The Obama Kwanzaa Series Day 4 of 7 2010

In the Obama Kwanzaa Series we have been comparing Obama's principles and second year Presidential performance to each of the seven principles of Kwanzaa. The question today is, has Obama been good or bad for Black Economics. (Video)

Call: Habari Gani
Response:_________?

4. UJAMAA (Cooperative Economics) [oo-jah-MAH]
To Build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together.

I gave the call to my family and friends today and they are doing poorly. What is it about this economic thing that many of us don't get. Most African Americans failed this cultural test. Some did not even know that a response was required. Some responses went like this "...Habari Gani, yea, and what does that mean..? or hmm, you got me. Or they would try to be slick and just say Habari Gani back,Lol.

The Cultural Reality is clear, no culture - no economics. The Jewish community where I live has good cultural literacy and good economics, it is interesting how these things go together in the real world.

This leads me to the lead picture of this article. Some of my "Afro-centric" Cultural Citizen friends may as well have said, "What the H$ll is Kwanzaa?" I say this to point out that their is a big gap between the noise about Kwanzaa in our community and the practice.

Nowhere in the seven principles is a gap more noticeable then in UJAMAA. African Americans before the Civil Rights Battle had to do business with each other. After the battle, with the advent of "integration", it has been said that we do business with everyone but us. The Black beauty supply business is a prime example. Black leaders in the beauty business point out that the manufacturing and distribution segments of this African American customer focused industry is no longer controlled by Blacks.

Before we start looking excessively to Obama, or anyone else, for Black business support we better start looking at ourselves and how we fix these gaps between principles and Practice. Having said that, Black Business is in favor of the President.

Let's Go to the Video Tape:

Black Business Builders Club - From Douglas to King to Obama



Speaking of how to run a Black Business, the President's winning campaign is a good new wave example, he included everyone as customers, raised more then half a billion dollars in less then two years, with the largest number of individual contributers in history, and beat all his competition. YES WE CAN!

Obama is a politician, and in America politics is the tool for managing money, that is, who gets what economically. The good news is, we voted for him (95% of AA's) and he has an obligation to us as constituents. Last year I said, the President was hired by the American people to fix the economy, initiate "Health" Care Reform and end the Iraq War. If he delivers on two of the three in four years he will have helped the business in our community immeasurably. A rising tide lifts all boats.

Speaking of boats, The President has launched what I have called The Green Moon Shot (take American business Green to the future). We better get on our President's Green Boat as it comes through our community. My Christel ball tells me that the business future is not black or white, it is green and we need to be seen as green$.

Bottom line how did the President measure up to UJAMA in his second year?
Well he has saved and produced more American jobs in two years then Bush and the forty thieves did in 8 years. Health Care Reform is now law and the Iraq war is ended. I said he needed 2 our of 3 in 4 years. He delivered 2 out of 3 in 2 years, personally I move him to the head of the class.

What did the President do specifically for African Americans? He got some 4.5 Billion dollars, being held up by Cultural Anti-Humanists in the congress for 11 years, released. Black farmers will finally receive justice along with our Native American brothers and sisters. YES WE CAN!

In addition, The President and his Dems have kept 127 Promises and here is a list of 90 other accomplishments of economic, social and political import on behalf of the nation (including us).  

As I did last year in this Kwanzaa Series,  I give the President's second year performance regrading the principle of UJAMA, a "B+".

What is your rating?

The Obama Kwanzaa Series Day 3 of 7 2010

How does Barack Obama’s life and his time as President compare to the 7 principles of Kwanzaa. Does the comparison provide any evidence regarding Obama’s Cultural Health? What does this analysis teach us about the third principle of Kwanzaa (Video)

Call Habari Gani (What's the word)
Response_________

This is day three of Kwanzaa and the third installment of this series.
3. UJIMA (Collective Work and Responsibility) [oo-JEE-mah]

To Build and maintain our community together and make our sister's and brother's problems our problems and to solve them together.

Like many African Americans who have attended good schools Obama could have deserted his community and made a fortune with the Bush type anti-humanist forty thieves. He, like the Cultural Traitors Mr Steel, Mr. Thomas and Juan Williams, could have chosen to work against his community.

What did Obama do? He went into the Chicago African American community and became a community organizer. He did not go into the Irish community or the Chinese community he returned to his community in the spirit of UJIMAA. He married a like minded young lady from his community and they are bringing up two children in the best tradition of UJIMA.

Barack Obama and the History of Project Vote


He found that he could not get enough done fast enough for his community given the conditions in America. So he found a way to plot a path to helping the whole American community activate UJIMA.

As we meditate on today's principle a few things should pass through our bio-computer (mind)

A strong grounding in culture and community can produce remarkable results. Health Care Reform is Law. The African American Farmers and Native Americans will finally be getting their 3.5 billion court settlement do to morally high ground taken by the President and his Dems.

He has kept 127 Promises and here is a list of 90 other Community Organizing  Presidential results


So when I look at his life and his time as President as of this African year 20,010 AST (African Standard Time), I conclude that Obama continues to live the principle of UJIMA.

What do you think?

Does Obama Celebrate Kwanzaa? Day 1 of 7 2010

This is the first day of Kwanzaa and the start of our 7 Part series on this African American holiday. Many AA's know about and enjoy this holiday, the question is, does the Obama family.(Video)



You will note that in this video the President and First Lady say Merry Christmas ... as you and your families gather to celebrate the holidays..." this is definitely a culturally healthy and all inclusive wish. All inclusiveness is a  point in their favor however, it does not answer the question.

This being December 26 the first day of Kwanzaa (Dec 26 - Jan 1) the call goes forth Habari Gani! what is your response _________________? and what is the Obama family response? How is their Cultural Literacy, do the parents make the call and do the children respond?

The reality is I do not have a direct answer to the question. Does Obama and family know about Kwanzaa? Do they, or have they participated in the holiday? I think the answer to both questions is yes. but it is interesting that I have not heard a corporate media person ask these direct questions, nor does the net produce anything but hints for me so far.

Below is a hint.

This is a Calendar from Trinity Church , Obama's former Church, you will note that there is a Kwanzaa service for each of the seven days. So it is clear that his local community, especially his spiritual community, embraced Kwanzaa and I believe so did he.

If Obama does or does not celebrate Kwanzaa there are two things we should understand about the historic year of 2010 12,010 AST (African Standard Year). One, America having an African American President is causing Americans and people worldwide to want to improve their African American Cultural Literacy. Two, we have a Cultural Health opportunity to compare the Obama family's service to our Nation and personal conduct to the Kwanzaa principles and see what we can learn about Kwanzaa and our community from that process.

So let's start with today's principle (1 of 7)

1. UMOJA (Unity) [oo-MO-jah]
To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and ethnic group.

I believe Obama's family is a good example of unity. His election demonstrated African American unity (95-98% pro-Obama) around someone we believed can help the community. His mission is to strive for national unity which includes all Americans. His election was followed by the 2 billion plus Black people worldwide and had a unifying effect on our Pan African ethnic group.

Nationally, the President has brought the progressive elements of the Nation closer together, I see it in the Gym, in my interactions with people on-line and on the street, there is a general good vibe despite tough times. The AA community is part of the Nation and I sense we are functioning with more unity than in the past 8 years. In fact, I would go as far as saying that the world seems far more unified today then under Bush. Why, even the Democrats in the congress acted with more unity then anyone would have given them credit for a year ago.

They passed Health Care Reform which was one of my top three reasons for hiring our President. And did you see the magnificent end of year successes for the American people. Dear I say a bipartisan surprise that reminded me of the Ali "rope a dope".  Obama/GOP Tax compromise (tax cut of all Americans), START passed, (reduction of nuclear weapons) and DADT (Don't Ask Don't Tell). Thank you for the Christmas present Mr. President.


What do you think and take away as you meditate on Umoja, The President's family and your own situation?

Update:

December 26th 2010 Statement by President Obama and Michelle Obama on Kwanzaa

...!This is a joyous time of year when African Americans and all Americans come together to celebrate our blessings and the richness of our cultural traditions. This is also a time of reflection and renewal as we come to the end of one year and the beginning of another...The seven principles of Kwanzaa - Unity, Self Determination, Collective Work and Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity, and Faith - express the values that have inspired us as individuals and families; communities and country..."

Well one thing is for sure, he sure knows the principles. If dad knows, Mom and the children know.

Powerful stuff. for more details Click Here

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• How to Teach Elementary Students About Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa 101 2010

Hetep and Respect every holiday is a Cultural Health opportunity. If you have never seen the seven principles of Kwanzaa take a look. If you have seen them and need a refresher here it is. One of the nice things about the holidays is that we get a chance to learn about each others holidays.

Director M.K. Asante, Jr.

Did you know there was a feature film about Kwanzaa called The Black Candle: Well in 2009 the film won the Best Documentary at the Africa World Documentary Film Festival in Saint Louis, Missouri and Lagos, Nigeria. This year The Black Candle: A Kwanzaa Celebration was featured on the CBS Early Show. Debbye Turner of Positively Black interviews the Director about the vision behind the film, the holiday, and the movement.

Let's Go To The Video Tape



***The Black Candle*** (Trailer)


Kwanzaa is the most widely celebrated original African American holiday. “The Father of Kwanzaa” is Maulana Ron Karenga, an African American scholar and social activist. The celebration runs from December 26 to January 1. Kwanzaa (First Fruits Festival) is in the best spirit of Cultural Literacy in that it is a synchronization of African values at home and abroad. This remarkable blend of African and African American values is a major force in the fight to improve Cultural Health in our community by raising Cultural Literacy and reducing Cultural Poisoning here in America



The Origin of Kwanzaa comes into recorded history in Classical African Civilization, Kamet (Ancient Egypt)as this First fruit Offering left by our ancestors to instruct us down through the millennium. Dr. Karanga is a resurrecter and restorer of that which has always been and is our legacy to continue.

Kwanzaa is anchored by its seven guiding principles, known as the Nguzo Saba. Each principle is denoted by one word from the pan African language known as Swali, as reproduced below. I have added the pronunciation.

Nguzo Saba (The Seven Principles)

1. UMOJA (Unity) [oo-MO-jah]
To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and ethnic group.

2. KUJICHAGULIA (Self-determination) [koo-jee-cha-goo-LEE-ah]
To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves instead of being defined, named, created for and spoken for by others.

3. UJIMA (Collective Work and Responsibility) [oo-JEE-mah]
To Build and maintain our community together and make our sister's and brother's problems our problems and to solve them together.

4. UJAMAA (Cooperative Economics) [oo-jah-MAH]
To Build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together.

5. NIA (Purpose) [NEE-ah]
To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.

6. KUUMBA (Creativity) [koo-OOM-bah]
To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.

7. IMANI (Faith) [ee-MAH-nee]
To believe with all our hart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

By Maulana Ron Karenga
with Cultural Health Modification by Rudy Aunk

Note: In the interest of Cultural Health, the word "race" has been changed to ethnic group in the first principle ("race" is a doublespeak word - See my Book DoubleSpeak in Black and White).

My First Kwanzaa Ngram

The Kwanza Ngram (Kwanza Kwanzaa First Fruits Trigram) looks through 500 billion words written from 1800 to 2000 and builds a graph that tells you something about kwanzaa consciousness over recent history.

Source: Click Here

Most interesting, as it is clear that this modern First Fruits festival has gained substantial traction in the last 20 years, we also understand the concept in African recorded history goes back far beyond Google's database at this point in its development.

Here is a data point 1800-1810 from the new Unigram for "First fruits".

ARCANA CCELESTIA: OR HEAVENLY MYSTERIES CONTAINED IN THE SACRED ... - Page 91

EMANUEL SWEDENBORG - 1803 - Full view
wherefore when the first-fruits of corn and of wine are ... The first-fruits of the first-born were offered to Jehovah, and from Jehovah were given to Aaron and to his seed, ...

It is interesting to look back at these rituals from the continent. It is also important to note, as shown in one of the Kemetic picture in this article, that African first fruits rituals go back thousands of years in recorded history before the Bible now widely used in the West was written.

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Imagine if the Tea Party Was Black - Wise Vs Duke

The Culturally Healthy European American Mr. Wise has framed a remarkable self-activating question. Hear both sides, Tim Wise vs. David Duke (Video)

Read the full story: What if the Tea Party was Black

When you come back from reading the piece, lets discuss the big picture. This country started with two different type of European men sitting at the constitutional table. As you know there were no Native Americans, African Americans or poor European Americans for that matter at the table.

There were Cultural Humanists on one side, they won on paper, i.e. the deceleration of independents and the Constitution. However, The Cultural anti-humanist won on the ground, where they made it "legal" to enslave other human beings, in order to steal their labor to make profit. For the anti-humanist money trumps morals.

You remember the United States words known around the world, We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

-American Declaration of Independents

America is a multi-ethnic nation and what holds us to it, is the promise of its documents. However, there has been a continuing battle over the interpretation of these documents and what The United States is to be. Some times the Battle is hot like in World War Zero and the civil war, some times warm like the Civil Rights Battle. In fact, many would say there is a continuing ethnic cold war just below the surface.

Now The Tea Party is heating up the battle again. This is a time to play close attention because Cultural Illiteracy could be hazardous to your health.

Cultural Humanist and Cultural anti-humanist Definition

Cultural humanist (A.K.A. humist): is in favor of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness of all.

Cultural Anti-humanist (A.K.A. anti-humist): is in favor of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness of some.

Let's Go to the Video Tape: Tim Wise for European American Cultural Humanists



Now lets become Culturally Literate about the other side.

Let's Go to the Video Tape: David Duke for European American Cultural anti-Humanists



In case you still don't get it, this is what I said in a protracted discussion on MSNBC/Newsvine #2.18

If this was Louis Farrakhan (in place of Plain) who started/leading a "Tea Party" movement, and thousands of Blacks showed up carrying signs about Black enslavement, spiting on people and carry guns in the open. baggers would be calling on Bush/Chaney Blackwater gunships to attack forth with.

If your going to imagine, Let's get real. We didn't have to imagine what the police did to just one Black man, Skip Gates, and he was in his own home and had broken no law. A Black Palin like mob, treated just like the White Palin mob, give me a break.

Well if nothing else, I hope your Cultural Literacy regarding European Cultural humanists and anti-humanist was edified by this article.

The Obama Kwanzaa Series Day 4 of 7 2009

In the Obama Kwanzaa Series we have been comparing Obama's principles and first year Presidential performance to each of the seven principles of Kwanzaa. The question today is, has Obama been good or bad for Black Economics.

Call: Habari Gani
Response:_________?

4. UJAMAA (Cooperative Economics) [oo-jah-MAH]
To Build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together.

I gave the call to my family and friends today and they are doing poorly. What is it about this economic thing that many of us don't get. Most African Americans failed this cultural test. Some did not even know that a response was required. Some responses went like this "...Habari Gani, yea, and what does that mean..? or hmm, you got me. Or they would try to be slick and just say Habari Gani back,Lol.

The Cultural Reality is clear, no culture - no economics. The Jewish community where I live has good cultural literacy and good economic, it is interesting how these things go together in the real world.

This leads me to the lead picture of this article. Some of my "Afro-centric" Cultural Citizen friends may as well have said, "What the H$ll is Kwanzaa?" I say this to point out that their is a big gap between the noise about Kwanzaa in our community and the practice.

Nowhere in the seven principles is a gap more noticeable then in UJAMAA. African Americans before the Civil Rights Battle had to do business with each other. After the battle, with the advent of "integration", it has been said that we do business with everyone but us. The Black beauty supply business is a prime example. Sam Ennon CEO of BOBSA points out that the manufacturing and distribution segments of this African American customer focused industry is no longer controlled by Blacks.

Before we start looking excessively to Obama, or anyone else, for Black business support we better start looking at ourselves and how we fix these gaps between principles and Practice. Having said that, Black Business is in favor of the President.

Black Business Builders Club - From Douglas to King to Obama



Speaking of how to run a Black Business, the President's winning campaign is a good new wave example, he included everyone as customers, raised more then half a billion dollars in less then two years and beat all his competition,. YES WE CAN!

Obama is a politician, and in America politics is the tool for managing money, that is, who gets what economically. The good news is, we voted for him and he has an obligation to us as constituents. The President was hired by the American people to fix the economy, initiate "Health" Care Reform and end the Iraq War. If he does just the Economy and HCR he will have helped the business in our community immeasurably. A rising tide lifts all boats.

Speaking of boats, The President has launched what I have called The Green Moon Shot (take American business Green to the future). We better get on our President's Green Boat as it comes through our community. My Christel ball tells me that the business future is not black or white, it is green and we need to be seen as green$.

Bottom line how did the President measure up to UJAMA in his first year. Well Bush and the forty thieves gave our money to the Banksters for three pieces of paper, No monitoring, no going to jail and no requirement to pay the money back. The President is fixing that error and getting our money back. He has stopped the economic Bush Bus from falling further into the ditch. "Health" Care Reform has passed both houses. I give the President's first year performance regrading the principle of UJAMA, a "B+".

What is your rating?

Kwanzaa 101 2009

Hetep and Respect every holiday is a Cultural Health opportunity. If you have never seen the seven principles of Kwanzaa take a look. If you have seen them and need a refresher here it is. One of the nice things about the holidays is that we get a chance to learn about each others holidays.

Image via Wikipedia

Did you know there was a feature film about Kwanzaa called The Black Candle:

***The Black Candle*** (Trailer)



Kwanzaa is the most widely celebrated original African American holiday. “The Father of Kwanzaa” is Maulana Ron Karenga, an African American scholar and social activist. The celebration runs from December 26 to January 1. Kwanzaa (First Fruits Festival) is in the best spirit of Cultural Literacy in that it is a synchronization of African values at home and abroad. This remarkable blend of African and African American values is a major force in the fight to improve Cultural Health in our community by raising Cultural Literacy and reducing Cultural Poisoning here in America



The Origin of Kwanzaa comes into recorded history in Classical African Civilization, Kamet (Ancient Egypt)as this First fruit Offering left by our ancestors to instruct us down through the millennium. Dr. Karanga is a resurrecter and restorer of that which has always been and is our legacy to continue.

Kwanzaa is anchored by its seven guiding principles, known as the Nguzo Saba. Each principle is denoted by one word from the pan African language known as Swali, as reproduced below. I have added the pronunciation.

Nguzo Saba (The Seven Principles)

1. UMOJA (Unity) [oo-MO-jah]
To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and ethnic group.

2. KUJICHAGULIA (Self-determination) [koo-jee-cha-goo-LEE-ah]
To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves instead of being defined, named, created for and spoken for by others.

3. UJIMA (Collective Work and Responsibility) [oo-JEE-mah]
To Build and maintain our community together and make our sister's and brother's problems our problems and to solve them together.

4. UJAMAA (Cooperative Economics) [oo-jah-MAH]
To Build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together.

5. NIA (Purpose) [NEE-ah]
To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.

6. KUUMBA (Creativity) [koo-OOM-bah]
To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.

7. IMANI (Faith) [ee-MAH-nee]
To believe with all our hart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

By Maulana Ron Karenga
with Cultural Health Modification by Rudy Aunk

Note: In the interest of Cultural Health, the word "race" has been changed to ethnic group in the first principle ("race" is a doublespeak word).

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Are HP Computers Racist?

We know about people, but can a computer be racist? Can it suffer from a new high tech form of Cultural Poisoning that causes it to behave in a way that is unreceptive to Black people? (Video)

Let's go to the video tape



What's up with that. I mean I'm just saying. This is the first time in history that I knew of a computer or family of computers being charged with racism. What do you think? To see a substantial discussion on the subject at my Newsvine/MSNBC column Click Here

Tiger Woods Cultural Progress or Cultural Poisoning

"Take your name off your phone" the video remix, has gone viral. Tiger is now as well known as O.J. Simpson was, are there any parallels? (Video)




Now that you have had a good laugh, you know Golf is not exactly a Hip Hop Subject. This is an example of the fact that even people who know nothing about Golf will be telling Tiger Woods jokes for years. All sports Hero's are not necessary good cultural charterer models. In this unfortunate circumstance there is a Cultural Health opportunity. What is the state of relationships in America in general and in the African American community in particular.

Before you answer, as a matter of modern Cultural Literacy, you should understand that while Tiger and O.J. Simpson have something in common, they are not the only ones. Hit this link and tell me what you think.

The AA Mayor of The Town That "Arrested" Dr. Gates, Wants to See the Cop and His Boss.

The African American Mayor, the ultimate boss, in the town where the rogue cop arrested Dr. Gates says "race" has been a historic factor in police interaction with African Americans and Latino Americans. She wants to see officer Crowley and his boss.



Mayor E. Denise Simmons indicates that she is not happy regarding the safety of the citizens in her town. She has launched an investigation and wants to understand what happened, how it happened and how it can be prevented in the future. The Mayor wants to see Policeman James Crowley, his boss and his boss's boss.

Talk about out of the fire, into the frying pan. Imagine that you are a rogue anti-humanist cop that has been hiding in the police force. After verbally abusing , assaulting and unlawfully imprisoning a law abiding Harvard Professor. You find that this citizen is a personal friend of the first AA President, who is also a graduate of Harvard. It dawns on you that the POTUS is a lawyer and probably knows Cambridge law better then you.

Then you go to the prosecutor, who would historically defend rogue cops and he says (I imagine) you arrested who, for what? in his home. Get the ell out of here. You think I am going to burn down my career for your stupid a$$, drop the charges, get out of my office, what are you the Joe the Plumber of cops?

A shot has been fired over the heads of out of control bad cops. The question is, what will they, and we the citizens of this forward moving country learn from this incident?

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Cultural Caveat: Dr. (Skip) Gates is also known in some quarters of the African American community as skip the truth Gates for his skipping Classical African Civilization, Kemet (Ancient Egypt) in his African TV tour/history documentary. Gates is married to a Non-AA and considers himself 57% white (according to his DNA).

Egyptians/AA Yesterday and Today 1 of 2

It is interesting to make the visual link between the people of Classical African Civilization and their descendants today that can be found in America.

We know that the Classical Africans in their majority were Black because they said so and because the science, melanin dosage tests, confirm it. However, is it not remarkable that all we need are our eyes and some basic Cultural Literacy to make our own confirmation.

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• An "Ah Ha" Moment. (buppie.blogspot.com)

Religion has a Roll in Cultural Health (Video)

Many new Korean churches have opened up in my neighborhood. I always wondered what their services were like. Take a peek - My Desire is to Worship God - Heritage Mass Choir, Afro-American Style Gospel in Korea




Cultural Health can show up where you least expect it. I think these young Korean brothers and sisters have got it down. It feels like the creator is singing through her creation.

Texas Republican Disrespects Asian Names (Video)

Texas Republican Betty Brown Should Resign for Disrespecting Asian Names. Republicans continue to attempt to prevent all Americans from voting. Now they are attacking Asian Americans.

You remember when they caged millions of African Americans and Latino Americans so that they could not vote. Now they are openly attacking Asians and the Asian American community is outraged, see the video. Listen to the Asian community.




Brown and the Republican Party should apologize to the Asian American community and to all Americans for this insult. The Culturally Illiterate Rep. Betty Brown should resign and join a Cultural Health club to become culturally competent.

Cultural Literacy Minute: This is a good example of a type of Cultural Poisoning known as Name AIDS (acquired Information Deficiency Syndrome)

Cultural Health note: The Asian American naming convention, American or Americanized first name and retention of their ethnic last name, is an example that African Americans can learn from.

My name Rudy Aunk is an obvious AA example. Should Africans in America retain/restore their ethnic last name or should they retain their enslavement name?

April 11, 2009 7:59 AM

Black History Month, Cultural Health and Physical Health go Hand in Hand

As we come to the end of Black History month it is interesting to note that this historic time reunites three things that most Americans do not connect but should. The three things are Black People, Medical Technology and the Presidency.(Video)


World Health Organization Symbol

It is interesting to note that in this African year c.12,009 (2009) we are living a remarkable almost unthinkable chapter in Black history month. This chapter will be revisited in Black history month for century's to come. If we are fortunate the Cultural Health of the world will rise to a point when Black history month is no longer needed as the non-culturally poisoned history of Black people in America and the world will be a natural inclusive part of American and world history once again.

Speaking of history, one of President Obama's three top investment priorities is health care. So everyone should be trying to learn about the American system, other systems and partaking in the discussion of what the new an improved American "Health" Care system should be. This presents a Black History month Cultural Literacy Minute opportunity.

Have you seen the Magic Wand of Ti Huti (Caduceus) medical symbol that is the lead picture in this article. How about the RX on drugs (medical recipes). Watch the Ashra Kwesi video at the Per Ankh (Name of the first hospitals in recorded history) in Classical African Civilization, Kemet (Ancient Egypt).




So here we learned about the great African doctor Imhotep thousands of years before the Greek Hippocrates. History tells us that Hippocrates studied at an African Per Ankh (hospital) at the medical hub of the then civilized world. We also see the Origin of the Rx of the Doctor. Now "Drugs" is a specialty managed by druggist. In Imhotep's (Greek Aesculapius) time all doctors made medical recipes. And finally you saw carved in stone the same medical tool set more or less that you will find in operating rooms and doctors black bags to this very day.

Note: While Hippocrates is the most widely known doctor in Western history and Imhotep is the most widely known doctor in African history Ti Huti is actually the first doctor in recorded history to emerge from the smoke of the ancient past. Imhotep in fact studied in the Ti hutic school. The Greeks transliterate this ancient figure as Hermes.

To see more on the magic wand of Ti huti (Caduceus) click Here. To see the Origin of the wand click here.

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When are WE going to get over it?

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

"For much of the last forty years, ever since America “fixed” its race problem in the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts, we white people have been impatient with African Americans who continued to blame race for their difficulties. Often we have heard whites ask, “When are African Americans finally going to get over it?"

When are WE going to get over it? » Clarksville, TN Online:

Interesting perspective on America's seemingly intractable "race" problem from this Culturally Healthy European American.

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Black History Month 101 2009

Image via Wikipedia

Lawson State Community College students have used modern technology to put up a self paced picture interface to BHM basic cultural literacy. Try this simple but comprehensive learning aid out.

LSCC Black History Links: "Below are links that will enrich your knowledge of the past, present, and selfless contributions made by just a FEW of our MANY great African Americans. As you read the wealth of information on this page, think about how our world would be today without the contributions. Also, recognize the unbending focus and intensity of their efforts despite repeated rejections and unfulfilled expectations. We must continue to remember and respect our heritage by never saying good-bye to yesterday, for we are still standing on their shoulders—yesterday made our present possible . . ."

Question: There are three Cultural Soldiers in the picture list, can you pick them out?

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Obama Inaurguration - I Have A Dream II

Image by BL1961 via FlickrMany people watching Barack Obama's inauguration missed the fact that Dr. Martin Luther King's friend Rev. Lowery launched "I Have A Dream II" in the controversial last prayer. It was not an attack on White people let, me explain.

Reverend Joseph Lowery's closing prayer confused some as a result of Cultural Illiteracy and some because of their anti-humanism. If you simply do not know the original "If you're Black Get Back" Poem I can fix that right now.

Let's listen to the honorable Rev. Lowery's I have a Dream II poetry and then lets look at the original "If you're Black Get Back" poetry used to teach African American youth the nature of ethnic relations in the America I grew up in. If you are Culturally Illiterate regarding African American culture then most of what you hear about Black people will only confuse you.

Closing Prayer Gets Some Laughs


Now look at the original "Black Get Back Poem":

"If you're White, you're all right. If you're brown, stick around, but if you're Black, get back."

Now lets look at the Lowery Revised "Black Get Back Poem" (I Have A Dream II)

Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when Black will not be asked to get back, when Brown can stick around, when Yellow will be mellow, when the Red man can get ahead, man; and when White will embrace what is right. Let all those who do justice and love mercy say Amen. Say Amen. And Amen.

Source: Wikipedia I corrected the wiki "give" Back with the speech GET Back. Ethnic capitalization errors have been adjusted for Cultural Health.

As a child I and most African Americans that I know were told the "Get Back Black Poem" by their parents or street parents. Our honorable Elder was on one level correcting the Cultural Poisoning induced into the veins of millions of us Black people.

Republican social conservatives (anti-humanists) have tried to spin this into a "racist" speech. Don't believe the hype. This is what I said to them.

To Reverend Lowery's benediction I say, AMEN! This is what every Culturally Literate African American and Cultural Humanists said. Yes, there was some Cultural Poisoning in the benediction, I would not use the terms red, and yellow to describe my Native American and Asian American brothers and sisters but I understood what was meant in the very familiar peculiar American poetry.

Finally, we should note as a matter of Cultural Literacy the remarkable ethnic specificity of adding the five major ethnic groups in America by description and desired Cultural Health outcome, WoW, Powerful! Of particular note is Lowery's courage in touching the "Indian" third rail of mentioning our Native American citizens. This is why I call it the "I Have A Dream Speech II"

Cultural Literacy Minute: If you are Culturally Illiterate regarding the other ethnic groups in our multi-ethnic Nation, then most things you hear about "race" will only confuse you.

In this new ere of American REsponsibility, it is time to CHANGE, ask questions, improve your Cultural Health.

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African Symbolism Hidden in Plain View at the Inauguration

On January 20th we all saw President Obama and many different things. I have watched so much cable my eyes have shorted out. However, I saw one of the great symbols from Classical African Civilization all day, what was it? Did you see what I saw?

I enjoyed the great words and pageantry of the inauguration like everyone else. That is not the objective of this article. Now it is time to act on Obama's "..new age of responsibility..." by improving our Cultural Literacy about the Capital in general and African Americans in particular. Here is my contribution to the lessons of January 20th as it passes into the history books.

My Cultural Health commentary is primarily on two facts about the capital that you may not have known and will not see on MSM cable.


Did you know that 400 of the 600 builders of the capital were African Americans? That is, they were enslaved Africans with about fifty Free African Americans. When I was in school they told me that the statue on top of the dome was an "Indian". This turns out not to be true, see the real story below.

Role of Slavery in Construction of the U.S. Capitol (2:23)


To learn more about the African American role in building the Capital I recommend the book, Black Men Built the Capital, Discovering History in and around the capital by Jessey Holland. See Holland Interview on Democracy Now, Click Here

While it is important for all Americans to be Culturally Literate regarding modern African Americans and the enslaved Africans in early America, it is also important to know something about the cosmological orientation of the founders and designers of the United States of America and our capital.

The answer to the symbol question is Tekhenu (What the Greeks called an Obelisk)

"N" Word Alert - If you are culturally sensitive do not watch the video.

The video was made by young people and may not be as polished as you or I would like, but absorbing the information in a short format is what is important here.

Nubian/African Origins of the Washington Monument (3:55)


It is interesting to note that it was our youth including hip-hop youth that were the energetic force of CHANGE. In the Obama Era of Responsibility, like in all other great change the youth are a foundation. Here we find the youth dropping knowledge as they say.

You may recall that it was George Washington that said, I will have no general in my army that is not a Mason. Many of the founders from Washington to Lincoln were "Free Thinkers". They studied Classical African Civilization, Kemet (Ancient Egypt. The African temple/university Karnak model that the brother mentions is what the "Mall" was designed to model here in America. So let it be known that long before Obama came to Washington some African cosmologics did exist in the capital. If you wish to claim the title of Culturally Literate American one should learn how the past, the present and the future of all Americans are tied together.

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Israel Attacks African American on the High Seas

Israel war ships attack a former American congress woman in international waters. CNN correspondent Karl Penhaul was aboard The Dignity and interviewed the American. (Video)

From a Cultural Literacy point of view it is interesting to note that a European Government attacked an African trying to deliver medicine to a historic African land known in ancient times as Canaan.



For more information Click Here

The Obama Kwanzaa Series Day 4 of 7 2008

In the Obama Kwanzaa Series we have been comparing Obama's principles and performance to each of the seven principles of Kwanzaa. The question today is will Obama be good or bad for Black Economics.


Call Habari Gani
Response_________?

4. UJAMAA (Cooperative Economics) [oo-jah-MAH]
To Build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together.

I gave the call to my family yesterday and the results improved, 50% of them returned the response of the day. Calling my friends was a different story, most of them failed this cultural test. Some did not even know that a response was required. Some responses went like this "...Habari Gani, yea, and what does that mean..? or hmm, you got me.

This leads me to the lead picture of this article. These "Afro-centric" Cultural Citizens may as well have said "What the H$ll is Kwanzaa?" I say this to point out that their is a big gap between the noise about Kwanzaa in our community and the practice.

Nowhere in the seven principles is a gap more noticeable then in UJAMAA. African Americans before the Civil Rights Battle had to do business with each other. After the battle, with the advent of "integration", it has been said that we do business with everyone but us. The Black beauty supply business is a prime example. Sam Ennon CEO of BOBSA points out that the manufacturing and distribution segments of this African American customer focused industry is no longer controlled by Blacks.

Before we start looking excessively to Obama or anyone else for Black business support we better start looking at ourselves and how we fix these gaps between principles and Practice. Having said that, Black Business is in favor of Obama.

Black Business Builders Club - From Douglas to King to Obama


Speaking of how to run a Black Business, Obama is a good new wave example, he included everyone as customers, raised more then half a billion dollars in less then two years and beat all his competition,. YES WE CAN!

Obama is a politician, in America politics is the tool for managing money that is, who gets what economically. So it was good to see African Americans, 90-95% of us, unify behind one presidential candidate. Obama was hired by the American people to fix the economy, "health" care and other things. If he does just those two things he will have helped business in our community immeasurably. A rising tide lifts all boats.

Speaking of boats, Obama will launch what I have called The Green Moon Shot (take American business Green to the future) we better get on Obama's Green Boat as it comes through our community. As Obama will be pointing out, the business future is not black or white, it is green and we need to be seen as green$.

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