Sunrise April 18, 1949 - Sunset May 16, 2023 I attended the funeral of the Honorable Senator William” Bill” Perkins on Thursday May 25, 2023, held at the First Corinthian Baptist Church in Harlem where the Rev. Michael A. Waldron Jr. is the Senior Pastor. The Eulogist was Rev Henry A. Bedin III, Pastor of the First AME Bethel Church in Harlem, NY. It was a lengthy funeral with an array of who's who in New York in attendance, including Mayor, Eric Adams, elected officials, clergy, community activists, Former Ambassador Gaspard, former Borough President of Manhattan, Virginia Fields, Senator Cordell Cleare of Harlem, Hazel Dukes, president of NAACP NYS Conference, and of course family members and friends. Former Congressman Charles Rangel was also present. It's hard to remember when I first met Senator Perkins. It seemed that we had known each other for years. He was always on the scene whenever there was an issue concerning our people, particularly his people in Harlem. He served as a legislator of Harlem where he served 24 years, he was ubiquitous, tireless, courageous, committed - a fearless fighter for the people. He exemplified the quote- “he spoke truth to power”. It seemed that he was always out front on issues that other people were reluctant to get involved in. He dared to go and do while others were turning away in fear and compromise. He was recognized by the Nation Magazine as one of the eight most effective, progressive city leaders in the country. Senator Perkins was one of the few leaders who stood with the Central Park 5 -and against Donald Trump’s callous call for the death penalty for them. They were ultimately found innocent, and they are now known as the Exonerated 5. He was the first New York State elected official to support former President Barack Obama.He obeyed what Congressman John Lewis said his father advised him, for all of us- “to make some noise and get into good trouble, necessary trouble.” When he was in the City Council, he led the fight to protect children from the deadly effects of lead in their homes. His leadership resulted in the enactment of the Childhood Lead Paint Poisoning Prevention Act of 2004. He introduced and passed resolutions opposing the involvement in the Iraq war. Early on he led the crusade against the pervasive rats in New York City streets. As I mentioned, it seemed Senator Perkins was everywhere in Harlem and beyond. It was said of him, he was always in the community. He was a jogger and a walker. He rode the buses and subways. He stayed in touch with the people he served. He attended tenant and community meetings, senior citizen centers, rallies and demonstrations. In 1991, when Rev. Sharpton, Councilman Charles Barron, and I called for a citywide disobedience campaign because of the killing of Amadou Diallo, over 1000 people came forward to be arrested including top elected officials like the Honorable Dave Dinkins, and the Honorable Charlie Rangel. People came from every walk of life, every nationality, and every age to get arrested. Bill Perkins was one of the first to step forward. It was an historic movement in reaction to a police officers killing. Rev. Sharpton and I were returning from a rally in Albany NY, against the harsh Rockefeller laws against substance abuse. I suggested to Rev. Sharpton that the people were so angry regarding the Amadou Diallo killing that some dramatic action had to be taken. They were furious about the way he had been killed. It was in the vestibule of his home where four (4) police Officers opened fire-50 times. They claimed he was reaching for his keys and the officers thought he had a weapon. As the chairman of the National Black United Front, I had the responsibility of coordinating the New York Jail going/ civil disobedience campaign to free Nelson Mandela and free South Africa. Three (3)  leaders were arrested in Washington DC at the South African embassy, Congressman Fauntroy, Randall Robinson of trans Africa and Berry. Their act precipitated a nationwide civil disobedience campaign. I learned from that experience. When people become so enraged and prepared to take almost any action short of violence. Civil disobedience is the most radical action that can be taken short of violence. As I stated Senator bill Perkins was one of the first to step forward.He was always serious with a no-nonsense demeanor. He had a commanding presence. You knew he was in the room. I admired him very much. There was no doubt in my mind that he was loyal, tough, audacious and totally committed to the people he represented. There was no doubt in my mind that in the battle we fought he would fight to the end. We all agreed that we will miss him very much. For the people in Harlem, they will not see him walking the streets anymore. But when I think of Bill I think of the Marcus Garvey, “look for me in the whirlwind.” Bill will always be with us, and we will look for him in every battle we fight for the people. So, we say, so long brother, friend, comrade, freedom fighter. You fought a good fight; you finished the course, and you kept the faith. There is laid up for you a special commendation by the Supreme Creator who will say to you, well done thou good and faithful servant.

Tuesday, May 9, 2023 129th Prayer this morning and usual Lifeline prayer call. The Lord is blessing me right now I am abundantly blessed I am eternally grateful I am totally undeserving And I believe God I promise to share in words and deeds my blessing with others. -Posted our morning prayer via Facebook -I met with Sarah for an hour about weekly tasks and updates. -My great nephew Andrew is graduating from Georgetown: he was featured in a video that will be showed at Black Film Festival. Conversation with Rev. Al Sharpton, he responded to a telephone call I had left him. At the NAN meeting Saturday, he had mentioned that he was going to Buffalo Sunday of the massacre. I was eager to go to Buffalo, not just the massacre, but hopefully i’ll get the chance to see Arthur Eve and his wife. When Eve was running for the mayoral seat in Buffalo 1976. We send busloads to assist him. I remember we impressed everybody when we took the first bus from Brooklyn to Buffalo, rode through the night and arrived in Buffalo early the next day and immediately alighted from the bus and started registering people to vote. It was an unforgettable demonstration of our church's commitment to Arthur Eve in particular but to Black empowerment generally. Arthur Eve won the Democratic primary election but lost the general election in a city that had voted Democratic since Methuselah was a baby. It is significant that the racist primary in Buffalo refused to elect him to be Mayor. This may help us to understand the climate of the city which could produce the Buffalo Massacre. Rev. Al stated I would receive a call from his assistant with flight details. I’ll assume we’ll leave Saturday and arrive in the evening to be ready for the ceremony Sunday morning. I look forward to the Buffalo trip as I mentioned we worked hard for Arthur Eve. I literally stayed in his home for a week campaigning with him and for him. I understand that he’s not doing so well now and I look forward to seeing him. Even in his state I'm told that one of the things he remembers is when we campaigned for him and he constantly calls my name. Wednesday, May 10, 2023 - Friday, May 12, 2023 We heard from one of our publishers, Maystell Publishing about a sample of our book being available on Amazon Kindle: 52 Weekly Biblical Reflections for the Mastery of Life. Hard copies will be available in about 7 weeks. We left for Augusta, Georgia by 11:30 on Wednesday on a 6:50 Trip! I did not have any identification, although my wife had an old credit card with my name on it. While I was in Augusta, my son sent me a Fedex with my identification so that there would be no trouble returning home. While in Augusta I received important news from my publisher that the book was available on Amazon Kindle. Waiting on word from my other three publishers: Passing of the Giants of the Human Spirit, Reflections on the Pandemic 2020-2021, Theological Reparations Thursday: This is primarily a business trip including some attention to church operations. The idea came to me that with the Arthur Miller program coming up on June 17th that we should try to produce a book. It could be done with the compilation of articles that have already been written which will include: Chapters 4, 6,7, and 8 from my book No Monopoly on Suffering: Blacks and Jews in Crown Heights When Police Kill our children A series of articles I've written for the newspaper. Suggested Solutions another series of articles I’ve written and Two events that impact Brooklyn and the world. Introduction from LoLisa Miller-Bradford who was 8 ½ years old at the time and participated in the marches The book would capture the events and personalities of the life and times of Arthur Miller. The title would be Remembering Arthur Miller on the 45th anniversary and the making of the movement. Friday Rev. Sharpton and I had our usual weekly early morning conversation. I was interested in going to Buffalo for the first anniversary Sunday. I knew he would be going and indicated to him that I would like to accompany him to Buffalo. His team responded affirmatively. I continued to think about Arthur Miller and Kwame Ture. I made some notes regarding the program and personalities- what we wanted to include. As we concluded our trip it is always a time of deep reflections. My earliest memory was in Augusta, GA and the church that still stands with my father’s gravesite and also Mother Inez Conry who was the presiding bishop who succeeded my father. First time in the history of a church where the female bishop preceded a male Bishop in 1952 and I became national bishop in 1960. And a female succeeded me, my daughter, the Bishop Leah Daughtry. I had no problems at the airport. Thank God. Our flight was at 8:30 and we returned home at 10pm. Rev. Sharpton and I had our usual weekly early morning conversation. I was interested in going to Buffalo for the first anniversary Sunday. I knew he would be going and indicated to him that I would like to accompany him to Buffalo. His team responded affirmatively. Saturday, May 13, 2023 Saturday morning I attended a NAN Rally from 9:30-11am. And as always there was some special guest that was unknown to me. I never inquire because I like the surprise idea. Sure enough it was David Banks - New York City School Chancellor. He offered some disturbing figures as to our school children across the country or at least statistics in several of the large cities with predominantly people of African Ancestry. He cited Rochester 81%, Detroit 91%, Chicago 80%, New York where 51% of the children do not read at their grade level. He pointed out that the New York City School budget is $38 billion dollars. He laid out his plan to change the situation. The school system will return to phonetics, where the sound of a word helps to learn the word or the sentence. I was stunned by these statistics, as I looked at the future and if these statistics are not substantially lowered, I wonder where our children and we as a people are going to be in a highly competitive future. We will be competing with other nationalities and practically everybody is going to be a minority, even EuroEthnics. Hence, that means that we’re going to have to make it on our merit and the statistics say, if there’s no improvement or little improvement we’re going to be far behind. And again, it’s not all our fault. The system is still stacked against us. Racism is still at work in so many ways. After which Sharpton gave us his usual educational speech which is always persuasive, powerful including humor. The Reverend is very witty, smart and humorous. Not only in his public speaking, but privately. It is always a fun time with him even in the midst of a serious crisis. After NAN, around 7:15pm, we took a flight from JFK arriving in Buffalo around 9pm.

Monday, May 1st, 2023 Early in the morning, I awakened at my usual time around 4:30 am and up or even if I’m laying in bed making notes on social-media world. This morning I looked out of the window of our 19th floor suite and saw the sky and felt awe and reverence by the beauty. I had to take this photo and I feel compelled to share it with you. I thought of the Scripture, "How wonderful are thy works in all creation?" And I hope when you see it, that you will feel as I felt. Tuesday, May 2nd, 2023 Returned home from our Anniversary weekend Facebook post: Another servant has gone home from labor. Sister Wilhelmina Banks was a member of our church, and a member of Sisters Against South African Apartheid (SASAA) founded and chaired by my wife Rev. Dr. Karen Daughtry and a member of various community organizations. She was a hardworking, serious sister. She exemplified the ideal to which so many strived to achieve but seldom succeed. She was tough and tender, she had a tough mind and a tender heart. She was compassionate, caring, to those who are the least or to the needy. But she showed a serious somber face to her adversaries. She was committed, dependable, and hardworking, always thinking of how to serve. She did whatever she was asked to do with punctuality and dependability. She relocated to another state, where she continued serving the people. We are grateful for the time she spent with us for her character and contribution. We shall always remember her and the service that she rendered. Thank God for the hope and promise that Jesus Christ will meet us at the close of the day and welcome us to his presence with all the heavenly hosts. I send my prayers and condolences to the family members. Wednesday, May 3, 2023 Wednesday morning with Sharman our press person to complete dictation on the funeral of Alton Maddox, after lunch I came to Brooklyn for our Timbuktu Learning Center meeting last night. Wednesday evening I was informed by my wife that Deacon Leroy Aplin Jr. longtime Jersey City member joined the ancestors. Leroy Aplin Jr. is the son of Leroy Aplin Sr. who for many years was a member of our church in Brooklyn. Leroy Sr. was well known and well-liked to both the church and community. Upon his retirement he practically lived in the church. He was the first one to arrive in the morning and last one to leave at night. He was faithful, dependable, sincere and hardworking. And the same could be said about Leroy Jr. in Jersey City. Thursday May 4, 2023 Thursday morning I worked on funeral arrangements for Deacon Leroy Aplin Jr. Later on I had a meeting with coordinator Sarah. Friday, May 5, 2023 Rev. Sharpton and I have weekly conversations which starts around 6:15. In preparation for the Alton Maddox article, he was very helpful in jogging my memory regarding certain dates and events. I picked up the Charles Barron and Road to Armageddon transcriptions. Sarah and I spoke about promoting the following programs: Video Trailer in preparation for the Organizing and membership meeting I posted on Alton Maddox, Attorney at War! Sunrise: July 21,1945 - Sunset: April 25, 2023 The above title of this article is the name that was given to Attorney Alton Maddox, attorney at war. He seemed to always be in a fighting mood. He was bold, brash and brilliant. When he came to New York in the 70s, he joined the movement growing out of the killing of Randy Evans in 1976 and the chokehold death of Arthur Miller in 1978. The Black United Front was the lead organization, there were older organizations in which BUF inspired and new organizations which grew out of the movement. I immediately admired him, trusted him and drew him closer to me and the movement. I liked his audacity, fearlessness, dedication and commitment to our people’s advancement. Read more at the button: Saturday, May 6, 2023 Saturday at National Action Network I posted the following: "Alas, another mass shooting- this time it is in Allen TX mall. I was just settling down to post my reflections on my morning visit to National Action Network (NAN). I was eager to comment on Rev. Sharpton thoughtful, informative challenging message and my appreciation and admiration for the brilliant essay by Professor Playthell Benjamin on a biography written by Gabriel Banat on Chevalier De Saint George, a Black Frenchman who excelled at “ sword and bow” which mean war and music and other highly regarded societal careers. Professor Benjamin highly commends the movie “Chevalier”. I’m not a movie goer, but because Professor Benjamin, for whom I consider among the Brightest Stars In The Galaxy, Commends I will see the movie. And then the Heart Breaking News, Another Mass Shooting! And The Usual Call To Prayer And Other Religious Rituals, Even By Those Who Have The Power To Do Some Things About The Awful Situation And Have Done Nothing And Plan To Do Nothing And These Are The Same People Are Practicing Denial Of Human Rights And Who Are Opposing Programs And Policies For The “Least “ Among Us, And Than Word Of God, Came To Me As It Written In The Book Of Isaiah1:2-20 "…. ..when you lift up your hands in prayer, I will not look Though you offer many prayers, I will not listen, for your hands are covered with the blood of innocent victims . Wash your selves and be clean! Get your sins out of my sight. Give up your evil ways. Learn to do good. Seek Justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of the orphans. Fight for the rights of widows. Come now let’s settle this, says the LORD. Though your sins be as scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they be red like crimson I will make them as white as wool. If you will only obey me, you will have plenty to eat. But if you turn away and refuse to listen, You will devoured by the sword of your enemies. I the LORD have spoken!" Need I say more? Continue on the road we are going and the end will be CATASTROPHIC! Sunday, May 7, 2023 In the photos: Langston and Stephon, we raise basketball stars young. In the second photo is Jay and myself. Basketball Prayer Men’s Prayer at 8:45am Sunday Service at 11:30am - in-person worship - Sermon Topic - “God will not leave us there!” Jeremiah 29:10-14 Focus Verse 11: For I know the thoughts that I think towards you saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil to give you an expected end- or promising end.” I was inspired by the sermon preached at NAN’s on Saturday by Dr. Carson, guest preacher at NAN. He is the presiding elder in the Methodist Episcopal Church. The context of the story is that God had allowed his people to go into slavery because of their worshiping other gods and violating his laws. He promised that they would not stay there, but while in Babylon they were to learn as much as they could. For they would return to their land after 70 years. I used the story to make it relevant to us today and to people at any point in history. Whatever we are going through, whatever the hardship, however we got there. Whether God allowed it or directed it to happen, God will not leave us in the situation in which we find ourselves. God has a plan and God has a promise. I won't leave you there, I will bring you out to fulfill the plan and the future I have for you. So I say to you today whoever you are in whatever condition you’re in. God will not leave you there, but God will bring you out to a future that He has planned for you. Monday, May 8, 2023 I missed the Lifeline morning prayer this morning traveling from New Jersey to Brooklyn. After the morning work session. I reviewed our schedule and workload for the coming week. We spoke about the publishers, who are still promising us our work. Our book will be completed in the near future. We reviewed the future programs and Organizing meeting & Membership drive video . It’s about 5 mins covering most of the activities in which we’ve been engaged. It’s a rather exciting video and I strongly urge you to view it. Exciting and Educational. Remembering Arthur Miller on the 45th Anniversary and the Making of a Movement upcoming June 17th, 2023 at 415 Atlantic Avenue. In conjunction with the Brooklyn Historical Society, it is the 45th Anniversary of Arthur Miller’s death. Bishop Eric Figueroa - New Life Tabernacle My wife, Dr. Karen and I attended the 40th Anniversary in the ministry of Archbishop Figueroa, Pastor of NLT. It was held at Russos on the River in Howard Beach, Brooklyn. It was an impressive gathering of clergy from every background. Mayor Adams delivered a proclamation and Rev. Dr. Jamal Bryant was the Keynote speaker. I was asked to be the co- chairperson along with Archbishop David J. Billings III. In my remarks I pointed out why Bishop Figueroa is so loved and appreciated as evidenced by this huge gathering from every walk of life. I emphasized that he is always doing for others. I pointed to all of the awards that he gave to people on his anniversary. It is an unusual act of generosity. When people have come to honor you and you in turn use the occasion to give a gift to at least 20 people which took considerable time. I was reminded although I did not mention it of St. Paul’s statement concerning his imminent death. He said, “ I fought a good fight, I finished my course and I’ve kept the faith. Henceforth there’s later for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord himself should give me that day, ” Paul the Apostle, thinking of his own reward and glory but still thinking of others. So Bishop Figueroa in his act of being celebrated on earth was still thinking of others. Years ago he along with Bishop Jamison and Bishop Seabrooks organized a celebration for me. They named it Honoring the Sage of the City. It was a glowing success both in terms of quantity and quality.

The Road to Armageddon United States to train Ukrainian pilots to operate F16 fighter jets Well, another step on the road to Armageddon. It has been announced that American President Biden has agreed to train Ukrainian pilots to fly the most advanced fighter jets . There was resistance for a long while to President Zelensky’s request. He convinced president Biden and the NATO allies that it was imperative that the country supply the planes and pilots if his country was to succeed in winning the war through military conquest or attrition, and of course, as always he needed more money. It seems to be a continuing theme just one more this or that and a few more advanced weapons of war will achieve victory for the Ukrainians and its allies. Secondly, the battle of Berkut has ended for a moment. The Russians claim victory over this important city in the eastern region of Ukraine. However, the Ukrainian and the American press, for the most part, have a different spin: ·      They say that the Russians haven't won the war, Russians haven’t won the city, it's all propaganda. ·      They say the Russians haven't won anything, the city has been reduced to rubble. ·      They say the Russians have won momentarily at a great cost of lives which makes it impossible for Russia to have men and weapons of war to battle in other areas of Ukraine. ·      They say that the Russians will occupy only for a moment as the Ukrainians withdrawal has strengthened them to encircle the city and wage a counter offensive. Now, if all this sounds contradictory, welcome to the club of those who question what's going on in the Ukraine. It just seems that the truth is not being told. There is always Ukrainians winning the war, no matter what seeps out that the Russians have done. You remember some time ago when the Russians withdrew from Kherson which was right across the river. It was held up as a great victory for the Ukrainians. An American reporter, in an interview with high level Ukrainian officials, said that the Russians have withdrawn from Kherson. The official corrected him and stated that the Russians had been driven out of Kherson and the city had been liberated. From then on the reporter reiterated the Ukrainian officials line. The city had been liberated. It was clear to us nonmilitary people who questioned the Ukrainian statement. It seemed to us that the Russians were up to something. After the Ukrainians moved into the city and celebrated with President Zelensky leading the way and settled down, the Russians commenced a fierce bombardment of the city. It became clear that it was all a Russian ploy to seemingly withdraw or be driven out of the city. I have deep concerns of President Biden’s administration on two issues: 1.    The war in Ukraine and its fallout in other nations. I believe deeply that Americans are going to become pervasively disillusioned, tired, and weary with the war in Ukraine. As the war drags on and on and the problems at home remain unresolved, it is easy to believe that the Biden administration we'll have another Vietnam on its hands and especially with some of the Republicans already critical of the administration. That criticism is going to continue to add supporters to its positioning. It is obvious that this Ukrainian war is going to continue a long time. Both sides, Russia and American allies agree that there is no end in sight. Additionally, there is continuing tension with China. On the one side America has been critical of China and its support of Russia in subtle ways. Yet it has been China who has put forth a 12-point peace plan which America and its allies have rejected. All the while North Korea continues its nuclear testing of bombs. 2.    Immigration President Biden is expected to solve this problem and the chances are it is not going to be solved but get worse. And as unfair as it is to charge or accuse President Biden of neglect or the inability to solve the problem, nonetheless, politics being what it is in America today, the lack of a resolution will be placed on his doorstep. Let me emphasize and make it abundantly clear that I like and support President Biden and I think he's doing an admirable job. I think he is a man of unquestioned integrity and honorable intentions. I will probably vote for him in the upcoming election. My questions are an attempt to get out the truth and not to undermine the Biden administration; but be helpful to the administration and to the people’s of the world. I hope that President Biden succeeds, but again, a cursory glance at history teaches us that the American people grow weary of a prolonged war which seems there is no ending. And all the while other issues seem unresolved and money, and resources are poured into an endless war. I had a nightmare that because of the continuation of the war in Ukraine and the continuing flow of military weapons, money and propaganda, Republicans had seized the issue and the American people voted into the presidency of the United States with Donald Trump. What a horrible nightmare, but it is possible if we keep  unless going down the road we’re going. It is either Armageddon or a Republican President in the next election.

Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop Part One: Tupac Shakur Conversations from a Jail cell The message you're about to read was inspired by the late Tupac Shakur, the well-known rapper/ performing artist. As I have stated Tupac Shakur was a member of our church, the House of the Lord Pentecostal Churches. His mother, Afeni, brought him, her daughter, Sekyiwa, and Afeni’s sister Gloria to the church for membership. Tupac was about 11 or 12 at the time. I watched him grow up for a while and then he moved to Baltimore. Occasionally we would reconnect and maintain our relationship. When he became a famous performing artist, or whenever he came to New York, his mother would always ask me to go to see him. When I did visit him he was always cordial and respectful. When Tupac was shot five times in New York he was in and out of consciousness. There was a question if he would remain alive. He sent for me this time. I went to the hospital and prayed for him. I returned to my church about a half an hour away. When I arrived at the church one of my deacons met me at the door and asked in a very excited voice, “Did you hear about Tupac?”, I said “no”. He explained that he had heard a report that Tupac had gone. I asked incredulously, “gone where?” He said, “he left the hospital, and they are not sure where he went.” I found out a couple of years later that after I left the hospital he became strong and conscious enough to realize he was in the hospital without security and the same people that put him there may be coming after him. He called some people who took him to a safe place. When he went to trial, I was there. The judge sentenced him to three to five years, I think. I remember him standing at the table in front of the judge where those who are on trial stand, with a painful, confused expression on his face. He said, “I didn't do anything.” From the courtroom he went to Rikers Island and from Rikers Island he went to Clinton prison in Upstate New York. I visited him every week, sometimes for hours. He told me stories about his life, what he wanted to be and of his imminent death. He felt deeply that he wasn't going to live long. Among the things we talked about were: 1. “I didn't show up” He told me the story about the young lady who visited him in his hotel. She had done an oral act on the dance floor and voluntarily visited him afterwards in the hotel. After they finished, she was on her way out of the hotel when his entourage grabbed her and started to abuse her. When she left, she was furious and accused Tupac of setting her up for his friends to take advantage of her. He didn't do anything wrong to her. He didn't have to as he had to fight people away from him on a regular basis. However, he said I know I am being punished for the things I did do and I know I did not show up for this young lady. I could have stopped everything, but I didn't show up. There is a lesson to learn in this, he stated, and I am going to challenge people to show up when they see someone in trouble. 2. The Wedding he never got to consummate On this day he was always very garrulous but especially this day. He talked about the wedding with Jada. Jada was his sweetheart. He loved her very much. However, she was courting a friend of his and he didn't try to backdoor his friend. But he always had a fire of love burning in his heart for Jada. His discussion of the wedding plans included the music, flowers, photographer and the Shorties who would stand on his left side of the floor. He wanted me to perform the wedding ceremony. I was thinking to myself, while Tupac and I were discussing the wedding, why did Tupac want midgets in his wedding. I asked him, “Who are the Shorties you want to be present at the wedding?" He said the Shorties were the girls, the young ladies. We laughed about that. The wedding never happened. Stay tuned for the next article: Name it, Frame it, Claim it!

Photo Bio Series #18: History of the Black United Front In the Black Power/Afrocentric Pan-Africanist movement one of the key organizations was the Black Panther Party. Significantly the Black Panther party was used in Lowndes County, Alabama. After that Selma march Kwame stepped up his organizing in Lowndes County where there was an overwhelming black population but no political power. After successfully organizing there, he was invited to the west coast to relate the experience they had and Lowndes County. It was there that the seeds of a Black Panther Party were planted. At Sekiywa, the daughter of Afeni Shakur’s wedding in 1996 there was a Black Panther reunion with some of the members who had attended the wedding. in the photo it was a grand and glorious occasion. One for the wedding and two for the reunion. It was like old times. The wedding was held at the home of Afeni which Tupac had purchased for his mother. A beautiful spacious home with lush green grass and shrubbery and trees all added to the joy of the moment. I don’t think anyone at the wedding didn’t have Tupac on his/her mind. He would have loved to be present and maybe he was in spirit. We hope to see members of the party when we Remember Kwame Ture and the movement and organizations and persons who had such a significant impact on America and ab road. I hope you, dear reader, will be present on July 29-30, 2023. Please register now at hdgministries.org/events and help us to spread the word. It’s going to be at our church, the House of the Lord Church, where Afeni, Tupac, and Sekyiwa were members. In the photo left to right: Jomal Joseph, Watoni Tyhemba, myself, Geronimo Jisaqq, Abi Bey Hassan **Black Power Revisited (con’t)** The following is the continuation from part VI of the Black Power series published Wednesday, July 26, 2006. This excerpt is taken from literature written over 40 years ago. I hope the reader finds the articles as interesting as I have found them. They (whites) even tried to use the Bible to prove that we were cursed people forever, condemned to be hewers of wood and drawers of water for others-for whites. “Did no Noah curse Ham to be servant or a slave unto his brethren?” they said. But the Bible does not teach God cursed Ham. It says that it was Canaan. The false belief that Ham was cursed comes in part from the ambiguity of the verses immediately preceding the curse and in part from mistranslation. “Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father’s nakedness and told his two brothers outside... and Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him.” The first verse does suggest that the sin was committed by Ham. But the Bible points out that Ham was the father of Canaan. The fact that it was Canaan and not Ham who was guilty is clear from the study in the next two verses. “Then he said, cursed be Canaan a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.” Genesis 9:25. Moreover, the line preceding the curse is invariably translated incorrectly. It should read “And Noah knew what his grandson had done unto him.” The Hebrew word, “benohakatan”, may be translated “his youngest son,” or “his grandson.” But grandson is correct, indeed, the only possible translation in this instance. For Ham was not Noah’s youngest son. Japheth was the youngest son. Ham was the middle son, and “Now this is the genealogy of the sons of Noah: Shem, Ham and Japheth.” Genesis 10:6 The sons of Ham (Ham in Hebrew does have the meaning of darkness. It also means Egy pt) were Cush, which is the biblical name for Ethiopia. Cush begot Nimrod who was the first man of power. “He was a mighty hunter before the Lord.” Genesis 10:9 Nimrod was also the founder of Babylonia. The Israelites clearly believed that the Babylonians and Assyrians were of African origin. We might remember that Abraham came from this direction, which raises fascinating speculation. The other sons of Ham were Mizraim, which is another name for Egypt, Phut (or Lybia) and Canaan. Canaan, comes from a word meaning to be low, referring originally to the low-lying coast of Phoenicia and the Philistines, later all western Palestine. Indeed, it was the Egyptians and Babylonians who enslaved the Israelites. Canaan became a slave because this was the land the Israelites conquered when they left the hardship of Egypt. It was a natural thing to make slaves out of the vanquished enemy. Now, with respect to Egypt not being a Black civilization, we have already seen that the Israelites believed the Egyptians were Black. In Egyptian paintings, they depict themselves as Black, reddishbrown or yellow. White skinned figures usually represented foreigners or slaves. Investigation of skeletons and other remains indicate that a large proportion of the Egyptian population, pe rhaps a third or more, we clearly Negroid. The Greek historian Herodotus, described 5th century BC Egyptian as “Black and curly haired.” Other historians wrote that the Ethiopians considered themselves to be “of greater antiquity than any other nation and it is probably that they were under the sun’s path. Its warmth may have ripened them earlier than other men. They supposed themselves to be the investors of worship, of festivals, of sacrifices of every religious practice.” The Iliad, a Greek epic poem, speaks of the gods feasting among the “blameless Ethiopians.” There is no doubt the accomplishments of Black people. But what of Black Africa, or Africa is below the Sahara Desert? A number of archeologists, anthropologists, and paleontologists now believe that life first appeared in Africa. Prominent among those is the eminent anthropologists Lousi Leakey. He said, “Africa’s first contribution to human progress was the evolution of man himself.” Professor Leakey’s theory is based on fossils and skeletons he had discovered in Africa. The earliest tool maker so far known, called Zinjanthropus, was discovered in Northern Tanganyika in East Africa. The following is the continuation from part VII of the Black Power series published Wednesday, July 28, 2006. This excerpt is taken from literature written over 40 years ago. I hope the reader finds the articles as interesting as I have found them. Roland Oliver and I.D. Page have said, “There is little doubt that throughout all but the last small fraction of this long development of human form, Africa remained at the center of the inhabited world.” The first abacus-a system of counting- was found in Congo-estimated to be 8,000 years old. Time would fail me to discuss the civilization of Ghana; of Guinea; of Mali; on the west coast of Mozambique; of Tanganyika; of Kenya; of Kilwa-which Ibn Battuta, the Marco Polo of Africa, called “one of the most beautiful towns in the world,” in the east coast of Uganda; of Monomotapa; Zimbabwe, in the interior. But now the question we must raise is why did whites steal and twist our history? First: they had to justify their rape of Africa and the bartering of human flesh. To do this, it became necessary to prove Africa was endless jungle, wild animals and sub-human beings. Dubois said, “The world which raped it, had to pretend that it had not harmed a man, but a thing.” Since we were savages with the curse of God upon us, whites felt that they could do no wrong in their dealings with us. The unparalleled evils of the plantation were more to be desired than the jungle. Discrimination in America was a blessing compared to demon life in Africa. “Black men,” said Chief Justice Taney during the Dred Scott case, “have no rights white men are bound to respect.” The second reason is that once the machinery of slavery commenced operating-profitability I might add- it became necessary to keep the parts well oiled. That is to say, to perpetuate the slave system every vestige of self-respect, whatever would stimulate pride, had to be destroyed, or distorted. You cannot enslave a man who believes he is the descendent of nobility. You can shackle his feet, but his mind is still free. And he will watch his opportunity to strike a blow for freedom. Oscar Wilde wrote, “Stone walls do not a prison make, nor iron bars a cage; minds innocent and quiet take that for a hermitage. If I have freedom in my love, and in my soul I am free; angels alone that soar above, enjoy such liberty.” Paul wrote from a Roman prison, “Stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made you free.” Black Power says “Look what is happening. There is still an attempt on the part of whites to propagate black inferiority.” It says, “The harm done to our personality must be recognized. We must recognize it so that we can deal with it.” Many accepted the lie about Africa. So when they hated Africa, they hated themselves. Many accepted the lie about the Bible-Noah cursed Ham- and when they accepted that, they unconsciously hated God. After all, how can anyone love a god who had cosigned him to eternal bondage? In our personality, in our dealing with one another, and with whites, many still exhibit awful marks of the slave masters and segregationist psychology. Our ambivalent feelings toward whites, fear and love; our lack of respect and trust for one another; self-hatred, revealed in our contempt for everything Black and Africa; our family instability, our love of high-sounding titles; our dependence upon whites for everything, are unmistakably signs of an un manumitted mentality. Black Power says, “Know yourself (your history), and accept yourself, not white people’s image of you. Then see what will happen.” On the knowledge of past history and present understanding of ourselves and whites, a racial unity can be forged whose numerical strength alone would present a formidable challenge to white opposition.

The House of the Lord Church where Black Political Power was Born and Nurtured Photo Bio Series: History of the Black United Front Part Eighty- Eight During his last visit it was a kind of celebratory and a ceremonial time. It was joyful and it was sad. It was a happy time of family reunion with closest friends, supporters, comrades. But we all knew that he was very ill and was headed for an operation. He was jubilant, buoyant, energetic, sharing some of the energy and enthusiasm, and the laughter that we had seen in him in earlier times. His speech was solemn but powerful with as usual a sprinkling of humor. All who were blessed to be present on the occasion will never forget the moment. When the ceremony we went down to my office. My family, Dave Brothers Who was his special assistant and scheduler. A couple of his closest friends. We talked, we laughed we joked and we prayed.I will never forget the moment. Toward that end we are planning to do an Annual Kwame Ture day around the time of his birthday which is June 29th. We had originally planned to do it on his birthday June 29th, but we remembered that the African Arts Festival is July 1-4th. So we’ve confirmed July 29-30th, 2023. So we want all of his family, friends and comrades to come out. The following is the continuation from part IV of the Black Power Series published Wednesday, July 19, 2006. In June 1966, in Greenwood Mississippi, Stokely Carmichael aka Kwame Ture made a call for Black Power. The following excerpt is taken from literature I wrote more than 40 years ago. I hope the reader finds the articles as interesting as I have found them. Black Power, simply put, is black people exercising power to further their own interests. It is what others have done – and are doing. Irish power was-and is – used to further Irish interests. There were so many Irish in President Kennedy’s cabinet that it was called the “Irish Mafia.” And the interesting thing is that nobody became irritated about it. In fact, the country found it rather amusing. When President Johnson became president, he said he was Irish by osmosis and there was great laughter. Jewish power was – and is - used to further Jewish interests. The Catholic power was and is-used to further Catholic interests. One of the reasons Mr. Kennedy became president was because Catholic power acting in concert with others voted with him. Not if other interests are advanced in the process- or there can be a coalition of mutual benefit- so much the better. If not, so much the worse-for the other group. For the reality is, each group must develop power and exercise power in its own interest. That is the inescapable reality of life in America or life in the world. John Quincy Adams observed a long time ago that reason and equity do not rule in the affairs of men-but self-interest. One diplomat recently said “We have no eternal friends and no eternal enemies; we only have eternal interests.” One of the crippling traits of Black America is we are over nice. We have a child-like trust in white benevolence. We are so fair-minded. We tend to project this fair-mindedness onto whites. Centuries of white barbarianism, warnings from the lips of our most perceptive and provocative leaders, past and present, have not completely obliterated this belief that most whites love mercy and will do justly. Perhaps that attitude has been a blessing in disguise. For if most blacks knew (or would allow to come to consciousness) that most whites have dealt treacherously; still deal treacherously and everyday demonstrate that the future will see no appreciable alteration in their attitudes and actions, this awareness would precipitate an unparallel spate of suicide or insanity or riots, or insurrection. There is just no sensible, logical, plausible, reasonable explanation for whites’ callous cruelty toward Blacks. Is there any wonder that some persons have found a metaphysical explanation for it all? They have identified whites with devils. Those who know the horrendous history of whites see a great deal of plausibility in that explanation. If they cannot accept whites as congeniality evil-born-devils it is not hard for them to believe that they are cultural devils. That is to say they act the way they do because the society has created systems that are anti-Black. Whites are fed superiority with their milk. Subsequently all the means of implanting information continues to inculcate that illusion throughout their lives. So whites can only act from what they have been taught. And to repeat for emphasis, they have been taught that they are superior and we are inferior. Now it is true, that to a significant degree, sporadically and spasmodically, suicide, insanity and insurrection have occurred. Some of our people have been aware, but the awareness has not been on a massive scale. I think we are coming to that point of recognition today. That is why these times are crucial times fraught with TNT. Whites are being shown for what they are. Their naked racism is there for all to behold. Even the most incredulous is constrained to think new thoughts about the goodness of white people. Multitudes of Blacks are saying, “in words and deeds, “We have seen the nature of whites, and it is deceitful, and this deceit saturated all his dealings, relationships and associations with Blacks. Therefore, we must destroy ourselves-in drink, dope, in sex and in fratricidal violence; or we must destroy the system-in riots or insurrections; or we have got to devise an effective means of coming to grips with the debilitating effects in our personalities instilled by years of white oppression, and with white chicanery and recalcitration.” Somebody has said, “the dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate for the stormy present. The council of forbearance and patience are heartless and cruel.” The strategies of the old civil-white-rights movement are powerless to help us. They have yielded little more than executive orders; litigation, legislation, a few juicy jobs for acceptable Negroes. There have been meager foundation grants and federal and state appropriations, all of which amounts to little, particularly given the time, energy, resources and sacrifices we have made. But the old strategies have served their purpose. They have brought us to this moment of crisi-which can be good or bad, depending on the next kind of strategy we adopt. For the bourgeois Blacks-those who concern themselves with the struggled-the civil white-rights movement still has meaning. But to the Black masses, it is ineffectual and insignificant and out of step with the stomping feet of the militant masses. Black Power is the new idea or concept or philosophy. And the tactics and strategies must be grounded in that new reality. It places the burden for progress largely upon the shoulders of Black people. It does not trust its future to white generosity. It has little faith in white goodwill. It does not cower before white frowns, nor court white favor. It focuses attention upon the power and creative genius within the souls of Black people and the resource and abilities in the Black community. It is not manipulated by white consumed boards, councils, committees or government. It echoes the call of Marcus Garvey, “Up ye might race; you can accomplish what you can accomplish what you will.” It (Black Power) says if progress is to be a reality, it must be on the wings of Black Power. Progress can be likened to an automobile – Black Power. In a real sense, the little progress that has been made, can be traced to Blacks exercising a certain kind of power - Black Power. Black Power says “Look to yourself racially. See what has happened, what is happening and what can happen.” Black Power says, “Look to your history. See what has happened. Whites have robbed you of your heritage. They have twisted and distorted what they did not want or could not use. They have said, ‘We had no heroes, no past about which we could feel proud, and from which we could draw inspiration.’ They said Africa was the last of our ancestors, but not all Africa just Black Africa (they called it Black Africa).” They had to divide Africa because Egypt is in Africa (Northern Africa). Everybody knew the contributions of Egypt; in fact, many historians think Egypt was the first civilizations.

I continued with my history lesson on African people and religion. I said one of the reasons that I believed God saved me was to send me on this mission to teach our people that the Bible and Christianity have African roots, and to encourage struggle for human rights and self determination, especially for oppressed people. When I finished, he stared at the floor for a long time. He looked at me and said, “I didn’t know that Reverend.” I said, “I know, this truth has been kept from us by both white folks and blacks who benefited from our ignorance.” On one occasion he told me something that was startling which revealed his toughness, tenacity, his fierce determination, his intuitiveness. He said when he wanted to achieve something, he would find a picture of the thing desired or draw a picture. Then he would put this picture on the wall over his bed - and he would stare at the picture long and often. He would not sleep in the bed until he had achieved his goal. Now we know why he rose like the Phoenix Bird of Greek mythology, from the ashes to soar to dazzling heights. He was all smiles one day. He couldn’t wait to tell me of the good deed he had done. He had secured tickets to a Stevie Wonder concert for an officer who was going through a time of terrible loss. He explained all that he had to do to make it happen, and he wanted it to be a surprise. I felt particularly elated on one visit when a decision had to be made on which one of his records should be released. He asked me my opinion. He described what the records were about. I then gave him my opinion. That is the decision he made. It was not all serious. It was not all complaints and soberness. We had some light moments. Of course, you couldn’t be around Tupac too long without laughter and fun times. His departure from the hospital after I prayed for him, we really got a big laugh out of that. I would say, “Do you realize thirty minutes after I prayed for you, you came back from the jaws of death? You are special. God has a special work for you to do. When you are out you better do the right thing.” He would laugh and say, “Yeah, I know, I know.” And I would say, “You’re special, do you hear me? God has given you special talents, watched over you, raised you up, you better do the right thing!” He mentioned this cousin who was a preacher who always told him the same thing. Maybe, maybe, if there is any criticism– maybe, maybe, what appeared to some of us to be his confused, troubled, complex behavior, maybe, maybe, it all stemmed from his fleeing from God. His fighting, his struggling was, at bottom not so much against society, yes surely that too, but at bottom, he was running away from God. Like Jonah of the Bible. He ran away from God. He created trouble and problems on the ship and decided to throw him to the sea where a big fish was there to swallow him up once he confessed, agreed to do God’s will, the fish spit him up on shore and Jonah did what God wanted. Tupac ran away. He was thrown overboard but there was no big fish to swallow him up and spit him on shore. Or maybe another way of saying it is when he was swallowed up by the jail system and spit back out on the streets, unlike Jonah, he…well. So, to return to the prayer. I would say to him, “There are three special prayers the Lord answered when I prayed. One was you; praying you off the death bed so that in 30 minutes you could get up and leave. And there was another which had to do with the Gulf War. I told him how I was invited to Washington to pray in the U.S. House of Representatives. Of course I prayed that God would end the war in the Gulf. On my way back home that evening while riding in the car, I heard that President Bush had stopped the war. When I arrived home, I called back to Washington and told people there, “The next time you have a war or some big problem, don’t take so long to call me!” And then I would tell him how I prayed at the Democratic National Committee meeting after the 1992 Democratic Convention, and Clinton and Gore were elected. We would have a big laugh. Then I would say, “If you ever have a big problem – don’t bother me with little stuff– but if you ever have a big problem, let me know. Send for me.” Alas, he had a big problem but he didn’t send for me. I regret I was not there. Maybe it would have been useless - maybe he knew it. I continued to visit him even upstate at Clinton Correctional Institution. He was married there. We continued to make plans about doing good things. He had refined his Atlanta plan somewhat. It was the last time I saw him alive. Now he is gone– gone forever– at least in the flesh. But in some ways, he will never be finally gone. His music will always be with us and the factors and forces which shaped him and drove him will be around for a long time. Yes, he’s gone - and some will say good riddance. Some will laugh and some will cry. Some will ask who will weep for Tupac Shakur and to that crowd and to the world I will say “I will weep for Tupac Shakur.” I will weep for the young man I knew. I will weep for Tupac and for all the rap artists, for the good and for the bad; for all of them and for us who are being persuaded and programmed by forces which some of us only dimly understand, and some of us understand not at all. I will weep for Tupac for he is but the reflection of the larger society. On the one side he is the victim of racist forces which wreaked havoc upon his ancestors and still continues to wreak havoc upon people of African Ancestry and on the other side glorifies the sex and violence for which it condemns him. Tupac understood this and he fought and organized, twisted and squirmed, tossed and turned as he realized that he reflected the very society that he hated. I will weep for Tupac. Yes, and I will weep for all young black males especially, who are both the victims and the victimizers of this violent and hypocritical, materialistic, racist society. And I will weep for the parents, especially the mothers. For always there are the mothers, which in itself is instructive. I will weep for the mothers of these slain youths and the mothers of the youths that [did the slaying]. Yes, I will weep for Afeni who has known bitter disappointment and now another dream, her son, her only son, is dashed upon the rocks. I will weep for Tupac Shakur. For all that he was and for all he could have been. I will weep for all black youth whose very survival is at stake - all that diseases don’t get, the drugs get. All that the drugs don’t get, violence gets - violence at their own hands and violence by the society, especially the police and racist murderers. And all that the [violence doesn’t] get, the penitentiary killers get: the miseducation, the joblessness, the denial of goods and services, the dilapidated houses and filthy streets. I will weep for them all. I will weep for Yusef Hawkins, Randy Evans, Jay Parker, Arthur Miller; I will weep for Tupac for he is our son. He is our child and his rebelling was just as real and against the same forces that caused the rebellion, although of a different kind, of Malcolm and Martin. You think I’m crazy here today. How dare I speak the name of Tupac in the same breath as Malcolm and Martin. But in our quiet thoughts, removed from the influence of friends and foes, surely we will remember that rebellion takes many forms. Some constructive, some destructive. Surely we will remember that sometimes suicide is but rebellion. Is there anyone here who would argue that Tupac had no reason to rebel; that the society had given him equal opportunity – a level playing field; a secure and protected and provided for childhood; a supportive environment without racism. Is there anyone here who will make that argument? Why from the very beginning, even while he was in his mothers womb, he was unjustly jailed. For his mother was unjustly jailed, put away on trumped up charges of trying to bomb something. Who knows that trauma that caused him. Perhaps, even there in his mother’s womb he decided to rebel. If anyone should have been put in jail at this time, it should have been J. Edgar Hoover, head of the F.B.I. , who created a reign of terror that maimed, mistreated and murdered countless brothers and sisters who were struggling for justice, equality, ironically trying to make America what it claimed to be - the land of the free and home of the brave. Had America listened and not been carried away by Hoover and other racists, America would be a better place today. And you know this is the time 25 years ago that the Attica uprising and slaughter occurred and I keep getting a feeling that there is a connection, a link between the rebellion which took place in Attica and the death of Tupac. Black men being killed, some by their own hands, some by the hands of others but black men in rebellion. I will weep for Tupac and I will weep for all the rebels - some we like and some we don’t. I will weep for Malcolm, Martin. Yes and I will weep for this society too, for all of us And if we can’t weep for Tupac, let us weep for ourselves – for our society, for what we are; that we have not prepared a better society for all our children. Let us weep for ourselves until our tears turn into indignation. Let us weep until our indignation turns into determination. Let us weep until our determination turns into action. Let us weep until our action moves us to build a better society where all our children and all of us and generations to come can enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And the Tupac Shakurs will need rebel no more and can turn their genius to things that are beautiful, that are lovely, that are good and to the love and celebration of life – all life; black life and white life; male life and female life; young and old life. Ah, ‘tis a consummation devoutly to be wished. Oh Lord speed the day that it might be ever so.

Rev. Daughtry second from the left, Alton Maddox on the far left with Rev. Daughtry security Weusi. In the photo: Mr. Maddox, second from right, conferred with the Rev. Herbert Daughtry, second from left, and the lawyer C. Vernon Mason, right, outside a Queens courthouse in 1986. Mr. Maddox was representing one of three Black men who had been set upon by a band of white youths in the Howard Beach section of Queens. The above title of this article is the name that was given to Attorney Alton Maddox, attorney at war. He seemed to always be in a fighting mood. He was bold, brash and brilliant. When he came to New York in the 70s, he joined the movement growing out of the killing of Randy Evans in 1976 and the chokehold death of Arthur Miller in 1978. The Black United Front was the lead organization, there were older organizations in which BUF inspired and new organizations which grew out of the movement. I immediately admired him, trusted him and drew him closer to me and the movement. I liked his audacity, fearlessness, dedication and commitment to our people’s advancement. Attorney Maddox was particularly concerned about the least in society. There was no fee for his service for those who could not pay. He was just as energetic, diligent, resourceful for the poor as he was for the rich, powerful and/or prestigious. In 1983, there were several hearings in New York on Police Brutality conducted by the subcommittee of the Judiciary committee of the House of Representatives headed by Congressman John Conyers of Michigan. One hearing was at the State Office building in Harlem. This hearing was cut short due to lack of space, it was continued at the Armory in Harlem, Fifth Avenue and 142nd Street. Then the hearings moved to Brooklyn at the Courthouse Cadman Plaza. Attorney Maddox was as ubiquitous on marches, demonstrations, committee meetings as he was in the courtroom. Also in 1983, there was another high profile case of police killing. Michael Stewart, a young graffiti artist died in the hands of the police. There was controversy as to how he died, whether it was a chokehold or a beating, etc. The six officers involved were acquitted in 1985. In December 1986, Michael Griffith was chased to his death on the street on Howard Beach by a white gang. Maddox became involved in that case. Reverend Al Sharpton called for a car caravan in Howard Beach (each time we rehearse the story, we always get a big laugh because Sharpton didn’t have a car and yet here he was calling for a car caravan.) In his usual resourceful way, he found a car owned and driven by Jim Bell, a Union leader. I decided to join him as he was on the way to Howard Beach. Councilman Charles Barron and I left the boycott demonstration in Manhattan against Avon products. This boycott was called by Reverend Jackson who headed Operation PUSH in Chicago, IL at the time. He asked me and the Black United Front to participate, which we did. We continued the struggle around Howard Beach, Maddox and Mason had become the preeminent activist lawyers. They urged Governor Mario Cuomo to appoint a special prosecutor. And they persuaded us not to cooperate with the DA in Queens. When the white youths were arrested and put on trial. Under his leadership we took up the cause for justice for Michael Griffith and demanded a special prosecutor. At some point a meeting was held among the Brooklyn activists and it was determined that a day of outrage should occur. Thus, Viola Plummer and her D12 organization, reverend Al Sharpton, my BUF representatives Charles Barron, and Michael Amon-Ra myself agreed that there would be a day of outrage to express our anger at what happened to Michael Griffith and other racist attacks as well as police brutality. It was decided that there would be demonstrations at differentsites in Brooklyn. While we were attending the trial of the white gang that chased Michael Griffith to his death, Reverend Sharpton stated that he was going to tie up New York City by sitting on the subway tracks. I asked him if anyone was going with him, and he stated no. I agreed to go with him on the date and time he had planned. I also told Reverend Timothy Mitchell, an active minister who was Pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Queens. We succeeded in getting Governor Cuomo to appoint a special prosecutor, Charles Hines. Attending the meeting with Governor Cuomo was Reverend Calvin Butts, Attorney C. Vernon Mason, myself and others. After hours of arguments with Governor Cuomo he finally agreed to our request. During the trial I organized a presence in the courtroom borough by borough, to ensure there would always be supporters in the courtroom. Each day of the trial a borough was responsible for having their people in the courtroom. On the day of outrage, Reverend Sharpton and I jumped on the subway tracks. We watched as other people started jumping on the subway tracks with us. Among them were Assemblyman Roger Green, activist Ben Chavis and to our surprise, C. Vernon Mason. We were arrested and brought before the judge for a plea. Some of us pleaded guilty and others pleaded not guilty. Those that pleaded not guilty were well represented by Attorney Alton Maddox. We disagreed. It was my understanding that in civil disobedience you break the law and take the consequences because you believe in a particular cause. Others believed you fight the case and plead not guilty. Those of us who pleaded guilty had to find another lawyer. I selected Colin Moore. Thus tempered the relationship between Maddox and I. Later, this coupled with the situation around the Tawana Brawley case terminated our relationship. However, he remained friends with Reverend Sharpton, Charles Barron. Eventually Reverend Sharpton decided to start his own organization in Harlem named National Action Network (NAN). Maddox continued with his organization holding rallies at the Slave Theater in Brooklyn, called African People's Movement. In November 1987, when Tawana Brawley, a 15 year old African American girl from Wappinger Falls, New York, claimed to have been raped and smeared with dog feces, Sonny Carson and I were among the first to journey to Wappinger Falls. We took up the cause for this young girl and were prepared to fight for her as long as it would take to bring the culprits to justice. As time moved on, I never got a chance to see her or even talk to her, so I decided to back away from this particular battle. My policy is if I'm going to fight for someone, put my family, church and myself on the line, which may result in violence or some reprisal by our enemies, then I must at east have a conversation with the person(s) for whom I'm fighting. That never happened with Tawana Brawley. At the same time, there was a young lady who was sexually abused by four young white students at St. John's University. I was informed of this and took up that battle. Simultaneously, there were those who were fighting for justice for the Tawana Brawley case and the young lady who was sexually abused at St. John's University. While Attorney Alton Maddox, Reverend Al Sharpton, Attorney C. Vernon Mason and others, I must say, most of the black community was supportive of Tawana Brawley. I became suspicious, however, most of my time, energy and resources was directed to the St. John's victim. This young lady came forward. I spoke with her and provided counseling as well as organized support. Eventually, Sharpton and others including Tawana Brawley, Attorney Maddox was sued. Sharpton for $65,000.00 and Tawana Brawley was sued for much more $140,000.00. Sharpton's amount was far less than the others. The jury believed him that he trusted Maddox who he thought had met with Tawana Brawley. Percy Sutton and Earl Graves, paid Sharpton’s fine. It was questionable if any money was collected from the rest. In time, Maddox and I reconnected but never as we once were. That piece of history does not subtract from my admiration for him and his wife. There was no doubt in my mind that he was not sincere or didn't mean what he said. I always believed that in his mind, he acted from the highest ideals. Perhaps we hit it off so well and he was so fierce in his battle against injustice due to the fact that we both came out of the South and saw and experienced the naked, raw, conspicuous evils of southern racism and its system of segregation. I think those of us who have grown up in the south have experiences burned in our memory the savagery of southern racism. We have experienced it personally with our family and our friends. Maddox came to New York with this fire in his soul. He was ready to fight anywhere, the courtroom, streets, and suites, anytime, day or night for what he believed helped our people. The rumor was he was offered his license back on certain conditions. Alton Maddox refused these conditions, but still publicly stated that he was disbarred without publicly mentioning there was an offer on the table. It's a sad chapter in our struggle. While others who were less committed, less generous, in my opinion, received and received more praise, gratitude and appreciation from the people. But beyond this side of history life continues. We were just reading our Daily Prayer and Scripture, Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023 (I've written 365 prayers and post them to Facebook for every day of the year and 52 weekly practices for the mastery of life) taken from John 11:26, Jesus Christ says, “he that liveth and believeth in me shall never die.” So this scripture, among many others tells us we all have to give an account of what we’ve done and didn’t do. When that day comes for Maddox, I'm sure that the judge of all the universe will give him his just due. So long old warrior - no more battles, no more arguments for now all the former things have passed away. Safe journey - Farewell.

Monday, April 24, 2023 Kwame Brathwaite; Gone but not forgotten Today, I attended the funeral of Kwame Brathwaite, the preeminent ” man behind the lens “. Long before James Brown was singing,”I’m Black and proud “ the Brilliant Brothers Kwame and Elombe were concretizing it via words and images “Black is Beautiful. But then, Black Is Beautiful “ as Omowola of the D 12 movement said at the funeral, was more than a slogan, it was a statement of self determination. The Brilliant Brothers were an essential part of the Freedom Movement. Back in the fifties, they were using pen and camera as weapons to fight racism and all its evil manifestation. Tuesday, April 25, 2023 Kwame Brathwaite; Gone but not forgotten Part Two As I was posting part two of Kwame’s funeral, I was informed that Harry Belafonte had made his transition. Then, the news reminded me that I had heard last night that attorney Alton Maddox had joined the Ancestors. Both of these Freedom Fighters were my long time friend and comrade in the Struggle to advance our People. I will give each his own space later. But let me finish with the Brilliant Brothers. Elombe and Kwame were among the Activists on the scene when I arrived. They were models or they set the exa mple for commitment of ever we are blessed to have, talent, skills resources are to be used for our people’s progress. Away back, the Brilliant Brothers were frequent visitors to our Church, in the various programs, rallies are often as a lecturer. I never met or heard anyone as knowledgeable as Elombe regarding African history and affairs. In fact, I named him the Walking Encyclopedia. It is hard to separate the Brothers, but it is Kwame’s funeral.I will post excerpts from his obituary. He was inspired by the writing of Marcus Garvey and the teaching of Carlos Cook. His photography created the visual overture for the “Black is Beautiful Movement “ in the early 60s and 70s. He energetically spread this idea through his writing and photography as well as his activities in the two organizations he helped to co-found: AJASS(1956) and the Grandassa Models (1961). We were deeply involved in international Freedom struggles , in Africa, South Africa, Namibia, a moving letter was read during the funeral from Sam Nujomo, President of Namibia. When Arthur Miller was choked to death by the police,(1978) Elombe used his influence with the Organization of African Unity (OAU) now African Union (AU) through its Secretary General to publicly criticize the U.S. by comparing Arthur Miller’s to Steve Biko in South Africa. Also, in the Caribbean and Cuba, Haiti was very active, they were very through an organization they founded the Patrice Lumumba Coalition and I through the National Black United Front (NBUF). The funeral profoundly moving with the perfect balance of serious solemnity, an occasional humor with a deep emotion always present. There were remarks by Veterans of the Movement: Dr. Jeffries and his wife Dr. Rosaland, Omawole, Bob Law and others. The music and singing set proper tone and the Eulogy by Dr. Ras haas Hoggard was powerfully comforting and challenging, he said in his conclusion, “I charge you to leave here with an assignment Kwame Brathwaite has set the example go and do likewise!” So long old Struggler, you fought a good fight, you finished your assignment, and now, May band of Angels sing you to your rest! We learned that Belafonte died today and Alton Maddox while in the Timbuktu Learning Center and discussed it at 7pm EST. Wednesday, April 26, 2023 I dictated to my typist Sharman about Harry Belafonte - The Tallest tree in the Forest I talked with my publisher Checole from Africa World Press, who indicated the book would be released in June 2023. Worked on Daily Prayers with Melanie Timbuktu Learning Center was health night and Sister Leslie spoke about kidney health and diseases. We are thrilled to announce that Herbert Daughtry Global Ministries will be hosting a powerful event to celebrate and honor the life and legacy of Kwame Ture. Kwame Ture was a visionary leader, activist, and scholar who dedicated his life to the fight for justice, equality, and liberation for all people. He left an indelible footprint on this earth, and his teachings and insights continue to inspire and inform social justice movements around the world. Stay tuned for more details, in the meantime, please mark your calendars and spread the word to your friends, family, and colleagues. We look forward to seeing you there! “Every generation needs a cultural revolution.” At the conference, we hope to initiate an annual event that would research, study and teach the Black Power movement (I like to call it the Afrocentric movement if by Power we mean the usual understanding of that term).What the movement included was culture, self affirmation, self determination, African history, etc. The Black Power/ Afrocentric movement started with Kwame Ture, giving forceful, passionate verbalization to the term expression in Mississippi 1966 BLACK POWER!! The expression was the modern version. The desire for BLACK POWER has been an expression and desire for hundreds of years. One could say, it came with the slave trade or one could say it came on the African continent by the first captured Africans. Hence we hope to express our gratitude and appreciation to the Black nationalists/ Pan-Africanist veterans for their contribution to our struggle for freedom and to build a better world. Thursday, April 27, 2023 Shared our Organizing Meeting & Membership Drive There were four important topics that I wanted to post but didn’t and they were: A Surge at the Southern border as immigrants try to gain entrance into the US. Russia attacks the Southern region of Ukraine. US Nuclear submarine protecting South Korea Rock throwing at cars on the highway in Colorado. Another form of violence causing death. Friday, April 28th, 2023 Rev Dr. Herbert & Karen Daughtry's 61st Anniversary Clifford Glover Street Co-naming At Last Clifford Glover who was shot in the back by a police officer on April 28, 1973. Finally, he has a street named after him, Guy Brewer Boulevard is now co-named Clifford Glover Blvd. It was an impressive array of dignitaries including, New York City Speaker of the City Council Adrienne Adams, Mayor Eric Adams, Advocate Jumaane Williams, Senator Sanders. The ceremony was held at Calvary Baptist Church, Reverend Dr. Hall is the Pastor, one of the most moving parts of the ceremony was when the principal gave Darlene, Clifford Glover’s sister, a middle school diploma that Clifford would have received if he lived. After the diploma was presented to Ms. Darlene with deep emotion, she spoke emphasizing how long she had waited, and how grateful she was to all of the people who made it possible. She singled out my wife Rev. Dr. Karen Daughtry who by the way is her Pastor and I for being with her comforting and encouraging her for so many years. After the ceremony inside the church, then we walked a block and a half and posted the unveiling of the sign. Speaker Adrienne Adams had a duplicate sign made which she gave to Darlene. Next on our agenda is the tombstone for Clifford Glover. In November we plan to have the tombstone placed at this time for all who want to donate. (Add link) Ugandan Presidential Candidate to speak at the House of the Lord Church It had been a busy day with the street naming of Clifford Glover. The ceremony for the street naming was from 12-4pm. The scheduled time for the street naming was 12-3pm. We, my wife Dr. Karen and I started at 11am and the ceremony ended at 4pm. So in actuality for us it was 11am-4pm. Afterwards we went directly to the church for the Ugandan meeting. The scheduled time was from 6pm-9pm but in actuality the meeting started around 7:30 pm and lasted until after 10pm. Mr. Wine didn’t arrive until about 8pm. After photo sessions we went upstairs to a packed sanctuary. After the preliminaries, which included welcome by Dr. Karen. Remarks by myself, several other speakers and then Mr. Wine. He is a youthful 39 years old. He could pass for even younger, he spoke with youthful exuberance and energy. He talked about what had happened in the campaign that he ran, how it was taken from him. He indicated the threats that he had endured and everyday his life is in danger, but nevertheless he intends to press on. Mr. Milton Allimadi, a noted African journalist, made the arrangements for the meeting. I was told at the IBW conference that NYU had arranged for Mr. Wine to speak at the school, but due to graduation the appointment had to be canceled. There was an emergency and a need for space. I readily offered the church and he just as readily accepted. It was an example of what makes our church/ministry different. In one day we went from a ceremony regarding the street naming of Clifford Glover to a meeting in our church regarding an international event. The far reaching comprehensiveness and diversity of our ministry is what made it unique. Attending the meeting was Chris Noble, the son of the legendary journalist Gil Noble. Sat, April 29th, 2023 Breakfast with my wife Dr. Karen in our favorite breakfast restaurant. I spent the day reflecting on the events of the past week. The deaths of Kwame Braithwaite, Harry Belafonte and Alton Maddox. Then I thought of other friends and comrades who have passed on Rev. Butts, Abe Snyder. As I grew melancholy I thought of the poem: “What are the worst of woes that we don’t age? What stamps the wrinkle deepest in the brow? To view loved ones blotted from life’s page and to be alone as I am now.” I wondered who was left and who would be next, who knows maybe it would be me which comes to mind another poem Robert S., “Under the wide and starry sky dig me a grave and let me lie, glad I lived and gladly will I die, this be the grave that they made for me, Here he lies where he longed to be, home is the sailor, home from the sea and the hunter has come home from the hills.” Of course I Daughtryized it a bit and said, “home is the warrior, home from the battlefield. To be welcomed by his Lord and Savior Christ Jesus. Sun, April 30th, 2023 Sunday, was my usual Sunday program: basketball, Prayer and Words of Wisdom The word of wisdom for this week was from William James, the father of American Psychology. He wrote, “ the happiest people are the people who have found the cause to which they could give themselves, bigger than themselves and will outlive themselves.” The road to happiness then is not how much you can get but how much you can give. After the words of wisdom we had prayer. Next on the schedule is the Men’s Prayer (8:45am-9am), we had a female guest today who was also a minister. Finally, is the morning worship 11:30am-1pm via conference call. We started doing conference call worship during the later part of 2019. Now we do two Sundays, first and third in person at 342 Duncan Ave in Jersey City and we do two, three when it’s a 5th Sunday via conference call. I preached on the subject the pursuit of an optimum health. Ordinarily, on the fifth Sunday I would speak at the HOLC Englewood where my daughter Rev. Dr. Dawnique is the Pastor. I was supposed to be in Augusta, Ga over the weekend, but the trip was postponed to later in the week so I decided to do the conference all worship. Even emphasizing health, I still continued the theme of “Happiness in serving”. We have coined the slogan, Save the Planet, Save the people and invited all to our monthly meeting and membership still carrying the theme of health and the quote from the Bible, “A merry heart doeth good as a medicine”, such happiness is like a medicine and happiness is what we all desire, therefore if we want to be healthy a road to health is happiness and a road to happiness is service, serving others. Later, my wife and I decided that we will let the world spin without us and take a break for a few days, primarily to celebrate our 61st wedding anniversary.

Scholar, revolutionary Pan-Africanist the legendary C.L.R. James visited us at the old armory which housed programs eliminating from the East including an independent SASAA school. Another legend Jitu Weusi was the founder also a founding member of the NBUF. It was there in the Sumner Ave Armory that we held our founding convention in 1978. CLR James who was one of the earliest Pan-Africanists who worked hard to bring unity to the Africans in the Diaspora as well as on the continent. He was a brilliant author the Black on this occasion Kwame and I were awestruck. It is well known that the call for Black Power did provide the opportunity for enemies, non supporters and misguided friends to vent their criticism and hostility of Black Power advocates and the amazingly productive work they were doing. Dr. Martin Luther King, who was never opposed to Black Power - it was the use of the word at that time that he questioned - made a prediction that came true. They, the Black Power words would open the gate for misunderstanding, confusion and criticism. They would provide fodder for the cannons of our enemies. Even Kwame had to admit that Dr. King was right regarding the reaction to just the public utterance of Black Power. But, Black Power advocates never wavered, in spite of everything, it was time for Black Power and all that it to be declared and embraced. At the time, I was enthusiastically with the Black Power advocates. Looking through my files, I discovered some writing that I had done which expressed my thinking. The writings were never published in the form that I had written them. It is my habit to clarify my thinking by putting in writing the problem or challenge or the debate and my reaction. It was Carl Rowan's article that angered me and set my mind a racing and my hand writing. Here is my reaction to Rowan's article just as it was written 40 years ago. Of course the temptation is to alter or change or modify what one has written so long ago. But I have left it just as written. It has been interesting and educational for me. I hope it will be for my readers. In the November 1966 issue of Ebony magazine, Carl Rowan raises a question relative to Black Power. "In the weeks that followed," Rowan had mentioned in prior paragraphs that the phrase was used at a demonstration led by civil rights leaders after the Meredith shooting, "those words, 'Black Power' showed up in screaming headlines on front pages throughout the nation. They had become the slogan of Carmichael the volatile, provocative, young, new leader of the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and Floyd McKissick, the militant but less flamboyant leader of the Congress for Racial Equality (CORE). "But what did the slogan mean? Millions of white Americans listening to this unprecedented outpouring of Negro anger and emotion were filled with fear. 'Black Nationalism' some call it. 'Black Racism' others said. Carmichael, the 25 year old prophet of 'Black Power' seems to have a hundred definitions. In his milder moments, he said the term meant only 'black people have to politically get together to organize themselves so that they can speak from a position of power and strength rather than a position of weakness.' In more provocative times, he told Negro youth that "we have to bring the whites to their knees and black power is what will do it." Mr. Rowan went on to say, "The entire nation was caught up in a debate punctuated by confusion, contradiction and efforts by half the politicians and conmen in sight to use the controversy to their advantage. With confusion at a peak with the polls showing a sharp decline in white support for the civil rights movement, Carmichael confessed on Aug. 21st that 'two days ago SNCC decided we are not going to define the term 'Black Power' anymore.' Very possibly, Carmichael and his colleagues had concluded that it was a colossal public relation blunder to throw out this slogan whose meaning was so obscure, whose intent was so subject to misinterpretation, whose impact was so abrasive that it divided Negroes, alienated whites and confused everybody." But, really is black power a new concept? Did it really confuse everybody? Did it really divide leadership? Is it 'Black Nationalism; or 'Black Racism'? What is Black Power all about? My purpose is to interpret what I perceive Black Power means, what Black Power protagonists are really saying even in their most provocative moments; and also touch on the reason for Black Power emergence and wide acceptance among the black masses. I shall also answer the other four questions. In the process, I will deal with the riots-or revolts- the non violent philosophy of Dr. King and conclude with what I believe should be the stand of Black Pentecostal religionists.

Monday, April 17th, 2023 We worked for a couple of hours outlining the work for the week. This included: 1. Social media posts A. Photo Bio series outlining the history of the National Black United Front B. 50th Anniversary C. Traveling and Thinking out Loud Later on at 7pm we had Timbuktu, I did my usual introduction of how we came to be called Timbuktu Learning Center (TLC), the sponsors we announce on the the TLC, the House of the Lord Church (HOLC), the Downtown Brooklyn Neighborhood Alliance (DBNA), HDGM Weekly practices for the mastery of life and I spoke about the benefits of fasting and then the Prayer, Q&A - Mondays are current events, Tuesday-historical references, and Wednesday night health. 1-716-427-1168 passcode: 604309# Tuesday, April 18th, 2023 AM Lifeline Prayer. We also have started posting our Daily Prayer post every morning. I am very pleased that we have been able to attract so many to the morning posting prayer. It has even increased our morning lifeline prayer time. Later on, we had out Timbuktu Learning Center at 7pm Wednesday, April 19th, 2023 I missed the morning prayer this morning. Finished packing, I’m headed toward Institute of the Black World (IBW) 21 Conference in Baltimore, MD, April 19-23. Dr. Ron Daniels is the President and has been on the scene as long if not longer than I have. His creative, conscious and tireless in his efforts to advance our people. He also does a radio program named Vantage Point. He has some heavy hitters addressing the conference, The President of Ghana, the President of Grenada,etc. Thursday, April 20th, 2023 - Sunday, April 23rd, 2023 (Conference) Institute of the Black World Conference in Baltimore, MD I do not have words, and perhaps there are no words to describe the IBW's 4th Quadrennial Conference. While I have been around since the beginning I do not think that any of the other IBW conferences equal this one. It was held at the Baltimore Convention Center joining the Hilton Inner Harbor Hotel. The huge Marriott Hotel was across the street, the accessibility and convenience of this convention center made it easier for the movement of personnel and baggage. It all happened in one big room, it was divided along the walkway where vendors were. Behind the vendors were rooms for panel discussions and across from the vendors were ample sitting space. It all took place in one space, so you always got the feeling you were in the middle of what was happening.. There were many panel discussions/workshops but I think 6/7 that I at least made an attempt was The State of the Global Reparation Movement, an international movement comparable to the anti-apartheid movement or the free South Africa/ Free Mandela movement is imperative. If we ought to get all that’s due to us. Environmental Justice, Climate change and Water is a Human Right I was delighted to have emphasis placed on environmental issues. I had a fascinating conversation on a program that Kymo is doing, and Jade Harrel. In 6 weeks he’ll take young people ages 14-20 and teach them how to grow the things we consume and the impact or the influence of the environment on our pre birth, birth and growth. He took a watermelon seed and put the watermelon seed in a box with dirt, with the soil that would make it grow. He put cracks in the side of the box as they watched the watermelon grow, the vines begin to spread out. But it was confined to the narrow space created. It sought to grow, but the only place that it could expand was in the crack they placed on the container wall. What was graphically demonstrated was that the watermelon couldn’t grow the way it should have if it’s in the wrong environment or if its away from its environment, someone interferes with the environment or takes the seeds out of its environment. This is why I theorized that even our birth is influenced by the environment we’re in. Because the environment will influence who our parents are. So in a sense, once again we are responsible to some degree of who we are and who we become. So, when we see another human being we should find ourselves. Look at what we have made, look at what we have produced. So when we see another human being no matter the race, sex, gender. we remind ourselves we are to some degree responsible for this person. Gentrification is placing Black people and Black culture; gentrification is a state of emergency in Black America. To sum up, where are all the Black people going? It’s a discussion that is held everywhere in every conference, in every gathering of people of African ancestry. What is the solution to the question? It was pointed out that we have more black political representation than we had before. Why then are we disappearing from many cities? Socially responsible Black in business economic development A significant point was made that our African heritage is to be entrepreneurs. With the coming of the slavery this idea of the entrepreneur spirit almost disappeared. So we teach our children, get educated so you can get a good job. The panelists emphasized that we should become educated and then create rather than looking for a job ; resurrecting our ancient heritage or creative entrepreneurship. Another workshop was the State of Black America and the Pan-African world Today, it was pointed out that in certain areas they're doing better than ever before. On this panel by the way was Marc Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League (NUL). The NUL as we know produces an annual state of Black America. He emphasized, again, that in some areas we're doing better than ever before. Electoral politics, four of the largest cities in America have Black Mayors NY, Chicago, Houston, LA. There was a record number of Black colleges. We have millionaires and billionaires, even two billionaires. But in a conversation that I had with Councilman Charles Barron a few days ago, he pointed out a couple of cities that used to be predominantly Black have lost significant numbers and power. WDC used to be called Chocolate City. It used to be 76 or 80% black. Now it is down to around 56%. The 15 member council used to be 13% Black and one Latino. Now it’s 7 Black, 7 White and 1 Latino. Same thing can be said for Atlanta and other cities. What a contradiction? Combating gun violence and murder/ostracized in black communities a public health crisis. Participation was Pastor Michael McBride and our own AT Mitchell., who was one of my proteges proud of the work he is doing in East NY and Brownsville. Man Up program. Also a great friend Pastor Michael McBride. They were most impressive in arguing the gun violence that factors in a health issue. Pastor McBride pointed out that billions of dollars have been earmarked to address these issues. It is difficult to get federal grants, but we can do whatever is necessary. If we don’t otherwise a state of colonization will exist ie: others will get the money in our name and hire black persons to do the actual work. The Sixth Pan African Region It has been on the table for a long long time that the Africans in the diaspora should be considered a state and sit at the table with the heads of states in Africa. In various suggestions there should be six regions, five for the heads of state and the sixth region for Africans in the diaspora. I said this idea has been around as long as there have been independent African states. The towering challenge is there are groups in the diaspora that are in the Caribbean, U.S.A and also Europe with various groups organized to become the sixth region. I say the towering challenge is how to bring it all together so that there is an agreed upon sixth region that is accepted in the Diaspora and also by the heads of African states. I repeat that the African conferences have been around since the turn of the 20th century with W.E Du Bois.The most important one was the 5th Pan-African congress in Manchester, England. Out of that conference came the leaders of countries that commenced their independence with Ghana in 1957. Kwame Nkrumah was the Secretary of the 1945 conference and became the President of Ghana. So these conferences took up these questions about us Africans in the Diaspora. I attended the 6th Pan-African Congress in Tanzania 1974 * Saturday night was Special Awards night Many individuals received special awards presented by Dr. Ron Daniels. Prior to the award ceremony former Prime Minister of Jamaica, Patterson spoke. He spoke of the history of Jamaica and how the British had attempted to outlaw the drones. They understood that it was our communication system. He also said, “we who are people of African ancestry do not want to be superior to anybody but we will never accept a status of inferiority.” At the end of the program a special celebration was held for Dr. Ron Daniels. It was unanimous that he has been one of the foremost Pan-Africanist, Nationalist organizers. His convening of Africans across the Diaspora has seldom been achieved. He has worked tirelessly, energetically, creatively all grounded in his love for African people and indeed for all people. He has done as much as anybody to bring us all together and this conference is a visible concrete example of his creative and organizing genius so we celebrate him tonight. After the remarks there was a table set up with a birthday cake and everybody sang "Happy Birthday to you” Stevie Wonder style. There was another special presentation. I saved it for the last because I want to promote the program this Friday at our church the House of the Lord Church 415 Atlantic Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11217. The presentation was about Bobbi Wine. Many believed that he won the election in the Congo Feb 2021, but the election was stolen by the present administration with the help of the US World Bank/IMF - Finance President. Sunday, April 23, 2023 Upon my return from the IBW conference, I reflected on the conference I had attended in this month and last month: Our church Annual Memorial Pilgrimage to Augusta, GA where we remembered in ceremony and history reflections, the people who have passed on are upon whose shoulders we stand. Induction into Dr. MLK Jr. Board of Preachers on 4/13/2023, my wife Dr. Karen and I traveled to Atlanta, Ga. My daughter Bishop Leah Daughtry was also inducted. The ceremonies took place in the MLK Jr. international chapel at Morehouse College. Saturday 4/15, I attended the NAN’s Conference at the Sheraton Hotel in NY Institute of the Black World Conference - IBW 21 Baltimore, Maryland 4/19/-4/23 To sum up in just a few sentences, putting it all together, it was the demonstration of the genius, the skill, the talent of people of African Ancestry. It was that Spirit that gave the world the great advances in civilization long before Europeans entered our lives. Looking back I am so proud and so grateful that I was in some way part of it all and in spite of all the doom and gloom of which we speak, I am still hopeful that the progress that we have made is but little compared to the great day in which we have reached the Promised Land. On Sunday, my nephew Minister Gregory took care of our basketball ritual and the Men’s prayer 8:45am and the Sunday service. I posted FB Post: War! War! War! How long, oh LORD, Will We Suffer This Madness?! While I’ve been attending the Institute Of The Black World Conference, In Baltimore MA., I was still scanning the world with a heavy heart. The exhilarating, enlightening, inspiring Conference couldn’t keep my mind off “the troubles of this world.War, war in various manifestation, is still death, destruction, disruption, pain, loss and suffering. There is the traditional war: Russia and Ukraine Russia is still bombing and Ukraine is still begging and the people are still dying, their lives are being disrupted and their country is being destroyed. And there are no talks among the leaders on how to end the madness. Now Sudan has gotten into the war. It seems to be an internal affair between Arab Muslim and Arab Muslins. Years ago, responding to Secretary Colin Powell statement that the situation in Sudan was the worst humanitarian crisis in the world today-that was in 2005, we organized a group of minsters. We named ourselves, The National Religious Leaders of African Ancestry Concern About Darfur. Three wars: In addition there were several wars that were not included in the prior references to war. Other obligations into the time I had allotted for the post. Now I want to include: Cultural War There was a time when reading widely books, magazines and newspapers. Now politics and power have entered the picture. It is no longer a free flowing of ideas. Not only have politics and power entered the scene but also violence. While there has always been an attempt to limit ideas and literature. But it was like nothing compared to today. Kinder War All sides of the kinder war have dug in and they appear to be little desire and appreciation for the beliefs of others. We have reached out even to children to try to persuade them one way or the other. It is another manifestation of war and violence. The idea of every human being should be respected and the opinions of others should be respected. It is my firm conviction that the birth of a person is not confined to the two parties engaged. For the two parties so engaged are members of the larger society - are members of the human family and what we are that larger society had played some parts in our birth and development. We are what we eat, breathe, think which again is all influenced to some degree of who we are and who we become. Generational War There was a time when the elders were respected. I remember when we were children, we feared and reverenced the elders. We would say, “I’m not going to talk bad about sister so and so or brother so and so because they’ll put the mouth on you.” Meaning that if you disrespected them elders didn’t like you or said something about you, you would do it. They would cause bad things to happen to you. So rather than venerate the elders as in many other cultures, we disrespect or show lack of appreciation for the elders. And so the war rages on all fronts. Jesus' words said before us, values in our lives especially towards one another. He said, "love God, love your neighbor as yourself." He also said, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." So simple yet seemingly is so hard to achieve. What I want done to me I should do to others. Let us strive then to bring peace, love and appreciation and gratitude to the world. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, "we have invented this world we will either live together or die as fools."