I have a fascination with black/African self-transformation narratives. This particular story reminds me of my own experiences in the United States Marine Corps where I became a "born again Afrikan," my ironical phrasing I use to describe my path to pan-African cultural nationalism. GI
[source:soundprint] "In 1965 and 1966, Producer Askia Muhammad was a star-struck and naive college student who had matriculated from Watts to San Jose State University, while getting college deferments to serve two years active duty in the U.S. Navy Reserve. As Askia began struggles with becoming a Reserve Office Candidate, the country began to struggle with itself with blacks' rights, the hippie movement, the constant protest against the war in Vietnam. In My World: Officer Candidate School, Askia takes us through his path from faithful Naval Officer to conscientious objector."
The brilliant Pan Africanist Kwame Ture speaks on the Los Angeles Rebellion, "making the unconscious conscious," mobilizers vs. organizers, and "instinctive revolutionary acts" vs. conscious revolution. GI
Ah yeah, that's whatcha say when you see a devil down Ah yeah, that's whatcha say when you take the devil's crown Ah yeah, stay alive all things will change around Ah yeah, what? Ah yeah!
Verse One: KRS-One
So here I go kickin science in ninety-five I be illin, parental discretion is advised still dont call me nigga, this MC goes for his Call me God, cause that's what the black man is Roamin through the forest as the hardest lyrical artist Black women you are not a bitch you're a Goddess Let it be known, you can lean on KRS-One Like a wall cause I'm hard, I represent GOD Wack MC's have only one style: gun buck But when you say, "Let's buck for revolution" They shut the fuck up, kid, get with it Down to start a riot in a minute You'll hear so many Bowe-Bowe-Bowe, you think I'm Riddick While other MC's are talkin bout up with hope down with dope I'll have a devil in my infrared scope, WOY! That's for calling my father a boy and, KLAK KLAK KLAK! That's for putting scars on my mother's back, BO! That's for calling my sister a hoe, and for you BUCK BUCK BUCK, cause I don't give a motherfuck Remember the whip, remember the chant, remember about rope and you black people still thinkin about vot-ing Every president we ever had lied You know I'm kinda glad Nixon died!
Chorus
Verse Two: KRS
This is not the first time I came to the planet But everytime I come, only a few could understand it [ KRS-One Lyrics are found on www.songlyrics.com ] I came as Isis, my words they tried to ban it I came as Moses, they couldn't follow my commandments I came as Solomon, to a people that was lost I came as Jesus, but they nailed me to a cross I came as Harriet Tubman, I put the truth to Sojourner Other times, I had to come as Nat Turner They tried to burn me, lynch me and starve me So I had to come back as Marcus Garvey, Bob Marley They tried to harm me, I used to be Malcolm X Now I'm on the planet as the one called KRS Kickin the metaphysical, spiritual, tryin to like get wit you, showin you, you are invincible The Black Panther is the black answer for real In my spiritual form, I turn into Bobby Seale On the wheels of steel, my spirit flies away and enters into Kwame Ture
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