Thursday, December 06, 2007

The MXGM Pledge

MXGM is 'the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement'. They have a website. And on that website they list a pledge:

We must build the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement for Self Respect, Self Defense and Self Determination!

The Black Nation Charges Genocide!

We must Free the Land!

Free the Land!

Free the Land - By Any Means Necessary!


In this post, they explain exactly what they'd like to see happen:

Why we say FREE THE LAND

“Free the Land!”

... is the battle cry of the New Afrikan Independence Movement (NAIM).

The NAIM is part of the Black liberation Movement in North Amerikka that wants independent Black Nation on land in north amerikka. The land identified by the New Afrikan Independence Movement is primarily known as South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, as well as other areas of what is now called the Black-Belt South, where Afrikan people are in the majority or have a historical/economical/socio-cultural relationship to. When we say “Free the Land” this is the land we are talking about freeing. Malcolm X once stated:“Revolutions are fought to get control of land, to remove the absentee landlord, and gain control of the land and institutions that flow from the land. The Black [Nation] has been in a very low condition because [it] has no control whatsoever over the land.” He later stated:“A true Negro revolt might entail, for instance, fighting for separate Blacks states within this country…”

New Afrika- South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and other areas of the ‘Black-Belt South”- must be free. Afrika is the homeland of all Afrikan people, but We have no realistic plan to transport 40 million captive New Afikans back to Afrika.

We recognize the claims of Native Americans to this land, and we will struggle side-by-side to help them regain their land. At the same time, since out captivity in the western hemisphere, progressive Native Americans have recognized that We have nothing in common to north amerikkka and the majority of us have no realistic way to get back to Afrika.

We say ‘Free the Land’ because We want independence so that we can ensure our Human Rights are protected and that our land will be a zone and base for all who seek liberation and freedom.

FREE THE LAND!


That I can tell, the MXGM works with a lot of lefty-type groups out here in the Bay Area. I was at a Green Party meeting once where their name was brought up - the Greens and the MXGM were working together on something. I don't recall if I had a chance to speak or not, but I do remember voicing my opinion online somewhere - maybe a local Green Party mailing list. I said I didn't want to be involved with MXGM because of their 'Back-to-Africa' nonsense. Organizations that work together don't have to have similar goals all the way through, but they should share a common vision of what the future should look like, in a generalized way. For me, in any way cooperating with an organization whose ultimate goal is the division of people along race lines is plainly abominable and not something I would ever want to be associated with - officially or otherwise.

I don't approve of separatism, I don't approve of a Back-to-Africa strategy, I don't approve of a Back-to-Atlanta strategy, I don't approve of sexism, racism, or any form of aggression. For these reasons and more, I could not imagine ever supporting a policy of the separation of people based on race.

Maybe I'd feel differently if I was black and I was tired of getting terrorized by the police, but I doubt it.

I don't suspect it would take me too long to realize that black people with money and power are no better than white people with money and power.

And I don't think I'd be proud of myself for helping some old black lady onto a train bound for New Orleans from San Francisco, saying, "OK, ma'am - hop right in. You're gonna be safe down there, for sure." I suspect it'd make me think of myself as a racist. A Nazi. A monster. Or worse - a Republican.

And then I'd think, well what happens then? Do you need a passport to travel from White America to Black America and vice-versa? Does the South try to secede again? Another Civil War - poor whites versus poor blacks?

And what if some people want to stick around? Is the rest of society further polarized? White and black flight?

Do I get to visit South Africa for the next World Cup? Do I have to stay in just the white parts of town?

And if MXGM is really serious about this policy, then let's see it in action. There's no good reason I can think of for an any able-bodied black person who supports this policy to be stuck in the Bay Area for longer than a couple of weeks. Save up a couple hundred bucks, get a Greyhound bus ticket, and ride that mess down to the ATL - start your new racist life.

It's a bad joke. It reminds me of the racist evangelical preachers talking about moving all the god people down to some southeastern state to take it over and make it 'all god' or 'all white' or 'all whatever'. It's empty, hateful rhetoric.

This racist, divisive policy is asinine, and it's a poor service to Malcolm's memory to be promoting it. The MXGM needs to check itself, and any persons and any organization working with MXGM needs to think about their own position on this matter. I do not want to be aligned with the Aryan Brotherhood, and neither should you.

2 comments:

Ukali said...

Peter,

It is sad to see someone as articulate as you seem to be spout such an inaccurate and biased opinion.

You state:

I said I didn't want to be involved with MXGM because of their 'Back-to-Africa' nonsense.

The MXGM states:

We have no realistic plan to transport 40 million captive New Afikans back to Afrika.

Clearly, you have distorted their actual intentions by calling them a "Back-to-Africa" organization. They explicitly call for independent land in North America, not Africa.

You state:

I could not imagine ever supporting a policy of the separation of people based on race.

The MXGM states:

We say ‘Free the Land’ because We want independence so that we can ensure our Human Rights are protected and that our land will be a zone and base for all who seek liberation and freedom.

The MXGM advocates Human Rights for all people. Any organization that takes this stand is unequivocally against "racial separation," racism, and the general doctrine of racial superiority. It is dishonest and dishonorable to suggest, as you do, that they have a "policy of the separation of people based on race" when their own words speak a completely different truth.

Apparently, you haven't done your homework, Peter. Your opinion amounts to an emotional, knee-jerk reaction to the idea that New Afrikans ("Black" people in the United States) would choose to build an independent New Society. You play the "race card" in a context premised on our common humanity -- a weak, telling move.

...and you have the nerve to use the words "abominable" and "asinine" in your juvenile rant.

No... it is you who needs to check yourself.

Peter said...

Clearly, you have distorted their actual intentions

don't be ridiculous - i don't need to distort the mxgm's intentions - they're already quite distorted. it's a 'Back-to-Africa' movement. it's a segregation movement. it's a racist movement. only, it's not a movement, is it? there are too many people out there like me who are calling bullshit on this and every other racist philosophy in existence.

i read the website - i read that it is technically a 'Back-to-New-Afrika' movement - it's the same concept, and it's called 'Back to Africa' - a divisive, hateful, racist concept. it is what it is. if you want to defend it then defend it.

The MXGM advocates Human Rights for all people.

that's good. kinda sounds like 'separate but equal'. that worked out well.

Any organization that takes this stand is unequivocally against "racial separation,"

sure - they're against racial separation - just so long as South Carolina and a few other southern states are reserved for black people only. but they are not advocating racial separation. i swear. wanna buy a bridge?

the worst part about that racist pledge is that it uses code language just like so many white supremacist organizations, Republicans, Democrats, etc. if it wasn't so despicable, it'd be hilarious.

check out the ccc's statement of principles. you won't notice in those principles any declared hatred of any race. you won't notice any call to separate people based on race. and yet, the SPLC describes the CCC as a hate group. now, maybe the SPLC is just a bunch of flunkies, but I tend to doubt it. they're not the alarmist types. the CCC is using coded language to dance around their actual racist beliefs. the mxgm is a bit more honest in their pledge, explicitly calling for the creation of blacks-only states. so, they're not quite as dishonest as the CCC, hate group extraordinaire. that's something to be proud of, i guess.

instead of getting all bitter and defensive, i'd suggest a rethink. do you really want to support a 'Back to New Afrika' movement? are you really comfortable with what that actually means? after all, talk is cheap.

for instance, if the CCC started to offer buying plane tickets for all African Americans to fly - one way - to South Carolina - would you support that offer? is that a valid offer? is that an offer you would like to see extended to all African Americans? and if so, do you want to see them accept the offer, also? would you help promote the offer? would you encourage African Americans you knew to accept the offer? would it have to include Georgia and the other states, or can we just start with South Carolina? let's do this - let's put this plan in action. let's contact the CCC and see if they would mind buying one way plane tickets for all three African Americans in Wyoming to fly to South Carolina. Once we succeed in this little publicity stunt, then we can declare Wyoming a 'no blacks' state (except for the occasional unsuspecting tourists). And the percentage of blacks in South Carolina will get a statistical bump. From there, we hit Montana, Idaho, then onto Iowa, and then who knows - the sky's the limit! are you with me?!

of course you're not with me - because this racist shit is bullshit. instead of defending this racism, do something useful. there of plenty of worthy people and organizations that need your help.

i swear, if i had a nickel for every self-described lefty who was trying to bring about world peace by dividing the Left...