rootsandculture

Transparency International defines corruption, as "the abuse of entrusted power for private gain.” Then it lists the least and most corrupt nations. Not surprisingly, the ‘wealthiest’ are the least corrupt. Not only is this definition at the core of all oppression, but also at the core of White supremacy, aka racism, and all other kinds of discrimination like gender, age and ethnicity. It is at the core of slavery, colonialism, neo colonialism and whatever you choose to call the current system . Figure 1 Reposted in an Article by Michael B. Kelly, Business Insider , The 17 Most Corrupt Countries, 12/3/2014 So something is seriously wrong when the wealthiest most developed nations, built on the backs of the oppressed, become models of ethics. ⁰ Corruption kills Racism is a ‘private gain’ reserved for one race at the expense of another. Police power is ‘entrusted power’ that protects any challenge to the corruption. The killing of the poor, an...

by Clairmont Chung Part I Saving our environment is much more than carbon emissions and global warming. That is part of it. But environment is foremost about the quality of our lives. Developed nations convene global summits to discuss acceptable levels of carbon emissions and then promptly ignore any recommendations. Similarly, they either ignore even UN sponsored conferences on racism or attend and then walk out  i . The result is the same because the attitude is the same. The attitude is the same because the subject matter is related and born of the same history.  The quality of our lives gives way to profit. The result is a continuing attack on our environment. Environmental degradation and oppression is immediate family. The level of particulates in the atmosphere matters little to the average citizen. For the majority of the world, environment is about the bars on our windows and alarms on our homes. Its about failing schools and healthcare. It's about expandi...

William 'Bunny Rugs' Clarke, the extraordinary musician, intellectual, ambassador, Rasta MessenJah, and member of Third World ended his earthly phase on February 2, 2014. In July 2013, I saw Sly and Robbie perform at Irving Plaza in NYC. It was to be a birthday gift to self. I wondered whether they would use horns because that would be the cake and the icing. They did have a horn: a trombone. And they had Bunny Rugs. Visions of my own transition to the ancestral realm are always accompanied by an assortment of alternatively screaming, and screeching horns. Brass; particularly trumpets, but trombones too, and saxophones of all sizes wail joyfully, happy at my departure. 

Also titled,  Amiri: Writa, Painta, Waila, Neva Bada, Booboo, Baba Baraka by Clairmont Chung As I contemplated Amiri Baraka's recent passing, and that of so many fighters, I questioned whether it would be as easy to redefine Amiri Baraka, tone-down his image, so as to make him more palatable, as has happened to others. Hunters and momento seekers succeeded stunningly with Mandela's hagiography: the blessed peacemaker. Something seems to happen to us when we become government. Baraka stayed away. He poses a more complex problem. He has recorded it all and made it difficult to rewrite. His work stands like thorns protecting a core. I knocked at Amiri Baraka's front door one early Spring morning in 2009. He opened the door neatly dressed as if about to go on regular Saturday morning errands. We were both wearing Clarks, brown suede, Desert Boots. Initially, he seemed surprised maybe expecting someone else. Sensing he was about to refuse whatever I was selli...