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<font size=4><b>Following this forwarded note is a speech by Yuri
Kochiyama, quotes from Malcolm X and Ho Chi Minh <i>On Lynching<br><br>
</i></b></font><font size=3>From: wlx@yahoogroups.com
[<a href="mailto:wlx@yahoogroups.com" eudora="autourl">
mailto:wlx@yahoogroups.com</a>] On Behalf Of<br>
Walter Lippmann<br><br>
(May 19 is one of the most striking days on the calendar. It's the<br>
birthdate of Malcolm X and Ho Chi Minh. It's the day that Cuba's<br>
indepenence apostle Jose Marti was killed in combat in 1989, and<br>
was the birthdate of that wonderful poet, playwrite and political<br>
activist Lorraine Hansberry, author of TO BE YOUNG, GIFTED AND<br>
BLACK, A RAISING IN THE SON and much more. Ind addition to these<br>
fighers who are with their ancertors now. Yuri Kochiyama, who is<br>
still with us and still active, was also born on this date as
well.<br><br>
The only non-Black member of Malcolm X's Organization of Afro-<br>
American Unity, and a fighter whose intial lessons in the reality<br>
of U.S. life were made when her father was arrested and the whole<br>
family was interned by the United States during World War II. Now<br>
in her eighties, she still is active in the struggle, by writing,<br>
phone and attending actitivies<br><br>
The remarks below were made ten years ago and until now were only<br>
available in a small anthology of Yuri Kochiyama's writings which<br>
was published by the UCLA Asian-American Studies Center. Yuri
says:<br><br>
"Today, just mentioning the name Fidel Castro or Cuba, has some
people<br>
thinking only in negative terms of someone or some country
entrenched<br>
in human rights violation and brutality. The recent downing of the<br>
two planes over Cuban air-space had the U.S. government condemning<br>
Cuba and asking the United Nation to denounce the act. Yet, the U.S.<br>
has for over 30 years placed a blockade around Cuba, not allowing<br>
food, medicine or other necessities to enter. It has held a<br>
stranglehold on Cuba, bringing suffering to the Cuban people. The<br>
U.S. has also tried to assassinate Fidel Castro time and time again<br>
during these thirty-some years. So, who is the real perpetrator of<br>
human rights violation?"<br><br>
Happy Birthday, Yuri Kochiyama!<br>
====================================================================<br>
<br>
</font><font size=4><b>Expand our Horizons:<br>
Decolonize Our Minds, Cross Our Borders<br>
by Yuri Kochiyama<br><br>
</b></font><font size=3>Duke, Princeton and Boston University, April 4,
1996.<br>
<a href="http://www.walterlippmann.com/yuri-horizons.html" eudora="autourl">
http://www.walterlippmann.com/yuri-horizons.html<br><br>
</a>First, I wish to thank Steve Kim of the Asian Caucus and Don Brown
of<br>
AHANA for inviting me to your school, and encouraging students to<br>
come out today. I am really heartwarmed that Asian Pacific American<br>
students are interested in learning about their history, their<br>
culture, their language, and that of other people's history,
culture,<br>
language.<br><br>
I have chosen the topic - "Expanding Our Horizons, Decolonizing
Our<br>
Minds and Crossing over borders." I feel this is the task for
Asian<br>
American students today. Those in power and society itself, want us<br>
to have a limited outlook, cocoon ourselves from others, withdraw<br>
within ourselves, not interact with nor trust others, and narrow our<br>
perspective. A polarization has been taking place, dividing us from<br>
one another. How do we challenge this? Why must we challenge
this?<br><br>
Actually, American history has been one continuous narrative of<br>
events that have divided us - by race, color, class, gender,<br>
religion, politics, culture, region, and even accents. Americans are<br>
a divided people because America wants us divided. Americans do not<br>
look at one another as equals, or consider one another as brothers,<br>
sisters, neighbors. And I feel the basis for this is because of<br>
racism and slavery that began with America's birth. Racism has<br>
contaminated life in these United States, has tainted its<br>
institutions, deprived and denied its people who have been targeted<br>
and marginalized, stigmatized and looked down upon, most often<br>
because of color/race/national origin. History has shown this over<br>
and over again. Sadly, we Asian/PacificIslanders, while having been<br>
victims, have also been influenced by negative aspects of<br>
Euro-American ideas and thoughts. At the same time, we cannot blame<br>
everything with an American tag on the ills of society. Oftimes it<br>
could be our own frailties.<br><br>
But we must change the course of American history. And we are<br>
changing it, little by little. All of you are changing it,<br>
thankfully, because you are aware and concerned. You would not be<br>
organizing these wonderful events called Asian Pacific American<br>
Heritage Months, except for the fact that you want to bring APA<br>
people together and discuss the issues that pertain to you. APAs
back<br>
in the 60's were the pioneers in this movement. I am glad that your<br>
generation is continuing the legacy.<br><br>
I am heartwarmed that Asian Pacific Americans have been engaging in<br>
bringing together APAs for education and celebration. And we are<br>
always happy to see non-Asians amongst us. We have much to cel-<br>
ebrate, as APAs have been moving right along since the late sixties.<br>
It has always been Pan-Asian, not<br><br>
with any particular emphasis on any Asian ethnic group. That has
been<br>
the strength of the APA movement. And it has much more strength and<br>
substance than when it began some thirty years ago because of its<br>
greater diversity and richness since Southeast Asians, South Asians<br>
and Koreans have made their input.<br><br>
Today's topic - "Expanding Our Horizons: Decolonizing Our Mind,<br>
Crossing Across Borders" - what does this mean? How do we expand
our<br>
horizon? How do we decolonize our mind? What borders do we cross?
How<br>
can it change us? How can it change society?<br><br>
I think of myself when I was your age. I was a "colonized"
person,<br>
but I didn't know it, or realize it. Most of my generation were too,<br>
whatever color we were. We were like horses that had blinders put on<br>
us where we could not look sideways. We could only look straight<br>
ahead where our master points our head and guides us or directs us.<br>
Or pushes us. And our "horizon" was only the breadth of what
our<br>
"master(s)" wanted us to see.<br><br>
That's how we learned American history; through Eurocentric<br>
orientation. And that's why Ethnic Study is so important. It is<br>
learning history from the perspective of the Black, Latino, the<br>
misnomerednomered American Indian, and Asian. When that hard-fought<br>
struggle for Ethnic Studies was won (although it needs to be fought<br>
for still, Ethnic Studies revolutionized American history because<br>
finally die left-out history of peoples-of-color were told. Of<br>
course, there must be a great deal more research and "digging
into<br>
the past" done to surface a lot more facts and truths that have
been<br>
hidden and covered up. That's up to you students, who will be<br>
tomorrow's educators, historians, journalists, elected officials and<br>
parents. But we also need to encourage more APAs to take Asian<br>
American and other Ethnic Studies. Accurate history and truth will<br>
help to "decolonize" young minds; that of course, applies to
old<br>
minds, more so. But it is not just abridged education that has<br>
"colonized" us. It is everything from myths, gossips,
rumors,<br>
dogmatic religion, Hollywood movies, flippant TV shows, conservative<br>
newspapers, Madison Avenue advertising, small-town mentality, and<br>
big-town arrogance. We must not just be careful of what we read,
see,<br>
listen to, but must read every kind of paper, left-wing,
alternative,<br>
radical, Third World, international papers; check out everything,
and<br>
then make your own conclusion and assessment.<br><br>
Let's look at what happens to a "colonized" nation. First, it
becomes<br>
a colony or territory under the sovereignty of another nation or an<br>
outside country. There are still countries all over the world who
are<br>
colonies, although the UN in the 60's and 70's stated that no
country<br>
need remain colonized; that all countries have a right to decolonize<br>
and become independent. Being colonized is to be controlled by<br>
someone else. Let's take Puerto Rico as an example. It should be an<br>
independent state, but it is under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Most<br>
everything in Puerto Rico is under U.S. rule. Puerto Ricans do not<br>
even have Puerto Rican citizenship. They have U.S. citizenship. They<br>
must serve in the U.S. army. They cannot trade with any other
country<br>
but U.S. They have no control over customs, postal, monetary or<br>
judicial systems. A couple of years ago, there was a plebiscite to<br>
choose between commonwealth, statehood or independence. In this<br>
plebiscite or vote, 48 percent of Puerto Ricans chose to remain a<br>
Commonwealth; 46 percent voted for statehood.<br><br>
Although only 4.5 percent (80,000 people) voted for independence, it<br>
pulled the swinging pendulum away from statehood. It showed that<br>
Puerto Rico cannot be totally assimilated with the U.S. because
there<br>
is still a spontaneous national spirit, and an independence movement<br>
is trying to stay alive despite heavy U.S. propaganda.<br><br>
The people there have not been completely colonized despite the long<br>
occupation. One day they will be free. And - the Puerto Rican<br>
political prisoners in U.S. prisons - are reminders that there will<br>
always be independentistas that will fight against colonialism even<br>
at the sacrifice of their own personal lives.<br><br>
But you see what colonizing a nation can do. That colonized nation
is<br>
put into chains. It's like a captured nation that must take orders<br>
from the slave-master. Such a colonized nation becomes powerless to<br>
develop their own destiny, their own politics, their own decisions.<br>
There are Blacks who feel they are a "captive nation within a<br>
nation." The concept of the RNA (Republic of New Africa) is that
they<br>
are a pro- visional (temporary) government.<br><br>
We, as people in a supposedly free nation like the U.S., also can<br>
become "colonized" in the same sense - losing our initiative
to<br>
develop ourselves, to make our own choices about political and<br>
personal matters. Sometimes it is through the process of<br>
assimilation. We absorb the racism, the political influences, the<br>
class values of the mainstream or majority. Also, because of our<br>
status and responsibility as a citizens, we must fight in America's<br>
wars. And America has been fighting in one war after another And do<br>
you realize that three of the recent major wars were fought against<br>
Asian countries: Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. Other wars and military<br>
offenses were all against Third World countries too: Iraq, where
they<br>
killed some 200,000 soldiers who already had their white flag of<br>
surrender in view, and another 100,000 civilians; Panama, where they<br>
bombed a defenseless country to kidnap their president; and Grenada,<br>
where they invaded a tiny country of 110,000 people on the pretext
of<br>
protecting American medical stu- dents who were never in any
danger.<br><br>
And that is why Malcolm X refused to integrate into a racist
society.<br>
Instead, he wanted to separate from the jurisdiction of the U.S. and<br>
began a movement for self-determination, which many Black people<br>
today follow.<br><br>
Let's take another geographical area. Let's look at Hawai'i. It was<br>
once a free and beautiful island paradise. It became a commonwealth<br>
because the U.S. military toppled their Queen Liliuokalani,
dethroned<br>
her, took away her powers, and began to make all the rules for<br>
Hawai'i. It stripped Hawai'i of most of her land; made Hawai'i into<br>
America's playland, or into military bases; tried to destroy her<br>
indigenous culture, to "civilize" or bastardize her way of
life;<br>
changed Hawai'i into one of her states; made the indigenous Kanaka<br>
second class people; and began the process of Americanization;<br>
something similar to what happened to Black and other people of
color<br>
here.<br><br>
The indigenous Hawai'ian is today trying to fight for its<br>
sovereignty. Of course, the U.S. is doing everything to sabotage the<br>
movement; to divide and conquer. But those involved in the<br>
sovereignty movement are trying to decolonize themself. We're<br>
speaking of a whole nation of indigenous people. We don't know what<br>
may transpire because of disagreements among themselves, and because<br>
of what the U.S. government and those in power are concocting. But
in<br>
the past five years, there has been an intensive consciousness<br>
raising and history sharing among the indigenous Hawai'ians. Even
the<br>
Asian American and Caucasian American people of Hawaii are watching<br>
closely, if not anxiously. A definite "de-colonization" process
is<br>
taking place.<br><br>
We here on the mainland are also observing with keen interest
because<br>
it is opening our eyes and minds and hearts as to how a long<br>
repressed group is rising up with renewed vigor and strength. We are<br>
being "re-educated" and awakened from a long period of
"sleeping" or<br>
"unconsciousness of the plight of others." Without realizing
it, we<br>
have been molded by our "masters" because we had been so
"colonized"<br>
without our realizing it that we celebrated Hawaii becoming a state<br>
rather than seeing what statehood meant to the indigenous Hawai'ians<br>
- being robbed of their nation, their rights and their dignity.
Also,<br>
most settlers to Hawai'i, whether from Asia, Europe, or America,
also<br>
started looking down on Hawai'ians as if they were not as bright or<br>
ambitious and hardworking as them, when they were the ones who
denied<br>
the indigenous Kanakas their jobs, housing, and education in the<br>
first place. The chauvinism and racism of settlers to Hawaii, like<br>
settlers anywhere, felt themselves superior to the indigenous. So
you<br>
see how vicious and dangerous colonization can be. Also, you can see<br>
why and how the indigenous all over the world, in Central and South<br>
America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Ocean are being decimated
and<br>
annihilated by poverty, denial, lack of basic needs and being<br>
marginalized.<br><br>
And it is not only the Westerners that colonize, plunder, and
destroy<br>
humanity. In Asia, the Japanese bovernment did the same thing to<br>
Korea, invading and occupying their land for thirty-five years until<br>
their defeat in World War II. But in that time-span, Japan ruled<br>
Korea with an iron hand, forbidding the Korean people from speaking<br>
their own language, looking down on the people, dismantling their<br>
institutions, using their land, forcing their men workers to work in<br>
Japanese coal mines, and worst of all, kidnapping 200,000 of their<br>
young women on the pretext of giving them jobs, but forcing them
into<br>
sex slavery for the Japanese army during World War II. Colonizers<br>
know no boundaries when it comes to oppression. And they try to<br>
justify whatever they do. But colonizers rarely can take away the<br>
national identity of people.<br><br>
Identity is a people's pride, their self-consciousness and their<br>
humanity. Most Koreans never gave up their identity even if it cost<br>
them a job, a place to live, or a chance at education. But many<br>
Koreans in Japan were forced to do so for survival.<br><br>
The colonial mentality enjoys "dominating" others, even
animals, for<br>
their pleasure. Maybe the word is "domesticated" when it comes
to<br>
animals, but the parallels are there. Have you ever watched animals<br>
in a circus, where they have been "trained to do some amazing
things;<br>
almost imitating humans, doing what human beings find amusing or<br>
spectacular. like the once wild elephant, now prancing or dancing to<br>
music; or the ferocious lion, totally obeying the master, jumping<br>
through a hoop lit by fire; or the bear, juggling balls. Or the<br>
incredibly bright dolphins playing basketball in the water, when<br>
basketball is not their sport. It's amazing how one can be trained,<br>
or "tamed," or "broken" into doing anything. The
larger the animal,<br>
the crueler and tougher the "breaking." The
"so-called" dignity of<br>
the camel or elephant was the enforcement of man. It is also said<br>
that "tough inmates of prisons" or strong-willed slaves back in
the<br>
plantation days were also "processed" or beaten into
submission.<br><br>
Malcolm used to tell his people: "Be proud of your African
heritage.<br>
Don't let anyone take that away from you. Know who you are. Know<br>
where you come from. Learn the road your foreparents came, so you<br>
don't go through the same experience. Free yourself. You may not
have<br>
chains around your legs, but you may have chains around your mind.<br>
Break loose from the chains. Find your true identity. You don't even<br>
have to keep the slavemaster's name."<br><br>
And look what happened in the 60's. All those young bloods began<br>
taking African names or Muslim names and feeling proud of it. They<br>
refused to continue to be "oreo cookies" - Black outside,
white<br>
inside. They began "decolonizing" their mind. Cassius Clay
became<br>
Muhammad Ali. Lou Alcindor became Kareem Abdul Jabbar. Stokely<br>
Carmichael became Kwame Ture. Rap Brown became Jimiel Al-min.<br><br>
It was not just a fad. They knew what they were doing. It was<br>
politically motivated. They also found a deeper love and respect,
not<br>
only for themselves, but for all of their people. Look at this
recent<br>
incident of this basketball player, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf of the Denver<br>
Nuggets who refused to stand up and face the flag when the national<br>
anthem was played because he felt the flag was a "symbol of<br>
oppression." Abdul-Rauf was Chris Jackson until he converted to
Islam<br>
in 1991 and began his one-man choice not to stand and dignify the<br>
flag. He has, however, consented to stand and pray, praying, he said<br>
"for those who are suffering - Muslim, Caucasian,
African-American,<br>
Latin, Asian, whoever is in that position, whoever is experiencing<br>
difficulties." Coming at this time when the political climate in
this<br>
country is becoming reactionary, and star athlete's major concern<br>
seems to be big bucks, it was a refreshing surprise coming from the<br>
basketball arena.<br><br>
But this is not the first time a Black athlete has made a political<br>
statement. During the Vietnam War, Muhammad Ali refused to go to the<br>
Vietnam War and lost his World Boxing Championship title. In the
1968<br>
Olympics in Mexico, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, staged their black<br>
fist salutes against racial inequality on the victory stand. They<br>
were stripped of their Olympic medals. But they revealed they had<br>
minds that were free and their freedom meant more than Olympic<br>
medals.<br><br>
We Asians, back in the 60's, listened to Malcolm and knew that he
was<br>
raising the awareness of a generation of people, not only Blacks and<br>
the young, but people in general. His words of wisdom could apply to<br>
us too. We began to seriously think of our identity. Were we just<br>
American or Asian American? Were we ashamed of our ancestry that we<br>
could not speak our mother tongue? Could we relate to our
background?<br>
Even to change a name is part of the process of decolonization. Of<br>
course, just changing one's name is not decolonizing oneself, but it<br>
is one very small aspect of it. But one does not necessarily have to<br>
change one's name, or hair-do, or the kind of clothes one wears.<br>
Once, someone asked Malcolm why his wife, Betty, didn't sport an
Afro<br>
like the "sisters" were doing back then. He said he didn't
think it<br>
was so important what is on top of her head as what was "in"
her<br>
head. Malcolm did not even begin using the word Malik that much.
When<br>
he returned from the "hajj," the pilgrimage in 1964, his
followers<br>
asked him: `What should we call you now?" because he was
conferred<br>
with the title of "El Hajj." He replied, "what did you
call me<br>
before?" They said, "Brother Malcolm." He simply said,
"so be it."<br><br>
Yes, we must expand our horizon in every way, while
"decolonizing"<br>
our mind. Words do make a difference, words when associated with an<br>
idea. Let's take the word, "Communism." Back in the 50's,
because<br>
this country, the media, and political leaders were so frightened of<br>
the word, and more so, the idea of communism, itself, if did<br>
everything to blemish, distort, falsify, derrogate, stigmatize,<br>
taint, and tarnish the word and the meaning, that the average<br>
American came to fear and hate the word, the person, the idea,<br>
without knowing anything of the philosophy. Especially those with a<br>
colonized mentality, had his/her mind closed to that word. The
images<br>
it evoked, was fearful enough. But also, sadly, some Communist<br>
countries did not seem to adhere to the meaning of Communism, and
are<br>
now leaning toward capitalism. There are also Communist countries<br>
that laid down such harsh rules as to wipe out humanism in their<br>
pursuit for power.<br><br>
Today, just mentioning the name Fidel Castro or Cuba, has some
people<br>
thinking only in negative terms of someone or some country
entrenched<br>
in human rights violation and brutality. The recent downing of the<br>
two planes over Cuban air-space had the U.S. government condemning<br>
Cuba and asking the United Nation to denounce the act. Yet, the U.S.<br>
has for over 30 years placed a blockade around Cuba, not allowing<br>
food, medicine or other necessities to enter. It has held a<br>
stranglehold on Cuba, bringing suffering to the Cuban people. The<br>
U.S. has also tried to assassinate Fidel Castro time and time again<br>
during these thirty-some years. So, who is the real perpetrator of<br>
human rights violation?<br><br>
Yes, we must expand our horizon in seeking truths, and
"decolonize"<br>
our mind. Back in the 60's young Americans of all background began<br>
making history, challenging the status quo, the duality, the<br>
hypocrisy, the inequity in American society; also opposing U.S.<br>
involvement in the Vietnam War, a war that concerned Americans felt<br>
was an intervention and transgression in the internal affairs of<br>
another country. The remarkable aspect was that a sizeable percent
of<br>
our own young Asian Pacific Americans became involved. From coast to<br>
coast, Asian American students jumped into this domestic fray whole-<br>
heartedly. They suddenly grew up, felt proud, stood tall; unafraid
to<br>
speak out; began to take action; organize in their communities. They<br>
saw there was an identity crisis; realized their lack of knowledge
of<br>
their own Asian American histories, cultures, and languages. They<br>
realized their inability to relate and communicate sometimes with<br>
their own Asian brothers and sisters, and also with Third World<br>
people. They became disturbed by the American Dream - pursuing the<br>
American way of life - wealth, prestige, comfort, and the feeling of<br>
superiority over others. A new Asian American was being honed as the<br>
Asian American movement was birthed and new goals, perspectives,<br>
values, priorities, and even lifestyles began to take shape. Their<br>
eyes and minds began to focus on the world of the oppressed,<br>
exploited. and marginal. Some joined the Venceremos Brigade and went<br>
to Cuba for a few months to experience living in a socialist
society.<br>
Some volunteered in the Peace Corps to help in agriculture or teach<br>
English in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. And some went to Third<br>
World Communities throughout the U.S. to work with Vista projects. A<br>
few Asian Americans went down South in the civil rights movement to<br>
register voters.<br><br>
Most worked right in their own communities in Los Angeles, San<br>
Francisco, Chicago, New York. They taught English to immigrants,<br>
worked with children in Day Care, or the elderly in Senior Citizen<br>
Homes Some organized Health Care Centers; began Food Co-ops; started<br>
cultural art groups, including Asian American theaters, writers<br>
clubs, published Asian American newspapers and newsletters.<br><br>
Asian Americans formed political education groups for serious study;<br>
derided the cost of higher education and began fighting for open<br>
admission, loans, and scholarships to Third World students; saw<br>
elitism in film-making and the arts and began to create their own<br>
formations, like Third World Newsreel; worked to make WBAI an<br>
alternative, progressive, public radio station (and thus, we have<br>
Radio Bandung, an Asian American program).<br><br>
We know your generation of Asian Americans are continuing the legacy<br>
of showing concern for the issues of today - like affirmative
action,<br>
immigrant rights, anti-Asian violence, homophobia. That is why you<br>
organize these annual Asian/Pacific American Awareness Events for<br>
education and celebration; and we commend you for the work you do on<br>
college campuses.<br><br>
Two days ago at Columbia University, 22 students were arrested when<br>
they took over Lowe Library. Also three students are still hanging
in<br>
there on a hunger strike which they began about two weeks ago. We,
in<br>
New York, feel proud of these activists fighting for Ethnic Studies<br>
in the 90's.<br><br>
Now, you may wonder where is there any connection between building<br>
bridges or coalitions with expanding your horizon, decolonizing your<br>
mind, and crossing over your own borders.<br><br>
Often those with colonized mentality can be better manipulated or<br>
used against others to divide and conquer. Those in power would do<br>
not want ethnics and minorities and unacceptables and radicals of<br>
whatever color to come together to join forces. As long as we are<br>
kept distant and estranged from each other, the easier to subvert
our<br>
desire to make alliances. But because of the commonalities among<br>
marginalized people, we must go to support one another. We need each<br>
other. We can help one another. We can learn from one another. Unity<br>
is strength. Strength, numerically, politically, not necessarily<br>
ethnically, with mutual concern for all peoples, can help change
this<br>
society into a more broader, diverse, yet unifying force to build a<br>
more just, safe, and harmonious world. We must unite, not on race
but<br>
principles to seek justice, equality, self-determination, human<br>
rights and human dignity for all.<br><br>
By the year 2000, which is just around the corner, can we Asians<br>
begin heading in that direction? Can APAs begin a momentous<br>
Asian/Pacific American Consciousness Movement like the Blacks did in<br>
South Africa and here?<br><br>
Even though we Asians are of many ethnicities, cultures, and<br>
histories of past hostility in Asia, our Asian American experience
of<br>
racism, anti-Asian violence, similarities with other people of
colors<br>
and other discriminated people (like lesbians, homosexuals,
radicals,<br>
Arabs, Jews, homeless, disabled, jobless, etc., etc.) should have<br>
aroused our consciousness and sensitivity to right the wrongs and<br>
narrowed thinking in this society. Together, we must fight racism,<br>
classism, sexism, regionalism, factionalism, and polarization.<br><br>
As Asian Americans we must understand that we are connected with all<br>
people - beyond race, beyond color, beyond ethnicity, beyond class.<br>
We must become part of the whole humanity because the world belongs<br>
to all humanity. Every person must count; every person must be<br>
respected; every person's potential must be realized. That includes<br>
the homeless, the disabled, the imprisoned, the women, the elderly,<br>
the children; literally everyone. One of our roles then is that is<br>
each of us must keep an eye on our own government or those in power<br>
that they do not keep wiping away through budget cuts and<br>
legislation, the rights and needs of people as they are doing
today.<br><br>
In closing, I wish to quote Franz Fanon, the famous historian, who<br>
said: "Each generation must out of its relative obscurity,
discover<br>
its mission, fulfill it or betray it." This generation's mission
just<br>
might be that of "expanding one's horizon and decolonizing
one's<br>
mind," that the cross-over to making coalitions, working with
and<br>
supporting others, can be better facilitated. What will this take?<br>
Simply - your sincerity, determination, and involvement which can<br>
bring about the results that you seek. Become the role model you are<br>
searching for. Do what students do best: study, read, research,<br>
investigate. Search for truth. Share all the treasures of your<br>
learning s: truth, humane values, ethics, morality, principles, the<br>
meaning of love, justice, dignity. Not only share, but use these<br>
treasures in your every-day life, whatever your field. You ill sec<br>
your life expand; your mind become decolonized; your spirit free to<br>
cross any border, and feel a kinship with people anywhere.<br>
Progressive people everywhere are seeking the same mutual solidarity<br>
of inanity, the freedom of the human mind and spirit. So, transform<br>
yourself first. In doing so, you will begin transforming your little<br>
part of the world. It doesn't matter what your major, minor,<br>
profession, or avocation is. You can make a little ripple that will<br>
grow; and who knows where that ripple will move and affect other<br>
lives. Because you are young and have dreams and want to do
something<br>
meaningful, that in itself makes you our future and our hope. Keep<br>
expanding your horizon, decolonize your mind, and cross over
borders.<br><br>
<br>
FROM THE BOOK: Discover Your Mission<br>
Selected Speeches and Writings of Yuri Kochiyama<br>
UCLA Asian American Studies Center Reading<br>
Room/Library June 1998<br><br>
<br><br>
<br><br>
<br><br>
</font><pre><font face="Courier New, Courier" size=4>QUOTES BY MALCOLM X
</b></font>
<a href="http://www.cmgww.com/historic/malcolm/about/quotes_by.htm">
http://www.cmgww.com/historic/malcolm/about/quotes_by.htm</a>
"We are nonviolent with people who are nonviolent with us."
"Don't be in a hurry to condemn because he doesn't do what you do or
think
as you think or as fast. There was a time when you didn't know what you
know today."
"My alma mater was books, a good library... I could spend the rest
of my
life reading, just satisfying my curiosity."
"Stumbling is not falling."
"There is no better than adversity. Every defeat, every heartbreak,
every
loss, contains its own seed, its own lesson on how to improve your
performance next time."
"We didn't land on Plymouth Rock, Plymouth Rock landed on us."
"Concerning nonviolence, it is criminal to teach a man not to defend
himself when he is the constant victim of brutal attacks."
"A race of people is like an individual man; until it uses its own
talent,
takes pride in its own history, expresses its own culture, affirms its
own
selfhood, it can never fulfill itself."
"I for one believe that if you give people a thorough understanding
of what
confronts them and the basic causes that produce it, they'll create their
own program, and when the people create a program, you get action."
"If you're not ready to die for it, put the word 'freedom' out of
your
vocabulary."
"I feel like a man who has been asleep somewhat and under someone
else's
control. I feel that what I'm thinking and saying is now for myself.
Before
it was for and by the guidance of Elijah Muhammad. Now I think with my
own
mind, sir!"
"The thing that you have to understand about those of us in the
Black
Muslim movement was that all of us believed 100 percent in the divinity
of
Elijah Muhammad. We believed in him. We actually believed that God, in
Detroit by the way, that God had taught him and all of that. I always
believed that he believed in himself. And I was shocked when I found out
that he himself didn't believe it."
"I believe that there will ultimately be a clash between the
oppressed and
those that do the oppressing. I believe that there will be a clash
between
those who want freedom, justice and equality for everyone and those who
want to continue the systems of exploitation."
"It is a time for martyrs now, and if I am to be one, it will be for
the
cause of brotherhood. That's the only thing that can save this
country."
February 19, 1965 (2 days before he was murdered by Nation of Islam
followers)
"Without education, you're not going anywhere in this world."
"...I shall never rest until I have undone the harm I did to so many
well-meaning, innocent Negroes who through my own evangelistic zeal now
believe in him even more fanatically and more blindly than I did."
...on
those he encouraged to follow Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad
"When a person places the proper value on freedom, there is nothing
under
the sun that he will not do to acquire that freedom. Whenever you hear a
man saying he wants freedom, but in the next breath he is going to tell
you
what he won't do to get it, or what he doesn't believe in doing in order
to
get it, he doesn't believe in freedom. A man who believes in freedom will
do anything under the sun to acquire . . . or preserve his
freedom."
"You don't have to be a man to fight for freedom. All you have to do
is to
be an intelligent human being."
"Dr. King wants the same thing I want. Freedom."
"I want Dr. King to know that I didn't come to Selma to make his job
difficult. I really did come thinking I could make it easier. If the
white
people realize what the alternative is, perhaps they will be more willing
to hear Dr. King." ...in a conversation with Mrs. Coretta Scott
King.
"I am not a racist. I am against every form of racism and
segregation,
every form of discrimination. I believe in human beings, and that all
human
beings should be respected as such, regardless of their color."
<font face="Courier New, Courier" size=4>On Lynching And The Ku Klux
Klan
By Ho Chi Minh (1924)
</b></font>It is well known that the Black race is the most oppressed and
the most
exploited of the human family. It is well known that the spread of
capitalism and the discovery of the New World had as an immediate result
the rebirth of slavery, which was for centuries a scourge for the Negroes
and a bitter disgrace for mankind.
What everyone does not perhaps know is that after sixty-five years of
so-called emancipation, American Negroes still endure atrocious moral and
material sufferings, of which the most cruel and horrible is the custom
of
lynching.
The word "lynching" comes from Lynch. Lynch was the name of a
planter in
Virginia, a landlord and judge. Availing himself of the troubles of the
War
of Independence, he took the control of the whole district into his
hands.
He inflicted the most savage punishment, without trial or process of law,
on Loyalists and Tories. Thanks to the slave traders, the Ku Klux Klan,
and
other secret societies, the illegal and barbarous practice of lynching is
spreading and continuing widely in the States of the American Union. It
has
become more inhuman since the emancipation of the Blacks, and is
especially
directed at the latter...
From 1899 to 1919, 2,600 Blacks were lynched, including 51 women
and girls
and ten former Great War soldiers. Among 78 Black lynched in 1919, 11
were
burned alive, three burned after having been killed, 31 shot, three
tortured to death, one cut into pieces, one drowned, and 11 put to death
by
various means.
Georgia heads the list with 22 victims, Mississippi follows with 12. Both
have also three lynched soldiers to their credit. Of the 11 burned alive,
the first State has four and the second two. Out of 34 cases of
systematic,
premeditated and organized lynching, it is still Georgia that holds first
place with five. Mississippi comes second with three.
Among the charges brought against the victims of 1919, we note: one of
having been a member of the League of Non-Partisans (independent
farmers);
one of having distributed revolutionary publications; one of expressing
his
opinion on lynchings too freely; one of having criticized the clashes
between Whites and Blacks in Chicago; one of having been known as a
leader
of the cause of the Blacks; one for not getting out of the way and thus
frightening a white child who was in a motorcar. In 1920, there were
fifty
lynchings, and in 1922 there were twenty-eight.
These crimes were all motivated by economic jealousy. Either the Negroes
in
the area were more prosperous than the Whites, or the Black workers would
not let themselves be exploited thoroughly. In all cases, the principle
culprits were never troubled, for the simple reason that they were always
incited, encouraged, spurred on, then protected by politicians,
financiers,
and authorities, and above all, by the reactionary press...
The place of origin of the Ku Klux Klan is the Southern United States. In
May, 1866, after the Civil War, young people gathered together in a small
locality of the State of Tennessee to set up a club. A question of
whiling
away the time. This organization was given the name "kuklos", a
Greek word
meaning "club". To Americanize the word, it was changed into Ku
Klux.
Hence, for more originality, Ku Klux Klan.
After big social upheavals, the public mind is naturally unsettled. It
becomes avid for new stimuli and inclined to mysticism. The KKK, with its
strange garb, its bizarre rituals, its mysteries, and its secrecy,
irresistibly attracted the curiosity of the Whites in the Southern States
and became very popular. It consisted at first of only a group of snobs
and
idlers, without political or social purpose. Cunning elements discovered
in
it a force able to serve their political ambitions. The victory of the
Federal Government had just freed the Negroes and made them citizens. The
agriculture of the South - deprived of its Black labor, was short of
hands.
Former landlords were exposed to ruin.
The Klansmen proclaimed the principle of the supremacy of the white race.
Anti Negro was their only policy. The agrarian and slaveholding
bourgeoisie
saw in the Klan a useful agent, almost a savior. They gave it all the
help
in their power. The Klan's methods ranged from intimidation to murder...
The Klan is for many reasons doomed to disappear. The Negroes, having
learned during the war that they are a force if united, are no longer
allowing their kinsmen to be beaten or murdered with impunity. They are
replying to each attempt at violence by the Klan. In July 1919, in
Washington, they stood up to the Klan and a wild mob. The battle raged in
the capital for four days. In August, they fought for five days against
the
Klan and the mob in Chicago. Seven regiments were mobilized to restore
order. In September the government was obliged to send federal troops to
Omaha to put down similar strife. In various other States the Negroes
defend themselves no less energetically.
belated birthday to Augusto Cesar Sandino 5/18
</pre><x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
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