Month: August 2016

Charlize’s Chess Game

Posted on by Ashaki Omikunle

Peace, love, and light as always! I do hope you are enjoying your weekend as I am.  By this time, I am sure most of you have seen the photos of Charlize Theron and her Afrikan son dressed in girls’ clothing.  When the photos were first seen, my Facebook timeline was inundated with posts and reposts, even re-reposts of the photos captioned with phrases such as Wtf, Wth, and Smmfh. Well, I wanted to take a few moments to weigh in.

My initial reaction was shock and then of course anger. How many times have we seen little Afrikan children be adopted by those of another culture and be seemingly lost by the misguidance of their adoptive parents? We have read stories where our children were kidnapped from Afrikan countries, treated as servants, even molested and raped by their adoptive parents. In the case of Ms. Theron and her son, I view her actions as abusive. Several months ago a video was circulated online of her being very physical and aggressive towards the child and now she has placed a blonde wig and dress on him. Why has she not been questioned at all in regards to her parenting? We have no idea what other terrible things may be going on behind the walls of her home either. And quiet as kept, if any of us in the Afrikan diaspora were to be on film abusing our children, we would have Child Protective Services banging before we knew what was going on. We have seen videos of our people “disciplining” our youth and they have been charged, arrested, etc.

Charlize Theron is the daughter of invaders. She touts her “national” identity as South Afrikan but in my opinion, she is not South Afrikan. Her ancestors invaded South Afrika and they continue to live there. She is European, no doubt about it. Her ways are those of her ancestors, oppressors of the true South Afrikans. She has been raised as many other Europeans to have a superiority complex towards anyone else outside of her culture. She is effectively training her son to be a black man that will be accepted in Western culture—devoid of Afrikan ways and emasculated. He will not identify with his culture because he is not being exposed to it at all. A dear friend once said that white supremacy despises the masculine black male and that is the honest truth. We have seen countless videos of the murders of our men, unarmed and all. The proof is in the pudding. It is the white supremacists’ way to effectively detach the Afrikan from self- identification—to make their true culture foreign to them. If your culture is foreign, you will work to continue white supremacy; the way of the West will be what is true to you and thus, the cycle will continue. We see the detachment in everyday life-from the fact that the majority of our people identify with a god that doesn’t look like them, straightening their hair so they will not be nappy, bleaching their skin to be lighter.

We must remain aware that those who seek to maintain power are playing chess. They have and always will find ways to permeate our culture, rape the culture, and quell all of our attempts at liberation. A truly liberated people fully embraces their culture but if one is trained from youth to find their culture foreign, the war is over before the first battle actually concludes. Is it admirable to adopt? Oh, most definitely. Should more Afrikans adopt? Of course we should but often lack of resources stop the process. However, we should not ignore the fact that everyone that adopts does not have an admirable aim, no matter the color. Bob Marley once sang that the Sheriff wanted to “kill them before they grow”. This is what Charlize and so many others are doing. They are snuffing out our legacy before they have an opportunity to grow and progress. She is the epitome of white supremacy—an invader that is attacking the seed mentally and we must not allow it. We must fight to end it. Our youth are our ancestors and they deserve better, so much better. Let us never be afraid to speak on the issues. I don’t care how much money she has, she should face consequences for her actions against that child and he should be removed from the home. The agenda allows it to continue. It’s up to us to send notice that this bullshit must end. No matter the cost.

 

Hetepu,

Ashaki Ma’at Mirembe Alitheron

Photo Credit: http://www.clutchmagonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Cherlize_Son_Dress4.jpg

What is Liberation?

Posted on by Ashaki Omikunle

Peace, love, and light fam. I hope all is well with you and yours. I am stupendously busy as usual. I did take a small break this weekend, enjoying much needed free time with friends and extended family. I have been thinking about what freedom and liberation really looks like and feels like. For the vast majority of us living in this world, liberation is an abstract idea, a dream, a beautiful fantasy. Many of us would struggle with day to day operations as a truly sovereign individual. Let’s talk about what liberation could possibly look like.

First of all, a truly liberated people would own things such as land and property. According to an article published on www.blackisonline.com in 2010, there are only 68,000 African American land owners in the US and they only own 7.7 million acres which is miniscule in the land that has a mass of 2.3 billion acres. Land ownership is essential to wealth creation and sustainability.

Secondly, a truly liberated people would have their own their own systems in place for government, education, healthcare, commerce/economics, etc. Currently, the Amerikkan African (a term coined by a dear friend and leader M’Bwebe Ishangi), depends on those who have oppressed us for the last several centuries for almost everything in our lives, including our foodstuffs. We attend their schools, we go to their doctors and medical facilities, we use their banks, we operate under their self-proclaimed democracy. And we suffer. We suffer from being disenfranchised, over charged, underserved, and miseducated. But many are so comfortable in their oppression that they will fight you if you attempt to suggest another way of living is possible.

Lastly, a truly liberated people will embrace true unity. Living communally; working with others in farming, hunting, craftswork; giving of their talents wholly; fully embracing ancient practices of medicine, eating, and living. When I think of freedom, I visualize a community of my people living and working together, traveling to the medicine man or wombman for health issues, community policing, bartering for goods. I visualize peace and freedom from the threat of police violence, micro-aggressions from those not of the culture, blatant racist acts, and most of all the systems that are diluting a lost people. Every day when I rise , I remind myself of who I am and what I have come to do. I am Ashaki Ma’at Mirembe Ali and I am a revolutionary. I am here to fight for the liberation of my people and I will not stop until my last breath.

 

 

Hetepu,

Ashaki Ma’at Mirembe Ali

My Dear Family

Posted on by Ashaki Omikunle

Peace, love, and light. I feel as though I have been neglecting my writing lately but I have busier than ever these days. I am really working hard towards my goals and know what I want out of this life. I used to be someone who would flip from one dream to the next but now I have dedicated myself to these goals wholeheartedly.

I was busy working today but pressed my way to my family reunion. And though my family and I got there at the end, I was filled with so much joy seeing so many family members that I rarely get to see or have not seen in such a long time. The beauty in seeing elders of my family interact with the children in the family was priceless and I will never forget today. So often, we take the older members of our extended family for granted and once they have transitioned to the spiritual plane, we are only left with regret and memories.

We all fall short of keeping in touch with family and being present for them but we must do better. We would be better served following some of the Eastern traditions. They honor their elders highly and hold their wisdom and presence in high regard. The Western world seems to throw their elders to the rear. But, we are missing out by not tapping into them and their life experiences. Today I read that the world renowned Dr. Sebi had transitioned and as now an elder. I am hurt deeply by his passing because he contributed much to many, many people. I am even hearing that he died in prison. I am not certain of the validity of the prison story but Dr. Sebi represents the best part of our elders. Wise, concerned, and most of all true in spirit. He gave of himself wholly and only wanted the best for his people. He spent years teaching us how to eat to live and how mucus in the body caused every disease that occurs. He will certainly be missed.

And as for my many cousins who are in my age range or a little younger, their children, etc., I am grateful for each of them. I felt the realness in their embraces when they grabbed me after I entered the building. I held a brand new six week old baby cousin in my arm. I looked through the pictures of my great-grandmother Annie and my great-grandfather Luther and my great-great-grandfather Samuel and was touched to my soul. These ancestors are with me even now and I honor them each day when I give offerings at my altar. Being the spiritual ambassador for my family is so important and I connected my practices and the divine connection that occurred today.

So, I implore you. Cherish your elders while they are here. Learn from them, listen to them, be there for them. They need you too. They are precious jewels in the crown of their families. We would not be who we are if not for the elders and all who had come before us. Do not wait until they are no longer in the physical to desire their essence. Take advantage of the opportunity while you have the chance. We are all connected; beautiful pieces of the lovely tapestry that is family. And that family connections are continuing to grow…and grow….and grow.

 

 

Hetepu,

Ashaki Ma’at Mirembe Ali