OBAMA EFFECT: FED ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 4 JIM CROW & ENSLAVEMENT!

This is the first time in our nation’s history the U.S. federal government has apologized for slavery and the effects of a De Facto law called: Jim Crow. Many people are under the mistaken notion that since slavery was abolished in 1808 in Britain, and in 1863 for the U.S.; that somehow there isn’t a need for restitution for America’s former “forced laborers!”

“In passing the resolution, the House also acknowledged the “injustice, cruelty, brutality and inhumanity of slavery and Jim Crow.”

Why would the U.S. wait until, damn near Judgement Day to offer its deepest sympathies and condolences for past crimes committed against  humanity. Enslaved Africans are our nation’s true burden bearers of this newest republic in the West. In fact, enslaved Africans built the U.S. Capitol building in Washington D.C. Could that be one reason for this sudden crisis of conscience American politicians are having?

I’d prefer to think of this as political expediency for a growing surge of a changing demographic on the political landscape. Let’s call it the Obama Effect. We must acknowledge that certain isssues have recieved new life since the charismatic Senator from Illinois has hit, not just, the National stage, but the Intenational one as well.

For example, when Obama came to St. Peterburgh, Florida this past week, someone asked him why he doesn’t support Reparations. Basically, his stance was that while he agrees there are tremendous gaps in achievement, social mobility, education, jobs, health, class and gender; he didn’t think every victim of oppression should be given financial compensation. His retort to the “heckler” who persisted to insist Obama change his policy stance was: You should RUN 4 office!!

The ranking official on the House Judiciary Committee is John Conyers (D) Michigan. He’s had a House bill on the books for over 20 years and can’t even get a motion to have it heard. Now, Obama bursts on the scene and miraculously former slavemasters (their descendants) want to apologize for an atrocity of perpetual proportions that has lingering effects that most white people fail to give credence to.

The Obama effect {O.E.} can open some eyes to histories ill-treatment. The O.E. will thrust new discourse on “hot-topics” swept under the rug due to fear of vengeance. The O.E. no matter if he wins or loses will surely be felt for years to come. The hopes & dreams of an entire generation depend bama effect taking root into the collective-conscience of all Americans. Then the slow wheels of CHANGE can & will begin to move.

Only a fool would think that a simple apology would do much to improve race relations, however when dealing with it from a psychological perspective we see that an entire governing body within the federal government has “acknowledged” collusion of a crime, a wrong was committed. Moreover, with the advent of repressive & oppressive domestic policies (i.e Poll Taxes) many of the vestiges of Jim Crow still persist to this day.

Historically speaking, “Jim Crow,” or Jim Crow laws, were state and local laws enacted mostly in the Southern and border states of the United States between the 1870s and 1965, when African-Americans were denied the right to vote and other civil liberties were legally segregated from whites.”

This is also the same time period “Lynching” of men, women and children eclipsed 6,000 people from African descent. {see: Ida B. Wells for proof}. A travesty of widespread far-reaching proportions as white mobs or gangs would inflict vigilante justice on defenseless citizens whom were intimidated, harassed, brutalized, castrated, raped, maimed and persecuted with impunity!!!

This is the IGNOBLE past of the American landscape that hasn’t changed mush despite the Obama effect. Although, with his candidacy a vacuum has been created and now these issues have a forum, legitimacy and much needed attention from the American people.

“African-Americans continue to suffer from the consequences of slavery and Jim Crow — long after both systems were formally abolished — through enormous damage and loss, both tangible and intangible, including the loss of human dignity and liberty, the frustration of careers and professional lives, and the long-term loss of income and opportunity,” the resolution states.

African-American leadership has been suggesting this since “some” of our ancestors came to the shores of North America in the hulls of ships chained & packaged like sardines in a can and treated like CHATTEL {animals}! From Henry Highland Garnett, founder of African Methodist Episcopal {A.M.E.} Church to Sojourner Truth, feminist, speaker and activist are just two champions that spoke to the injustices afflicted by America to her 2nd class citizens

Don’t be fooled  into thinking this dissenting voice only came from American blacks. Indeed, Frantz Fanon, cultural critic, writer & activist from Martinque along with Leopold Senghor from Senegal, W.E.B. DuBois from the U.S. and Heads of State from around the African diaspora embraced the concept of “Negritude; the Black Consciousness Movement; and the Pan-African Congress.” Negritude and the other concepts spoke to the essence of blackness in a philosophical, cultural, artistic and empowering way something that hadn’t been done on a worldwide scale, except for Marcus Garvey’s: Universal Negro Improvemment Association {UNIA}. These are the precursors to the Civil Rights Movements, Black Power Struggle and Afrocentric paradigms.

Isn’t is indicative of negligent & acquiescent leadership that most of our most progressive movements on a massive scale haven’t taken place in almost 50-100 years. What does that suggest? Is this why people hold so much faith in the Democartic presumtive nominee?

On the other hand, this isn’t the first time  the government has offered an apology to an ethnicity.

“In April, the Senate passed a resolution sponsored by Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kansas, that apologized to Native Americans for “the many instances of violence, maltreatment and neglect.” (READ: GENOCIDE)

“In 1993 the Senate also passed a resolution apologizing for the “illegal overthrow” of the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1893.” (read: regime change)

“In 1988, Congress passed and President Reagan signed an act apologizing to the 120,000 Japanese-Americans who were held in detention camps during World War II. The 60,000 detainees who were alive at the time each received $20,000 from the government.” [read: ghetto/projects].

Legalize It? or Criminalize It? Don’t Hide it. Divide It!

Should marijuana “USE” be decriminalized? Isn’t it true that marijuana users are non-violent offenders? The critical issue here is the difference between users/abusers. Users might be in the confines of their own home, however, an abuser might be “driving under the influence.” Shouldn’t there be a difference under the law to reflect a “responsible user”, as opposed, to an “irresponsible  abuser?”

Is there a difference in the way law enforcement agency enforce their drug policies when it comes to the use of “illegal substances?” YES!

It would seem so, with the recent influxes of judges realeasing “non-violent offenders & first time non-violent offenders” from jails and prisons across the country in an efffort to ease vastly over-crowded prisons. Since, these “criminals” don’t pose a threat to society they are released to a “half-way house” or house arrest.

According to “Rob Kampia, director of the Marijuana Policy Project, marijuana arrests outnumber arrests for “all violent crimes combined,” meaning police are spending inordinate amounts of time chasing nonviolent criminals.”

So, the police department would have us believe more people “smoke-out”  than they “bang-out?” Not hardly, gangs are spreading faster than hot butter on burnt toast. The department isn’t “cracking down” on those criminals, who are violent and pose a significant threat to society and themselves!

“House Resolution 5843, titled the Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults Act of 2008, would express support for “a very small number of individuals” suffering from chronic pain or illness to smoke marijuana with impunity.”

States like California and a few others allow for “medicinal marijuana.” Although, I’ve been to Seattle, an annual celebration HempFest allows “users” to burn one in the confines of the park.

Ever been to an outdoor Reggae concert? Bicentennial Park used to host the BoB Marley Fest annually and people were allowed to burn their “high-grade” freely. To my kowledge, there was never a violent crime associated with those venues.

In what ways will this new “proposed” law take into account the disproportionate number of African-Americans that have been ”singled out” by law enforcement?

“Reps. William Lacy Clay, D-Missouri, and Barbara Lee, D-California, said that in addition to targeting nonviolent offenders, U.S. marijuana laws unfairly target African-Americans. “

“Clay said he did not condone drug use but opposes using tax dollars to pursue what he feels is an arcane holdover from “a phony war on drugs that is filling up our prisons, especially with people of color”

The statistics bear out this fact. So, how did our country go from pusuing the “drug traffikers?” Whom are mostly located outside the U.S. if you believe what you hear. What type of affect is the Department of Justice {DOJ} making in the :”war on drugs” if their principal focus is on the consumption? Not very much!

If you cut off the head than the body cannot live. Maybe thats why they DOJ are chasing their tails instead of their heads!! I really believe the Feds are subsidizing the trade. Look at the Freeway Rick Ross trial, and you can clearly see that the C.I.A. was complicit in furnishing cocaine to a middle man to distribute to big time dealers in California.

In a recent report, Rep. Barney Frank suggested; “the U.S. should stop arresting responsible marijuana users.” Rep. Frank said Wednesday, “announcing a proposal to end federal penalties for Americans carrying fewer than 100 grams, almost a quarter-pound, of the substance.”

He also added that; “”I don’t think it is the government’s business to tell you how to spend your leisure time.”

I definitely agree with the politician regarding the protection of our human rights & civil liberties. We’ve seen enough erosion of our rights under the “Patriot Act!” Add in the fact that the government is allowed to tap your phones through this latest round of legislation passed this congressional season, no wonder people are fighting for their right to do as they please in “privacy” whether they agree with this issue or not.

The Drug Enforcement Administration says people charged with simple possession are rarely incarcerated. Unless you are a black or Latino man then you are presumed guilty w/o due process under the law! I’ve seen as much growing up in the city versus living in the suburbs. People in the ‘burbs get off with so much more. Trust me?!

You don’t recieve the benefit of the doubt when you live in the city. Po-Po; 5-0 {police} already assume you’re an abuser, thief, criminal or felon from the door, just b/c “you fit the description!” They infer subliminally that “men of color” fit the profile they have deemed to be the greatest threat or risk of crime. So as a brother you can’t win—you’ve been convicted in the court of public opinion.

On the other hand, many have advocated modernizing the antiquated laws on marijuana use. The day has come to put in place new laws that reflect the culture of today’s people. One might be surprised who “smokes the broccoli” w/in their 4 walls.

Cable shows like “Weeds“, which airs on Showtime gives a new face to weed users, abusers, dealers and distributors. Its ironic how people view one demographic doing said crime, yet another demographic does said crime and the wheels fall off. Its a matter of perception, and as it goes “perception is greater than reality.”

“Allen St. Pierre, spokesman for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, likened Frank’s proposal — co-sponsored by Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas — to current laws dealing with alcohol consumption. Alcohol use is permitted, and the government focuses its law enforcement efforts on those who abuse alcohol or drive under its influence, he said.”

“We do not arrest and jailresponsible alcohol drinkers,” he said. Indeed, we offer them a red plastic cup so they won’t be chah an “open container.” Or, if were at sporting or music event we could drink within the confines of the event uninhibited.

“There have been 20 million marijuana-related arrests since 1965, he said, and 11 million since 1990, and “every 38 seconds, a marijuana smoker is arrested.” So, with all these damn arrests its still easier to get drugs than to groceries. Arrests don’t curb abuse! Incarceration doesn’t make the streets safe because instead of pursuing the violent criminal they jail the person who consumes the substance.

The policy is obviously failing to make children safer, to remove the prevalence of “weed” from our streets. Hell, all the time and resources local police departments spend in the inner-cities, they aren’t looking for the distributors, importers, and cartels. Beause sure as hell aren’t in the hood. On the contrary, their in the ‘burbs!!

The bottom line, as far as, the marijuana Reform is concerrned is to end arrests. Period! Let’s hope they succeed cuz far to many have been criminalized for “inhaling!” We can’t all be like Bill Clinton and still get elected b/c he didn’t “inhale.”