Re-flections By Tafadzwa ShakaRa Mbandaka So I am Raflecting on the Reparations March on 1st Mosiah. It was impossible to be there and not feel the energy, the spirit and most importantly the potential it represented. many people underestimate the value of us just coming together under a unified focus. I am not one such person. In todays context, to get 2-3000 Black Men, Women & Children from all over the country to gather in the name of a PRO-BLACK agenda is not mean feet. BUT One of the things that people kept saying on the March is its not about the March - its about what we do AFTER THE MARCH. I kept hearing people say that. Obviously different people have different focuses and different levels of ACTIVE involvement in PRO-ACTIVE agendas when things like this occur. Every strategy may not meet my particular sensibilities, but I dont believe in being an arm chair revolutionary. If I believe in the over all goals of a movement then its not about pick choosing and refusing which strategies I throw my weight behind on some individualistic flex. And I am not about to stand on the sidelines criticising the movement for doing the wrong ting. Ima be a part of it and if I believe I have a way to do things, then organise among those who share my perspective and use it to contribute to the Movement. One the things people who are critical of the march suggest is that we shouldnt protest and demonstrate - why are you tryina appeal to THEM. What said people dont know is that in truth, the March was not for Parliament. For the organisations who make up The Movement for reparations in this country, the March was more about raising awareness among our own people and creating platforms to facilitate that awareness raising. As iNAPP Co-Chair Sister Leader Jendayi Serwah said in the following video. Today Brothers and Sisters, coming together in our thousands is an important psychological show of strength to EACH OTHER. A testament to our ability to come together. She said this after putting Reparations in its PROPER context, speaking primarily to the need for INTERNAL repair. This means the Social, Economic, Political, Spiritual, work we need to do for ourselves and each other. Sister Esther Stanford-Xosei spoke later that day at the ***MOSIAH OPENING CEREMONY featuring UNIA-ACL PRESIDENT GENERAL SENGHOR JAWARA BAYE*** 1st Mosiah (Aug) 2014... and spoke extensively about revolutionary internal repair and openly condemned the begging bowl to master mentality. President General Senghor Jawara Baye also said the the focus of the UNIA-ACL is on internal repair - building institutions and programs for the people. He said, we cant be knocking on the door and creating opportunities for them to keep it shut with so-called legal precedent. He said we have to be about developing the kind of power among ourselves, so that we blow open the door walk in and simply take what is ours. All of these people were on the March and actively involved in organising it. Now I obviously cant speak for everyone who was on the march, But I can say that many who were involved in organising it, and many who are involved in the Social Movement for reparations are actively involved in all kinds of Social, Economic Institution Building and Campaign activity. Many own businesses, Many run Saturday Schools, some are running full time schools, while others are developing full time schools. Many are running health and wellness programs. Some even have economic institutions geared towards investing in and managing Afrikas Natural resources. Some own agricultural programs teaching people how to connect with land for health and economic purposes. Some run Black media institutions. Some are developing Black Banks and Cooperatives for acquiring collective wealth..... They were all on the march. Now, if you just came to the march (or did not come) and are not involved in the Movement in this country, then you may not know this. But it is important to know this. Many who do not know this will make the mistake of belittling the efforts of the movement. Pigeon holing and boxing it in to some dead out group of marchers with no sustainable programs. All I am saying is critique from the perspective of ignorance is pointless... and actually foolish... lacking in intelligence. Marching will not Free us. Marching will not Build viable businesses. Marching will not build schools. Marching will not feed the people and marching will not be the means by which we internally and external repair. BUT a march properly used as a strategy can be an invaluable media and therefore psychological tool. A march can be a component of a mass education program. A March as a symbol of a movement can be a tool of mobilising and then organising people around the principles and goals of that movement. Therefore creating a visible presence so that our people know where to go to get involved in the PRO-ACTIVE work that is going on in between Marches. I am proud to say I was there..... I dont need no excuses to gather among Black people. And I will be even prouder to see and be involved in the WORKS that continue to develop between 1st Mosiah this and next year, in conjunction with all the people, with all their various different programs, businesses, organisations and institutions as we support each other towards a unified purpose. AFRIKAN POWER!
Posted on: Mon, 04 Aug 2014 11:38:51 +0000
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