orbiting cycle means a thing turning in a given path. Axis means upon which or around which a body turns. Phenomenon
means something beyond ordinary conception and inspires awe and wonder. Multiplicity means a great number. Sphere
means a globe. Cross breeding a horse means taking a horse and breeding it with an ass and you get a dumb backward
ass long headed mule that is not reproductive nor productive by itself.
Crossbreeding niggers mean taking so many drops of good white blood and putting them into as many nigger women as
possible, varying the drops by the various tone that you want, and then letting them breed with each other until
another cycle of color appears as you desire. What this means is this; Put the niggers and the horse in a breeding pot, mix
some assess and some good white blood and what do you get? You got a multiplicity of colors of ass backward, unusual
niggers, running, tied to a backward ass long headed mule, the one productive of itself, the other sterile. (The one
constant, the other dying, we keep the nigger constant for we may replace the mules for another tool) both mule and
nigger tied to each other, neither knowing where the other came from and neither productive for itself, nor without each
other.
Control the Language
Crossbreeding completed, for further severance from their original beginning, we must completely annihilate the mother
tongue of both the new nigger and the new mule and institute a new language that involves the new life's work of both.
You know language is a peculiar institution. It leads to the heart of a people. The more a foreigner knows about the
language of another country the more he is able to move through all levels of that society. Therefore, if the foreigner is an
enemy of the country, to the extent that he knows the body of the language, to that extent is the country vulnerable to
attack or invasion of a foreign culture. For example, if you take a slave, if you teach him all about your language, he will
know all your secrets, and he is then no more a slave, for you can't fool him any longer. For example, if you told a slave
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that he must perform in getting out "our crops" and he knows the language well, he would know that "our crops" didn't
mean "our crops" and the slavery system would break down, for he would relate on the basis of what "our crops" really
meant. So you have to be careful in setting up the new language for the slaves would soon be in your house, talking to
you "man to man" and that is death to our economic system. In addition, the definitions of words or terms are only a
minute part of the process. Values are created and transported by communication through the body of the language. A
total society has many interconnected value system. All the values in the society have bridges of language to connect
them for orderly working in the society. But for these language bridges, these many value systems would sharply clash
and cause internal strife or civil war, the degree of the conflict being determined by the magnitude of the issues or relative
opposing strength in whatever form.
For example, if you put a slave in a hog pen and train him to live there and incorporate in him to value it as a way of life
completely, the biggest problem you would have out of him is that he would worry you about provisions to keep the hog
pen clean, or the same hog pen and make a slip and incorporate something in his language where by he comes to value
a house more than he does his hog pen, you got a problem. He will soon be in your house.

Trivia: 6 Important Questions

1) Question- What is black history beyond February ?

Answer- Black history beyond February is an organizational entity dedicated to providing the black history all year

2) Question- What is a thug?

Answer- The late great rapper Tupac Shakur said a thug is someone going through struggles, gone through struggles and lives day by day with nothing for them. The person is living a thug life. A thug is not a gangster. The original thugs were bands of roving criminals in India who strangled and robbed travelers. Originally these gangs committed murder following precise religious rites to honor kali, the hindu goddess of destruction.

3) Question- How did the style of wearing baggy pants originate?

Answer- When an individual is sent to jail they would normally be given clothes to wear that would be 2 to 3 sizes to big. For safety reasons such as suicide you are not permitted to wear a belt or shoe laces in prison. Therefore the pants would automatically drop down. It was then systematically put into the hip –hop culture as being cool and because of the popularity of the artists it filtered down to their fans.

4) Question- Why do some black people wear a lot of gold?

Answer- During the time of slavery black people were tied up in chains like animals. We had chains placed around our ankles, wrists, and necks. Today many of us without even realizing it find ourselves putting chains on our ankles wrists, neck and have added toe rings, gold teeth and the piercing also of many body parts. Some wear it also for status.

5) Question- Why do some black men cheat? And why do some black men feel it is not their responsibility to take care of their children?

Answer- During the time of slavery blackmen were forced to breed like animals and our women to produce babies which would be sold. Black men would be forced to mate with multiple women and with the children being forcibly taken this away his responsibilities of taking care of his family. Now today it is hereditary in the black man’s genes to go from woman to woman producing children without the responsibility of being a father and a husband. However this program can be corrected if the black man is taught a proper and thorough knowledge of himself so he can understand where this behavior comes from. In addition if he has a man in his life as an example to teach him how to be real man. Having a child does not make you a father, taking care of one does.

6) Question-Where does the term picnic come from?

Answer- During the time of slavery our people would be tied to a stake and burned for fun. People would buy tickets to watch a black person burn. The term used to select a black was called pick-A-Nigger. Today it is called Picnic.

Can you say peace in different languages

1. Arabic-A-Salam-ou-laikum

2. English- Peace

3. Hebrew- Shalom-a-lechem

4. Cantonese-He-Ping

5. Mandarin- Pingan

6. Spanish- Paz Contigo

7. French- La Paix

8. Ghanian- Asomgwe nka wa

9. Tamil- Samathanam

10. Maltese- Pagi

11. Russian- Meer

12. Japanese- Heiwa

13. Korean- Pyungwa

14. Bulgarian- Spokostivie, Mir

15. German- Frieden

16. Hungarian- Beke

17. Italian- Pace

18. Kikongo- Luvuvamu

19 Botswanian- Kogioso

20. Berundian- Amahora

21. Chadaen- Kemsol

22. Sudanese- Kuc

23. Czech- Mir

24. Greek- Eirini

25. Irianian- Solh

26. Lithuanian- Ramybes

27. Portugese- A-Paz-do-Senhor

28. Ireland (Gaelic)- Siochian

29. Cambodian- Sontupheap

30. Nepali- Shanti

31. Ojibwa-Kwaam-min, Minwah

32. Cree- Wetashkiwin

33. Lakhoto- Walakota

34. Micmac- Wontokodo

35. Sioux- Wo’okeyeh

36. Zimbabwean- Runyararo

37. Samalian- Nabad

38. Ruanda- Nimuhor

39. Farsi- Ashtee

40. Jamaican- Peace &Love

41. Maori- Rangimarie

42. Poland- Pokoj

43. Sweden- Frihet

44. Finland- Rauha

45. Dutch- Vrede

46. Romanian-La Pace

47. Albanian- La Paqe

48. Urdu- Aman Malay

49. Turkish- Barish

50. Thai- Santipap

51. Idonesian- Damai

52. Vietnamese- Hao Binh

53. Filipino- Kapayapaan

54. Latvian- Pece

55. Sinhalese- Nidahasa

56. Tibetan- Shite

57. Serbian-Komad

58. Armenian- Khanhaghutyun

Famous Birthdays

January

Dr.John Henrik Clark 1

Martin Luther King Jr. 17

Muhammad Ali 17

Oprah Winfrey 29

Jackie Robinson 31

February

Rosa Parks 4

Bob Marley 6

Frederick Douglas 14

W.E.B Dubois 23

Master Fard Muhammad 26

March

Shaquille O’ Neil 6

Jesse Jackson 11

L. Ron Hubard 13

Spike Lee 20

Dorothy Height 24

April

Maya Angelou 4

Kofi Anni 8

Robert L. Johnson 8

Granville. T. Woods 23

Coretta Scott King 27

May

James Brown 3

Louis Farrakhan 11

Malcolm X 19

Notorious B.I.G 21

Lauryn Hill 25

June

Cornell West 2

Charles Drew 3

Tupac 16

Geronimo 16

Malachi Z York 26

July

5o Cent 6

Bill Cosby 12

George Washington Carver 12

Nelson Mendela 18

Haile Selassie I 23

August

Professor Griff 1

Barack Obama 4

Marcus Garvey 17

Mother Teresa 27

Michael Jackson 29

September

Lennox Lewis 2

Beyonce Knowles 4

B.B King 16

Ray Charles 23

Will Smith 25

October

Mahatma Gandhi 2

Al Sharpton 3

Elijah Muhammad 7

Desmond Tutu 7

Eric Dyson 23

November

Puff Daddy 4

Benjamin Banneker 9

Michael Moorer 12

Sammy Sosa 12

Bruce Lee 27

December

Carter.G.Woodson 19

Madam C.J Walker 23

Lebron James 30

Tiger Woods 30

Dr. Yosef Ben-Jo Jochannan 31

Minister Louis Farrakhan- The Healing For a Sin- Sick Nation Atonement- The 8 Steps Of Atonement

Point out the wrong - the first stage is the most difficult of all because when we are wrong and we are not aware of it, someone has to point out the wrong.

Acknowledge the wrong - So in this context, the word acknowledge means to the truth of the fact that we have been wrong.
Confess fault - First you confess the fault to Allah (God), and then to the person or persons whom your fault has ill effected.
Repentance - means feeling contrition or self- reproach for what one has done or failed to do.
Atonement - means we must be willing to do something in expiation of our sins.
Forgiveness - means to cease to feel offense and resentment against another for the harm done by an offender. It means to wipe the slate clean.
Reconciliation and restoration - It mean to resolve differences and to establish or re-establish a close relationship between previously divided persons.
Perfect union with God - the result of completing the atonement process is achieving the perfect union with Allah (God) who is best at guiding us to freedom.

Making the word a reality in your lives

Important Dates or Events

Three Important Days we should observe and reflect on.

1. The 16^th of October –The Holy Day Of Atonement- Anniversary of the Million Man March www.finalcall.com

2. July 4^th – Independence day, the real independence day but for who? www.finalcall.com

3. February 26^th – Saviour’s Day www.finalcall.com

Minister Louis Farrakhan Letter To George W. Bush

Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan

[Editor's note: On December 1, 2001, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan sent a letter to President George W. Bush relative to the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks and the American government's declared War on Terrorism. Though the correspondence was meant as a private matter, Jude Wanniski, a former associate editor of the Wall Street Journal and friend of the Minister, who tried using his contacts to get the Minister's letter directly into the hands of President Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell, released it publicly, without the Minister's consent. Mr. Wanniski was concerned, however that there was no response after 10 weeks that the letter had been sent. After the Attack on America on September 11, Minister Farrakhan held a press conference on September 16th, and it was at this press conference that the Minister said he would write President Bush, and, it took him almost two months to write the letter. Since the letter has been made public, Minister Farrakhan referred to it in his February 17th Saviours' Day 2002 address in Los Angeles. The letter is printed below in its entirety.]

December 1, 2001

George W. Bush, President of the United States of America
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue N. W.
Washington, DC 20500

As-Salaam Alaikum.
(Peace Be Unto You)

Dear President Bush,

May this letter find you, your family and staff in the best of health and spirit in spite of the prevailing circumstances.

I am Minister Louis Farrakhan, National Representative of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, whom I believe Allah (God) raised among the Black people of America to teach us Islam as a means of our reformation and resurrection. He was also raised by Allah (God) as a Warner to the government and people of the United States of America. I sit in His seat by Allah's (God's) and His permission, therefore, His Mission is my Mission, and, it is out of my sense of mission and duty that I write.

I am deeply concerned for our country, and, I am deeply concerned for you.

I used the possessive pronoun our, because the blood of my ancestors soaks this soil and their blood has been shed on every foreign battlefield for the preservation of this nation. Therefore, we as a people feel a deep sense of ownership of America as much as any American. It is also out of this deep sense of concern and ownership that I write to you.

I write you from my prison. A prison without bars that has been made for me because of the passion for truth and justice out of which I speak, and, the propaganda that makes me appear to many as anti-White, anti-Christian, anti-Semitic, and anti-Gay. None of these names accurately describe who I am. I hope that you will open your heart to what I am writing not withstanding the prison from which I am writing.

Since Adam, there has not been one person or nation with power and dominion over the whole earth. This is the awesome position that America holds by Allah's (God's) permission.

This indeed is a great trial for you and for America, because, when Allah (God) allows anyone of us to rule over His servants and a great part of His creation, He does so to see how we act. If we act well, He will not replace our rule; however, if we allow the power, wealth, and wisdom that we possess over Allah's (God's) servants and creation to blind us so that we act other than as Allah (God) would desire us to act, then, He acts through the forces of nature and through people to overturn our rule.

This is a very dangerous Hour, but, it is an Hour filled with great opportunity. What is needed in this Hour is Right or Divine Guidance. This Guidance must be in accord with the Time and what this Time demands.

It is written in the Book of Revelation "The nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great, and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. " (Chapter 11 verse 18)

The Honorable Elijah Muhammad said, "We are living in the Day of Judgment." This is what is producing the anger of the nations and the Wrath of Allah (God). This is the time that those who have been deprived of justice must receive justice, for, it is only our acting on the principle of justice that will ease the anger of the nations and take away the Wrath of Allah (God). There can be no Justice without Truth, and, there can be no Peace in the world without Justice.

As a nation, America is blessed with wealth, wisdom, science, technology, and, abundance. America is also blessed with the awesome power to destroy nations of people. In order for you and America to receive the greatest of Allah's (God's) Blessings, which is the longevity and perpetuity that former great nations and empires have not enjoyed, you must rule according to the Will and the Way of Allah (God).

Mr. President, you and this nation stand in the position of the Vicegerent of Allah (God). (The person or nation that rules the earth in the place of Allah (God)). This is why America must rule the world as Allah (God) Himself would rule, for, she is now standing in His place by His permission.

Allah (God) also has awesome power to destroy. He is called The Possessor of Power over all things, and, He is also called The Destroyer, The Avenger. However, none of these attributes are His principle attributes. All of His attributes of might and power to avenge and destroy are balanced by His major attributes, which are Beneficence, Mercy, The Nurturer - of all things making them attain stage after stage until they reach perfection, and, King or Judge - who judges with justice. These are the four greatest attributes of Allah (God).

If America is to be truly triumphant in this Hour, these four great attributes must give balance and direction to America's awesome power to destroy and her desire to avenge the horrible act of September 11th.

When I heard you say that this act against America on September 11th has given purpose to your administration and that you feel that it is your mission to destroy the terrorists, their networks, those who harbor them, and, that the awesome power of America will be used toward this end. This, you hope will be the legacy that you leave to future generations; you also hope that the children and the American people will live without the fear of such evil as we experienced on September 11th. However, within these statements are my reasons for deep concern.

You have risen to the challenge of this Hour and this Hour has given you the support of the American people and the support of most of the nations of the earth. In my humble judgment, what you see as the purpose of your administration must not hinder or blind you from seeing the possibility of an even greater purpose and potential legacy.

It is out of this desire to see you fulfill that which will give you the greatest legacy that I write to you as a humble servant appealing to a great and powerful nation and ruler. I respectfully say to you that I believe if you continue this effort in the way that you presently have in mind, it will not end terrorism, but unfortunately may increase it.

On September 17, 1985, 1 had a vision-like experience where I was told of the secret plan of President Ronald Reagan who had met with his Joint Chiefs of Staff in early September 1985 to plan a war. I was not told whom that war was against, but, within a few months it became clear to me that the war was against Libya and its Leader, Muammar Gadhafi. President Reagan on coming into office had as one of his aims the desire to get rid of Muammar Gadhafi, and to place in the leadership of Libya a regime more favorable to America's foreign policy interests. The desire of President Reagan also concerned the planning of a war involving young Black men here on the soil of America. This is what inspired me to tour the country talking to Black men urging them to stop the killing of one another, and, this is what eventually led to the Million Man March on October 16, 1995. Another of President Reagan's desires was to make null and void the treaty that was signed by his predecessor, President Jimmy Carter, returning the Panama Canal to the Panamanian people by the year 2000.

President Manuel Noriega of Panama was demonized by the press, tried in absentia and found guilty of drug dealing. This was used as the justification for a violent action that was taken against Panama using the armed forces of America. However, the real aim was to place in Panama a government of America's choosing, and, to nullify the treaty signed by President Carter that gave the Panama Canal back to the Panamanian people.

During President Reagan's administration, Muammar Gadhafi was demonized in the American press. The bombing of a discotheque in Germany was used by President Reagan to justify the most expensive assassination attempt in the history of this nation.

I need not bore you with the details of this because you have access to information that will verify the truth of what I am writing.

I am writing this to show a consistent pattern of behavior of America's Presidents, administrations, and the press with respect to those Muslim leaders and other leaders that America has chosen to denounce as rogues, and to use as a justification for military action to cover their real purposes.

President Richard Nixon wrote that the enemy of democracy was not communism, but, fundamentalist Islam. Every President since the Nixon/Ford administration has taken some military action against a Muslim nation. President Jimmy Carter felt that the overthrow of the Shah of Iran, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, and his replacement with the Islamist regime of Ayatollah Khomeini was a threat to America's vital interests. So, Saddam Hussein was given 80 billion dollars with America's approval by the Saudi government and the rulers of the United Arab Emirates to make Saddam Hussein a strong military power to use him against the rise of the so-called fundamentalist regime in Iran. During President Carter's administration, the American Embassy in Iran was taken and the hostage crisis began.

The effort of Jimmy Carter to free the hostages through military action after the fall of the Shah of Iran was a failure. In the negotiations between our government and the government of Imam Khomeini, it was agreed that the hostages would be released, but not during the administration of President Carter. The hostages were released in the early days of President Reagan's administration. President Reagan also saw Imam Khomeini and his desire that the Iranian people return to the purity of the faith of Islam as a threat to America's vital interests in that area of the world.

Your father fulfilled President Reagan's desire concerning the Panama Canal. Your father also had a problem that involved Saddam Hussein and Iraq. At the same time that he was prosecuting the war against Saddam Hussein, a part of that conflict also involved young Black men, gangs and drugs in America. Although the Gulf War was won by the allied forces, Saddam Hussein remains in power and has become a fixation with every succeeding President.

Mr. President, you have now inherited that which Presidents Reagan, Carter, your father, and President Clinton were not able to complete. What I have been shown is that you have decided to fulfill their unrealized expectations.

Afghanistan is only a preliminary to a much wider war which is already planned, and this war also has a home front aspect as well. Should you persist in this, you will do what no Islamic Leader is able to do. No leader of any Muslim nation can call for Jihad or Holy War and cause the Muslim world to obey that call. The only one who can call for such is one who sits in the position of Khalifah or successor of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him).

Since the destruction of the Caliphate of Islam by corruption within the ranks of Islam, and European machinations; the rise of nationalism among Muslim nations has made it difficult and nearly impossible to unify the Arab and Muslim world on the question of Jihad. However, Mr. President, if you follow what you have in your mind, which many of those around you are encouraging you to do, then, you will do what Osama Bin Ladin and no Muslim extremist could ever do.

You will unite the Muslim world in hostility against America and Great Britain, and, you will use your great position of power inadvertently to call for a Holy War against the West.

You will force the more moderate Islamic regimes either not to side with you, or to side with you at the risk of being overthrown by growing Islamist forces within their countries.

The coalition that you are gathering will fall away from you and you will have to pursue this war alone. I am afraid that this extended war may take a turn that you and your advisors least expect, and involve America in the greatest of all wars, the War of Armageddon, in which no nation will be left out, including Russia and China.

I believe there is a better way to win. A way that may appear more difficult, but, you will be assured of the Help of Allah (God).

The world is with you to pursue those who perpetrated this act of war against America, and, your pursuit of the guilty parties is right and proper. However, Mr. President, it will take great courage on your part to look at America's policies with a critical eye, and, it will take even greater courage to break from the policies of the past and make a new beginning for this nation and the world.

You have sent a strong signal to the world in your statement that the Palestinians should have an independent, sovereign state. If you pursue this course with firmness and justice, the hot bed of terror in the Middle East will subside. The more fair, just and equitable the solution to the Palestinian/Israeli conflict, the more the anger of those on both sides will subside, and, America will get the credit of settling this 53 year old problem with justice, thereby justifying America's position as the Viceregent of Allah (God). Mr. President, with the backing of the American people and the leaders of the world, if you reexamined policies that are unfair and changed them, this signal to the world would bring the world and those so-called enemies and rogue states into your and America's sphere of influence.

Since America is peopled by the people of the entire world, and, all have contributed to America's greatness, then, America as the world ruler has an obligation to the entire world.

There is no need for a clash of civilizations. The Muslim World has much to learn from the West and the West has much to learn from the Religion of Islam.

Creating the climate for dialogue will make a great future for America, and, under her rule a peaceful world can come into existence.

There is no nation on this earth that I know of where I would have the freedom to speak as I do or write the Head of State as I am writing, and, I truly appreciate this freedom.

There is no nation on this earth that offers more in the way of freedom than this nation, however, unrighteousness is what we all should work to overcome, because in the final analysis, it is righteousness, that will make this nation truly great. I am appealing to you and imploring you Mr. President to orchestrate an end to policies that are unjust.

I appreciate the privilege that I have to live in America, and, with all her faults there is no nation on this earth where I would rather live. However, this freedom that I enjoy under the constitution lays on me a heavy responsibility. That is, to protect the best of this nation and to work to overcome those weaknesses of the nation that are causing her fall.

I have traveled to many countries and have spoken to most of the Heads of State and Government, and, not one of them has ever said to me that they hate the American people, but, they have said that they are displeased with America's foreign policies.

I believe that I can be of service to you, our nation, and to all of those whom you believe are America's enemies. I believe that all of them can be made the friends of America. The whole world would like to have America as a true friend, but, America can never be a true friend of the people of the earth until and unless she rules with the Wisdom and Spirit of Allah (God) which reflects itself in our love for humanity, our love for truth, and our exercise of the principle of justice.

The nations would be willing to share their resources with America with joy if they believed that they would get a fair price for what they produce that would allow them to raise the standard of living of their people. There is nothing that the earth possesses that America could not have easy access to, if America determined to rule the nations of the earth with the principle of justice.

If America turns away from this principle and does what she is doing because she has the power to do it, then, Allah (God) who grants power will take it from America and bring another people in her place. This does not have to be, but it will be based on how America conducts herself in this Hour of her greatest trial and her greatest potential triumph.

Mr. President, please think and pray over what I have written, and, speak to your advisors and close friends concerning it. I pray that Allah (God) will grant you the wisdom to see that what I am saying to you is good and is the way to triumph over the evil and hatred that is in the world against the United States of America.

May Allah (God) grant you the wisdom to see deeply into the Prophets' utterances concerning this Hour.

I pray that we will be triumphant over terror and become the Friend of Allah (God) in so doing.

Best wishes for your success.

Thank you for taking the time to read these words. I Am Your Servant in the war against evil,

Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan
Servant to the Lost-Found
Nation of Islam in the West

Editor's Note: On Oct. 30, 2002, the the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan warned President Bush, in this letter, of the Divine consequences if he continued with his present plans. The following is the text of the letter.

National Representative of The Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam

IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE BENEFICENT, THE MERCIFUL.

October 30, 2002

George W. Bush, President
of the United States of America

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20500

As-Salaam Alaikum.
(Peace Be Unto You)

Dear President Bush,

May this letter find you and your family well.

I am writing this letter to once again appeal to you in the strongest way that you might heed my humble counsel and sincere warning to you. I am not your enemy, nor am I an enemy to this country, but, I do believe that the course that you are guiding the nation on will increase many enemies for you and the nation at home and abroad.

In my last letter, I respectfully called your attention to U.S. Presidents and their dealings with Islamic nations and leaders over the last several years, and, I warned that should you pursue what I know is in your mind and heart concerning Saddam Hussein and Iraq that you would lose the great advantage that you gained after September 11, 2001, and, that the coalition would fall apart and you might be forced to go it alone. Also, I opined that if you did such, you might run into something that your advisors had not thought of or perceived. This is already happening. Nations are becoming afraid of you and the tremendous power of America. In this state of fear, they will not stop trying to attain weapons of mass destruction because they believe that is the only thing that you will respect.

There is a rising chorus of anti-war demonstrations in the nation and throughout the world and it will intensify as you move toward war with the thought of occupying Iraq. The anti-war demonstrators will blame every death of an American service person and every death of an Iraqi citizen on you and this will produce a crisis for your administration within the United States, as well as in countries throughout the world.

I am writing to plead with you that there is a better way. However, the more you talk and the stronger you talk about regime change, you paint yourself into a corner from which it becomes increasingly difficult to extricate yourself.

There are times in history when men of conviction go against the tide of world thought and opinion, bringing suffering upon themselves to establish a new truth or a new idea. However, this is not that time for you. In my judgment, this is a time when the President of the United States must not only listen to his advisors and study their agendas, but, he must listen to world opinion. If the President of the United States seems to show no respect for world opinion or for the thoughts of the members of the Security Council of the United Nations, then, your actions will turn the nations of the world against you and against America.

Your actions will also render the United Nations an ineffective institution for future peacekeeping.

Ancient Babylon was a city that caused all who traded with her to wax strong, but, at a certain point, the neighboring nations turned against Babylon and she was destroyed and left as a sign. The Book of Revelation speaks of a mystery Babylon that ancient Babylon was a sign of. The Honorable Elijah Muhammad, my teacher and guide, said that America is the fulfillment of that mystery Babylon.

Mr. President, you must study prophecy in order to beat it.

Look at the nations to the north and south of you. Are they pleased with you, your administration and your polices? Look at your friends in the Middle East. Are they really pleased with you, your administration and policies? Look at your European friends and your African and Asian friends. The prophecy teaches that, they will take your money and whatever you offer, but they will hate you and ultimately make you desolate.

We are headed into a terrible time. I am writing this letter as a final witness of my deep concern for you and for the nation, believing, however, that you are bent on doing what is in your heart with respect to Iraq and Saddam Hussein.

Mr. President, if you do this, you will bring down upon America an increase in the Divine Judgment of rain, hail, snow, wind, earthquakes, pestilence and famine that is already witnessed in the country. As you go about destroying other nations and cities, you will bring this kind of Divine Wrath on the American people and on American cities.

Please reconsider your plans.

May Allah (God) guide you to make the right decision for this nation and for the future of the world.

I Am Your Servant in the war against evil,

The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan

Servant to the Lost-Found
Nation of Islam in the West

The Millions More Movement

The Issues of
The Millions More Movement

1. Unity

We call, first, for the unity amongst Black peoples and organizations. We call for unity amongst all African peoples and peoples of African descent worldwide. We call for unity with our Brown, Red, disenfranchised and oppressed Brothers and Sisters in America, Caribbean, Central and South America, Asia and all over the world. “The Power of One” is the synthesis of men, women, youth and elders working in unity for our total liberation.

2. Spiritual Values

We call for Atonement, Reconciliation and Responsibility. We organize in the name of our God (The One Creator) and on sound ethical, moral principles and values. Our Movement affirms the rich legacy and diversity of our spiritual traditions and calls for unity and understanding among our religious faiths and spiritual traditions.

3. Education

We demand an end to substandard education in our community. The Millions More Movement advocates, and will develop, a new, independent educational paradigm for our people. We must have a knowledge of self, our history, and the best education in civilized society. We will build a skills bank, the talent of which will be used in the development of our people.

4. Economic Development

We will establish a Black Economic Development Fund, with the support of millions, to aid in building an economic infrastructure. We will also offer housing ownership opportunities to check the adverse tide of gentrification. The Millions More Movement will produce and distribute its own products and supports “Buy Black” campaigns.

5. Political Power

The Millions More Movement is the political voice of the poor and disenfranchised. We are resolved to take an independent political path in order to achieve political power. The Millions More Movement will be an organized political force of consequence in America and all over the world.

6. Reparations

We demand full and complete Reparations for the descendants of slaves. We demand that America take the appropriate steps to help in the repair of the damage done from 300 years of slavery, 100 years of segregation, and 50 years of the misuse and abuse of governmental power to destroy Black organizations and leaders.

7. Prison Industrial Complex

We demand freedom for all political prisoners held in U.S. prisons and detention facilities, both foreign and domestic. We demand an end to police brutality, mob attacks, racial profiling, the herding of our young men and women into prisons and the biological and chemical warfare perpetrated against our people.

8. Health

We demand an end to the lack of adequate health care in our community and we demand free health care for the descendants of slaves in this nation. The Millions More Movement will present a Preventive Health Care Plan to our people that will begin with a campaign to educate our people on healthy dietary, eating and exercise habits.

9. Artistic/ Cultural Development

We demand a greater accountability and responsibility of our artists, entertainers, industry personnel and executives, for them to commit to the redevelopment and upliftment of our people. We demand an end to the exploitation of our talent by outside forces. We will make strides in obtaining greater control over the means of production and distribution of our immense artistic talent and creative genius. We advocate for cultural development, and for the knowledge of our original culture to be used as a model for future advancement.

10. Peace

We call for the establishment of peace in the world. We demand an end to wars of foreign aggression waged by the United States Government against other sovereign nations and peoples. We demand an end to senseless violence, and advocate peace amongst street organizations (gangs) and youth.

To know more about the Millions More Movement visit http://www.millionsmoremovement.com/about.htm

A Master Champion for the Black Community

He was born in 1877 in the Holy City of Mecca, Arabia. He came to North America by himself. His father was a black man and his mother was a Caucasian woman. This man studied for 42 years before embarking on a search to find a nation of people that was lost in a wilderness. This man is written of in scriptures as coming without observation, like a thief in the night, and coming unto his own and his own receiving him not {John1:11} and making himself of no reputation.

He arrived in what was known as black bottom Detroit and began going door to door selling silks and telling the people that he was their brother from the east. He was a light skin black man and when our people would let him into their homes he would begin teaching them the knowledge of ourselves, of God, of the Devil and of other planets and their civilizations.

This man also measure and weighed the earth and its water. He taught us the history of the moon. He taught us how we were made into slaves and how we were kept in slavery by the slave masters children. He taught us a science on how to eat to live. He taught us if we submit to his will that he will place us in heaven at once. He taught us that God is a man. He taught us what others call U.F.O’S are really I.F.O’S {Identified Flying Objects. He taught us about the atom and many more things. This article would not do us justice in showing the many things we were taught by this great man

This great man is more than a champion and is known only to those wide awake as a master. This master met with a wise man by the name of Elijah Poole and taught him by depositing himself into Elijah and then leaving him to carry on what he taught him.

The only picture we have of this great Master Teacher is of him reading a book. He is telling us to become a nation of readers. Leaders are readers and you have to read to lead. This man’s is Master Fard Muhammad and he is spoken of in the book of Habakkuk 3:3. Research and learn more of this Master that wants to make you into a master of yourself and the forces of nature.

A Champion for the Black Community

In 1897 he was born in Sandersville, Georgia. In his day they never kept accurate birth records so his birthday was placed somewhere between the first 2 weeks of October similar to Jesus. His parents were former slaves that worked as sharecroppers {farming the owners land for a share of the crop} on a cotton plantation. His father was a Baptist preacher. He was among 13 children and attended school until age 9 or the 4^th grade. This man also works in the field and railroad and at the age of 16 he left home to travel and work at odd jobs. He arrived in Detroit in 1923 where he worked on a car assembly line.

In 1930 he came in contact with a man that would forever change his life. This man taught him about the origin of black people, about God, about the Devil, and about the time we are living in and what must be done. He also taught him about the fall of America, U.F.O’S and many more things. The man who taught this champion for 3 years and approximately 4 months then went away and left this man who only went to the 4^th grade to teach others what he was taught.

During this time this champion helped change a man by the name of Malcolm Little into Malcolm X, Cassius Clay into Muhammad Ali, Louis Walcott into the Honorable minister Louis Farrakhan and many more that followed what was given to them. If you don’t know this champion is by now then read on.

This champion went above and beyond his call which was to deliver the message he was given to the people clearly. This wonderful man began businesses, purchasing land, trade and commerce. He taught us to protect and elevate the Black woman by showing the great value which lies in her. HE taught us a science which he learned from a master on How to Eat to live and said if we eat the right foods at the proper times that we would be free of all ailments and prolong our Lives. He was a helper with the Master’s blue print in establishing a university of Islam for our children to learn our history as well as the higher sciences and mathematics.

He taught us to do for self and to self and to stop relying on others to do for us what we could do for ourselves. He took many of our people, who were pimps, prostitutes, drug pusher, alcoholics, killers and robbers and made them into upright men and women with strong moral values, family values and created in us a fear, respect and love for the God who came for us. Out of all those who followed this champion only one would be chosen to carry on this mission in his absence. This one was tried thoroughly and never gave up and that is why the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan sits in the place of this champion who is none other than the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad.

This champion is written of in scripture in the book of Malachi which means my messenger in the 4^th chapter, verse 6. You can accept it or reject it. He was once Elijah Poole, but is now the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad

A champion for the Black Community and all of humanity

On May the 11^th 1933 he was born to Sarah Manning and Percival Clarke in the Bronx, New York .His father Percival Clarke was not involved in bringing him up. He started playing the violin at age 6 and at age 13 he had already played with the Boston College Orchestra and the Boston Civic Symphony. He was one of the first black performers to appear on the Ted Mack Original Amateur Hour in which he also won an award. He also attended a very prestigious Boston Latin School and graduated from an English High School.

He then attended college at Winston Salem State Teachers College for two years while also running track. He left college to devote himself to his wife who was at that time pregnant. During the 1950’s he recorded several calypso albums under the name of “The Charmer”. In 1955 he came in contact with a teaching that would forever change his life.

He joined in July 1955 and vowed to spread what he was learning about himself and his people to every nook and cranny of America and the world which he has. If you don’t know who this Champion is then read on. This man was inspired by the good works of Malcolm X and he became a Minister from 1965 to1975 in Harlem. On October 16^th1995 he called for a Million Men to the nation’s capital and nearly Two Million came. The theme was to teach black men responsibility, how to be better Husbands, Fathers, and Brothers to one another.

A second march was called later but it was a Movement, the Million’s More Movement on October 14^th -17^th 2005 in Washington. In 2005 B.E.T known as Black Entertainment Television voted him the Person of the Year. He has been labeled as a racist, anti-semitic, a homophobic, labels in which he has categorically denied. The public perception of this great man has been shaped by media sound bites the types of tricks played on Barack Obama during his campaign. Don’t believe anything until you hear the full context check him out for yourself at www.noi.org and www.finalcall.com. He once was Louis Jean Walcott and he now is the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan. Whenever an individual is despised, hated, lied on and evil spoken of ; if we are spiritual beings it should awaken our spirit to just think of who may possibly be in our midst.

Thank You For Reading

The Honorable Elijah Muhammad taught him: 1. The truth separates.

2. Don’t be careful that you agree on right, but be careful that you don’t agree on wrong.

3. A fool can insult a civilized person, but a civilized person cannot insult a fool because it is not his nature.

4. Blessed are those who forge first to bring the way for others.

5. If you want to talk to Allah, read the Holy Quran.

These saying came from the mouth of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad. To hear more on Sunday go to www.noi.org/webcast at 11:00am on Sundays available for Everybody absolutely free.

Books recommended by the the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan

Without Sanctuary- James Allen

By way of Deception- Victory A Ostrovsky

100 years of Lynching- J.A. Rogers

100 Amazing facts about the negro- J.A. Rogers

From Man to Superman- J.A. Rogers

Confession of an economic hitman- John Perkins

Palestine peace not apartheid- Jimmy Carter

Hegemony or Survival -America’s quest for global Dominance- Noam Chomsky

The Secrets of the federal reserve- Eustace Mullins

The Secret relationship between Blacks and Jews – By the Nation of Islam

Writings of John Henri Clarke

Writings of Cheikh Ante Diop

Writings of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad

These books were recommended to the entire world by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan in a Savior’s day address in 2007. These books should be read by everyone to know what is really going on.

List Of Disaster Supplies

1 gallon of water per day per person for drinking & sanitation
abc type tube
aluminum foil, plastic wraps
books/materials for reading
buy lots of seed, grow a garden
can opener
canned juices
cement
compass
disinfectant, household chlorine
enough clothing for each person in your household
feminine supplies
fire extinguisher
first aid kit, first aid book
flashlights, candles, kerosene lamps
foods that requires non refrigeration preparation/cooking & little or no water
gas refill pumps
generator
hygiene items, moist toilette
kitty litter
ladders,ropes,gasmasks,boots,raincoats etc
map of area for evacuation or locating shelters
matches,lighters,tents
medicine droppers
nails, hammer, pliers, utility knives
non perishable high energy foods
paper towel, napkins
plastic buckets with tight lids
plastic garbage bags
plastic storage containers
plastic utensils, paper cups/plates
protein or fruit bars, dry cereals or granola, crackers
ready packed emergency bag/foods in case you have to leave
ready-eat canned meats fruits & vegetables
signal flare paper
small canister
solar & battery power radio{extra batteries}
stationary items
supplies of non perishable food, baby foods etc
toilet paper
vitamins, comfort/stress foods
water proof containers
Walkie talkie radios
whistle to signal for help
wrench to turn off household gas & water

Lesson #1

The Lesson: If you truly desire to be in the best of health then you should consider very strongly giving up eating the pig and it’s by –products. If you claim not to eat pork think again after reviewing this list below of (26) different names pork is listed by, called pork by products. Go home and look in your cupboards and refrigerator if you really want to be thorough to achieve your maximum health and I’m sure you will be surprised.

The Other Names

Lard, Pork, Swine, Hog (pig), Bear, Animal, Shortening, Gelatin, Animal Fats, Hydrolyzed, Animal Protein, Collagen, Tallow, Sodium Tallowate, Emulsifiers, Stabilizers, Mono and Diglycerides, Triglycerides, Tween, Pepsine, Calcium Stearate, Magnesium Stearate, Sorbate, Polysorbate, Fatty Acids

In the body worms called pork worms are produced after consuming pork. These worms multiply by the millions. The worms start from the walls of the stomach then work from the stomach to the intestinal walls. From the intestines they travel up the spinal cord into the muscles of the body and lastly into the brain. When the worms get into the spinal cord and the brain the disease becomes incurable. The worms cause muscle aches, hay fever and many other symptoms of sickness. The worm can go undetected in your system for years and is known by its scientific name Trichinella Spiralis which causes trichinosis.

Pork is often referred to as “Cured” The word “Cured” is the past tense of the verb “cure”. If a meat has to be cured before we eat it, we should not even take the chance to eat it”.

Read what God says about the pig for yourself. Deuteronomy 14:8, Isa 65:2, 3, 4 Isa 66:3, 66:17, 65:5 Mark 5:12

Holy Quran:2:173, 5:3, 6:146, 16:115

Read Book 1 and 2 called How to Eat to Live by the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad. If you follow the guidance in these books you will have health like you Never imagined. Go to www.finalcall.com or www.muhammadspeaks.com to find out more.

Lesson #2

Some of this material should offend some readers so reader discretion is advised

Thug: a violent criminal,a member of a former secret organization of robbers ,a cut throat or ruffian a hoodlum comes from Hindi word thag, originally from Sanskrit word sthagayati,a thief or a villain,back in the 1500's,there was god in which ladies will come to,they will sacrifice items to it, cut themselves, the men will come & steal their sacrifices beat the women & call themselves thugs,a band of roving criminals from India who strangled & rob travellers,these gangs committed murder,following precised religious rites to honor Kali,the Hindu goddess of destruction.

Bitch: a female dog,use as an insult based as a comparison of a woman to a dog in heat. female canines particularly among dog breeders, English profanity for a woman typical which carries denegrating or misogynistic overtones,such as resemblance to dog,it usage maybe use to characterize someone who has aggressive or spiteful bitterness or been in possession of rudely intrusive or domineering tendencies,use as vulgarism documented to the 14th century suggested high sexual desire in a woman comparable to a female dog in heat.

Whore: a woman who engages in promiscuous sexual intercourse,usually for money,prostitute.harlot strumpet

a person as having compromise principles for personal gain.

Slut: a dirty slovenly woman{careless,untidy/unclean as in appearance of dress or habits.

an immoral or dissolute woman.

adulteress,fornicatress,hussy,jade or loose woman.

kid: a young goat,an antelope or similar animal.

Nigger: the word nigger can be traced backed in history to the Latin word Niger,meaning black. The word become a noun,negro {a black person} in English and the color black in Portuguese and Spanish. In the early 1800's despite it's origin it was established as a degenerative word. It remains a a symbol of white racism in the 21st century regardless of who was using it. All ethnic and racial groups overtime has been victimized by racial slurs; but blacks have endured more than any other groups in America. We were call names such as coon, tom, pickney,buck,sambo, savage, buckwheat, mammy, and jigaboo. These names have painted us in literature,cinema, caricatures,whether put in the media,material objects to create a network to spread anti-black prejudice. The word "nigger" historically limited, made fun of,ridiculed and defined all blacks. The "N" word strengthened the stereotype of worthless nobody,dirty, lazy stupid, whether used as a verb,noun or adjective it was a term of exclusion,a verbal word. Niggerish: Acting in lazy and irresponsible manner, Nigger luck: Derogatory term for good luck, Nigger heaven: Designed places usually the balcony where blacks were forced to sit for example, Movie theater or church. Nigger rich: Deep in debt but flamboyant, Nigger steak: cheap meat, Nigger stick: A police officer baton, Nigger tip: leaving a small tip or no tip at a restaurant, Nigger work: Demeaning, manual work, Nigger worshipper: when whites mix with blacks. The ultimate American insult is the word "Nigger". It is also use to offend other ethnic groups as well such as some Jews are call White-Niggers, Arab sand Niggers, Japanese yellow Niggers.We also use this term in ways such as "A nigger can't even get a break", "Sistas want niggers to work all day", "He's a lazy good for nothing nigger","This car is such a nigger""I'm sick and tired of these niggers bothering me! Me and my niggers are tight", and the biggest one of all the universal greetings of young black men "Zup niggah". These ugly words originated from the past so we as black people should not be prisoners of the past. When our ancestors came to America by force before having our names and language changed we knew each other as Brothers and Sisters not the "N" word. Let us strive to call each other Brothers and Sisters from now on Much love more on the "N" word next time..........Thanks for reading remember knowledge,wisdom and understanding is the key to power and without it we are all doom to fail

The Truth About Pork

I don’t think that I could ever forget my sophomore year biology project. My partner and I had to pick a fetal pig from out of a bag and begin the dissection. I never really thought too much of pork before this time. I ate it leisurely even though my older brother told me not to. For three weeks we will be hacking into this formaldehyde fill omnivore and i would dread going to class everyday. I ate it leisurely even though my older brother told me not to. For three weeks we would be hacking into this formaldehyde filled omnivore and I would dread going to class everyday. When we reached the subject of the human body, we were literally forced to take a scalpel and cut this thing apart. Why would we dissect a pig in order to learn about the human body? Believe it or not the pig has the closest anatomy to the human body. Maybe this would explain why my grandfather, who was a preacher, always said not to eat the pig because they were once people that God cast demons into. Well whatever the case I couldn’t talk myself into eating another pepperoni pizza or ham sandwich again. The smell of dead pig surrounded the north end hallways of my school and the actual classroom reeked of formaldehyde and guts. I remember by lunchtime I was so grossed out that I was hesitant to eat. It seemed like no matter how hard I scrubbed my hands with watered down school soap I could not shake the smell. I think that the ultimate peak of my disgust happened the moment my teacher started to tell us about the worms that cultivate in the stomachs of the pig. She explained how people that eat undercooked pork carry the risk of cultivating these worms inside of them too. She then instructed us to slice open the stomachs of the pigs and examine. I think that this was the day that I wanted to drop out of school. I didn’t end up dropping out, however I learned the truth about pork and I realized that it is the most impure animal to consume. I have decided to educate others with the God honest truth about eating the other white meat. When I first became a Muslim I knew that I would have to refrain from eating pork and trust me it wasn’t a hard decision. I hadn’t eaten pork in 8 years prior to my conversion, ever since the dissection. Islam strongly teaches that the eating of pork is forbidden and should not be consumed by a righteous servant of God.

Lists of a few Black Poets

Dudley Randall
Dudley Randall was born in the year 1914 in Washington DC. He showed keen interest in poetry since his early childhood. His very first poem appeared in the the Detroit Free Press, when he was merely thirteen years of age. 'Ballad of Birmingham' is one of his famous poems which he wrote as a reaction to the 1963 bombing on a Baptist church. Some of his famous works include 'Booker T. and W.E.B.', 'A poet is not a Jukebox' and 'The Profile on the Pillow'. Dudley Randall passed away in the year 2000.

Ishmael Reed
Ishmael Reed is one of the most famous black poets. He was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in the year 1938. Ishmael Reed is a controversial poet, essayist and novelist, who is known for his satirical poems that challenged American political and cultural oppressions. His first novel 'The Freelance Pallbearers' was published in the year 1963. His book 'Conjure' was nominated for the famous Pulitzer Prize and he was a finalist for the National Book Award, twice.

Langston Hughes
James Langston Hughes was an African American poet, playwright, novelist, columnist and short story writer. He was born in Joplin, Missouri, in the year 1902. Langston Hughes started to write poems at the age of 13. He is best known for his works during the Harlem Renaissance and his writing, 'Harlem was in Vogue'. His first poetry collection, 'The Weary Blues' was published in the year 1926. He played a huge role in garnering recognition for the African American culture and giving it the status that it possesses today. Langston Hughes passed away in the year 1967.

Arna Bontemps
Arna Bontemps was one of the famous black poets and an honored member of the Harlem Renaissance. He was born in the city of Alexandria, Louisiana, in the year 1902. Arna Bontemps began writing when he was a college student and soon after authored of many books for children. Bontemps later on collaborated with the contemporary poet Langston Hughes to co-author several books on African American culture. Arna Bontemps passed away in the year 1973.

Phillis Wheatley
Phillis Wheatley was the one of the pioneer African American poet. She was born in Gambia, Senegal, in the year 1753 and was enslaved at the tender age of 8. She was brought to America in a ship named 'Phillis' and was purchased by the 'Wheatley' family of Boston. This tells us the precise story about her name! The poem that she wrote about the death of an evangelical preacher encouraged her to write more poems. Phillis Wheatley passed away in the year 1784, at the age of 31.

Gwendolyn Brooks
Gwendolyn Brooks was born in Topeka, Kansas, in the year 1917. Brooks' first book of poetry, 'A Street in Bronzeville' was published in the year 1945. She was the author of more than 20 books during her 50 years career as a poet. Some of her famous books include the 'Riot', 'In The Mecca' and 'The Bean Eaters'. Her book 'Annie Allen' won her the Pulitzer Prize. She was nominated for many other honorable awards. Gwendolyn Brooks passed away in the year 2000.

Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou was born in Saint Louis, Missouri, in the year 1928. She has been called 'America's most visible black female autobiographer'. Best known for her series of six autobiographical volumes of the book 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings'. She was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for 'Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'Fore I Diiie'. Her book of poetry 'I Shall Not Be Moved' concentrates on racism while 'Phenomenal Women' deals with the place of women in the early 21st century.

Nikki Giovanni
Nikki Giovanni is one of the most famous black poets. She was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, in the year 1943. Nikki Giovanni is a Grammy nominated poet, writer and activist. She is an author of more than 17 books of poetry. Her work is often focused on the quest of social equality and black freedom movements. As a result, her first collection to be published in the year 1968 was named 'Black Feeling, Black Talk'. Many of her books are available in the spoken word recordings, including the famous 'Truth Is On Its Way'. She is a survivor of lung cancer and is currently teaching at Virginia Tech.

Poetry

Poetry is the expression of a thought, an idea, a concept or a story in a structured form which has a flow and a music created by the sounds and syllables in it.

All types of poetry are often written in several styles. These styles are defined by the number of lines in each stanza, the syllables used in each line or the structures of rhyme used and so on. Here is a list of the main types of poetry commonly used by poets all over the world.

Ballad: This is an old style of writing poetry, which was used to tell stories. A ballad usually has stanzas made up of either seven or eight or ten lines, and ends with a short four or five line stanza. Each stanza ends with the same line, which is called ‘a refrain’.

Couplet: Perhaps the most popular type of poetry used, the couplet has stanzas made up of two lines which rhyme with each other.

Quatrain: This kind of poem has four lines in a stanza, of which the second and fourth lines rhyme with each other and have a similar syllable structure.

Cinquain: This is another unique type of poetry style. As the name suggests, it is made up of five lines. The first line is just one word, which is often the title of the poem. The second line has two words which describe the first line. The third line has three words, and is mostly the action part of the poem. The fourth line is four words describing the feelings. And the fifth line, again, has just one word which is the title of the poem.

Iambic Pentameter: This is a very complicated style of writing poetry, but was often used by classical poets. This style uses the syllable stresses to create the musical sound. There is one short sounding syllable followed by one long sounding syllable, at the end of each of the five stanzas in a row.

Sonnet: This type of poem contains fourteen lines and follows conventional structures of rhyme.

Haiku: This is again a very structured method of writing poetry. This has its origins in Japan. This method does not use rhyme. There are three lines of five, seven and five syllables each. The poem must essentially talk about some aspect of Nature.

Free Verse: This is a method of writing poetry, which does not essentially follow any structure or style. There is no fixed meter and no structure regarding rhyme and lines in each stanza. This kind of poetry is quite popular with modern poets.

Epic: This poem is usually a long and descriptive one which tells a story. Epics usually are longer than most poems and may even take up a book. Example: Homer’s ‘Iliad’.

Limerick: This is a very witty and often vulgar kind of a poem, which is quite short. This poem has five lines in a stanza. The first, second and fifth line have the same metrical structure and they rhyme with each other. They contain seven to ten syllables each. The second and fourth lines have the same metrical structure and rhyme with each other. These contain five to seven syllables.

These are by no means, all types of poetry forms used. But these are the basics. Most poets use these forms and structures while writing their poems. The form and structure of the poem, ideally should not limit the thought or the idea conveyed by the poet. However, these styles of writing help make the poem more musical in its flow.

By Madhavi Ghare

Writing Poetry:How to Write poem

Writing poetry is quite a daunting task. It sounds easy at the outset, but when one gets down to it, it becomes more and more complicated. Some of us can go ahead and create a magical flow with words quite easily, while it is a long-winded and onerous task for others. Needless to say, when one contemplates writing poetry, one must be up to the challenge.

There are several things that one must consider while wondering how to write poetry. Here is a list of things to think about that, hopefully, will make the process easier for you.

The Subject:

Commonly known as the ‘Theme’ of the poem, this is the important starting point and central point of your work. What is the poem all about? What are you trying to get across to the world at large, via your poem? Is it a story, an experience, a description of events, or a description of a place?

An interesting way to take the jump from this point is writing down the words, phrases or sentences that come to your mind when you are thinking about the subject or the theme of your poem. Don’t worry if nothing sounds or feels right, just write it down for now.

The Feeling:

A poem, no matter how descriptive it may be, is not to be used to state the obvious. We all know that the grass is green, for example. What you need to express in your poem is what you felt when you saw the green grass. What emotions did it evoke within you? What were you going through at the time and how did seeing the green grass change or enhance your feelings at that moment of time? With your words, you have to convey what you feel or felt. The readers have to understand the depth of what you were going through. A poem is essentially about the emotions of the poet.

A way to get past the barrier of writing about emotions is to take ordinary things from your daily life and write down whatever ‘feeling’ words come to your mind when you see the object. Such a list will come in handy and is a good way to practice.

The Mood:

How do you want to portray your thoughts, ideas and feelings via this poem? Do you want to make it a serious poem, or a funny one, a sarcastic one or an irreverent one? The mood can often help you convey the feelings more effectively.

Once you have your feeling words in place, you can choose different moods of the poem and try to write a sentence or two that contains the theme and the feeling in these various moods. Which mood do you like the best? Which mood conveys what you feel about the subject more effectively?

The Style:

Choose a style of writing the poem from among several – from classical to the modern contemporary styles of writing poetry, there are many to choose from. Pick a style which is easier for you to work with. Most modern poets often use the free verse style of poetry. Although, to the beginner, this style may not have a formal structure and sound easy to write in, look closely at the work of popular free verse poets and you will find a basic form lurking somewhere.

An exercise to try out at this juncture is to write down your thoughts about something or someone in free verse and then trying to see if you can put those lines into another well-known structure or style of writing poetry. Perhaps a few changes here and there and it might do the trick. Try doing that with two or three styles and find one which you are more comfortable with. This process will help you revise your work and find your style at the same time.

The Audience:

Who are you writing for? The audience of the poem can help you choose the language, the style and the words to be used in your piece. Experiment with forms and words to find your unique ‘Voice’ as a poet.

Read out your poem to a few of your friends, relatives, and neighbors etc who fit in with your description of your target audience. Ask for their feedback and what they felt about the poem. Don’t take negative feedback or criticism to heart – it is in fact a learning experience all the way. Try and try till you get it just right.

Other Helpful Tips:

It makes sense to study the forms and styles used by poets across the world to become more familiar with structure, format, rhythm, rhyme and meter along with several other elements used in poetry.
A dictionary or a thesaurus is very handy to have. Often, a search for meanings of words can help you take a jump off to another wonderful dimension within your poetry.
Keep a journal, notebook or a diary where you record your thoughts, feelings and experiences, even dreams. You may never know where they may lead you off to.
Attend as many poet / poetry groups as you can. This helps you get your work read and critiqued by other people and can provide you with valuable insights on your work.
And to conclude, (and this is perhaps the best tip of all), don’t be afraid to edit and re-write. Don’t take all the criticism personally. Keep a good sense of humor while showing your work. Keep working at it till you feel it is just right and every single word is exactly where it should be.

By Madhavi Ghare

Poem

Ships are leaving
Guards with shotguns
The black men women & children
Tide up no space lye down
Nowhere to move
Nowhere to escape

How many slaves taken?
Hundred! Thousand! Million!
Yes it's more than ten millions
500 years ago they have been taken
As slaves without any freedom

The new world with guarding dogs
The new owner"s home with darkness
They worked hard day and night
But still they look for the freedom

Now they have everything
They become the world best
Athletics, Musicians, Doctors
Politicians, Authors, Poets
Donors for charities

BY: Jerushan Edwards

Beauty

What is beauty?
Is it silky skin, white as alabaster?
Or twinkling eyes like the morning star,
Is it well shaped mouth, red as blood?
Or heart shaped face, like an opening rose bud,
Is it thick black lashes, long as a veil?
Or pink cheeks, like strawberry milk shake
And is it shiny hair, bright as golden cobs?
Or dainty nose, with freckled spots.
For all these, the eyes will tell

Who is beautiful?
Is it a person with great courage?
Or determination of a soldier ant.
Is it a person with a soft touch?
Or a smile that lights the darkest of tunnel
Is it a person willing to share?
Or give, if it can't be shared
And is it a person whose wisdom enchants?
Or knowledge is transcendent
For all these, the heart will tell.

"Still i rise"
You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
Diggin' in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.

Million Man March Poem"

The night has been long,
The wound has been deep,
The pit has been dark,
And the walls have been steep.

Under a dead blue sky on a distant beach,
I was dragged by my braids just beyond your reach.
Your hands were tied, your mouth was bound,
You couldn't even call out my name.
You were helpless and so was I,
But unfortunately throughout history
You've worn a badge of shame.

I say, the night has been long,
The wound has been deep,
The pit has been dark
And the walls have been steep.

But today, voices of old spirit sound
Speak to us in words profound,
Across the years, across the centuries,
Across the oceans, and across the seas.
They say, draw near to one another,
Save your race.
You have been paid for in a distant place,
The old ones remind us that slavery's chains
Have paid for our freedom again and again.

The night has been long,
The pit has been deep,
The night has been dark,
And the walls have been steep.

The hells we have lived through and live through still,
Have sharpened our senses and toughened our will.
The night has been long.
This morning I look through your anguish
Right down to your soul.
I know that with each other we can make ourselves whole.
I look through the posture and past your disguise,
And see your love for family in your big brown eyes.

I say, clap hands and let's come together in this meeting ground,
I say, clap hands and let's deal with each other with love,
I say, clap hands and let us get from the low road of indifference,
Clap hands, let us come together and reveal our hearts,
Let us come together and revise our spirits,
Let us come together and cleanse our souls,
Clap hands, let's leave the preening
And stop impostering our own history.
Clap hands, call the spirits back from the ledge,
Clap hands, let us invite joy into our conversation,
Courtesy into our bedrooms,
Gentleness into our kitchen,
Care into our nursery.

The ancestors remind us, despite the history of pain
We are a going-on people who will rise again.

And still we rise.

By: Maya Angelou

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Untold Black History ----The Black Chinese

Who Sara Baartman every black woman should know her name

About Me

Followers

Blog Archive

The Origin Of Black History Month In Canada

Favorite Quotes

Inventions

NATIVE & ASIAN HEROES

Wyllie Lynch Letter

Trivia: 6 Important Questions

Can you say peace in different languages

Famous Birthdays

Minister Louis Farrakhan- The Healing For a Sin- Sick Nation Atonement- The 8 Steps Of Atonement

Minister Louis Farrakhan Letter To George W. Bush

The Millions More Movement

A Master Champion for the Black Community

Books recommended by the the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan

List Of Disaster Supplies

Lesson #1

Lesson #2

The Truth About Pork

Lists of a few Black Poets

Poem

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Untold Black History ----The Black Chinese

Who Sara Baartman every black woman should know her name

About Me

Followers

Blog Archive

Subscribe To

The Origin Of Black History Month In Canada

Favorite Quotes

Inventions

NATIVE & ASIAN HEROES

Wyllie Lynch Letter

Trivia: 6 Important Questions

Can you say peace in different languages

Famous Birthdays

Minister Louis Farrakhan- The Healing For a Sin- Sick Nation Atonement- The 8 Steps Of Atonement

Minister Louis Farrakhan Letter To George W. Bush

The Millions More Movement

A Master Champion for the Black Community

Books recommended by the the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan

List Of Disaster Supplies

Lesson #1

Lesson #2

The Truth About Pork

Lists of a few Black Poets

Poem