Eighth Edition

January 15, 2014

Black Consciousness
Promoting Freedom of Thought

Quote of the Day: We are sorry for the inconvenience, but this is a revolution. Subcomandante Marcos

Table of Contents The Last King of Montgomery: The Trial of the Century...Jahi Beal Knowles Know Best....................... Rashieda Witter A Year 4 Revolution......VanaRose Oppression..........................................................Langston Hughes

Copyright Black Consciousness Newspaper 1

The Last King of Montgomery

The Trial of the Century
History class told me a false factscratch that, history class told me many false facts one being relevant today. Textbooks say the King was struck down by the silver bullet of a common white man, the show ends and we rise out of our seats without realizing theres a post -credits scene worth marveling at. The year was 1999. While U.S. citizens panicked over an impending Y2K apocalypse, governmental paranoia was focused on a more fearsome acronym, MLK. Martin Luther King Jr. still threatened the very fabric of racist society without ever leaving his grave, consider December 9th, 1999 his last hurrah. Taking his role in leadership, the King family brought a reality check to this country from the small city of Memphis, Tennessee in civil court case King v. Jowers. In this wrongful death case Loyd Jowers, owner of the restaurant near MLKs assassination location, made his way through the justice system under charges of conspiracy to kill our King. In less than a month the trial concluded, artificial justice was served, and Jowers was found guilty. However, the man did not spend a day incarcerated; instead he was fined in the amount of one hundred dollars. But in all honesty, Jowers is rather irrelevant; hes only a common white man by a different name than the original perpetrator. What is relevant, surprising and frightening are the findings that stated government agencies participated in a conspiracy to assassinate Dr. King. Yet, in the midst of this trial of the century, media outlets didnt tune in.

Although we are 15 years too late we have fully tuned in to your struggle. Black Consciousness Writers and Readers alike know that you are more than a man who had a dream, more than an orator, and more than civil disobedience. You are as your name states, a King, and even the American government cannot take that away. Happy Birthday Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Jahi Beal Editor-in-Chief

Sources:
"Civil Rights Division Report on the Assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King." Civil Rights Division Report on the Assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King.

http://www.justice.gov/crt/about/crm/mlk/part6.php (accessed January 12, 2014). "Civil Case: King Family versus Jowers." The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change. http://www.thekingcenter.org/civil-case-king-family-versus-jowers (accessed January 12, 2014). "Martin Luther King Assassination Conspiracy Exposed in Memphis by Jim Douglass." Martin Luther King Assassination Conspiracy Exposed in Memphis by Jim Douglass.

http://www.ratical.org/ratville/JFK/Unspeakable/MLKconExp.html (accessed January 12, 2014). Yellin, Emily. "Memphis Jury Sees Conspiracy in Martin Luther King's Killing." The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1999/12/09/us/memphis-jury-sees-conspiracy-in-martin-luther-king-skilling.html (accessed January 5, 2014).

Knowles Know Best

Drake wasnt lyinggirls love Beyonc! However, love is somewhat of an understatement as the entire world seems to be infatuated with the R&B diva but for obvious reasons. I mean, who else can make sexy seem second nature, kill any dance in 6 inch heels without missing a step and have us all feeling like were bootylicious, flawless, and the female version of a hustler? Not to mention her impeccable success as a recording artist whose new album Beyonc is still sitting pretty at #1 on the charts and is the fastest selling album in iTunes history. To top it all off, lets not forget that shes also a mother, wife, and philanthropist. A superwoman in the flesh, its no wonder so many are dangerously, crazy, and drunk in love with Queen Bey. Often invisible in the glimmer of Beyoncs crown is Solange, her younger sister that doesnt get half of the credit she deserves. The young lady that was once only remembered for singing the theme song for The Proud Family and her role as the annoying, boy crazy daughter in The Johnson Family Vacation has finally found herself. She is now an

individual with a luminescence that attracts fans such as myself like a moth to a flame. When your big sister is the most influential global pop star since Michael Jackson, its tough to remove yourself from the shadows of that spotlight. Nevertheless, Solange has done an incredible job creating a brand and image for herself as an artist, fashionista, DJ, creative director and business woman. A Queen in her own regime, Solanges style is captivating with her fearlessness of rocking her natural kinks and embellishing herself in cultural, eclectic fashions. Her vogue is bold and eye catching while her

music is soft and dreamy, vocalizing the nostalgia of love lost and found. Solanges sound is fun & disco-esque, inspired by The Supremes and other 70s Black female power groups (I highly recommend her EP True). Shes also a DJ and songwriter, composing hits for Beyonc such as Diva and Get Me Bodied. As far as the business realm of the music industry, shes created her own record label entitled Saint Records which released an album in October called Saint Heron. Always pretty in prints, Solange was also granted the title of art director and creative consultant for Puma. She definitely represents for the young mothers, having given birth to her son at 17. Solange is the epitome of a natural Queen, creating her own lane and two-stepping to the beat of her own drum. While Beyonc represents the fierce, diva prowess of Black women, her image puts an emphasis on sexinesswhich shouldnt be the priority young girls should be striving for. Solange is the breath of fresh air that the industry needs, promoting a more natural, subtle beauty instead of conceit and superficiality. She radiates classiness and exemplifies the boldness of going against the grain by taking an interest in creative entities opposite of the stereotypical Black girl entertainment. Beyonc owns her throne and so does Solangeand while their styles sometimes contrast, both Knowles know best.

One Love, Rashieda Witter #EclecticSouls2014

A Year 4 Revolution
In the year 624 Mohammed and his followers captured the city of Mecca fulfilling the holy prophecy Jihad. In 1814 the first colony of freed American slaves was established in Liberia. In 1914 Northern and Southern Nigeria united to become the British Colony of Nigeria. You may have noticed the commonality of these eventsthey all end in years of 4 and are all results of the mighty force Revolution. Every year we are consumed with New Year resolutions focused on fulfilling fantasies of the people we wish we could be, though statistics show that 90 percent of people wont even remember what their resolutions were come next December! But this year promises a new beginning, something big, bigger than ourselves, bigger than our country. The world is changing and history has made a point of highlighting the importance of the years of four. It is sinister how history has a way of repeating itself and how frequently we as a people manage to forget. This time last year the country was in an uproar over the shooting that took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School. December 14, 2012 at the brink of 2013, twenty six innocent lives were stolen. The tragedy was ironic in that 2013 marked the 14th anniversary of the 1999 columbine shooting. Certainly 2013 brought an immeasurable number of losses with the civil war in Syria, race riots of south Sudan; and violence in Mali, central Africa, Liberia, and Egypt. The death toll is dismal compared to the number of families displaced, disintegrated, and the number of refugees left homeless. Or, even more shockingly, the number of people unaware of what is happening! In todays global society the ability to connect has become simplified to the point where distance has been reduced to an abstraction. Skype allows us to see

4D images giving us the ability to feel which makes it seem as if the world is just a phone call away, literally! Technology makes us smarter, closer, and increasingly more dangerous to each other. In a perfect society bad things wouldnt happen but they do and this world will never be perfect, although it can certainly be better. In the words of the late Nelson Mandela There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living. With every death there is a new beginning and every loss a new discovery. 2014 is the birth of a new era. It is marked with an air of revolution and the promise of greatness that historians will marvel for centuries to come. What will you contribute this year? Will you dare to be different? I challenge you to make 2014 a better year for yourself and your community. No common man can change the world, but the commonness of man can surely bring us closer together. Be Bold. Be Authentic. Be REVOLUTIONARY.

-VanaRose

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Oppression
Now dreams Are not available To the dreamers, Nor songs To the singers.

Viva la revolucin!
Long Live the Revolution Vive la Rvolution Tan ap viv revolisyon an Ogologo nd mgbanwe

In some lands Dark Knights And cold steel Prevail But the dream Will come back, And the song Break Its jail.

Viva a revoluo Muddo dheer ku noolaado kacaanka Viva la revolucin Muda mrefu kuishi mapinduzi Gun gbe awn Iyika Mana intuthuko

Langston Hughes