Love Letter to Mad Blacks - volume 1

L o v e L e t e r t oMadB acks.

ADI GI T ALPUBL I CATI ONCEL EBRATI NGTHEPOWEROFBLACKANGER

001 c ur a t edbyTheAng r yAf r i c a ns .

T ABL Eof CONTENTS

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s e c t i on1 wel come home.

s e c t i on2 dear As s at a.

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s e c t i on4 ourances t or s i nt r ai ni ng.

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s e c t i on6 amedi t at i onf or MadBl acks .

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s e c t i on9 gent l e r emi nder s .

s e c t i on3 di ve deeper .

s e c t i on5 y’ al l can’ thave Bl ackhai r .

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s e c t i on7 t ar otwi t h Thameka.

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s e c t i on8 s ubs cr i be+ s t ayawhi l e.

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s e c t i on1 0 we’ r egr at ef ul yous t ayed.

we l c omehome.

( 001 )

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Ha ppySpr i ngy’ a l l , wha t aper f ec t da y t ol a unc hournew di gi t a l publ i c a t i on c a l l ed“ Lov eLe t t e rt oMadBl ac k s ” ( LLTMB) .

Yes ,t oda y we c el ebr a t e t he r e v ol ut i ona r ya c tofBl a c k peopl e dec i di ngt ol ov eonea not heri nwa y s t ha tf eels a f ea nda f f i r mi ng,butwe a l s oc el ebr a t eourAngr ya nc es t or s t oda ya nd e v er y da y .L L TMB i s c ur a t edbyaBl a c kt hi nk er , a nde x i s t s t oel e v a t ea na nc es t orwhoi s / wa s notonl ya ngr ya shel lbuts ha ped t hei ra c t i v i s m a nd l i f et oa ddr es s s ol ut i onst ot hei ra nger .

Ouri na ugur a l i s s uei sdedi c a t edt oAs s at aS hak ur , a l i v i ng a nc es t orwho des er v es her f l ower snowa nda l wa y s .

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“ Yes , t oda ywe c el ebr a t et he r e v o l ut i o na r ya c t of Bl a c kpeopl edec i di ng t ol ov eonea not heri n wa y st ha t f eel s a f e a nda f f i r mi ng, but we a l s oc el ebr a t eour Angr ya nc es t or s t oda ya nde v er yda y . ”

de a r ( 002)

I ’ mha v i ngaha r dt i me f i ni s hi ngy our a ut obi ogr a ph y .

I ’ v eba r el y got t enpa s t y ouri ni t i a l hos pi t a l s t a ya f t erbei ng a r r es t edf ort hemur derof t hes t a t et r ooper .

Ev e r ywor dy ou us e dt or e c ount t ha te xpe r i e nc e i sgut t i ng: t hef a c t t ha t y ouha dt owa k eupi nt hemor guene x t t o y ourl ov e’ sdea dbodyi sgut t i ng; howy oue x per i enc ed ph y s i c a l a ndment a l a bus ei nt hemos t v i ol ent of wa y s whi l s t c ha i nedt oy ourhos pi t a l bedi sgut t i ng.

I ’ v ebeen t r y i ngt or ea dy ourbookf ormont hsa ndc a nnows a y t ha t I ’ mnot s ur eI e v erwi l l .

Youl i v e dt hr oughani ght ma r e i ns e r v i c eofBl a c kpe opl ea ndi t pa i nsust ha t y ou’ r e s t i l l not f r e e .

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You’ v es k i r t eddea t ha t t heha ndsof t heUSgov er nment j us tt o be i mpr i s oned i ns o ma n y ot her wa y s .

Iof t enda y dr ea ma boutbei ngi ny ourgener a t i on,a c omr a dea ndf el l ow r e v ol ut i ona r y ,ma y bee v enoneof t hos eBl a c knur s eswhohel pedy ouc ont a c ty ourf a mi l y whi l eony our dea t hbed.

Thet r ut hi s , e v enwi t ht hel ea ps t owa r dsl i ber a t i onwhi c hBl a c kpeopl eha v ee x per i enc ed i nt hedec a dess i nc ey ouwer ebor n, I f eel oddl yt i edt o t het ender nes sofy ourer a ,t heBl a c kPa nt her s ,t he a c t i v i s m, t hea na l og, t heor ga ni z i ng, a ndt hef ounda t i ons of pa nAf r i c a ni s m.

Ca l l mes t upi dbut I woul dt i me t r a v e l t obebyy ours i dei na he a r t be a t .

I wonde rhowma ny of uswoul d?

Bet her et owr i t el et t er s , t opr ot es t , t omobi l i z ef ory our f r eedom.Put t i ng y ourna me i nt oa n ys oc i a lmedi a pl a t f or m popul a t est hous a ndsofhoma gest oy our gr ea t nes sa nd s a c r i f i c e.You wi l ll i v e on f or e v er .

Wha t at r ea s ur ey oua r e, wha t agi f t y ou’ v egi v enus .

Thi s i smyl ov el et t ert oy oua nda l l y ourpowera nda l l y our r a ge.Bei nga ngr ymea nsIc a ns eewha ti sha ppeni ng a r oundmea ndk now i t ’ snotr i ght ,a ndt ha ti swha t ' s needed bec a us e a s y ou s a y :

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“ Thel es sy out hi nk , a bout y our oppr es s i on, t hemor e y ourt o l e r a nc ef ori t gr ows .

Af t erawhi l e, peopl ej us t t hi nk oppr es s i oni st he nor ma l s t a t eof t hi ngs .

But t obec ome f r ee, y ouha v et obe a c ut el ya wa r eof bei ngas l a v e. ”

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Wi t hs omuc hl ov e,

St e pha ni eKi mou

( 003 )

di vedeeper .

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01 .

Rea dAs ant eS anabyAs s a t a Sha k ur-at ha nky oul et t erf r om As s a t aSha k urt oherc ommuni t yon her60t hbi r t hda y .

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Wa t c hAs s at aS hak ur : Ey e sof t he Rai nbow-a1 997doc ument a r yf i l m onAs s a t aSha k urbyGl or i aRol a ndo.

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L i s t ent oAS ongf orAs s at aF ea t ur edonCommon’ sL i k eWa t er f orChoc ol a t ewhi c ht el l st hes t or yof As s a t aSha k ur ' sa r r es t a ndes c a pe.

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De v ourAs s at a: An Aut obi ogr aphy-“ Thi si nt ens el y per s ona l a ndpol i t i c a l a ut obi ogr a ph y of As s a t aSha k ur . ”

our ( 004)

L ov eL et t ert oMa dBl a c k s wi l l a l wa y sf ea t ur et he wor kof ma d, Bl a c kf ol x whoha v ema de s omet hi ngbec a us et he y wer ea ngr ya t t hes t a t eof Bl a c k nes sgl oba l l y .

phot oc r edi t : HAMZA ( @ha mz a . a bouel oua f a a )

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I nt hi si s s ue, we’ r et hr i l l edt oi nt r oduc ey out ot heAngr y Af r i c a nsl ea ddes i gner , GLOW ZI .

GLOW ZI i samul t i di s c i pl i na r ya r t i s t ba s edi nTi oht i à : k e.

Us i nga ndr el y i ngont hei rc ur i os i t ya sa na ppa r a t ust o under s t a nda nd( r e) di s c ov ert hemul t i pl er ea l mst he y enga ge wi t h( i n) ,t he a r t i s t ’ s medi ums of c hoi c e enc ompa s spl ur a la r tf or mss uc ha spa i nt i ng,gr a phi c des i gn,f i l mma k i ng,phot ogr a ph y ,a nd or i gi na lmus i c pr oduc t i on.

Byv i s ua l l ya nd/ ora udi t or i l y r e nde r i ngt he i rwa y sof t hi nki ng, t he i rque s t i oni ngs , a ndt he i re mbodi e d e xpe r i e nc e s , GLOW ZI c onv e y s a ny onewhos ee y e sa nd/ ore a r s me e t t he i rc r e a t i onst ot he i r f unky , s pi c y&we l l -s e a s one d a r t i s t i cuni v e r s e s .

phot oc r edi t : HAMZA ( @ha mz a . a bouel oua f a a )

Wegot t oa s kt hemaf e wques t i ons : Wha ti s one wor dt ha t des c r i besy oura nger?

Te nde r .

Wha ti sonepi ec eofa r t whi c h r epr es ent s y our a nger?

My a r tpr a c t i c e sa r ee xt e ns i onsof my s e l v e s .

I t he r e f or ee mbodya nya nd e v e r y s i ngl e a r te xpl or a t i ons I unde r t a kea nds ha r e( ordonots ha r e ) wi t ht hewor l d.Wi t ht hi spr e mi s ei n mi nd, Iwoul ds a yt ha tonepi e c eof a r t t ha tr e pr e s e nt smya nge ri s , orr a t he r , a r e , myc ur r e nt s e l v e s .

Fr om 201 7onwa r ds ,Iunde r t ookt he a r duousbutbe a ut i f ula dv e nt ur eof c e nt e r i ngr e s ti ne v e r y t hi ngIe nga ge wi t h( i n) .

Thi sa ma z i ng, ongoi ng, a nd t r a ns f or ma t i v et r i pIbe ga nf i v ey e a r s a gowa spr ompt e dbyaf e r v e ntde s i r e t o ma t e r i a l i z e t he t hi ngs t he c ommuni t i e sIe nga gewi t h( i n)a nd my s e l v e si ma gi ne ,a ndbyagr owi ng a nge rf ors y s t e mswhoc ont i nuous l y e nc our a ge dt hos ewhol ookl i kemet o c ons t a nt l ybes ubj e c t e dt oa nda c c e pt v a r i ousa c t sa ndf or msof v i ol e nc e ( s ) .

Whoi sy our f a v or i t ea ngr y Af r i c a ndur i ngt hi ss ea s on i ny ourl i f e?

Mymot he r , a l wa y s .

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Howdi da ngerpus hy out oc r ea t et hi s?

Mya nge rpus he dmet oc e nt e ri dl e ne s sa ndj oyi ne v e r y t hi ngI doa st hel a t t e ra r et hi ngsI wa sc ons t a nt l yt ol dI c oul dnot f e e l , or r a t he rc e nt e rmyHa i t i a na ndque e rbe i ngon.

I nde e d,ha v i ng gr owni ns o-c a l l e dCa na da , t he“Bl a c ke xpe r i e nc e ”wa sf r a me d a sbe i nguni f or ma nds ol e l yc e nt e r e da r oundt hec ons e que nc e s of ( a c t sof ) whi t e ne s sonAf r ode s c e nda nt sa ndAf r i c a npe opl e .

I s t ha tr e a l l ya l lt he r ei st obe i ng“Bl a c k”?Ar emi s e r ya ndwhi t e s upr e ma c yr e a l l ya sc e nt r a l t omyl i f es t or i e sa st hi sc ount r yi s ma ki ngi ts e e m?Am Is uppos e dt of i ghta ga i ns t____unt i l I t r a ns i t i ont oa not he rr e a l m?

Tha nks t ot he t e a c hi ngs ofmy mom,my de a rf r i e nds , c ol l e a gue s , a nds t r a nge r s , mya nge rt owa r dst hewhi t es oc i e t a l e xpe c t a t i onsofc ons t a nts t r uggl ef orAf r ode s c e nda nt sa nd Af r i c a npe opl ewor l dwi des hi f t e di nt oapr of oundwi l l i ngne s st o s i mpl ybe , t oc hoos ee a s e , j oy , a ndi dl e ne s s , a l wa y s .

I ny ouropi ni on, wha t doesi t mea nt obea n a nc es t ori nt r a i ni ng?

The r ea r ea sma nyde f i ni t i onsof “be i nga na nc e s t ori nt r a i ni ng” a st he r ea r epe opl eont hi sEa r t h.

The r e f or e ,Iwi l lde f i newha t “be i ng a na nc e s t or i nt r a i ni ng” me a ns t o my c ur r e nt t we nt y -t hr e e -y e a r -ol ds e l f .

At t hi smome nt , be i nga na nc e s t or i nt r a i ni ngme a ns : Tha t I y e a r nt ol e a r nunt i l I t r a ns i t i ont ot her e a l m of a nc e s t or s .

Tha tIy e a r nt oc r e a t ea nd/ orpa s soni ni t i a t i v e s , oppor t uni t i e s , t ool sf ort hos ewhoc omea f t e rmet onots i mpl ya c t ua l i z emy wi l de s tdr e a msbutt obea bl et oma t e r i a l i z et het hi ngst he y i ma gi nea swe l l .

Tha t I s i mpl ya m.

y’ a l l can’ tha v e B ackhai r .

( 005)

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I nt hi sepi s ode,St epha ni eunpa c k s t he wor l d’ sl ov ef or Bl a c ks t y l e, r i c hnes s ,s wa gger ,a nd bea ut y es t het i c ,butnott heBl a c kpeopl e a t t a c hed.Pa r t i c ul a r l y ,s hedi v esi nt o t hepol i t i c sofBl a c kha i r , a ndhowi t s i nf i ni t es pec t r um ofs t y l esha sbeen t r a di t i ona l l ys een a s una t t r a c t i v e, unt a med, di r t y , or downr i ght ugl y , but wheny oua ddba byha i rorbea ded br a i ds( orwor s e. . . bot h)ont oawhi t e woma n orhera dj a c entpeer s ,i t bec omes t he mos tc ov et ed a nd i nf l uent i a l s t y l eout .

Wh yi st hewor l d t r y i ng t oe r as eBl a c k peopl ef r om Bl a c kha i r ?

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Wha t ' spa r t i c ul a r l y enr a gi ng i st he er a s ur eofBl a c kwomena ndgender nonc onf or mi ngf ol kf r om t hegl oba l bea ut ys c ene, k nowi ngt ha t t hemos t i mpa c t f ulha i ra nd ma k eup s t y l es ha v ebeenbor na ndhonedi nAf r i c a a ndherdi a s por a .T of ur t herunpa c k t hi sc onundr um,St epha ni ebr i ngsi n c el ebr i t y ha i r s t y l i s ta nd gl oba lha i r educ a t orCi a r aCos t enobl e,whos e i nf l uenc eont hebea ut ywor l dc a nbe s eeni nedi t or i a l c ov er s ,ma j ordi gi t a l c a mpa i gns ,a nd i c oni cr ed c a r pet moment s f r om mov i e s t a r s t o Gr a mmya wa r dwi nni nga r t i s t s ,a nd pol i t i c o.

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“ Ci a r as ha r eswh y s hewon' t j us t " s t op put t i ngbr a i dson whi t egi r l s "but woul d r a t herf oc usher a t t ent i ononi nf o r mi ng t hemos t power f ul a ndwel l r es our c ed bea ut ybr a ndson howt or ec ogni z ea nd el e v a t et hehi s t or yof t hes t y l esbei ngwor n gl oba l l y . ”

amedi t at i onf or Ma dBl a c ks .

( 006)

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J oi nusf ora not herme di t at i onf or ma dBl a c k sha ppeni ngSunda y , Ma r c h1 3t ha t 6pmESTv i aZoom.

I npa r t ner s hi pwi t h @bl a c k medi t a t i onc i r c l ea ndgui ded byt hee x t r a or di na r y@s i ni k i we, we wi l l r e s t t oget herf or30mi nut esa nd r epl eni s hourt a nk sf r omna v i ga t i ng t hewor l da sma dBl a c k s .

Pl ea s e not et ha t t hi smedi t a t i oni sONL Yf or t hos ewhoi dent i f ya sBl a c k1 00%of t hei rl i v es .

Regi s t erhe r e .

t ar otwi t h Tha me ka . ( 007)

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Col l ec t i v eCa r dPul l :Angr yAf r i c a ns , r emember t ha ty our ange r i s r i ght eous .Thi smont hl yc ol umnwi l l us ua l l yi nc l udeac ol l ec t i v ec a r dpul l .

Youc a nus et hi sa sgui da nc ef ort he gener a lener gywe’ r es ubj ec tt oa t t hi st i me.

F or t hi sf i r s t i t er a t i on, I pul l ed f r om The Bl a c k QueerT a r ot ,by Kendr i c k Da y e,a nd t he c a r d we r ec ei v ed i s t he St r engt h.

Repr es ent i ng f i r e ( Ar i es , L eo, Sa gi t t a r i us )ener gy ,t hi sc a r di st he per f ec tf i r s tc a r dpul lf ort hi sgr oup.

Es s ent i a l l y ,s t r engt hi sas k i l l wec a n bui l da sat r ans mut at i on ofour r i ght eous a nger .Ia l wa y st el lmy c l i ent st ha ts t r engt hdoes n’ te x i s tor c omef r omav a c uum.

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I ti mpl i est ha twe’ v ebeent r i eda nd t es t edbef or e, a nda sar es ul t , we’ v e c ul t i v a t ed a nd de v el oped s t r e ngt h t ha twec a nt henempl oywhene v er we need.Ma n y of us ma y be c ur r ent l ye x per i enc i ngl ot sof c ha nge, a ndwhi l ec ha ngec a nbec ha l l engi ng, i tc a na l s obet hr i l l i nga nde x c i t i ng.

Somema ybec a l l edt omov eor ma k e a c ha nge a r ound t hei r home en v i r onment or t hei r wor ka t t hi st i me.

Ot her sma ybec a l l ed t ot r a v el ,or ot her wi s ee x pl or edi f f er enta v enues a ndc ha nnel s ,s uc ha st hei ri nna t e c r ea t i v i t y .

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“ Gr oundy our s el f ( r oot c ha k r a pr a c t i c es , es pec i a l l y y oga , j our na l i ng a nd/ ormedi t a t i onwi l l hel p) , but a l s obewi l l i ngt o f ol l owt hedi c t a t esof y ourhe a r t a ndt ogo wi t ht hemet a phor i c a l f l ow. ”

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Thame k ai sas pi r i t ua l pr a c t i t i oner a ndf r eel a nc ewr i t er .

Sheha saB. A.f r om Ya l eUni v er s i t y .

Her pr a c t i c e i nc l udes :a s t r ol ogy , c a r t oma nc y , medi t a t i on, numer ol ogy a ndt a s s ol ogy( t eal ea f r ea di ng) ; s he’ s a v a i l a bl ef ori nper s on,r ec or dedor r emot er ea di ngs .

I fy ouf eeli nc l i ne dt os how l ov eby t i ppi ng, y ouc a ns endi t t o: c a s ha pp: $of f i c i a l of f i c i a l ; v enmo: @t ha mek a t homps on pa y pa l : www. pa y pa l . me/ t nt 1 1 87

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phot oc r edi t : L y di aHudgens ( @l y di a hudgens )

s ubs c r i be+ s t a yf orawhi l e .

( 008)

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Di dy ouenj oyLov eLe t t e rt oMad Bl ac k s ( LLTMB) ? Cons i der a mont hl y$5s ubs c r i pt i ont or ec ei v e t hi s( orot herof f er i ngs ) e v er ymont h.

Onc ey ous ubs c r i bet oTheAngr y Af r i c a ns ( T AA) y ou’ l lr ec ei v et hi s bea ut i f ulpubl i c a t i onpl usa c c es st o pr i v a t eT AA member s onl ye v ent s l i k ef i l ms c r eeni ngs , pa nel di s c us s i on, Q&As , book c l ubs ,a nd ot her i nper s on+di gi t a l e x per i enc es .

I fy ou’ r e a Bl a c kwoma n orBl a c k gendernonc onf or mi ngper s onwho c a n’ tc ur r ent l ya f f or d a mont hl y pa y ment ,pl e as eus et hi sl i nkt os i gn upf oraf r ee6mont hs ubs c r i pt i on.

gent  e r e mi nde r s . ( 009)

3 0

01 .

Wewe l c omea l l s oc i a l medi a f ol l ower s , l i s t s er vs uppor t er s+ s ubs c r i ber s , j us t not et ha t Bl a c k peopl ewi l l a l wa y sbepr i or i t i z ed+ c ent er edi na l l of ours pa c es .

Al t houghLov eLe t t e r st oMad 02.

Bl ac k si sours ubs c r i pt i onba s ed of f er i ng, t hi sl i s t s er v ewi l l beaf r ee wa yt or ec ei v eournewpodc a s t epi s odes+a n yot hernews .

T el l y our f r i endst os i gnupf ort hes eema i l upda t esher e!

we ’ r egr at ef u yous t a ye d. ( 01 0)

3 2

01 .

F ol l owusonI ns t agr am.

02.

Subs c r i bet oourpubl i c a t i on a ppl a udi ngBl a c kange r .

03.

L i s t ent oourpodc as t +l ea v eusa r e v i ew.

I nt er es t edi nwr i t i ngf orLLTMB? 04.

Wa nt ust of ea t ur ey ourwor k ?L et ’ s c onnec t !

001 c ur a t edbyTheAng r yAf r i c a ns .