The Politics Of REAL: May 2014

Friday, May 30, 2014

celebrate!!!

August 1 through August 3rd, 2014. Washington Marriott; 1221 22nd Street, North West, D.C. 20037

www.bodyboyzunited.com

call 1.800-228-9290 from more information.

full financial disclosure for my financial backers.

Full financial disclosure for my financial backers.

Budget June 2014

Food: $350.00

Medicine: $250.00

Rent: $89.00

Phone Bill: $111.00

White Puma Sneakers & Underwear: $90.00

Bus Money: $50.00

Gym Membership: $25.00

Debt: $115.00

Special Dinner with Friends: $45.00

Total: $1,125---miscellaneous funds left over: $72.00

I have made every effort to pay people who loan me money back within one month, unless they are making a generous donation to my corporate interests. I will add an article soon to describe what we do. For now I will say we do Public Relations, Education, Philanthropy, Business Development & Community Advocacy with the Black community in mind. We serve as a positive role model for our youth--if they take the time to see what we have achieved--and our work is not only dedicated to Black youth, but we really want to eventually hire many, many Black young men and Black young women to make some of our products which will include greeting cards and Tee-Shirts. My income on Social Security Disability is $1,197.00 a month.

Good Cookin at Tom's Kitchen

Recently I bought some food at a friend's house. He was selling dinners and they were not all that expensive, and you know me, I like to help a Brother or Sister out when I can--even if I'm not too well off financially myself. [If more of us did this instead of worry about what each other has monetarily, we would be a lot better off]. I bought a fried chicken dinner and some greens and other vegetables, as well as some pistachio cake. I seldom eat fried chicken so I thought I would splurge and go off my diet for a time. The pistachio cake was Thomas' Grand Father's recipe. It was extraordinarily good and full of good-for-you fiber. I didn't eat much of the icing because it was too sweet. The greens were very tasty and full of fiber also. Now when it comes to fried chicken and if you have the chance to eat some every once in a while like me [I probably don't eat it except maybe once every two months due to fat content, etc.] You should always try a good Brother's brand like Thomas instead of eating the regular suspects chicken like Kentucky Fried Chicken which has made about enough money off the backs of Black people; or Churches which has done so also. Try Tom's Kitchen. He is selling dinners next month as well. He also had turkey Wings; Yams; Cream Cheese Sour Cream Pound Cake [also a recipe of His Father's]; and seafood salad; or fried fish. Call Him next month, June, 2014, to ask when He will sell dinners again. His number is: 1267-499-6313. He lives in German town. They will have delivery. Buying dinners from our friends' is one way to work at bettering the home town economy in our Black neighborhoods. By the Way another reason to buy dinners from Thomas is because He goes to a Black church [Enon] and is very Religious--and a very nice Brother. Still being checked for spelling and grammar.....

Thursday, May 29, 2014

A Letter to the North Star Fund... A Guide for Activists.....

April 19th, 2014 Saturday

The Following is an Open Letter to: The North Star Fund
520 Eight Avenue
New York, New York 10018-6656

From: Brother Tracy Gibson
Full Legal Name: Tracy Charles Gibson
African Name: Kokayi
Post Office Box 42878
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19101-2878

Reason for Writing: New Ideas for Activism.

1} Ole methods are not working & are ineffective.

2} Let us try something else; a new success mode.

3} Let us Lift ALL Boats.

4} Instead of Challenging the Ole Established order we Will find much more success when we take on a ``Let's Lift All Boats'' Philosophy and bring on change in a gradual fashion or manner while thinking of sharing with our neighbors. Sometimes this is not easy because sometimes issues are designed by the media and higher ups financially to pit different racial groups against others. We must work at working with other people, and also within our racial and other groups we feel most comfortable with. RELAX!!!

5} Think of Policies that make dollars and sense {cents} -- And Positive, reasonable change for ALL People, All Concerned. Being GOD-Centered and Loving ourselves in very important for me personally. It may NOT be a model that works for you.

6} We have been wasting time banging and beating on Doors that will never open. Some minds are closed and will stay that way until GOD finds the proper tools to theoretically open them in a non-violent, LOVing, and timely Way.

7} Find Ways to create our own opportunities; create jobs; make our sources of money and income to expand on opportunity, especially in so-called depressed or ``oppressed'' communities.

8} Cool Down criticism and find good in a few things our perceived enemies have where we can work together -- even only if we are in negotiations or short-term communications-- instead of arguing endlessly over philosophy, ideology & issues like abortion that will most likely never be solved to everyone's moral, ethical & Human Rights satisfaction.

9} Cool Tempers and Listen instead of talk endlessly.

10} Find Point Men and Point Women who can work with different groups, ethnic groups & different organizations TO MEND FENCES, BUILD BRIDGES AND KEEP LINES OF COMMUNICATION OPEN [THIS DOES NOT MEAN YOU ARE DISLOYAL TO YOUR PARTICULAR ETHNIC GROUP, RACE, SKIN-COLOR OR THE ORGANIZATION YOU ARE MOST LOYAL TO… IT IS VITAL IN DIFFICULT AND TRYING TIMES --EVEN THOUGH WE ARE MAKING ECONOMIC PROGRESS -- WHERE egos and tempers may be hot-wired easily, to keep communications open, keep in a positive Spirit and remember we are ALL really doing this work to create something decent, LOVing, and kind for the children of the world .

11} Talk, Talk, Talk; but keep a positive thinking philosophy and a positive mind at the forefront or All work in the movement.

12} If you are willing -- allow children to interact along, within and among different lines of race and ethnicity-- especially Asian, African and Latin children.

13} Find cultural and artistic experiences that help expand mental, physical and social awareness & positive, wholesome, & Justice-Oriented interactions among those involved.

14} Begin to Realize LOVing & Respecting Self is at the Root of Stability for Our People.

15} Do away with words like ``Struggle'' & ``Overcome'' & we find we have truly overcome the struggle and are on our Way to Real, lasting sustainable & ethical sharing of the world's bountiful resources.

16} These ideas and processes are offered as voluntary guidelines and are in NO WAY a requirement for any financial reward from my companies.

With LOVe, Peace & Respect,

Brother Tracy Gibson; Tracy Charles Gibson--KOKAYI

African Principles......

The Gibson Principles, for AFRICA!!!

These principles are offered to ALL people of African descent and ALL people of the world who are concerned about us to begin a process, that has already started in some quarters, that will bring about greater decency, equality, respect, cooperation, and financial prosperity WITHOUT exploitation from any corporate, government, quazi-government or private or other force from within or outside the African Continent. They are offered to bring about help for the African continent and its’ People, and help to build on an already existing program of support for the People of Africa and the entire African Diaspora. They are also offered in the same spirit of healing, LOVe and fairness that the Sullivan Principles [from the now late Reverend Leon Sullivan of Philadelphia’s great Zion Baptist Church] were offered to the South Africans during Apartheid.

• No African, regardless of your station in life, is to treat another African with anything but RESPECT and DIGNITY.

• All the people of the world who are concerned about the People of Africa, The African Continent and the African Diaspora are to show that concern in a real and lasting way through some process or consideration at least once a week. That concern can be something as small as a letter to your Congressperson asking for more financial support for any given program that has been proven effective in helping the People of Africa such as: rightful land ownership; land and property management; the use of private and public funds in helping African people; finding Ways to provide clean, fresh water and effective irrigation for the people and crops of Africa; finding Ways to lessen, end and or to avoid violence, civil strife, conflicts and war; finding effective and useful Ways to treat women, men and children in a respectful and dignified Way for the duration; and to help Africans who may be infected or affected in ANY way what so ever with such maladies as HIV and AIDS. This list is BY NO MEANS ALL- INCLUSIVE… Other Africans, Caribbeans, African Americans or others from the African Diaspora working on such decency and Peace initiatives for the Continent of Africa MUST BE EQUALLY CONSIDERED…

• Wars of aggression on the African continent should be covered by ALL media just like any war in any other part of the world.

• People MUST be allowed to see the progress, highlighted in a positive Way, that is going on in Africa and that is spearheaded by African people just as much if not more than they see the negative things that African People are doing on the African Continent.

• Cultural differences MUST BE RESPECTED even though they are not supported or understood by people and governments and government leaders from the West. This RESPECT must be a forthright goal even if those cultural differences are considered heinous, strange, stupid, evil, ignorant or indifferent.

· The massive influence and economic control that the international corporate structure has on Africa and the lives of Africans must be controlled, tailored, shaped and molded with the full consent, agreement, and control of the majority of the People of African descent living on the African continent and their leaders and those leaders MUST not be deemed controlled or unduly influenced by said international corporate structure or those leaders can be replaced through an open, non-violent and democratic process in a timely manner.

• We must all take time to understand the so-called tribal wars and tribal differences that exist among the Africans and find solutions and Ways of resolving those differences while bringing about a peaceful co-existence among African People.

• Different and divergent aspects of the Black community in the United States and Black communities and Black people around the world are asked to come together to bring forth a peaceful, meaningful, safe, mutually beneficial, and economically rewarding existence for ALL AFRICAN PEOPLE throughout the World.

• The harsh treatment of the environment is to be avoided at ALL cost and ALL AFRICANS are to get and prioritize clean water, a clean and safe environment, clean and pollution-free air and the building and retooling of buildings must follow ``green building’’ guidelines to be drawn up by groups of independent Africans who cannot and will not be impacted on by corrupt influences or Western influences except for technical and financial assistance. Such technical and financial assistance MUST be without money strings attached or corrupted in ANY WAY.

• Population control must be part of the equation for proper and progressive development in Africa, but we must remember that Africa is a network of developing Nations. As such, the African People are not super consumers as we are in the West (Europe and the United States). Africans use far less food, electricity, goods and services and other energy sources than the West does and an African Person is far less of a consumer because of this. He or She leaves far less waste and far less harsh treatment to the environment than His or Her Western Cousin.

• Businesses that do business and develop in Africa must do so with high principles, morals and ethics and have as their core value the benefit of the People of Africa NOT PROFITS AND THE KIND OF BRUTAL EXPLOITATION THAT TRADITIONALLY IS ASSOCIATED WITH WHITE-RUN BIG BUSINESSES ON THE AFRICAN CONTINENT. Black Africans MUST be part of the business process all along the Way, and not just any Africans, but people who have a long history of positive community involvement / progressive political views and actions / and who share not only the profit-making motive but an authentic concern for the People and the Land of This Great Continent. They MUST also have the interests of ALL the African People at heart including the children of Africa, women, men and the disabled.

• Homosexual People or Gay and Lesbian People, Transgendered People and Bisexual People among the African People MUST be treated with fairness, respect and dignity even as cultural differences and historical conflicts are worked out, considered, pondered, examined, studied, written about and explored. The model of South Africa having Gay and Lesbian Rights as part of their Constitution MUST be a goal for each and every African country. There needs to be a consideration of partnership rights, fair treatment, access to education, access to housing rights, access to employment rights and access to jobs and other such rights considered, even as the cultural, tribal and ethnic differences that might see homosexuals as a threat, are explored, studied and considered. The goal MUST be to consider the rights of homosexuals and transgendered People just as fairly and equally as the rights of other people in Africa.

By Brother Tracy Gibson.

February 18, 2013 Wednesday

Re-Edited and Up-Dated on September 8^th, 2013…

Check the spelling and meaning of ``Principles’’

At the Library and send as an e-mail to Oxfam America, The United Nations and the Ghanaian Embassy.

Activists Say South Africa Political Prisoners Need United States Support

From Page six of an article in the Philadelphia Tribune on Friday, October 20th, 1978.

Editor's Note: I was a reporter for the Philadelphia Tribune at the time and used the name ``Trace Gibson'' as my Mother, Mrs. Jessie Mae Thornton Gibson wanted me to.
I was only about 22 and fresh out of college at the time, so please forgive the rough nature of the writing here. I want to thank Godfrey Sithole an area representative of the African National Congress for researching this article for me.

Activist Say South African Political Prisoners Need U.S. Support

By Trace Gibson

(Now known as Brother Tracy Gibson)

There are thousands of political prisoners in South Africa and many are tortured and killed according to Indaes Naidoo, South African political activist who spoke Saturday, October 14th at the Church of the Advocate, 18th and Diamond Sts., during a forum on the subject sponsored by the African National Congress.
Naidoo, a member of the African National Congress of South Africa, addressed a small group on the problem of political prisoners n South Africa.
Born in South Africa Naidoo now lives n Mozambique, where he is involved in the South African liberation efforts.

He came to the United States to address the October 10 meeting of the United Nations Special Committee Against Apartheid. The day was dedicated to political prisoners by South Africans involved in the liberation efforts. Naidoo said He spent 10 years on Robben Island, a stronghold for South African political prisoners, where he was tortured and saw mistreatment of many of his ``comrades.''

The African National Congress was formed in 1912, Naidoo said, and began the struggle against the South African government which upholds apartheid, or a system of forced segregation of the races with Blacks and coloreds (persons of mixed blood) receiving few benefits on the society which benefits heavily from their labor.

First, using peaceful measures, such as protests and sit-ins, the group met with violent reprisals by the government and began to use violent means of resistance, Naidoo said.

``We decided with a very heavy heart to take up arms (in 1961) against the South African regime. We were forced to take up arms because all other avenues were closed to us,'' Naidoo said.

``We had one of two choices,'' he continued, ``either to give up the fight or fight--we decided to fight.''

Reviewing his arrest and torture by the South African police, Naidoo said he and two others were uninvolved in acts of sabotage against the South African government.

``The regime successfully infiltrated an agent into our group; we did not know he was supplying information to the government. On the 17th of April, 1963, we went on an act of sabotage; we blew up a tool shed and a railway signal post,;; taking special precautions that no train was tor run there at the time of the explosion, he said.

As Naidoo and his colleagues were lighting the dynamite to blow up the area, ``The whole place lit up and we heard police whistles. We ran and, in the course of running, we saw that we were surrounded by between 20 and 30 heavily armed police,'' he said.

Naidoo said he was shot, beaten and arrested, taken to police headquarters and tortured with electric shock and other brutal means.

Two days later, he and his comrades were taken to court ``blood-stained and beaten. Even the magistrate was horrified at the way we appeared in court.''

The five prisoners were treated by physicians the next day. They were then sentenced to 10 years in prison, but while they were on trial the 90-day law was put into effect by the South African parliament. The 90-day law allows the government to detain persons idenfinitely Naidoo said. This law was used to re-arrest two others who had been involved with sabotage even though they had been discharged by the government.

``The South African regime has admitted to 52 deaths in detention, (over the last 10 years) but there is really double, if not triple, that number,;; Naidoo said, adding that 50 percent of all executions in the world take place in South Africa.

The speaker then went over a list of 44 people who had died in detention in South Africa since 1963. Various reasons such as ``natural causes,'' ``suicide by hanging,'' ``falling out of seventh-floor windows,'' ``falling down a flight of steps,'' ``gunshot wounds,'' ``heart failure'' and ``suffocation'' are given as reasons for the death by the government but Naidoo said many prisoners were killed by government police and prison guards.

At the conclusion of his speech Naidoo pleaded with the audience to protest against the treatment of prisoners in South Africa by boycotting multinational corporations that have holdings in South Africa.

He also stated his displeasure with the way resident Carter and the U.N. Ambassador Andrew Young are dealing with the issue of human rights. Naidoo said the U.S. administration ignores the human rights of political prisoners in South Africa.

We are GODs NOT DOGs.....

A great many young Black men go about their everyday experiences talking to each other and calling themselves dogs. I find this a problem for me as an older Black man who LOVes Himself and has gone through the ringer of racism in our Nation.

I don't get angry, but I feel a sadness in my heart about our young Brothers calling themselves dogs. Especially when one considers that we have a connectedness to the Lord our GOD that few if any other people on the earth have. It is more than our oppression, it is our place in history and our history of hard work and decency along with our moral courage and our ethical fortitude that drives us to be in a place and time that is closer to and may very well be GODly and of the creator.

I must mention that we are not talking about actually being the top man, but in some African religions and some traditional African Spiritual beliefs there is more than one GOD and man takes on the characteristics of GOD if, I believe, He or She is of good stature and GOOD will. How do I know this? I am going on emotion and feelings. I have to do the research. That is why I'm writing at the end of this log here that I will look into A few African religions and tell you what I have learned later. I am not Just Doing IT at the commercial says, I'm going to research it at a later date. It will just take me a few days or so to get some answers. What I want to ad here is Don't just Do It--research it, listen to others, get some experience under your belt, and do you homework. After that, just do your writing or rappin, or whatever you do to communicate. I am going to take the time to look into this. THIS ARTICLE IS STILL BEING RESEARCHED. PLEASE CONSIDER IT AN UNFINISHED WORK AT THIS POINT. May 29th, 2014 Thursday.

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Black Gays & Black Lesbians as a Real Assett to the Future of Our World.....

Black Gays and Black Lesbians as a Real Assett to The Future of Our World.

It is obvious, but hidden in plane sight. If We, the people Living on this precious, precious earth don't take the advice of police abuse victim Rodney King & quickly learn to ``just get along'' much better, our space ship earth may be doomed beyond recognition within a few short months. I am not sure we have years left any longer. I am very fearful. That is why I feel like I don't care if People think I'm a little strange when I ask for money to fuel my revolution--my Peaceful, non-violent revolution that is connected to the revolutions of many others. What many people don't know & what I am writing about here the thing hidden--is the fact we may Well all need Black Lesbian women & Black Gay men more than we think. Black Gay people as a general rule, don't have children through the natural process of our sexual encounters. That doesn't make us useless to our Black People & Our Black community--especially Black Lesbians & Black Gay men who are educated, or street wise and curious about school & reading, or are peaceful and want to get ahead in life and don't have many sexual partners. Black People who are Gay or Lesbian have a great deal to contribute to pour communities. Here are some of the Ways we can & do contribute: * A good Friend of mine, Mr. Robert Mason, Jr., of Jersey City, New Jersey raised well over $6,000.00 for His church [Lafayette Church of Jersey City]. What ever community programs His church, a Black church mind you, provides for the community of New Jersey got financial help because of His efforts & the efforts of People who helped support Him. (I sent in $1.00 & will send in another $14.00 when I get paid very soon.) There are Literally thousands of Black Gay men & Black Lesbian women who do work for & contribute time & money to the Black churches they attend & other Black churches. Their money, their dollars help in this regard tremendously.

* Black Gay men & Black Lesbian women can also serve as stewards and advocates for the Black community. Her, I will use myself as a classic example, as my late friend & mentor Mr. Bill Hill used to say. I write hundreds of letters about properly funding this project or event or person or organization. I have written the major film studios to ask them to utilize Black men & Black women in the Black community in general may not realize it, but Black Lesbian women & Black Gay men who are politically aware serve as a vital victory bridge for our community. We [and I saw we because I am a Black Gay male activist] we help smooth over rough areas like no other group of People, or even no other Black People can--especially when it comes to gay-sensitive issues and gay-sensitive concerns like HIV and AIDS or homophobia in the Black community.

We: * Help mentor, educate, guard & protect young Black People who self-identify as being Lesbian or Gay.
* We provide a Progressive and often even a Revolutionary voice for various concerns including better & more available schools and educations for the Black community and especially the Black community's youth and young people.
* We help bridge better communications between Straight and Gay identified People.

* We Provide good role models for all Black children regardless of what their intimate identification turns out to be when they get older & become sexually active.

*We, if we are financially able, may bridge a financial gap the family is having as parents get older and need suitable lodging in elderly homes. This can be quite expensive and Black Gays and Black Lesbians who usually don't have the expense of children, may well be able to help financially, if they have the financial wherewithal and the correct attitudes to help.

* We can, again, if we have the financial wherewithal, help to send the family children to school, university, college and trade school, but again, only if we have the correct attitudes, and have done the homework to study this issue by serving on Boards that deal with education or have other such viable experience. [I have served on the Board of The Walnut Hill COmmunity Association as the chair of the scholarship committee and have kept abreast of the education system as it relates toBlack people especially in the Philadelphia area. One of my first cousins has 10 grandsons, all of whom I want to help with college expenses. I will never be able to do this unless I get the total support from the community for my businesses. This is why I work so hard on the various issues and write, write each and every day. I have tried to stay in touch with family and I keep sending letters and cards to friends and family in hopes of supporting people and getting the support back. There are other Black young men and women in my family who I want to put through school. I don't think they have much of a chance of doing well or getting a decent education otherwise, without such support. I often think of my first cousins Leon and Larry Wilmore who turned out to have trouble with the law and spent time in the penal system because they didn't have much of a chance early on in life [their parents were either unable or unwilling to send them to college or university. I also have a gay friend who I want to start a scholarship fund in His name for. [He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with Honors in math,but is now disabled.].

What I'm getting at here is for Black Gay men and Black Lesbian women to see themselves as leaders in our communities; people to take on responsibility; serious bread-winners; People who can be trusted; People who can be relied upon to help if there is a difficulty. This takes work. We have to spend time, I believe, alone and thinking about GOD and with GOD Himself or Herself to get the seriousness of mind and the willingness to set aside the time to study and do what such work takes. That is why, to also get back to the reason for this article, I think we can help with the population issue. As our earth gets to be older and older, it will be home for more and more families that are differently identified. Soon, if not right now, we need to provide food for people who just don't have any food and who can only do better if we start eating less meat. I think Black gay men and Black Lesbian women can also take a leadership position on this issue and help us bring the word out of what might well be another world recession or depression by leading on this issue. [As I have stated earlier in other writings, the food chain sustains itself much better when more people eat more leafy vegetable, fruits, natural grains such as brown rice, wheat bread and wheat pasta instead of having meat at every meal. It takes a lot of water and grassland to feel livestock and it is more expensive and harder on water supplies and take more grassy area to feed off of livestock such as pigs, cows chickens and even turkey and fish. People who now about sustainability know how to put this issue better than I do, but believe me future-thinkers like myself know the statistics are real and can even be frightening if we don't take ourselves 100 % more seriously and trap hold of these issues and help our Black community. ] This article is still in the writing stage and requires more research.

By Brother Tracy Gibson…..

A Celebration of Fitness & Brotherhood in D.C.

August 1 through August 3rd, 2014. Washington Marriott; 1221 22nd Street, North West, D.C. 20037

www.bodyboyzunited.com

call 1.800-228-9290 from more information.

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Africa's Gibson Principles

The Gibson Principles, for AFRICA!!!

• No African, regardless of your station in life, is to treat another African with anything but RESPECT and DIGNITY.

• Wars of aggression on the African continent should be covered by ALL media just like any war in any other part of the world.

By Brother Tracy Gibson.

February 18, 2013 Wednesday

Re-Edited and Up-Dated on September 8^th, 2013…

Check the spelling and meaning of ``Principles’’

At the Library and send as an e-mail to Oxfam America, The United Nations and the Ghanaian Embassy.

Dear Jay Z: I AM.....really no better than you.....

Dear Jay Z: I Am willing to be an advisor to you, but I don't just want to take your money. I want to help give you and your businesses the high grace you will need in this New World. The ethical values that now need to be reflected in Rap Music; and the new Way more of us need to be living. It is not strange; it is not stringent; it is not by any one person's rules; it is not only Christian or Muslim; It is a new ethical code that needs to be followed to live on this planet as it changes and moves us forward. It does not require one to walk in lock-step with any one's rules, including mine; it is flexible; it includes diet; play; values; sex; spending quality time with GOD; how we treat ourselves and each other; how we look at our African Ancestors and how we determine what we expect from our partners in life & from our Ancestor's Spirits; how we determine what reality itself is; & what we plan to do with our lives to improve the earth and our status as Black People living here... I hope you will call me so we can talk because I am determined to help you and your wife Beyonce and your new daughter live in such a Way. You don't have to call me. You don't have to listen to me, but I can tell you one thing--our Black male youth look up to you enormously and you can help determine a more positive future for many of them, keep them out of jail, & help them become responsible, developed, reliable & productive members of a growing & positive Progressive society. Or you can follow the path you are following right now. The path you are on now is not leading to greatness and ethical acclaim. The path I can help you move towards will. It certainly will... I guarantee it. I am not a psychologist or a professional counselor or a psychiatrist with a lot of degrees. I M NOT A QUALIFIED SOCIAL WORKER. I am not an accredited life coach. But I am a 57-year-old person who has lived and I have been in therapy for over 35 years. I am not one who thinks He is better than others, but I am one who will listen and one who wants to help people who authentically want to help themselves live their best life. And want the best for our Black community.

It is often hard to follow someone who is so much different from you such as a person like myself. I am poor and you are very wealthy; I am a Gay person and you are straight; I am a radical and a revolutionary and you are now part of the more conservative established money order; I am supposedly mentally unstable at times and you are probably another person who considers himself sane. This is where things get difficult. The reason for this is because this world in North America as we know it is NOT sane. My theory is 50 years from now people will look at the cell phone like a noose; the cable TV like a chain around the ankle; the ipod and the major media like the Ku Klux Klan. It will take time to see these things clearly because we have become lazy and comfortable with the things the way they are. The powers that be have made things easy to accept--things like Trayvon Martin's death and His killer being released; things like corruption, greed, police brutality, money under the table to judges, miscarriages of justice for Black men and Black women hanging like ripe low fruit at every turn in our society; racism, cruelty and hatred being sold like there is a Macy's fire sale going on. These issues and problems are dominate in just about all major North American cities. The legislative solutions tend to simple put another fox of Wolf right back in control of the Hen House. We need fresh ideas that are strong enough to save the planet and most of the next two or three generations. Frankly, if people like you don't listen, we may have a very, very rough time of it. So I'm asking you to listen and reply.

Write me at:

Brother Tracy Gibson
Post Office Box 42878
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19101-2878

12159212065
BrotherTracy11@GMail.Com

The Tree of Money -- Starts with Knowledge and Common Sense.....

Smart Common Sense Sayings!!!

Money does grow on Trees!! It is made of paper isn't it!! And have you seen the latest stats on lumber and paper company profits..... It is all the same thing isn't it. MONEY!!!

Knowledge... it's just something to think about instead of something to be led by the noose to buy like a new cell phone.

I predict that in 50 years we will look at this period and say the cell phone was like the noose was in the 1950's; and slavery from A.D. 500 to 1865. Not something desirable, but something glamorized. Also something we as Black People are against and had little to do with the invention of. Please tell me if I'm wrong.....

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

What Black Activists Might Want to Think About.....

All Positive-Thinking, generous, non-violent, Peaceful, Progressive, Revolutionary, LOVing and Justice-Oriented People in the Entire World regardless of race and Skin Color including in: Cuba, The United States of Native America, The United Republic of Africa, Europe, The Black Caribbean.

The Following Articles are suggested reading from the following Blogg by Author - Activist Brother Tracy Gibson:

http://thepoliticsofreal.blogspot.com

** The Biography of Brother Tracy Gibson
** Before You Give Me the Boot
** The Powerful Third Eye
** Prison Reform Measures
** The Knowledge Hut Business Plan
** Gibson Principles for Africa

Thank You.

If you are a Black Nationalist, you may well find it more helpful and meaningful to watch ole videos from the Free Public Library of Ole TV Shows like: Leave it to Beaver; The Courtship of Eddie's Father; and Dennis the Menus than going to traditional demonstrations; giving out fliers; and doing what the ole established order calls ``string up trouble.''.

If you are a member of another ethnic or racial group such as Caribbean; African; other African Diaspora member; or Arab; East Indian; Asian; or other ethnic group; I want to suggest watching any number of videos and TV programming such as The Young Lawyers; Perry Mason; or 77 Sunset Strip.[Shows from the 1960's and early 1970's that reflected a North American ethical standard that has since been lost and abandoned.

If you are a White progressive thinker and a person who wants to create forward motion and change the world for the better you may well fine it more meaningful to watch old videos from the Free Library of Julia, The Bill Cosby Show and Room 222 than attending demonstrations, meetings and workshops that treat issues in the ole traditional way and include endless fruitless interactions that get the struggle no where. We all need to relax, take it easy and get our thinking a bit clearer as our country--The United States of Native America, experiences its' rebirth, foundation building and finds its place in the world.

Editor's Note: As media watchers and media consumers we should all be advocating for better programming; more open access for People of Color in the media; and greater access to and for people traditionally left out of the picture, as it were, such as sexual minorities; non-Whites; and women. A spirit on inclusion is needed and should voluntarily be expanded on.

** One can,and businesses can expect to have their businesses impacted on by surgical boycotts from oppressed communities if guidelines such as these are totally ignored and no attempt to comply is made. We will also be putting into place pro-active buying statements to support stores that help us and our causes.

April 19th, 2014 Saturday

The Following is an Open Letter to: The North Star Fund
520 Eight Avenue
New York, New York 10018-6656

From: Brother Tracy Gibson
Full Legal Name: Tracy Charles Gibson
African Name: Kokayi
Post Office Box 42878
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19101-2878

Reason for Writing: New Ideas for Activism.

1} Ole methods are not working & are ineffective.

2} Let us try something else; a new success mode.

3} Let us Lift ALL Boats.

4} Instead of Challenging the Ole Established order we Will find much more success when we take on a ``Let's Lift All Boats'' Philosophy and bring on change in a gradual fashion or manner while thinking of sharing with our neighbors. Sometimes this is not easy because sometimes issues are designed by the media and higher ups financially to pit different racial groups against others. We must work at working with other people, and also within our racial and other groups we feel most comfortable with. RELAX!!!

5} Think of Policies that make dollars and sense {cents} -- And Positive, reasonable change for ALL People, All Concerned. Being GOD-Centered and Loving ourselves in very important for me personally. It may NOT be a model that works for you.

6} We have been wasting time banging and beating on Doors that will never open. Some minds are closed and will stay that way until GOD finds the proper tools to theoretically open them in a non-violent, LOVing, and timely Way.

7} Find Ways to create our own opportunities; create jobs; make our sources of money and income to expand on opportunity, especially in so-called depressed or ``oppressed'' communities.

8} Cool Down criticism and find good in a few things our perceived enemies have where we can work together -- even only if we are in negotiations or short-term communications-- instead of arguing endlessly over philosophy, ideology & issues like abortion that will most likely never be solved to everyone's moral, ethical & Human Rights satisfaction.

9} Cool Tempers and Listen instead of talk endlessly.

10} Find Point Men and Point Women who can work with different groups, ethnic groups & different organizations TO MEND FENCES, BUILD BRIDGES AND KEEP LINES OF COMMUNICATION OPEN [THIS DOES NOT MEAN YOU ARE DISLOYAL TO YOUR PARTICULAR ETHNIC GROUP, RACE, SKIN-COLOR OR THE ORGANIZATION YOU ARE MOST LOYAL TO… IT IS VITAL IN DIFFICULT AND TRYING TIMES --EVEN THOUGH WE ARE MAKING ECONOMIC PROGRESS -- WHERE egos and tempers may be hot-wired easily, to keep communications open, keep in a positive Spirit and remember we are ALL really doing this work to create something decent, LOVing, and kind for the children of the world .

11} Talk, Talk, Talk; but keep a positive thinking philosophy and a positive mind at the forefront or All work in the movement.

12} If you are willing -- allow children to interact along, within and among different lines of race and ethnicity-- especially Asian, African and Latin children.

13} Find cultural and artistic experiences that help expand mental, physical and social awareness & positive, wholesome, & Justice-Oriented interactions among those involved.

14} Begin to Realize LOVing & Respecting Self is at the Root of Stability for Our People.

15} Do away with words like ``Struggle'' & ``Overcome'' & we find we have truly overcome the struggle and are on our Way to Real, lasting sustainable & ethical sharing of the world's bountiful resources.

16} These ideas and processes are offered as voluntary guidelines and are in NO WAY a requirement for any financial reward from my companies.

With LOVe, Peace & Respect,

Brother Tracy Gibson; Tracy Charles Gibson--KOKAYI

TO BE PUT ON MY BLOGG AS SOON AS I GET ACCESS TO IT…

Remember no is spelled KNOW-YES……………

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

A Mandate for the People.

Any Corporation--Public or Private, Profit or Non-Profit, and in ANY way formulated MUST take into consideration All Community standards deemed urgent and necessary by legitimately calibrated and honestly, scientifically and fairly carried out and achieved and orchestrated polls. These polls will be suited to bring forth more justice, equality, fairness and higher ethical standards in the way such corporate entities are carrying out and doing business. Any corporation or other Profit-making venture or entity or formulation not living up to this rule can and Will be taken over by The People in a good and timely fashion and manner and shall be run by and for the People and in a manner of their good interests and benefit.

The above statement shall be true for ANY and ALL entities operating anywhere on the planet Earth [no matter what it is called] or with any means of operation anywhere on the planet earth or anywhere else in the Universe or even within Man, Woman or Transgendered people or people of any other age including children. There Will be fairness and equality in this world and you cannot escape the hands and Will of GOD and I am HIS Spokesperson...

Brother Tracy Gibson....

Finances of the Cities Solved...

Solving Our City’s Financial Crisis: Is It Really ALL That Hard?

Anonymous

First of all, I’m not putting my name to this material because something in Christ and other positive Spirits tells me that I didn’t come up with this by myself. Plus, people have a tendency to get in on the hating bandwagon when they see my name and put on their Oh-He-Thinks-He-Knows-Everything Cap instead of their Well-Now-That-Makes-Sense-I-Think-I’ll-Listen-UP Cap. I need you to put on the latter, so these suggestions are being made anonymously.

One thing I have learned about money is that People LOVE money. Another thing I have learned about money is that people love to give money when they can and when they have it—especially to causes that are wholesome and when there is a major crisis. The Schools in Philadelphia are in a major crisis. Some people think the solution is to spread the money out more evenly. This will just create more hatred, consternation and animosity between races and people who have and races and people who don’t have. This is a basic truth that needs to be accepted before this lesson even starts.

There is a funny thing about education also. A good conversation is as much an education starter as reading something from a book. In fact people, including children, love to talk and get into other people’s business. This can be a learning tool instead of just idol gossip. A good or great teacher can take a magazine, a book of poetry or a report from a child and get children talking and learning current events and social studies faster than a bad teacher with seven computers, a new-fangled lab, and lots of money. This statement needs repeating. A good or great teacher can take a magazine or a newspaper or a report from a child and get children talking and learning current events and social studies faster than a bad teacher with seven computers, a new-fangled lab, and lots of money.

Another thing the Teacher’s Union needs to admit is that there are plenty of bad teachers to go around and a small group of them need to find other work. Why not find financially efficient Ways to re-train bad teachers, after they get over the blistering ego crunch of facing this reality and get some therapy if they need it and get them other work instead of acting like this 900 pound Camel doesn’t exist while we all have to clean up after this beast and feed it our hard-earned tax dollars. We have several leading universities, colleges and trade schools in Philadelphia and I’m sure they would lend a hand in re-training these poor teachers and finding them new, more appropriate and even exciting jobs where they [the bad teachers] wouldn’t have to lose a cent and could continue to contribute to our tax base, feed their families and be more productive Philadelphians. Fighting and hemming and laughing over this fact of their being bad teachers is like saying the sky is never blue and there is no pollution in the world that needs to be cleaned up. Let’s get over this and go on in a Way that doesn’t hurt the Teachers Union or lose or cost anyone a single job.

The basic idea of the premise I am presenting to the School District, City Council and the Mayor is very simple and it take on the basic notion I mentioned at the outset of this article. People love to give money when there is a crisis and when they have the money. Why don’t we allow people to GIVE money to the schools in an open, anonymous Way where the City is not twisting the arms of already strapped and stressed home owners and already strapped and stressed tax payers and get it instead from people who love to give openly and lovingly of their time and money. Sometimes I think people in the education business are in it to make everybody think they are not smart and don’t need to teach. That needs repeating also. Sometimes I think people in the education business are in it to make people think they are not smart and don’t need or want to teach. The more degrees they get the less likely they are to find themselves at odds with the regular ole housewife in pink slippers and pin curlers [stereotype] who has little time to come down to City Council and fuss because she is cooking dinner, patching up a child’s bleeding knee, or frankly, is just captivated with something she doesn’t need to be watching on TV. I hope I’m not boring you, but this needs repeating also. The more educational degrees school administrators and teachers have the more they find themselves at odds with and unable to relate to regular old housewives and working people. I’m not trying to be funny, but sometimes I think you get a stupid pill along with your PhD. and a Dumb Pill along with your Master’s degree that consistently tells you over a long duration that you are better than that lady in pin curlers and pink slippers or the man who drives a trash truck all day and has three children in the Philadelphia public school system. I’m here to tell you that your fancy degree won’t mean much in the Eyes of GOD when and if that gentleman or gentle lady ever really comes back to take a look at what is going on down here and starts handing out judgments. By the Way I am human like you. Really religious and Spiritual, but I’m only human so I might be wrong in everything and anything I’m saying here, but I have been around the barn a while and these are my educated opinions and my honest thoughts. I think they make sense and save cents.

To get back to the point, why don’t we start a fund that has an open door policy on it where people who want to give can give. If a person is rich and doesn’t want to give a dime and get a good feeling in their heart, and act like they don’t have a heart instead, they should be able to do that. I don’t think money squeezed out of people in taxes, property taxes, fines and fees is any better than money given freely and openly with an open hand, an open heart and an open, caring mind that wants the best for all our children. Such people should want to help not just the children who are from rich families, rich neighborhoods and or who have a certain skin color. In fact, the opposite is probably true. I must repeat this also. Money that is given freely and openly from people who care and have a loving heart and love children of all faiths, colors, and all skin colors is better, more graced money than that being squeezed out of people who have little to nothing and might have to move out of their neighborhoods and family homes because they can’t pay taxes and property taxes while some corporations go on ``crating jobs’’ down town and paying nothing in taxes. Let’s collect the dimes and quarters from the poor also, IF THEY WANT TO GIVE. THAT MONEY IS VERY IMPORTANT!!! BELIEVE ME!!! I KNOW!!! If you think the general tax-payer doesn’t know about this unequal system that helps certain people, well, you know the ole saying about that bridge in Brooklyn.

You mean to tell me there is no Way to create an quazi-city owned and operated organization that is more than adequately monitored, responsible, reliable, financially efficient and trusted that can raise money and share it with strapped school areas in a timely, on-going and consistent manner? And that those funds can’t be given out in an equitable manner by trusted, reliable people including people from the Grass Roots who are trusted and reliable? And that these funds can’t be used to help our children go on to become productive, thinking, candidates for college, university and trade schools or good, honest city workers? I hope you in government and in the School System are not telling me that because I think something is up besides what it looks like on the surface. I don’t know if there are some ominous and hideous plans to make sure our inner city children fail. There are countless fine examples of how this thing works just fine, thank you, like Ms. Veronica Joyner’s Math, Civics and Science Charter School on Buttonwood street that will prove this failure-theory wrong. And prove it wrong with consistency. There are a few other such schools, but their names escape me right now. Wouldn’t it make sense to blueprint what is working and make it replicated and copied everywhere? I don’t get the rocket-science mentality that looks at the whole education thing in the wrong way, anyway. Not at all. As teachers, administrators and politicians we need to ask the children what they want. Ooopps!! Did I just call somebody out.? I went to a Black forum on education last year and they had all these fancy writers, teachers, education specialists and so forth and no students to speak for their selves. Huumm. Something was wrong with that picture. If students want rap music give them rap music. There are success stories of educators and teachers using rap music to teach children in a wholesome, successful manner and the lessons stick because they got rhymes, chimes and beats to them that just won’t quit. GO TO **www.Educational Rap.Com and the songs on money and economics: ``Maximum Utility,’’ ``Regulation,’’ ``Study of Choice.’’

Back on the financial tip: I hope this simple idea will be really considered by our City leaders and City Mothers because as we argue and hold back state funds and act like, well, I’ll just say silly, egotistical people, the children are failing and the children are suffering.

I am sure there must be a Way to quickly and efficiently open up the financial process and allow people who want to give to do so and allow people who want to act like crab-apples to keep their money to do so also. I’m tired of our children suffering and I’m tired of all the bickering, fighting and egos. Let’s try something that works. Look at all the things that are showing results and replicate them. That good teacher with a newspaper for our young men and young women to learn from is equally effective when teaching math, science and English—just let them have the classrooms. Most of those so-called standardized text books are white-washed of the facts anyway and don’t relate to the lives of the inner city child. I know for a fact that there are White teachers who teach Black students and find themselves ashamed to have to use those ole, beat up, standardized text books that are often brimming with lies, and racial animosity instead of truth, love, fairness, wholesomeness and decency. There is no subject that can’t be treated with rap music, contemporary and even different teaching methods that will not be successful if given to the right teachers. [Watch a few ole episodes of ``Room 222’’ and check out Pete Dixon.] Behavior problem students can be segregated for a Black male teaching squad that can handle them. Asking a little Jewish Lady from Drexel Hill to take on such students from troubled homes and broken backgrounds is unfair, silly and useless to students, administrators and teachers. Sho- Nuff Said, Yo. I’m out!!

Saturday, May 10, 2014

Job Creators & Unions Must Respect Each Other...........

Job Creators and the Need to Support the Union Movement....

By Brother Tracy Gibson...

This article MUST be sent to ALL Top Executives at McDonalds, at my expense. When We--as Job Creators and Business owners--support Progressive Labor we pour money back into the hands and pockets that serve as the very life-blood of the economic base from which we ourselves generate our own economic viability and sustainability. To cheat Labor is to cheat us. To give Labor a raw deal is to give ourselves a raw deal. Fair and stable wages have a regenerative impact that tends to share more money with the communities we serve as business men and business women. It tends to strengthen school districts, tax basis, churches, struggling families and communities; and allow people to fill their grocery baskets and shopping carts so they can shop in a hardier fashion at K-Mart, Target, and Trader Joe's. We will also find our customer base expanding and more happy and friendlier as well as the smaller shops and stores we might own experience an upturn... When we show the spirit of generosity in all commercial contract negotiations--be they either private or public--we are allowing money to flow freely and properly to the communities that sell us their Labor and back to us as owners of the Means of Production, small developers, property owners and small store owners--and back yet again to the people. This is the natural and decent Way things should progress.

Yesterday [March 14th, 2013] I went to a lively demonstration and rally in City Hall for Labor rights and a City Contract with District Council 33--One of the city Labor groups that claims they have been stiffed by the Mayor of Philadelphia--Mayor Michael Nutter. I was there to show support for the Union. As a Business man I feel it is very, very important to give Our Labor Unions fair and decent wages because of the give and take I mentioned earlier in this story. There was a lot of angry Union men and women there. They were chanting all types of things against the Mayor who they feel is not being fair to the Unions at all. I did notice that instead of being thugs like some people think all Unions are, District Council 33, City workers of many stripe, were going out of their way to be kind and courteous to people who were at the demonstration and any official people who were trying to get through the crowd like politicians, police officers, and Civil Affairs people. Things went pretty well. I had no idea about the demonstration and was really in CIty Council or City Hall to show support for an initiative that City Council woman Blondell Reynolds Brown was making to get more women on City Corporate Boards of Directors. She called the number of women on CIty Boards of Directors ``abismal'' and discussed the points of Her proposed Philadelphia legislation that will deal with the issue head on. City Council woman Jannie Blackwell ws also there to show support for the measure. Many women sat around a table and were recognized for the positions they hold on various boards, but Blondell said this was hardly enough. While I was at the meeting for more women on City Corporate Boards, I noticed many, many Union people on my Way in and as I made my Way out also. I decided to wait in line to get back into City Hall and show my support for the City Union. Because of my activities with the All Peoples Congress and The International Action Center over the years, I have ALWAYS been close to Unions and Pro-Union. I have, however, not had too many close friends and associates in City Unions except maybe my good friend Levin T. and my cousin Cedric B. [Cedric I don't see hardly at all, but Levin and I are becoming closer as friends because we dine out together from time to time.] So, I took the time to support the Union and chanted, shouted and even testified before City Council for them. It took about two hours of my day yesterday and it was well worth it. I ended up having one of the best days I have had all year. I signed up and stood in line to testify for a bill called 130004 which was for more sick leave. When finally I got up to the podium I explained that I really was Pro Union, but that I couldn't take any stand on the Bill because I didn't get a chance to read it because of the Hap-Hazard way in which the public is allowed to testify without actually reading the actual legislation or even a short synopsis or compilation of each Bill before they are allowed to have their say on how they feel about any certain Bill. I stated my name and my company's names first. I was done in about four minutes. I hadn't testified in front of Philadelphia's City Council since I did so about gentrification sever years ago. It is always good to reach that high point in your activism to testify in front of City Council Some activists do it all the time. I am too busy writing letters to to that or researching and writing. I'll try to do it more, not that I feel the exhilaration and the closeness with the people that was evident yesterday [March 14th, 2013] in Philadelphia's City Council. I also spoke with City Council woman Jannie Blackwell for a few moments and we were back on speaking terms in no time. I am sure she didn't even know how upset I was that I had been unable to have a meeting with Her last summer and was denied several time from her scheduling staff to have a meeting. {Her Appointment Secretary was Lauren Whitleigh at the time, last summer]. Since Jannie took the time to come over to me and recognize me and say She didn't quite know I was the one giving Her some important mail at Her meeting earlier about the Philadelphia Corporate Board Positions for Women, I decided that I needed to stop holding a grudge against Jannie and be more open-minded and accepting because She tries hard and works hard as well. So, that was my day in City Hall and City Council yesterday.

To get back on point, If We let ourselves slip back into the repugnance of greed and too much economic self-perpetuation, we end up pulling the plug on the very economic flow that we feed into and that feeds back into our bank accounts, our own wallets and our personal and family economic well-being as business owners. I think we have to talk to the Unions and their representatives and say ``We want to give you a fair contract; we know you have children to feed and school, taxes to pay, utility bills to pay, and you want to buy a few nice things after the food and utility bills are paid. Few if any people in Philadelphia are buying Ferrari's on a City Wage. '' We should extend ourselves in fairness and with dignity when dealing with the Unions and always allow a free-flow of ideas and information instead of the conflicts that have gone on Between the Office of the Mayor and District Council 33, for example.

When we understand the importance of giving solid contracts and the flow of the economy and stop hoarding money [because we are only harboring heartache and economic hardship for ourselves and the people we want to keep as good Laborers and different parts of our customer base when we hoard money as job creators, business owners and small business owners], we begin to understand the human side of how the economy works. We also begin to understand that creating deeply unnecessary hardship for others only begins to choke off the flow of funds back to us and create animosities in the customer base and among Labor Groups, Unions and Labor Rights Groups that are hard to heal--even over time--and that can create negative ripples in the consumer squadron.

There are a few more points I want to make. Please don't think I am ONLY Pro-Union. While I am a strong Union supporter, and a former and future member of the National Writer's Union, I am also well aware of the difficulties that come along with trying to make payroll, pay employee health benefits, keep up with taxes, utility bills, rental or mortgage payments, and the problems one runs into with employee lateness, demands for more pay when there just isn't enough money to go around and other problems such as maintenance, security and property upkeep. We have to, as business owners, put as much of our profits back into the company as possible. Taking a very, very large salary for your top executives and Big Bonuses only for top executives, Board members and top officers is NOT productive in the present economy when so many people are hurting for a basic good salaries, Ways to feed hungry families, Ways to pay rising tuition costs for children in college and decent health benefits.

A Handsome Demonstration.....

A Tall handsome Brother from the Black community of North Philadelphia, spoke eloquently through a beautiful, multifaceted Prism of justice--as He shed light on those attending a demonstration aimed at the scholastic retention of Professor Anthony Monteiro at Temple University's African American Studies Department.

The Brother--speaking a while before Professor Monteiro was introduced--gave a long quote from W.E.B. Dubois in a fashion much like a highly-trained Thespian one might find reciting important works of Shakespeare. He summed up the importance of Dubois by quoting the famous Harvard-educated scholar's assessment of Black People in the United States.

One woman spoke against the violence on Temple's campus. She said there is a real double standard as far as how people in the surrounding Black community are prosecuted for crime and how crime is handled when committed by a certain mostly White fraternity on campus. Racism, she said, was at the root of the problem with this double standard, she exclaimed.

Some celebrity guests oncluded: Pam Africa & Cornell West.

Friday, May 9, 2014

current progressive announcements.....

*****There will be a major demonstration at Broad & Cecil B. Moore Avenue at 5 P.M. Today, May 8th, 2014 Thursday-- in support of Professor Tony Montero becoming Chair of the African American & African Studies Department at Temple University. I am in favor of Professor Montero getting and retaining this position because He is more Grass-roots oriented and has a better grasp of student and community needs.

*****On May 9th, 2014 there is a Jazz Concert at the Kimmel Center in the basement room, starting at 8 P.M. I will attend.

*****On May 15th, 2014, there will be another Jazz concert at the Kimmel Center at 8 P.M. I will attend that also.

*****On Wednesday May 14th, 2014 There Will be a jazz concert in the common area of the Kimmel Center. No Ticket Required. This is at 9 P.M.

*****On May 17th, 2014 Saturday; I am taking a class in Social Media Basics at the University of the Arts at the Terra Building , room 1113 on the 11th floor at 10 A.M. I Will be attending, but Will be one hour late so I can attend my last class for membership in my church [see below].

*****I Will be attending my last class for membership in my church--The Unity Fellowship Christ Church of Philadelphia. The class will be at 9 A.M. on Saturday the 17th, 2014. It will be my third class.

*****This Saturday at 1 P.M. I will be attending a celebration for Brother Bill, one of our members who is moving to Buffalo New York in a positive career move for himself. If at ALL possible, I would like to take something to bring to eat for the Brothers who attend. *:) happy

To Brother Tracy Gibson from: Brother Tracy Gibson [Kokayi].

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

not gentrified...

May 3rd, 2014 Saturday.

An Open Letter to The First Lady of the United States of Native America:

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue North West
Wash D.C. 20500

Attention: Mrs. Michelle Obama

From: Fellow Organizer and Humanitarian, Brother Tracy Gibson of Philadelphia…………….

Reason for This Letter:

To Talk About My Frustrations as an Activist concerning the issue of Gentrification…… Reclaiming Black Neighborhoods for the Black People who have traditionally lived here.

First I want to say I was a landlord for over 25 years and have a propensity towards land ownership, owning property and making reasonable financial advances from property. My Father, The Late Mr. Charles S. Gibson, was also a landlord and was such for over 55 years. He owned about seven different properties during His lifetime, but never made it big like He had envisioned. He basically collected rent and did quite a bit of His own fix- up work on His own. He also depended on major White contractors like Home Depot for major jobs such as new roofs; major plumbing needs; and major electrical work. I never understood why Dad didn't buy stock in Home Depot because He owned other stock and liked to purchase stock. He also definitely LOVed Home Depot and was a loyal customer for decades. When He passed, He owed Home Depot about $150,000.00. I never understood why I didn't prod Him to buy stock or why, with Him loving the company's concept and all, why He didn't invest in it.

When I went into the Real Estate business, after a Jewish Friend of my Dad's--a Mr. Golden--lent me about $800.00 to buy my first property at 5323 Walnut Street in West Philadelphia. His name was Golden and I am, forever thankful and I was very happy to re-pay the loan in a timely manner. I made about $300,000.00 from the ownership of about 5.5 properties over the 25 years I owned property. There was usually some long-term contention between my Father and I, but it was generally typical Father - Son issues that I had to resolve through the difficult, uncomfortable and edgy work of therapy. I forgave Dad and He forgave me. I was never very good at what Dad called ``beating and banging'' --the hard work of fixing property where, if you can put in the so-called sweat equity, you can cut corners financially and save enough money to put some money away for the future. Luckily for me, [and my Dad's Good Spirit may well have helped], I had some good tenants and was able to get some good people to work for me. I also had a job at TV Guide Magazine. This helped me finance some of the investment. It was a lot of work and I have vowed to not allow myself to re-enter the Real Estate market again unless I do so at a higher level where I can afford to own better properties and have more professional people do the work for me. Ultimately I would LOVe to have my own construction company to do the work for me and also manage other People's properties for them for a fee.

At the same time, I am basically a writer, so I don't want to spread myself too thin AND HAVE TOO MUCH ON MY AGENDA. Then again, everyone concerned with their own future should consider Real Estate as a buffer for a more stable financial life. Dad used to say: Location, Location, Location, in mentioning what was the most important concept to keep in mind when working in the Real Estate Industry. I think He was right, in one Way, but I think it is important to locate up-and-coming neighborhoods and invest as neighborhoods change and more stable investment helps create more professional jobs and keep up the education system and other established neighborhood institutions.

As an investor and a serious Community Activist, I am very concerned with forcing out or pushing out indigenous People such as Latin, Black, African and Caribbean People who may be renting and not owning property. Unfortunately it comes down to race sometimes. As an activist for many People in the Community and many issues in the community, I once testified about gentrification in CIty Council and how it has ravaged our inner city neighborhoods in Philadelphia. I DON'T WANT TO BE A PART OF SUCH DISPLACEMENT OF POOR, BLACK AND TRADITIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD PEOPLE!!! I have attended many of these Real Estate seminars where they go after the dollar like crazy and forget about the people who are sometimes displaced due to their losing their property as mostly White people move into Black neighborhoods from Center City Philadelphia or Suburban areas. I covered the issue of gentrification along with several other issues when I was a reporter -- photographer for the Philadelphia Tribune [ My Mom told me to use the name Trace Gibson for my by-line so that is what I did. I was there from October 1979 to Circa 1981]. Gentrification was a new concept back then, but it has continued to impact greatly on Black neighborhoods ND Black people--including children and families--because more people have moved into urban, inner-city areas due to raising costs of property, utilities, housing repairs and transportation.

I find myself wanting to see neighborhoods fixed up and jobs created but NOT at the expense of people who have lived in traditional Black neighborhoods losing their homes and being forced to live in the suburbs and chasing dollar bills that never seem to evolve into the American dream. I know about this because I have LIVED IT!!! I lost a home in New Castle, Delaware to foreclosure and left about $16,000.00 worth of valued personal items there. I had to move back into my Dad's home so I am very, very empathetic to people who have to contend with the gentrification issue, even though I want to re-enter the housing market again in the near future. When I do, I will be super concerned about the indigenous Black neighbors keeping stable neighborhoods and not getting forced out.

I was wondering if there are any Federal Programs dealing with this housing loss issue and how we as activists who care about and advocate for poor and disenfranchised Black people can not allow such people to be displaced while still making a small profit and helping neighborhoods stabilize, create stable jobs and balance our schools to be more community-based and useful to traditional community and inner city people instead of mini-degree mills where teachers don't care about children & their issues and students don't get the advantages of a real & positive learning environment. Please contact me in the Ways listed below:

Mr. Tracy Charles Gibson; President, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of--The Black Millionaire's Network; Post Office Box 42878; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19101-2878. Or call: 1 215 921 20 65; Or E-Mail us at: BlockBoi75@Yahoo.com.

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

a message to Black Celebrities.....

A MESSAGE TO ALL BLACK CELEBRITIES!!!
We want to know what you have done and or are doing to help the Black community—and especially Poor Black people--in these improving times. We will post the information on our WEB Page (WWW.BTGandA.Com). or our Blog at: http://thepoliticsofreal.blogspot.com

. Give us all the wonderful details by writing us at BrotherTracy11@GMail.Com after November 5th, 2013. There is no obligation and you only need to reveal what you wish to reveal. Even if you just want to write to say hello, please do. We look forward to hearing from you!!

Brother Tracy Gibson
Post Office Box 42878
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19101-2878

1 215 921 20 65 Phone

A Tribute to Edward Robinson...

Tribute To Doctor Edward Robinson, Junior...

By Brother Tracy Gibson....

On Sunday, October 7th, 2012, at a nice hotel at 1800 Market street, there was a very well-attended commemoration for the life's work of Doctor Edward Robinson Junior--an educator, activist, organizer and father-figure who had spent his life instilling pride, humanity and concern for our Youth as Black people in many other activists and organizers in the Philadelphia area.

Many people called him uncle, many who attended the Tribute, and mind you there was about 150 people in attendance, remember aloud the times they were honored to be in his presence and company. I was fortunate enough to meet Mr. Robinson on at least two occasions. I remember his work, specifically, on building Black Businesses and I KNOW for sure I was inspired to work hard to carry out a small part of his dream.

He was NOT light on White people and spoke outwardly about what he felt was their complicity in promoting racism. But most of his work took on a more positive bent. He was always willing to help youth take on reading and opening books by Black authors. He was also very interested in Black youth traveling to Africa and discovering their African roots and traditions.

the d'Zert Club {A group of organizers activist and educators who take mostly Black youth on a homage to Egypt, Africa each year for free.}; African Genesis Institute and Teamwork Productions were just three of the organizations and institutions that provided support for the Sunday afternoon event and who carry on the legacy of Doctor Robinson Junior. Several other organizations support Doctor Robinson's work including the Reparations group N'COBRA; ATAC {Avenging the Ancestor's Coalition}; and Universal Companies.

The Evening including many remembrances of Doctor Robinson and a light snack. {I had veggies and lemon juice}. It was a great thing to see so many people gather to give tribute to Doctor Robinson, Junior, whose work will obviously move forward

three heroes

Three Champions…
I have often thought if I could meet three people in history or present day people and have lunch with them, who would they be? It could be any three people in the world either living or passed away. I have decided they would be three champions of human rights, three visionaries, three people who wanted to give full rights to Black people. They are: Robert F. Kennedy, Winnie Mandela and Malcolm X.

Robert F. Kennedy I would want to thank him for giving his life to the cause. For wanting to see the dream of Martin Luther King Jr. become a reality and for working tirelessly for his entire life towards justice, freedom and equality for ALL Americans, but especially for what he wanted to see for and for what he did for the oppressed, the underserved and the left out. He had a unique way of listening and sharing his feelings that made him a Kennedy and made him unique among men. I have tried to imagine what his first two years in office would have been like if an assassins bullets had not cut short his Presidential ambitions. (see Chapter 17 for the movie idea.) It was with a heavy heart that I read the cover story of the Philadelphia Daily News when I was just a boy of 12 that day in June, 1968 that Robert was taken away from us. I knew something big and horrible had happened. I have often wondered what it must have been like to have to perform the autopsy on him just days after he had been so mercilessly murdered. The person’s hands must have been shaking knowing that the entire country was in such deep morning just five years after President John F. Kennedy was also assassinated. The country had had enough and was about to pop. I mean really explode. It was so shortly after Martin had been laid to rest. There was still turmoil in a country—our country—that had been gripped with such pain. How could GOD have done this to us again? Didn’t GOD know the dreams of little children were instantly made nightmares? How could we have been so careless to allow such a terrible and tragic thing to have happened again? I could not understand, at age 12, how people could be so cruel and heartless to snuff out millions of people’s dreams with the simple firepower of a gun. I want to have lunch with Robert to ask him what he would have done had he lived. What was on his agenda and what would he have us do now? I want to look into his bright Kennedy eyes and tell him how much his vision of the world was appreciated and how much his memory is cherished. How people have dedicated their entire lives to keeping his Dream & Doctor King’s Dream alive. I would want to make sure he knows that his children have lived on to take his vision and work forward--even in his death--and that there are millions of people throughout the world who still try and work for a better world. The vision was so perfectly shaped visually during his historic 1968 campaign for the United States Presidency. Robert lives on in our hearts and minds and will never be forgotten as a positive force for change, a legislative hero and a man who took the oppressed and down trodden under his wing.

While I never had lunch with Winnie Mandela, I did have the golden opportunity to meet with her in a private 15 minute discussion when I traveled to South Africa in the year 2000. I attended the World Conference Against Racism in Durban, South Africa. She walked in with grace and courage at one of the work sessions and received a standing ovation. Shortly after that she came to a table where I was sitting and we talked for a few cherished moments. I immediately asked how she was doing and let her know what an honor it was to meet her—the woman who waited for Nelson to be released from jail for over 25 years. She put us all to shame. How can we be so impatient when one woman such as she waited for all those years, dedicating her life against the Apartheid system that was responsible for killing, maiming and destroying thousands upon thousands of lives in her beautiful Native Land? As I work now at a job that is tiring and labor oriented and has low pay, I remember Winnie and take her message with me to work each day, even though I might not mention her by name. She is for the rule of decency. She is for her people having needed land and land rights, education, basic human rights, basic human needs such as housing and jobs. She has spent years speaking out against oppression, racial hatred and intolerance. She is a leader among leaders who I would love to interview and break bread with. But her desire to improve the quality of life for African people reaches across the continent of Africa and creeps into the Board rooms and bed rooms of North America and around the globe. But are people listening? Maybe someday they will. Maybe they will have to listen because the people of the world will just stop working, stop eating and stop everything until they do and bring about full employment, close the sweat shops, and tear down the walls of greed, hatred and disrespect of women. Maybe someday I will again meet this Queen of Africa and let her know that her efforts have NOT gone unnoticed and that her vision will one day be a reality—even if it takes another generation or two. GOD Bless you Winnie. Hold fast to your dreams and vision for hope is not lost for this planet.

Malcolm X (born Malcolm Little) held a name which became synonymous with radical Black thought, especially after his tragic assassination in 1965. His break with the Nation of Islam and Elijah Muhammad and his historic trip to Mecca is well documented and a part of Black history. Malcolm never had any sons, but I can tell you he has millions of sons in spirit, for I am one of them. His struggle to see the Black man and Black woman become whole and end their many, many years of suffering under White domination and White oppression are also well documented and have had an enormous impact on bettering Black people. We learned from Malcolm X to hold our heads high, speak up and be proud of our rich legacy, our traditions, our African languages, heritage and culture. I was only going on nine years of age when Malcolm was felled by assassin’s bullets in Harlem, New York so I still want questions answered and need some guidance. I would love to know where Malcolm saw our struggle going before he was killed and what he saw as a role for African Presidents and how to best encompass that role for our best future. Malcolm has left us with some beautiful & highly intelligent daughters who have carried on some of his work by writing and speaking out on some of the important issues of the day. If I could have lunch with Malcolm I would ask him what his concept of Pan-Africanism was and how it can and should be applied to everyday life in North America for African Americans. How do we boil down his ideas into something our youth can consume in this fast-paced, video& video game-dominated world we live in? (This is especially a question or our Black males.) How do progressive & radical ideas compete against the video games, BLACKBUSTER movies with their showy special effects and all the Rap Music, sports on TV, high fashion label garments and the desire for the Bling Bling lifestyle? How do we explain to our youth—and really the rest of our people--that having a strong Black intellectual core can be and most likely is always more important than attaining all these material items? I would bet my bottom dollar that Malcolm X would have an answer for all those questions that would move our movement ahead greatly. Thankfully we can read about Malcolm X and discover some of the answers. Also: Spike Lee was good enough to leave us with a film on the Brother that at least depicts some of his life story and what his ideas were. I would really love an interview with the late Malcolm X.

These two gentlemen (Malcolm X and Robert F. Kennedy) and the one still surviving lady (Winnie Mandela) have helped shape some of my ideas of what it means to be a progressive and a politically active, humane & caring Black person in North American today. They have helped me see that even as we pass on, our work can and should go on with and through others, for as I said at the beginning of this book, our struggle is a marathon, not a sprint and the piton may have to be handed down for another hundred years or more before we all reach our destiny. And what is our destiny? It is reaching some of the things that many other racial groups want for themselves such as: self growth with dignity and respect; racial pride and decency; cultural awareness; political & economic power; self determination; respect from other racial groups & ourselves; good wages with good living standards for all who can work; access to and achievement of solid educations for all who want them and an end to war as a viable option for mankind. I don’t think Winnie, Robert and Malcolm would think this is too much to ask for, strive for and achieve over the next five to thirty years.

The Politics Of REAL

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