Free the Slaves (FTS) held its inaugural Freedom Awards ceremony in Los Angeles on Monday, September 15, 2008.
Founded in 2001, FTS is a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit organization dedicated to actively eradicating slavery worldwide. The collection of freedom fighters work diligently to strip slaves from serfdom, and help them stay free through sharing knowledge, hope, inspiration; relevant practices; and establishing connections so that freed slaves can learn to live independently and adequately in their new-found freedoms.
FTS realizes that a mission of this magnitude requires the help of everyone—from big business and government, to the next door neighbor and everyday hero. To this end, FTS takes every stride to increase awareness about modern-day slavery world-wide. The group shares effective real-world strategies and stories to encourage others to get involved and take part in grass-roots anti-slavery movements.
The Freedom Awards was created to recognize and celebrate today’s anti-slavery heroes. Awards recipients are selected on the basis of producing successful, sustainable anti-slavery works and strategies that embody the vision of freedom. The Awards is a catalyst for sparking innovative ideals, pooling resources, provoking thoughtful reflection on theoretical techniques, and exemplifying effective anti-slavery strategies that can be adopted by change makers to end slavery for good.
Each award salutes an individual who significantly impacted slavery both within the United States and abroad, and on the response of Americans and others' to slavery around the world. Their spirit continues on through the individuals and generations they brought to freedom and today’s abolitionists who are inspired by their legacy.
Hundreds of liberators and innovators from more than 30 countries applied for the distinguished recognition. However, only four change makers were awarded.
Recipients of the awards were:
James Kofi Annan of Ghana – Frederick Douglass Purpose Award. James is a former slave helping others find purpose. James was enslaved most of his childhood in the fishing village of Ghana. At the age of six, he almost died in the nets. His story is one of rebirth and hope as he escaped slavery and graduated from college. He was motivated by the belief that other children must not be cheated of their childhood as he was. Everyday, hundreds of children are helped by his organization, Challenging Heights. One of the more disturbing facts about these enslaved “fishing net children,” as they are commonly referred, is that they are forced to work close to 20 hours per day, and if they should become ill or unfit to work, they are tossed overboard without a second thought. Archbishop Desmond Tutu presented this esteemed award to Mr. Kofi Annan.
Anywar Ricky Richards of Uganda - Harriet Tubman Reintegration Award. Anywar was stripped from his family at a very early age to fight in the army; he was forced to watch as his parents were locked in their home and burned alive. It was a gripping moment when he approached the lectern: As he reflected on this tragic moment and the loss of his parents, he choked up, and for several minutes, only silence filled the room. Once he collected himself, he segued into talking about his organization, Friends of Orphans. Located in the most dangerous area of Northern Uganda, Ricky helps child soldiers try to rebuild their lives and entire communities through healing the wounds of war. The abducted children are forced to commit atrocities in their communities, so they have no home to return to if they escape. Ricky helps communities understand what happened to the abductees and helps the children to understand that it is possible to live again.
Amilhan Abueya of the Philippines – William Wilberforce Leadership Award. Amilhan is co-founder of ECPAT International, an organization that fights the trafficking of children into sex slavery in more than 70 countries. Amilhan has advocated for the rights of children for more than 20 years, serving as a bridge between trafficked children and those who have the power to end their nightmare.
CPT and Reporter Brasil of Brazil – Harriet Tubman Community Awards. Recognition was given both to Brasil and The Pastoral Land Commission (CPT) organization. Reporter Brasil investigates and publicizes the supply chains that slavery touches; CPT works with survivors of slavery in rural areas and triggers government raids to free slaves. Together they are a formidable anti-slavery team.
These are remarkable achievements, and nothing but the utmost respect and applause goes to these individuals for their tirelessness, selflessness, and devotion to ending such heinous plights.
China and Africa are two of the preeminent advocates for slavery: .http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1063198/Chinas-new-slave-empire--disturbing-eyewitness-account-Peter-Hitchens.html
According to FTS, there are 27 million slaves around the world—many of whom are children—living in physical bondage…As I mulled over the figure, I couldn’t help but to reflect to 143 years ago when more than three million African American ascendants were physically set free; yet, as is witnessed in the high rates of black on black crime, disproportionate ratio of black male incarcerations, rampant drug dependencies, and downtrodden and dangerous communities, African American descendants remain mentally enslaved. These negative and unsavory traits were not the characteristics of those initially brought to America in chains and shackles. So what happened?
During a span of 300 plus years, something terrible occurred to reciprocate this change in the African American’s mentality: the African American Holocaust. No one cares to discuss the controversial topic in fear of revealing the devious plot and reasons behind the immoralities perpetuated upon African Americans. However, in order to resolve the many prevailing issues that have plagued our beloved community for so long, the topic must be discussed. Unless we—all people—thoroughly dissect the root cause for today’s dastardly conditions and learn to accept the cold hard truth, no resolve or true progress will ever be attained. Like it or not, the effects of mental slavery still lingers heavily in this 21st Century, but both black and white America, albeit for different reasons, stubbornly refuse to embrace the integrity of this reality.
The greatest task the devil ever accomplished was convince the world that he does not exist; one may not be able to see him with the naked eye, but his existence is manifested in heinous crimes and acts. As with mental slavery, it is the most sickening and crippling evil among the African American community. We are convinced that we are free and mental enslavement does not exist; but if mental enslavement does not exist, why do African Americans refer to one another—and even their children—as “n**ger”? Why do African American black males comprise more than 30% of the prison population, yet African Americans only account for 13% of the U.S. population? Why do many African Americans limit themselves to low-paying, back-breaking jobs and place education on the back burner? Why do African Americans refuse to conduct business with black businesses, and allow our communities to continually demise? It’s not hard to see that mental enslavement is still alive and well.
People all around the world are taking strides to eradicate slavery and help re-build the lives of those who were formerly enslaved. In America, we attained physical freedom in 1865. High time has come for African Americans to refrain from making excuses for their current situations, see truth for what it really is, and leap into action—take back our mental freedom.
H. Lewis Smith is the founder and president of UVCC, the United Voices for a Common Cause, Inc., and author of Bury that Sucka: A Scandalous Love Affair with the N-Word. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dP2U0jmZjec
Though he has issued a formal apology for his use of the n-word, Reverend Jesse Jackson’s actions were irresponsible, incomprehensible, and reflect poorly upon him as a supposed role model for today’s African American youth. And to compound this issue even more, Whoopi Goldberg sang praises to the n-word before a national television audience of millions of people. Not only did she devalue herself—as she is an African-American, but also the sacred memories and history of her ancestry, and the black community in general. This type of behavior is totally unexpected of such influential African Americans and completely unacceptable by any African American.
Today, in this 21st century, the n-word has been reduced to being only a racial slur—in that it solely refers to one’s complexion, and none of the struggle, strife, degradation, and dishonor that pieced together the very foundation of the term. Thus, in this light, some people believe that the word can be desensitized; metamorphosed into this acceptable, unsubstantially mind-controlling term; and embraced by all. These same people believe that the n-word is just a word, no different from any other negative word. However, they are wrong.
I challenge anyone to take any word in the English language, pit it against the n-word—300-plus diabolical years of heinous acts, mental and physical bondage of a people, and tell me unequivocally and without a single doubt in your heart that neither of the terms is any worse than the other…Impossible. “Nigger” is the most infamous, profane word in the English language. Although I do not, in any way, attempt to diminish any other race’s struggles, no other term—whether it be a racial slur—equals that of the n-word. N**ger(a), because of the historical baggage and true purpose at its core, cannot be stripped down to only a racial slur that chunks ridicule at one’s outer skin tone. Color is where it starts, true, but beneath the thin layer of skin, just as beneath the earth’s thin crust, an extremely complex mechanic ferociously works to fulfill a higher-level, long-term, incomprehensible plot—one above that which can be seen by the naked eye. White America claimed that the slaves were subhuman; three-fifths of a human; lesser than a brute animal; bestial and savage. This very definition, therefore, gave them the right to dehumanize the slaves by slaughtering, butchering, and maiming them; brutally raping slave wives and daughters; executing mental genocide on a race of people; sodomizing with hot pokers; boiling and burning alive innocent people; disemboweling and castrating young men; and unmercifully beating ascendants until slivers of skin, shown to the red meat, dangled from their bodies—only to be met with more unbearable pain as the ridiculers poured whiskey and kerosene on the open wounds. As the victimized gasped for their last breath, they heard the jeers of “n**ger, n**ger, n**ger” in their final moment. For those who say this glimpse into the past is nothing more than a hyperbole of America’s racist mentality that prevailed for more than 300 years, they do not have to look any further than the recent West Virginia, Megan Williams case of kidnapping, raping and torturing to realize that this is not an exaggeration and that racism, and its foundation logic of mental enslavement, is still alive and well. The n-word cannot be sanitized, cleansed, inverted, or redeemed as a culturally liberating word. The argument that the n-word can be changed into this endearing and meaningless term is a fallacy of enormous proportions—regardless to who utilizes the term or the excuse for its use. It is impossible to undo all that was executed upon African-American ancestors, so why would one believe that they could miraculously transform the meaning of the term and disregard all of the indignity attached to the idiom? All African Americans should regard the argument for transforming the n-word as an insult to their intelligence. Regardless to how the word is used today, its sinister and evil history cannot be eradicated, transformed or successfully redefined. The term will always suggest that black people are second-class citizens, ignorant and less than human; proponents’ use of the term implies that they have accepted their role as such, and informs others that it is okay to live up to the definition and expectations of a “n**ger.” Whoopi and others like her have forgotten and/or are perhaps blissfully ignorant to the pain, sacrifices, life and death struggles of their ascendants and how they survived tremendous obstacles, trials and tribulations. Embracing the n-word is an effrontery to her ancestors’ glorious legacy, a mockery of their memories. N-word supporters fail to understand their affect on the minds of today’s youth with their deleterious dysfunction and culturally degrading acceptance of this word. The n-word is a surviving remnant of a psychological warfare conducted to create dependency and behaviors that support achievement of a devious national objective: mental enslavement of a race of people. It is a passively slick form of psychological, social, mental, and spiritual abuse that only results in the death and destruction of a race of people at the hand of that race of people—African Americans.
One’s level of self-esteem—whether healthy or unhealthy—is a direct result of the environment and is deeply influenced by daily interactions with family, school, peer group, work place, and community.
Self-esteem is the foundation of self image, independent thought, and individuality. It can encourage us to leap bounds beyond the grandest measure, or it can discourage us from pursuing a goal before it even has the ability to ripen into a full thought. Self-esteem is the result of one’s own self-perception—the way one sees oneself in relation to their environment—and strongly reflects the level of self-value one attaches to self.
For years on end, the term “n**ger” has been used in the plight to keep black African-Americans oppressed and miles shy of achieving their God-given potential. Black African-Americans were taught to perceive themselves as something far less than human, and to devalue themselves—to be “n**gers”. As a result of the plight’s effectiveness, healthy self-esteem runs at a deficient level throughout the black African-American community.
Some black African-Americans have realized the ramifications of the term “n**ger”, understand the significance attached to a healthy self-esteem, and refuse to be referred to as a n**ger. This is because they realize the term is an antagonist to a healthy self-persona, and will not permit their own self-perception and self-value to degrade so low that they to refer to themselves as such.
On the contrary, some black African-Americans feel an affinity to the word n**ger—this is what they were taught, so this is their truth. The humility of descending to the level of the n-word is unfeigned submission of one’s mind having been overwhelmed with a weighty sense of their innate misery and self-contempt. Many black African-Americans, unfortunately, are proponents for the self-inflicted use of the n-word. Fortunes have been made by spreading a culture of gangster rap–with its glorification of crime, disrespect for women, saggin' pants, and the perpetuation of a dysfunctional vocabulary. Although this culture has contributed some positivity to the African American race in proving to youths that African Americans can attain success and own God-given creative writing abilities, this “culture” also ensures that countless young Black people will never be able to perform successfully and professionally at a job interview, or function as a civil member of society. Commentary has been made that gangsta rap is an avenue to vent one’s anger. No doubt that anger can spark passion, innovation, and ingenuity. However, the passion and innovation must be communicated in a positive manner to stimulate quality and civility, rather than the glamorization of violence and crime, dolling up drug addictions and the degradation of one’s self-perception. Some gangster rappers argue that they have no impact on the actions of their listeners; however, words are powerful. Whether the story lines are true or not, the avid listeners will perceive them to be such and be influenced by the words of their favorite rapper. Rap can be used as a positive medium to build up a generation of productive society members, or, it can continue to be used as a way to make a buck off of degrading and continually contributing to the demise of the black African-American community. …Perhaps, and almost apparently, these gangster rappers have a poor self-image. The latest exhibition of a rapper’s low self-esteem is Nas’ soon-to-be released video entitled “Be a Nigger Too.” In this video, Nas extends an invitation to the world to join him in reinforcing dehumanization, subjugation, and oppression in a supreme effort to keep this word alive. Unknowingly, due to Nas’ lack of perception and failure to realize the level of influence he exudes, he is sabotaging the sacred memories of his black ancestry in this preposterous attempt at keeping the n-word alive. There is a scene in Roots where Kunta Kinte is whipped mercilessly until he calls himself by the slave name, Toby—after which time the slave master says, “Alright, that’s a good n**ger.” This is a scene re-enacted in real life more times than can be counted. For centuries, the white world has impressed upon the minds of the black world that there is such a thing as a n**ger, and Blacks have bought it lock, stock and barrel. A healthy self-esteem provides one the courage to try new things and the power to believe in self. Self-esteem promotes self-respect, and when one respects him/herself, the rest of the world will know that individual demands to be respected by them. With a healthy self-esteem, one doesn’t look for excuses to endear themselves to a word that once was used to justify the dehumanizing, butchering and slaughtering of their ancestors. In fact, quite the contrary: They will, instead, find such a fiendish word as n**ger to be totally unacceptable. Granted the common or modern day definition of the n-word is nothing more than a racial slur, however, the historical meaning as it is applied to ascendants of African Americans is etched in stone in the annals of history and can never be rationalized away. As James Baldwin once so succinctly said: “You can only be destroyed by believing that you really are what the white world calls a n**ger.” Our ancestors did not fit the description of what was considered a n**ger, nor did they deserve to be categorized in such a manner. Once one truly understands what the description of a n**ger was—and still is, a sane person would come to realize that there is no such thing as a n**ger—at least not pertaining to them! One of the greatest powers in the world is the power to define reality and make others accept it, even when it's to their disadvantage. This is the devious strategy the white world deployed into the minds of the black race with the word n**ger. Blacks can be and are complicit in maintaining white supremacy by giving into nihilism (the n-word) and immorality in the face of the endless struggle to surmount inequality, rather than proceeding through life on their own autonomy. The n-word is a phenomenon crippling the black community and the civic will to fight it. Let go of the past. Stop breathing life into the n-word, which is killing off the black community’s self-esteem and opportunities at ultimate success. Bury that sucka. Finally claim and live in full freedom. Blacks are NOT n**gers—there is no such thing! This anti n-word movement has nothing to do with the white man’s use of the word, this is about the black race’s pathetic acceptance of the word. This acceptance must be derailed. A healthy self-esteem epitomizes personal responsibilities and holds one accountable for their actions. It entails the meeting of life’s challenges through which a healthy state of mind enables one to break free from the restraints of an oppressed mental state. A healthy self-esteem provides the encouragement, refuge, and drive one requires to successfully persevere life’s obstacles. Most people admire and respect strong individuals who have won great success by manifesting will power and self-discipline. People in all walks of life with sheer will power, self-discipline and ambition have learned new skills and improved their lives. Myriads of examples exist where African Americans have achieved ambitious goals without the need of referring to themselves—or audience members—as the n-word.
The Nas Legionnaires—a herd of misguided, pea-brain sycophants melodically influenced when Nas strums his flute of musical ignorance—are absolutely ecstatic about the new rapper’s single, “Be A Nigger Too.”
“Be A N**ger Too” is co-produced by Salaam Remi and Big Jack. The song explores the media’s impact on peoples’ perception of the n-word; pardons Eminem for using the idiom in his rhymes; and sustains and invites listeners to “be a n**ga too”—despite the historic plight of black people and the satirizing nature the term reflects upon the African-American community. The song prefaces Nas’ CD—with an expected July 1, 2008, release date, “Nigger.”
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” In line with the great Reverend’s ideology, the idea that blacks can use the n-word and non-blacks cannot is nothing more than an unjustified double standard—as is any other double standard—that must be immediately discarded. For an African American to utilize the term says that they do not respect themselves or the constant struggles of their ancestors; for a non-black to use the idiom expresses their disrespect for the African-American culture, and keeps alive the inferior mindsets that have oppressed the black community for centuries. No benefit comes from the use of this term. If it is not good for one group, it is not good for anyone.
However, Nas and supporters seem to disregard the “double standard” and its true effects. With the leaked preview of his new song, Nas is “officially” extending an invitation to the world—black or non-black—to use the word and continue contributing to the demise of the African-American community. This is the epitome of imprudence.
African-American ascendants were robbed of heart, mind, body, soul and manhood. Violent mental abuse was perpetuated upon them, and—although they were the complete counter of the ideologies thrust upon them—they were forced to accept a self-image of being lazy, sex fiends, thieves, drunks, irresponsible, moral degenerates, stealthy and cunning, mindless, heartless and inferior scum—something to be despised and considered worthless.
The ascendant male was further coerced into having lack of love and respect for self, and to show no love or respect towards his woman or child. Even though the black woman was included in this vindictive conspiracy, she was allowed to have a little more self-esteem than her counter-part black male. For the black male was viewed as the most intimidating and greatest challenge to the white male. The white male knew that if he could manipulate and erode the black man’s self-image, the black man would not view himself as a superior or equal, but as an inferior. The white male bruised the black male’s self pride and dignity by constantly referring to him, his wife, and child as nothing more than low-down, useless, filthy “n**gers”, and treating them as such.
Under the jeers of “n**ger, n**ger, n**ger,” African-American victims were mutilated, castrated, skinned, roasted, burned, hanged and shot. Under the laws of the land at the time, this conduct was acceptable since the victims were considered to be nothing more than n**gers.
This is truly the intent of the n-word: It is a self-destructive mind control that simply and continuously beats up one’s perspective of him/herself. Its use maintains the image and meaning that was browbeaten and physically beaten into the hearts, minds and souls of African Americans for more than 300 years.
The use of the n-word is a 400-year-old practice that is still charging full-steam ahead, and must come to a screeching halt. For more than 300 years, “n**ger” was a metaphor for a race of people considered to be sub-human and three-fifths of a person. The slur owns an abominable history that, for all intent and purpose, is etched in stone—regardless of its present day metamorphosis into a term of endearment, or representation as a by-product of “the struggle.” Whatever the new-age justification, the n-word’s very use is inappropriate and counterproductive to human relations; the term devours any level of respect—given or received, cultural pride and dignity, and dehumanizes whomever the term is used toward.
In 1986, a rap group called NWA (N**gaz With An Attitude) formed. From that point up to present day, the imprint of the self-destructive nature of the n-word has become most apparent. Rap lyrics debased women—characterizing black women as nappy headed ho’s, b*tches and tricks; humiliated the black race; and glamorized violence, reinforcing the historical intent of the image of a “n**ger.” Rap music, pop-culture celebrities, and most often poverty-stricken fans combined to create an alluring "cool-pose culture” of self-destructive behaviors.
"N**ger" cannot be sanitized in any form to make it an acceptable term because of its malevolent history—not unless it is possible to undo all of the violent and wanton atrocities perpetrated upon the subjugated, all of which is embedded in and communicated through this term. Since returning to the past is not likely, the possibility of undoing the term’s intent is impossible. "N**ger" is a symbol certifying that brainwashing has worked, that if an ideology is continuously stamped into the psyche of a people, they will voluntarily apply it to themselves.
Nas certainly has the freedom and right to name his album whatever he wants; however, back in the mid-l990’s when Michael Jackson attempted to use the word “kike” in one of his songs, he quickly discovered the difference between the Jewish community and Black community: respect and self-respect is imperative in the Jewish Community. Michael quickly removed the word from his song and issued an apology.
Because the Jewish and Black communities have faced a great deal of discrimination alike, the two communities basically face the same issues of fighting hard to gain back their cultural respect. Thus, one can’t help but to pose the question: Is it likely that a Jewish person would come out with a CD entitled “Kike”? Possibly! However, with the uniting and sternness of the Jewish community in demanding cultural respect, one could unequivocally answer this question with a firm “NO”! This is because the Jewish community would never be moronic enough to support the sells of such an album. As well, record companies would never be naïve enough to publish something of this nature because they know that the Jewish community would fight them every step of the way, sending them through hellish litigation.
Artists along with the record companies are making ungodly sums of revenue from these types of albums. Bear in mind these very same recording companies are making mega millions off the n-word but would never consider doing the same with the k-word or other more pressing issues: Back in the early 90s Ice-T came out with a song entitled Cop Killer making police brutality the center of attention. So much pressure was placed on Warner Bros. that Ice-T had to remove the song from his album Body Count.
So why do Black people such as Nas and some others think lesser of themselves and their race? Why are they selling their souls? Why do some in the Black community support such conduct? The debasement of blacks has always been an acceptable commodity that sold; whereas, disparaging remarks about any other ethnic group and/or government institution is held to a different standard. Like it or not, the actions of the black participants in this machination reinforces the psychological true intent of the n-word—mental enslavement.
It must be recognized that Nas and all the others who contribute to the
debasement of the black race serves as evidence to a last link in the chain of a subjugated past. This link will never be broken until association with the n-word is obliterated.
It’s most unfortunate that some African Americans have allowed themselves to be bamboozled into thinking it’s okay to relate to a word which served as a metaphor to crucify, castrate, torture, murder, maim and rape their ancestors. They have elected to sell their souls for thirty pieces of silver, never realizing they are “the inside man” carrying out the 400-year-old plight to undermine the African-American race—their own people.
The ancestors of African Americans have never been able to rest in peace. Instead of continually spitting on their graves and canonized memories, it is time to let go of the very word that kept them gripped in terror and fear. Time has come to show them some respect, dignity, honor and pride. In doing so, we extend the same to ourselves, helping to eliminate the ever-present self-hatred. It is time to break that last link to an ominous, dark and dastardly past by eliminating the use of “n**ger.”
