THE ARCHIVE P.IX: IN REMEMBRANCE OF STRUGGLE

"ITS BEEN A LONG..A LONG

TIME COMIN'" -


SAMUEL COOK

The African-American Civil Rights Movement (1955–1968) refers to the movements in the United States aimed at outlawing racial discrimination against African Americans and restoring voting rights in Southern states. This article covers the phase of the movement between 1954 and 1968, particularly in the South. - Wikipedia

Wikipedia asists thursday's A.L.I.H.S.T series, published in the wake of MLK Jr's birthday/day of acknowledgement:

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere"-MLK Jr.

-The civil rights movement is one facet of social struggle. The archive focuses on the inspiration and drive of an against the grain perspective; words from MLK Jr with an early 60's journalist about american solidarity, and the seeds of his own legacy in his own words:

"Gandhi’s salt march in 1930, the US civil rights struggle in the 1960s, the Islamic revolution in Iran in 1977–79, the ‘people power’ revolt in the Philippines in the 1980s, the campaigns against apartheid in South Africa, the various movements contributing to the collapse of the Soviet Bloc in 1989–91, and, in this century, the revolutions in Serbia, Georgia and Ukraine – all have involved the use of civil resistance. So too have certain movements that have been repressed, including China in 1989 and Burma in 2007"-

Wikipedia

The above wikipedia quote lists examples/reflections of the term "civil resistance". By personal accounts the social unrest of the times propelled controversial leaders as Stokley Charmicheal(Kwame Ture), by the hungers of wanting social justice, and seeing oppression, took a militant stance through grassroots political groups, coining the term "Black Power".

Though leaders like Ture's views were radical; moving with a collective of ideals challenging capitalism to imperialism, his last years of pan-african struggle were spent on reflection's of spirituality, restoration and a sense of equality for people of any nation. In conclusion we can draw the elements of struggle of a people from history, or current events. Today's A.L.I.H.S.T.'s feature viewed as a Black history month pre-cursor; or as in the late MLK Jr's views the struggle of any people devoid of color consciousness. In any case, In remembrance of struggle was witnessed in the past, and the world stage of the present. Peace.

THEE URBANPRIESTHOOD GROUP LLC 2011

LANGUAGE OF ONE P.XX : THE EXODUS

"If you stop struggling, then you stop life."-


HUEY P. NEWTON






CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico – The mother of four raised a finger, pointing out abandoned and stripped concrete homes and counting how many families on her street alone have fled the Western Hemisphere's deadliest city.
"One, two, three, four, here, and two more back there on the next block," said Laura Longoria.

"No one knows how many residents have left the city of 1.4 million since a turf battle over border drug corridors unleashed an unprecedented wave of cartel murders and mayhem. Business leaders, citing government tax information, say the exodus could number 110,000, while a municipal group and local university say it's closer to 230,000. Estimates by social organizations are even higher."-

Fox News

21st century Mexico. In research and interest, one word came to mind, borderline anarchy.

an·ar·chy 
–noun
1.
a state of society without government or law.
2.
political and social disorder due to the absence of governmental control: The death of the king was followed by a year of anarchy. -



Dictionary.com



Crossing over 2011, one situation kept my attention as it progressed since its turning point in 2007; The crackdown of mexican drug cartels. Generation after generation the drug market has been one of the profitable/destructive commodity's via the states and international waters. Obvious as this holds, though the drive of cartels thrive on currency, power, and fear to gain further influence and control, the greatest highlight of the war is the plight of the innocents:

"Now the drug war has caused thousands to flee. The stepped-up patrols came after the city's once-thriving commercial strips had been reduced to rows of decrepit, boarded-up buildings. Even with new medical facilities, doctors have closed private practices and staged walkouts to protest kidnappings."-



Californian.com


-The first movement of fleeing residents hail from Ciudad juarez. The preservation of innocent lives, poor to rich, increasingly becomes the theme of the hour. Though never published through mass media institutions, its safe to say mexico is in a state of emergency. The history of mexico..the overall dispersal via its homeland and the states is rich, a unique prescence in the indigenous cultures of latin america. The drug sub-culture, its nature is plainly ruthless. Below is recent CBS report on the clash of power and turmoil, down to why the cartels stay in active buisness.

"MANY MORE WILL HAVE TO SUFFER, MANY MORE WILL HAVE TO DIE"-

The Hon. Robert Nesta Marley(Natural mystic)

By reports numbers of those killed among rival cartels, fallen police have climbed; even the Proverbial blood of the innocent cries out. By seeing the state and movement of Ciudad Juarez in recent days, it foretold a possible increase in mexican refugees, finding their way via other communities and cities; to escape a a constant state of fear of violence that shakes the foundation of the government. The state of the cartels progress with updates, from recent truces among cartels to moving their shops and influence into central american countries. They are left primarly by choice to their ultimate destinies, and possibly the fate of an ongoing conflict, fueled by power and greed. Either way, in the western hemisphere this is one country in crisis. 2011 is another window of time to see resolves to an ugly conflict.

THEE URBANPRIESTHOOD GROUP LLC 2011

STREETS CONSCIOUSNESS P. XVIII:CONCRETE JUNGLE

"NO SUN WILL SHINE..IN MY DAY TO DAY, THE HIGH YELLOW MOON, WONT COME OUT TO PLAY"

THE HON. ROBERT NESTA MARLEY

cul·ture- The quality in a person or society that arises from a concern for what is regarded as excellent in arts, letters, manners, scholarly pursuits, etc.
5. the behaviors and beliefs characteristic of a particular social, ethnic, or age group: the youth culture; the drug culture.
6. Anthropology . the sum total of ways of living built up by a group of human beings and transmitted from one generation to another.


Dictionary.com

As webster defines above, a culture is simply a way of life, stemming directly from a community or society. By experience and observation,naturally, there is a different mindset, spirit and culture to every state, and sub communites, 100% relevant to every bracket of class system, from upper to lower. Take a second look at the culture of south jersey. The A.L.I.H.S.T series revisits Camden NJ. In the series "Urban promise" it sought to tell the story of camden.(coined as the "black hole"(due to the influx of drugs and violence). and the redemptive voices/activism to challenge it.

"It was ranked the most dangerous overall in 2004 and 2005. It dropped down to the fifth spot for the 2006 and 2007 rankings but rose to number two in 2008 and to the top spot in 2009."-

Wikipedia

-By observation, conditioned poverty equals crime and social unrest. The statistics documented above are recent. But by sources and the city's failing economy i understood the city is in the process of laying off industrial workers to law enforcement; illustrating the breakdown of the city's governing bodies.


-Thursday's blog feature is not purposed to paint the bleakest picture of an american city, but to bring attention to the state of the district, and greater concern for the culture of the youth. Majority are exposed to the same social ills, dominated by gang prescence with little to no way out to a greater livelihood. We close this pre holiday feature a knowledgeble song from immortal technique, about an ongoing war, from within the states and abroad.

THEE URBANPRIESTHOOD GROUP LLC 2010

STREETS CONSCIOUSNESS P.XVII: REDEMPTION SONG

"IM DOING THE KNOWLEDGE, ITS NOT EASY" -

Queen Latifah(Dana Owens)





In my belief there are significant leaders assigned to every generation; to implement social change or to lead simply by example. In the urban plight there are roses in concrete; diamonds in the rough that overcome adverse circumstance to help others travailing in the same situations.

Unsung Hero -a person who makes a substantive yet unrecognized contribution; a person whose bravery is unknown or unacknowledged -

dictionary.com

- In the heart of the west coast is a story of the historic gang rivalry that raged since the mid-twentieth century. From street allegiances to knowledge of self to redeeming her livelihood: the story of stephanie lang.

"The corner where struggle & greed fightWe write songs about wrong cause it's hard to see rightLook to the sky hoping it will bleed lightReality's and I heard that she bites The corner"-

Common

-Redemption song is the illustration of bringing a redemptive quality back to a lost situation, a revolutionizing of the norm. The life of stephanie lang gave the clearest picture; in an old aphorism, it starts with one.

THEE URBANPRIESTHOOD GROUP LLC 2010

THE ARCHIVE P.VIII : SOUL: THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE

"OBSERVATION..ITS ALL OBSERVATION"-



SAMUEL COOKE

1931-1964

"The gospel revival and doo-wop merged into the great season of soul music. Soul music was enabled by the commercial boom of "race" music, that had led to the creation of channels and infrastructures run by black enterpreneurs for black artists. This class of black enterpreneurs hired and trained a generation of session musicians, producers and arrangers (not to mention songwriters) who were specifically meant to serve the needs of black music. Sould music was also enabled by an unstoppable trend towards black and white integration, as more and more white folks accepted the idea that black culture was not evil or degrading, simply different (African instead of European). The sociopolitical inroads made by jazz also helped legitimize black pop music with the white masses. "-

scaruffi.com

Though its roots were gospel soul music has transcended genre, space and time. Thursday 's archive covers soul music and its weight through time, experience, socialogical issues. From pioneers to innovators, Most stem from humble roots, to go on to make a legendary stamp:

“Being a singer is a natural gift. It means I'm using to the highest degree possible the gift that God gave me to use. I'm happy with that.”-

Aretha Franklin

-One example is the late Sam cooke, deemed the "father of soul", one aspect the not only gave to the origins of soul music but was active durng the time of the civil rights movement. As featured in the BBC series "Deep soul", Part six tells of one song that reverberates till now, and the origins, including his demise and influence:





- Second is sam's protege, Otis redding, one innovator among the likes of the late James Brown, and Bobby Womack, another giant in the forming of soul musician the late 60's when pop became more progressive, and racial barriers were crossed:



"Rolling Stone ranked Charles number 10 on their list of "100 Greatest Artists of All Time" in 2004,[7] and number two on their November 2008 list of "100 Greatest Singers of All Time".[8] In honoring Charles, Billy Joel noted: "This may sound like sacrilege, but I think Ray Charles was more important than Elvis Presley. I don't know if Ray was the architect of rock & roll, but he was certainly the first guy to do a lot of things . . . Who the hell ever put so many styles together and made it work?"-

Wikipedia

-Post ray's death the movie "Ray" depicted the trials and tribulations of ray's life behind the fame and the music. Soul is is music of life, that tells everything from the african american experience and other nationalities. Every generation a new set of muscial talent arises and tells the same story. We close with a throwback of when these giants shone the brightest, at a time of political and social unrest. A 30 something Ray charles with an american traditional:

THEE URBANPRIESTHOOD GROUP LLC 2010

MUSIC IS LIFE P. XIV: PHARMEKIA CULTURE

"THINGS FALL APART" -


TARIQ TROTTER(BLACK THOUGHT)



"In the early 1980s, the majority of cocaine being shipped to the United States, landing in Miami, was coming through the Bahamas and Dominican Republic.[1] Soon there was a huge glut of cocaine powder in these islands, which caused the price to drop by as much as 80 percent.[1] Faced with dropping prices for their illegal product, drug dealers made a decision to convert the powder to "crack," a solid smokeable form of cocaine, that could be sold in smaller quantities, to more people. It was cheap, simple to produce, ready to use, and highly profitable for dealers to develop.[1] As early as 1980, reports of crack were appearing in Los Angeles, San Diego, Miami, Houston, and in the Caribbean."-



Wikipedia

In ancient text there is a reference to an age or dispensation of history: the "Age of Pharmekia(Greek)". Between the stone walls of american history, from opium to meth, street drugs is clearly the greatest commodity next to industry and natural resources. From mass political distribution, to the social unrest and monopoly of ghetto street corners; street drugs issue a fleeting high, or the devastation of a community for blood money. The culture of pharmekia is one major stream in a an capitalist/corporatist society, and globally:

"Beginning with the Iran-Contra Affair, some politicians and journalists began arguing that the CIA contributed to the rise of the epidemic. Allegations ranged from the presence of drug ties to the Contra rebels, to possible direct involvement in drug trafficking by the Contras and even members of the CIA. The exact degree of awareness and involvement on the part of the CIA itself continues to be disputed. However, on April 17, 1986, the Reagan Administration released a three page report acknowledging that there were some Contra-cocaine connections in 1984 and 1985, arguing that these connections occurred at a time when the rebels were "particularly hard pressed for financial support" because U.S. aid had been cut off."-



Wikipedia







-"The love of money..is the roots of all evil", the culture of pharmekia is hand and hand with this ahporism. One example of what proves this is the current crisis of mexico; one society in an upheavel resorting to merciless acts to rivals, and the innocent in the conflicts of its leading drug cartels. Street Drugs is an international major commodity in every country..with the united states being one of the world's main purchasers. We conclude with Immortal technique telling the story through a image laced song.."Peruvian Cocaine".




THEE URBANPREISTHOOD GROUP LLC 2010.

STREETS CONSCIOUSNESS P. XII: MEMORIAL DAY

"This aint livin'...no.. no no no"-

Marvin Pentz Gaye



"The Sean Bell shooting incident took place in the New York City borough of Queens on November 25, 2006, in which 3 men were shot a total of fifty times by a team of both plainclothes and undercover NYPD officers, killing one of the men, Sean Bell, on the morning after his bachelor party, and severely wounding two of his friends.[1] The incident sparked fierce criticism of the police from some members of the public and drew comparisons to the 1999 killing of Amadou Diallo.[2] Three of the five detectives involved in the shooting went to trial[3] on charges ranging from manslaughter to reckless endangerment, and were found not guilty."-

Wikipedia

Bell family, friends share $7M-

BY TONIA N. CIMINO
Monday, August 2, 2010 6:30 PM EDT
It’s been nearly four years since Sean Bell was killed in a hail of 50 police bullets – and his two friends injured – and now a settlement has awarded his estate $3.25 million.On Tuesday, July 27, a judge in Brooklyn Federal Court also gave $3 million to Joseph Guzman, struck 11 times; and $900,000 to Trent Benefield, who was shot three times in the legs and buttock that fateful night in November 2006."-

http://www.queenscourier.com/


"Retrospect for life"- a song title coined by artist common in 1997 bears the theme of thursday's spot. The sean bell case is nationally known, exceptionally in new york city. The above excerpt from a queens new york publication gives the recent updates to the case, now several years later. Though issues of racial profiling and police brutality are not new to america, one highlight of sean bell's case is that the tragedy brought the community together in the wake of the outrage of the verdict. Years later, even with national cases like sean bell raging in the modern day, in retrospect we see some of the harvest it brought:

Styles P(D block) views:

THE YOUTH:

-We close with a stream of streets consciousness; a gem from reflection eternal's "Revolutions per minute"

THEE URBANPRIESTHOOD GROUP LLC 2010

____________________________________________________

POST SCRIPTS:

"IJSN is a growing international network of Jews whose Jewish identities are not based on Zionism but on a plurality of histories and experiences. We share a commitment to participation in the legacy of struggles against colonization and imperialism. As such, we struggle against Zionism and its manifestation in the State of Israel’s historic and ongoing ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people and the confiscation of their land. "

-The persecution of palestinians by the zionist movement is an injustice witnessed globally.. Hit

http://www.ijsn.net/ FOR MORE INFO-

ZIONLIBERATION NETWORK(IJSN.NET)

MUSIC IS LIFE P. XII : SIDEWALK PROPHETS

"THE EXTENSION OF A MAN"-


DONNY EDWARD HATHAWAY







Monday opens in reflection to yesteryear-and its relation to the present. A retrospective look at some of the socio-political issues of race, economy and black america. Revolutionary movements and collectives of the late 60's, and reflections of the african diaspora at this time brought about pro-black consciousness; mainly through culture(blaxploitation films, music etc.), foreign relations(war), socio-political ills and race relations. This era is one of the biggest influences and inspirations to modern day artists ie: common, lupe fiasco, mos def, jill scott:













-Below are two features, one of the icons of soul and social consciousness, Gil Scott Heron and the legendary "Last poets" ; a report and documentry on the voices who raised awareness for that and the coming generations:







-We close with the movements of a group of whom they regard themselves as the "Little brother" of the late 80's early 90's hip hop groups. The north carolina collective takes you into their world of beats rhymes and life.

THEE URBANPRIESTHOOD GROUP LLC 2010.

MUSIC IS LIFE P. X: PHILLY: THE SOCIO-LANDSCAPE

"Seize the Time.”


-Bobby Seale





"Out of the ten most populous cities in the United States in 2006, Philadelphia had the highest homicide rate at 27.7 per 100,000 people, though the number of murders decreased to 392 in 2007.[75]
In 2004, there were 7,513.5 crimes per 200,000 people in Philadelphia.[76] In 2005, Philadelphia was ranked by Morgan Quitno as the sixth-most dangerous among 32 American cities with populations over 500,000.[77] Among its neighboring Mid-Atlantic cities in the same population group, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. were ranked second- and third-most dangerous cities in the United States, respectively, and Camden, New Jersey, a city across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, was ranked as the most dangerous city in the United States.[78]
In 2008, Camden was the second-most dangerous city in the country, lower than its 2004 ranking, but still high for a city its size, while Philadelphia was ranked 22nd.[79]"


The statistics rage in the one of the most cultural ediface's of the east coast. Music is life hosts philly..taking insight through the voices told by the diamonds in the rough:


- Controversial, even in the midst of the city's current situation, the brightest jewel's still shine. In the population of the city, notably between the african, and latino diaspora's, in the city's darkest hour, the consciousness of the people are opening, for collective survival. Proggressively conscious of the need for social change. The awareness is raised through legendary groups like the roots. Peep how i got over..a call/cry still relevant.




THEE URBANPRIESTHOOD GROUP LLC 2010.

MUSIC IS LIFE P.IX SHADES OF JOURNALISM

"All That I Can Say ”-

LAURYN NOEL HILL
















Tavis smiley
Taina hernandez




Thursday highlight's the journalist: notably the african-american and latino voices in mainstream and democratic journalism. Though some roles in mainstream journalism are controversial to some; due to the fact that by popular belief figures as tavis smiley and soledad o'brien are the voices of people of color in mass media, whether radical, or conservative to the approach to their work, their impact is potent regardless. Exceptional leaders on the forefront are Taina Hernandez and Soledad O'brien; and also the explosion of philadelphia influential black journalists as the late Reggie Bryant, and incarcerated but active, Mumia abu Jamal.













"Taina Hernandez ( born July 30, 1974 in Brooklyn, New York)[1] is a correspondent for ABC News. She is graduated from Brown University in 1996[2]. A native of the New York City borough of Brooklyn,[3] Hernandez joined ABC News in 2001 as a correspondent for NewsOne, ABC's affiliate news service. She anchored the overnight broadcast ABC World News Now from 2005–2007, and appears regularly on Good Morning America and World News."


"María de la Soledad Teresa O'Brien[1] (born September 19, 1966) is an American television journalist. She is currently the host of the "In America" documentary unit on CNN, and is best known for anchoring the CNN marquee morning newscast American Morning from July 2003[2] to April 3, 2007, with Miles O'Brien. "-



wikipedia


-Below is is an interview of Soledad O'brien, on recent coverage of the controversial CNN series "In america" focusing on the latin and african diasporas, along the trailers of both series, a series that had progressive work throughout 2007 -2009:





-We close with a exclusive feature from writer/recording artist immortal technique, off his latest lp "The 3rd world" ft Jean Grae.




THEE URBANPRIESTHOOD GROUP 2010.

LANGUAGE OF ONE P.VII: JAMROCK CHRONICLE

"WELCOME TO JAMROCK"-



DAMIAN "JR. GONG" MARLEY

CHRISTOPHER "DUDUS" COKE-

"On 24 May 2010, police and military forces launched a large-scale operation aimed at taking Coke into custody. By 27 May, at least 73 people had died in clashes between Jamaican security forces and gunmen in West Kingston."-

wikipedia

Through mass media we witness the burning season of current events in the 3rd world. Today's spot visits the generational transitions, bloodshed, and the political and social landscape of one of the carribbean's most significant island nations, Jamaica. Currently the situation involving Christopher coke has catapulted jamaica to the front page of global headlines. Coke, son of a drug lord and head of the infamous "shower posse" which has foundations in NY, canada, and jamaica has been in a stand off for the warrant of his arrest for several days; this bears as a reflection of the island nations relationship of crime and politcs, and the mindset of the overall political climate of jamaica:

"Jamaica's two-party system, which had its roots in the rivalry between William Alexander Bustamante and Norman W. Manley (see Historical Setting, this ch.), resembles traditional North American patterns. Both parties--the JLP and PNP--were formed and operated by a relatively small number of men and with a high degree of British and intraparty cooperation."-

http://www.countrystudies.us/

-throughout the 70's these two political parties clashed, to where the streets of jamaica were filled with political violence. Of the greatest ambassadors of that era, Bob Marley headed a peace concert to counteract the war:

"The One Love Peace Concert was a large concert held on April 22, 1978 at The National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica.
This concert was held during a political civil war in Jamaica between opposing parties Jamaican Labour Party and the People's National Party. The concert came to its peak during Bob Marley & The Wailers' performance of "Jammin'", when Marley joined the hands of political rivals Michael Manley (PNP) and Edward Seaga (JLP-"

wikipedia

-As the world still wacthes the ultimate results of the current crisis involving coke, who is also tied to politcal powers, we can take time to look to at the accomplishments of the past, to aid in the resolving of the current state of the socio-political climate of jamaica. As the point of understanding history, is to not let it repeat itself. We close with a recent documentry, 3 of 5 parts included in the embedded link of award winning journalist Ross kemp, with an insight into the struggles of jamaica. And a throwback of Hon. Robert Nesta Marley O.M, with his own declaration of peace in a time of conflict.








BOBS PERFORMANCE OF JAMMIN' ...APRIL 1978

THEE URBANPRIESTHOOD GROUP 2010.