Day One

The following contains an account, relishing on the deeds and daily entrepreneur activities of Oba Sankofa.

(Side Commentary provided by his editor)

May 23rd, 2016  

So today, my alarm went off at 5, 5:12, 5:30, 6, 6:30, 7, 8, and 9:05. I officially got out of the bed at 9:25. 

                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                               Editor: Terrible

Chill /  

Calling all Leaders

Black Leadership

O, Brotha, Where art thou? O, Sista, Where art thou?

Question: As of right now, who is the unanimous leader of the black community? Obama is the leader of the free world. So, he cannot be. Better question yet, who would the black community listen to, if a black individual, stated that we need a boycott. Farakhan? LeBron? Hova? Oprah? Kevin Hart? Queen Bey? I have no idea.

Also, speaking of Beyoncé, I honestly supported her Super Bowl message. However you want to look at her as a professional or her philanthropy, there is no doubt she put our Black Power movement on the national stage. Whether or not that is her stance to me, is not an issue, because if our movement was organized as it should be, we could have had a commercial afterwards with a call to action. My people, these are the type of opportunities we can no longer afford to miss. We spend so much money on materials with depreciating values. It is now time for our voice to be heard. Imagine if we did have our organization ready to go when Beyoncé performed and got the message out to rally and mobilize, how impactful that would have been. So now, we must work at building a community the right way so next time an opportunity like that presents itself, we are more than ready.

We need teams in every city. I, for one, know that there is a group of individuals I am working with in Philadelphia to accomplish just that. I mean, if we can support NBA and NFL teams in every city and buy their severely overpriced merch, I am quite sure we can organize teams to support ourselves.

It is my personal belief that we cannot look for one specific leader. I strongly believe leadership is communal.

" A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus, but a molder of consensus" - MLK

If Philly begins to unite and accomplish black economic power, then other cities will have no choice but to follow suit. For example, New Era Detroit, is a tremendous organization mobilizing and helping people with free shooting range classes, educational outreach, and other methods of support for our communities.

The revolution is here.

AYE DOE... HOTEP

The End... Is Never

This concept has been bugging me for a few years actually. The fact that people keep on saying the world is going to end, we are living in the end times.. Obama is the last president, the US is doomed. Womp Womp Womp.

How superstitious people sound. Here are a few issues I have with such mentalities..
1) What clear evidence is there that the world is coming to an end? The Earth is not going to destroy itself. Humans have been around for millions of years, what evidence is there that all the sudden, the human race will suddenly become extinct?
2) The most important and succinct issue is the thinking process behind those statements. Throughout day to day conversations, I remind people about this point the most, if everyone continues to speak out the world is ending, and thinking that as well, obviously, that has a greater chance of happening. So when I'm out I always tell people to say the world is changing and I will be positively make my contribution.

Hypocritical Theory

THE ESSENCE

There are many black power, Pan-African savants, conscious thinking, black wallstreet linguists. Who, currently help out our community in more ways than one. I appreciate them all. To them I say keep up the good  great work in raising awareness amongst our people about the condition we found ourselves in, here in America. I'd also like to lightly point out, that in that same space an equal amount of individuals practice what they staunchly condemn. I will be the first to admit, that I do not always spend my dollars with black businesses. In my humble opinion, as many activists I see posting on IG, black businesses should be off to a great start in 2016. Is that really the case though? This is the way I look at it...

The Real Curren$y

Influence...

You see, in our communities, influence is stronger than currency. In our neighborhoods, the youngest generations in the households now look up to illusions of influence on TV. Simply stating that because the life entertainers live is simply not what they see. Case in point, when famous "trap" rappers come back to their hoods, most often than not they rarely come back to live there. Why? Isn't the glorification of the hood, all that they boast and brag about? In my humble opinion, I have no qualms with "trap" music, I take issue that, rappers who "trap" never come back, or live outside of the neighborhood they grew up in. IF you are such a great hustler, come back, your influence is tremendous, teach the young bucks who you influence the basics of the hustle. Give back. Just spend 10 hours a week in any hood, talk to the kids. They clearly listen to you even when you are not there.

Branded

Dig this... Back in the day, many wranglers used to brand their cows and livestock, so other wranglers would know which herd belonged to who. That way, if any animals went missing or escaped, your peers would know whom to return their property too. Best believe they made money off of those animals. In my opinion, now, this is just a wild guess, but I doubt cows looked at that brand as a status symbol. However, they probably looked at the wranglers who branded them as an evil god  dictator  slave-master  figure who took a piece of their peace of mind.

Aye y'all, check ya gear...

If It Is 2 Be...

Kinfolk!

What's really good...

Before I get into my main message, let us pause and reflect for a second, and meditate on all great ancestors that came before us, on whose shoulders which we stand. Think about all the freedom fighters from the days on the plantation that died fighting for goals and dreams they never saw come to fruition, but knew one day we would be here. Ancestors who resisted chains and whips to read and write and who did not have luxury cars, mobile devices, homes, MONEY, or even their immediate families. Visualize those great black men and women who worked tirelessly from sunup to sundown, then still managed to find time to organize, plan, and act upon gaining freedom. We are their descendants. Take 5 to honor them.