You are here: Home / Archives for Chokwe Lumumba

Hard Knock Radio: With Mayor Chokwe Lumumba Passing-What Next?

February 27, 2014 By
Chokwe Lumumba

Chokwe Lumumba

Hard Knock Radio 02-26-2014 : We discuss the sudden passing of long time activist and freedom fighter Chokwe Lumumba who was several months into serving his first term as mayor of Jackson, Mississippi. We spoke with Lumumba’s long time friend,former Detroit City Councilman Kwame Kenyatta about his legacy and the next steps for the mayor’s administration. We also asked him if he thought if there was any foul play involved.

Kenyatta said that folks are still gathering all the information and due time the family will release statements. He also noted that Lumumba as  lawyer would respond to questions of foul play by noting that we have a responsibility to look at all the evidence.

In terms of what will happen to the staff that served under Mayor Lumumba, Kenyatta noted that’s up to the new mayor who was sworn in hours after Lumumba’s death. He noted that folks are still going to be active and do what they can to carry out the plans that were laid forth but from a governmental stand point, the new mayor has the option to keep people on and move forward or let replace everyone until a new election is held.

Kwame Kenyatta

Kwame Kenyatta

Kenyatta noted that with Lumumba receiving so much support (He won with 84%) he would hope that the city council and the new mayor would understand that the community was and is excited by the changes that were in the works and being put forth and that ideally things should continue in that vein. Kenyatta also laid out what all the options, possible scenarios and likely time frame for a special election to be held to replace the Mayor Lumumba.

Kenyatta who was serving as Mayor Lumumba’s Compliance officer, explained that everyone who worked for the administration is committed 100% to carrying out his vision that was put forth in the widely read Jackson Rising Plan.

He noted that the Jackson Rising Conference which was scheduled for May is still going to happen. He said Lumumba who was his close friend for over 40 years would have it no other way. He noted that Lumumba was the type of person who would want us to take a moment to grieve and reflect but not abandoned the plans all had laid out.

We concluded our interview by asking Kenyatta to reflect on his long friendship with Lumumba and what people listening should ideally know him for.

Click the link below to download or Listen to the HKR Intv

Click the link below to download or Listen to the HKR Intv

HKR-02-26-14-Chokwe Lumumba Passing-First Voice Apprentiship

Filed Under: 2014 Daily News, Hard Knock Radio Intv Tagged With: , , , ,

Reflecting on the Loss of Trayvon and Chokwe-How Will We Honor Them?

February 26, 2014 By

Trayvon Martin wore a hoodie in the rain..In the world of Don lemon and Geraldo, maybe He should've had an umbrella instead2 years ago today we lost a young man by the name of Trayvon Martin..He was on his way home from the store when a racist man filled with hate and fearful of Black people ‘suspected‘ him of being ‘up to no good‘ because he was deemed to be out of place in the upscale neighborhood.

Disobeying police orders, George Zimmerman, a man with a criminal record and history of violence acting in the capacity of self appointed neighborhood watch captain, followed, this young brother and ultimately wound up killing him…

After Trayvon was killed that fateful night it took 44 days before Zimmerman was arrested and charged by a prosecuting team that for the most part did not want to try him and literally killed the concept of ‘justice’ during the trial.  They brought their C and D game to the trial vs their ‘A’ game thus revealing to their world the same bias toward Black people that Zimmerman had.

We should never forget what happened to Trayvon who was not only killed by Zimmerman but also saw his character viciously assassinated by many who can’t stand the fact that with each passing day they are losing their power and the world they once oppressively ruled.

We should never forget that the parents of Trayvon Martin lost their son…There are few things in this world more painful then losing a child… Reflect on that for a minute…

As we reflect on Trayvon, let us also reflect on the sudden loss of Chokwe Lumumba, a true freedom fighter and the recently elected Mayor of Jackson, Mississippi. Lumumba throughout his life, stood and fought tirelessly for justice and was shining light in a sea of madness. His election while ignored by many political pundits had ignited the masses who were excited about his bold plans for Jackson (The Jackson Plan: A Struggle for Self-Determination, Participatory Democracy, and Economic Justice )and the upcoming conference in May called Jackson Rising. His loss was a heartbreak for many.

Chokwe Lumumba

Chokwe Lumumba

How will we honor their deaths? Will we stand for justice like Chokwe? Will we value life and love and respect each other so we don’t have any more Trayvons, meaning young people who die tragically before their time? Or will today be just like any other day in America where we capitulate to the social and political engineering efforts of corporate tyranny?

For those of who are older, it would be a big loss if we don’t teach our youth the lessons learned around Trayvon and the legacy of Chokwe. Today is a day for reflection. Tomorrow is when we make a commitment to move forward in honor of two who are now with the ancestors..

Filed Under: 2014 Daily News Tagged With: , , , ,

Jackson Rising: The Bold Agenda of Mayor Chokwe Lumumba for 2014

January 16, 2014 By
Chokwe Lumumba

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

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

Jackson Rising

Filed Under: 2014 Daily News, Hard Knock Radio Intv Tagged With: , , ,