[Wpfw-lsb] Fw: [NCOBRA_Youth_Commission] AND A LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM

[Tracey Lewis]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Brother Salim Kujitawala 
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Sent: Sunday, June 06, 2004 8:18 AM
Subject: [NCOBRA_Youth_Commission] AND A LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM


ISAIAH 11:6 ".AND A LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM."

By Brother Salim Kujitawala

 

On Wednesday June 16, 2004 will be the start of a National Hip Hop Convention in Newark NJ.  The convention will address issues such as bridging the gap between youth and elders, prisons, economics, electoral politics, the Civil Rights and Black Power Movements. Two days later there will be a National Youth Summit at Howard University in Washington D.C. sponsored by the National Coalition of Blacks for reparations in America (NCOBRA).  The youth summit will focus on educating and involving more young people involved in the reparations movement.  These are very two very important events because they are strong efforts geared toward the mobilization, political and cultural education of young Black people.  What is even more significant is that 28 years to the day, June 16th marks the 28th anniversary of the "Soweto Uprising", in Soweto South Africa.  

On this day over 20,000 school children marched and protested the teaching of the European preferred Afrikaan language.  In addition to resisting the language of their enemy and oppressor, they were demanding the release of political prisoners such as Nelson Mandela and the end of Apartheid.  Police quickly arose to the scene and opened fire killing a 13 year old child named Hector Petersen and several others.

            Armed resistance on the part of young people continued throughout Soweto.  Schools, administration buildings and state owned property was destroyed.  Police stations, as well as the homes of Uncle Tom police officers were attacked too.  Throughout the land schools were boycotted.  One of the sparks for this rebellion, came from the political movement know as the "Black Consciousness Movement."  The Black Consciousness Movement was founded and led by college students like Steven Biko.  Eventually Nelson Mandela was set free and different aspects of apartheid have been abolished.  

            Malcolm X once stated "Of all our studies, history is best qualified to reward all research."  With that in mind, young people must carry that same spirit of resistance that young people in Soweto had into the hip hop convention and youth summit.  Young people have to realize and understand that in the past they were able to change the system and they have the power to do the same today.  Look at Hip Hop for example.  

            Hip Hop is a billion dollar industry that was created by young Black people, that were (and still are) considered to be criminals, crooks, thugs and "gangbangers" by mainstream America.  Today, people all over the world are influenced by Jay-Z and 2 Pac.  If so called "thugs" can create clothing lines, magazines, movies, music and television shows that generate billions of dollars for our enemy and oppressor, what would happen to our communities if those same people were politicized?

            Ultimately self-determination and reparations will not be achieved without the uncompromising spirit of young Black people.  Young people have to play a role in the decision making process along side our elders.  In the 1960's organizations such as SNCC and the Black Panther Party for Self Defense, changed the course of world events because they had young people that were willing to do whatever was necessary to bring about the freedom of Black people in America.  

            Young people have to become more responsible and realize that they have a responsibility to our ancestors, elders, communities and themselves to continue on the struggle for land and independence.  Our elders must learn to embrace young people and give them the guidance necessary to continue on the struggle.  As it says in the good book, Isaiah 11:6 "...A little child shall lead them." 



Brother Salim Kujitawala

National Black United Front (NBUF) P.O. Box 15073 Jersey City NJ 07305

gyenyame at thetalkingdrum.com, nbufront.org, (808) 478- 6895
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