Thursday, July 20, 2006

WHEN THE LITTLE PEOPLE STRIKE BACK
(sometimes the wretched do get satisfaction)
I have always had soft spot in my heart for the little guy. It has always felt good to me when I believe that justice has been served. We as a race (human) and people (African Americans) know what its like to understand the good, bad and all things in between. So it is in this spirit that I document a few instances of such occurrences.Harriet Tubman was born a slave in Maryland in the early part of the 19th century. As a young teen she was struck in the head by her overseer for refusing to help him tie and beat a slave who'd tried to escape. For the rest of her life she would suffer dizzy spells and memory lost. Mrs. Tubman would later escape north but would make 19 trips down south and eventually lead 300 slaves to freedom. But I would imagine the especially sweet moments had to be freeing her family including her 70 year old parents shed left in bondage . That had to be a really special feeling to actually have successfully led her mother and father to the promise land and after a particularly difficult trip. The Little people striking back indeed!
In Virginia during the civil war an ex-slave turned Union soldier saw his master a confederate POW being lead away in chains and remarked “bottom Rail on top now Massa, bottom rail on top", in april of 1880’s, a black Cadet named Johnson Whittaker enrolled at the United States Military Academy (West Point), was attacked early one morning, beaten unconscious and tied to the his bed then left their bound and gagged, when he was discovered the next morning he , he was questioned by a doctor, who assumed he had tied himself up and bruised his body. Johnson Whittaker was then detained, charged and convicted for tying himself up, and injuring himself to get out of having to take a test (from a class he was passing at that). Of course the military commission that tried him was nothing more than a Kangaroo court designed to swiftly convict and get rid of the “Nigger” Cadet. After being convicted and sentenced to a military prison, West point was purged of that years only black cadet. Because of his bogus conviction his prison sentenced would later be commuted and he was dishonorably discharged. Whittaker would go on to a glorious career educating the freed peoples and their children. He would live to see his son’s and grandson serve as officers in the United States army, I can imagine that looking back on all of his life he must have felt great pride in his accomplishments (and his sons accomplishments). I imagine Mr. Whittaker as an old man sitting around the house with his grand kids and great grand kids and feeling great pride at having overcome racism of the most virulent form to extract some well earned satisfaction at the progress of his family. I can also imagine the pleasure that slave in Virginia, got when seeing his master and informing him of switch in circumstances. Just another glorious example of little people striking back.
Now for my last example of the little people receiving their due and attaining satisfaction. Somewhere in Atchison Kansas where the winters are very cold and the summers are very hot a woman named Ruth Ann Jackson and a man Joseph H Williams would come together in marriage to produce 10 kids. After 6 or so kids Joseph and Ruth split, only getting together to produce a kid every couple of years or so. Why they chose to continue having kids while not together I have no idea but anyway, it was during this period when Joseph began to claim that youngest of Ruth’s kids were not his.Everyone knew this was foolishness but that didn’t stop Joseph from telling any friend or family member those kids weren’t his. Anyway after one particular offensive instance of Joseph claiming not to be the father of Ruth's youngest kids. Their 12 year old daughter (Carmelia) brought one of the babies (Bess Jackson) that ole Joey claimed wasn’t his, home for his entire homestead and extended family to see. Lo and behold wouldn’t you know it the baby as well as all of the other kids (ole joey claimed wasn’t his) looked just like Joseph. In fact one of those kids would have a son (Joseph’s grandson) who would look just like Joseph. Legend has it that ole joey was cured of saying those kids weren’t his for all times after that. Major kudos to young Carmelia Jackson for her bold and daring move. I can imagine that Carmelia had had enough of ole Joey's Bull Shit and had decided to re-educate him as to the error of his (lying) ways. And what better way to do so other than using his own (child) handy work. So in solidarity with the eternal and universal struggle of all little people who have ever lived Carmelia struck a mighty blow and manage to change ole Joey's tune. By the way Carmelia just happens to be my aunt and Ole Joey my grandfather who I just happen to resemble more than I resemble my sister. Pretty strange for a grandkid not related to old Joey. Hmmmm.
SO IN CONCLUSION GOD BLESS ALL OF THE LITTLE PEOPLE WHO MANAGE TO RE-EDUCATE THE A##WHOLES OF THE WORLD ABOUT EQUALITY AND GAIN A LITTLE SATISFACTION FOR US THE WRETCHED WHO ARE FORCED ON A DAILY BASIS TO ENDURE THIER BULLSHIT. MARK BEY

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Lovin the way you holding me down on the other side bro, keep ya head up and do your thing. One.

Anonymous said...

Touching and soulful post Mark.
(dap,dap)

Blessings.

Asa.

field negro said...

As usual, on point my young brother!

Peace!

Sherril said...

Mark,
Well written and worth reading. Thanks. Oh, and welcome back. I've been checking in and kept finding the July 13th post, so I'm glad to see your contribution once more.

EmergingPhoenix said...

It's not often that I feel that odd emotion of laughter and tears emerging at the same time...great post...

Soulfull said...

Hi Mark! Keep writing (and fighting) for the little guy!

Anonymous said...

Mark:
Hizbullah's attacks stem from Israeli incursions into Lebanon

http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0801/p09s02-coop.html

enjoy

Dangerfield said...

Ugz I know that. At least thats Hbzl's side. The truth is in the middle if you dissagree I wont even debate. Hbzl cant just kinapped Israeli soldiers and get away with it. Israel clearly stated that if thier were any more attacks on her citizens or soldier she would respond with overwhelming force. But everyone on the planet knows that shit is going back and forth. Both parties are guilty. Hbzl provoked Israel and now when Israels over top response gets layed down they cant deal with. Hbzl is the people. They do do good work, but what the people have to deal with from Hzbl is over the top as well. Thier trying to make christian women and Muslim women dress all wrapped up, and a whole bunch of other extreme consertative values that the people, especially christians and even sunnis dont want. Also they got thier rocket Launcher infiltraded in with the civilian population. They got way much blood on thier hands so this is just as much Hzbls fault as it is Israel fault. If you cant admit that then as far as im concerned you are not serious about this issue.

Kip said...

TO Mark,

Chance: I have come by many times since you wrote this post but never commented. I want to complement you on this post, the little people fighting back gives hope to all of the little people who suffer at the hands of tyrants. And sometimes little people don't want to complement other little people because of jealousy and shame. They are ashamed because they recevied help from other little people.

Blacks helped out all of the other racial groups that are non-white, but many members of these racial groups turn on blacks because they are ashamed to admit that if it was not for they would not have progressed in America as far as they have. Many of these colored racial groups failed in their own countries and that's why they came here to this Martin Luther King Jr. promise land { America }. These colored racial groups could not defeat the politicians in their own racial groups in their own countries, so they came to live in America and under the political system that blacks helped set up. If whites had their way these people would not be here they owe blacks.


BY CHANCE

Anonymous said...

http://www.workers.org/2006/us/malcolm-x-0817/
Islam, Malcolm X and the right to self-determination

Hezbollah and Hamas, both Islamic organizations, play leading roles in the Lebanese and Palestinian resistance movements, respectively. The Israeli settler government has tried to break both organizations, as they have increasingly taken up the mantle of the resistance to U.S. imperialism.

If one would take, for example, the contributions of Malcolm X to the struggle of Black people in the U.S. for sovereignty and dignity, it would be difficult, perhaps contemptible and disingenuous, to leave out the fact that he was a Muslim and emerged from an Islamic movement.





enjoy

Dangerfield said...

Yo Ugz I heard a sunni muslim refer to shias as fake muslims what the f#ck is up with that.

Anonymous said...

lol i dont know Mark,

hell lemme ask YOU, why aren't you writing more? I have seen any updates as of late on this blog.

Anonymous said...

Mark:
Here is an excellent book!

FORTY MILLION DOLLAR SLAVES
The Rise, Fall, and Redemption of the Black Athlete

By: William C. Rhoden

Anonymous said...

Mutombo to help open $29 million hospital in Congo
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-mutombo-newhospital&prov=ap&type=lgns

thats a real MAN! thats what I was talking abou on fields blog, our athletes here go on bulljivin...

if by the way u can afford 800 000, it would be good to invest in an MRI machine in this hospital,

Dangerfield said...

Ugz that is some fly shit.

Xave said...

Educational, inspirational, and entertaining. I'll have to keep an eye on your blog! :-)

Dangerfield said...

Thank you Xavier.