Cultivating Black Sovereign Awareness

 

This article was written back in 2005 by Ezrah Aharone for a conference on Sovereignty and Black America.  It was brought to my attention on my birthday by one of my mentorship students.  He told me that he was simply searching for anything related to my name on Google and came across the article.  While reading it, he said that it could have easily been written by me as it embodied my own views on Black America almost exactly.

The moniker "Black Sovereign" that I created in 1999, is similarly defined by the words of Ezrah Aharone and I was humbled to learn that my thoughts and philosophies on Black America mirrored others as well.  He was right, the word "Sovereign" has never been applied to Black America and the is why I chose the name instead of "Black Huru" or "Black King".  I wanted something the embodied who I know myself to be...  strong-willed, independent, unique, and self-aware.

 

ORIGINAL POST DATE:  FEBRUARY 6, 2006

On February 18th a conference gathering of diverse Black people will assemble in Pittsburgh to engage a unique issue that is expanding today's sociopolitical dialogue.  That issue centers upon the Sovereign Rights of Africans in America. The conference is aptly titled, "Dependency or Sovereignty: Where Do We Go From Here?"  The purpose is not to launch a sovereign movement for Black independence, but rather to promote awareness of what sovereignty is all about.

Sovereignty is the pinnacle of all political ideals. Sovereignty is the highest level of accountability and responsibility of a people. Sovereignty concerns Supreme Power and Absoluteness. 1) The Supreme Power of a government to control all people, activities, territory and resources within its borders. 2) The Absolute right of a people to govern themselves without foreign influence or interference's. Sovereignty incubates as a consciousness and a philosophy that forms the basis of a people's political and ideological Self-Identity.

Obviously, neither Black people nor any other minority group has Supreme Power or Absoluteness over America's government or body politic. All minorities are under the sovereign jurisdiction of Euro-Americans. They defied the British to establish this country. They defined America's political doctrine. They wrote the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. They control all major government institutions and the highest political posts of power. They determine allies and enemies. They declare war and decide terms of peace.

So it's little wonder why the word "Sovereignty" is not part of Black America's active political vocabulary, like the word "Integration".  This is no accident because freedom for us has been limited to "Civil Rights, Integration, and Citizenship", whereas Euro-Americans on the other hand possess "Sovereignty, Independence, and Statehood".  With the supremacy of "Sovereignty, Independence, and Statehood" comes absolute federal authority to either legislate or repeal "Civil Rights, Integration, or Citizenship".

Yes, Black America is free within the context that freedom is offered in America. But by no means are we a "sovereign people".  Any perceived sense of sovereignty we may have is simulated through our association with Euro-Americans. However, association should not be confused with sovereignty.  People are either sovereign, or they are not. To occupy a psychological middle-ground like Black America constitutes the absence of sovereignty.

Over the last century, America has welcomed people of all of races, creeds, and colors to naturalize. America is a melting pot of ethnicities, but not a melting pot of sovereignty. The sovereignty of Euro-Americans is an exclusive, indivisible, non-transferable substance that will not be sliced into ethnic pieces to share with others. Unless defeated in war, they will never allow their sovereignty to be compromised or dissolved by non-Western Europeans.  Particularly the descendants of the African people who they once intentionally enslaved.

Even though early Euro-Americans may have preferred a purely Anglo-Saxon nation, the sovereignty of 4 million newly-emancipated slaves would have devastated the economy. Absent our loyalty and labor America would not be the superpower known today. So in weighing their options from an economic standpoint, the prospects of our sovereignty proved just as impractical as America's Anglo-purity. Their payoff however has been exponential.  Euro-America's greatest asset today is the unquestionable loyalty and labor of near-40 million Blacks now firmly under their sovereign authority.

Apart from wars and coups, the last situation any government would want to face inside its borders is to have 40 million discontented citizens (of another race) flirting with the ideal of sovereignty. This would menace the national and economic interests of any nation, regardless of its power. A government will therefore expend major efforts to avert such a disruptive occurrence. Since Euro-Americans broke away from British-rule, they know this reality from both ends.

Ordinarily, the desire for sovereignty is a natural inborn trait that's known to become irrepressible. However Black America has oddly become well-adjusted to living under a government that we do not control. The fact that we never wrote a Declaration of Independence or a Constitution, or established a government is insignificant to the rank and file of mainstream Black leadership. The thought of exploring sovereignty presents them with a psychological conflict of interest that's akin to political blasphemy.

Since our lives are attached to America in every way, it's understandable that Blacks would be cautious about ideals that could be perceived as radical. But just for the sake of curiosity, suppose for a moment that a segment of Black America did decide to explore the feasibility of sovereignty. First of all, mainstream society would view this pursuit to be equally contentious as ridiculous. But when you objectively think about it, our troubled history and unresolved sociopolitical issues support a legitimate case for self-rule. And in terms of capabilities, we certainly do not lack the requisite intellectual, technical, or financial resources to be a sovereign people. We have more than ample human potential to establish a new and relevant presence in the world, with a political and ideological self-identity of our own. If we ever decided to do so!

There's great strategic value to our awareness and open discussion of our "Sovereign Right" because, Euro-Americans know that by depriving us of sovereignty, they in essence contradict the fundamentals of their own political principles. This brings the government face to face with the very constitutional and philosophical ideals of democracy that it claims to espouse and wants to export throughout the world, yet it has selfishly dispossessed us of the same.

Undoubtedly, our sovereignty raises many questions to which there are no agreed answers at the moment. But these questions have less to do with feasibility, and more to do with the reality that the fate of Black America has historically revolved around an orbit that best benefits White America. So naturally, our sovereignty has never been seriously examined.  Which is why the Pittsburgh Conference on Dependency or Sovereignty is so important and why similar gatherings are necessary nationwide.

Considering the totality of what Black America has endured historically, the conclusion to our sovereign fate should neither be influenced nor imposed by Euro-American expectations or dictates. All decisions related to our "Sovereign Rights to Exist" must strictly be based solely on our self-determination.  Not based on our lack of vision to ponder such decisions or our lack of courage to espouse sovereign aspirations.
______________

From the Pittsburgh Conference on Dependency or Sovereignty

Ezrah Aharone is a Scholar of Sovereign Studies and the author of "Pawned Sovereignty: Sharpened Black Perspectives on Americanization, Africa, War and Reparations"

He can be reached at EzrahAharone@juno.com .

New Directions

Since turning 40, this past January, I have reflected on the past 10 years. I remember where I was at age 30 in 2004, contemplating leaving the Lifestyle. Then changing my mind a year later when I ended up with 3 devoted slaves... one of which still serves me faithfully to this day.

So what happened to the other two? Well, one let jealousy get the better of him when I agreed to allow a Baltimore area sub, whom he didn't feel deserved the opportunity, to accompany us at Black B.E.A.T 2005. For anyone who was there and remembers, he was the white sub loaned out to be used in Master Terrell's brutal flogging demo. My slave forgot his place and was disrespectful when I decided to loan the other sub instead of him... that got him kicked out of my hotel room and later dismissed permanently.

The other, I let go a year later so that he could pursue a career defining job opportunity in the DC area. He begged me to consider relocating with him but I declined.  Not because I didn't value him enough to consider it but because it was bad timing. We kept in touch and a couple years ago, gave my blessing for him to begin serving another Dominant.

Now in 2014, I once again have a triad of slaves as well as a few other loyal subs whom I mentor. They have earned my trust and work hard to retain it. A Master could not ask for more. Well... that's not exactly true but I am comfortable where things are now. On my birthday, my slave of almost 10 years asked me if I would consider taking on another slave.

I know where the question comes from. He is in his mid 60's now and wants to know that I will be taken care of when it comes time for him to retire from active service. We hadn't talked much about that but I know there will come a time where he may not be able to serve in the same capacity as he does now, despite being in great physical and mental condition. So I have considered it.

My other two slaves are long distance. An experiment that seems to be working thus far. There are challenges, for sure; but each have a unique role to play and they value their relationship with me. More importantly, they work hard everyday to show me how grateful they are.  That is a quality that can never be learned or taught.

Each of them knows that once I start questioning their usefulness as slaves... dismissal is not far behind.

There never should be a doubt about who is serving whom. And if there is... someone's gotta go.

 

So I have opened myself up to the possibility of taking on another eventual slave.  I have also decided to take mentoring to a new level.  For years, I have taken subs under my wing for training.  These are men who knew who they were already but needed a guiding hand.  I call it Lifestyle mentoring.  I'll be providing more information about it in another post soon.

Along with the new mentoring options I plan to offer,  I am also introducing Work-Study Vacations.  I tried this out last year with great success.  Allowed a sub to accompany me on my vacation where he got the opportunity to serve and learn with me directly for 3 days... as well as relax.  It was a good time and based on that experience,  am looking to expand on the concept.  At this time, it will only be offered to subs I have contact with either via Lifestyle mentoring or acquaintances I've gotten to know over the years.

Will this new direction mean that I will no longer share my thoughts and opinions freely via my blog and other avenues?  No.

Will this mean that I am no longer accessible except to subs who want to serve me?  No, as there will be options now one can utilize in order to make contact worthwhile and beneficial to both of us.

One of them is my FetLife group,  The Black Sovereign Network.  A free social group anyone is invited to join.

Another is through commenting directly on my main blog at blacksovereign.com (for those who prefer not to use social media).  All posts created on my personal site are automatically shared to Twitter, Tumblr, Google+ and Facebook so those are viable contact options as well.  I will accept most friend requests.

 

I've been in the Lifestyle since I was 18.  22 years later, I am still here.  I've made it work for myself despite the obstacles.  I've changed quite a few lives.  And I've learned many lessons along the way... both good and bad.  I've learned to keep it real.  Learned to keep it simple and as uncomplicated as possible.

And, I will try to continue this trend for the next 25 years...

 

Black History Series | Booker Wright

Legacy of Booker Wright, waiter murdered after speaking out on ‘whites only’ restaurant in Mississippi

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Related Posts about Booker Wright

• 40 years later, Mississippi waiter’s ‘magical moment’ renews race relations

 

In 1965, filmmaker Frank De Felitta produced an NBC News documentary about white attitudes towards race in the American South and the tensions of life in the Mississippi Delta during the Civil Rights struggle.  The film outraged some Southern viewers, in part, because of a candid and unforgettable scene featuring Booker Wright, a local African-American waiter in Greenwood, MS.  Wright, who worked at a local “whites only” restaurant, went on national television to deliver a stunning and heartfelt monologue about his true feelings about serving the white community, and about his aspirations for his children, who he hoped would grow up free from the prejudice he faced.  The repercussions for Booker Wright’s courageous candidness were extreme.  He lost his job and was beaten and ostracized by those who considered him “one of their own.”

Almost fifty years after Booker Wright’s television appearance, his granddaughter Yvette Johnson, and Frank De Felitta’s son, director Raymond De Felitta, journey into the Mississippi Delta in search of answers: Who exactly was Booker Wright?  What was the mystery surrounding his courageous life and untimely murder? And what role did this 1965 NBC News documentary play in his fate? While Booker Wright’s name does not appear in history books, Finding Booker’s Place demonstrates that his legacy continues to inspire, many decades later.  The broadcast also raises critical questions about society today.  Most importantly, in 2012,can we truly say we live in a post-racial America?

On Sunday, “Dateline” will air Finding Booker’s Place, an unflinching look into race relations in America over the last four and a half decades.  “Dateline” follows the paths of two strangers, both bent on unraveling family mysteries, who discover that they share a unique bond that is rooted within NBC News and goes back to the most tumultuous days of the Civil Rights movement in Mississippi.  TheGrio talked to “Dateline” anchor Lester Holt about Booker’s story.

THEGRIO:  Who was Booker Wright?

LESTER HOLT: While you won’t find Booker Wright’s name in any history books, he is an unsung hero whose legacy continues to inspire, many decades later.  He was a local African-American waiter in Greenwood, MS who worked at a local “whites only” restaurant.  After going on national television to deliver a stunning and heartfelt monologue about his true feelings about serving the white community, his life was forever changed.

What part did NBC News play in his story?

The broadcast that Booker Wright courageously appeared on over 40 decades ago was an NBC News documentary.  In 1966, filmmaker Frank DeFelitta produced an NBC News documentary about white attitudes towards race in the American South and the tensions of life in the Mississippi Delta during the civil rights struggle.  The film outraged some Southern viewers, in part, because of an unforgettable scene featuring Booker Wright.

What surprised you most about this story?

Besides the coincidence of three people from broadly different backgrounds –a pair of filmmakers and Booker Wright’s granddaughter – separately trying to uncover Booker Wright’s story, I was frankly surprised we hadn’t heard of Wright and his brave act of defiance before.  His painful description to a national television audience of the degradation and humiliation he suffered as a black man in Mississippi was as courageous an act as any from that time. Of course the documentary in which he appeared only ran once in 1966, and in those days there was no equivalent to “viral video.” His story would have gone untold if not for the determination of the individuals you will meet in our report.

How did white Mississippians react to your search for Booker?

My sense is that the people of Mississippi do not run from their history. On the contrary, in many ways it is openly acknowledged as a point of reference to demonstrate and appreciate how far things have come.  In the original documentary, a group of Greenwood civic leaders speak about the virtues on segregation.  46 years later, Greenwood has a mixed race town council. The people I met, both black and white, seemed genuinely interested and supportive of our story.

What’s the one big takeaway you want viewers to get from this broadcast?

I don’t like to predispose what viewers will or should take from a given story, but for me personally, Booker Wright’s story was a reminder that broad change in society isn’t always rooted in high-profile seminal moments. Sometimes the seeds of change are planted by small and unrecognized acts of courage.

Originally posted by theGrio | July 13, 2012 at 11:28 AM

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Booker's Place: A Mississippi Story is a 2012 documentary film about Booker Wright, an African-American waiter who worked in a restaurant for whites only.

In 1965, Wright appeared in Mississippi: A Self Portrait, a short NBC television documentary about racism in the American South. During his interview with producer Frank De Felitta, he spoke openly about racism, and his treatment as a waiter in an all-white restaurant. The broadcast of his remarks had catastrophic consequences for Wright.

Booker's Place: A Mississippi Story was directed by the son of Frank De Felitta, Oscar-nominated, independent filmmaker Raymond De Felitta, and co-produced by one of Booker Wright’s four grandchildren, Yvette Johnson. It includes interviews with those who lived in the community. They discuss life at the time, and the restaurant Wright owned, which catered to African-American customers.

Director, Raymond De Felitta
The documentary premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 25, 2012.

Booker's Place: A Mississippi Story was directed by the son of Frank De Felitta, Oscar-nominated, independent filmmaker Raymond De Felitta, and co-produced by one of Booker Wright’s four grandchildren, Yvette Johnson.  It includes interviews with those who lived in the community. They discuss life at the time, and the restaurant Wright owned, which catered to African-American customers.

Mississippi: A Self Portrait

The original documentary, the subject of Booker's Place: A Mississippi Story, was produced by Frank De Felitta in 1965. De Felitta worked for NBC as a documentary filmmaker. He was given his own unit, and so generally had the freedom to select his own topics. He was inspired to make Mississippi: A Self Portrait after reading a New York Times Sunday Magazine article by Hodding Carter about injustice experienced by African Americans in Mississippi. He approached NBC, and the project was approved.  He traveled to Mississippi to interview local residents. There, in Greenwood, he was introduced to Booker Wright, a waiter at Lusco’s, a whites-only restaurant. Wright sang the menu, a gimmick at the restaurant. This was also because there were no menus, a measure used to discourage African Americans from patronizing the restaurant.  Wright spoke openly about his treatment by customers, and life in a racist society. The documentary appeared on NBC television.

Consequences of the broadcast

Following the broadcast of the NBC documentary, Wright quit his job at the all-white restaurant after being shunned by customers. He was severely pistol-whipped by a policeman, and his own restaurant, Booker’s Place was firebombed. Wright was eventually murdered by an African American customer.

You can watch Booker's Place on Netflix. 

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