Chokwe Lumumba
One of the most overlooked stories of 2013 was the election of Chokwe Lumumba is Jackson, Mississippi where he garnered over 75% of the vote. The former lawyer of the late 2pac Shakur and former political prisoner Asaata Shakur is considered in many circles to be the nation’s most progressive and radical mayor.
He was an integral part of the Republic of New Afrika which called for Black people to establish a nation within a nation, looking at 5 key southern states Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina as the base.
He was the founder of the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement which has chapters all over the country and has been focused on a number of issues facing the Black community including the plight of political prisoners and police accountability among other things..
We sat down and spoke with Kali Akuno who does political outreach for the Lumumba administration to get an update as to how they have been doing in their 6 months in office and what bold plans and initiatives they intend to put forth in the upcoming new year..
Kali Akuno
For those who say we need change and we need to create a world where we ‘do the right thing‘ and take the proverbial bull by its horns and go to work’, then your attention and energy should be focused on Jackson, Mississippi. They are taking steps to do many of the things I’ve heard people say we should be doing in meeting after meeting, convention after convention and gathering after gathering.. Jackson is ground zero. If you are African-American, Jackson should really be watched considering the city 80% population, history and current day-to-day challenges.
In our conversation with Akuno, what stood out is the city laying critical ground work to be self-sustaining from top to bottom. They are changing the infrastructure of the city so that its green and ecologically efficient. They have aggressive entrepreneurial plans. They aren’t begging big corporations for jobs, they are creating them.. They have radical approaches toward social justice.. And they are putting forth an incredible conference in May called Jackson Rising..
Listen to the Hard Knock Radio interview below. You will be inspired..
http://www.audiomack.com/song/hard-knock-radio/2014-agenda-for-mayor-chokwe-lumumba-administration
I would love to begin a program in Kansas City to reflect the changes you all are making in Jackson. Please contact me at (816) 977-9022 or jordanlachelle39@gmail.com with information regarding the steps necessary It has been a passion of mine to remove the chains of bondage that have plagued our communinty for over 100 years.
Respectfully, Rosalind Jordan
The worst thing black people can do for themselves is isolate themselves even more in this country. If we establish a nation within a nation (such as New Afrika), doesn’t that place a barrier between ourselves and the rest of American society? How will we ever integrate then? Lord knows we have enough barriers as it is…and we are going to purposely place another one in front of us? That’s ludicrous. The only way we can eliminate racism is if we eliminate race. Everybody needs to intermarry and mix races until we’re all mocha-colored with Asian eyes. That way, you can’t hate anybody for being a different race. But I’m sure if that happens, we’ll find another reason to hate each other.