Contemporary African American history 2000–2002

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Militant Mood Moving Black Youth To Fight For Change
By Ron Daniels, The Black World Today, 12 April 2000. As we enter a new millennium, after a period of relative calm, a new mood of militancy seems to be moving Black youth to engage the struggle for social justice and social change. While more Black people enjoy middle and upper class status than at any other time, racism remains a barrier to the forward progress of large numbers of Africans in America.
Washington Juneteenth 2000 & congressional apology for slavery
Press release, National Juneteenth Observation Foundation, 23 May 2000. Thousands will travel to the nation's capitol to celebrate the 19th of June, Juneteenth Independence Day, and support a Congressional Apology For Slavery. Many states including Mississippi, Louisiana and Michigan have recognized the significance of Juneteenth through resolutions passed by their state legislatures.
New Black Power Politics
By Aaron Shuman, Bad Subjects, 15 August 2000. Underlying the disagreement over presidential politics was a broad consensus that the days of allowing political parties to dictate an agenda to black America were over. A common theme was the need to strengthen community in black life and to span internal divisions, especially the generation gap (hip-hop vs. civil rights culture).
Escaping From Blackness: Racial Identity and Public Policy
By Dr. Manning Marable, Along the Color Line, September 2000. A growing number of our people casually take for granted the democratic victories achieved—failing to recognize that what has been won over centuries of struggle can be taken away. The death of legal segregation, and the explosion in the size of the black professional-managerial class, creates the political space for the emergence of blacks who want to escape their blackness.
African Americans are the Key to Democracy for All
By Nelson Peery, People's Tribune/Tribuno de Pueblo, February 2001. In 2000 as in 1900, fraud and denial of the ballot to African Americans is key to the political control of white Americans. Attacking the problem of electoral fraud directly and not dealing with its historic foundation of racism will not work.
Gripes and Groans About Black History Month Activities
By Lennox Farrell, 1 March 2001. The history of Black History Month in Canada. Early pariah existence. Today BHM has gone establishment. It is commemorated-and with bigger budgets and media coverage-by the same agencies to which, thirty years (and pieces of silver) ago, BHM activities were definitely, subversive. What has since been lost; what gained?
Battling to Honor Malcolm X
By Amadi Ajamu, New York NY, 30 April 2001. 12th Annual Malcolm X Birthday March and the gentrification of Harlem. The tradition of celebrating Malcolm and what he stood for plays itself out in the real life battle for the direction of Harlem.
20th Century Black Nationalism
Book reviews by Clarence Lang <clarlang@aol.com>, Against the Current, Vol.XVI Nr.II #92, May/June 2001. Review of A Nation within a Nation: Amiri Baraka (LeRoi Jones) & Black Power Politics by Komozi Woodard (1999) and We Are Not What We Seem: Black Nationalism and Class Struggle in the American Century by Rod Bush (1999).
Supreme Court School Voucher Decision Uncovers Deep Schism Among Blacks
By Earl Ofari Hutchinson, ZNet Commentary, 3 July 2002. Justice Clarence Thomas's comparison of vouchers to the anti-slavery battle drew the ire of established civil rights groups. While they have been virtually unanimous in condemning vouchers, many black parents agree with Thomas and regard vouchers as their children's ticket out of miserably failing public schools.
Powell, Belafonte, And Capitalism
By Joe Williams III, TBWT Contributor, 11 October 2002. Powell cannot be a house or field slave. But if we look at Powell's position and authority, we would understand that he is more dangerous than a 1000 house slaves. Colin Powell is a spokesperson for the American Ruling Class. A class whose political and economic status is not based on slavery, but on International Capitalism.
The Belafonte Interview
On Larry King Live, 15 October 2002. The transcript of an exclusive interview between Larry King and Harry Belafonte. House slave, not meant as an attack on Colin Powell's character, but of the policies he serves. Condoleezza Rice even more a house slave, a sell-out, in this sense. Bill Clinton and Sadam Hussein; the U.N. and 911.