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This Is The Disgusting Way One Group Weaponized HIV

When Alexander Jones became an intelligence officer for the South African Institute for Maritime Research (SAIMR) three decades ago, he had no idea the kind of cruel, disgusting plans the group’s leadership had in mind for the Black citizens of South Africa. This sophisticated underground organization was largely tasked with destabilizing foreign countries, inciting military coups, and the assassination of foreign diplomats. But it was leader Keith Maxwell’s hate towards Black South Africans that sparked the evilest operation of all. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("div-gpt-ad-1512094833018-0"); }); Maxwell launched a sinister medical experimentation program from Wammer Pan, the southern Johannesburg naval base the group operated out of as a cover. To the outside world, Maxwell’s obsessive research on HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) was in line with his good-natured humanitarian public persona. And this was a perfect way to gain access to his most vulnerable victims. In the documentary Cold Case Hammarskjöld, former SAIMR member Jones recounts how the mission to cause an epidemic went largely undetected. “What easier way to get a guinea pig than [when] you live in an apartheid system? Black people have got no rights, they need medical treatment. There’s a white ‘philanthropist’ coming in and saying, ‘You know, I’ll open up these clinics and I’ll treat you.’ And meantime [he is] actually the wolf in sheep’s clothing.” According to Jones’ claims, Maxwell spread the virus to patients across South Africa and Mozambique by posing as a doctor (who had no credentials) in poor sections of town, advertising fake treatments like inserting victims into “tubes” that he claimed would allow him to “see your insides,” and administering false injections. Jones’ confessions have not been verified, but it does align with documents sharing Maxwell’s own motivations to wipe out all but white South Africans from power - and even from existence! He once wrote that “[South Africa] may well have… a white majority by the year 2000. Religion in its conservative, traditional form will return. Abortion on demand, abuse of drugs, and the other excesses of the 1960s, 70s and 80s will have no place in the post-AIDS world.” The post-AIDS world Maxwell was praising was, in his mind, one where the Black South African population was obliterated by this merciless disease. John Maxwell’s plot to deceive and harm countless poor and vulnerable Black people by weaponizing HIV proves the existence of stealthy, organized, and powerful entities who still have nothing more than hate and annihilation in their hearts for us.

What Happened To This 12-Year-Old Was Bad, But What’s Happening Now Is Worse

These Revolutionary Songs Will Make You Want to Change the World

Throughout history, Black music has reflected and addressed the social and political climate of the day. During slavery, Black people communicated with drums and sang spirituals to deliver messages of rebellion and resistance. The sound of drums often struck fear in plantation owners, leading them to ban the instrument all together. Contemporary artists have carried on in this tradition by using their platforms to educate, enlighten, and encourage our community to be active and vocal about our struggle for humanity and justice. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); We have compiled a brief list of songs, old and new, that help get us one step closer to liberation. These might be exactly what you need before you take action. Check them out! “They Don’t Really Care About Us” - Michael Jackson A social and political statement on the transgressions of oppression, “They Don’t Really Care About Us, is a revealing tale that exposes the tensions between the spirit of protest and the spirit of revenge. The aggressive energy of the track is tangible and could be felt globally. This anthem sparked questions about humanity and injustice while also negating the idea that the oppressed are the cause of their downfall and demise. “Mississippi Goddam” - Nina Simone The fear and anger in Simone’s voice are palpable as she performs “Mississippi Goddamn” which was written largely in response to the assassination of prominent Civil Rights activist Medgar Evers. Outraged by the racial turmoil of the South, Simone delivered this iconic song to bring a taste of the era’s injustice to audiences across the country and let them know America was no longer a place she could call home. “Say It Loud (I’m Black and I’m Proud)” - James Brown Although his opposition labeled it militant and angry, Brown’s call-and-response style song was a bold declaration of our people’s pride in our Blackness. By including children on the historic jazz and funk-inspired record, Brown decreed the unapologetic need to value who we are as a race across all generations and to awaken the movement within our own communities. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); “Ella’s Song” - Sweet Honey in the Rock This anthem is an ode to the legendary Ella Baker- marked as one of the most influential women in the Civil Rights movement. “Ella’s Song” resounds the enduring reality and necessity of the fight to and for freedom. The lyrics are powerful; they are intentional; they originate from a Black female lens, and they remain relevant to where we currently are as a nation. “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” - Gil-Scott Heron “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” is inarguably one of the most important political urgencies of its time. The radical song effortlessly blends spoken word poetry with infectious conga beats to produce a manifesto that has stood the test of time as a representation of the Black liberation movement. Even if you have never heard the original, it is likely you will quickly recognize the tune as it is one of the most sampled songs by hip hop artists today. “Strange Fruit” - Billie Holiday “Strange Fruit” exposed the nation’s lynching epidemic and overwhelming disregard for the Black body. This gripping song written by public school teacher, Abel Meeropol, likened the dangling bodies of lynching victims to the fruit of a poplar tree to protest the inhumanity of racism. With nooses still popping up around different parts of America today, this song serves as a revelation to our traumatic historical past. “Black Rage” - Lauryn Hill Immediately following the aftermath of the Ferguson shootings, Lauryn Hill used her platform to remark on what has bubbled up within the Black consciousness that could produce such frustration and violence. The emotional song is a reworking of "My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music that takes the upbeat and flowery original and transforms it into something much darker, capturing the sentiments of a nation divided and providing fuel for the Black Lives Matter movement. “Freedom” - Beyonce ft. Kendrick Lamar “Freedom” embodies the spirit of triumph, self-reliance, and a call to action that we needed given the tumultuous racial climate these last couple years. The song is the perfect combination of political and spiritual will with Beyonce clearly indicating she is willing to be at the helm of this movement. Coming on the heels of her statement against police brutality in “Formation,” “Freedom” was undoubtedly made with African-American empowerment in mind. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); “Alright” - Kendrick Lamar Lamar’s “Alright” offers a glimpse of hope in the midst of perpetual antipathy for Black lives in our world today. The catchy chorus promising that “We gonna be alright” underlines the intersectionality of faith and the ongoing brutality resonating throughout our neighborhoods. If you like this thought-provoking track, it might be a good time to revisit Kendrick’s To Pimp a Butterfly album in its entirety. “Be Free” - J.Cole This song ricocheted around the country when released on SoundCloud in response to the senseless murder of Mike Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. Cole’s provocative performance of “Be Free” demonstrates the strain and fatigue in the community as it pertains to police brutality and the blatant disregard for Black lives. You can literally hear his pain and passion as his voice breaks over the somber instrumental.

Why Should White Guys Have All the Fun?

“Why Should All the White Guys Have the Fun?” was a question asked by Reginald Lewis, the richest African-American in the 1980s and one of the first Black billionaires. As a lawyer, entrepreneur, family man, and philanthropist, Lewis “lived his life according to the words he often quoted to audiences around the country: ‘keep going, no matter what.’” Though his life was cut short at the early age of 50 due to a brain tumor, Lewis’ legacy continues through his philanthropic support in his home state of Maryland. Through the support of the Maryland state legislature and a $5 million contribution from his estate, the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African-American History and Culture was opened, in addition to a landmark move to incorporate African-American curriculum development into Maryland public schools. medianet_width = "300"; medianet_height = "250"; medianet_crid = "362113462"; medianet_versionId = "111299"; (function() { var isSSL = 'https:' == document.location.protocol; var mnSrc = (isSSL ? 'https:' : 'http:') + '//contextual.media.net/nmedianet.js?cid=8CU946134' + (isSSL ? '&https=1' : ''); document.write(''); })(); So how did he acquire his wealth? Lewis began his career as a corporate lawyer at a prestigious New York law firm, eventually breaking away with colleagues to set up Wall Street’s first African-American law firm. He served as counsel to the New York-based Commission for Racial Justice, and later established TLC Group, L.P., which focused on mergers and acquisitions. Through various business deals, including acquiring, building-out, and then selling companies, Lewis amassed a great deal of wealth, positioning one of his companies on the Fortune 500 list and first on the Black Enterprise List of Top 100 African-American owned businesses. Lewis had been a standout since his early years and was noted as having the confidence and ambition necessary to succeed. He is infamously known for talking his way into Harvard Law School – earning acceptance even before submitting the formal application or required documents. The school would later name one of its research centers after him: Harvard Law School’s Lewis International Center. Despite his post-graduate success, Lewis made B’s, C’s and D’s throughout his tenure at Harvard Law School – evidence that academic performance alone is not a full assessment of one’s aptitude or potential. “I think my father was born confident,” reports his daughter. We agree! This confidence took him to great heights and left an indelible mark on Black history. The post Why Should White Guys Have All the Fun? appeared first on PushBlack.

This Might Make You Cancel Your Trip to Hilton Head

Pitched as a “humanitarian” effort to prepare formerly enslaved Blacks for inclusion as free citizens in America, the Port Royal Experiment is a historical example of why Black people have difficulty trusting any form of government handouts and shows the fragility of public policy. In 1862, the Union Army invaded the Sea Islands of South Carolina (now called Hilton Head). Then, all the plantation owners abandoned their land leaving behind nearly 10,000 enslaved Blacks. This came as a complete surprise to the Union’s troops and they initially had no idea what to do with these people. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); While not legally free, they were considered contraband and became property of the government, working as field hands earning $1 for every 400 pounds of cotton harvested. The formerly enslaved people lived amongst the Union troops for several months, but hostility and animosity between the two groups ultimately led to the creation of the Port Royal Experiment. The U.S. government decided that the remaining Blacks on the island would be allowed to buy and run the abandoned plantations as well as develop schools and hospitals. Abraham Lincoln even enacted a policy that would split up to 40,000 acres of plantation land among families strictly of African descent. Dozens of missionary teachers, doctors, and ministers volunteered to help with the experiment. With their help, the new land-owning Blacks founded Mitchelville which would become the first of many all-Black communities in the U.S. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); This occurred four years prior to the founding of the historic town Eatonville in Florida, which was the first incorporated all-Black town. Everything was going great until Lincoln died and noted racist Andrew Johnson became President. Johnson vowed to restore all the land that had been given to Blacks back to its previous white owners. Johnson did not believe that Blacks should be compensated for slavery with land ownership and instead shifted the focus to voting rights. This history shows that what is given in one administration can easily be revoked by the next when politicians are not outrightly looking out for our community’s best interests. Too often, public policies have swept the rug from under our feet and left us displaced. Our battle doesn't end once someone who seems to be on our side gets in office.

Now Is The Perfect Time To Recommit To Saving Our Communities

This article is part three of PushBlack’s seven-day Kwanzaa series. If you missed yesterday’s article, click here to check it out. Today is the third day of Kwanzaa! The principle we recognize on this day is Ujima, or collective work and responsibility. The purpose of this principle is to build and maintain our community together, to make our sister’s and brother's problems our own problems, and to solve those problems together. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("div-gpt-ad-1512094833018-0"); }); Ujima teaches us that being Black is not only an identity, it is a responsibility. We are responsible for each other. Our neighborhoods are struggling, our businesses don’t have the support they need, and the schools we send our children to are failing them. Since we are not the dominant group in America, none of these challenges are our fault. Traditionally, we have been encouraged to look outside of our communities for solutions to these problems. But, history has taught us how we can easily lose the progress we’ve made depending on who is elected to public office. For example, the land granted to Blacks then taken away during after the Civil War, threats to repeal Obamacare, the constant threat to our voting rights, and the destruction of Black Wall Street. Although we can appeal to the government to fix certain issues (mass incarceration, police brutality, workplace discrimination, etc.), it is important that we look to the wealth of talent in our own communities to create long lasting solutions to other issues. If the schools we send our children to are failing them, then we must build schools that work. If the stores we shop at discriminate against us, then we must support businesses who have an interest in our community. Yes, some solutions are easier said than done. For example, it is quite difficult to start a new neighborhood school. However, it is not as difficult to open up our homes to host an afterschool program for kids in the neighborhood, then seek funding within our community to expand that program. Ujima teaches us that individual gains mean nothing if the rest of the community is struggling. For those in the community with college degrees, we must ask how those degrees are being used to lift our family up. For those of us who own businesses, how are those businesses providing jobs to the Black community? In 2017, the mainstream media finally covered the rise of slavery in Libya that resulted from the U.S.’s intervention in 2011. For those of us in America, who were only recently acknowledged as free people, this event should be a call to arms. We shouldn’t wait for a non-Black “human rights” organization to solve this problem. “As long as any African anywhere is oppressed, exploited, enslaved, or wounded in any way in her or his humanity, all African people are.” - Maulana Karenga, creator of Kwanzaa. On day one, Umoja taught us to unite. On day two, Kujichagulia taught us to practice self determination. Now, on day 3, we must utilize our unity and determination to identify common interests and develop solutions. We must all engage in struggle until every one of us is free. Ujima! For more info about Kwanzaa, check out “The African American Holiday of Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community, and Culture.”

Kicking Ass and Taking Names: The Legacy of the “Harlem Hellfighters”

History is often written by the victors. But even then, some stories remain untold. When we talk about World War I, rarely is there meaningful conversation around the contributions of African-American soldiers. This paints a false narrative since we know our efforts contributed significantly to war victories. Though under the 1917 Selective Draft, nearly 400,000 African-American soldiers were drafted, only 1/10th were used as combat troops. While these men were official soldiers in the U.S. Army, it was intended for them to remain on the sidelines and assume non-combat or labor roles. The 369th Infantry of the 93rd Division was among the first American forces deployed in Europe during the Great War. Notoriously nicknamed the “Harlem Hellfighters,” this African-American troop made a name for itself by being relentless in battle and never giving up an inch of ground. Their German enemies deemed them “Hell Fighters” for preventing the capture of any of their men. Likewise, French allies called them “Men of Bronze” for remaining on the battlefield for a full 191 days – more than any other American unit. In war, it is an honor to be given nicknames by enemies and allies as these distinctions signal a nod of respect from other units. Up until the “Harlem Hellfighters” emerged, African-American soldiers were referred to as “Buffalo Soldiers.” The first “Buffalo Soldiers” originated from the 10th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army and were given the nickname by Native Americans during the Indian Wars. These soldiers inspired Bob Marley’s song by the same name, as the soldiers represented Black men who exemplified courage, integrity, and bravery in a field predominated by whites. Despite their bravery, loyalty and camaraderie, the Harlem Hellfighters faced racial discrimination on the frontlines. Since many white American soldiers refused to fight alongside them, the Hellfighters were assigned to the French Army where racial relations were not as overly strained. However, once in Europe, the Hellfighters became famous not only for their fervor on the battlefield but also for their regimental jazz band. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Neither the French nor British had any conception of jazz music, yet the band gained instant popularity and boosted the morale of fellow soldiers. Led by James Reese Europe, the band has gone down in history as one of the most influential regimental bands of all-time. Given the racial and social climate in America during the Great War, the contributions of the Harlem Hellfighters are laudable. Their success in battle helped influence white public opinion concerning the value of African-American soldiers in the armed forces. However, these soldiers were still relegated to the sidelines, forced to wear recycled clothes from the Civil War, required to sleep outside of the standard barracks, and even trained in separate facilities. Though official members of the U.S. Army, African-Americans were still not able to become members of the Marines, Navy, or Coast Guard at the time. The Hellfighters fought for freedom abroad, but were required to don a new suit of armor once they returned “home.” Faced with race riots and lynchings as race relations between Blacks and whites grew more strained, the Hellfighters navigated defending a country that still did not accept them as whole. For all of these reasons, the Hellfighters represent a win for the integrity and dignity of African-American soldiers across generations. Moreover, they signify the humanization of the Black body so often depicted and used as merely a tool for the advancement of white efforts. In 2014, Max Brooks published a graphic novel entitled The Harlem Hellfighters, which has received critical acclaim for highlighting the bravery and bravado of the 369th Infantry. Will Smith is also set to produce a film based on the book in conjunction with Sony Pictures. These are the stories that cannot remain untold. This is American History. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The post Kicking Ass and Taking Names: The Legacy of the “Harlem Hellfighters” appeared first on PushBlack.