Full text of "Nommo"
103 New Africa House
' „ University of Massachusetts
■V ^ ^ 5 o<? ^ Amherst, MA 01003
Volume XXV, Issue 2 (413) 545-5141 February / March 1994
NOMMO is a Dogan word meaning the power of the spoken and written word.
Black On Black Love
What ever happened
to Black Love?
I What ever happened to
Black Love?
Whalfever happened to Black
Love?
I love
Hip Hop and Jazz
I love
Rhythm and Rhyme
I love the Sun, Moon and Stars
I love
the poems of Amiri Baraka and Sonia Sanchez
liilL I i loviiip' i 1
the Knowledge and Wisdom of Minister Farrakhan
I love Sisterhood shared
I love the bond of Brotherhood
I love Life Everlasting
I love the Mbther Earth
I love the Divine ways of the one from the sea.
I love the GODS
All of this and more
is Black Love.
Whatever happened?
- Mecca C-Asia
Table of
The Nommo Collective would
like to extend special thanks
to Keith Campell for the front
cover illustration.
• Black Love
Mecca C-Asia / cover
• Something about Blackness
Steven A. Champion / page 03
• Altered States
I-Serene Oasis / page 04
• The Year in Black Music
The Music Man / page 05
• Here we go Again
Ayo Shesheni / page 07
• Brotha Man?
Jeffery Lawerence / page 12
• Dr. Maulana Karenga
LaKeisha Criswell / page 13
• History of Black Fraternities and
Sororites: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority
Incorporated
Submitted by Yvette Baez / page 15
Contents
The Nommo Collective would
also like to thank Campus
Design & Copy for typesetting
and printing this publication
• The Messiah
Mecca C-Asia / page 20
• CCEBMS Dean's List
Submitted by CCEBMS / page 23
• And 1 Exist
Yatisha Bothwell / page 24
• School in Session with Minister Louis
Farrakhan
LaKeisha Criswell & Foluke / page 25
• Hardcore
L. A. Williams / page 27
• Around the Way
Foluke / page 28
• My Life in The Projects
L. A. Williams / page 30
• On Hearing of Byron DeLa
Beckwith's Conviction for the Murder
of Medgar Evers
Natasha Trethewey / page 31
FEBRUARY/MARCH
3
Something About Blackness
by Steven A. Champion
There is something
about Blackness
it's bronze,
dusk,
hue,
and swarthiness
Envious people
have tried to curse it
the less fortunate
have tried do emulate it
The Blacker
the more Beautiful
Isn't night Beautiful?
There is something
about Blackness
it is blessed
by the fiery rays
of the sun
for the whole world
to witness
its pultritude.
There is virtue
in Blackness!
There is vitality
in Blackness!
There is honor
in Blackness!
There is soul
in Blackness!
There is Black
in Blackness!
There is something
about Blackness
that's stronger
than strength
firmer
than gendeness
Exuding its rythym
and haughtiness
Blackness is durable
A trait found among
noble People
Blackness is Alpha
and Omega
and everything in
between!
FEBRUARY/MARCH
4
N O M M Oi
ALTERED STATES
by I -Serene Oasis
I just recovered from the
"Why are we here?" stage
You know "Who am I?"
"Why can't I fuck the world?" syndrome
So, of course, I went and fucked the world
And at that time my world became
Tall, slim, brown
Over 21
With a seducing, sexy car
And a big black gun
My favorite was Everlasting
'Cause his mind was nimble
With mad control
Over his phallic symbol
A world where your boyfriends
Walked out on you
And stole your lipstick
A world where P.E. are Gods
And Yo-Yo the Virgin Mary
Denzel your dream
And Wesley Snipes your fantasy
And Malcolm Jamal Warner
And A1 B. Sure! were okay
So they were considered reality
And if you couldn't get them
Your best friend's man would do
And if she smelled a rat
Your answer was "WHO?"
A world where we dance the limbo
('Cause we can't find heaven or hell)
A world where love
Gets caught at the bottom of your shoe
A world where your existence
Is solely based on vampires
That don't suck blood, but
Most certainly can drain you
Of your essence
And your only alternative
Is your only choice
And you begin to realize
You have no voice but
Not because no one listens
Its just that your English teacher
Spoke white
In a racist dialect
And refused to let you articulate
Your thoughts
A world where your highs and enthusiasms
Where caused by Snicker bars
And your depressions stemmed from
Your brother's warm blood
Clearing the sidewalk of snow this morning
Only making it easier
For the next brother to get a few steps further
A world were you're surrounded
By four walls
And no doors
So even if you were to sweep the shit up
You'd never get it out
So you sit
And rot
With it
A world that you try to elude yourself
Because Wisdom before Knowledge
Only leads to self destruction
A world where the only beauty
And art is sex
So you fuck the world
FEBRUARY/MARCH
5
The Year in Black Music
by the Music Man
Foluke Robles approached me and asked me to write an article on the highlights of Black Music in 1993. She
gave me the freedom to write about anything 1 want, but it had to be as short as possible. Obviously, everything
won't be covered, so I'll just randomly spew out some of the notable trends and artists of '93.
Rock and Roll was once again discarded by the black audience. The black audience needs to understand that
rock and roll is as much our music as rap, new jack, R+B, and jazz. These brothers and sisters who are in the busi-
ness need the support of those willing to listen. So support them, don't dis them and push them aside. They're out
there. MTV won't show them. BET won't show them, so those blacks that are into it have to show their support. (The
only exception to this rule I might add, is Lenny Kravitz, who received a lot of exposure this year). Living Colour's
Stain was no doubt one of the best albums released this year. Dark and moody, but not negative. It was a powerful
insightive look into the human psychology. Fishbone, the band whose manic music mix inspired many successful
white bands such as Faith No More, the Red Hot Chili Poppers, and Jane's Addiction, released an album this year.
Give A Monkey a Brain and received no props from the alternative nation, oven though they performed at Lollapa-
looza 3 this year. Why? Faith No More and those other bands listed are white. Fishbone is black. You be the judge.
Other black rock bands with music in the stores right now are Eye+ 1, Follow For Now, the Family Stand, 247 Spyz,
Bad Brains, the Eric GalesBand and the Black Rock Coalition compilation.
1993 was also the year that sex took prestige in the slow jam area. Tongues were especially popular. These
songs made Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" and "Sexual Healing" sound like Barney's theme songs. For example:
SWV- "Downtown", H-Town-"Knockin' Da Boots" and "Lick U Up", Silk- "Freak Me", and R. Kelly's "Sex Me
(1+2)", and countless others.
The gansta image that rap has had over the years spilled over into the R+B arena. Prince had a microphone
shaped as a gun, a while back, Jodeci had the nerve to walk on stage at an award show looking like they walked
straight out of a horror movie, new R+B group P.O.V. released an album titled Handin' Out Beatdowns._ and the most
ridiculous image of the year went to new group D.R.S. (What does that stand for? Dumb and Really Stupid??), who
are dubbed "the most scandalous singing group ever," and "really dangerous motherPekas," who dress like the
Bloods and the Crips, carry weapons in their promotion shoots and drink 40 Oz in their video. Some people take
things a little too far.
What a turn rap took this year, for the worse. Everyone wants to be a gansta, a real nigga or a ruffneck.
Everybody wants to talk about hardcore and real rap. And if you were totally different groups like Arrested Devel-
opment, PM Dawn or Dj. Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, you were dismissed as being fake or soft. While I might not
be crazy about everything they do, A.D., PM Dawn and the Fresh Prince are more real to me than some of these
gangsta groups out there. They are doing something from the heart and soul, not only striving to get paid. I can
listen to gansta rap, because I'm mature enough to know the difference between reality and someone falsifying an
FEBRUARY/MARCH
6
N-O M M O
image to make loot. Some people don't. Not everyone who raps about a gun owns one. Shame on the record compa-
nies and the trade magazines that showcase only these groups, and make it seem that this is the only thing that rap
is about. We hear about the suffering of Black Men and Black Women everyday. It doesn't need to be perceived as
"in fashion" or profitable.
Run-D.M.C. made a strong comeback in '93 with Down With the King, but then again, how hard is it not to
come back when you've got hitmakers like Pete Rock, the Bomb Squad, and Tip backing you up? It's not hard. It
was slammin', no doubt. Big Daddy Kane alsoretumed from the land of the lost with Looks Like A Job For and re-
gained lost respect. And even though 14 Shots to the Dome wasn't as well received as his last album was, L.L. Cool J
still proved he had the skills to pay the bills.
Michael Jackson was involved in a child molestation scandal, while his sister Janet got some new hair, new
breasts, new stomach, starred in a less than average movie and sold millions of an awright album. Where's the
justice??
It's funny how things are. When New Edition broke apart, Bobby Brown, BBD, and Johnny Gill all released
hit multiplatinum albums while NE's lead singer Ralph Tresvant swam in the sea of mediocre sales. Now in 1993,
Bobby Brown, BBD, and Johnny Gill all took a dive. Where ya at, Ralph?
Other notable events I didn't have room to cover: the urbanization of pop radio stations; the birth of the
Ruffneck and Gansta Bitch, the EPMD breakup. Snoop Doggy Dogg and Dr. Dre, the birth of jazz/rap, R+B/rap,
and alternative rock/rap collaborations, the ridiculous rumors, the ridiculous marriages of pop stars (we know who
they are), the legal troubles of 2PAC and others, dancehall, the return of the Old School, Gangsta rap goes Top 40,
the "death" of "defn (Yeah, right), and many others (You fill in the blanks).
New LPs on the horizon to look for in 1994: Jodeci, Shai, Mary J. Blige, Prince, Arrested Development, Slick
Rick, Doug E. Fresh, Boyz 11 Men, Dr.Dre/Ice Cube, Public Enemy, Flavor-Flav, Terminator X, Black Sheep, Vanessa
Williams, The New Edition Reunion (maybe), Stetsasonic, and others.
Moral of the year: If you ain't got nuttin' good to rap about, keep ya yap shut.
Keep Ya Head Up!
CCEBMS provides tutors for CCEBMS stu-
dents. If you need a tutor, fill out and submit
a “Tutor Request” form at CCEBMS, then j
* check back with Mary Custard, the Tutorial S
coordinator, for your tutor assignment ]
NhGHMHMhOn
Here We Go Again
(D.C. al Coda)
by Ayo Shesheni
"That your husband out there?"
"Yes. Yes. . . I don't know what to do. I don't even know what to say."
"Well, is it alright if 1 come in? 1 want to talk to him."
"Oh, please. 1 mean, do. He — Well, you see We lost our little girl."
"Yeah, 1 know. 1 heard. She just stopped breathin, dint she?"
"Yes. Infant Death Syndrome. . . But he's blaming himself — he hadn't checked on her for a couple hours and
he was playing poker, drinking and everything. . . He thinks it's his fault."
"Yeah. Yo, man! 1 had a little girl once. 1 lost her, too. Actually, 1 had more than one. . . But 1 never got too
attached to the first one. What 1 mean is, when my first one was born, 1 was only seventeen an my mother dint like
that. She didn't go for that stuff, sex before marriage. Her whole policy was, no ring no thing, know what 1 mean?
Just listen, ma'am. So as soon as she was born, the social worker came an told me I had to sign these papers to have
her checked out an next thing 1 knew she was gone. 1 tried to get her back but when 1 went down to the community
center, the lawyer, he said 1 was better off without her, an she was better off without me, that she had a good family
takin care-a her an that no judge would take her back from them to give her to me. So 1 just said my good-byes an
moved on.
"1 don't really think this is the time — "
"No, ma'am, it's not. But no time is really the time is it? An I'm tryin to tell the man about my daughter, see?
The one who was really mine. 1 had her for almost three years before she passed on. She was real close to my heart.
You know that happens quick, cause your baby wadn't but six, eight months old, was she? So I know you feelin
some serious pain. Cause it's right about then you realty startin to feel like they yours, like they come to stay, not
just some alien what dropped in on you an its people comin for it soon. So you know how 1 musta felt when my
little girl was three, right?"
"Yes, 1 guess I can imagine, but—"
"Yeah, well. What happened was that 1 was out, tryin to relax. You know drinkin a little at Dahomey's
there — tryin to drown my sorrows cause her father just done left me. An my sister's husband's daughter was sposed
to be watchin her. Course 1 don't fault her, cause she was only thirteen years old, an startin to get interested in boys
an evrythin. You remember bein that age, dontchu?"
"Look, 1 don't really know how this makes any sense right now. . ."
"Listen, ma'am, I'm tryin to tell your husband a story, an I'd really appreciate it if you'd just kinda keep
quiet til I'm through, cause this is real important to me. Cause 1 think that the man needs to hear it right about now,
sittin out there, just like I need to tell it."
FEBRUARY/MARCH
8
"But can't you see — "
"Allegra?"
"Darling, please. . ."
"Allegra! 1 think 1 want to hear it."
"Yeah, I think you do. What 1 was sayin was that she — the babysitter — was real young and not payin too
close attention, an my baby went in the bathroom an got in the closet there where 1 keep all the cleaning stuff an she
liked that blue color, you know that blue dye they put in the ammonia to make it look pretty? Only to her it looked
like Smurf cool-aid. That's what she always told me. She'd say, "mama, gimme summa that cool-aid." 1 told her it
wadn't no cool-aid, but she was a hard-headed HI girl. Just like her mama. So anyways, she finally gets a chance to
drink some what with Keisha up there gossiping on the phone, an she comes back outta there spittin cause it dint
taste like no cool-aid, but Keisha just thought she was bein nasty, so she gave her a coupla licks an put her in bed.
An when 1 got home, my baby wadn't sleepin, man. She was dead. Just like yours."
"Look. We have our own grieving to do. This is not the time for yours. I'm asking you to leave."
"I'm sorry to upset you ma'am, an 1 don't mean to do no contradictin, but that man ain't grievin. He's bein
wrathful. He's blamin. An he ain't blamin only hisself. Cause you knew it was his poker night, an you dint just stay
home an watch that child yourself. Couldn't never stay home an just watch the child. 1 see you. Always runnin, like
you dint even have one. So what he's doin right about now is fixing you, real good. See?"
"That's not true! Xavier, tell her. . . 1 mean. . . Are you blaming me?"
"What does she know about us?"
"But you didn't answer me."
"Listen, ya'll will have to finish this conversation later. Cause what 1 know is that downstairs, my boys is
waitin for somethin to eat an their supper is on the stove. So I'ma tell you this story quick-like, an then I'll go an ya'll
can have your little discussion, see?"
"No—
"I'll listen."
"Dontchu think it'd be a whole lot easier if you was to sit in here, man?"
"Td rather stay out here."
"Xavier—"
"Shut up, Allegra. Just shut up."
"So you do blame me."
"Your voice grates. It grates like a damn jackhammer."
"I don't think that's fair!"
"Nothing's /air, dammit. It's not fair that my fucking daughter had to die when she wasn't but a baby!"
"You're blaming me for that?"
"It isn't fair that I have to live like a goddamn pauper because I'm not enough for my wife's degree."
"I can't believe you're blaming this all on me!"
" — because my wife thinks it's the height of achievement to get her fucking masteK s
FEBRUARY/MARCH
"How can you can sit out there and — "
"I'm talking, Allegra. You wanted me to talk, and I'm talking. So listen to me, goddammit! It isn't fair that I
waited two long-ass years for a child — using thermometers and waiting and getting woken up in the middle of the
night when I'm dead tired to try to get it up so that maybe, just maybe this time it'll work, because my wife was so
goddamn barren — "
"Hold it. Just hold it!"
" — only to have my princess snatched out of my arms before she could even say Daddy! That's what isn't
fair. That's what isn't fucking /air, dammit."
"I can't believe you have the nerve to go out there on that fucking ledge threatening to take your goddamn
pitiful, puny, miserable life because you think 1 cheated you out of something."
"Well, I am!"
"You're forgetting something, mister self-righteous. It was me who was working when you were going to
school. Remember that?"
"How could I forget? You would never let me forget that you had to sacrifice your big important academic
career for me."
"It was me who was counting pennies and working twenty-four seven and eating baked beans out of a can
because you needed books. And it was mo who was sitting there with the thermometer waiting with my eyelids
propped open with toothpicks until the right time came because you needed your sleep — "
"Shut up, Allegra."
" — and it was me who had to wake your grumpy ass up and try to get romantic so you could get hard just
long enough to shoot me some of your weak-ass, pitiful sperm."
"I said shut up!"
"Because you just couldn't wait. Just had to have a son."
"Stop crying, Allegra. I'm not falling for it this time. Stop crying and stop shouting at me with your fucking
jackhammer voice."
"Look who's talking, big man. Go on. Turn your head. 1 can still see those tears pouring down. What's
wrong, macho man? Life got you down? Couldn't make a son, and when you managed a daughter you couldn't love
her enough to keep her alive. Is that it big man? Is that why you really want to jump? Go ahead then. Go ahead,
dammit!"
Allegra —
"No! I am not going to allow you to blame me for this. 1 am not going to sit by and let you do that. I want to
live goddammit. And if you want to die you're going to have to go ahead and do it. Because I cannot talk through a
window with a fucking stranger sitting in my living room and tell you that 1 love you. 1 cannot talk to a stranger
through the window and tell him how much I love him. I cannot shout through a window into a deaf man's ears
and make him understand that it was not mo and it was not him, that it was nobody that killed our daughter, that
she's dead, but we're alive and we need each other to stay that way. That 1 need him to stay that way. I cannot do
that. . . I cannot do that."
FEBRUARY/MARCH
10
N^G^UMhG
"Are you all finished? Because 1 dint come up here to listen to you all hash through your dirty laundry an
play who stole the cookie from the cookie jar. 1 came up here to tell you a story. An I'm not through yet."
"Listen, lady, 1 don't know who you are, but this has nothing to do with you and 1 think you should leave.
You're started enough trouble for five damn minutes."
"Allegra, shut up! There you go again."
"Listen. The both of you shut up, alright? I'm tryin to tell ya'll somethin. Xavier come inside, cause I'm
gettin real tired of shoutin through the damn window. An Allegra, just keep quiet, alright? Cause my story don't
end with the two daughters what died for me an 1 had to keep on living. That's not what I'm here to toll you. 1 want
to tell you bout my sons. 1 got two sons. One of them is five years old, an the other one's eleven. The one what's
eleven don't sleep too good at all, you know, cause he remembers his sister, real good. Cause that was his princess,
an when he come home from his daddy's that week, he dint find his princess there cause she was dead. An that like
to broke his heart. So he don't sleep so good, cause even though it been six years, an 1 give him a brother to think
about right away, he couldn't do nothin bout them dreams he had about her. Cause he always looked out for her."
"What the hell does this have to do with us?"
I'm tryin to tell you Allegra, ma'am. I'm tryin to tell you bout my boy's dreams. Cause lately somethin else
happened what keep him an his little brother up nights. Him an my little Malcolm. What happened was — did you
see 'Do the Right Thing?' Xavier, man, whyontchu come on in here so's I can talk to your face?"
"I'm listening."
"Yeah, man, you're listening, but are you hearing? Come on in here where you can sec my face, because I
want you to see how serious I am bout this. It's about you. Yeah. That's better. Like I was sayin. Did ya'll see that
Spike Lee joint?
"Xavier—"
"Allegra, please! Just. Don't. Touch me. Yes, of course. We saw it."
"Well, how that big brother — Radio Raheem, how he got kilt by that policeman? How they just went over-
board cause they dint know when to stop an they kilt him? That happened right here on this block. Right outside, a
couple months before you moved in. Only they dint strangle this boy. They blew his brains out. Yeah. He turned
around too quick when they told him freeze cause he was runnin down the street with this toy gun, you know the
ones what shoot paint? Cause him an his uncle what just come from New Mexico was playin this war game. Only
you sposed to play them in the woods where there ain't no other people on accountta the fact that them things look
real. An this policeman thought it was real, so he shot him when he spun around, but the boy dint know it was a
policeman cause he thought it was his uncle. He thought it was his uncle about to get him with that red paint, an he
tinned around quick an pulled the trigger so's he could get his uncle first, only it was a cop, an the cop blew his
head off. Right out there. In front of the building. An what happened was my boys was watchin from the window —
they was watchin Marcus an his uncle play. An they saw Marcus get his brains blown out. They saw that real blood.
No red paint. So now my boys, my eleven year old an my five year old, they both have dreams. Only now Medger —
that's the eleven year old — he dreams that he's playin with his little sister, an he turns around, an the cop is blowin
her head off. Malcolm, he just keeps seein the thing what really happened happenin again an again."
FEBRUARY/MARCH
11
N O M M 0
"Xavier?"
"Allegra! Please be quiet. Please be quiet! I'm trying to listen."
"Yeah. So what I'm tryin to tell you, man, is that my boys have enough bad dreams. They'll be having bad
dreams long after Allegra here done finished that degree of hers an moved away to find her a new man an had her
some more children what she can keep nice an safe in some pretty neighborhood where they have parks for kids to
play war games in. Where the war ain't for real like here where it's in your house an in your mind an in your
dreams forever, and the ones that's the soldiers on the front line is everyone you ever loved. So what I'm sayin to
you, mister Xavier man, is that I don't care how upset you are bout the daughter you called Aisha what means life
only she's dead, an I don't care that things ain't the way they sposed to be witchu an your wife. Because if you jump
off that damn ledge you goin to land on the sidewalk right outside my window an my boys will have some more
real blood what ain't red paint to add to their dreams. An you'll be cleaned up an hauled away an you won't even
get to see your princess then, cause she won't be where you goin. An meanwhile your wife willa done gone off with
her degree an left you an the little piece of bloodstained cement what would remind her of you— but me an my boys
will have to stay. We'll still be here. That's what I come up here to tell you. That's what I wanted to say. My boys
don't need no more dreams."
"Lady—"
"My name is Ella."
"Lady, it's time for you to go."
"I'm goin, Allegra, ma'am. I done said what I had to say. My boys is waitin for their supper. Naw, don't
bother. I know where the door is. It's in the same damn place in my apartment. Downstairs."
"Xavier. Xavier! You're still going —
"Calm down, Allegra. I'm shutting the window, OK? Is that alright? Then I'm going for a drink. I need a
drink. I need a big, strong-ass drink."
"Xavier. . ."
: CCEBMS is recruiting undergradu-
ate tutors. We wouid iike you to
! heip each other. Pick up Tutor appii-
i cations from Mary Custard in 210
New Africa House.
L**********************
FEBRUARY/MARCH
12
BROTHA MAN?
by Jeffery Lawrence
The white man,
the white man,
it's time he takes a fall.
The niggers are having a meeting,
in the room down the hall.
We are going to have a rally
and take the campus,
by surprise.
They are meeting outside the tower,
in the west,
at five.
We don't need the press,
they'll just tell lies.
Hello,
CBS,
how would you like a hot story,
live.
Please protect yourselves,
and watcn one another's back.
They're militant,
packing,
and ready to attack.
I heard that our phones are tapped.
Hello,
FBI.
Trust no one.
They'll listen to me,
cause I'm,
their number one guy.
Why is it that where ever we go,
we get stopped at every turn?
Hey,
they trust me,
they'll never learn.
Our plans have gone up in smoke.
Bum, baby.
Burn.
They must have an informant,
who could it be?
Those people are so stupid,
theyil never know it s,
me.
FEBRUARY/MARCH
13
NT O 1VyT 1VyT O
l>i W IVl iVl VJ
Dr. Maulana Karenga
by LaKeisha Criswell
"Media never discusses the true meaning of Kwanza", said Dr. Maulana Karenga, the creator of Kwanza, to
a crowded room of listeners on February 3, 1994 in the Campus Center on the University of Massachusetts. With
over 18 million people celebrating Kwanza, Karenga cited Kwanza as being so popular because it was a celebration
for all people with no emphasis on a religious denomination. Karenga said, "Kwanza is a reaffirmation of
our(African) culture. It is a time to praise African traditions and praise ancestors like Malcolm X, Fannie Lou Ham-
mer, Marcus Garvey, Ida B. Wells and other great Africans and African Americans
Dr. Maulana Karenga's lecture was sponsored by the Black Mass Communications Project in honor of
February's Black History Month. A recipient of two doctoral degrees. Dr. Maulana Karenga, is head of the Black
Studies Department at the University of California at Berkeley. He is also author of the widely used classroom text.
Introduction to Black Studies.
Dr. Karenga also spoke on historical misrepresentations of Africa. He referred to ancient Egypt as the "light
house of the world" because of it's role in mathematics, religion, astronomy, and philosophy. The fact that Egypt is
referred to as the 'Middle East', and not an African nation was offered as an example of misrepresentation.
"European History is therapeutic," argued Karenga. He said for centuries there has been a centralization of
European history, known as "eurocentrism." He defined eurocentrism as "all relevance and value centered around
Europeans and other people's relevance and value at the best being marginal and at the least insignificant." With
eurocentrism, Europeans have been conditioned to believe they are superior, white other races histories have been
ignored, leaving them feeling inferior while Europeans experience feelings of superiority.
Karenga said, "With power, knowledge, and wealth Blacks would gain a high self esteem." History is an
important tool in the shaping of people. He said, "It locates people, and helps them understand their possibilities."
He also said that the study of history helps us learn about ourselves, absorb its possibilities by emulating role
models and remembering and praising others.
FEBRUARY/MARCH
14
Blast From the Past
Photos From The Nommo Archives
FEBRUARY/MARCH
15
N O M M O
HISTORY OF BLACK
FRATERNITIES AND SORORITIES
DELTA SICMA THETA SORORITY, INC.
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is a sisterhood of college-educated women committed to public service. A
Delta is therefore, one who affirms, contributes and works actively to achieve the organizational purpose of public
service. Deltas are committed to being sisters. Deltas must enlighten, encourage, comfort and "bear one another's
burdens."
The sorority was founded in 1913 by 22 undergraduate women at Howard University. These young women
wanted to use their collective strength to promote academic excellence and to provide assistance to the needy .
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is a private, non-profit organization whose purpose is to provide services
and programs to promote human welfare. A sisterhood of more than 250,000 predominantly Black college educated
women, the sorority currently has over 800 chapters located in the United States, Japan, Germany, the Virgin Is-
lands, Bermuda, Haiti, Liberia, the Bahamas and the Republic of Korea. The major programs of the sorority are
based on the organization's Five Point Thrust; Economic Development • Educational Development • International
Awareness and Involvement • Physical and Mental Health • Political Awareness and Involvement
Five Point Program Thrust Initiatives
"Just Say No To Drugs"
In February, 1985, Delta Sigma Theta launched a massive campaign with its undergraduate chapters to help
Black youth "Just Say No to Drugs." Initially, 35 chapters served as pilot sites to begin implementation. However,
FEBRUARY/MARCH
16
HISTORY OF BLACK
FRATERNITIES AND SORORITIES:
DELTA SICMA THETA SORORITY, INC.
the project is conducted nationwide by many Delta undergraduate chapters. The project is targeted at youth 7-15
years of age.
The Delta "Just Say No" campaign is unique in several ways. It is conducted totally by members of college
based chapters and it was the first "Just Say No" project to be implemented by a national organization.
Health
More than two hundred chapters hold Health Fairs and comprehensive screening programs on an annual
basis in their local communities. Delta has also sponsored a National Symposium on Hypertension among Black
women and youth. Thirteen other national organizations co-sponsored this project with Delta.
The organization has targeted the high incidence and mortality rates from cancer among Blacks as a primary
health concern and has mounted a concerted effort to conduct a series of projects, preventive in nature, to address
this serious problem. Several health issues continue to be addressed: kidney disease, stress, hypertension and
suicide are examples. Delta has worked with the National Cancer Institute on a cancer prevention awareness project.
Pi Iota, the local chapter which includes 11 schools in the Western Massachusetts area focused on women
and AIDS as part of their annual "Delta Week" last year. Every year, the chapter tries to focus on important health
issues as well as other issues that are pertinent to the Black community.
Economic Development
An Economic Advisory Committee is continuously recording and disseminating information to chapters in
reference to support for Black businesses, seminars and workshops on procurement and entrepreneurship, the
Adopt-a-Black-Business focus in support of local Black businesses and information on business financing and
management. Another important component is the emphasis on personal financial planning and estate planning.
As a part of economic development. Pi Iota has developed a "Black Business Guide" as a form of support for
local Black businesses.
Employment and Training
Programs in this area include the Assault on Illiteracy Project, which has identified illiteracy as a barrier to
the employability of many Black adults. Other programs center on career counseling, "Project Plus" (Project Literacy
U.S.), mentoring, identifying non-traditional jobs for women, job fairs in high schools and job fairs for recruiters
from industry for college seniors and graduates. More than 50% of our chapters regularly conduct career and job
opportunity programs each spring which include counseling on test-taking skills, interviews, presentation and job
performance.
FEBRUARY/MARCH
17
HISTORY OF BLACK
FRATERNITIES AND SORORITIES:
DELTA SICMA THETA SORORITY, INC.
Educational Development
Each chapter conducts programs in education, ranging from tutorial services to adult literacy initiatives and
the awarding of scholarships and grants. Significant national programs are the Distinguished Professor Endowed
Chair and the Maryland Educational Opportunity Center.
Current National Programs
Summit III: Preparing our Sons for Manhood
Studies have shown that the single most important factor in the success of the young Black male is his
relationship with his mother or other important female figures in his life. As a national public service sorority made
up of more than 250,000 college educated women. Delta Sigma Theta brings a profound interest in and commitment
to the preservation, protection, nurturing and education of young Black men. The sorority's objective for Summit III
is to develop and implement programs which focus on education, housing, employment and personal development
for boys ranging from 10 to 16 years old.
Delta Alcohol Drug Abuse and AIDS Community Education Project (AD ACE)
The ADACE Project has been designed to enable the sorority to assume a leadership role in alcohol, drug
abuse and AIDS awareness, treatment and prevention. The target population for the project are Black females
between the ages of 12-19.
Delta launched this community education effort because of the increased risk Black women, especially
younger women, face in becoming infected with the HIV virus and the heightened threat that young Black females
will become alcohol and drug abusers. The ADACE project has three phases: development of the training curricu-
lum, training of the Delta membership as trainers and community educators and the implementation of the commu-
nication sessions on the local level.
School America
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority is "Taking the Lead Helping Families To Read" by conducting a nation-wide
initiative — School America, which is a national family reading program. The basic focus of School America is to
have one story read to a child, between the ages of one through ten every week. A major component of this national
program is "reader registration" which entails registering persons as official readers. A "Registered Reader" is an
individual who pledges to read one story a week to a child in his/her family or community.
Other national organizations as well as regional and local groups are helping Delta as partners to implement
this program. Over one million persons are expected to register as readers. By forming partnerships with broad-
based, cross-cultural groups. Delta has tremendously magnified its outreach efforts. Illiteracy is a very real threat to
the nation's economic future and the American way of life. Therefore, acquiring reading skills is a means of securing
economic rights.
FEBRUARY/MARCH
18
Black College Convocation
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority salutes America's Black colleges, biennially, with a series of weekend convoca-
tions at 18 colleges, 14 of which are traditionally Black institutions. The convocation theme is "America's Black
Colleges: Roots, Rewards, Renewal". During this two-day meeting the sorority renews its allegiance to the histori-
cally Black colleges by collectively seeking solutions to programs that negatively impinge upon the survival of Black
people and its higher education institutions.
The Black College Convocation features public workshops addressing such issues as substance abuse;
leadership skills and networking; grantsmanship for research and social action; and the survival of black people
through education, economics and the political process.
Life Development Centers
Centers are established by local chapters as a viable means of mobilizing a chapters programs and to
maximize community access to the services of public and private agencies. The centers are also designed to help
eliminate fragmented services in areas where the need is most evident, and provide a central and accessible location
for the agencies and clients to bo served. The programs at the centers include tutorial services, counseling services
for families, teenage pregnancy prevention, health screening, health education and career counseling, and referral
and information services.
Distinguished Women of Delta Sigma Theta:
Mary McLeod Bethune-Civil Rights Activist • Lena Home-Actress • Debbie AUcn-Dancer • Paula Giddings-Writer • Fannie
Lou Hamer-Activist • Ruby Dee-Actress • Shirley Chisolm-Congresswoman • Leontyne PriceOpera Singer
For more Information, contact:
Yvette Baez 546-1469 (UMass)
Rachael Splaine 546-7369 (UMass)
FEBRUARY/MARCH
N O M M oia
Blast From the Past
Photos From The Nommo Archives
FEBRUARY/MARCH
20
N^^v^HMhG
The Messiah
Mecca C-Asia
Hon. Ellen Syrkett
I'm 20. My father was 38. He died of old age. Damn! Who the hell drops dead at 38? He did. He was a single
Black parent who worked hard to provide for his child. He wasn't rare but he was special, to me. I was at school
when I got the call... The memory of the monotone male voice is etched into my brain.
" 1 know this is a terrible way to get this kind of news.. . I really hate to make these calls..."
I managed to pack a bag, randomly filling it with underwear, socks, and clothes. 1 boarded the next bus to
New York. The ride seemed to take an eternity. 1 sat in the back of the bus crying as 1 tried to remove thoughts of
my father from my mind. I drifted in and out of sleep hoping that each time 1 would awaken from the nightmare.
Messiah met me at the bus station. 1 hadn't soon him since I'd left for school, he avoided me each time 1 came
home. I was surprised to see him but at the same time comforted. His face was the first 1 saw in that Black sea. He
looked directly into my bleary eyes. He took the bag 1 held and with his free hand he pulled me to him. We stood
united for what felt like hours but what was probably seconds.
"You alright?" he asked.
HELL NO ! I thought, but I opted for the nod of my head in affirmation. Ho know by my expression, he
always did.
"I'm sorry" he added.
Silently we walked to the train. I still gripped his hand tight. Halfway through the ride 1 looked up at Messiah
standing over me. Tall, Black and Sure, he stood watch as the iron horse charged its way uptown. We left the train
and walked to my block. The building was dark. I fumbled in my pockets for my keys. 1 found them and unlocked
the door. I stepped in and turned back to sec Messiah still standing on the porch.
"You're not coming in?" I asked.
"Are you sure you want me to?" he replied.
I silently pleaded by extending one hand to him.
He entered, closed the door behind him and we made our way up the stairs.
A part of me expected my dad to walk out of his room to greet me.
"Hey, baby girl ! INhat you doing home?"
"You know I couldn't leave you here alone for too long !" Instead the silence and the smell of his stale cigarettes met
us.
"It all looks the same." 1 said. It had only been two and a half weeks since I'd been here. Everything was in its
usual place. Sunday's paper, an ashtray full of butts and an empty Maalox bottle littered the coffee table. On the
floor was some old mail and a letter I'd written to my father several days before. Messiah silently sat down on the
FEBRUARY/MARCH
21
N-0HMHMh0
couch, I took my bag from him, picked up the letter, and walked back to my room which was off of the kitchen. I
dropped the bag, sat back on my bed and began to read the letter over, stopping when 1 got to the end.
Thanks for the check but you don't have to send me money every
week. Take care of yourself. I love you and I miss you. TAsia
Then I felt the tears rush . I heard Messiah's voice telling his mother he would bo staying with me to make
sure I ' d be okay. He came and laid down next to me. I cried myself to sleep as he held on.
When I rose the clock read eleven forty-five a.m. Messiah was gone. In the kitchen, something was cooking.
The fruit basket was full and the dishes that were in the sink were washed and put away. 1 heard water running in
the bathroom.
"Messiah?"
"Yeah in here. You can come in."
I opened the door and the steam rushed out. 1 sat down on the toilet .
"You eat yet?" he asked through the curtain .
"Nah, I just got up. Tm not really hungry anyway. You know?" "Well we've got a lot to do today so get to it."
His long Black arm reached out and searched for a towel. 1 passed him one, he wrapped it around himself and
emerged.
"Good Morning" he said.
I stood and we kissed.
"Thank you. For everything." 1 said.
No reply, he kissed me on the forehead and left to dress.
We ate together, then I showered and dressed. Messiah sat and waited in the living room.
"Let's get going !" Messiah called.
The funeral home was on the Island. We took the Rail Road and then the bus. 1 remained relatively quiet,
teary eyed but not crying. Messiah sat with one arm around me like a warm black wing. His scent reminded me of
my father. Daddy always smelled warm and inviting. We used to sit like this in his room and talk. Sometimes he
was more friend than father but he was skilled enough at it to keep the balance.
"What you got planned for the weekend miss lady?"
"You don't work Sunday so I'ma he around."
"Why you always trying to hang with me? Tm an old man!"
"The ladies don't think so."
He was fine. (As fine as one's pops could be to them.) He was real tall, had broad shoulders, brown eyes,
which always told me how tired he was, and strong Black features that reminded me of the Maasai. He was noble
like that. And he had a beautiful mahogany hue which was accentuated by his bright ivory smile.
"I don't have time for no ladies. But 1 always have time for you. What you wanna do on Sunday?"
"Just talk." 1 said to him.
FEBRUARY/MARCH
22
N O M M O
"This is our stop." Messiah said softly nudging me out of my trance. Once inside a short white man came out
into the lobby.
We told him why we were there and he led us into his office.
"The body's already been identified by your husband." the man said, looking towards Messiah. Messiah
placed his hand atop mine.
"NO!" I said vehemently. "I need to see him."
Messiah squeezed my hand, then let it go.
The man led me to the back of the building and down the stairs. A small door was on our left. He opened it
and directed me towards a table covered by a white sheet. The man stood in the doorway as I lifted the sheet back
and looked down at my father's face. He was the only parent I'd ever known. My mother was never real to me. No
more than a photograph of a beaming young girl with her arms wrapped around my father's neck. He never talked
poorly of her. He simply said she was young and not ready for the responsibility (she being one year younger than
he). She'd given birth to me and dipped out leaving my pops with the task of raising me. He was 18 then. He took
me home and cared for me alone. Ever since I can remember he worked all the time. When we lived in Flushing he
had 3 jobs. Nights he worked as a security guard in Manhattan, days he worked as a "refuse collector" as he jok-
ingly called it, and on weekends he did odd jobs wherever he could find them. He worked day and night for ten
years when he finally landed a job at the Grumman air base which allowed him to sleep nights in our two bedroom
apartment. I cried as memories of him saying "I love you baby girl." flooded my memory, 'cause I knew but never
told him how much it meant to hear it. 1 glanced back down at the face. This was his body but it was not him. He
looked cold and pasty. I cried but was comforted to know that he had returned to the essence of life in his death.
We returned upstairs. I sat down next to Messiah and ordered that the body be cremated. That's what he
wanted, and Messiah nodded in approval.
We once again boarded the Rail Road and sat facing one another. 1 wanted to talk to Messiah about what had
been going on between us, but unsure of where to begin I sat back in silence and tried to collect my thoughts.
"I'm sorry," Messiah began "for not being around, or returning your calls or writing you back."
He looked out the window then turned back to me.
"I did miss you though." he continued. 1 sat next to him now. Messiah had avoided me at all costs since I told
him I was leaving, convinced college would distort my view of him and my life in the city.
"/'// call you twice a week Daddy, to check on you."
"You '1 1 call at first but then you '1 1 forget about your poor old man.
But I called every week from school and wrote twice as often. When 1 wasn't calling or writing my father 1
was trying to correspond with Messiah. He was always on the run. I spoke to his mother frequently.
"Messiah stays in the streets. But he takes care of his business, he's a responsible man."
I enjoyed these conversations. I gained some insight into Messiah's character. Once his mother told me that
she thought he was scared I wouldn't want him anymore because he wasn't 'educated' like the brothers he thought
I'd meet at school.
"Let's not dwell on the past Messiah, we can't change the things we've done. If you're truly sorry don't just
FEBRUARY/MARCH
23
say so, continue to show and prove. And now that I'm gonna be home... "
He turned back to look at me. He was clearly taken aback by what 1 was saying to him.
"I've got a lot of loose ends to tie here and I'm not ready to leave New York yet."
He understood and accepted my decision, for the moment and I reached out to take his hand.
Back at the house, Messiah helped me pack up my father's things. His room was small and immaculate. It
was furnished simply. A bed, night table, clock and dresser. There was very little to put away, materially. We
stored his things in the basement. Then upstairs I made dinner and Messiah talked to his moms. He told her he'd
be home to pick up some clothes but that he was going to stay with mo. After dinner Messiah and I talked. About
everything, life, death and how to pursue happiness between the two.
"1 love you I-Asia" he told me.
"I know" I replied with a smile.
"And I love you Messiah, you make me happy, but I don't need taking care of and 1 don't need sympathy. The
only person that can save me is me."
"If I didn't love you I wouldn't be hero." he said looking at me.
"Well, that's all I need." 1 told him.
Nommo would like to congratulate all those who
MADE THE DeAN’s LIST FOR THE FALL 1993 semester!
Michele R. Vaughan Albouy
Tatyana P. Asnis
Guy R. Balan
Stanley M. Boykin
Charlie Brice
Penny Cameron
Dacia Campbell
Chi Ming Chui
LaKeisha T. Criswell
Rahsaan A. Curington
Autumn Deleon
Marie M. Desronvil
Ronald Q. Dottin
William C. Dunning
Pierre A. Elysee
Sean M. Pontes
Erwin O. Foxtree
Malkes Gomes
Jerry Hernandez
Susan A. Herrera
Malaika L. Higginson
James M. Horne
Andalib Khelghati
Jorge E. Ledesma
Valerie Lucien
Diana M. Martine
Petchron R. Mason
Dino E. Medina
Jason Moore
Marjorie Parent
Carlos L. Pimentel
Joseph A. Pimentel
Sheila M. Rodriques
Ambere Rogers
Poune Saberi
Shomwa M. Shamapande
Shamele R. Slaughter
Eric P. Sutton
Mohammad R. Taheri
Moise S. Tirado
Njideka F. Ugwuegbu
Laura P. Van Maanen
Phon H. Vuong
Lisa J. Walker
FEBRUARY/MARCH
24
NT O 1VyT 1Vf OI
vJ IVI IVI vJ
And I Exist
by Yati$ha Bothwell
I feel the deep, d^p heaviness
A great weight on delicate fragile shoulders
being Black, ... A Black woman
And they don't recognize the sheer beauty
In the way I hold my head
The way I turn my face
Upward toward the blazing sun
Held high above the ugliness
And evils of society
I exist,
Yet they seem not to understand how...
The inner strength
The wanting
Not only to survive, but to live, and be free
To fly
But only WHITE BOYS can truly soar
Is it my light brown skin or curly, short hair?
No, this is not the heaviness
that keeps happy feet grounded
forbidding my desirous, jubilant flight
But two shackles and a chain
fitted about my thin, slender ankles
Keeps me merely gazing into the clouds
Yearning, wanting
to just once touch the sky
And yes, 1 know I will- one day
And yet, I still exist today.
FEBRUARY/MARCH
25
School’s in Session with
Minister Louis Farrakhan
by LaKeisha Criswell & Foluk^
"I don't teach hate. If over 450 years of violence and destruction has not taught hate, nothing I can say
will change that," said Minister Louis Farrakhan to over 2000 listeners at the Fine Arts Center at the University of
Massachusetts, March 9, 1994.
Much controversy surrounded his arrival to the University due to his alleged anti-Semitic, homo-
phobic, and sexists remarks and the $25,000 price tag for his speech. The University of Massachusetts, however,
"got their money worth and then some" according to many students like Dacia Campbell, a UMass Political Science
major. His three and half hour speech focused on controversial topics such as his alleged anti-Semitic remarks, and
the Nation of Islam's role in the death of Malcolm X.
Minister Farrakhan indicated that the University exploits the talent of many Black athletes by bringing
them to the school and making money off them. He said there is no likening what Black students bring to this
University compared to what the University gives us. In defense of the $25,000 that was spent to bring him to
UMass, he said that schools are willing to pay Ronald Reagan upwards of $45,0000 dollars for him "to shake his way
through a lecture", but they do not want pay him for speaking the truth while also trying to uplift Blacks.
Minister Farrakhan said that there is fear of any person who speaks the truth. He said, about 10% of
the population rules 85% of the mass population of every community. This 10% has knowledge of the truth of the
lives and history of the poor in their midst, but use it to control and oppress rather than for the purposes of educa-
tion and upliftment. He referred to 10% ruling class as "bloodsuckers" of the poor. Any one who deviates from this
system is brought down.
Minister Farrakhan referred to himself as deviate who the 10% is trying to bring down with controver-
sial media. He proclaimed that the media did not make him, so they can't destroy him. He also said to those who
seek his demise "Don't even think about it! We are not making any idle threat, we have no weapons, we don't
carry so much as a pen knife; but I do tell the world that Almighty Allah is backing us up in what we say and what
we do, and we warn you in His name leave this servant of Almighty God alone."
Farrakhan criticized the American educational system which docs not train students to become
analytical and creative thinkers who would grow to solve society's problems, but instead, to continue the irrespon-
sible cycle which has the U.S. in the economic and political trouble it's in. He said the present condition of education
produces students who can be used as tools to help maintain the present condition of the 10% ruling class. This
produces a destructive course of action for young Black students who leave college with degrees in Black studies or
the like. There is no place for them to market their skills, so they fall into selling drugs, perpetuating crime in our
communities or "join the Army to be all that they could never be."
He asked, "How can you (United States) be a pluralistic society with a Eurocentric educational sys-
tem?" He also questioned how could a society have technology so advanced, yet be unable to effectively teach
people to read. "Education is the torch light of civilization. ..when education declines, civilization declines. If the
FEBRUARY/MARCH
26
Nlr^
United States continues at this rate they will no longer be a superpower because they will be unable to compete with
other nations." He cited the surge violence, crime and sexual promiscuity as examples of the decline in our society.
He stated that we have reached a state of acting like dogs, and, at times, doing some things even a dog wouldn't do.
Farrakhan continued his speech by insisting that he would not take too much more of the audience's
time; but members of the audience shouted, "Take your time." He joked that he knew there were classes in the
morning, but "class is in session noiv."
Later in his lecture Minister Farrakhan responded to some of the many controversial allegations tike
his anti-Semitic remarks. He passionately stated that he is not anti-Semitic. He said he would like Jews to acknowl-
edge their involvement in the slavetrade. He cited that 75% of slave owners of the South were Jewish, and that
Jewish scholars have confirmed his facts. "If they have had hand in bringing Blacks down, then they should have a
hand in uplifting Blacks."
He also denied being anti-white. He said that he was angry at what "whiteness has done to his
people", but he does not hate all white people. He said, "Don't blame Black people for being angry; they were
mistreated. The ignored anger leads to feelings of powerlessness yielding frustration, despair, hopelessness, and
finally violence and terrorism.
Minister Farrakhan also discussed the Nation of Islam's involvement in the assassination Malcolm X
and the alleged affairs of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. Concerning the death of Malcolm X, Minister
Farrakhan does not deny that there was animosity between the Nation of Islam and Malcolm X and that there were
members of the Nation of Islam involved in his death. But he vehemently denied accusations that Nation of Islam as
a collective conspired in the death of Malcolm X. He suggested that Federal Bureau of Investigations played a role
in the death of Malcolm X by infiltrating the Nation with agents to initiate and help carry the plan out. He said that
when a witness was willing to name the individuals involved in the assassination, the case was closed and the
government refused to re-open it.
Regarding the statements that the Honorable Elijah Muhammad had extra-marital affairs in which he
fathered children; he compared him to the ancient prophet Muhammad who had nine wives, the youngest of whom
was described as a pre-adolescent. Farrakhan said that the secretaries who were said to be engaging in affairs with
the Honorable Elijah Muhammad were his wives, not his mistresses. The reason he did not make these relationships
public is he felt many of the new recruits to the Nation of Islam were not ready to know about that aspect of the
religion as they had recently been disciplined to care for one woman and leave behind promiscuity and womaniz-
ing. He said that Malcolm X was dishonest when he leveled the accusations against the Honorable Elijah
Muhammad because he did not mention that he regarded the women as his wives. Minister Farrakhan said that the
rift came because Malcolm X knew the truth, but misrepresented it for his own cause.
Minister Farrakhan finished his three and half hour lecture to a standing ovation, and was followed
off-stage by his security entourage. Regardless of how you may feel about Minister Farrakhan and the Nation of
Islam, you have to respect a man who is able to deliver well organized, thought provoking, throe and half hour
lecture without any notes. It is the hope of these two writers that the passionate words of the Honorable Minister
Louis Farrakhan will live and motivate for years to come, and that the many troubles BSU president Shomwa
Shamapande and the Black Agenda suffered to get him here were not in vain. Phace.
FEBRUARY/MARCH
27
Hardcore
by L. A. Williams
I can't git with Top-40, 'cuz it's Bullshit. Like, other day I'm listenin' to Radio-W.A.B.B., and this wack
song came on;
"...My heart's racing like a speedometer !
(Un-e-ven Lovvve)
My Love's rising like a thermometer !
(Un-e-ven Lovvve)
My Love for you's a boulder, girl,
(Un-e-ven Lovvve)
and your love for me's a grain, yeah!
(Un-e-ven Lovvve)
Our love is so uneven that
(Un-e-ven Lovvve)
that it's driving me insane, yeah !..."
Yeah. Me too.
*click*
See? It's bullshit! I like rap. And not dat Hammer, Marky-Mark shit, either. I like hardcore rap. Geto
Boys. Cypress.
Back in school there was this sucka name Al. Always wanted beef. Be startin' shit for no reason. Like, first
time with me, he goes:
"You gotta problem?!? You looking at me like you gotta problem !!!
"Ain't nobody lookin' at chu!"
"Yeah! That's WHUT 1 THOUGHT ! !"
Now, you know I couldn't go out like no punk, 'cuz there wuz mad folks around! So I wuz like:
"An' what if I WAS !?! Not that anybody wanna look at ya ugly ass in th' itrst place!"
"Then we might have uh problem!!"
Old Man Davis came down th' hall and squished th' whole deal.
Later, Al dropped me in gym with uh sucker punch. Before the teacher sent him to the showers, he said he
wuz gonna bus' my ass after school. My man Mike tol' me "Fuck dat shit, hop! Al think just 'cuz he on th' football
team he can fuck wit anybody! Yo, Imma leave it in yer locker."
I wasn't tryin' ah be no punk. I went to get up wif Al after school. But he had six other mugs from da
football team wit' 'im. And they tried to jump me.
So I pulled out Mike's "gift", and bucked Al dead in his head.
cont. onto page 29
FEBRUARY/MARCH
28
Around the Way
by Foluke
Emerging from the subway into a fog.
Crossing Eastern Parkway,
trying to decipher loud melodies from two cars,
melodies that float upward fighting each other all the
way.
Five blocks become ten.
Look up and the street sign reads Lincoln Place
Haven't gotten very far, have 1?
Gotta move on.
On past the chinaman's take-out place
Graceful scents wafting through the ghetto night...
(right)
On past the Jamaican record store
blasting that unintelligible dialect into the streets
like ocean gushing through a just opened dam.
"Wait na man! Ah 'oo dat a come? Wait na man!
Demma tink me did done!"
(WHAT??)
And five blocks become ten.
On past the pizza shop
where video games make more money than the food.
Young boys stand out front
slurping runny mozzarella
planning out the night's activities...
BAM!
A young man stands before me
holding my package
1 take it back and nod an embarrassed
"Thank you"
He smiles and steps hard to the right.
Gotta move on.
Five blocks bee...
"Eh Dread! Wot's 'app'nin' gyal?!"
Without stopping I wave and tell him,
"Nothin"
"Grill up on concrete! Gyal y' look good
from ya 'ead-top to y' foot-bottom!"
(thanks)
Five blocks become ten.
Gotta move on. Walk faster, FASTER!
Legs carrying me down the street like motorized
propellers.
(God! I want to be home!)
Down the sidewalk like a streak.
Flash is back!
On past the barber shop where fellas sit around
talkin' that talk
while waiting.
1 glance in and wink at a cutie 1 know.
He waves, but I'm gone.
On past the crack spot that looks like a corner store,
the corner store that looks like a crack spot
The place where mothers buy food for their young,
but the young folks ain't hungry cuz they eatin'
up the pusher's rhetoric on one side, and his product
on the other.
A brother loanin' on a car in front of KeyFood,
wearing African garb and a black
Malcolm X baseball cap
is talkin' real loud about the "bitch" he did last night...
(Did 1 say brother?)
Turning the corner on St. Marks, the smell of urine
FEBRUARY/MARCH
29
N-GHMHMh0
so strong;
I wonder at the men who sit there talking as if in a
lilac field,
gotta move on
On past the jive chicks standin' in front of 770
with nothing better to do than tell each other as 1 pass,
that I think I'm too good to hang with them.
I throw a glance and everybody says 'hi',
gotta move on
On past the library where dudes sit, surrounded by
knowledge
and discuss the security guard
who had his head blown off last night.
running
gotta move on
down the street
gotta move on
through the doors
gotta move on
up the stairs
gotta move on
to my door
I'm at my door.
I put my key in the lock, turn, push and step inside
just in time to hear
a blurb on the radio;
"A young boy was fatally shot
yesterday at approximately 6:30 pm
when an unidentified gunman opened fire
in a brooklyn housing project.
Police say 16 bullets penetrated
the door of an apartment
as the youth lay on the couch
watching television..."
Hardcore... cont. from page 27
Everybody else ran away.
When I shot 'im, his skull just blew up like uh busted egg. I felt kinda sick. I thought, "Oh, God!
I did that???"
But when I looked at him on the ground
And remembered how he'd fucked wit' me before
I watched his boys run
felt the gun
and 1 thought, "/ did that."
Nobody messes with me anymore.
Cypress Hill's got this line:
"Didn't hafta blast him, but I did anyway.
That young punk had to pay!...
Here is somethin' that 'cha can't understannn.
How 1 could just kill a mannn!"
That's why I like hardcore.
FEBRUARY/MARCH
30
NT O AyT Ayf O
i>i w IVl iVl w
My Life in the Projects
by L. A. Williams
It was a tower. Crammed with hundreds and hundreds of people, in too small of an area.
the noise was everywhere, and often overwhelming. Stereos blasting! People screaming at all hours in a City That
Never Sleeps.
and on every floor there were drugs. Being sold. Being traded. Being taken. And alcohol. All too often by far
too many. Why?? As an escape from the life and environment that surrounds them?
Even the self created environment? Drinking to escape the drinking? To escape the filth of the building? Lord
knows I want to(o).
Escape the filth and grime created by my neighbors. The shattered bottles and scattered cans in the lobby
The spit dripping from the narrow walls of the elevator,
the urine in the stairwell
the vomit in the halls.
The graffiti on the walls by the barely literate, the broken windows. The vandalized washing ma-
chines in the laundry room.
"'Why do these people vandalize their own place? They have to live there. They're so ignorant!"
The gangs of guys, roaming the hallways in packs, going from floor to floor. Yelling, "Hky Baby! Hey, Look at iTFJt
tits!" to every woman and girl who crosses their path. Hoping there's a party on some floor, so they can drink and
smoke without paying.
Beating up fools who look at them wrong.
And everyone blames The Administration. "The Administration gives those people too much for nothing, and they don't
appreciate it. They're using up my tax money, sitting around doing nothing with their lives!!" the conservatives say.
"Don't give them anything else until they learn to take care of what they have! Animals!"
And the liberals say: "If The Administration would spend more money on education, improving living conditions, lowering
the cost of living, and giving the underrepresented more opportunities, things would be belter ."
The authorities don't come to my building too often, even when 1 call them.
It's just the way things are around there. If you don't like it, move out of the area. There are better places.
A Harlemite's exp>erience
in Coolidge Tower
Southwest Residential Area, University of Massachusetts
FEBRUARY/MARCH
N O M M OO
On Hearing of Byron De La Beckwith’s Conviction
FOR THE Murder of Medgar Evers
February 1994
by Natasha Trethewey
Today, I force myself to look
at pictures, grainy black
and whites from The Movement
pictures from behind the crowd,
the camera's flashing white eye.
recounting our common horror.
Or perhaps, you're the slow-eyed
boy, drunk on the moment.
I search for your face, haughty,
luminous among the lynch mobs,
the police, the bystanders filling
the corners of each photograph.
a beer in one hand, your smiling
date's hand in the other.
1 don't know who or where
you are, just that 1 need to see
You could be the man, tattooed.
you — a preacher's weekly litany
pointing the camera's gaze up
into bristling leaves, into the slack
faces of two young boys. Maybe,
repeating in my head:
And the Lord said "Since 1 send you
as sheep among wolves.
you're the faceless man,
the one who watches, takes
be as prudent as serpents
and as simple as doves,"
I
THE NOMMO COLLECTIVE
CHIEF EDITOR
. Foluke Robles
MANAGING EDITOR
LaKeisha Criswell
PROMOTIONS MANAGER
N Mecca C-Asia, E. Syrkett
PHOTOGRAPHER
The time has come that the Afrikan- American
Community begin to not only educate our-
selves with literary pieces, but with words in
which the power of generations can be felt. It is
time that we, as a people, support all facets of
our exsistence... NOMMO is a tool by which
knowledge can be passed down for genera-
tions. We, the staff at NOMMO, are encourag-
ing the community at large, to submit literary
works (articles, poems, editorials) for publica-
tion in a paper that is operated by, and for the
community. If you have literary works to sub-
mit, or would like to make a monetary donation
to the NOMMO Production Expense Fund,
please send to the following: NOMMO News,
UMass - Student Union Building, Student
Activites Office - Box # 51, Amherst, MA01003.
1
i
103 New Africa House
University of Massachusetts
' V,:; ,- / Amherst, MA 01003
Volume XXV, Issue 3 (413) 545-5141 April/May 1994
NOMMO is a Dogan word meaning the power of the spoken and written word.
• Mecca C-Asia
pages
• Self Love
Fabiola Narcisse / page 3
• To Whom this May Concern
Penny Cameron / page 4
• Untitled
Natasha Springer / page 6
• After Minister Farrakhan
Shomwa Shamapande / page 7
• Lir or Black Me
Yatisha Both well / page 9
• A Bitter Pill To Swallow
Don Kno / page 1 1
• The Photos of Aukram Burton
page 14
• Live and Learn
Mildred Upshaw / page 20
• A Time to Come Correct
Born Wise Allah,
Hon. Kevin P. Wardally / page 21
• Freddie Foxxx
1-Serene Oasis and
Mecca C-Asia / page 23
• Shout Outs
page 26
• Melanin
Tehuti Ra Mesut / page 26
• Doin' Da Phreak-Sound Changing the
Course of Our Nation
Shahid M. Allah / page 27
• Betrayal
Yvette Baez / page 28
• Foluke's Visual Shouts
page 32
2
Nommo^s Professional Acknowledgements:
Campus Design & Copy
Karon Duff
Bryan K. Jackson
Arnold Lizana
Ricardo Neal
Print Shack
Eric Sharp
Delphine Quarles
Contributors:
Born Wise Allah
Shahid M. Allah
Yvette Baez
Yatisha Bothwell
Aukram Burton
Alton Byrd
Penny Cameron
Keith Campbell
Michael C. Ladd
Jeff Lawrence
Tehuti Ra Mesut
Christopher M. Millington
Fabiola Narcisse
I-Serene Oasis
Kenley Obas
Ayo Shesheni
Shomwa Shomapande
Steven A. Champion
Natasha Springer
Natasha Trethewey
Mildred Upshaw
Lateef Ade Williams
APRIL/MAY
3
Mecca C-Asia
La Menage
avec toi?
Nah!
Not me
TheC
is too deep
far too wide
-inside-
to swing down
and let you ride
Revered
Feared
by many
Loved
by too
few
know me
They speak of
their pilgrimage to Mecca
but will never C-Asia
Physical
form's
Concealed
Revealed
only to those
worthy of knowing
what lies
beneath the
Earth's surface.
Self Love
By Fabiola Narcisse
You lift me up then
Bring me down
I feel myself
Drowning in a sea of
Inferiority, self-contempt and self-pity
Remembering Mother's teaching
I rise and carry on
With unshakable spirit
Knowing,
Always knowing
Of my power within.
APRIL/MAY
To Whom This May Concern
By Penny Cameron
I raised you and watched you grow. Fretted fearfully with your
first steps, faltering.
I watched you change, slowly, from the
grinning child made happy with a vanilla cone.
To a reticent young man no amount of ice cream can satisfy
And I, my son, sit back and watch, helplessly.
I see you everyday, on the street, at parties, at my home, church, school,
college
Everyday your look is the same.. .appraising, judging, deciding
Should I be talked to tonite? Does my body merit this honor?
Mentally scheming so hard, I can see the thoughts running thru
your head.
And I *sigh*, knowing how the game is going to be run tonite.
"But black men have been castrated for centuries"
This thought I run thru my mind, like a mantra,
while engaging in the battle, ages old, of I [female] trying to find respect.
While you [male] insist on respecting only certain parts of me.
Playing the game, forced by society, and you and the desire not to be alone;
to play,
I keep quiet the thoughts I want to ask, but, in my mind,
I ask nevertheless.
Tell me, lover, what makes you seek and treat me as you do,
inhuman, a toy, a hunted animal, a mark, to be scored?
I have heard and read and told, the theories on how you
have been so unmanned that you feel its your duty to get some of that
manhood back.
Claiming the only thing left to your (manhood?)
I know this but,....
Tell me, my brother, when did you stop thinking of me as being your
helpmate,
and cast me, in your mind, as your enemy (score!)
Tell me, my husband, why am I required to respect your pain while,
hiding mine
(Which is not all outside caused) or be looked on as being an annoying
APRIL/MAY
5
feminist (Oh No!!!)
Tell me. Mack Daddy, do you fully realize what you do when you devalue
me ?
Your eyes assessing sex potential. Reducing me to nothing, but what's
between my thighs,
a pussy, a coochy, some tail.
Doing so effectively. Can you effectively tell me how I can raise my sons, my
daughters, OURS, with self-respect, dignity, pride, when you
have so effectively taken mine?
Tell me, man, can you truly know the pain, which comes from betrayal, when
you find my beauty lacking, but yours is the only beauty that I see.
Do you know the betrayal pain? After effectively guarding myself from my
past detractors.
I learn that I have to watch you too; another threat to my spirit, my will, my
kah.
This betrayal pain stemming from the route you took (in anger, pain, and
confusion) on the road to your manhood.
TELL ME ERIEND, TELL ME!!!!
Or maybe you can tell me what route I should take, to recapture my womanhood.
Should my eyes be assessing your
Net worth?
Should I, in my womanhood, always have one eye to your wallet,
judging your merits with Bay Bank, asking the teller "are you worthy"?
Perhaps my (womanhood?) should realize that
since my worth "lies between the thighs" I should get
something more besides occasional pleasure.
So why not sell it, like a house or a car. Then you have the right to
ask about mileage or upkeep.
Should I, my brother, sit at home and have babies to prove my
womanhood ?
Having as many babies my as many men as I can, engaging in some
kind of biological race. Crowning the winner woman among women.
DON'T YOU SEE HOW SILLY THAT WOULD BE?
But what is left to me? When holding the survival of our race, I find it a heavy burden.
But I don't expect my words to move you
they never do, you're sunk too low in the contemplation
of your own hurts, too busy to bother with mine. They're just a cry,
like how a murder victim cries out, uselessly.
It never stops the murderer.
APRIL/MAY
6
ISJ O AA AT O
i\ w IVl IVl w
Untitled
By Natasha Springer
Female, Black, proud.
When I am bom, I am oppressed.
Like the small child who no one wants to
deal with.
My back is strong, and powerful,
my braids pathways into my soul.
If you watch me, you will see I limp,
it is only from the weight of the world,
I have carried for so long.
When my man does wrong
I am the one who bears the pain.
When my sister bears children by the dozen,
I must clean them, comfort them,
or watch them die.
When you are abused, I must listen to your
story, and, cry with you as you empty your soul.
At times I wish only to help those in pain,
but when my pain hits it's like the
parting of the red sea,
like the crumbling of the great wall.
I have felt it for so long that it is like
the cough of a child,
I no longer have to feel it, for it to come.
So I see, and, feel, and, hear all.
I take what you have, what I have, and what everyone feels,
and put it together in one ball and swallow it.
So you only feel the residue of my pain,
and just live a life of good will.
I love you, that is all you need to know.
APRIL/MAY
NhO^VHMh0l
After Minister Farrakhan
By Shomwa Shamapande
For four months 1 committed myself, along with many others, to a project that we believed in our
hearts was of value to our community. The events of those four months have lead several of us to be skeptical about
our ability as a Black community to forge any meaningful relationships with the white community. This skepticism
is a result of the grounds upon which the white community wishes to unite.
For so long, 1 have been taught that many Jews were our friends and in fact were a group we as blacks
could look to for support in our plight here in America. Today Blacks live in ghettos, a word whose genesis is
thought by many scholars to be from the first Jewish settlement in Italy called gietto, near Venice during the middle
ages. This commonalty in
should be the foundation
but reality has spoken dif-
the battle that was to en-
around of a fax that was
to the programmers. Put
receive a fax from the Na-
arri ved those who were the
Farrakhan, got it before
was meant. The next sign
the now well known inci-
history, one might believe
for meaningful dialogue,
ferently. The first sign of
sue, was the passing
originally intended to go
simply, we were to
tion of Islam, but when it
chief detractors of
those for whom the fax
of the ensuing battle, was
dent in the Student
Senate, where a white Senator refused to pass out certain literature to the Black and Hispanic members of the Senate.
We the members of the Black Agenda then participated in what I believe today was the first of several
mistakes. We started to believe that we could find common ground with the chief opposition to the visit of Minister
Farrakhan. We attempted to discuss the pain that the Hillel community was feeling, but ultimately the lines of
communication came to a halt. This halt was a direct reflection of the way many whites in America view dialogue
with the Black community. The Hillel community gave us an ultimatum; either we cancel the visit of Farrakhan or
the dialogue was over. The arrogance of such a statement is troubling. These students thought that since they are,
who they are, they could stop our event. Furthermore, the only way we could have dialogue was on the basis of us
stopping our event. The basis of any dialogue had to be the old superior, inferior relationship, with Black students
bowing down to the will of some faction of white community. So in a sense they were saying we could talk but only
if we came as children on our knees, acquiescing to the wishes of white students. I say never, not in this life time or
any to come, NEVER AGAIN shall we as a people, come hat-in-hand, begging for rights wo were granted at our
birth.
Regarding Minister Farrakhan's visit, I hoped that, many students would come to the lecture and hear
for themselves the story of this Black leader, but instead, students decided to stay in the darkness and not listen to
the story of Black people. For, to listen to our story would change perspective. Many chose to stand outside and yell
APRIL/MAY
8
N O M M O
rather than come inside and learn. You refuse to listen to our story, and put your hand over your eyes and cover
your ears because, MY story is a part of YOUR story.
Upon reflection on the visit of Minister Louis Farrakhan, it seems evident that this will probably serve
as the single most memorable moment of my college experience; and I will be haunted by the mistakes we made. In
my mind, the greatest error was our continued efforts to convince a deaf world of the pain that Black America is
suffering. The Jewish students said they were pained, and we spent an hour discussing their pain. However,
tonight, in any Black city. Black and Hispanic young men and women are dying in droves. We are the ones who are
filling our prisons; this is our reality. So we spent time discussing your pain, but the cost of this was time taken
away from discourse on the visible pain of Black America. We as Black people are a community under siege; as the
family of the Reverend Accelyne Williams in Boston Massachusetts can attest to. Rev. Williams died after the police
raided the wrong apartment searching for drugs Black people are in a sense of immediate pain.
My plea to other communities is, and will continue to be, "LET MY PEOPLE GO FREE". Don't try to
control our minds any longer and stop trying to control the matters that we discuss simply because you don't want
to see or hear our problem. How dare members of another community tell us who we should invite to forums
dealing with our problems?! When you asked that Farrakhan not be invited to the Commemorative March on
Washington; and you tell my leaders not to invite the Minister to a summit on violence in our communities — you
have overstepped your bounds and are now interfering with matters of the family. It would be crazy for anyone to
come to your house and say, "He is not really your brother, and she is not really your sister," that decision is left
ONLY to members of the family.
So, you claim you wish to help us, but you throw grenades at our efforts. You might not wear a hood,
but if you create obstacles in the path of our salvation you are behaving just at those who do. I am not asking you to
remain silent, but I am asking you to stop trying divide us and turn us against each other. My greatest fear is that
my brothers and sister won't be able to see through the smoke and mirrors that are used to divide us. Those of you
who attended the lecture know what the Minister said. I ask for you to reflect on the cover story the next day in a
major Boston Newspaper, the headline of which read "Farrakhan drops bombshell at UMass" (and you call this
responsible journalism). We as Blacks and Hispanic students have serious problems in our community. Don't
become caught up in the rhetoric of fear in other communities, and forget that ultimately our first priority is repair-
ing the pain in the hearts and minds of our brothers and sister. Because remember, in the time it has taken you to
read this article, two more young Black high school students have dropped out. Their dropping out signifies their
giving up in America, their giving up on the dreams of the slave. I ask that you not let anyone divide us — and don't
give up.
9
N-0HMHMh0
Lil’ Ol’ Black Me
By Yatisha Bothwell
Sometimes when you reach for your dreams
You carry others to your destiny
And what is to become of lil' ol' Black me?
I came from a colored woman and man
Who came from two Negro people
My name is Redbone, though my skin is deep tanned
Never called my true name, and never seen as an equal
Dark serious eyes that betray all laughter
Capable hands and a capable mind
A true conscious that fears the future, that those eyes refuse to see
And what is to become of lil' ol' Black me ?
If you could peer into the turmoil of my soul
You would see all the pain my past and future holds
The defiant flicker in my dark serious eyes
The fervent work of my hands
And the reasoning that my heart and my mind demands
Will always deny and won't accept
Others carrying me to their destiny
And it seems
Steering me far, far away from my dreams
So, what is to become of little 'ol Black me?
All my valiant spirit will let me achieve
Striving, seeking, finding, and not yielding
APRIL/MAY
10
1ST O Ayf 1VT O
l>i vy IVl iVl w
Black Mass Communications Project
The Black Mass Communications Project has provided the ALAN A community of the Five-College area of
Amherst Massachusetts; as well as the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Vermont with a
variety of radio, video, and public service programming. Founded in 1969 by a group of students who were concerned
about the lack of diversity at WMUA Student Radio Station, the Black Mass Communications Project has since become
one of the largest and oldest Registered Student Organizations of color in the Five-College Area of Amherst,
Massachusetts. Keeping in mind the ever-changing interests of the minority community; BMCP assist and collaborates
with other ALANA organizations on campus such as the New World Theater, the Black Student Union, the Office of
Third World Affairs, NOMMO News, and many others. BMCP also collaborates with non-ALANA run organizations
such as University Productions and Concerts and Hillel to bring social and educational events to the Five-College area.
BMCP also hosts social and educational events such as cultural plays and guest lectures; however, BMCP is most widely
known for its annual "FUNK-O-THON" dance party in the Spring, and the "JEANS 'N T-SHIRTS" party in the Fall.
Established to serve the ALANA Community in areas such as radio and video production, the Black Mass Communi-
cations Project will continue to foster educational and cultural growth within the Five-College Community of Amherst,
Massachusetts.
In 1994, BMCP celebrated its 25th year. NOMMO would like to say congratulations and wish BMCP
another 25 years of communications excellence
BMCP MANAGEMENT BOARD MEMBERS 1993-1994
Michelle Cannon-General Manager
Jonathan Jackson-Business Manager
Lakeisha Criswell-Office Manager
Foluke Robles-Music Director
Karon Duff-Promotions Director Spring 1994
Denise Henry-Promotions Director Fall 1993
Dacia Campbell-Public Affairs Director
Yusef Lateef-Video Director
Andalib Khelghati-Liaison
Suki Seetharanen &
Gamal Walker-Interns
BMCP
25 YEARS OF
HELPING TO KEEP BLACK MUSIC
ALIVE!!
APRIL/MAY
11
1ST O \A 1Vf O
w iVl IVl W
A Bitter Pill To Swallow
By Don Kno
(Part 1 of an investigative series)
A.B.B.O.T.S. has many similarities to U.F.O/s. They are both best known by their acronyms and most
people have heard of them, but don't know much about them; ironic, considering how often they receive media
attention. Here at the paper, the file on A.B.B.O.T.S. is thick, but non-informative. Public service announcements
like, "Tonight's A.B.B.O.T.S. meeting will be canceled, due to snow." Doesn't say where meetings are held. An
article that starts, "Yesterday, a tongue-tied and frustrated Rush Limbaugh exploded when a caller, who would only
identify himself as 'an A.B.B.O.T.S. member', debated the talk-show host on a variety of issues..." Tidbits of infor-
mation, but nothing very meaty.
Another similarity they share is that it's not easy to totally dismiss the slogans of the acronym believers.
"We are not alone/There's intelligent life in space." Hell, who knows? One of the first things I discovered about
A.B.B.O.T.S. is their declaration, "A.B.B.O.T.S. is everywhere!", may not be an idle boast. I walked around the office
asking my colleagues if they had any tips on how to find someone knowledgeable about the A.B.B.O.T.S. organiza-
tion, and everyone said they didn't know a thing. Ten minutes later, my phone rang and a voice said, "Mr. Kno. I
heard you wanted to learn about the Posse."
"What posse?!"
"A.B.B.O.T.S. "
1 was certain our sports editor and paper prankster was trying to pull a fast one on me. It took about three
minutes until I was convinced the caller was a real A.B.B.O.T.S. member. Once I was, we made a deal: he'd give me
the low-down if I would guarantee him "a fair interview".
Little did I know what his concept of "fair" was. There are those rare, "perfect" interviews, but in most
interviews, either the interviewer or the interviewee gets short-changed. In this one, I think I did. It's been years
since that's happened, and I didn't like the feeling. Interview stipulations included not divulging where we met, nor
describing the appearance or age of my interviewee. I only agreed because a gut feeling told me I had a story here.
As for our meeting place. I'll say this much: I sipped a coffee while waiting for him, and I was dying for a smoke
that wasn't allowed.
As soon as Td sat, he walked up to me with much assurance, and said, "Hello, Mr. Kno." He was not
impressive looking. Surprisingly average, in fact.
I said, "Hi. You are...?"
"I'm the A.B.B.O.T.S. representative, here for the interview."
No fooling. 1 did my best fake chuckle, and stuck out my hand. "No, my friend. I meant your name."
He shook my hand firmly and smiled brightly while he said, "Mr. Kno, I'd rather not use my name for
this."
The "mysterious act" was getting annoying. As he sat down I asked, "What? You're a fugitive or some-
APRIL/MAY
12
thing?"
Then he faked a chuckle. "No, sir. It's for the same reason as the other stipulations. We'd rather people
focus on the A.B.B.O.T.S. agenda, instead of a person. My name's not really important."
"Well, while that's rather.. .noble. I've gotta call you something, right?"
"Alright," he answered, still smiling. "Call me Abbot. Abbot S."
He seemed to think that was clever. I decided to just leave it alone.
"O.K. then, tell me what the acronym stands for."
A smug look appeared on his face, like he possessed the answer to the world's greatest secret. He spoke
slowly and clearly as he revealed, "Another Bitter Brother On The Strength".
Tm a professional. I didn't show my surprise. I didn't even roll my eyes. Flatly, I said, "You're an organi-
zation of bitter guys."
"Basically. Like a big, male bonding group."
"Where everyone's bitter."
"Yes." He said it with pride while he nodded his head. "A member must have bitterness be a, if not the,
primary factor in his life."
It was too early in the interview. He could have been some total nut for all 1 knew, but I figured he was
probably some joker, some jerk, looking for attention. Fine, normally, but I didn't like this method. So I lectured
him. Tm 52 years old. I think I've earned that right.
"Look, son, don't you think the world's got enough problems without some fellows trying to encourage
guys to be bitter?"
"Absolutely!", he replied without hesitation. The smile disappeared and his face got intense. 'This is a
world where thousands starve to death daily, while tons of food rots in silos or is thrown in garbage pails. Where
judges tell teenage girls that their dressing, the way they dress, caused their gang rape... Where people call the King
verdict just..."
He paused, and his eyes rolled to the side while he thought. Then he smirked and looked back at me.
"...Where Marky-Mark sells records.", said "Abbot ".
"I could go on," he continued, "but you got my point. A.B.B.O.T.S. doesn't encourage anybody to bo bitter.
If yer life doesn't make you bitter, if watchin' th' news doesn't make ya bitter -then, p>ower to you- but we don't
want you. We don't encourage bitterness.", he declared, "We encourage the bitter to join us"
The triumphant smile beamed again, but as far as I was concerned, Td just gotten caught on a technicality.
"But by encouraging people to join you," I argued, "you have to make A.B.B.O.T.S. appealing, and your
organization's core is bitterness. You've taken a base, undesirable emotion -one that most good people try to
transcend- and by forming this Posse, or club, -or whatever- you've tried to make a negative and potentially
destructive emotion attractive. Now, maybe that's funny to you, but to me, it's a little scary."
"Abbot S." didn't say anything. His chin rested in his palm and his fingers covered his lips while he
listened. When I finished, he responded.
"You raise a lot of points...! want to address them all....O.K., first of all, A.B.B.O.T.S. members must have a
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N O M M O
good sense of humor, but we don't treat bitterness as a joke. Secondly, or second, we agree that bitterness is ugly.
Where I would take issue with you is when you say 'people try to transcend their bitterness'. Most men do not. In
fact, men tend to do the opposite: we pretend bitterness doesn't exist. Most men are taught to ignore their most
basic, unpleasant emotions.
"When.. .little Johnny scrapes his knee, some macho-man says, 'Now, now, Johnny! Big boys don't cry.' When
Johnny and his girlfriend break up, his friends say, 'Ahhh,forgit 'er. Let's grabba brew!' When he gets fired, 'that's the
way the cookie crumbles'. Then, when Johnny's a drunk, or starts blowin' away strangers at McDonald's, the neighbors
say, 'Gracious! He always seemed like he didn't have a care in the world.'"
The wall-to-wall grin reappears on the face of "Abbot S." Apparently, he tickled himself with his creaky-
voiced, elderly neighbor imitation. He recomposed himself.
"What A.B.B.O.T.S. believes, Mr. Kno, is that no man can transcend bitterness if he can't acknowledge its
existence, and that no man is an island; but, we don't promote bitterness anymore than A.A. promotes alcohol.
Once someone admits their problem, and is willing to abide by our rules, then we welcome them as a Brother.
You're not ashamed to admit your feeling to your Brother, and your Brother will always have time to listen to
what's really going on with you."
"So," I ask, "a man admits he's bitter, and then he's a member?"
"Hell's no!", he exclaims. "I mean, 'No.' No, admitting bitterness is a part of it. Why you're bitter is another
part. How bitterness affects your behavior is another. There are guys with no business being bitter, but they are.
They're not A.B.B.O.T.S. There are guys with a right to be bitter, but they're foul. ..cruel. ..evil. They ain't
A.B.B.O.T.S. either. A.B.B.O.T.S. equals bitterness plus correctness.
"The details are all here", he said, as he handed me a copy of The Official A.B.B.O.T.S. Handbook. It was
complete with the "Posse's" origin, code of conduct, membership screening test, and a slew of in-jokes.
We talked for awhile, but "Abbot S." never told me anything about himself. When he's not representing
A.B.B.O.T.S., I hope he's selling used cars, because the guy would make a mint. He presented me with something I
was opposed to, gave me a slick presentation, and I almost bought it. Almost.
Back when I interviewed Col. Wright on the admittance of homosexuals in the military, he confessed, "[Gay
rights advocates] make a solid, logical case for it. Hell, history's on their side too, I guess. I can't put my finger on it,
but something about it don't sit right with me, and 1 still don't think it's the way we should go. Call that 'stubborn'
if you want."
I guess I'm more like that colonel than I thought, because his comment about gays in the military summa-
rizes this reporter's feelings on A.B.B.O.T.S. Sometimes you have an exact, logical reason as to why you're opposed
to someone's ideas, and sometimes you have no logical reason at all but you know that you're still opposed. Every-
thing that "Abbot S." talks about makes perfect sense. And I still don't like the idea of an A.B.B.O.T.S. Posse. To
make it worse, they're an international posse, whatever that means.
Anyway, to each their own. Tm one part commentator, one part reporter, and I've done both parts. People
should take the time to find out about this A.B.B.O.T.S. thing on their own, then decide who's making more sense,
me or that "Abbot S." guy. People should, but they won't. That's probably why this country's going down the
tubes: Americans are too dam lazy to do any investigating on their own.
Which is probably a good thing. Otherwise, I might be out of a job.
Next week: A full examination of The Official A.B.B.O.T.S. Handbook
In two weeks: In an exclusive interview with famed author L.A. Williams, I'll debate the importance of the
Posse , and ask why the writer has such a strange sense of humor.
In three weeks: The disturbing E.H.I.E. posse. Is it truly on the decline, or have they just changed their
tactics?
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HE
HOTOGRAPHS OF
Aukram
Burton
Let My People Go — Boston, Massachusetts
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Yemaya Priestess — Ibadan, Nigeria
Mother and child — Ibadan, Nigeria
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African Rhythms
Boston, Massachusetts
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African Drummer — Katsina, Nigeria
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Cab Calloway
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A Tribute to Dizzie #1
A Tribute to Dizzie #2
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N O M M O
Live and Learn
by Mildred Upshaw
Successful living is like a violin player,
it must be practiced daily.
I've learned that in every face to face
encounter regardless of how brief,
we leave something behind.
I've learned that education, experience
and memories are 3 things that no
one can take away from you.
If things got better with age then I'm
approaching (Magnificent).
There are 3 Types of people:
Those who make things happen.
Those who watch things happen
And the vast majority - those who have no
idea what happens.
Superior people talk about ideas:
average people talk about things.
Little people talk about other people.
Fault finders never improve things
They just make things seem worse than
they really are.
If you don't say it they can't repeat it.
Hope for the best, get ready for the
worst; take cheerfully what God has
chosen to send.
I've learned that most of the things
I worry about never happen. I've learned
that I should make the little decisions
with my head, and big decisions with
my heart.
I've learned that to love and to
be loved is the greatest joy in the
World.
I've learned that it doesn't cost anything
to be nice. I've learned that the important
thing this is not what others think of me
but what I think of me.
I've learned that regardless of color
or age, we all need about the same
amount of love. I've learned that if there
were no problems, there would be no
Opportunities.
I've learned that if you smile at people
they will almost always smile back.
I've learned you keep your promises
No matter what. I've learned that
every great achievement was considered impossible.
I've learned I still have a lot to learn.
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21
N-0
A Time to Come Correct
By Born Wise Allah
Hon. Kevin P. Wardally
I remember the day I heard about Joel's death ( Joel Harris tragically died on the campus of Morehouse
College while pledging a traditional Black Greek Lettered Organization his freshman year). At the time I heard
about his death all I could think about was the last time 1 saw him and the good-hearted mannerism he displayed to
me and all our other classmates throughout high school. When Joel got into Morehouse he was so happy, he was
going to study law and help his people in honor of his hero who also attended Morehouse College, Martin Luther
King Jr.
I'd like to say that I'm not angry at or resentful of the Greek fraternal system that murdered Joel, but if I said
that I would be lying . Joel, but, if I said that I would be lying. Joel died in 1989 and since his death I have held a
grudge against the system and process that took Joel away from his family and friends, and that is the first time that
I have ever admitted that.
To this day I don't understand why we must kill our own to prove a point to each other. In every city where
you might find Black youth in abundance, they are destroying their own communities and themselves with regular-
ity. And out of these urban war zones a few sons of ex-slaves escape the "ghetto" to attend college to hopefully live
a better life because of it. All of which was the case with Joel, he went to college and wanted to belong, he wanted
to become a prestigious Alpha man, but instead he is an eternal Sphinxman because he never crossed into the land
of Alpha, but rather he crossed into a plane of external existences, back from whence he came. Alt because he
wanted to be down with an African-American brotherhood.
We as a people are in a time when statistics show us that Black men are less likely to flourish in school, more
likely to be the perpetrator or victim of a violent crime, less likely to attend college, more likely to go to prison and
more likely to meet a tragic end at an early age than any non-Black person, male or female. We are at a genocidal
crossroads where unity is one our biggest problems yet we the so-called "college educated" men will kill and
permanently injure our own who want to be a part of the unifying fraternal process.
Do you want to know want to know the disgusting part is, although everyone in a greek fraternity or
sorority might not endorse hazing many don't do anything to stop it. Watching someone getting beaten is just as
wrong as beating them.
During a late night pledging session Joel collapsed. The autopsy report revealed that excessive, stress and
physical punishment caused his heart to enlarge four times its normal size; it stopped and he was pronounced dead
at the site. Some so-called greeks have even accused Joel of wrong doing because he didn't tell the brothers about
his past heart problem . The reason he didn't tell the brothers about his heart problem is that it was never a prob-
lem. Joel lived a very active life including playing on at least two high school athletic teams. Except for the surgery
he had when he was a baby his heart had never interfered with his normal life, not even once.
Joel's tragic case is an example of the sort of pledgee abuse that has many greek graduate chapters calling
for the abolishment of all its undergraduate chapters. One still active member of a greek lettered fraternity even
went so far as to say, " undergraduate chapters have failed to possess the maturity to administer the proper initia-
tion policies that are representative of the principles and virtues of our fraternity; they ( the younger organization
members) have just lost focus of exactly what they are representing."
Black greek lettered organizations were formed on the pretense that the white fraternities would not allow
the Black people in. So the Black people formed their own organizations. I beg to differ, the Black people did not
form their own rather emulated and imitated the already existing white greek lettered societies. They took the
sciences of the white fraternities and claimed it as their own, saying that since it began in Africa it was alright.
Again 1 beg to differ. Black greek lettered organizations are the sons and daughters of Masonry which is of ancient
Jewish origin and was already a stolen, grafted tool used by deceitful people, to control the unaware. If the Black
people truly wanted to form their own organization they would have based it on the principles, that their own
people created, not the grafted evil interpretations of those principles.
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What type of message is given off by the Black greek lettered organizations to the white greek lettered
organizations? Rather let me restate the question: How do you think a group of people would feel if another group
of people followed them, acting like them, pretending to be like them, imitating them and even wearing the same
symbols so that they could be more like them. The answer to me is really two part; one, they would think that the
people trying to be like them are nothing and worthless and two, they would think that they must have the greatest
culture in the world. For the only reason that someone would want to be like someone else is because they admire
that person or people. Think about it, that is how the white greek lettered organizations must feel towards that
Black greek lettered organizations.
Remember this: greeks were thieves and savages and when you call yourself greek you are calling yourself a
thief and a savage and when you call yourself a thief and a savage, you begin to act like and think like a thief and a
savage. Why is it that once Black people cross over into greek fraternities or sororities many of them change and
begin to act like animals. When a Black person crosses the burning sands they are not going towards their original
nature, in fact they are going away from their culture ( original way of life). They are alienating their own people.
Crossing the burning sands was an actual historical trip, which was not for Black people to make. It was a punish-
ment for a select group of people for wrong doing, and when Black people accept the punishment for wrong doing
they compromise themselves, they become other than themselves, they become just as uncivilized as those who
were punished for uncivilized behavior.
Any person with a true knowledge of their self and their people could never call themselves greek. It's time
for a change, remember your history and your heritage. You have never been, nor will you ever be GREEK.
African-Americans are the only group of p>eople who do not hold the organization in institutions that they
create accountable to their needs and wants. Black Greek letter organizations claim that they do many beneficial
thing s in and for the communities from which they come and in fact they even go so far as to claim to be apart of
the present-day Black leadership.
As part of present-day Black leadership. Black greek letter organizations have a certain level of accountabil-
ity to the masses of Blacks. When Ed Koch was mayor of New York City, when ever he claimed that he was doing
something for the Jews and the Jewish community felt he was not doing it correctly or not doing it well enough, they
held Ed accountable. Subsequently Governor Mario Cuomo, and Senator A1 D' Amato are held accountable by their
subsequent communities. So now it's the Black Greek letter organizations turn.
Dear Black greek , your organizations have nearly a million members yet you exhibit no real economic or
political clout. Where are the Phi Beta Sigma grocery stores or the Alpha Phi Alpha housing developments or hotels.
Why have none of the national chapters of Black greek letter organizations stepped to the forefront of any serious
issue relative to the Black Community in America? These organizations claim that they are a major unified force, yet
they have not unified even amongst themselves to organize any movement for the enlightenment, upliftment or
advancement of Black people.
Don't get me wrong there are exceptions to every rule, so of those exceptional individuals include Martin
Luther King , Jr., Percy Sutton, Kwame Nkrumah, and Jesse Jackson. But please do not forget that these are the
exceptions not the rules.
The time for accountability has come, these organizations bear criticism for being elitist, exclusionary,
separatist, snobby and even in many instances more closely resemble gangs rather than college educated Blacks.
Although all the criticisms may not be warranted, in my experience many of them are well based on fact.
Black Greeks, you are responsible for thousands of permanent injuries and countless deaths due to hazing
and hazing related activities. And nothing you do, can or will ever atone for even one single death, or can ever fill
the void in the lives of family or friends who have been victimized by your ignorance.
It is time to come correct Black Greeks, or it is time for African people to make sure that your type of
organizations never come about again. You must either harness your power positively or your power must be
taken from you. HOTEP.
Born Wise is a graduating senior at Syracuse University and editor of The Ghetto Scholar
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23
FREDDIE FOXXX
By l-Serene Oasis and Mecca C-Asia
On February 26, Down Low Productions in conjunction with BMCP held an Epic Records Showcase in the
Southside Room at UMASS. The showcase featured recording artists, Terri and Monica, Grand Daddy I.U. and
Freddie Foxxx. After performing to an unresponsive UMASS crowd the NOMMO staff decided to get to the bottom
of the situation!
NOMMO- We're here backstage with Freddie Foxxx. You've performed already, we heard free styles...
NOMMO- Could you
saying on stage regarding male/
FOXXX- Those songs are off the album, my new album, Crazy Like a Foxxx, the first song was called Shotty In The
Back, it's about a hustle, usually when I do records I try to become a character, I feel the only way to really tell people something
and to get the point across is to actually become that person. So that record is about stick ups and so forth. The second song I
did was called Crazy Like A Foxxx, which is kind of like a battle, a battle type situation, you know take it back to the essence.
The third song 1 did was the new
that's like basically asking men ques-
pride has a lot to do with decisions
wrong decision. The free style thing
that's all.
single called So Tough. And
tions about decisions, you krww
sometimes and it ends up being the
was just showing a little ability
FOXXX- Well basically Fm
was listening to your previous inter-
you talked about how Black people
Black people do that is, everything
to each other has been extended from
bondage their minds were actually
two Black women or two Black fami-
affection and whoever was the most
the attention, lived in the house,
house, eating better food and left-
line is, it actually was handed down
don' Hike to see each other have noth-
impress those that have. If you pull
you in a Benz you look at him like
on a white man in a Benz and you in
coming out the backyoufeel likeyou
ing, mind conditioning, that we are
world where every breath we take is
going to tell you what happens, I
view with Terri and Monica and
treat each other so bad. The reason
that has happened to us and we do
slavery. When the slave was in
conditioned, for two Black men, or
lies to fight for the master's
affectionate was the one who got
cleaned in the house, cooked in the
overs and so forth, but the bottom
from slavery. Even today Blacks
ing because they are trying to
up on a white man in a Benz and
yeah and what? but if you pull up
a Nova that's putting and smoke's
want that. That's all condition-
actually trying to rejoice in a
closer to our death. So you can't
actually rejoice in a world where all the materialistic things, all this stuff is temporary. See when you get more in connection
with your soul, you see Allah has something for all of us. We have to worry about us, all this stuff here is material so we
perform and I always try and say a little something positive, I'm not no role-model or no self appointed role-model but if I feel
that people want to see me as a role-model, I'm going to give them a reason to do so. My album has a lot of songs on it that are
about social issues, I have a song called Reverend Clock, and the song is about preachers who are basically pimps, hiding
behind religion. I don't feel that anyone is able to judge men but God. My album deals with religion, it deals with social
issues, it deals with ability to write rap, and display rap, and when you do versatility, what seems to happen is you show people
a side of you that they want to see. If you got up every morning and put on Black, but it was a different outfit you still look like
you got on the same thing, so my ability to create and take a situation and put it on paper is my ability. If I have to curse to get
my point across I'll do so but see people can't judge something that they don't know the essence of, if you don't know the essence
of Black people you cannot judge Black people. But you have to remember something, a man who is only one-fourth of the
expand upon what you were
female relations?
APRIL/MAY
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population, that can overpower the rest of the population has to be a devilish, powerful man. He ain't no punk. So what you
have to do is use your mind against theirs. For every offense there is a defense. My album is my offense and my defense. So
when I go up against the enemy I study him. I'm tired of seeing white people studying us and doing what we do. Rock and Roll
was us, now Hip Hop is us now you see white boys winning DJ. contests. But the reason our music connects with the white
culture is because white kids are the most rebellious kids you might ever want to meet. And being that they are rebellious and
we are doing a rebellious music, they attract. They go home with pants sagging in the back and they say Yol what's up
homegirl! and their parents don't like that. Because they're saying yo mom I got a Black friend and he's not as bad as you said
he was. So now it's a thing where we are infiltrating the homes of the people that don't like us in the first place. But Black
people have a problem of sticking together in a time of crisis. So if Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, and Reverend Butts come against
me and they are supposed to be powerful men they must first understand that I'm an entertainer with a following so I'll pool my
resources, I say if they cross me y'all don't vote for them and why should we even have to go there? But at the same time Jesse
Jackson wants to get props, Al Sharpton wants to get props and Reverend Butts wants to get props so they get on TV. and they
crush our c.d.'s in front of everybody and that's a dis.
NOMMO- Well my question is who are they trying to get the affirmation from when they come out and
they oppose the music?
FOXXX- What it is that. Here we are again trying to get affection from White people. In their eyes all we are is
niggers anyway. If you are a good nigger they'll treat you like a good nigger and if you ain't a good nigger then they ain't going
to treat you like a good nigger. So the bottom line is if we don't love ourselves ain't nobody going to love us. But you have to
remember that the Black man's worst enemy is his own brother. White men, every thing they've put their hands on they've
destroyed it.. When the pilgrims came to America the Hispanics were here, they went to war with the Hispanics, they killed the
babies, they killed the women, and the men came with food and said listen we don't want no more drama, they sat down and ate
with them, and they said okay Look at them they look like Indians, and they named them Indians. Now we celebrate Thanksgiv-
ing. I call it Thanks Taking Day. Because they took something that didn't belong to them. When they came over to Africa,
everything they touched they destroyed. They touched Rock and Roll and turned it into a devilistic type of music. They kicked
out Little Richard, the kicked out Chuck Berry, and they brought in Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly. Everything white men
touched they destroyed and I hate to sound racist but it's the truth. Who's man enough or woman enough to stand up. Our
parents have sold us out you must admit that because they have put up with things that we ain't going for. So what's the
difference between selling out for a house and a Benz and selling out for a gold chain and a pair of sneakers. A sell out is a sell
out no matter how you put it and if I can put that into words in my rap then it means something to me and it means something
to the person that hears it. On the single So Tough it says if I'm fighting with my woman and we just don't get along do I say
man listen F her ,F the baby and break out or do I say look for the baby's sake we got to sit down and discuss this if we're going
to separate were going to separate as friends and I'm going to make sure that you have everything that you need. That's the
manly thing to do.
NOMMO-That takes a lot of maturity.
FOXXX- Of course it does but see we actually have a lot of maturity. Black people are very passive people but rage has
been instilled in us. Penitentiaries make you mad. Eviction makes you mad. And then they say that we are a violent people and
actually we are not really the bad. The thing is that when you are backed into a corner you will do whatever you have to, to get
out. So that's actually what it's all about. There's a deep science behind the Black man himself. There's a deep history. A deep
deep history. Hip Hop is rooted through the Blues but you got white people who study you and they learn your music and we're
sitting here saying we got to take our music to a white guy who is going to make more money off of it than us. And it's like
we're in another man's country trying to get results and it's hard. What if we had come to America and took white folks to
Africa ? You ever think about that? Can you imagine how it would be to have them ? Well they're the mirwrity anyway but to
have them in Africa trying to figure out how to get food and you know right now Africa has big business. Africa has Mercedes
Benz, computers, they got big business just like the United States. They don't show you that on PBS and all these TV. stations.
They show you painted faces and spears. So in my music I try to tell the brothers that it don't make you no punk to say what's
up to the sisters, what's up homegirl, even basically to women in general, but you got to love your kind first because we owe
people for the things that have been done to us. I got mad rage in me. If I could start the Black Panthers again I'd be the leader.
Because it's in me. But at the same time I come with dominance, I come with power. I'm a fighter, I'm a rumbler and I'm
APRIL/MAY
25
willing to die for my cause. Okay we all get caught up in Bitch, Nigger, Ho, but I don’t believe that our problems are so simple
that all we have to worry about is Bitch, Nigger, Ho. \Ne still have homelessness, we still have crack, we have AIDS, we still
have a dislike for each other because you don't like me because I think I'm all that and I don’t like you because you think you’re
smart. We are still fighting about the petty stuff. When we get over the hump then we’ll be cool. But until we get over the
hump we can’t do nothing.
The single is March 26, The album is the middle or end of May. It’s a summer album. I have a song called Amen
where I give praise to Allah for giving me the talent to produce this album. Without God none of us could do nothing. Every
man is God fearing. Every time they get in trouble they go Oh God. If you don’t give praise to the man who gave you the power
to do this, you will lose in the end. The devil can only whisper the idea to you. God has control over all even the devil prays to
God. Study Islam, study any religion, even the devil prays to God.
NOMMO- What kind of Muslim are you?
FOXXX- Sunni. The devil was one of Gods angels. God gave him a certain number of years to do what he has to do.
I still have control. So who am I to judge you, who are you to judge me, everybody is entitled to their opinion. No body can
judge each other instead of judging, Sharpton and all those people should really be trying to say. Let me get Freddie Foxxx, he’s
sharp, I need to pull him in, get him to say a few things on my behalf, to his community, to his community, to the Black commu-
nity of youth, who don’t have no say in the church, no say in their household. Black kids have been sold out and rappers come
with the answer. So when I see the shorty on the street and he’s smoking his little joint and he says Yo Foxxx man I love your
stuff. I say yo man they put some stuff in that marijuana that breaks down the melanin in your skin and makes you look old.
Did you know that the AIDS virus is ten times smaller than a hole in a condom? See when you drop shit on them like that they
be like ooh. Everything that can stretch has to have holes in it in order to breathe. The AIDS virus is ten times smaller than a
hole in a condom. So it makes you think.
NOMMO- But that's the difference between judging and checking each other.
We need to check each other.
FOXXX- But you don’t want to do it in a disrespectful way. You want to try and say listen homeboy dig this here,
everytime I see you I’m going to tell you something new. You know Showbiz from Showbiz and A.G.? Me and him get on the
phone and we be schooling each other on certain things. He tells me his point of mew in certain things and when we learn to
kick it a little bit more like that , you pick it up. Me and KRS do it all the time and we be dropping mad knowledge.
NOMMO- We got to bring each other up. When we get to a certain level of consciousness we need to bring
those other people up with us.
FOXXX- We put together this homeless shelter in Brooklyn called the Dream House on Franklin Avenue in Brooklyn
between Putnam and Madison. So what we do out there is they got to go to N.A. ,Narcotics Anonymous. Rehabs, drug pro-
grams, we feed them they have an in house cook, they get three meals a day, they have a menu, the rec. room, T.V., VCR.
Actually they had to keep me away from there because I started to have a personal relationship with each and every one of them..
Just because I’m Muslim doesn’t mean that I disrespect any body else’s religion. I read the Bible the Holy Qu’aran. I’m one of
them type of dudes I try to take as much knowledge from all different aspects.
NOMMO- You can find some light anywhere.
FOXXX- Exactly. I checked Al Sharpton on something from Matthews 6:1 6. It says men come as false prophets, and
it says instead of judging your brother you should take him and pray with him and be one in God. So how can you judge me. If
I’m going to go war with a Christian I gotta come in on his level. So I grab the Bible and come in on his level. See I’m a
warrior. I’m a real Zulu warrior. I come from a tribe of people that refuse to die. I’m not trying to let nobody move in on my
situation and destroy what I’ve created or built. The bottom line is when I make my album I’m building. I build it with the
knowledge to destroy the negative. Build and Destroy that’s how you do it.
Look out for the next issue of NOMMO featuring an interview with TERRI & MONICA!
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26
Shout Outs!
To my sweet sorors of ZOB - Andrea, Kathy,
Camille, and Judith — EE-I-KEE! and to my brothers
of OBZ -Doug, James, Justin, and James — BLU PHI !.
To my girls:
Angie (partnah), Yvette and Rachel (I'll miss
y'all), thanks for being there. My brotha
Darryl, and everyone else who knows me
well — I Love Ya! To those who lashed out —
it's coming around. Thanks Foluke, Mecca,
and Nommo for recognizing and everyone who took
the time to peep my work. Peace and Love
Yatisha Bothwell
To my baby Sondra, 1 LOVE YOU. To my
partners in crime, Ben-Styles, Jon Jack, Gun-One. To
my crew back home, keep the faith . Everyone that
helped me in this Jungle called UMASS. All those
that dis, better luck next time, this is the final round of
the KNCXTKOUT. To my Atlanta people I'm coming
home!!
Kenley Obas
DJ Knockout
To my favorite sorors of ZOB Camille, Tisha,
and Cathy and my sexy brothers of OBZ
Doug, James C, James W, Justin and Corey
G.O.M.A.B.! To my peeps: ( my partner in crime) K.
Duff, Foluk^ Joe, and my baby D. Thanks for always
being there. 1 Love Y'all; Andrea
To my girls Angie, Camille and Tisha & my
sisters of AZ0, Thank you for supporting me and
always being there for me. 1 Love You and I'll miss
you Don't forget me.
Love Yvette.
To my family back home for all their love and
support. To Michelle A, Jen and Faries for their
continues guidance. To my favorite roomie Foluke
congrats on graduation and continued success in all
that follow (HOW!-HOW!). Shout's to : BMCP crew,
and members, Delphine, R. Townes special thanks
for Spr. '94, Gemini partner Andrea!,
Joe, mon frere G, Shomwa, Drew, Mecca,
Dorian, and the Blair family and to all the rest of my
friends I didn't mention. Respect Due Every Time !
K. Duff
MECCA sends mad shouts out to:
My family: The Divine God of the sea. My
physical father and mother. My sister the Ebony
Goddess, Shari. Tehuti and MaakHeru. Jamillah
and Julian! Goddess in training, Aida. My sister in
righteousness I-O, (HoP it down!). The Blairs-
Grandma, Cin, Erik, and Damani. My brother
Shahid M. Allah and Family. Jermal, the
Wordsmith. I LOVE YOU ALL!!
My UMASS crew: Foluk^ (Congratulations
homegirl! We'll miss you \Nhere my homiez?) , Karon,
Marsha, Shamele, Natasha T., Lakeisha, and to aU my
sisters who carry themselves with dignity and grace.
To all of my brothers on campus, you know who you
are! Thanks to all the people who've made this year
a little easier! Auntie Alicia and Auntie Debria,
Thank You! NOMMO, BMCP, Delphine Quarles
(Thank You!)
My Now Why crew: Emerson, Paret, Sean,
Rich M., Darrell, Jonathan, Jermaine, Berst, Rich H.,
APRIL/MAY
27
G. Scott, Is, Tony, Lucky- the second finest man on
Cliff Ave., Reuben and Claudine (Remember her?)
PEACE to the Gods & Goddesses! Keep Building!
Peace to the God, Bom Wise Allah.
LOVE ,PEACE and HAPPINESS!
MECCA C-ASIA
GET ON THE SQUARE ORIGINALS!!!
I-Serene.
As-Salaam-Alaikum (Peace Be Unto You)
Dear Bro. Yusef,
It has come to my attention that you are
having some problems delivering my video tapes to
me. I am sure the problem is not you, right? Send my
tapes. Thank You.
Respectfully,
Bro. Shahid M. Allah
To the BMCP Posse- Keep on Keepin' on.
Delphine, I love you and I'll miss you. Good Luck to
everyone who's leaving; with or without a degree! To
everyone that's not- HA! Shout outs to all the posi-
tive people out there including my girls you know
who you are.
Michelle Cannon
Legal Studies Major
Political Science / Afro- Am Minor
Class of 1994
Forgit Don Kno and all
tha ill kids...
A.B.B.O.T.S. Posse is
REAL ! Big up to all those
A.B.B.O.T.S. who're
outtie, and all those
who're remaining behind
to get that edjumacation!
I made it!!! Thanks 2 GOD & and my
Mother for your guidance love & support. In loving
memory of my father. Know U live on thru me. My
success is due to your wisdom, tenderness, and
strength. I luv U always. To my longtime girl, Lisa,
it's been 13 years and we're still tight as napp. All I
can say is thanks for everything. You're a true friend.
Dacia,I wish you champagne wishes& caviar dreams
& Michelle, remember 5971, baaaaaaaa! There's not
enough room to say it all. UMass would of been
unbearable w/o you'll. Rocky&Mishi don't drink
too much while we're gone.K.I.T. A special shout
out to my girl Trina, too bad you can't be here, but
you're in my thoughts.
Nommo staff we did it. Thanks for a produc-
tive year. Mecca, wish you the best of luck for next
year and I'll be in touch. "No words can describe
Foluke, stay strong you "crack head Bubba", (baa)
B.M.C.P. you'll are like family. I'll never
forget the times we had good & bad. Wish you the
best of luck in future. Karon&Andalib I'm counting
on ya'll. Peace to the rest of my friends you know
who you are.
Congratulations class 1994
luv LaKeisha
Peace to all my girls; Lakeisha — my dining
buddy, Michelle — my best friend, , Lisa — my
psychologist, and Rocky — my Ace. We made it.
"Ain't no stopping us now" What's up to Karon,
Foluke, Mishie and Demetria, and BMCP Delphine I
love you.
Dacia
APRIL/MAY
28
N O M M O
Melanin
by Tehuti Ra Mesut
As Afrakan people awake the lethargic state of mass ignorance, it becomes very important to understand
our racial uniqueness. As melanin dominant (1) people take on the values of melanin receive people, they deterio-
rate, retard, and destroy themselves on a spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical level. Melanin, "...the Keys to
the Colors," (2) is seen by the Caucasian scientific community as the most important molecule to understand; for the
future of melanin recessive people depend upon their ability to transform, and re-introduce this divine molecular
wonder back into their physiology. It is becoming crucial for them to have protection from UV light as the planet
becomes warmer.
What is melanin? How does it work? What are it attributes? And why is there so little information
available to the general public? These are the most asked questions concerning this molecule. Our willingness to
research, study, and understand melanin will help us to come back into harmony with the natural laws of the planet
and universe. A brief examination of melanin will be made, with the hopes of inspiring the reader to do further
research.
Melanin is a jet black pigment found in skin, hair, eyes organs, cells, feathers, and scales. People who
appear to be very dark have what is know as "Eumelanin, which has a very high electrical charge, is quite concen-
trated in its molecular weight and is extremely energy absorbent."(3) Continental Africans, Africans in the Diaspora,
Melanesians, Australian aborigines and the Druids of India are all richly melanated, which would place them in this
category. Pheomelanin or pseudo-melanin is a "less dense form of melanin with a lower molecular weight and less
capacity to absorb and store energy.. ."(4) Asians, Native Americans, and Europ>eans would fall in this category.
Melanin is formed when one metabolizes amino acid phenylalanine, with an end product of amino
acid tyrosine. It is found in the pigment cells called melancytes. "Themelanocyte is a modified nerve cell that in
terms of structure will resemble a nerve in appearance with dendrite axon cellular shape." (5) Melancytes excrete
melanin in two ways. One by direct injection into skin cells, and by white blood cells engulfing melanin particles in
the skin, circulation it through the blood circulatory tree within the cell, then depositing the melanin throughout the
body. Melanin is also produced by mast cells , the nervous system and the brain; without the help of melanocytes.
There are many benefits to having a high concentration of melanin. Some of them are: One, its capac-
ity to act as a barrier against ultraviolet rays while absorbing heat from sunlight. Two, it limits light beams entering
the eye and absorbs scattered light, thus protecting the eyeball and allowing for greater visual acuity. Those with
dark brown eyes have great advantages over those with blue eyes. Three, it provides the skin with a sturdy elastic-
ity, thus melanin dominate p>eople don't wrinkle as early as those who are melanin receive. Four, melanin is
charged by electromagnetic energy, such as sound and ultrasound, radar wave — x-rays, microwaves, cosmic rays,
visible light, the magnetic energy of the earth, etc. Melanin behaves like a battery!!! Five, melanin plays a major role
in the immune systems' ability to resist disease. Currently, synthetic melanin is being used as a anti-viral agent!
The pineal gland, located in the center of the brain between the eyes just above the level of the ears.
Melanin cont. on page 31
APRIL/MAY
THE MASSACHUSETTS DAILY COLLEGIAN
Black
The views and opinions expressed on this page are those of the in
"The problem of the twentieth century is the
Racism: The most c
The challenge of race unity
Racism is the most challenging
issue confronting America. A nation
whose ancestry includes every people
on earth, whose motto is E pluribus
unum, whose ideals of freedom under
law have inspired millions through-
out the world, cannot continue to
harbor prejudice against any racial or
ethnic group without betraying itself.
Racism is an affront to human digni-
ty, a cause of hatred and division, a
disease that devastates society.
-Opening paragraph of "The
Vision of Race Unity: America's
Most Challenging Issue" a state-
ment by the National Spiritual
Assembly of the Baha'is of the
United States.
Today is the second day of
South Africa's first all-race elec-
tions in its entire 350 year history.
After 50 years of Aparthieid rule,
10 years of international sanc-
tions and many long years of
political imprisonment by Nelson
Mandela and others, the deaths of
countless South Africans have not
been in vain. The Aparthied
regime is one of the brutal regimes
of its kind in human history.
Today, April 27, 1994, the world
watches as this system of oppres-
sion takes a giant leap back
towards the dustbin of history.
On the weekend of April 15-17,
1994, the 5-college Baha'i Club
held a conference on Race Unity at
the Campus Center. As today's
political debate centers on the
future of democracy in South
Africa, it is crucial that we engage
in a comprehensive debate on race
unity, the issue which lies at the
heart of the future of the South
African people, America, and the
world.
Defining Racism
We may all agree that racism
is morally wrong. However the
debate on racism in America has
confused people as to what is
racist and what isn't. The media
will lead us to believe that in order
to be a "racist", you must either
wear a white hood, burn a cross,
or lynch someone due to their
Not only is solving the
race problem in America
key to her future develop-
ment as a nation, but the
example set will ultimate-
ly allow for the healing of
racial and ethnic tensions
on a global scale
Martin F. Jones
race. In reality there are far more
pervasive and destructive manifes-
tations of racism in our society.
From various forms of symbolism
which can be found throughout
the english language, to institu-
tionalized practices and stereotyp-
ing, racism serves as tool of
repression and division while it
adds and subtracts from us our
humanity, and rations out our dig-
nity on the primary basis of skin
pigmentation.
Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome:
America's Legacy of Enduring
Injury
Slavery lies at the historical
roots of the race problem in
America. Racism as a social ideol-
ogy is a direct consequence of the
Atlantic Slave Trade and the slave
institution in the U.S. Despite
the changes that have occured in
our since that time in our past,
America continues to suffer from
a "post-traumatic slave syn-
drome."
Joy DeGruy, a PhD. candidate
in Psychology from Pacific State
University was the keynote speak-
er on the topic of post traumatic
slave syndrome. In her speech,
Ms. DeGruy discussed the contin-
uing effects of this legacy of
enslavement, the forced removal
of millions of people from their
homeland, the blatant hypocrisy
of our so-called "democracy,"
and the continued denial of the
crime. Racism is an issue that
strikes a chord to this day
because of the mountain of guilt
that was built up over four cen-
turies of horrific crimes against
the human family, crimes that
still go unpunished.
Healing Racism in America
Today, America stands as a sym-
bol of human freedom at its great-
est capacity. In no other country is
the promise of organic unity more
immediately demonstratable than
in the United States because it is a
microcosm of the diverse popula-
tions of the earth. Given this reali-
ty, the importance of the healing
of this rift is crucial towards heal-
ing racism around the world. Not
only is solving the race problem in
America key to her future develop-
ment as a nation, but the example
set will ultimately allow for the
healing of racial and ethnic ten-
sions on a global scale.
Martin F. Jones is a Junior
Journalism Major
THE MASSACHUSETTS DAILY COLLEGIAN
Living
Room
arious other performances in
he area. "I saw that everyone
ould identify with someone in
he play," said Laffin in relating
hy she was drawn to The
hung Room.
This weekend's performance
will be a welcome and refreshing
display of theater in the
Five-College area, with its
non-traditional structure and
display of talent on the part of
it's cast.
The Dining Room is being shown
this Thursday through Sunday, with
erformances at 8 p.m. with an
dded matinee at 2 p.m. on
aturday. Tickets may be reserved
y calling 538-2406.
& Living Staff!
mational meeting on
:30 p.m. in the news-
can meet and hear
ext semester's A&L
our vote a sassy, edu-
URTUNITY
CAREER OPPORTUNITY —
AL COMPUTER FIRM _
AL SUPPORT
SENTATiVE
es include assisting SZIZSIl
mers in system ZZZIZZZ
lion, and product ZZHHIZl
upport -- both on
lephone. Must be ZI^ZIZ
UNIX, spread- ____
and report
Disney's Beauty breeds
true Broadway beast
By SHAWN McDONNELL
Collegian Staff
If the reaction of a packed
Broadway house is any indication,
then Beauty and the Beast — the
stage adaption of Disney's movie
which opened last week at the
Palace — is a hit. The standing
ovation that greeted the final cur-
tain was so instant and so raptur-
ous that I thought, for a moment,
I was at Blood Brothers. Or at a rock
concert. Or anywhere other than
in the midst of the most over-
hyped, overblown theatrical circus
since Chita Rivera dressed up like a
spider.
The early verdict (and a sad one)
is, yes, Disney's hollow $12 mil-
lion stage beast will succeed —
thanks to a built-in audience of
day-trippers and theatre-tours
looking for amusement park thrills
without the troublesome lines.
Of course it got a standing ova-
tion. This pseudo-cultured audi-
ence would have given a standing
ovation to Aladdin on Ice.
For those who don't remember
it, the original Disney Beast was a
gentle romantic cartoon with a
safely familiar story and wonderful
Ashman-Menken songs. But as
staged by Robert Jess Roth, the
show now owes more to Andrew
Lloyd Webber than to Gentle
Walt.
The production team behind the
Broadway adaption have stretched
material which once moved care-
fully and effectively — inserting
magic tricks aplenty, plugging in a
half dozen new tunes, and dou-
bling the original running time
without deepening the text in any
way.
The new songs (penned by for-
mer Lloyd Webber word- man Tim
Rice) are insipid bordering on
insulting. The play's first act builds
to a laughable Rice-concocted
the strongest existing number (the
ubiquitous "Be Our Guest") by
interrupting the blazing pyrotech-
nics and spinning tablewares for a
five minute dance routine which
smacks more of Lounge Act than
Fairy Tale. An overcamped, incom-
prehensible lead vocal by the usu-
ally excellent Gary Beach does not
help matters.
The one joy of the evening is
newcomer Susan Eagan, who sings
valiantly as the Beauty of the title.
But, like her engagingly oddball
heroine, Eagan stands alone.
Stage-veteran Terrence Mann
plays the Beast as a hip- swivelling
hybrid of the Rum-Tum-Tugger
and Inspector Javert, suggesting a
whole new fairy tale along the
lines of The Water Buffalo Who
Thought He Was a Rolling Stone.
Worse still is Burke Moses, who
plays the preening village vanity
case Gaston with all the required
arrogance, but with a voice that
can't come close to backing it up;
or the thoroughly lost Tom Bosley,
as the Beauty's father, who seems
to have confused acting with recit-
ing lines.
Roth's band of amateur night
playsmiths have attempted to take
every flash and flourish of the ani-
mators' pens and bring them to
the stage through lighting (such as
that which blinds us when the
actor playing the young price in
the prologue switches places with
the actor playing the Beast), pup-
petry (the ferocious wolves of the
forest night unintentionally
invoke Shari Lewis and Lambchop)
or mirrors (which obviously hide
the body of the actor playing, a tea
cup). What they have missed is the
gentle humanity in the original
story and characters. Watching an
animated candlestick sprouting lit-
tle flames was cute — watching a
cloying forty-year-old in a gold
tuxedo setting off a disguised blow
29
Doin’ Da Phreak- Sound Changing The Course
OF Our Nation!
by Shahid M. Allah
Atlanta, Ga.- Whether ya' boomin' it 'n' boomin' it in ya' jeep or doing the freak or doing the hustle or house
dancing to it here and there while flexing your muscles one thing's for sure- You are a witness that music (the art
and science of sound) is having a very, very strong impact on and contributing towards the developmental chang-
ing in the course of our nation. Where the Ministers and Reverends fall short "da 'flavor" (i.e. rap music and house
music) fill the gap in the final call, summoning our people to GOD'S TRUTH. This is why rap groups like "Digable
Planets" and "Wu-Tang Clan" are so successful in climbing the charts in such a rapid pace almost immediately after
their debuts. Furthermore, this is the reason why house cuts like "Brighter Days" actually do help to bring forth
more sunshine in people's lives. This is why Clarence 13X (Smith) once said, "..By studying the principles of sound
we can even change the pattern of thoughts of a whole nation. This is also the study of physics..." (excerpt from
lesson: "FREEDOM OF MIND OVER MATTER")
No doubt music deals with the art and science of sound, which travels at 1,120 miles per second*. In his
spell binding book, 'Travels With DR. DEATH," author Ron Rosenbaum shares a chapter with us entitled, "SE-
CRETS OF THE LITTLE BLUE BOX." Under the fictional name "AI Gilbertson" the inventor of this little magnifi-
cent blue box is interviewed about how this mechanism operates upon the science of sound frequencies, beeping
out electronic jingles. With this blue box ole Gilbertson explains "..how his little blue box does nothing less than
place the entire telephone system of the world, satellites, cables, and all , at the service of the blue-box operator, free
of charge!" Mr. " Gilbertson" explains that several years back the phone company made a mistake, a gigantic one-
They carelessly let some technical journal publish the ACTUAL FREQUENCIES used to create all their multi-
frequency tones. It was just some theoretical article which a Bell Telephone Laboratories engineer did on the
science of switching theory, where he listed the tones in passing.. To make a long, unnecessary story short ole "Gil"
got his paws on this theory by way of the old boy network! Hence, he used the science of sound to duplicate the
telephone company's secret, sacred science; and this art is known as PHREAKING.
Several years back the rap group WHOUDINI came out with a jam called "THE FREAKS COME OUT AT
NIGHT." Well, under the veil of "darkness" (secrecy) this man called "Gilbertson" developed a HI' "blue-box"
mimicking the cycle tones of the telephone system. For example, Ma Bell's tone for the number one (1) can be
duplicated by pressing down organ keys F and A® [900 and 700 cycles per second] at the same Hme. Please recall
how the "mad scientists" in Stephen Speilberg's famous movie, "CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND"
used pre-recorded, synthesized sound (notes) from an organ to communicate with the Mother Ship! Please don't
sleep on the science of sound! In chapter twelve (THE SECRET GOVERNMENT) of William Cooper's , "BEHOLD A
Doin' Da' Phreak... cont on page 31
APRIL/MAY
30
Betrayal
By Yvette Baez
Rummaging through the drawers of secrecy,
I found the answer.
In black ink, white envelopes, yellow stationery
I saw the words
Written, never-ending pages
of your future.. .and not of our past
My name mentioned as a mere mistake
Non-existent, like the others
Betrayal
Her love for you remains intact,
like the black ink on the yellow stationery
that now stains my hands.
My hands are stained by her love for you
Where are your words in response?
She owns them
Betrayal.
Through blurred vision,
I digest the evil, consuming black letters
Of you with her,
descriptive details, I try to deny
you could respond to these words
with love meant for me.
Betrayal.
Burning, seething Betrayal
Lies with names, places, dates
Of times you were with me, uttering
words I could believe
I wanted to believe
" I love you"
You spoke of her, an entity in your past
now, a reality in the present
and the future
I envy you for relishing in two loves.
My spoken words of love
Her written words of my betrayal
that were not for my eyes,
now bleeding tears of Betrayal.
APRIL/MAY
31
Doin' Da' Phreak... cont front page 27
PALE HORSE," it is noted that through a top secret project known as PROJECT SIGMA an organization called
PLATO was able to make contact with our inter-galactic star brothers (so- called aliens) via radio communications
using the binary language of computer technology! The flying saucers landed at Homestead Air Force Base in
Horida, thus forming the basis of inter-galactic diplomatic relations in nowadays (But, don't sleep because Allah
Who came in the Person of Master Fard Muhammad told His Messenger, the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad, of
such advanced technology way back in 1930. Furthermore, He , Fard, knew of such way before then!)
My point in relaying this type of data to ya' is to make you realize that sound and the highly intelligent
use thereof can most certainly change the course of a nation gone mad. You do realize that we need help, don't
you??? Okay, then start PHREAKIN' IT!!!
UNIVERSAL PAZ ! (That's "Peace" in Espanol!)
Melanin cont front page 26
acts a receiver for cosmic energy. This cone shaped gland, about the size of a pea, also secretes melatonin
sporadically between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Melatonin regenerates bodily tissue, strengthens the
reproductive organs and "...is responsible for stimulating the melancytes which contain melanisome which contains
melanin." (6). Serotonin, also a secretion by the pineal gland , stimulates the bodies deification and waste facilities.
This is done during the hours of daylight.
With this in mind, it is extremely important for melanin dominate people to be in tune with their
genetic bodily clock. We must sleep at night and get up with the sun. This cycle has been apart of us for millenni-
ums. The interruption of this cycle over the past 500 years has shown a direct result in our inability to utilize our
"gift" and reflective in our poor health overall.
The ability to harness energy is an awesome is an gift. Our ancestors form the Nile Valley utilized this
ability, thus tapping cosmic energy, exploring the secrets of the galaxies, and mapping out the universe without the
use of telescopes. They also travel into the inner-space of the unconscious mind. We all know the ancients were
spiritually developed and the priesthoods were known to have supernatural powers. These abilities are the results
of a cleansed, mucus less body along with rigid adherence to the bodily clock.
Getting back to the values, principles, and morals of our ancestors, along with a strict adherence to a
diet that is rooted in nurturing our physiology will help bring forth a strong Afrakan Nation. The use of herbs and
food as medicine, colon hygiene, flesh-free diet and consistent mental calisthenics(i.e.: reading, meditation, purging
destructive thoughts) are necessary to bring forth a righteous Afrakan Nation. The ancestors used music as a
healing art. It's important to listen to "higher chakra music." Unfortunately, very little is played on the radio. Get
suggestions from your healers and therapist on the best 'higher chakra music.' Direct sunlight for 20 minutes three
times a week is nourishment for melanin dominate people. When the opportunity to travel comes up, go to tropical
regions and enjoy a festival of fruit. Tropical fruits and vegetables aid in melanin production
Sisters and Brothers our future is in our hand. We must the chains of mental slavery in order to
reclaim our rightful place in the universe.
APRIL/MAY
Foluke’s Visual Shouts!
Tisha
Mecca
1-Serene & Cinamon
Dorian
APRIL/MAY
Bryan
Joe & Gary
LaKeisha
Michelle
Michelle
Knockout
APRIL/MAY
N Q-M M O
PBP
The Ladies of 2/pB
Pierre & Jay
Gamal w! Freddie Foxxx
P-ZO
Yvette
Shomiva
APRIL/MAY
35
1\J o Avf Ayf o
i>i kJ IVl IVl W
AMHERST CREW
Aquila
Ricardo Townes
Pascal
Delphine Quarles
Jennifer
Paries
Augusta Savage
Jane Hadley-Austin
Denise
Sondra
Michelle
Anita
A<DA,
<DBI, I<he,
AKA, AZ0, Z(t>B, irP
Nommo
BMCP
D. A. S. S.
My "Let's Do It
Again" audience
Natasha [Springer]
Natasha [Tretheway]
SAO (for letting me
contribute to the
calendar)
Ade
Shemele
John Bracey
Esther Terry
Michael Thelwell
Roberta Uno
BMCP Alums
(thanx 4 sharing)
Index
BACK HOME
CREW
MOMMY! ! ! !
Auntie Doll
Pudgie
(Lance & Michael)
Uncle Henry & Aunt
Bert
Craig
Hanky (^^(b)
(only the good. . .)
Darien
(bow wow wow)
Camp Minisink
Tapawingo Honor
Society
The Feather
Ma sistah Tasha
Awa
Tracy Day
JacQuel
B. O. C.
(Minisink 93)
Kyle
Darrell
Ron
Stupid- ass D. C.
Peace!
APRIL/MAY
' .♦ I
( -
Isi-
vo.m«.the nommo collective
JMiV \ 190SnEF EDITOR
\ Foluke Robles
MANAGING EDITOR
LaKeisha Criswell
PROMOTIONS MANAGER
N Mecca C-Asia, E. Syrkett
PHOTOGRAPHER/
The time has come that the Afiikan-American
Community begin to not only educate our-
selves with literary pieces, but with words in
which the power of generations can be felt. It is
time that we, as a people, support all facets of
our exsistence... NOMMO is a tool by which
knowledge can be passed down for genera-
tions. We, the staff at NOMMO, are encourag-
ing the community at large, to submit literary
works (articles, poems, editorials) for publica-
tion in a paper that is operated by, and for the
community. If you have literary works to sub-
mit, or would like to make a monetary donation
to the NOMMO Production Expense Fund,
please send to the following: NOMMO News,
UMass - Student Union Building, Student
Activites Office - Box # 51, Amherst, MA 01003.
PHOTO EDITOR
Foluke Robles
SECRETARY
Mecca C-Asia
Michael Thelwell
Faced with the inevi-
table question the founders of
this journal usually answered,
"It's African. It means the
word." That usually sufficed,
but if pressed further they'd
usually clarify, "Actually, it
means the power of the spoken
word. It's African vou know."
For a short-hand ser-
viceable explanation that's not
too bad. It captures in a general
way the truth , if not the
literal meaning and certainly
not the poetry of the concept
"So vdiy NOMMO in the
first place?" The student
journalist who founded NOMMO
News (the second CCEBMS class)
wanted to give their creation a
name that was uniquely black.
Something out of our African
heritage, reflecting the
journal's role as voice of the
new black student community at
this university. So they selected
“NOMMO” for the newspaper, and for
similar reasons called their literary journal,
“DRUM.”
“So what is a NOMMO, any-
way?” The term comes from the language
of the Dogon. These are a people of North
West Africa, who are culturally related to
the Mandigo speaking people of western
Sudan.
As with many words from
traditional African languages,
NOMMO defies literal transla-
tion into English or any of the
other languages of Western Eu-
ropean culture. That is, there
is no single word in English,
French, German, etc. that is its
exact cognate, i.e., which means
quite the same things as does
NOMMO in the original Dogon.
This is because of the vast
conceptual and imaginative gulf
between the two world views,
between the traditional and
modem understanding of real-
ity.
But even the term NOMMO
represents a traditionally and
particularly African expression
of a universally recognized
tmth . And which universal truth
is this? That all uniquely human
accomplishment— for good or ill—
began with the evolution of
language. That everything in
human society that appears to
separate us from the other
species— art, literature, reli-
gion, education itself, sci-
ence, technology, commerce, in
a word all human culture — began
with the development of languages. “In the
beginning was the word “saith the Old
Testament.
To the Dogon, a NOMMO is
their own mythical and poetic expression
of the truth. Of the luminous, transforming
power of language in human affairs.
"So then, what is a
anyway?" Well . . . once a group
of Dogon elders were asked by a
white journalist where and how
by whom they had been taught to
weave the remarkably beautiful
cloths for which they were
famous. The implication being
that they themselves could not
have created or developed the
craft themselves . Someone had
to have taught them. And they
seemed to concede that.
"A NOMMO taught us . "
They replied, " A NOMMO appeared
to our ancestors and the NOMMO
showed them . "
"Yeah. And well. . . What
is a NOMMO anyway?
"Truly the wazungo (white
man) understands nothing, the
elders thought . "A NOMMO is a
little but powerful spirit,
white man. This one had a very
large head, a really enormous
mouth and a long sinuous tongue,
but almost no body at all."
"Ah" said the journal-
ist, "we have them too, we call
them the talking heads of tele-
visions, and they do much mis-
chief." The elders nodded
gravely, knowing now that the
wazungo was truly mad. "But
this one did good, " the journal-
ist probed. "He showed your
ancestors how this cloth was
made? "
Nommo May/June 1995
"Yes and no. He didn't show them
in the exact way you mean. The
NOMMO told the ancestors and in
the telling became it,"
He performed it? You
mean he demons t r a t ed the pro-
cess. He was the first weaver?
The original weaver, you mean?
"He in truth was the first. But
he didn't perform it, like your
pencil performs writing as we
speak . "
"No? Then what then did
it do? He built a loom and showed
you. Weaving on it and giving
instruction as he did so? Cor-
rect"?
"Yes and no, white man.
He built nothing in the way you
mean. His hands were very small
remember? He didn' t perform it .
He was it. The spirit of the
cloth. The spirit of the word.
There is no difference."
"So, but what did he do
?" By now the journalist has
stopped smiling. . "The
NOMMO danced before the ances-
tors, Whiteman. And he sang. And
the words from his great mouth
were beautiful and powerful.
They entered the ancestor's ears
and built a house there and they
live there to this day. From
that time we have always known
the secret of the beautiful
cloth. "
"Ah, so he described the pro-
cess?" he was smiling again.
"The NOMMO' s strong mouth
sang it, yes . And as the he sang,
the powerful words leaving his
tongue became threads , which
weaving themselves between his
teeth, became cloth. So the
singing and the weaving became
one. The singing was the
weaving . Even as the words were
woven into a beautiful song. The
threads were woven into beauti-
ful cloth. And the song and the
cloth remain with us to this day.
"So the word was the
deed. It says in the New Testa-
ment. "And the word became flesh
and lived amongst ye."
"So, vdiat is a NOMMO
again?" It is, in the poetic
imagination of our Dogon ances-
tors, a metaphor, the mythic
embodiment of an idea, the
concept of the transforming
power of language.
FACULTY FOCUS
Professor: John Henry Bracey
Date of Birth: July 17, 1941
Place of Birth: Chicago, Illinois (Cook County Hospital)
Educated: Elelnent^u^v
Educated in the public school systems of both
Washington, D. C. & Chicago
High School
Graduate of Roosevelt High School, Class of 1959
College
Freshman Year at Howard University, Washington,
D. C.
Undergraduate Degree at Roosevelt University,
Chicago
Post Graduate Northwestern University
Family: Married to wife, Ingrid Bracey, for 25 years
Three Children: Daughter, Kali 23 attends Yale Univer
sity Law School. Two sons, Bryan 16 and J.P. (John
Peter) 14. Bryan is a high school student and J.P. is
in Junior High School . Both are students in the
Amherst E>ublic School System.
Professor of : Afro-American Studies
Author of: 15 Books (The Rise of the Ghetto. Black Protest
in the Sixties , Black Matriarchy: Mvth or Reality? and Ameri-
can Slavery: The Question of Resistance among them)
Years of teaching: Twenty- five (25) years, beginning in 1969.
Professor John Bracey comes from a family of teachers . His only
sibling and he are the fourth generation of teachers. As it stands
he is carrying on the tradition. This is his contribution to making
the world a better place.
Professor Bracey considers teaching Black History as not at all
unusual. He stated that "initially there was a perception that it
did not exist." However, "Black people have been essential to the
history of this country from the very beginning. You can't talk
about the Jacksonian period or the New Deal without considering
Black People." He added that students are usually more receptive
to learning about Black people than adults, who may question the
validity of Black History.
John Bracey is very well liked and respected by the student body
on this and other caitpuses. He has played an instrumental role in
activism in both the Black community and the community at large.
He is known to be particularly active on this campus. His responses
to why he supports student activism are "you don't teach the history
of Black people and go home and sit down." If the history (Black
history) has any meaning then we should draw upon that history."
He added that "it is necessary to teach a healthy disrespect for
authority. . .a society that does not ac)<nowledge or respect a people,
is not legitimate." On the subject of leadership he had a couple
of things to say. One being that "white students have to know that
it is reasonable to follow the leadership of Black students." and
Black people need more leaders and less followers. He summed up
his feelings on this subject by stressing the iitportance of students
having real live learning experiences to draw from.
Students seeking to take a class with John Bracey may encounter some
difficulty if they wait until the last minute to register, as his
Nommo May/June 1995
classes are usually over en-
rolled. When asked about this
academic popularity, he re-
sponded by saying that he at-
tributes this to his ability to
listen to others and because "
I do not take a point of view that
excludes others." "I am not
threatening . " He also added
that he is not confined by the
western pedagogical ways of
teaching , as there are more ways
of learning things and he does
not grade people for disagreeing
with him.
Professor Bracey's final words
of wisdom were "Hold onto your
head. " When asked what message
these words translated to he
said, "given the world that we
live in right now, don't get
confused. . .we have brains, so
hold onto you head. "
Black Entrepreneurs
Form Group
WASHINGTON (AP) - Some
of the nation's most successful
black business leaders joined
the affirmative action debate
Wednesday (5/10/95), forming a
political action committee (PAG)
to fight off attacks from Capi-
tol Hill and presidential can-
didates. The PAG, Mobilization
for Economic Opportunity, will
lobby on behalf of programs and
policies that directly benefit
black businesses and communi-
ties, said Earl G. Graves,
chairman and chief executive
officer of Black Enterprise
magazine. "Until now, the voice
of black business has been
virtually silent. We will now
speak for ourselves on this
issue, " Graves said. "It was
agreed a line in the sand had to
be drawn , from which we could not
retreat." The PAG grew out of
a hastily convened meeting here
of about 30 black chief execu-
tive officers who saw affirma-
tive action programs — and the
jobs and money they provide to
the black community — headed for
the chopping block. According
to the Gommerce Department,
there are more than 424,000
black-owned businesses in the
United States, 70,000 of which
provide jobs to nearly a quar-
ter-million Americans. Firms
ranked on the B.E. 100, Black
Enterprise's list of the largest
black businesses , generated $11.7
billion in revenue during 1994,
and employed 48,000 people.
"Who else is going to help our
people but us? This is why we
have to have these programs .
This is why we are not going to
let them dismantle them, " said
Nathaniel R. Goldstonlll, presi-
dent of Atlanta-based Gourmet
Services Inc . , a food service
management company. While the
group had yet to decide on a
specific strategy, it did appear
to target its early efforts at
the Glinton administration, which
is reviewing affirmative action
programs. On Wednesday, the task
force discussed the review with
Gommerce Secretary Ron Brown.
Affirmative action programs were
first instituted during the
Nixon administration to expand
professional or educational op-
portunities for minorities and
women. The Glinton administra-
tion is examining areas such as
reverse discrimination, fair
ness to non-minorities and
whether unqualified candidates
are getting government jobs or
contracts . "We welcome debate
on how affirmative action can be
refined, " Graves said. "We will
not permit this nation's divi-
sive politics to discount and
denigrate the contributions of
African Americans in general
and African-American business
specifically." The issue also
has become a theme in the 1996
presidential race. Senate Ma-
jority Leader Robert Dole of
Kansas, a Republican candidate
who formerly supported affirma-
tive action, is reviewing the
programs and has become a lead-
ing critic. Another GOP candi-
date, Sen. Phil Gramm of Texas,
has said that if elected, he
would eliminate federal hiring
Nommo May /June 1995
and contract practices based
solely on race or gender. The
entrepreneurs, all of whom rank
on the B.E. 100, formed a task
force that seeks to dispel myths
about affirmative action. On
Tuesday (5/9/95) , the task force
took out a full -page ad in four
newspapers that argued the na-
tion is better off because of
affirmative action programs.
The ads appeared in the New York
Times, the Washington Post and
two black-owned newspapers, the
Afro-American and the Amsterdam
News .
Black Sergeant Sues LAPP
LOS ANGELES (AP) - A
black police sergeant has filed
a lawsuit claiming he was re-
peatedly subjected to racial
slurs and discrimination during
21 years with the department.
Sgt. William Wimberly accused
his recent supervisor in the
Central Jail Division of racist
outbursts, threatening of ficers
who complained about racism and
ordering Wimberley to return to
duty against his doctor's or-
ders. Lt. John Dunkin, a
spokesman for the Los Angeles
Police Department, said he
couldn't comment on pending
litigation. Wimberly's law-
suit, filed Friday, included a
long list of accusations against
of ficers and the department . He
said several white officers
refused to work with him as a
partner, and someone scratched
a slur on his car and broke into
his police locker to pin a note
with a racial slur on his coat.
Wimberly's conplaints to super-
visors were ignored, the lawsuit
said. The lawsuit seeks unspeci-
fied damages.
Rail Police Apologize for Detaining Black
Executive
NEW YORK (Reuter) - Police for a New York commuter railroad Monday
(5/8/95 issued a public apology for stopping and searching an
executive of Black Enterprise Magazine whom they acknowledged did
not fit the description of the man they were seeking. Police for
Metro-North Railroad said they had been responding to an anonymous
report of a black man carrying a concealed weapon on a commuter train
when they detained Earl Graves Jr. at Grand Central Station on May
1 . Graves was "incorrectly detained, patted down. . .and was checked
under his suit jacket for a concealed weapon, " the police and Black
Enterprise said Monday (5/8/95) in a joint statement. Police had
received an anonymous letter reporting that a black man in his late
20s who had been riding the train regularly was carrying a pistol
concealed under his coat. The man was described as 5 '10" inches
tall and with a mustache. Graves is 6'4" and cleanshaven, the chief
of the railroad police said. Both the police chief and the president
of the railroad apologized. "Clearly we were wrong," said Metro-
North Police Chief Dean Esserman said at a news conference. "They
made a well-meaning mistake." Graves, in a statement, called his
detention "unjust, unfair and unfortunate." "Every day, in every
city of this country, innocent African-American men are subject to
humiliation and brutality by officers whose duty is to uphold the
law," he said. Graves is senior vice president of advertising and
marketing at Black Enterprise Magazine. His father, Earl Graves Sr. ,
is the magazine's founder and publisher. Graves had just gotten
off the commuter train from his home in affluent Westchester County,
north of New York City, when he was detained by the officers, both
of whom are white, police said. The railroad said it would publish
an apology in local papers .
Nommo May/June 1995
Dallas Elects First Black Mayor
DALLAS (AP) — Ron Kirk wanted to be mayor so he could direct the city's future, not so he could be
the first black person to hold the office. "Don't get me wrong, I'm proud of my race, but I got in
this race to be mayor of Dallas," said Kirk, who won more than 60 percent of the vote in Saturday's
(5/6/95 election. Kirk, 40, becomes the first black mayor of any major Texas city when he is sworn
in June 5. It is his first elected office. Voters in two other Texas cities also headed to the polls
in nonpartisan elections Saturday. El Paso Mayor Larry Francis won a second two-year term, while San
Antonio officials say they'll seek a recoiont because City Council member Bill Thornton fell 68 votes
short of avoiding a runoff with community activist Kay Turner. Kirk was secretary of state in 1994
to former Gov. Ann Richards before joining one of the cities top law firms. He will take a leave to
work in City Hall. Law-
24 percent of the vote,
Garcia came in third with
Bartlett chose not to
term. Kirk, a native of
lieve his strong victory
check. One of his top
to bridge the rifts in
isn't a mandate to Ron
victory celebration late
is a strong message to
the infighting. Yes, we're
ments , but we can ' t make
The voters of Dallas want
crime than on one an-
race, racial epithets were
paign material. In the
lenged as racist a cam-
Jordan had the "breed-
mayor. Jordan said the
connotations . In San
race, Thornton had 42,258
to Ms. Turner's 36,852,
cording to unofficial
Norma Rodriguez said she
Monday for a recount of
because of concern over
sheets conpiled by elec-
ficial tally in El Paso
votes, or about 66 per-
had 10,179 votes , or about
caitpaign focused less on
year's declaration that
second term, which was
by a change of heart.
yer Darrell Jordan got
while Councilman Domingo
13 percent . Mayor Steve
seek a second four-year
Austin, does not be-
was a political blank
priorities, he said, is
city government . "This
Kirk, " he said at his
Saturday. "What it is
city council to stop
going to have disagree-
enemies of one another,
us to be tougher on
other." Early in the
painted on Kirk's cam-
final week, Garcia chal-
paign letter that said
ing" to be the next
letter had no racial
Antonio's six-candidate
votes, or 49.9 percent,
or 43.5 percent, ac-
results. City Clerk
will seek a court order
several election boxes
handwritten return
tion judges. The unof-
gave Francis 27,024
cent . Carlos Ramirez
25 percent. Francis'
issues than on last
he would not seek a
followed a month later
by a change of heart.
** CCEBMS HUJHRDS **
SHIRLEY G. DU BOIS COMMUNITY SERUICE flUJHRD
SHANNAN L. MAGEE
RANDOLPH m. BROMERY fllHRRD
CAMERON J. CUCH
JOSEPHINE UJHITE EAGLE COMMUNITY SERUICE HLlJflRD
LORI STAR
ALEXANDER L. SHERKER
CCEBMS SCHOLRR
TATYANA P. ASNIS
Nommo May/June 1995
DePaul Students End Sit-In
CHICAGO (AP) — Black student
protesters have ended their 10-
day sit-in at DePaul University's
student newspaper , saying school
officials agreed to most of
their demands. The protesters
left the office of the weekly
Depaulia on (4/15/95) Saturday
night. They said in a statement
Monday (4/17/95) that the
university agreed to all but
three of 20 demands, and two of
the remaining demands could be
satisfied by due process out-
lined in DePaul 's student hand-
book. The statement from the
Coalition for Concerned Black
Students did not say which
demands were met. Spokesman for
the students did not immediately
return telephone messages Mon-
day. The university suspended
publication of the newspaper
after the sit-in began April 5.
It will resume this week. On
Friday (4/14/95) , the student
coalition said it would not be
satisfied until the newspaper
apologized for a February ar-
ticle that quoted a police
report about a melee at a student
dance. It said the problem
involved "several M-B's (male
blacks) throwing chairs and
trash into the crowd. " Protest-
ers said the quotation was
irrelevant and perpetuated nega-
tive stereotypes . They occupied
the newspaper office /^ril 5,
demanding dismissal of the
newspaper's editor in chief and
a staff writer, among other
things. Monday ' s statement from
the students said DePaul agreed
to give them an office and
equipment to prepare oversight
committees to inplement its
demands and for university-
sponsored tutors to help stu-
dents who joined the sit-in. A
telephone message left at DePaul
before regular office hours
early Monday was not immediately
returned and home telephone
numbers for university repre-
sentatives were unavailable.
The coalition said Friday they
would continue the sit-in de-
spite DePaul 's offers to step up
minority recruiting and take
other conciliatory measures.
Coalition spokesman Eric Wright
said at the time the group would
continue to demand an apology
from the newspaper and dismissal
of the editor-in-chief and the
unidentified DePaulia staff
writer.
Blacks -Only Program Defended
WASHINGTON (AP) - In the midst
of its review of affirmative
action programs, the Clinton
administration defended the use
of blacks-only scholarships at
the University of Maryland. In
a brief filed two weeks ago with
the Supreme Court, the adminis-
tration argued in support of
race-based scholarships used to
correct previous segregation at
the university's College Park
campus. It did not address the
larger issue of using such
scholarships to diversify a
school if discrimination had not
been proven. The
administration's action sug-
gests that scholarships similar
to the one in question would
survive the sweeping White House
review of affirmative action.
Administration officials cau-
tioned against such specula-
tion, however. "The Justice
Department's decision to enter
into the University of Maryland
case is completely separate from
the internal and ongoing review
that the White House is conduct-
ing on affirmative action pro-
grams," Ginny Terzano, a White
House spokeswoman, said Wednes
day. The high-level review
began in February, amid com-
plaints from congressional Re-
publicans that some affirmative
action programs were unfair to
whites. The brief filed by
Solicitor General Drew S. Days
on Monday supports the
university's appeal of a deci-
sion by the U . S . Court of T^peals
for the Fourth Circuit in Rich-
mond, Va. The court ruled in
favor of a Hispanic student who
said the university violated his
constitutional rights when it
denied him a scholarship limited
to black students . The appeals
court said the university had
failed to prove that the schol-
arship was necessary to correct
lingering effects of segrega-
tion. When the lawsuit was filed
in 1990, the campus' student
body was 11.2 percent black . The
Clinton administration argued
that the court should have
presumed that the racial dispar-
ity was the result of the campus '
long history of segregation. The
burden would then be on the
student, Daniel J. Podberesky,
to prove otherwise . The univer-
sity created the Benjamin
Banneker Scholarship Program
under pressure from the federal
government, which sought to
compel desegregation of the
College Park campus. The campus
was limdted to whites only by law
until the mid-1950s. Segrega
tion lingered there unoffi-
cially into the late 1970s. The
university also had scholar-
ships to attract white students
to its traditionally black cam-
puses, and scholarships open to
students of all races. The
campus usually awards at least
20 Banneker scholarships each
year, covering four years of
tuition, room and board. They
account for about 1 percent of
the College Park campus' annual
financial aid budget.
Nommo May/June 1995
Bias Report Clears
Denny ’ s
DENVER (AP) — Denny's
did not discriminate against
four women involved in a
racial confrontation that
ended with arrests and pro-
tests, a report for the
Justice Department concluded.
The women were ar-
rested in March after getting
into a dispute with a white
couple over seating. The
couple were arrested as well
and demonstrations closed the
restaurant for a few days .
The eight-page report
for the department by the
Civil Rights Monitor, a
watchdog group, said the women
did not tell enployees they
needed to be seated, and they
were seated out of turn
because of confusion created
in part by a crowd at the
register.
The women ' s lawyer
said they will still sue, if
necessary.
"We will draft a
coitplaint, show it to them,
outline what our case will be
and give them a six -number
figure. If they disagree, we
will let a jury decide, " said
C. Lament Smith.
The restaurant chain
is being monitored by the
Justice Department because of
discrimination complaints .
Denny's, which oper-
ates restaurants in nine
countries, paid $46 million
last year to settle a class-
action lawsuit accusing it of
discriminating against black
customers .
A Denny's investiga-
tion released last month found
it was customers, not employ-
ees, who touched off the
disturbance in the Denver
restaurant .
The Civil Rights
Monitor report was based on
interviews with participants,
witnesses, and a review of
documents .
Farrakhan, Shabbaz Reconcile
NEW YORK (AP) — Malcolm X's widow put aside 30 years of
anger Saturday night to shake hands with Nation of Islam leader
Louis Farrakhan and praise him at a fund-raiser.
"Minister Farrakhan may the god of our forefathers
forever guide you on your journey, " Betty Shabazz said to
cheers from more them 1,000 people at the landmark Apollo
Theater in Harlem.
She also thanked Farrakhan for his "gentle words of
assurance" for her daughter, Qubilah Shabazz, who was accused
in January of hiring a hit man to kill Farrakhan. Farrakhan has
defended Qubilah Shabazz, saying be believes she was entrapped
by a federal informant.
As Betty Shabazz left the stage, Farrakhan shook her
hand and
began his speech.
Farrakhan again denied any involvement in the Malcolm
X's 1965 assassination and criticized the government for in-
dicting Qubilah Shabazz.
"It's sad that there are those who do not want to see
Sister Shabazz and I sit down and make an honest attempt at
reconciliation, when we are both victims of a wider con-
spiracy, " he told the crowd.
He also asked for the files on Malcolm X to be opened
"so the world may see the real truth." The crowd responded with
a standing ovation.
Betty Shabazz sat on stage, two seats from the minister
and nodded occasionally.
She and Farrakhan had always been at odds over the
assassination. While Farrakhan has denied involvement, he has
admitted stirring sentiment against Malcolm.
Qubilah Shabazz told an FBI informant that she believed
Farrakhan played a role in her father's death and now was
planning to kill her mother.
The fund-raiser was to be called "A Call for Justice, "
but the name was changed to "A New Beginning" after prosecutors
completed a deal with Qubilah Shabazz last Monday.
She signed an affidavit saying she accepted responsibil-
ity for her conduct in the plot but maintained her innocence.
Prosecutors agreed to drop the charges after two years if
Shabazz, 34, conpletes treatment for alcohol and psychiatric
problems and stays out of legal trouble.
The program featured music, speeches and prayer with
Farrakhan and Betty Shabazz speaking at the conclusion of the
event. All 1,400 seats were sold for prices ranging from $15 to
$100, according to the theater manager.
Mary Lou Johnson, who attended the fund-raiser, said the
event
could help unite blacks.
"This will pull black people together," Johnson said.
"This is a wonderful thing that has happened to us . "
Proceeds from the fund-raiser were to go to the Shabazz
family.
Nommo May /June 1995
South Africa ' s Gold
JOHANNESBURG, April
18 (Reuter) - South Africa,
the world's biggest gold
producer, is likely to suffer
a marked fall in output this
year despite relatively
buoyant world prices, a senior
industry executive said on
Tuesday .
Dan Pollnow, gold
marketing consultant to the
South African Chamber of
Mines, said he expected output
to drop by more than 30 tonnes
from last year's 583.9 tonnes.
"I expect it to be
below 550 tonnes," he told
Reuters, adding that in a
worst-case scenario production
could drop by 10 percent .
South African output
fell 35.6 tonnes last year to
its lowest level since 1958,
although it still supplied
more than 25 percent of the
world's newly mined gold.
The fall was due
largely to labour unrest
before and after the country's
historic all-race elections
last April and a rise in the
number of public holidays,
some associated with the
political transition, along
with lower rates of recovery
from gold-bearing ore.
Pollnow said the
world market appeared rela-
tively healthy, adding; "I
think the fundamentals are
looking good."
However, the South
African gold mining industry
faced difficult challenges.
"We're in for a tough period,"
he said.
Production this year
has continued to suffer from
wild-cat and other stoppages.
Moreover, new legislation has
increased the number of public
holidays in the industry to 12
from five, which analysts say
could affect the viability of
certain operations.
This could be allevi-
ated by the lifting of a
prohibition on Sunday work,
which would allow a build-up
to continuous operations, they
say.
The country's biggest mining
house, Anglo American Corpora-
tion, last month expressed
hope that the government, the
Chamber of Mines and trade
unions could resolve the
problem. If not, shaft clo-
sures and job losses were
possible, it said.
Pollnow said gold
mine results for the first
quarter of 1995 would under-
line the tough conditions
facing the industry.
Gold Fields of South
Africa recently reported a
23.6 percent fall in net
profit before capital spending
for the March quarter, and
analysts say other mining
houses would also post disap-
pointing earnings.
The projected set-
backs follow a battle to
contain working cost increases
last year, which was the first
in five years to show above-
inflation growth.
Meantime, a Chamber
review showed the cash cost of
production by South Africa's
gold mining industry exceeded
by 25 percent the average of
its three biggest conpetitors
— Australia, Canada and the
United States.
With labour costs
responsible for more than one-
half of the local industry's
total costs, the stage is set
for tough pay negotiations
which start soon for the 1995/
6 year, analysts say.
Fed Employs More
Minorities
WASHINGTON (AP) - The
federal government errploys a
higher percentage of minori-
ties than the private sector
but is lagging in the propor-
tion of women on its payroll,
the government reported
Thursday .
In fiscal 1994, mi-
norities constituted 28.2
percent of the federal work
force, compared to 24.6
percent in the private sector,
according to a report by the
U.S. Office of Personnel
Management .
The report also high-
lighted the fact that while
the number of women on the
federal payroll increased by 9
percent over the past decade,
women are still
underrepresented cortpcired to
the private sector. In 1994,
women comprised 42.7 percent
of the federal work force,
coitpared to 46 percent of the
private sector.
'69 Radical Returns
To Campus
ITHACA, N.Y. (AP) - Tot-
ing a rifle and raising a
clenched fist, Thomas W. Jones
was the last to emerge from the
student union hall occupied by
black militants in a 1969 show-
down over race relations at
Cornell University.
A generation later, Jones
is president of the world's
largest pension fund and his
relationship with the Ivy League
school has come full circle.
In 1993, he was ap-
pointed to Cornell's board of
trustees. And on Thursday, he
returned to upstate New York to
endow a $5,000 prize that re-
wards efforts on campus to
foster "interracial understand-
ing and harmony . "
In a surprise twist, the
45-year-old protester-tumed-
patron has named the annual
prize after James A. with my
checldDook . "
Nommo May /June 1995
Perkins, the Cornell president
who was forced to step down a
month after the highly charged,
34-hour takeover of Willard
Straight Hall ended April 20,
1969.
"I simply feel the need
to acknowledge that he was an
extremely decent man who had the
courage to do the right thing in
trying to help America solve its
racial problems by inproving
educational access for minori-
ties, " Jones said. "It's an
attenpt to come to closure with
a chapter in the university's
history, a chapter in my life."
Jones no longer endorses
the searing language and armed
tactics he enployed
during that inflamed spring of
black power and anti-war pro-
tests sweeping canpuses across
the country.
At the height of the
demonstrations, weapons were
smuggled into the hall and
Jones ' revolutionary rhetoric
soared above all others' .
He declared that Cornell
had only "hours to live," that
he was ready to lay down his
life, and that racist faculty
and police would be "dealt
with. "
America got a dramatic
image of the occupation when the
more
than 100 students peacefully
exited the hall . A photo of their
departure by Associated Press
photographer Steve Starr
won a Pulitzer Prize.
The students were pro-
testing the lack of black stud-
ies programs and what they saw
as the university's treatment of
them as second-class citizens.
"I certainly believed at
the time that I was doing the
right thing," Jones said. "I'm
not going to, 26 years later, try
to rationalize it or justify it,
other than to say that it ought
to be placed in the context of
the times .
"Domestically, on the
civil rights issue, America
bordered on close to revolution-
ary conditions . "
He added that the guns
weren ' t necessary . " I could have
sat down with President
Perkins. All of the legitimate
issues could have been resolved
without the kinds of confronta-
tions that occurred."
Jones credits Perkins
with engineering one of the
earliest college drives to en-
roll blacks. "Perkins' leader-
ship was widely emulated by many
other leading American univer-
sities," he said.
But Edward Whitfield,
who helped lead the protests
with Jones, said Perkins "would
not be on my short list" for such
a prize. In any case, he said,
a "racial justice award" would
be preferable.
"Sometimes, one might
forsake some harmony for the
sake of seeking justice, " said
Whitfield, who iruns an economic
development organization as-
sisting minorities in North
Carolina.
Jones stuck around to
earn a master's degree in 1970
and help organize a black stud-
ies curriculum. He went on to a
career in business, rising to
the No. 2 post at Manhattan-
based TIAA-CREF, a pension fund
with $142 billion in holdings.
Perkins , now an environ-
mental policy consultant in
Princeton, N. J. , said he was
"really astonished and proud" to
have the prize named after him.
He addressed the
prize-giving ceremony along with
Jones and prize winner Seth
Meinero, who organized three
civil rights symposiums at
Cornell in 1993 and 1994.
"I feel that bigotry is
a problem from the highest
administrator down to the young-
est freshman," Meinero said.
"It's very pervasive on this
campus, just as it is off
campus . "
While the award "sends a
constructive and positive mes-
sage that America has done
relatively well with addressing
many of its racial problems,"
its existence makes it clear
there's much work to
be done, Jones said.
Minority enrollment among
Cornell undergraduates
has crept up to 28 percent, but
black enrollment is just 6
percent. In March, the state
opened an investigation into
allegations that some student
housing at Cornell is illegally
segregated by race.
"To say that America
does not cater to its minorities
is true, " Jones said. "It's also
true to say that minorities
generally have more opportunity
in America in the 1990s . . . than
they did in the 1960s.
"With the assistance of
people of goodwill of all races,
we will continue to make progress
in future decades. I'm drawing
the line.
NAACP Fights Image
Problem
WASHING'TON (AP) - On two
hours of sleep, Myrlie Evers-
Williams stood before a hushed
auditorium and, in soothing
tones, gave the type of speech
that can shake loose donations
for the cash-poor NAACP.
"People are reading that
contributions are up and think
our problems are over, which is
far from true. We're struggling
to keep our doors open, " she said
afterward, noting wearily that
she will be on the road in search
of money through June.
Across town, a 135-mem-
ber committee worked feverishly
on a Mother's Day "inaugural"
for Evers-Williams at the church
where President Clinton wor-
shiped before his inauguration,
and where ex-slave and aboli-
tionist Frederick Douglass was
a member.
Seven federal judges will
fly here to swear her in as chair
of the NAACP board of directors .
Also on hand will be 2, 000 donors
who will present $2 million to
help erase the NAACP 's debt.
The invitation-only af-
fair is being billed as "an
Nommo May /June 1995
act unprecedented in the NAACP's 86-year
history. "
But it also may be ill-timed. An
elaborate ceremony right now could hurt Evers -
Williams' agenda, which seeks to erase an image
of do-nothing elitism at the NAACP that has
turned off younger potential members.
"Show us that you appreciate the younger
generation. We've got the money," said talk
radio host Armstrong Williams, 36.
The inaugural was the idea of Chicago
Sun-Times columnist Carl Rowan, whose articles
about excessive spending at the NAACP helped
take down Evers-Williams ' predecessor, William
Gibson. The 135-member steering committee is a
roster of civil rights luminaries, black
business leaders and philanthropists.
The inaugural is a volunteer effort,
separate from the NAACP and paid for through in-
kind contributions and donated services. Esti-
mates of the inaugural ' s costs were not
available.
Planners say the event' s goal is to cheer
Evers-Williams. Her second husband, Walter
Williams, died of cancer just four days after
her Feb. 18 election. Weeks later, she underwent
eye surgery while trying to
direct a difficult transition of power.
"I think they're excited because they
love her so much. She's been so committed,"
said committee member Gregory Wimms, presi-
dent of the NAACP Maryland State Conference.
"Because the (NAACP's) image has been so bad
in the past, we wanted to have something nice.
It's not costing us anything. Anyone who wants
to come can come . "
But for people like Douglas Price, 31,
the inaugural symbolizes the type of genera-
tional split that makes people his age feel
they have no place in a mainstream civil rights
group .
"We need to stop all this pseudo-
bourgeoisie foolishness," said Price, a regu-
lator for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in
New York who is trying to decide whether to
join the NAACP.
"The contradiction is just too obvi-
ous. You want someone young, black and
progressive to join your organization, and
you're throwing something that's invitation-
only, folks -under-45 need not ask. We just
don't have time for this whole classism
thing . "
NAACP officials say Evers-Williams was
unaware of an elaborate swearing-in
when she accepted the invita-
tion. They urged that the pag-
eantry be toned down, citing
perception problems .
An NAACP official, who spoke on condition
of anonymity, worried that people will think the
organization is playing games with their money.
Evers-Williams found the idea of an "inau-
gural" a bit overwhelming. "That was a name chosen
by the committee that decided to do this, I guess
to make it more impressive," she said. "I had no
part in the planning or anything else. I was told
it was happening."
Evers-Williams has been focused on raising
funds and assuring contributors that the NAACP
will put in tight fiscal controls to reign in its
$3.2 million debt.
She also is trying to unify the NAACP's 64-
member board ofd irectors before a crucial May 20
meeting, where the board will discuss an indepen-
dent audit of NAACP finances and whether to make
the results public.
This semester our community lost the
physical presence of two very dear
members . James Humphrey euid Jane Hadley-
Austin. Upon hearing of their deaths,
many of us realized that although we
could not attach a face to those names,
we knew both or either of the two in
passing. Although, some of us did not
know them intimately we did know that
James was known for his mathematical
wizardry and willingness to acknowledge
the presence of just about anyone. And
Jane for her dedication and hard work
within the the Black and people of color
community.
This issue of NOMMO & DRUM Supplement is
dedicated to the memory of James and
Jane. Celebrating their lives and
honoring their passing.
The NOMMO Staff
NOMMO COLLECTIVE
Obed Alee
Alton Byrd
Hugh Collins
Lucinda Ealy
Charran King
Dheunana Shake sphere
Teri Wilson
Brian Allen
Nona Chiang
Marc Cousins
Nia Francis
Chinedu Ogbuike
Clemence Wilson
Nommo May /June 1995
CCEBMS CLASS OF 1995
Mary C. Aguh
Obed Alee
Brian O. Allen
Tatyana P. Asnis
Michael O. Babalola
Guy R. Balan
Marie G. Balan
Alain Jean Baptiste
Danielle C. Baptiste
Damien B. Baskette
Sharley Basseth
John S. Belizaire
Lyonel Benjamin
Conrado A. Bennett
Maceo R. Bishop
Sadiq Bogard
Angelita Bonilla
Yatisha D. Bothwell
Joyce N. Bowen
Afshin Bozorgzadeh
Tupac Y. Branche
Andrew Parkinson Brown
Scott D. Brown
Garfield A. Bruff
Aleta S. Byers
Beth H. Carter
Michelle C. Carter
Nona E. Chiang
Sean B. Christie
Anastasis Clark
Leroy W. Collins
Marc D. Cousins
Shane P. Cox
Cedrian M. Cross
Rachelle S. Curry
Marie M. Desronvil
Anthony J. Devoe
Yudelca I. Diaz
Kamanampata Dibinga
Prasad B. Diwadkar
Mark D. Dodson
Jelia R. Domingo
William C. Dunning
Luis F. Duran
Cora Lee Echeverria
Brenda D. Evans
Vernard S. Fennell
Emmanuel Fordjour
Erwin O. Fox Tree
Nia I. Francis
Kathryn N Ginchanga
Dominique V. Green
Tanisha Green
Ebony I. Hamilton
Justin M Harris
Renauta M. Harriston
Lajuane D. Harvey
Gerard H. Henderson
Susan A. Herrera
Isaac J. Hurte
Kevin R. Irvine
John Johnson
Van Johnson
Marcus C. Kennedy
Charles T. Langford
Joseph R. Laventure
Ann M. Lima
Arnold J. Lizana
Richardson Pierre Louis
Lavonette M. Luciano
Valerie Lucien
Mardi C. Luttrell
Holly B. Marsh
Lisa A. McCalla
Ian M. McCollum
Karolyn F. McNeil
Dino E. Medina
Jane E. Meeks
Nicole J. Molinari
Renee Monfiston
Sunil Mukul
Nathaniel J. Mumford
Sheila W. Murigo
Njoki Mwangi
Fabiola Narcisse
Monique M. Nash
Richard O. Neal
Stephanie M. Neal
Cherese E. Nelson
Ruan M. Nolan
Sebole M. Nteta
Golden Nwanoka
Racquelle Owen
Jose Padilla
Keith R. Parrett
Priti N. Patel
Michael E. Perkins
Michael R. Pierre
Joseph A. Pimentel
Raymond D. Powell, Jr.
Lugardy Raymond
Phoebe S. Riad
Mayra Rios
Rachel M. Roberts
Tyrone M. Robinson
Louis M. Roe
Angela C. Rubins
Charles M. Sanchez
Camille C. Sautner
Mark D. Scott
Oluwabukola F. Shabi
Shomwa M. Shamapande
David R. Smith
Marc W. Sparks
Shamele R. Straughter
Eric T. Thimas
Moise S. Tirado
Jack C. Toney
Katherine Tshibula
Ranca R. Tuba
James S. Waire
Monette L. Russell Ward
Oliver M. Whalen
Michael E. Whilby
Francine L. Wilkins
Jason M. Williams
Michale D. Williams
Ronald Reid Williams
Nommo May /June 1995
carried me and once or tuAce even [oved me.
I wanted so much to Se closer to you
But that’s net to Se.
“We were dose friends in spirit and zvUC aCways Se.
I never toCdyou Sow much you meant to me, how miuh 1 Sovedyou.
So now 1 ted you.
I Sated your £ir[friends...SahahciSaSa
and I envied your Boyfriends. I was always too youn^.
WSenSLdu^ was Bom and you adopted Ser instead of me...
I almost died inside... or so I felt.
Sahaha...! wanted to Be your sister, your friend.
Then you went away and I could only Sear aSout you.
'But for some reason 1 just could never stop loznry you and Scott,
you £uys inspired me to l(eep trying at my worl^
“Did you Iqww that you were my heroes. I didn’t want to Be l)di^.
I wanted to Be lH^you Both.
you were my e?(ample to follow... you were my guides.
you Brought me Some at nights and protected tne By day.
9jpw I can tell you all the things I felt zvitSout emBarrassment or shame.
I was young But now I’m older and I still haven’t changed.
Scott... l(ussell thanliyoufor the courage over the last couple of years
you ’ve shovM me how to fight.
liussell I’ll try not to mourn your passing But it’s hard.
I Iqww your zvith my grandmother now and you Both are watching over me.
I never got the chance to say good Bye and I won’t Because I fqww that you and I
shall meet again and at that time I’ll Be ready and aBle to tell you all the things I wanted
to. ..that I really did love you.
May/June 1995
Si TriBute to 9dy Triends...
'Bussell...
how many times...
so many times you held my hand.
your friend forever,
jHaji
BEIlim l2ln
by TlToifni^ Bennett
Vou luanna be loued and touched in a intimate may
But there’s alamays a third party yetting in your
may.
She claims she’s your sister and euerything is cool
But should you trust her like a fool?
I loue you, I loue you he says to you
Should you belieue this? Is it true?
He says more mords that comfort you
Is it the seK? Does he really loue you?
Vou go to school to find yourself
thinking he’s still mith you
but you’re by yourself
Occasionally he calls and sometimes a letter
Vou mrite him back hoping to make things better
IDhere did the loue go? The loue you once knem
Does another sister got it. Did she take him from
you?
Can a man really be taken? Or does he go astray.
Vou all heard the saying. Only dogs run out and
play.
Did your man turn into a dog?
Does he nom haue another licking his pam?
Broken is your heart.
Splitting in tmo.
Vou thought your man loued you
Vou thought it mas all about you.
He masn’t straight formard and hid behind lies
He shomed you no respect and nom
VOU MUST RISE.
Rise aboue all the hurt and the pain
Find yourself a real man that ain’t about games
Giue him your loue if you think it’s true
Girl go for yours Honey, it’s all about you
Disregard your feelings for that stray
Let your heart breath easy. Vou didn’t need him
anymay
He gaue you stress and made you cry
That man euen took your sister and put her on his
side.
LDell maybe she ment on her omn free mill
because a dog is a bitch like a prescription is a pill.
Silent Killer
Ijy Hugh ‘Q* Collins
As it sweeps through
with
The partif;les flowing in
T h e i\ t m o s p h e r e
It slowly irritates the
s o u 1 .
Meddling with the anti-
h o dies
Provoking, and aiming
at its ‘
Only simple goal.
It's invisible structure
Undetected by the sci-
liiitif ic
yVpparatus that aids up.
Is so handsoiuf^ly
m o 1 d e d
\Vith the ‘would be
p u r e '
Oxygen that so dearly
keeps us.
\^ow this silent killer.
Killing us softly as
The dawn of the day.
Slowly highlights itself.
Xever thought that one
day
This silent killer would
Harm you because you
Love it so dearly.
I hate the silent killer
Like I hate Smoking
Like I hate Drinking
Like I hate (’ancer
Like I hate Drugs
Like I hate AIDS*
Like I hate anything
that's bad.
This silent killer
Slowly instilled in the
Young hearts of the
p o pie.
This silent killer
Deeply embedded in the
Young minds of our
c h i 1 d r e n .
This silent killer...
So clear l)ut so opaque.
So announf:ed ])ut so
neglected.
So everything ljut so
nothing.
This silent killer,
RACISM,
I hate it so liad.
Page 1
Drum May/June 1995
GOO'D-'BrE
Tosfuba 'Bodden
I was seen as a woman,
as [east tfmt’s what he ca([ed me.
!He said that a[[ Bhicl^women
I was a Queen.
7b him, The Bhich^woman
was someone to he respected
and (oved.
Therefore he thought he could
respect me and [ove me.
Tie wanted me to feel
as if I were the most
precious and valuable
of all the earth.
I believed him; 1 believed in him,
in myself, in my people.
Caressing, and fqssing, and touching my
body.
Cherishirg my beautiful, healthy
Bladc^body.
iMy lips that longed for attention.
9dy breasts that ashed for that certain
caress.
My thighs that hid a secret,
only those who were true could uncover.
A secret, that was about
love, respect, and self-assurance.
A secret so dar^and forgotten
only Qod himself could understand.
A secret that he couldn’t understand.
But he made my body speal^
'Each caress and each hiss,
brought an answer, a word
that could only be understood
by the faithful
‘Words that became sentences,
then paragraphs,
and soon a story was formed
about love, and commitment.
But he didn’t speahof love.
Me said it was only lust
Mis lust for my body.
Mis lust to try to understand
my secret to meet it face to face;
Me ashed, ‘“Do you love mei",
because he didn’t tqww
if he really could feel
the meaning of that word.
So my answer was, “Mp. ’’
but I was confused about my feelings.
Still, I tried to show him that I
cared,through my caresses, and my hjsses.
But he couldn’t recognize what I was
doing.
Mis eyes refused to achnowledge my
actions.
Slowly, he began to lose interest,
interest in who I Was-
his friend, his girlfriend;
and only remembered that
I was his lover, his mistress.
Me only hfpt a focus on my body,
and how it made him feel
“Couldn’t you see the hurt,
that you caused mei
My heart that was breatqng,
from the paini’’
Me ashed me so many times,
on different occasions,
‘“What’s the matter?"
But I could only answer, “Mpthirg. ”,
while my eyes screamed the answer.
‘“What’s the matter?" you ashed,
“you forgot who I was!”
I was his girlfriend,
but he toohfrom me
what the white man tooh
from my ancestral mothers
when he raped them
the spirit, the essence, the self-love that
turned me into a woman,
which once lost could otdy be regained
through the rebirth of the innerself,
the reconstruction of the soul
I lost that love, the self-respect
and I died.
I became as valuable as a bashftball-
being passed from hand to hand;
never having a stable relationship
because I was always in need
of a certain caress of the heart
that would awaken me
from my deadly sleep.
I told him before,
if he wanted to hnow myfeelings-
read my eyes,
because the answer was there.
My eyes always told the truth
even though my mouth was lying
about my thoughts
the thoughts of love
that had begun to form
through my caring,
because I was afraid of showing
my true feelings
and the possiblity of being hurt
for shoiving them.
But he never learned to read my eyes,
and he never learned to understand my
hurt.
So he didn’t fnow that I had died,
arul that’s why he couldn’t understand
my gOOD-BTfR
Drum May/June 1995
Page 2
OUR PATHS WILL CROSS AGAIN
by Toshiba Bodden
Written in memory of Uronde Allie who
was gunned down in the streets of
Atlanta, Georgia. He was a young man
from Boston, Massachusetts attending
Morehouse College in Atlanta. Uronde
would have been twenty-one this year.
Our paths crossed a short time ago
an acquaintance meant
for some thing more.
It wasn’t clear why
we were destined to meet,
but we would enjoy
that time we shared.
You went away
before the acquaintance could grow.
Away to a school which was your
destiny to attend.
We tried to keep in touch,
but I guess it wasn’t meant to be.
I hoped time would allow
for our paths to cross again.
But, one Thanksgiving holiday,
you didn’t return home.
While at school you were detained,
and weren’t coming home.
Instead, you had another Journey to
make.
Only He knows
why you left so soon!
for that home of peace
so far away!
So, until we meet again;
when our paths will cross
dear Friend,
in that home
Just beyond the clouds.
Never will I forget that precious, warm
smile that always seemed to make
things right. Missing you, but never
can forget you, Toshiba
THE PROBLEM WITH CHILDREN
by Chinedu Dean Ogbuike
Tbe problem with children is
Tbe fact that they are
Hard-headed and stubborn
And only listen when they
Have made a serious mistake
Parents need to set an example
For their children and not
Only tell them the right
things
To do but show them because
Remember they are watching you.
A MATTER OF STRENGTH
by Fabiola Narcisse
You know ( am strong
Use my strength
To strengthen us. to build
Not for dissention
Let us stand as tall and strong
as the pyramids in Egypt
Let Peace and Contentment flow
Like the waters of the Nile
Let us join in honor of the Divine
I am strong and true
A fortress
Never abandoning when threat
emerges
But innately knowing that
We are intrinsically one.
Page 3
Drum May/June 1995
Six Feet Deep
by Hugh ‘Q’ Collins
COnifused
BometimeS I think yon lOve me
find other tii^eS mondeP do yon?
Six feet deep
Down under the dump heap
I’m So GOnfn^ed.
Their rotten skull and
I meet neu> people i^nt I GOn’t Hop
broken bones
thinking of yon
All became one
ihe tiwe Spent
With the dirt and the
The iOf^e Shored
stones.
The feefingS expreSSed
I’m So GOnfn^ed
Nowhere to go
No seed to sew
I knom I mnSt mOFe On t^nt * GOn’t let gO
No move can they make
The qneUionS in my mind ationt yon
No more life can they
Take hold of my Son!
take
I’m So GOnfn^ed
Their wicked souls and
I often aSk mySelf ^^hy did yon GhooSe
thoughtless hearts
TO t^ke me On thiS rollerGoaSter ride
Now mixed with the mortar
With yon, ™aS i the fool
of sin
I’m So GOnfn^ed
Engraved silence in their
minds
I miss the ™ay yon n^e to fOGnS only on
They can do nothing for
me
Their lives they gave
find the ™ay yon Smiled Only at me
away .
Shonld I OGGept the roflerGoaSter ride
again
Their future they’ll not
Wonld I tie a fool?
know
Ye5, a fool in lore ™ith yon
No further will they grow
Their babies already be-
I’m So GOnfn^ed.
Cherry R. JenkinS
THE WAY A WOMAN SHOULD BE TREATED
BY Chinedu Dean Ogbuike
A WOMAN SHOULD BE TREATED
With respect and kindness
And should be allowed her
Space without a man being
Around watching her every move
A MAN SHOULD TRUST A WOMAN
And not be over protective at all
A WOMAN TREATED WELL WILL BE
Faithful and
LOYAL AND SHE WILL
Treat her man equally well.
Drum May/June 1995
Page 4
THE LIFE OF A BLACK MAN
WHEN I'M MEAN, I'M MEAN, AND WHEN I'M NICE, I'M NICE. PEOPLE DONTSEEMTO
UNDERSTAND ME. I LOVE WOMEN, BUTATTHE SAME TIME, I HATE THEM. I'LLTELL YOU
THISTHOUCH, I WISH MY MOTHER WAS HERE. SHE IS MY MOTHER, MY FRIEND, AND
MY PROTECTOR. A\AYBE THATS WHY I AM THE WAY I AM TODAY.
WHAT I REALLY WANT IN THIS FUCKED UP WORLD, ISMYMOTHERTO BE ALIVE,
STRONC, HAPPY, AND HEALTHY. A NICE WOMAN TO UNDERSTAND ME, LOVE ME, TRUST
ME, RESPECTME, AND I'LLCIVE HERTHAT AND MORE. I REALLY THINK THAT NO ONE
REALLY UNDERSTANDS ME AT ALL. I CANT TRUST ANYONE, BECAUSE THEY ALWAYS LET
ME DOWN. THE LIST STARTS FROM FAMILY, WOMEN, OR EVEN MY BOYS. THEY ALL LET
ME DOWN SOME WAY OR ANOTHER. SOME PEOPLE BLAME ME, BUT I CANT BE TO
BLAME ALL THE TIME.
I THINK I'M A MEAN PERSON, BUTATTHE SAME TIME, WHEN I'M NICE TO PEOPLE I CET
TREATED LIKE SHIT. ANSWER ME THIS: HOW DO YOU WIN? YOU CANT - THAT'S THE
BOTTOM LINE.
FOR NOW
RAYMOND DOUGLAS POWELL JR
U Loi/e
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PAGE 5
Drum May/June 1995
J_i0K+ A^y
CZ-at^ole. J_ouissaint
C^ood moK*K\iK\0 t7eaw+i|-ul.
J i+^s time foh" you +o 0£+ up.
J say i+^s tiwe |■o^“ you to 0e+ up.
keo>‘d you/ but wy body is still asleep.
iU'^r\ |^eeliu0 b>*i0Kt just |^o>* you.
So 0et up aud j-eel good witk ^r^e..
ZJf J do 0et upy can you p^oniise me. a lovely day.
Don't ZJ always come tki^ou0k j-o** you/
^ven wken obstacles 0et in >ny way.
^es, yes you do.
Please ku»*>*y out/
D'll be waitin0 j‘o>* you.
Pello a0ain.
Pello. '\^o\A look p>*etty a0ain.
Xkank you. \^ou don't look so bad youi^sel|'.
Wkat do you |-eel like doin0 today?
Wky not enjoy eack otke»*s company.
(Z\ood. ZJ enjoy makin0 you j-eel good.
\^OL\ knoW/ at times you can be demandinp.
O knoW/ but Z) c-cxn'i kelp if.
Don't you like it wken D'm a>*ound?
VesD do.
\/ou make me j-eel sa|-e.
ZJ'm 0lad tkat you tkink so.
^ou 0ive me a K'eason to skow up tke next day.
Xkank you j^oi' makinp me j-eel wanted.
\^ou at'e welcome.
\^oiA ar'e pai^t o|- my wo>*ld.
Dopetkev* we make tke universe.
Sweet sexy tkin0 you.
A^y vibrant one.
Xomorrow will be waitin0 j-or us.
Dntil tomorrow. CZ\ood nipkt.
On youR one wAy street we waIk thIs IIte
You Took wItat was our ItappIness
AncI qAVE us whAT WAS youR strIIe
On youR one wAy street our cuIture is Iost
you RAVAqE tNe IancJ
AN(J you PASS US tIte cost
TlrRouqh youR taxes aneI youR Iaws
tItAT ONly SUPPORT yOUR CAUSE
On youR one WAy street we must TAlk youR TAlk
MUST Iearn yOUR WAyS
MUST WAlk yOUR WAlk
On youR one wAy street ONly youR WAy can pass
WE CAN bE likE you ANcJ bE SECONcJ
OR STAy AS WE ARE AN(1 bE IaST
On youR one WAy street you AlwAys come IIrst
No mIncJ to who you TRod on
No MiNd TO who you buRT
On youR one wAy street tItere is no room
foR OTHERS
Your concern is foR youRSElf
You doN'T TbiNk of yOUR bROTbERS
On youR one WAy street MONEy is youR qENERAl
lEAdiNq you to war
It is This WAy now
It was This WAy bEfoRE.
On youR one WAy street TbiNqs are doNE iN
TbE NAME of qofd
iRibES ARE wipEd OUT
lANd is stoIen not sold
On youR one WAy street we bAVE Iost wbAT
WAS OURS.
But you will not qo UNToucbEd, you must pAy TbE
qivER of POWERS
To TbE wiNd ... TO TbE EARTb
ANd TO TbE qivERS of biRTb
See, on yOUR one WAy street TbERE is one qREATER
ANd fOR aU TbAT you bAVE TAkEN
You will REpAy TbE Creator.
MicbAEl D. CREqoiRE Jr.
"LioN of SbiNNECOck"
SbiNNECOck NatIon N.Y., L.l.
DRUM May/June 1995
Page 6
She’s Ready
by Sean Fontes
On this September day, nature brought life and death together into a beautiful mix-
ture: flowers in bloom; birds singing lively melodies; and squirrels scurrying to and fro,
with pouches full of nuts-all preparing for the dead season: Winter.
Not only was nature ready to embark on its next phase-winter, Mark Crazel was
ready to embark on the next phase of his life also: a successful future that included
Tanasha- a princess that he had been in love with ever since the ninth grade. It was now the
end of the summer break, the summer before their senior year of high school- a year that
students prepare to enter college and begin their career dreams. Next Fall, Mark will be at
M.I.T pursuing his dreams of building the ultimate android woman and Tanasha at Spelman
pursuing her medical career, this is the reason why Mark was ready to approach Tanasha
and tell her once and for all that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her after they
graduate. If he didn’t do it now, there may be no other time.
There were many times in the past that he made approaches- approaches that were all
unsuccessful, even though she had rejected him those many times, he didn’t expect her to
turn him down this time, he had always taken her rejections as disguises for her true love,
he felt that she was either shy or had strict parents that restricted her from being with him.
he believed there were many hints that told him this. On one Valentine’s Day, in response to
his request for a Valentine’s date, she responded with a Valentine’s card that said: “No, I’m
not interested, and most likely will never be.’’ in big bold letters. He felt that there could not
have been any hint bigger than this one. If she didn’t love him, she would not have taken
the time to get him an Osco’s ninety-nine cent special Hallmark card, and she would not
have written the words in red- obviously a color of heart felt affection. So now, it was all
about approaching her once again. He was certain that she was ready now. He felt that if
she wasn’t, he would help her to be.
“Hello” Tanasha said as she picked up the phone.
“H...H... Hello. ..May I...I...Um...speak to Tanasha?”
“Speaking. ..and who is this?”
“Hi. ..Ta...Ta... Tanasha. This is Mark.”
“Mark Crazel...?!”
“Y...Yes.”
“So.. .what do you want?” she said irritably. “I don’t have much time!”
“I wanted to know if you’d be willing to go out on a d...date with me tomorrow
night.”
“A date? Where to? Do you have money? Do you have a car?. ..I don’t know.”
“Yes Tanasha. I. ..I have a 735i BMW. I plan to pay for the movie and dinner.”
“Well. ..Give me a call tomorrow. I’ll see.”
When she said these last words, Mark thought to himself: Oh Yes! She said T don’t
know’! Oh Yes! She said ‘Give me a call tomorrow.’! She’s ready! Mark was overwhelmed
with these cool and indifferent words. After a zillion rejections, she finally gave
Page 7
Drum May/June 1995
him an indefinite answer. This was the closest Mark ever came. He said to himself, “just
as I thought, she would eventually come around. And there was no doubt now that she
would accept this date.”
He felt that she was ready due to a combination of things- it was now the Fall: a
season possessing the beautiful mixture of the opposites: life and death; activity and
tranquillity- a perfect season for lovers; and he had put in hard work and undying endur-
ance- and as a result, he got her to say: “I’ll see. Call me tomorrow.”
The time between the first phone call and the last was an eternity: a length of time
that allowed him to do a million things for preparation. He managed to wrestle the BMW
735i from his father; he managed to ferret through Shakespeare’s love poems. He man-
aged to get Luther Vandross’s greatest love hits. And although Mark was a romantic, and
considered himself to be aesthetically superior to his classmates, he decided to swallow his
pride and ask Shakeem- the class of 92’s best dresser, for some fashion tips. He knew
Tanasha had a fetish for the latest fashion styles, so he decided to do whatever to appeal to
her. He charged a pair of $80 guess Khaki’s, a $90 Tommy Hilfiger rugby, $90 Karl Kani
loafers, a $100 Nautica windbreaker, and last but not least, a $40 bottle of Cool Water
cologne. After all, it was their beginning to a long happy life together.
Finally 12:00 p.m. hit. Preparation was done. And it was time to make the second
call, as she had stated.
“Hello.” Tanasha said as she answered the phone.
It's her voice he thought to himself. The way she said ‘Hello” I know she’s ready.
“H...H.. .Hello. ..Are you ready....”
“What?!”
“I mean, may I speak to Tanasha?” He said hurriedly.
“Speaking. Who’s calling?”
/ can’t make any more slip-ups he thought Our future depends on this phone call.
“This is Mark.” he said assuringly.
This nut again, what does he want now? she thought
“Yeah. ..What’s up?” she said cautiously.
“Do you remember my question last night? Would you be willing to go out on a
d...date with me to... tonight?”
Upon hearing this question, many questions went through her head — How am /
going to get out of this one? Why did I tell him to call back? What can I tell him ? The dog
ate my dress? Damn.. .I’ve told him that before. I have to stay in to tend to my mother’s
flu? Naw, naw, naw. No more excuses, no more rejections by letters. lam going to go out
with him once an for all an finally tell him that he is not for me. Hey... after all, he does
have a 735i beamer and money; the night might not be that agonizing.
“Well...Yeah...ril go.” she said.
She’s ready. She’s ready, sheeeeeeeeez ready! I knew it. Patience is virtue. The
man long years have made victory sweet. Were his thoughts upon this spectacular mo-
ment.
“Okay. I’ll be by to pick you up at five.” he said.
Drum May/June 1995
Page 8
From the beginning of the date, there was no contrast more obvious — a contrast that
he did not see; for he was enveloped in a world of desire for Tanasha. when she first came
to the car, he perceived her slow and reluctant steps as angelic paces in his heart. While on
their way to see Jason 's Lyric, surrounded by the voice of Luther flowing from the BMW’s
stereo, Tanasha fought back her desire to tell him what she intended to tell him. She
wanted to end the date right there. On the other hand, Mark fought back his desire to
watch her instead of the road. During the date, the few times he saw her looking away and
yawning, he thought she was in a world of elation.
Finally, at the end of dinner he made his move. It was time — he was ready and he
knew she was ready. He would have proposed his three-year brewed dream to her at the
restaurant, but he wanted to propose it in a more romantic environment.
“Tan. ..Tanasha, would you like to Lake Autumn with me, s...so we can talk at the
rim of the lake?”
No, I refuse. I’m putting an end to this date right now. Were her thoughts.
“Well...” she said.
Hold on, I did want to finally tell him. Yeah... I have to. It will be the only way to
finally end this harassment. Yeah I’ll go, she decided to herself.
“Of course. I’ll go with you.” she responded to him kindly.
As the words ‘Of course’ danced through his ears, he realized how much of a suc-
cess the date had been; and now, the time had finally came for the beautiful ending to the
date and the beautiful beginning to happy life hereafter.
As they drove to Mark’s lake of love, dark crimson possessed the sky, indicating the
dying of a full day. The drive to the pond had been a drive that brought the day closer to
night; Summer closer to Winter; and the perception closer to reality. Mark knew that it
was the beginning and Tanasha knew that it was the ending.
As they walked from the car towards the lake, the flowers along the path wore their
colors of life. The violets’ purple tone was never as deep as it was today. Both walked in
silence, struggling to find a beginning to the they both had to make. And then, just as
Tanasha found her beginning: “Well, Mark...”, a squirrel ran in front of them, bulging
mouth with chestnuts.
“Whew.. .that squirrel scared me.” she said as she tried to regain herself. “But
anyway Mark, I have something to tell you.”
Yes. Yes. She ’s ready He grew anxious.
“Mark, although I am flattered by the date and the many others you have asked me
on, I would prefer for you to stop pursuing me.”
Mark said nothing. It was as if he never heard a thing.
“I don’t want to hurt you, but I must tell you that I am not interested in you.”
Mark said nothing. It was as if he still heard nothing.
So, Mark, do you understand?”
“Tanasha... can we hold each other for a few moments?” he asked thoughtfully. “I
just want us to look at our reflections in the water. I will not ask of anything else from
you.”
What’s wrong with this dude, it’s as if he never heard a thing I just said, she .
Page 9
Drum May/June 1995
thought. Well, I guess it’s the least I can do
As Mark Crazel gently put his hand around her tender, caramel neck, with three
years of undying love, he undyingly put her head into the placid lake.
When he turned her face up to his, he became more struck by her beauty. He
watched admiringly as the small, smooth beads of water flowed down her cheek. He lifted
her eyelids, and her eyes sparkled. Like the season of Fall, to Mark, Tanasha and death
were a beautiful mixture — she seemed more alive now than she ever did — she was now free
from shyness, household rules, and any other external forces that prevented her from being
with him. She was finally ready.
bitch hoe slut tramp skeezer freak trick hoochie bitch hoe slut tramp
skeezer freak stopcallingmeoutof myname
stopcallingmeoutofmyname
stopcallingmeoutofmyname
BLACK ATTACK
Fabiola Narcisse
Why must you deny the essence of my very being?
who I am,
what I represent.
Contempt, Disrespect and Degradation you claim
Does not fit my character
Does not compliment
Does not glorify
The character of the Black Woman
The essence of the Black Woman
Do you not know that we are one in the same?
I am you and
You am I
A nation we are, a nation we must be
Black Woman, Mother Earth, A Queen, A Fortress,
A Creator, A Mother
A Lover, Sister
Why do we degrade ourselves
and allow humiliating words
to become a part of our identity?
Black Woman, how far you have come
And yet
you do not live up to your lineage,
your greatness.
bitch hoe slut tramp skeezer freak trick hoochie bitch hoe slut tramp
skeezer freak stopcallingmeoutofmyname
stopcallingmeoutofmyname
stopcallingmeoutofmyname
Drum May/June 1995
Page lO
House Nigga
by Charran King
What exactly is a house nigga? H house nigga is someone who suppresses their
thoughts because they are afraid of the power of the white man. A house nigga is
someone who perpetrates their blackness when they were never Black to begin
with. H house nigga is someone who feels that the lighter you go. the better you
are. The ones that are so shy. yet so bold that they can walk around with a white
girl at an X party. Then there are the ones who never have the guts to do so. instead
they choose to go with the white-skinned bitches on the d.l. Yes. the “fly white trying
desperately to be Black-looking girls.“ A house nigga is someone who will never
know where they’re coming from and never realize where they are going, they’ll
never understand the true roots of their Blackness. They will never be able to
identify with their ancestors, the Black mother that bore them. Put some color on
any nigga and they’ll swear that they are better, that they are white. I say . . . they
are blind. They are ignorant. They are naive. And worst of all. they can never and
will never identify with anyone trying to make a difference. What they do not know
will never hurt them. They will be shunned by society (both Black and whiteJ and
eventually cast out to a Place where all house niggas go . . . hell!
So . . . when I call you a house nigga. my [brother], it is because you Possess these
same qualities, the house nigga mentality. It is not said to offend you. but is an
attempt to wake you up.
My Toughest Critic
Anala G
The Critic
she walks
alone side me
everyday,
and when alone
we talk;
about who
I
should be
and how
I
should be.
I
ache
when
I
think of
how
I
fail to be
the perfect person
that
I
want to be.
I
feel as though
(
am in a never ending
struggle;
an attempt to be
better.
I
want to be
better
than the person that
I
see in the mirror
every time
(
get UP
courage to look.
(
might one day be
able to stop and
appreciate my
•‘self*
for what it is
and not for what
I
think it should
be.
I
hope that one day
I
will be able to
stop
and look in
a mirror
or Plate glass
window
and like what
(
see.
I
hope that one day
I
can love
and appreciate
myself
the way
(
know other people
do.
It will be a glorious
day when
I can look over my
shoulder and see that
I
am not walking
around with my
toughest critic.
Page 1 1
Drum May/June 1995
J N^V^-R WANT TO rORa^T
>17 wken you came iuto tkis woi*ld
c^*yiK\0y sck‘eamiu0y Ie++iu0 us all Uuow you we^*e Kc^*c
J ►*emembeK* you.
>U ►‘ememkek* tke memok*y oj’ a smile^ a l^ea+uk'e a voice
tke lit+le j^oot oj- you/ my ckild/ le|+ in tke sand by +ke kouse
,17 ►‘emembeK' fke love +kat explode df ^*om me
wken ,17 keld you and knew tkat (d\od
kad blessed me |^o^‘ some 0ood deed.
ZJ >*emembei^ you.
J ^*emembe^* ni0k+s spent up^ koldin0 you, wkispe»'in0 love
son0s in youv* ea>*/ youk* body t^'emblinp |Vom a s lipkt j-e ve k*.
O ^*emembe^* kissin0 you^‘ ■|■o^*ekead and knowin0y
and knowin0...
tkat D would kove a li-[^etime to know you>* moods^ you^* ups and downs
C7 would be tke^*e I'OK' tkose ni0kts wken you would Ck*y ovek* a lost I ovey
o^* smile at a job well done.
C7 assumed too muck
and now youVe 0one.
C7 K'emembeK' you
ZJ know deep down tkat ZJ will always kold you^* smile in my keap*t^
ZJ will tkink o|- tke man o^* woman you skould kave become
ZJ will ^‘emembeK' you^* bi>*tkdayy you>* j^i>*st steps
youi^ little w^*inkled b^‘oWy
ZJ will ^*emembe^* you.
D kave to tkank (Z\oci tke time we kad/ and ZJ must it*y to ^*emembe^‘ ^^eve^*ytkin0 kap-
pens a ►‘eason .
C7 skall nevek* |■o^‘0et
C7 will always/ always/ always
K'emembeK'
you.
by ySJataska Spt^inpe^*
b\niveK*sity oj- A^assackusetts
at y\mke^‘st/ y\mke^‘st JAa
*Tkis :>oem is dedicated to tke beautij-ul babies tkat (Z\ocl took back to keaven to sit by
lis side. TTkeii^ lau0kteK‘ and innocence skoH i^*emain n ouk* memok*ies
Drum May/June 1995
Page 12
HAITI
BY FABIOLA NARCISSE
The pillaging of the earth
I LISTEN TO HORROR STORIES
OF SELF-DESTRUCTION AND DEPRES-
SION
IN THE LAND OF THE HILLS THE NA-
TIVES CALL
HAITI
MY Haiti
A COUNTRY ONCE PROSPEROUS NOW
DISINTEGRATES
ITS PEOPLE DISILLUSIONED
MY HEART BREAKS
FOR Aristide,
FOR THE MUTILATED BODIES THAT LIE
IN THE OPEN STREETS
FOR THE MOTHERLESS CHILDREN
WHOSE SKELETON FRAMES
KEEP THEM WANDERING
ABOUT THE WAR ZONE
LOOKING FOR MANGE.
Colonialism and Conspiracy Con-
tinue
I LISTEN TO Jennings and Walters
TELL ME ABOUT “THE HAITIANS”
I HEAR THE CRIES OF UNREST
ACROSS THE ATLANTIC
They roar like lions and
STOMP THEIR FEET LIKE THE TRIBES-
MEN OF AFRICA
They dance to the drum
AND SING OF THE FUTURE, OF FREE-
DOM, OF PEACE.
Haiti
My Haiti
WHOSE TREES REAP SUCCULENT
MANGOES AND ROBUST PLANTAINS
WHOSE WARM CRYSTAL WATERS
MEET
THE WHITE SANDY BEACHES OF
LEOGAN
Haiti
My Haiti
WHOSE TRADITONAL IDEAS AND
VALUES
TRANSCEND OUR NEW AMERICAN
HOMES
CREATE ANOTHER WAR ZONE
WHERE HERE TOO
PARENTLLESS CHILDREN GO
ABOUT THEIR LIVES
EXPRESSIONLESS, SANS VIGEUR
SANS ESPRIT.
Haiti cherie
MY COUNTRY
IS WHERE WOUNDS LIE BLEED-
ING
AND WHERE RECOVERY AWAITS.
Freedom,
Liberation of the mind,
THE GREATEST STRUGGLE,
REAPS THE GREATEST GIFTS
Shackles broken through
Self-Determination, Cour-
age, Knowledge
LEAVES ONE UNTOUCHED
FROM THREAT.
Too MANY LIVE IN FEAR
Too MANY LIVE FOR THE MO-
MENT
INSTEAD OF
Judges, Prosecutors, Con-
Artists GALORE
Not enough defenders, real-
ists
Freedom,
Liberation of the mind
PLACES us ON A HIGHER PLANE,
A HIGHER UNDERSTANDING,
SEARCHING FOR A HIGHER TRUTH
WHILE WE LOOK DOWN BELOW
On the madness.
Page 1 3
Drum May/June 1995
II
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