Today

[Ifayomi]

Alafai to all who read.

Today was a community day, in my nieghborhood was the laying of sod plants etc. However I was not to community minded today (yep the one who always talks about community) could be because the small (and I do mean small) cosmetics that took place didn't amout to a hill of beans. most of the sod and plants put down will be dead by the end of next week, because no one really cares about them. Including me. We have so many other ills that a few plants wont make any difference, We have many a huge perscent that will continue to throw trash, trample grass, throw bottles, etc some even put whole bags of trash in the street, so a few plants wont change that. We also have the nieghborhood youth who trafic drugs on nearly every corner, the older cats drinking the wine all day long, The Arab stores who rip us off continually, and the alderman and other crooked polictians who rape us as well, we have the all white (99 9/10) police force in our hood who really don't give a rats behind. So a few plants don't mean squat. Anyway back to what I e=intended to write. One of my nieghbors my age sadi something today that is true, something maybe I have stated, but differently. My generation we dropped the ball. We discussed how when we were young we would stand on the corners, in the hallways (of the projects) drinking wine smoking weed etc. but if an older person came by we would at least give them the respect of trying to cover up what we were doing. That is not the case today, and I am sure I do not have to go into detail, but as I write this not only did we drop the ball but some of our parents did as well. Why do I say this? because at 16 I should not have been out smoking weed and drinking. Anyway this has happened and this is where we are today. This in part at least 50% is our fault. I say the other 50% is that of this system in which we live. Wheter you choose to believe this or not. These things have been programed into us. we have been taught self hate etc. the odds have always in new europe been stacked against us, but my generation probably the most bought into the lies. What lie is that you ask, the lie of assimulation, that we were americans. that we had the same rights, that we were viewed as equals. So what did my generation do, we tried to forget rascism, we tried to follow massah to the suburbs we tried our damnest to be like him. guess what didn't work. we are not europeans our DNA says something different. We are trying to be who we are not therefore we are disfunctional. there is much more to say, but will out it together another time. But if we our parents etc. taught and lived the way our elders those who knew those who were just coming out of slavery and beyond, we may be different. I said all that to say as Iiwatched my nieghbors my age, we are tired. we have seen some not all, but we are tired, someone will corrct me of course if I am wrong, but our personal youth is spent. We are in our 50s and 60s we cannot do what we should have done in our teens 20s and 30s. It is up to the generation (maybe 2) to pick up where we dropped. I realize we are here with our life lessons (wisdom learned) to share with those who come behind. We are nearing our epilogue. so with what we have let us share with those who will hear and make a difference

Osunkoya-Ifayomi

[Baba Ahmed]

Hotep Osunkoya-Ifayomi!

I feel u. Maybe a lil personal story from a different viewpoint might help. I worked as youth counselor, briefly, stationed in an Atlanta project. The scene u describe could be its twin sistah and brutha. There was one "community" effort, I helped to establish was urban gardens. There were "clean-up" campaigns there too. I helped do that too, and like you, marvelled at how quickly a cleaned area would become filthy dirty again.

RE the urban gardening, a brutha of the UGA, U. of Georgia Extension Services showed us how to frame out plots for raised gardening,* with produce available to community residents. Very successful; children and young teens took to it. To plant seeds for food was widely attractive. And useful.

Another effort I was assigned to do was collect data from each household. Allowed me to meet virtually everyone of the over 2,000 residents in their townhouse homes. From do n that an idea came to me for organizing the residents, section by section.

My point is I say that my ancestors' spirits guided me to see that those two job assignments taught me at least one useful thing for that community to do; and another I can use in organizing efforts.

Our nationwide problems, even neighborhood problems will be solved via consistency over a very long time period. The conditions have not appeared overnight nor will they be improved overnight. The more sense of b n one people, we gain imo, the more we will see successes in righting this tilted ship's paths. For us.

Yebehyia!

Aluta continua
Kwame Baba Ahmed
-------------------

*Now Im in my 60's and am helping to cultivate organic veggies and to strengthen organic food co-ops in and around nearby Atlanta. How'd it go in the '60's? Each one teach one. A journey of 1 million miles begins with the first step. Huh?

[Ifayomi]

Originally Posted by Baba Ahmed

Hotep Osunkoya-Ifayomi!

I feel u. Maybe a lil personal story from a different viewpoint might help. I worked as youth counselor, briefly, stationed in an Atlanta project. The scene u describe could be its twin sistah and brutha. There was one "community" effort, I helped to establish was urban gardens. There were "clean-up" campaigns there too. I helped do that too, and like you, marvelled at how quickly a cleaned area would become filthy dirty again.

RE the urban gardening, a brutha of the UGA, U. of Georgia Extension Services showed us how to frame out plots for raised gardening,* with produce available to community residents. Very successful; children and young teens took to it. To plant seeds for food was widely attractive. And useful.

Another effort I was assigned to do was collect data from each household. Allowed me to meet virtually everyone of the over 2,000 residents in their townhouse homes. From do n that an idea came to me for organizing the residents, section by section.

My point is I say that my ancestors' spirits guided me to see that those two job assignments taught me at least one useful thing for that community to do; and another I can use in organizing efforts.

Our nationwide problems, even neighborhood problems will be solved via consistency over a very long time period. The conditions have not appeared overnight nor will they be improved overnight. The more sense of b n one people, we gain imo, the more we will see successes in righting this tilted ship's paths. For us.

Yebehyia!

Aluta continua
Kwame Baba Ahmed
-------------------

*Now Im in my 60's and am helping to cultivate organic veggies and to strengthen organic food co-ops in and around nearby Atlanta. How'd it go in the '60's? Each one teach one. A journey of 1 million miles begins with the first step. Huh?

Thank you for these words. they are very encouraging
Peace
Osunkoya-Ifayomi