A Michigan Congressman has re-introduced legislation to provide reparations to African Americans before the 115^th Congress.

At 87 years old John Conyers is unrelenting. The legislation, known as H.R. 40 seeks to do the following:
“To address the fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality, and inhumanity of slavery in the United States and the 13 American colonies between 1619 and 1865 and to establish a commission to study and consider a national apology and proposal for reparations for the institution of slavery, its subsequent de jure and de facto racial and economic discrimination against African-Americans, and the impact of these forces on living African-Americans, to make recommendations to the Congress on appropriate remedies, and for other purposes.”

Conyers said, “I’m not giving up” and that “slavery is a blemish on this nation’s history, and until it is formally addressed, our country’s story will remain marked by this blight.”

Beginning in 1989, Conyers a member of the House Judiciary Committee has repeatedly introduced HR. 40, a bill that would establish a commission to examine the institution of slavery in the U.S. and its early colonies, and provide appropriate recommendations.

On August 18 2016, the United Nations concluded the history of slavery in the United States justifies reparations for African Americans, “In particular, the legacy of colonial history, enslavement, racial subordination and segregation, racial terrorism and racial inequality in the United States remains a serious challenge, as there has been no real commitment to reparations and to truth and reconciliation for people of African descent,” the report stated. “Contemporary police killings and the trauma that they create are reminiscent of the past racial terror of lynching.”

Some would argue that former presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton offered apologies, however, their action were merely symbolic that purposely left out monetary claims.

The U.S. and select nations of the world have provided reparations to marginalized groups in the past, for example in 1980 for Japanese Americans who were placed in U.S. internment camps during World War II, restoration of lands to Native Americans, and the billions that Germany paid to Jewish Holocaust survivors.

Conyers bill, H.R. 40, is numbered in recognition of the unfulfilled promise to freed slaves of “40 acres and a mule.”

The harm caused by slavery has impacted descendants. After decades of Jim Crow segregation there has been racial discrimination and policies that still affect many African-Americans today in education, housing, healthcare, and the criminal justice system Conyers told Congress in a letter.

Had she remained in the Deep South, Mary Ellen Pleasant could have possibly received as much–if not more–recognition for her contributions as Booker T. Washington, George Washington Carver, and Rosa Parks…to name a few. Ms. Pleasant’s story was unique in comparison with many Blacks who were enslaved in the Antebellum South: Born in Augusta, GA in the early 1800s, she was born as the illegitimate daughter of the son of then-Virginia governor and a Haitian voodoo priestess, who was enslaved  as well.

As a child, Pleasant was taken out of slavery by an unknown family. As a young woman, Pleasant married a wealthy Mulatto abolitionist by James Smith sometime in the 1840’s. After her husband’s untimely death, Pleasant inherited his substantial fortune.

Moving to New Orleans shortly after this turn of events, she connected with a woman named Queen Marie Laveau–also known as one of the greatest voodoo priestesses to reside in the “Crescent City”. It was said that Pleasant studied under Laveau to learn the science of voodoo as a means of empowering her people. In spite of her selfless acts of service to her fellow Melanoid people in New Orleans, it was a short matter of time before she would be on the move again — this time to San Francisco.

In April of 1852, Mary Ellen Pleasant arrived in the Bay Area’s largest city. Once she got there, she had to take on two identities, due to California’s Fugitive Slave Act of 1852 –in order to avoid being captured by slave hunters. Under her two identities, she lived a double life — One as “Mrs. Ellen Smith” (her married name), and the other as “Mrs. Pleasants”, who operated as a businesswoman and abolitionist. Under the “Ellen Smith” moniker, she worked as a white boardinghouse steward and cook. With a job in the service sector, she was often in the midst of a sizable number of wealthy white businessmen in ‘Frisco, who she served as she worked. She was well-liked by many of the men, but she used their admiration for her as leverage to have them hire Black people, and give them benefits they were previously denied access to. It was because of her personal brand of power brokering that many people in her circle nicknamed her “The Black City Hall”.

With a secret business partner, Pleasant eventually amassed a fortune worth over $30 million. She used much of that fortune to challenge the white supremacist status quo that’s always plagued this country, with her most notable deed being that she financially backed the storied abolitionist, John Brown.

For more on the story of Mary Ellen Pleasant, follow this link.

B. Clark

]]> https://www.melanoidnation.org/mary-ellen-pleasant-the-30-million-dollar-mother-of-civil-rights-in-california/feed/ 121 https://www.melanoidnation.org/the-month-of-august-yields-great-significance-for-black-society/ https://www.melanoidnation.org/the-month-of-august-yields-great-significance-for-black-society/#comments Tue, 04 Aug 2015 07:14:41 +0000 http://melanoidnation.org/?p=2248 They have the month of April, and we have the month of August.

Most of us are familiar with the significance of the month of February as it pertains to Melanoid people, yet very few are aware of the importance of the month of August. In an informative story featured on Black August, there are several items that are highlighted which cover the importance of the eighth month of the year in regards to Melanoid people. Events such as the birth of Marcus Mosiah Garvey, the Nat Turner-led slave uprising, and the March on Washington all occurred in the month of August.

With the month of August now in its early days, let us identify, study, and draw from the same revolutionary energy that has historically permeated this month by standing on the shoulders of the Black Giants who proceeded us. While it has already been mentioned that the month of August holds much importance for Black Society, it can also be noted that the month of August–like the rest of the year–gives us the reminder to never forget the greatness of our people regardless of the time of year, and how it can be replicated for future generations to be inspired by. Why wait until February to celebrate us? There is an ample amount of Black Excellence to be commemorated all year long, and in this case, let us start off the month of August right.

B. Clark

These two words most likely best describe the extensive body of work that the Late Dr. John Henrik Clark built over his illustrious career as a Master Teacher, and contemporary of other great Melanoid scholars of his day, such as Dr. Yosef Ben Jochannan, Dr. Amos Wilson, and many others. Today marks 17 years since his transistioning, yet his presence is felt stronger than ever before. What made Dr. John Henrik Clarke stand out from the Melanoid scholars who decide to compromise their integrity in order to have a seat at the table of the dominant society, he–like the aforementioned scholars and others not listed here–stood his ground and challenged white supremacy dead on.

Dr. Clarke, who adhered to the progressive nature of the Pan-Africanist school of thought/movement, was also a good friend of Malcolm X, was once asked if he would be open to debating with a member of the dominant society, Dr. Clarke replied, “I only debate my equals, all others I teach”. ‘Nuff said.

Enjoy some of the following video clips of Dr. Clarke’s lectures, and be sure to apply the nuggets of knowledge and information that he and other great Melanoid minds disseminated for us many years ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWs6hU-TqQI&spfreload=10

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-DMpQJmOTU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q__fdON-H_I

B. Clark