Why I Left the Black Nationalist Movement in America

We have been played out of position. While the goals and objectives of the domestic struggle for liberation must remain constant, the tactic of “Black Nationalism” as a means of achieving that goal has changed (and only recently). Malcolm X (Al-Hajj Malik Al-Shabazz) called for Black Nationalism as a means for controlling the socio-politico and economic environment of the Black community. Who can argue in principle with this sound advice for the right of self-determination? While the community that Malcolm X and others left behind has been exposed as weak and defenseless against the aggression from overt and covert “American State-Sponsored” oppression and new forms of racism (U.S. Government sponsored importation Heroin and Crack Cocaine, the parasitic behavior of the Prison Industrial Complex, the constructed breakdown of the Black family etc...) the march toward a Nation of our own or a “Nation within a Nation even” has been abandoned by our trusted but shortsighted leadership. Malcolm argued that ‘land is the basis of independence’. I believe that. But, I have ascertained that the mantle of leadership in this schism does not. They have failed Malcolm X and with it Messrs. Garnett, Garvey, Dubois (the latter) and others too. In a radio interview recently I stated that “the Nationalist Movement in this country is dead”. Time and the circumstance of technology has presented new battlefronts and with it, new tactics. The failure of the Nationalist Movement to blend in “new and fresh blood” has resulted in a movement that is stale, ineffective and outdated. Let us understand that in order for the movement to become viable the old guard leadership must move beyond their own whims and desires of “choosing succession”. Let us also understand that a mere cursory glance at the history of other Revolutionary movements that were successful we find there was a natural transition of leadership based on hard work, preparation and most of all, merit. While on a fact finding mission to Darfur in mid-2007, I recognized (along with others) first hand that the success of the peoples struggle here would depend highly on its’ ability to immediately link up with struggling but rising people in Africa, Asia and the so-called Middle East. What do you mean? The fact that over the last part of the previous decade Africa and (Asia in particularly) have made significant overtures to expedite revolutionary change vis-à-vis the Black peoples struggle here. We must revisit a “re-worked” version of the Non Aligned Movement (NAM)...in order to advance and advance exponentially. The Nationalist Movement in this country has resisted such change by 1). Taking an anti-Arab (save paying lip service to the Palestinian struggle against the American funded Zionist occupation) actually joining “philosophical” hands with racist American’s and their paranoia 2). Taking an anti-Asian stance, particularly as it relates to new partnerships’ being created in Africa with China, India, Malaysia and others). This failed outlook has cost us dearly but is a significant part of what happens when there are no new ideas or “new blood” being cultivated. Case in point; instead of mindlessly condemning Africa’s new relationships’ as one State Department official (actually given a platform and support by the Black Nationalist movement at a debate on Darfur in Kansas City in 2007’) proclaimed “China is the new colonial power in Africa”. This is pure propaganda of which the origin can be found at the State Department. We view it differently. A new group of Black Americans calling themselves The Darfur 23, while in Africa called for the African governments to develop immediate economic and cultural relationships with Black America. They agreed to not only in words but in action. The country of Sudan (which faces a Western sponsored referendum in 2011 that will split their country into several parts (see John Prendergast and others) which borders eleven African countries serves as a geographic and strategic player for Black America to rise and “come-up” fast. They agreed in principle and contract (both the north and the V.P. of the South) partner with Black America to build Sudan and thus build Africa. Other benefits to this new type of alliance are that the Sudan serves as a natural gateway not only into Bantu Africa but also Bantu Arab interest. While the Sudan has to internally solve the problem of Darfur, the mere fact that Black Americans’ took the lead and ventured to the Sudan in attempt to help negotiate the peace and set the record straight on the Western front is a revolutionary act in and of itself. Furthermore (fact check): There are currently “BILLIONS” of dollars in contracts being negotiated on the African continent each week and Black America has not positioned itself to even be the “Sub-contractor” on those deals is saddening. We are losing. A there must be a shift in the paradigm. The Nationalist movement in America has rejected this as a tactic and strategy for “true” Nationalism to find it way to the “hoods” of Compton, Brooklyn, D.C., Baltimore, Houston’s’ 3rd Ward and the South Side of Chicago. These partnerships’ abroad and others’ like it will carve out new hope and direction of the movement domestically. As a result, The Darfur 23 and other “new blood” and forward thinking groups from the progressive Revolutionary wing of the movement are calling for the “transition of leadership”. The new leadership will not look like a mass movement circled around a few individuals. It will more resemble a group of strategist designing solutions from a Think Tank model and rapidly implementing them. We cannot afford any longer to allow our leadership to be played out of position by “so-called Black Bourgeoisie politics” that have dominated the scene over the past few years. The “transition of leadership” will began to thrust forth the necessary framework to secure the independence and wherewithal of the current and next generations. Imagine, we now live in a world were there is total global synergy and anytime-anywhere connectivity. We can be sitting (virtually) at the kitchen table of a like minded group 10,000 miles away plotting and planning “next steps” from our home front. Malcolm X did not live in this space. Therefore, our tactics must change. Marcus Garvey called out to the Black World “Where are your men and women of big affairs”. We must transfer leadership immediately. Black people of America are lagging far behind the rest of the world in the struggle for self determination. This alone has made it necessary.

Malik Aziz
Co-Convener, Darfur 23
http://www.darfur23.org/