The Powers Report: Volume 3

If We Should Die Before We Wake…
Power To The People? Black Power Atheists

By
Tyrone Powers, Ph.D.

A n important lesson was missed during the trial of alleged serial murder Charles Manson. The prosecutor, Vincent Bugliosi, indicated that Manson and his band of middle-aged white killers believed that eventually Black people would tire of being ruled, used, and abused by white people. Manson suggested that after many unproductive attempts at non-violent compromise, Blacks would rise up and violently overthrow their white oppressors. Manson indicated that due to a lack of confidence in themselves and in their ability to rule and govern, Blacks would return the reins of power and governance to a white person. That person, Manson believed, would be him. To help the process along, Manson ordered his gang to go out and jump-start the process for Blacks - by killing off upper class whites. Surly, he thought, Blacks would be blamed (seems logical in light of recent history) and thus a race war would ensue that Blacks would eventually win.

Manson thought his help necessary to get things started because Blacks seemed afraid of their "masters," and it appeared that even under the worst conditions and treatment, Blacks seemed reluctant to fight for freedom and independence. There is little argument against the notion that Manson was a bigot, racist, and a nut. In fact, he was known to identify Blacks as "spades." But, as my grandfather often reminded me, it is possible to learn "something" from anyone - even a fool. In light of recent events and recent choices made by some prominent Black leaders and their followers, part of Charles Manson's "Helter Skelter" scenario must be revisited with renewed interest and a fresh analysis. Charles Manson seems to have more "believers" than those that joined his cult. And it is the covert "Masoneers" that might hurt us the most.

The Best Black Leader Is A White Man

On Tuesday September 14, 1999, the good citizens of Baltimore City in the state of Maryland voted into the office of Mayor a white man by the name of Martin O'Mally. Despite the fact that other well-qualified Black candidates were in contention, many "prominent" Black "leaders" endorsed O'Mally and the followers of the leaders voted for him. Baltimore city is approximately 65% African-American. In translation and summation, a city of people comprised of a 65% Black population came to the conclusion that a white man - from the 30% pool of white people - (5% other) was best qualified to represent them and thus, after having only one elected Black Mayor in its history, returned the reins of power to a white man. This is not to say that Martin O'Mally is not qualified to run a city. Martin O'Mally is probably a good man. But, it does beg the question: Is there not one great Black person in a city of approximately 700, 000 people who is equally qualified? And if there is not one great Black person who is currently involved in politics - should we not be creating and educating or own leaders? Have we not learned anything in 400 years? Shouldn't we be creating, developing, and supporting "our" leaders financially so that they do not have to rely on the good graces of others? So that they do not have to subordinate their hopes, goals and aspirations for a people to the political backdoor deals of others? What group of people gives up power to another group of people when all are in agreement that the now powerless group is being mistreated, oppressed, discriminated against, and brutalized? Imagine, if you will for a moment the State of Israel electing a qualified Arab citizen as its leader or an Arab state electing a qualified Jewish citizen as its leader. Imagine the Japanese electing a Chinese Prime Minister or the Chinese electing a Japanese. Can't imagine it? Neither can I. Does this selection of us to represent us mean that one group hates the other group or does this mean that one group is intelligent? Not only will Israel not allow the election of an Arab they will not allow the United States to try a person of Jewish descent. See the Samuel Shiebein case.

Are Black people afraid of power? Are Black people afraid of Black faces in high places? Do the so-called leaders actually believe in Black people? Was Charles Manson right about Black people and power? Unfortunately, the situation regarding the "complexion" of leadership in Baltimore is not an aberration. We see it across the nation. For example the good Black folk of the 18th Ward in Chicago elected Alderman Murphy, a white man, to represent them despite a group of well-qualified Blacks candidates. Alderman Murphy had to move into the 18th Ward to qualify to take the office from Blacks who were already living there. Alderman Murphy garnered over 60% of the vote - more that all the Black candidates together. It was obviously not a matter of splitting the Black vote, but more so an indication of the psychological and mental chains of slavery. Dr. Carter G. Woodson may have said it best, "Control a man's thinking and you do not have to worry about his actions." In the wake of the Baltimore election some Black leaders indicated that they were proud of Black folk for showing that they were colorblind. We have gone from "Say it loud, I'm Black and I'm proud," to "We are proud to be colorblind." From "Power to the People," to Black Power Atheist."

How Much is That "Darkie" in the Window?

Sadly, we confirm the predictions of intelligence organizations. As I have mentioned on many previous occasions, during my tenure as a Special Agent with the FBI, the FBI's Behavioral Science Unit at Quantico, Virginia produced a psychological profile of Black America. The FBI concluded that Black people are emotional and not intellectual. Using our emotions as a weapon against us has allowed the FBI and others to predict what stimulus we will respond to. We have become Pavlov's dogs. We salivate when we hear the overt and covert proffers of others. They ring the bell - we run to their feet and swear that it was our "independent" choice. All too often the FBI has used its profile of Black America to bring down sincere Black public officials who did not and will not respond to Pavlov's bell. The FBI have utilized its profile to set up "sting" operations to bring down leaders or to put them in a position where the perception of compromise is present. See the effect of the FBI's operations, (the same effects that we appear to be blind to) some whites, in pursuit of political positions in majority Black communities, utilize similar methods to buy off (or out) prominent Black leadership. An endorsement - with thousands of votes attached to it - can be bought for next to nothing or for a few "hollow" promises. The formula is easily repeatable. (Hear the bell ringing) Having removed the belief in competent Black leadership and replaced it with cold hard cash, the taking of the people and the people's political office becomes all but complete. The "darkie" has been bought. In the minds of the so-called, self-described Black leaders, the best man for the job has been (s)elected. Black Power Atheist.

The More Things Change…

In the April 2, 1961 edition of the Jamaican newspaper Gleaner, a student from the University of the West Indies wrote, "In spite of all they have suffered the black man still likes to serve and honor the white man in preference to his own brethren…It is a insult to the Negro race." Sadly enough this still seems to be the case. A colorblind society is an unrealistic goal that is oft repeated from the mouths of the ignorant or from those with bad intentions. Even the late great Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would have abandoned such a fantasy by now. In fact, a true reading of history indicates that Dr. King had already put such notions aside. A country built on race division will not all of a sudden start seeing one shade of color.

Color differentiation is taught from pre-school through high school. We need to stop playing and, as the young people say, "keep it real." It was the great educator Dr. Booker T. Washington who stated, "In all things that are purely social we can be as separate as the fingers, yet one as the hand in all things essential to mutual progress." Asking the Black man to recognize himself as a Black man and to have faith in Black people is not racism, it is good common sense and, for most people, human nature. Unfortunately, many of us do not believe in us, despite our rhetoric. The Honorable Elijah Muhammad indicated that many Black leaders "have accepted a position of permanent servitude." Having accepted such a proposition they hastily move to install their "natural" leaders in positions of power and leadership. If questioned about their choice they quickly evoke the "colorblind society" rule. The color they are blind to is Black. Some have a fear of Black power - Blackpowerphobia, others are simply Black Power Atheist.

A Message To The Black Youth

It was the great African leader Kwame Nkrumah who wrote, "It is far better to be free to govern, or misgovern, yourself than to be governed by anybody else." Our so-called Black leaders constantly discuss the importance of self-confidence to our youth. But the message they send by giving Power to other people contradicts all the pep talks. Theoretically our leaders believe in Black folk - but practically - they are Black Power Atheists. J.C. Bell wrote, "Words spoken without meaning have no tentacles. They float endlessly, bouncing here and there, restless pieces of the spirit; sent out without any mission or specific destination, landing no where and serving no purpose, except to diminish the spirit of the speaker." But not only do our Black Power Atheist diminish themselves, they diminish our youth and their future. They place our very survival and continued existence in peril. They allow the Charles Manson's of the world to predict our actions, reactions and lack of action.

We cannot teach our children to be financially independent if we are financially and politically dependent upon others. Welfare leaders cannot instruct young people to shun welfare. Nor can we tell our young people to strive to be elected to positions that we refuse to elect young people who look like them to. Imagine what Martin O'Mally is able to say to his children this evening. Imagine how he explains that he is the best leader for a city of Black people. O'Mally cannot claim colorblindness because he too spoke of the significance of having Black folk in his "camp." But he can have his children aspire to positions of leadership - especially if they can find a Black city just laying around somewhere. Black Power Atheist.

Message To The Black Man In America

Minister Louis Farrakhan has often indicated the danger of false leadership with evil intentions. The great Jamaican Political leader, Black Power advocate, and musician Bob Marley warned us of "Race Mercenaries" who make money from the condition of Black people. Marley indicated that some of these mercenaries look like us but are not for us. It was Marcus Mosiah Garvey who advised us, "In a world of wolves one should go armed, and one of the most powerful defensive weapons within the reach of Negroes is the practice of race first in all parts of the world." The Honorable Elijah Muhammad noted that 'No one wants foolish people who love everyone but themselves and their own kind." Who can afford to ignore the Messenger. For us to continue to choose others to lead us is for us to deny the wisdom, knowledge and work of these great men. To say that race doesn't matter is to discount the tremendous effort put forward by the men and women who have gone before us. To say that anyone but us can lead us, save us is to deny history. The movie the Amistad suggested what occurs when you trust others to navigate the boat and to take us in the direction toward freedom. Somehow I feel that despite all that we know about history, we are getting back on the boat.

What Black People Should Do

Black people must make use of their considerable economic power - garnered from Black businesses and Black consumers to build Black political leaders and Black Power
Brokers that are beholden to Blacks. If Black politicians are to be bought let them be bought by us for us. (FUBU) An education process must take place in the Black community whereas Black communities see an investment in Black politicians is an investment in Black communities, in Black schools, in Black vocational centers, in Black Business, in Black book stores, in Black recreational centers, in Black technology centers, in Black people. There must be a community fund where all Black preachers - separate from their churches - but it could come from money put into their salaries by their churches for this unstated purpose - are required to contribute in proportion to their congregation size and/or income level. This fund will help to fully buy Black politicians. There must be some quid pro quo. "Let's keep it Real." Sincere and hardworking Black politicians should not have to live in poverty, or worry about the cost of housing, or how they are going to finance a vacation for their families. Their families should be taken care of and protected and those who threaten them should be assured that they, and all they love, will be destroyed. MAD - Mutually Assured Destruction. Thus, there should be nothing that Black politicians and Power Brokers want for - nothing that others can offer them that is not being provided by us. Their total concentration - except for quiet time spent with their families - should be on the advancement of Black people and thus on the advancement of all people. So-called Black leaders who have historically been the overseers for their perceived masters must understand that they are servants of Black people-not the permanent servants of white people or any other group of people. This will take a massive re-education process, as these leaders have been fully emerged in the cesspool of subordination and white Supremacy. They have become Black Power Atheist. Again, at the bottom of everything else there must be economic empowerment. Economic Power and Political Power are not mutually exclusive. We should not expect poor politicians - no more than does a congregation expect a poor raggedy pastor.

The Mis-Education and Re-Education of Black Folk

The process of re-education must take place right away. We must go into elementary schools and begin to select our future leaders. We must educate them, protect them and prepare them. Somewhere as you read this another Martin O'Mally is being educated and prepared to take a throne in a Black city. We cannot afford to fail to prepare because we know that failing to prepare is, in fact, preparing to fail.. A training camp for future leaders must begin today. This camp does not consist of lay-ups or down and outs. No fly balls or fly boys. If we truly believe in us we will succeed. If we do not the smiling, chuckling Black Power Atheist will sell us out - and we will have to rely on Charles Manson as our savior.


Copyright 1999 Tyrone Powers