PULLMAGAZINE

Holiday EditionPULLMag.com

IN THIS ISSUEInvictusKwanzaa TraditionExpands Holidays

World Bids Farewell to Mandela

A ‘Sacrit’ Bond The Fight for YourLife Isn’t About YouBlack Americansand Worldviews

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Happy Holidays!

Thank you for helping us to make 2013 a great year for PULLMagazine. Our goal at PULL is to inspire conversation and thought on the many issues and subjects that impact the lives those who are striving for greatness and are emerging in their respective fields of endeavor.

In this issue, we pay our respects to Nelson Mandela who spent his In this issue, we pay our respects to Nelson Mandela who spent his life pursuing freedom. PULL also had an opportunity to visit north of the Border to examine if life is truly better in Canada for blacks than life is for blacks in America.

We visited the West Coast to meet a young woman who isconnecting teenage girls in California with teenage girls from connecting teenage girls in California with teenage girls from Uganda through the power of the Internet. You will also meet the first women every to fly for the Guyana military.

Our commentary section features opinions on Immigration Reform and Reparations, respectively. We anticipate this issue to cause plenty of discussion.

Our goal at PULL Magazine is to make you think. Please let us Our goal at PULL Magazine is to make you think. Please let us know your thoughts on this particular issue by emailing us atadmin@pullmag.com . You may also contact us via facebook at www.facebook.com/pullmag and follow us on Twitter andInstagram @PullMag

As always we appreciate your support as we work to grow andimprove. Happy reading!

Lester Holmes Lester Holmes

CONTENTS469

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Historic Stamps

Same BookDifferent ChapterKwanzaa Tradition Expands Holidays

InvictusWorld Bids Farewell ToWorld Bids Farewell To MandelaA ‘Sacrit’ BondBlack Americans and Worldviews

The Fight for Your

LifeIsn’t About YouIsn’t About You

Will Reparations Ever Come?

4 | PULL Magazine

HistoricStamps

By Brenda RichardsYou know you have made history when your image is immortalized in the form of a comme-morative stamp. In October, Guyana’s first twomilitary/commercial female pilots, Beverley military/commercial female pilots, Beverley Drake of the National Transportation Safety Board and Cheryl Moore, recently retired pilot for LIAT Caribbean Airlines were bestowed such an honor that is unprecedented in the small South American country of Guyana.

These two women were a part of a group of young militarysoldiers who were sent off to Embry Riddle AeronauticalUniversity in 1976, by the University in 1976, by the Guyana Defense Force for pilot training; they were the only two females left standing at the end of the trainingprogram that originally program that originally consisted of ten males and three females. Their hard work and determination paid off in the long run because thirty seven (37) years later, they are honored as the first two females to ever receive two females to ever receive their own commemorative stamp in Guyana. The only other person to be heralded in this manner is internationally acclaimed Guyanese musi-cian/songwriter, Eddy Grant.

The idea for the commemora-tive launch was conceptua-lized by Guyanese-American writer, Brenda Richards, who was inspired by the unveiling of the bronze statue of African American civil rights activist,

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Rosa Parks on February 27, 2013 and then shortlythereafter, by a giganticcommemorative stamp ofanother African American icon, jazz singer EllaFitzgerald, which she viewed Fitzgerald, which she viewed on the Facebook page ofBeverley Drake, who wasstanding besides theFitzgerald commemorative stamp on the first day ofInternational Womens’ Month. International Womens’ Month. She proffered the stamp idea to Henry Dundas, the Post Master General of Guyana and lobbied for these two pioneer women to receive the honor because at the time, Guyana was also celebrating Guyana was also celebrating 100 years of Aviation. Herefforts were wholly embraced by the Office of the PrimeMinister and the GuyanaDefense Force, the entity from Defense Force, the entity from which these two female pilots first emerged.

The Office of the PrimeMinister and the GuyanaDefense Force hosted a lovely cocktail reception at theunveiling of the commemora-unveiling of the commemora-tive stamps, which took place on Wednesday, October 9, 2013 at the Camp Ayangana Military Base in the presence of family, friends, armypersonnel, government officials and supporters. It was a celebration thatrecognized all the women in aviation alongside the two commemorative stamphonorees. The eight women honorees. The eight women in aviation: Barbara Adams, Beverley Drake, Cheryl Moore, Debbie Gouveia, Ferial Ali, Paula McAdams, SandraPersaud and Williette Gardner were most deserving of therecognition they received as recognition they received as

they were all hailed for theirservice as female pilots and/or air traffic controllers on a warm and balmyWednesday evening under the Wednesday evening under the tropical skies in Guyana, South America.

Cheryl Moore and Beverley Drake were the onlyrecipients of the commemora-recipients of the commemora-tive stamp on this occasion. The other women receivedrecognition awards from the Office of the Prime Minister. These two pioneer women started their careers ahead of the other female pilots and have accomplished great heights in their respectiveprofessions. They started professions. They started flying back in the days when passengers dressed well to get on an airplane and were offered a free meal on each flight. Cheryl continued to hone and develop her aviation skills as a commercial pilot skills as a commercial pilot for LIAT Caribbean Airlines where she flew the skies for over thirty years, until her recent retirement this year; while Beverley Drake went on

to pursue her aviation career in administration as the first and only Black female SeniorAviation Accident Investiga-Aviation Accident Investiga-tor/Analyst at the National Transportation Safety Board (“NTSB”), a watchdog federal agency that oversees allsectors of transportation in the United States; herspecialty is investigating small and large airplaneaccidents.

Both of these ladies have gone on to enjoy successful lives both personally andprofessionally since their professionally since their humble and early beginnings with the Guyana Defense Force and Guyana AirwaysCorporation. They have soared Corporation. They have soared mountains and climbed to the heights of their respective careers proving to young women of the 21st century who wish to follow in their footsteps by entering into maledominated fields, that with the dominated fields, that with the right focus, unwaveringdetermination and their eyes set steadfastly to their goals, the sky is really the limit.

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Different Chapter By Bridgette Outten

Same BookOn the surface, there may be a lot for Black Americans to admire about life in Canada. For example, as the political tussling in the U.S. about access to healthcare drags on, Canada’s free system is rather alluring. And with more rather alluring. And with more of a socialistic approach tooffering resources, America’s neighbor seems to be more supportive of its citizens.

But when it comes to race and culture, some ofCanada’s attitude toward its black population would be sadly familiar to Blacks in the States, say some of Canada’s minority citizens -- some of whom are leading the charge to change that reality. Still, others say that Blacks in others say that Blacks in Canada, who don’t directly bear the brunt of the history of slavery, fare better socially than their Americancounterparts.

Canada’s black population is relatively small; out of some 35 million citizens, somewhere between 3 and 5 percent are black, according to recent census records. And the vast majority of that number lives in Toronto, which number lives in Toronto, which is home to nearly 206,000 blacks, according to Toronto’s website. Blacks rank third on the top five list of “Visible

McRae, 44, was born in Guyana and grew up inTrinidad before moving to Canada at 18. He went to college in the States, at the University of Windsor nearDetroit, Mich.

Based on his experiences, Based on his experiences, McRae says with certainty, “You know when [Americans] don’t like you. It’s like, ‘Hey, you’re not welcome here.’ It’s obvious.

“But Canada is very, very hard “But Canada is very, very hard to call...you may sit down to dinner and they don’t serve you for two hours,” hecontinues. “And if youcomplain, you become that complain, you become that angry black man or angry black woman. [Canada’s racism] is like a warm blan-ket...covered in smallpox.”

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Data recently publicized by the city’s local media shows that Toronto, in particular, is currently seeing an epidemic in police stopping young black males that is similar to New York’s controversial “stop and frisk” law. But for the most frisk” law. But for the most part, Nicky believes that black Canadians are spared some of the social hardships that black Americans face.

Nicky said a lot of the blatant division in America stems from the past of slavery, a burden that Canadians don’t have to bear directly. Her job has immersed her in the pop culture and entertainmentindustry and she notes that industry and she notes that some of these struggles of black Americans emerge in their music.

“Just my opinion...New genera-tions of Americans don't even know why there would beinequalities, but somehow accept that there are and live with that,” Phillips says. “American rappers may still make references to slavery or

8 | PULL Magazine

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The day after Christmas many people start putting up theirChristmas trees and preparing for 2014 to approach, millions ofAfrican Americans and pan-African African Americans and pan-African will begin celebrating Kwanzaa. The week-long celebration serves as an opportunity for African Americans to join together as one to celebrate family, community and culture.According to the Official Kwanzaa According to the Official Kwanzaa Web site, the theme for this year is Celebrating and Living Kwanzaa: Sowing and Harvesting Seeds of Good. Founded in 1966 by Dr.Maulana Karenga, Kwanzaa which Maulana Karenga, Kwanzaa which in Swahili means “first fruits” was created unite African Americans.

During the celebration, families will gather to light each candle on the arbor which represents a keyprinciple. “Kwanzaa was created to principle. “Kwanzaa was created to introduce and reinforce seven basicvalues of African culture which contribute to building and reinfor-cing family, community andculture,” the official Kwanzaa site said.

The seven principles are umoja – The seven principles are umoja – unity, kujichagulia – self-determination, ujima – collective work andresponsibility, ujama –cooperative economics,nia – purpose, kuumba –creativity and Imani – faith.creativity and Imani – faith.Akiba Solomon, a columnist

at Colorlines.com, explained during an interview via AOL.com called Kill Kwanzaa where a group of

individuals discussed a response of individuals discussed a response of a senator’s response towards the holiday that the holiday’s principles are embodied during the week or throughout the entire year.

The holiday is celebrated in different countries outside of the United Statesincluding Africa and others.

Temple University Professor Molefi Temple University Professor Molefi Asante who was also joined in the discussion said the holiday is more than it started due to the expansion of the celebration and its celebra-tion of the contributions for African Americans.

The multi-generational celebration The multi-generational celebration is becoming more universal. It is taught in schools and colleges to educate young people about the cultural experience and the valueof the seven principles. Accordingto an article titled Kwanzaa stillrelevant today by Akilah Bolden-relevant today by Akilah Bolden-Monifa, Kwanzaa is not just aBlack Holiday, it goes beyond theoriginally ideologies due to itsuniversal principles. Although the principles have an African name, they are relatable to more thanjust African Americans andjust African Americans andPan-Africans.

Kwanzaa TraditionExpands Holidays By Crystal Starks

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InvictusWorld Bids Farewell to

MANDELABy Tyler Young

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A spirit of sadness mixed with joy covered South Africa with the announcement of Nelson Mandela’s death. Afterbattling years of respiratory battling years of respiratory issues from his period in prison, the world renowned peacemaker departed hisearthly home on December 5, earthly home on December 5, 2013. In the days to follow, the 95-year-old's iconic story gained new life.

Born at a time when segrega-Born at a time when segrega-tion ruled not only in the United States, Mandela lived much of his life under the apartheid rule in 1918, South Africa. At a very young age, he developed an interest inAfrican history and politics. He learned early on that life was to be lived inferior to his white counterparts. By his early 20’s that concept no longer carried justification in Mandela’s mind.

Mandela became a key figure Mandela became a key figure in the anti-apartheid move-ment, practicing his beliefs for justice through nonviolent protests. By 1942, he became a member of the AfricanNational Congress. Nostranger to arrest, Mandelastranger to arrest, Mandelaremained consistent with his remained consistent with his quest to end apartheid and racial injustices for the country. A short time later, he became known as a terrorist to South Africa for his tactics to gain equality.

The movement grew even The movement grew even bigger than Mandela, spar-king widespread protest and worker strikes against thegovernment. In 1963,Mandela was sentence to life for his activities that were seen as traitor tactics.

During his incarceration,Mandela contractedtuberculosis due to the harshimprisonment conditions.

Mandela earned a law degree Mandela earned a law degree on the inside, while his early work to end apartheidcontinued on the outside. A campaign to “Free Mandela” even caught on in the U.S. After spending nearly three decades incarcerated,decades incarcerated,Mandela was released inFebruary of 1990.

Despite what could have become hatred andresentment, Mandela chose resentment, Mandela chose to forgive his captors for the sake of peace and freedom.Mandela once spoke,

Mandela was inaugurated in Mandela was inaugurated in 1994 as South Africa's first Black president at the ripe age of 77. Bringing together blacks and whites headed the top of Mandela’s presidential agenda. His endless persisten-cy soon resembled the newcy soon resembled the newgovernment of South Africa.

“For to be freeis not merely tocast off one’schains, but tolive in a waythat respectsand enhancesand enhancesthe freedomof others”.

Fast forwarding to present day, nearly 100 world leaders gathered in Johannesburg to honor the Nobel Peace Prize winner in a dignifiedmemorial. Reflecting thesymbolism of the life Mandela symbolism of the life Mandela lived, the leaders put aside their political differences for the occasion. Mandela’sservice drew hundreds ofthousands under rainyconditions with song, dance conditions with song, dance and overwhelming chants in his name.

President Barack Obama out-President Barack Obama out-lined Mandela’s purposeful life and how we all can hope to foster an ounce of his greatness.

“We will never see the likes of Nelson Mandela again. But let me say to the young people of Africa and the young people around the world -- you, too, can make his life’s work your own. Over 30 years ago, while still ayears ago, while still astudent, I learned of Nelson Mandela and the struggles taking place in this beautiful land, and it stirred something in me. It woke me up to my responsibilities to others and to myself, and it set me on an improbable journey that finds improbable journey that finds me here today. And while I will always fall short ofMadiba’s [Mandela] example, Madiba’s [Mandela] example, he makes me want to be a better man. He speaks to what’s best inside us,” Obama said.

Mandela’s life and legacy of Mandela’s life and legacy of peace will forever carry on throughout South Africa and the rest of the globe forgenerations to come. Rest in peace to the extraordinary hero of our time.

12 | PULL Magazine

A ‘Sacrit’ Bond By Tyler Young

Personal triumph and a drive to provide a positiveatmosphere for young girls is the force behind SacritDevahood Incorporated. Devahood Incorporated. Where the story begins and ends is how Nyeesha Williams chooses to navigate for women of the future.

As CEO, Williams knows all As CEO, Williams knows all too well about harsh growing pains, particularly for a young girl living in an inner citycommunity. Leaving behind a community. Leaving behind a series of unfortunate events including rape and a near brush with death, the now mother of two carries the task of preventing the same from happening to newergenerations.generations.

Williams believes,

“If you raise up a young girl, you raise up the world of girls”

She started the non-profitorganization in New Jersey for organization in New Jersey for girls ages 11 – 19 to builddynamic self-esteem and dynamic self-esteem and social empowerment through performing arts. What began as a safe haven for five has grown into a large network for more than 200 predominantly African-American girls. Theorganization is now available organization is now available in New York, Pennsylvania and Delaware and will soon to be in California.

Creating a place for young ladies to relax and escape from the troubles that life may present is what Williams successfully sets out to do.

“I don’t play when it comes to my girls,”

Williams said.Williams said.

Williams describes thedifferences that she sees differences that she sees between her youth and a new generation that are growing up fast. Based on the images presented through social media and television, therepresentation of strong,positive role models are positive role models are sorely lacking Williams says. A number of these issues come from a self-entitledmentality and what she calls “quick money”.

“They [teens] think ‘I “They [teens] think ‘I don’t have to work for anything’. How are you

going to getrespect? You have to respect? You have to walk like you have self-respect for others to respect you,”

she said.

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Sacrit Devahood Inc. is a place for teens to connect with their peers. A bigmilestone for Williams was extending her reach to Africa. Through her own mentor,Williams obtained a Williams obtained a partnership with the Uganda Parliament to begin a cultural exchange. Living in third world conditions and with certaindisabilities, Williams hopes disabilities, Williams hopes that her girls here in the U.S. can gain valuable life lessons from Uganda.

Williams says it all makes sense.

“Uganda stole my “Uganda stole my heart. The strength is different. The girls in Uganda can endure more and still push on. I need that to beexemplified for these exemplified for these girls over here. We are trying to build aninternationalsisterhood,”

Williams said.

The girls began as pen pals The girls began as pen pals and will Skype on selectSaturday’s each month.“Deva to Deva International” will also launch on Facebook solely for the girls to interact; with or without the minorobstacle of a languageobstacle of a languagebarrier. Williams’ goal is to expand to Kenya in the near future.

She says,

“Thirty of the girls in Uganda are English speakers and we also have translators. We make it work”

Teen girls aren’t the only ones Teen girls aren’t the only ones getting in on the action. InDecember, “Sacrit Kings” will December, “Sacrit Kings” will officially launch. It’s designed for young men particularly to teach grooming, etiquette and understanding their role in the community.

“Teaching them how to carry “Teaching them how to carry themselves, understand their responsibility as a brother. How to be the backbone of our young sisters. How to be the man of the house.

Instill what was instilled years ago,” Williams explains.

What began as an idea is now taking shape as a movement. Williams plans to get on the road with Sacrit Devahood Inc. in 2014 to spreadawareness. Her story ofawareness. Her story ofperseverance that shecontinues building with her husband and daughters is what Williams hopes willencourage others along the way.

“I just move and make it happen. Let’s just do it because it has to be done.”

14 | PULL Magazine

Black Americansand Worldviews

By LeoNard Thompson

“Our loyalties must transcend our race, ourtribe, our class, and our nation; and thismeans we mustdevelop a world perspective.”-Martin Luther King, Jr.

Gaining and developing anauthentic worldview can be a authentic worldview can be a complicated process for any American. Regardless of the exposure, education, and cultural immersion many of us seek to endeavor and invoke upon when attempting to explain or defend a certain to explain or defend a certain belief, opinion, or perspective,

the vantage point from which we view an already complex human universe has undoub-tedly been formed, condi-tioned and often skewed, by the unintentional blinders and filtered portraiture that asuperfluous global influence and centuries of unbridled geopolitical and military power can generate. Like it or not, the United States is arguably, both historically and geographically, the most influential and most influential and dominant nation our world has ever bore witness to, and the ethics, social norms, traditional customs, and value system we practice system we practice often become the litmus by which many world cultures are tested.

And similar to a myriad of other issues in the United States, such as violence,joblessness, and access and joblessness, and access and participation in quality health-care and education, the obser-vation and acknowledgement of the world just outside our borders, let alone across the ocean, is in many ways an even greater struggle forAfrican Americans. Theseaforementioned issues, as well as other pressing socioe-conomic concerns that cross the doormats of a dispropor-tionate number of BlackAmerican households, have such an immediate affect on daily living, that it negates the opportunities suchrealizations can offer.

In 2012, according to the U.S. In 2012, according to the U.S. Department of State there were over 13,000,000 passport applicationssubmitted, this a being a submitted, this a being a jump of over five million in the last seventeen years, with over 113,000,000 valid passports in circulation today, an increase of more than sixty-five million in the last ten years. This is a resoundingyears. This is a resounding testament that Americans are traveling the world in excess, and the notion that our world is getting smaller and

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taking on a global mindset has become more than a business world talking point.

Technology has also created the space and opportunity tointeract with others across the world via the Internet.Everything from corporate Everything from corporate power meetings via webconference tools, torecreational chat sessions on smartphones through the use of social media applications, has afforded the prospect ofinternational interactivity at the international interactivity at the press of a proverbial button. Yet, to the aforesaid detail, access to such technology many times is just not readily available to many black Americans, notwithstanding Americans, notwithstanding through a limited set of time at the computer terminal of a public library.Furthermore, the process and documentation needed to obtain a passport can seem daunting andforbidding for the same popula-forbidding for the same popula-tion, especially to those who may have prior convictions orfelonies, by which other nations may forbid their entrancealtogether.

What gets lost in the conversa-tion is the need for a fundamen-tal shift in the paradigm as itrelates to the essence andnecessitation of what anyone should gain and offer from the positive and meaningful interac-tion with other citizens of our world. This shift is to a universal belief that we all havesomething to offer to oneanother, especially those things embedded within thedifferences in our moral values and cultural beliefs.

Cultural exchange programs for Cultural exchange programs for teachers and administrators seeking to gain and share ideas as it relates to the public school system, the infusion of teaching

curriculums to recognize ourflattening global economy, flattening global economy, and the willingness of the retail marketplace to accept global partnerships readily in the streamlining and pursuit of revenue, are the confirma-tions, as well as byproducts of the hopeful fruition of such anthe hopeful fruition of such anessential shift.

In our hope, this shift can somehow spark the ingenuity needed to address the distres-sing, yet all too familiar issues of poverty, crime, and ca-sualty that affect the Black po-pulations who inhabit many of the urban locales of our nation, mirroring the plight of those in many third worldnations. This spark can only occur if we continue to address those issues that cross the doormats and knock heavily at the front doors of our African American brothers and sisters, while researching, examining, and comparing it examining, and comparing it to the ever-present issues

being addressed across our nation, and across the intercultural exchange of ideas occur, can this spark ignite the answers needed to combat the social ills that continue to plague humanity.

One eccentricity of the human One eccentricity of the human race is our intrinsic nature to categorize. Everything from the music we listen to, the foods we eat, how we learn, and how we view, spend, save, and attain the physical, environmental, and financial environmental, and financial resources that surround and bound us, place us snugly inside the invisible boundaries that give us the consent to feel as though we have a place to belong. And until we are willing to travel outside of are willing to travel outside of these self afforded comfort zones, we are doomed to the atrophy that bind our growth toward becoming an even greater nation, and a better world.

16 | PULL Magazine

An idea was birth. The researched was conducted and you determined there was a need, a void that hadn’t been filled in the way in which you could. While the intricate details were kept confidential, you’d put out feelers to your loved ones to test how something like this would be received. With their blessings and words of encouragement; you forge ahead. Some doubt crept in and it was in those moments you went to a higher power. You were certain this vision was divinebecause you would always receive confirmation. This is a pertinent part of your purpose in life, without which you because you would always receive confirmation. This is a pertinent part of your purpose in life, without which you wouldn’t ever be content because that voice telling you to do it just won’t go away. It nags at you and pulls you into itsdirection, even during times when you’ve consciously attempted to go the opposite way. Beyond all doubt, you know this is what you need to do in order to move into the next phase of your life.

So you submit to the idea that was birthed and you start that business.

What happens when you’ve gained the strength, got over your fears and fought through every trial to start a business, What happens when you’ve gained the strength, got over your fears and fought through every trial to start a business, only for the tide to change and the exhilaration you once felt is now replaced with sadness because you are not receiving the support from your loved ones you once had?

How do you not take personally the lack of support from friends and family?

1. 1. Remember that most people will respond when a healthy, trusting relationship exists. Breaking the norm often exposes ignorance, meaning that when you decide to do something outside of the box others have placed you; then the things that they don’t understand about you will come forth. Breaking down barriers raises the bar in their life and they can no longer relate to you on a safe level because you’ve proven yourself to be dangerous by breaking free from the script, and now they’re unable to trust the “you” they thought they knew. While you probably never had theintention to force your loved ones to do more with their lives, projection is a powerful force and since you’ve now exposed intention to force your loved ones to do more with their lives, projection is a powerful force and since you’ve now exposed insecurities; you now have some difficult decisions to make.

2. Make the difficult decisions. You can choose to let the lack of support get you down or you can chose to forge ahead without. You can choose to continue to reach out to them and beg for support or you can choose to get out and meet new people of like mind. You’ve come too far, worked too hard, and sacrificed too much to allow the lack to hold you back. You will find solace in knowing there are many others who can relate to what you are going through.

3. Don’t burn bridges.3. Don’t burn bridges. While you may not have the supportive relationship you want with your loved ones, it helps to not say or do anything that will damage any opportunity for repair later. Life is cyclical so there will be a time when you will come together again and you at least want to be able to say that everything you said and did was with good inten-tions. Remember, the damage to the relationship occurred because not everyone understands sacrificial success.

By Shanika Washington The Fight for Your Life Isn’t About You

4. Daily affirmations. Speak positive statements into your life. Meet every negative thought you have with a positive one. Write down your “why” and post it in a place in your home where you can see and read it daily so that you remember your labor is not in vain. These simple strategies once consistently implemented will make an invaluable difference in your confi-dence and energy levels, giving you the charge you need to continue to work toward your dreams. continue to work toward your dreams.

5. Continue to work towards your dreams. Many success stories are paved with people lost along the way. The lucky ones had maybe one or two avid supporters. Your life’s work isn’t about you, so you can’t allow anyone or anything to deter you from fulfilling your purpose. Once you’ve seen a re-markable level of success, your family and friends will probably come around. Use your journey to then teach them how to do what you were able to preserve through. Some people don’t what you were able to preserve through. Some people don’t “get it” until you’ve got it. It’s unfortunate, but true. If you give up on your dreams, they will never know what they can be in life.

There’s a reason you were given that idea. When you realize your vision is bigger than you, the challenges along the way become less daunting. So be bold, daring, and relentless in being the light you were called to be for your community!

Shanika Washington

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Unless they are completely ignorant of American history, most people know that America was built on the backs ofchattel slaves. They know that theAtlantic Slave Trade was the mostprofitable business in the world that is profitable business in the world that is solely responsible for the unprecedented fountain of wealth that America and its privileged White majority enjoy to date. In fact, even though America's economy is highly distressed and European Americans are steadily losing theirmajority status in America, European majority status in America, European Americans compared to theirAfrican-American, Latin-American, and Asian-American counterparts, still fare better socioeconomically than allaforementioned groups. EuropeanAmericans still monopolize the majority Americans still monopolize the majority of America's businesses and dominate most of America's hiring positions. Granted, America has an African-Ameri-can president, but European Americans, particularly European-American males, still hold the majority of the highest seats in political office. And so,seats in political office. And so,ultimately, they, (European-American males in power) get to decide howAmerica is governed and how itoperates. Case in point, the recentgovernment shut down. Surely, Ameri-government shut down. Surely, Ameri-ca's minorities didn't make that call. And considering all of this, we wonder what can be done about it? Specifically, what can African-Americans (descendants of slaves) do about the aftermath of slavery - something that took place centuries ago? And if reparations were ever to be ago? And if reparations were ever to be granted to African-Americans, how should they be granted? In this article, I will attempt to answer these daunting questions about what many consider a "dead issue": reparations. Now, what is reparation? Essentially,reparation is making amends for a wrong that was done. Reparations can be made by providing money or by simply helping the person or people that were wronged. I do not think anyone would disagree with the fact thatAfrican-Americans have been wronged, African-Americans have been wronged, knowing that so many of them had tosacrifice their lives just to secure basic human rights. In fact, since their arrival to America, they've endured moreongoing (key word: ongoing) mistreat-ongoing (key word: ongoing) mistreat-ment than any single group on the planet. And certainly well into the 21st century African-Americans are still being racially profiled, shut out and margina-lized from mainstream society, placed in prison for years and for crimes theyhaven't committed, and denied

employment because they don't "fit in" with the majority of America's well-paid and privileged workforce. If African-Ame-ricans don't deserve reparations or some kind of help, then who does?

Proponents of reparations argue thatAfrican-Americans must receivereparations for historical injustices that reparations for historical injustices that were committed - injustices that areresponsible for the generationaldysfunction that exist today in manyAfrican-American communities.African-American illiteracy (or functional illiteracy), for example, can be directlyrelated to African-Americans being related to African-Americans being denied for centuries a basic right to learn to read and write, use their nativelanguages, and practice forms of commu-nication that were native to the regions from which they came. Without effective communication, literacy, and a high-quality education people are stultified for life. They can't function in society,interact with others, get hired, become self -sufficient, and be of use to society. Countless studies in education have shown that two of the greatest barriers to African-American socioeconomicadvancement and upward mobility is advancement and upward mobility is poor education and illiteracy. And get this; the Department Education recently revealed that a third of Washingtonians are functionally illiterate! But before readers get their hopes up But before readers get their hopes up about African-Americans being ripe and ready for reparations, a quick trip to Wikipedia reveals demands for repara-tions are lengthy. And so, apparentlyAfrican-Americans will need to take a number. In 1999, the Repatriation Truth Commission and the African WorldReparations ordered “the West" to pay Reparations ordered “the West" to pay $777 trillion to Africa within five years. Back in 2007, Guyana’s government wanted European nations to pay repara-tions for the slave trade. Antigua &Barbuda wanted their cut back in 2011 Barbuda wanted their cut back in 2011 claiming "that segregation and violence against people of African descent hadimpaired their capacity for advancement impaired their capacity for advancement as nations, communities and indivi-duals". In 2012, Jamaica actually revived its reparations commission because of Britain’s role in the slave trade. The list goes on and on. And if we were to add in all that is owed to Native Americans for the genocide of their people, thenthe genocide of their people, thenAmerica's national debt would seem like chump change compared to the summa-tion of reparations owed. This is the reason why opponents of reparations argue that demanding reparations,specifically monetary reparations, from a nation that committed so many atroci-ties to so many people across the globe is absurd. Instead, opponents of repara-tions believe the descendants of slavery

and genocide should redirect their attention to making sure that today's Black and Brown are treated justly just as lea-ders such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and today's sojourners of justice have done and are tirelessly doing.

Surely, African-Americans and people of color across the globe have been mistreated, exploited, overlooked,disenfranchised, marginalized, and put disenfranchised, marginalized, and put aside for centuries. And to lesser and greater extents, they still experience inhu-mane treatment. However, reparations today look like a combination of self help and making sure that power is balanced and justice prevails in the humanexperience. How can we make this happen? It is each person's responsibility to acknowledge injustice when he or she sees it and go through courses of action to right the wrong. Reparation is a combi-nation of taking personal responsibility AND holding people in power accoun-table for what they are supposed to be doing to help the members of oursociety. For example, if not enoughchildren in your communities are getting the best education, then find out what you can do about it besides move or bus your kids to another school. Make sure that state governments aren't squande-ring taxpayers money that should be spent on modernizing and fully equip-ping local public schools. Not enough ping local public schools. Not enough teens in your community are qualified for today's jobs? Use spaces in your local church to conduct job preparation semi-nars so that teenagers can be betterprepared and know what is expected of them in today's workforce. As much as some of us would like repara-tions (perhaps in the form of money) for past wrongs, it is not something that can ever be anticipated, especially not from a people whose power structure andexistence truly needs them to remain in power in order for them to survive. There is a saying that goes, "If you have to ask, then you're already at their mercy." And what victims of slavery truly crave and need for long-term success is power and autonomy, which cannot be granted by someone else. Power is obtained by crea-someone else. Power is obtained by crea-ting a highly effective and working system of government, personal and group responsibility and leadership,protection and preservation, and unwave-ring unified organization. With theseattributes, a group's existence is notdependent on another group, because it has a system of generating its own wealth and self-efficacy. But this system should not ever involve dehumanizing another group for personal gain. Thus, true reparation for us all is this: a humane, just, fair and balanced world of people who are capable of learning from people who are capable of learning from the past.

Will Reparations Ever Come? By Candace Lynch of Unite for Action (Opinion)