Disqus - Latest Comments for heidi23

Re: Row over public funding for research into history of black British jazz

heidi23 — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 03:47:39 -0000

There is jazz. There is a Britain. There is a black population. These three cultural phenomena are of interest and significance, both separately and in combination. The AHRC (which has also funded my own research) exists to deepen knowledge about interesting and significant cultural phenomena.

Comments on this blog prove that Telegraph readers are interested: 'Bettyboop' claims that 'most black musicians rejected jazz' while 'Firk Orfe' says there was 'no such thing in Britain until after WWII'.

However, it is only the research itself that will substantiate whether such comments are based on sound knowledge of the subject or mere ignorant prejudice. And, at less than the price of a modest London house, I think that the possible eradication of corrosive, ignorant prejudice will make it very good value.

Re: Challenging Cuba as the violator of black people’s rights? Really?

heidi23 — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:15:05 -0000

“racism” is not our problem. Colonialism is our problem... racism is just the ideological justification for the colonial domination of our people by parasitic imperialism"

This is confusing. You say that 'racism' is the 'ideology' of imperialism. But somehow the ideology of imperialism is not 'our' problem.

If the 'ideology' of imperialism is the content of schools, media, culture, politics - how is that not a problem? Isn't it in fact THE main problem?

Let's put it another way. If imperialism is so bad, and so OBVIOUSLY bad, why isn't every 'black working class' person a revolutionary activist? Why, after so many decades, isn't membership of the APSP measured in millions instead of dozens?

Is it because most 'black working class' people are PRIMARILY educated and informed by imperialist ideology? But, if imperialist ideology isn't 'our' problem, why do 'we' need UhuruNews.com or Burning Spear?

There are many ways to fight imperial power, from the non-violent, political route (India, Ghana), to the violent, military route (Vietnam, Kenya). But I find it hard to imagine one that doesn't involve directly confronting imperialist ideology - including its various manifestations of 'racism'. Pray, enlighten me.

Re: Video : Chairman Omali Yeshitela speaks in Nairobi, Kenya on building One Africa! One Nation!

heidi23 — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 08:32:28 -0000

Excellent speech, for the most part. Some questions though. Are people really 'one nation' just because they look similar? And how similar? What if there are differences in 'looks' such as between Algerians and Igbos? -Or between Khoi Khoi and Somali? And how do we get around the fact that there are thousands of different languages in Africa? India is big and diverse, but has a dominant Hinid/Hindu language and culture. Isn't Africa's diversity more ancient and developed than that of India? Therefore, what cultural basis is there for a continental African nation state - English, French, Arabic - Catholicism, Protestantism, Islam?

Re: Video : Neocolonialism and the Class Conflict — By Luwezi Kinshasa, ASI Secretary-General

heidi23 — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:00:13 -0000

Neo-colonialism is terrible. so its great that there's a group opposed to it. But all previous revolutions have been based on populations which although sometimes diverse, are dominated by a central, ethnically unified group. Most African 'micro-states' don't share this circumstance, let alone the entire continent. Even India has a dominant Hindi-speaking/Hindu-practicing minority. Africa is far more diverse. But the other strategic problem facing the ASI is the question of dependency. How can you found an anti-neo-colonial state without an advanced industrial base? With no arms you might win, but you cannot hold onto state power. Like other big, non-industrialised revolutions (such as those in the US and China) you will need foreign arms suppliers. But that directly undermines your central ideology, which, unlike those revolutions, is not directed against foreign occupation, but against foreign dependency. It is naive to imagine that dependence on the East will be any better than dependence on the West. Social equality and national democratic sovereignty are laudable aims worth fighting for. But ASI's Garveyite political strategy is based on the racial politics of a bygone era and is therefore unsuitable for modern Africa, let alone modern America. What will be interesting is whether ASI can achieve anything significant in Sierra Leone. But this will only be possible if it abandons the utopian rhetoric and concentrates on the number one question. I'm sorry to sound like booker T, but what Africa needs more than anything is technical education. Doctors, engineers, teachers, scientific farmers, industrialists. Yes, educate the youth about global economics, civic responsibility and political science. But above all, educate them about how to generate wealth through the application of technical skills. My advice to ASI is to abandon all other geo-political policies - they are left over baggage from the sixties. Concentrate your noble energies on one single policy - raise up the level of technical education. Doctors, dentists, engineers, teachers, lawyers and scientific farmers do not go hungry - and they radiate wealth. Free, high-quality schools: multiply the universities and technical colleges. That is the only policy worth fighting for. Everything else, all the talk about Christmas and white power can be ditched and nothing of value would be lost. If the ASI devoted its American money to putting ten African children through medical school - it would have achieved far more than all of its protest demos put together.

Re: http://uhurunews.com/video/play?resource_name=the-truth-about-christmas-video

heidi23 — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:39:40 -0000

Christmas is stupid. But campaigning against it seems like a waste of time. Didn't they try abolishing it in the USSR?

Re: http://uhurunews.com/video/play?resource_name=if-jesus-was-a-revolutionary-then-why-is-your-preacher-such-an-uncle-tom-video

heidi23 — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:18:42 -0000

Very witty commentary on the bible. But is it right to describe Africans as a nation? They speak different languages, have different traditions, look different, worship differently. I'm not saying that peace and unity are a bad idea. I'm just not convinced that the rhetoric of 'national liberation' is the most effective ideology.