click here to read what hedz are sayin' (comments) below
(written 2008)

UPDATE:
'Change, Transformation, Rebirth', 'Change, Transformation, Rebirth', 'Change, Transformation, Rebirth'… I had the privilege of partaking in a conversation with Baba Dr. Leonard Jeffries and Anthony Browder once where Jeffries echoed these wordz explaining the rhythmic process of life, stating nothing ever endz, but merely continues just in another form of matter. This is something every living thing experiences, no one is immune.

This concept bringz solace to the this natural phenomena otherwise known as death—which in its mystery (mainly coerced by man-made religion coupled with Agit-Prop) creates fear and thus a reluctance to overstand death really isn't a bad thing; that it should be seen in the same light one feelz in rebirth [like the (re)birth of a child].

Still, the human (physical) side of me grapples with this, because there are so many questionz with very few answerz; answerz of which may be revealed through each one's experience of 'Change, Transformation, Rebirth'...

It is reported Brother Cokely recently made this on the evening of April 11, 2012. Regardless of "how" he died, what should be the focus is the dash between his physical rebirth and physical transformation, for it is the dash that speaks of what he did with his time here on this planet.

I salute Cokely's dash. The research and dedication he contributed in his work is one to be commended. His efforts will live on...

Listen to his last inner-view here: http://truthmovement.com/?p=2245

When we commit our lives to the research that will give our people knowledge, we can’t go at this arduous task without an economic base to operate from.” — Amos Wilson

I was on the internet last night and I cried. I honestly cried like a baby as I saw a figure responsible for all the pieces you may have read of mine about the Boule’ (aka Sigma Pi Phi) and Black Fraternities and Sororities... yep, you guessed it, Steve Cokely.

If you are familiar with his work, you know he’s an impeccable researcher, has the memory of 100+ elephants as he recites his research in his lectures, and an Afrikan pioneer in the field of Futurology and breakin’ down the real deal behind the political spectrum that creates and manifests the hell our people been catchin’ for centuries.

I was on youtube, searching to see if there were any video lectures from our heroes online, so I did a search, typing in ‘Steve Cokely’. Although we have not spoken for some yearz, (read why from this piece I wrote, Letter 2 Steve Cokely & the Elderz) I have since realized our relationship was meant to be for a season and what’s more important is his work. But that wasn’t what brought tearz to my eyes.

I watched several of the pieces hedz put up of his lectures. I watched the clip where he lyrically slayed the late Zionist, Irv Rubin, on CNN with precision, lookin’ in awe as I saw how articulate he was amidst his opponent’s reluctance to deal with the topic-at-hand, settling, as a last resort, to calling him an animal. Actually, if you know how sharp Cokely is, he is a beast!

I scrolled down the playlist and saw an Elder draped with charcoal-grey locks. The caption said “Steve Cokely - $5 Gas Prices are Coming”. I said to myself, “naw, this ain’t Steve!” My last encounter with him was just over 5 yearz ago. Did he change that much?

I clicked the link and lo’ and behold, it was Cokely doin’ a lecture in Detroit, October 2007! I chose to listen to him before anything else and as alwayz, the info was deeply profound! Then came my subconscious, wanting me to watch it again, but this time, just watching him. This is when my eye’s welled-up. Cokely was physically a fraction of himself and although I do not know his exact age, he seemed to appear to look much older than he really is. It was clear his physical condition is deteriorating.

I took me back to one of the last tymz I saw him speak when he briefly mentioned his decaying health, his lack of medical benefits, and his financial situation. The countless miles this Heru (Hero) has journeyed, sacrificing his life for our liberation, was apparent. As with any aging Lion, Brotha Cokely’s once impenetrable armor has weakened, and it’s so clear, I could not help but get emotional.

Not entirely for Cokely individually, but a sadness for hedz like Cokely, in general (my aspiring self included). I remember he said once, at a lecture I attended in DC he paraphrased, “the life of a person who researches and disseminates information for the advancement and liberation of Afrikan people is a job seldom answered in the Want Adz, yet it is still a much needed job.” He added, “there’s plenty overtime and no pay, no benefits, no vacation, and no holidayz off...” So when I decided one of my contributionz would be DGT, unbeknownst to me, did I see an optional path many of our greatest mindz have fallen victim to.

My thoughts on this beckoned me to feel there’s a metaphysical and physical perspective that needed to written about.

THE PHYSICAL
Cokely is but one example of hundredz, probably thousandz of Sheru and Heru’s who were not supported by the very people they offered their lives to. Think of the last impoverished dayz of Garvey; how financially-strapped Master Scholarz like Brooklyn’s Professor William Mackey, Jr.—who once told me, “While it’s great to be remembered, it’s better to be supported while you’re alive. It’s a shame that some of our great scholarz never got the attention and the respect they were due during their lifetymz." Mackey's apartment was unfurnished but had books stacked from the floor-to-ceiling in each room. His apartment was like a maze, yo! Not to knock because furniture does not a home make for I see the wealth is in all his books!!

This made me ponder about the ensuing generation; my generation, and the eventual absence of the current heavyweight's like Cokely, Anthony Browder, Wayne Chandler, Ashra & MeriRa Kwesi, Runoko Rashidi, and a fading Dr. Ben after their earth-time is up. Who’s gonna pick up the torch once they're gone, for the passing of the torch—through Jegna-ship—is at the point of extinction.

We have very few if any examples of historianz/lecturerz who lives/lived a comfortable life doin’ what they do best (no, Elijah and Farrakhan don’t count!). This is one of the key reasonz why hedz ain’t applyin’ for this job (refering to Cokely’s paraphrase).

HEALTH, WEALTH, KNOWLEDGE OF SELF
Afrikanz are truly a unique people for although we know how attractive we’ve been to otherz in the world, I’ve been deduced to believe we are professionalz at enduring struggle and strife, while remaining amateurz in the field of AA—no, not alcoholic’s anonymous... Active Activizm!

If you look at our counterpart, YT treats their scholarz very well! Not only do they have an advantage with their educational institutionz, where they can continue to perpetuate the lies of their-story, teachin’ it to their youth, who then growz up believing and continues the preservation of the lie bypassin’ to their children. In addition to this, there are hundredz, probably thousandz of foundationz that financially support these false practitionerz of knowledge.

*Where we fail is the money game, and with our having the nationz largest spending power, it makes clear sense this stat bearz a profound reason as to why there are so many in Brotha Cokely’s situation. When you are 99% consumer and lest than 1% producer of goodz and services, some 95-99% of our dollarz are given to otherz that don’t have an ounce of vested interest in the liberation of Afrikan people. To everyone else, we are more of use to the world as buyerz, not producerz! With the number of Afrikanz graduating from college rising each year; the number of PhD, MBA, and other Master degreez recipients every season, Afrikanz have yet to break in the market of business—yes, Oprah just launched a tv-station and there are those who are entering other markets, but the numberz are still too small to have an ethnic effect and the talk of it is at a mere whisper.

*We’ve inherited the idea that we are workerz and not CEOs. This mindset is so deep because as a worker, you’re too busy trying to get what you can to survive. But with a CEO mindset, you’ve more than taken care of your basic necessities to survive, you are now able to explore whatever attracts your interest. Think, how many of us had a “dream” that included havin’ enough money to never have to worry about food, clothing, and shelter? How many of us have accomplished this dream? How many of us, instead, are workin’ a job(z) that have nothing to do with our dream?

When you are in a position where these basics are taken care of, you can busy yourself with other thingz. There simply aren’t enough of us who’ve done it, but it can happen, and among the several wayz I’ve been exposed to, the one that seemz most promising to build collective wealth is what’s called a Susu. I urge you to look into this, seriously.

If you question where are our leaderz, you have to realize you are appealing for a void to be filled. Why not fill the void yourself? Do we not realize by now that everyone, I mean, EVERYONE, is doin’ for their people except us? Even, on a smaller scale, the impoverished Mexicanz who cross the border, do so to send money to their families. But we Afrikanz in the united states live in an increasingly impoverished state. This is nothin’ new, however, the difference is now our cultural griot’s are transforming to the non-physical, takin’ with them the stories of our legacy. The number of initiates have dwindled to almost singular digits.

How can I expect the youth to wanna take the works and deedz of our Master scholarz and raise it to a higher level when they know ain’t no monetary wealth in it, plus your mental and physical health could be put in jeopardy?

This is the reason for my writing this piece. Puttin’ it bluntly, Afrikanz, if the current generation does not create a financial system that will support our upcoming scholarz, in 20 yearz, there may be no Black History Month, the lecture circuit will be dried up, the majority of attendant’s at Brooklyn's Ancestral Middle Passage on Coney Island and the International Afrikan Arts Festival will be white, and RBG will be a slogan of the past, in fact, it will mean ‘Real Blackpeople are Gone’! Why? Cause Afrikanz-in-america will lose interest because ignorance, due to the lack of living historianz to make them aware of our legacy! Look, they already ‘bout to abolish the Civil Rights Bill!! In 30 yearz, if anyone will be studying Afrikan history, it will be NON-Afrikanz! In 40, Pan-Afrikan Knowledge of Self will be but a faded memory, like the era of Conscious Hiphop (R.I.P. 1993).

THE METAPHYSICAL
I’ve been workin’ on seein’ the duality of a thought and this view hit me the following day. I was sorta projecting myself in the future in my elder yearz (if I’m still here). The thought of the life of a star interrupted my thought like a newz flash bulletin... then it all made sense. Simply apply the Djhuitic (not Hermetic) Principle, Correspondence (as above, so below; as below, so above) and you will see how this situation applies macrocozmically.

Everything has its time. This ancient philosophy applies to everything. As well, the axiom, “once a man, twice a child” is also a relevant point. When a star is born, its radiant and energetic, full of fire emitting an abundance of power. As it matures, so do its stamina, vybrancy, and zest. This is me right now in my 30s (metaphysically or microcozmically) and Cokely, as he was when hedz started payin’ attention to his work in the late 1980s.

In its latter, or elder yearz, its mojo starts to decline eventually becoming a fallen star, excreting decreased energy until it transformz (in this case, a star explodes or implodes, forming a new nucleus or if large enough, possibly vortex blackhole) as the cycle continues. On a microcozmic, or human level, there is the hope that with each passing Elder, a new nucleus—or new movement of scholarz—will be born into physical manifest. But in this case, it is not guaranteed the cycle continues. Are we the last forebearerz of our legacy? Are we livin’ in the period of the fallen star? Over my dead live body!

It is my life’s goal to find wayz to develop a system that can both assist in ushering pupilz, who will grow to be vanguardz of our legacy, as well as have the financial capability to enable them to focus on their works without havin’ to wear the mask workin’ a 9-6. I salute Baba Cokely and all other known and unknown starz who’ve given their lives to the liberation and perservation of Ma'at. If not anyone else, your spirit has been resurrected through me!

I was on the internet last night and I cried. But tomorrowz another day. And as long as my star is burning, there’s a cultural war that needz me... LIK SHOT!

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• Great work as usual my brotha. Baba Browder is right in his post. Baba Cokely did have a negative force within him. Our people turned a blind eye to it as he said. Coming from the Southside of Chicago where I was born and raised, I looked at Cokely along with Browder as heru's. I love to tell people about my hometown and the scholars and researchers we have. But you asked a really great question. What will happen when the rest of these Sheru's and Heru's are gone. So I say to other young brothas like myself and Brotha Ishangi, let's get on our job and stand in the gap. Again great article and work as usual. And may Baba Steve Cokely REST IN FREEDOM. LOVE YOU MY BROTHA...
xxxxxxxxxxPosted byDealow Morgan aka BROTHA INSIGHT (Millard.Morgan@bmwfs.com) on Friday, April 13, 2012 at 4:57 PM


• I read your Cokely piece and felt the same as you. What most folk didn't understand was that there was a strong negative force within Cokely that folk ignored or overlooked. What you described in your article was the side of Cokely that was always there and has determined what he has become.

As Morpheus said, "There's a difference between walking the path and being the path." And, as a friend of mine often says, "The more you know of people, the less you want to know." What I have learned from Drs. Clarke and Hilliard was how to live my life in harmony with the principals of Maat which helps to minimize and deflect negativity and conflict. Which apparently is easier said than done.
xxxxxxxxxxPosted byAnthony Browder on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 at 11:16 AM


• First I just want to say that I absolutely love you and your site. I sent you an email a while back telling you that I loved it and that I was excited to get your book and you actually responded which was great. I haven't gotten the book yet but my best friend knows how much I love your site and ordered it for me for my birthday so I am anxiously waiting for it.

So I just read your fallen star piece and wanted to let you know that it really spoke to me and I wanted to ask your advice. I grew up like a lot of black kids, going to church, getting relaxers, going to school, and of course learning and taking in what they taught me. I'm from the DC area and wanted to stay close to home so I went to Howard. My major was business and I was kind of into the whole corporate America thing. I as well as many others in the school of business have locs so we had a small warning about our hair in the corporate world. My last year at Howard I saw at least five or six people cutting their locs as graduation got closer and that really disturbed me. Although I was in the school of business I took as many African American studies classes as I could and during my last semester I took one that literally changed and flipped my whole life around.

The class was called Black Education in America and it was taught by Dr. Greg Carr who has now become my favorite teacher of all time. That class opened my mind and my eyes to so many things and in the end I went from wanting to be in the business world to wanting to become a teacher in the inner cities of DC where I have been a "mentor" (I just read your Jegna article) and a tutor before. I feel like African American studies and kids are definitely my calling and when I graduated I decided and told my parents that I wanted to go to Temple and get a master's in African American studies. I still want that so badly but I have a super debt problem. I want to go back to school but I feel like I should take the time to pay off some of my debt before I go looking for more in student loans.

But right now I have this passion and fire inside me that wants to be in a place where I can learn and talk about these things with other people. I read seven African American studies books over the summer and although I loved them all, right now I feel like I need more. So my question is: what would you suggest I do and how can I go about making sure I'm learning and sharing while I'm not in school. I know that was a lot but I wanted to ask you because I want to be a person that will be able to carry on the legacy of people like you, Steve Cokely, and my teacher Dr. Carr. I want to make sure it does not disappear and I want to come to you to help me make sure I don't let that happen. Sorry for this being so long. Regan Harris.
xxxxxxxxxxPosted by Regan Harris (ms_regan@msn.com) on Monday, November 17, 2008 at 5:31 PM

M'Bwebe's Response: Give thanx so much for your positive and supportive wordz. When I finished college I too went through the same thing. After two-and-a-half yearz of readin' books and attending madd lectures, I felt I was ready to share what I knew to the masses. Starting out speaking and eventually writing, which evolved into Da Ghetto Tymz magazine. My suggestion to you would be to find a way you could incorporate the 'Arts' into conveying our history, this way you can attract more, allowing you to be more free with your expression—as well as targeting the younger demographic. If there's anything I or DGT can do to assist in your journey, do not hesitate to link! Bless...


• I came across your site and thought, ''Ah.... what a refreshing, solid food consumable commodity for my mind." I live in the U. S. Virgin Islands on the islands of St. Croix. I am 38 years young, work a j.o.b. (just over broke) that some would say in a "Good Job" at one of the largest oil refineries in the eastern hemisphere. I am also a licensed sole proprietor developing a private franchise (Audacious Enterprise) with an online health and wellness commodities business supplier.

I read an article in Da Ghetto Tymz Magazine of yours called "Fallen Star", and I must say it resonated with me about the importance of more "Moor" (So called Black) people to be educators, edutainers or supporters of our upliftment and empowerment of Akebulan (Afrikan) people. You are correct about the monetary support or the development of foundations that can support and fund the process to ensure our children's true knowledge of their self which will equal self esteem which will in turn abandon self hatred and so called black on black violence. I feel as Neo in the Matrix with this "splinter in my mind". Stay strong my brother and I am in this fight consciously with you.
xxxxxxxxxxPosted by Alexander Ralph (haranoaruhito@gmail.com) on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 at 5:59 PM


• This is a very powerful piece!! I find myself thinking along the same lines wondering how to make money doing what I love, which is helping our people. It bothers me that the price to pay is so high, I have to take into account my family who can become endangered because of my beliefs. I also have to think of the whole race of us who need this information, these teachings, exposure to the truth about us. At the same time I have to appear safe to YT in the work world, balance that with family life, as well as my community activism when my own community(as a whole) does not support the upliftment of the people. I wonder how I can support my family while focusing more on saving our people. So in the mean time I go to their schoolz (another task to balance) to get a piece of paper(degree) that states I can move up on the income bracket with less labor, while juggling all of the above...it's hard being a revolutionary! "Mere belief accounts for nothing unless put into practice."
xxxxxxxxxxPosted byMark Forbes (sixpointdwella@gmail.com) on Tuesday, February 5, 2008 at 10:22 AM

M'Bwebe's Response: Ashe' Soul-jah! Ashe! The same goes through my mind. It may not change for us, so one of my ambitionz is to do somethin' to make it easier for the ensuing Soul-jahz. In order for the next generation to be able to preserve and lift our culture to a higher level, we need to be in the discussion and development of fellowships of some kind that gives endowments to deserving mindz. They need to have their TIME free in order to lift us higher. If only more of us would see how important this is...


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