This
week's
topic:		 A Chicago African American sister is offerering slave shackles as jewelry. Should African Americans be offended by the commercialized embellishment of tools of their enslavement?



Submit Date: 8 JUN 1999
Name: Ramon Collins
Email: rayc1@novanetwork.com
Response: Why can everyone make money from our forced servitude but us? The sister has a great idea. Lets use the jewelry to teach our children what they looked like and what they felt like. Our generation is too far removed from the struggle. The shackle jewelry might get distributed as jewelry, but we can remind our children that our ancestors were dragged into America in them. We can remind them that history repeats itself, especially for those too lazy to know what and how things happened before. Our children have Prison clothes that they can purchase as part of a recent style. Why not make a style from a negative that has a valuable lesson attached.


Submit Date: 4 JAN 1999
Name: Randall
Email: "b1more1@aol.com
Response: My look at the jewelry found at the Ujamma Website, noted in another response, reveals that the symbol/jewelry indicates that the shakles are broken. Who amongst us are willing to stand up. There was a call for a Million Man March and some among us turned up thier noses and others did things worst; there was a call for a Million Woman March and simular negative action followed. The Million Youth March call resulted in two marches given on the same day. Babies say "no" first because of thier physical development just as they say da-da before ma-ma. But what excuse do Adults have? The lack of "unity in the community" is alarming. Yet to many of us know this to be the most basic of military/defense strategy, Divide and Conquer. Why do BLACK / AFRICAN AMERICAN adults unleash the wrath of the tongue on and about each other? I feel a strange de-sha-voo regarding that James River speach given by Willie Lynch. Can you feel it or are you caught up by words misspelled according to Webster's? May all who read this recognize that there is but one GOD and that GOD is revealed to All of us as the breath of life. Who among us can exist without Breath.


Submit Date: 8 DEC 1998
Name: Brandon Swanson
Email: "Lasher702@aol.com
Response: A questions that should be posed is how will white america look upon this so called jewlery. As a way to show self pride or as a way ridicule and laugh at people whome are unlike any people in the world. Who else but african-americans have such high pride in themselves. Who else but african-americans can rally against ANY threat that is forced upon them from something as stupid as the color of ones skin. Self pride or self degration..................I just dont know.


Submit Date: 4 DEC 1998
Name:
Email: "nubianqt1@aol.com
Response: I belive that my ancestors would want me to honor them in better ways than wearing shackles. Building positive communities and teaching our children to remember and honor the positive things that blacks have done in and for this country and the world would be more fitting. Saying that this is the means for honoring them - is like saying that slaves is all that they ever were. And that 's absolutely untrue. Its just like the sorry education system in this country tries to make us believe - that black history began with the enslavement of our people. We were a people long before we were slaves in this country and our ancestors even while in slaved were still beautiful people with wondorous accomplishments. Lets honor those things done despite slavery - and not the fact that they were slaves. They had to endure a lot of things so that we could be here today - but that does not mean that we must repeat those things in order to honor and remember then. I wonder if the makers of these shackles have ever tried pouring libation?


Submit Date: 2 DEC 1998
Name: Shawn Baker
Email: "Ujaama1@aol.com
Response: I have a business name Ujaama, Inc we also have a product called the Freedom Bracelet. The Freedom Bracelet is worn in commemoration of slavery.To remember that our freedom was bought with an inestimable price. We want the youth to realize that they are from kings & queens so that makes them kings & queens. We acknowledge that the Middle Passage & chantel slavery was horrible, however because of our spiritual beliefs, and being strong minded people we overcame slavery and build this country. We are not out just to try to make money on our product but to educate our people on our great history of Africa & on our terrible beginning in America. To let them know if our ancestors survived slavery we can make it to be productive people in this society. My website is www.welcome.to/ujaama please look at it and send me your responses at ujaama1@aol.com or ujaama@hotmail.com. We at Ujaama Inc think that shackle now should remind African-American people that our freedom was bought with an inestimable price.


Submit Date: 2 DEC 1998
Name: Darnel Tanksley
Email: "DarTanksle@aol.com
Response: Flowers come from dirt. Here in America, we the Negro have been and are the dirt. I am proud to be the soil of the American flower. Whether it be Slavery, Jim Crow, Rodney King, Chitterlings or Slave shackles, I don't want White america to forget the dirt that gave birth to their flower.


Submit Date: 2 DEC 1998
Name: EMC
Email: "stormii@springnet1.com
Response: The only remaining shackles we have are mental. Such a business initiates strong negative emotions. My logical side wanted to say forgive and forget. However, my voice of racial loyalty says, she's insane and will do anything for money. Many religous teach us that this is wrong, but that never stopped anyone from doing unthinkable or unconscionable things in the name of commerce. Final verdict? Such things belong in museums to tell the story of those long gone. A reflection of times, people and acts that we should never return to. I must vote against this commercial activity because it not just a black thing, but I am moved by those who are killed or enslaved around the world, who still have no vote or are subjected to ethnic cleansing. We have come a long way, but have still only covered a fraction of the ground ahead of us. Not so long ago, a black person couldn't look into a white person's eyes, unless permission was given. Now, I notice that whites look to the ground or away. I don't believe it is fear or shame that motivates this behavior. I heard a statistic announced some time ago that 60% of whites don't even pay attention to blacks or their activities. This was waived as a flag of progress. However, it leaves me with a quandry... If I don't pay attention to someone, if i ignore you, if I only pay attention to those who reflect my own skin tone, then how can I hire or fire fairly, or even communication with honesty? What gives my leaders the right to tell the Chinese how they should treat they people, when most of our people refuse to even pay attention to a great portion of their own? Cleaning house is long chore...


Submit Date: 1 DEC 1998
Name: Janice Johnson
Email: "ecinaj@worldnet.att.nett.nett.net
Response: It is a complete insult to our race that she is trivializing the blood of our people for money. Generations of our people have suffered tremendously from the atrocities of slavery, and we are still suffering from the effects of slavery today. I consider her ignorant, and a traitor. Peace and Wisdom


Submit Date: 1 DEC 1998
Name: Pete Harber
Email: "Petarr@webtv.net
Response: This individual obviously has no concept of the hatred, loathing, and contempt that whites hold in their hearts for her!! She is not only the "Scatter Brain," but also the House "_____" example!!


Submit Date: 1 DEC 1998
Name:
Email: "Urban_Guerrilla@webtv.net
Response: Any African-American without knowledge of his ancestors, is an unarmed fool! Every African-American who is armed with the true knowledge of why his race struggles in a Deceptive, Racist Society, is armed with the realization of the cowardice which drives the Tyranical Dictators of said Society!! Any African-American who Envisions, Vicariously, the Demented Forced Sufferings Experienced by his Progenitors, would rather Die than Mock the Memory of his/Her Originators!!!


Submit Date: 2 DEC 1998
Name:
Email: "bradfo43@ccvax.mmc.edu
Response: No, we just shouldn't buy it.


Submit Date: 30 NOV 1998
Name: Marzo
Email: "marzo@stratos.net
Response: People should think about what they market and how it will affect others. When you profit from the pain and suffering of other people, you are not showing any type of compassion. Money leads to greed and greed leads to selfishness. Isaiah 56:11 Reads- Yes they are greedy dogs which never have enough. And they are shepherds Who cannot understand; They all look to their own way, Every one for his own gain, From his own territory.


Submit Date: 30 NOV 1998
Name: Frances Murphy
Email: "FrankieLou@aol.com
Response: Great idea. How are the sales going? It is time we got some profit out of slavery. If we can convince most of the white folks in this country to wear those horrible shackles, once they get those sores like our ancestors got, then, MAYBE, they might appreciate how our ancestors suffered.


Submit Date: 29 NOV 1998
Name: Dianne M. Daniels
Email: "ddaniels@cityofnorwich.org
Response: Hi all, Personally, I am offended by the use of slave shackles as jewelry. Jewelry is meant to enhance and beautify the wearer, not remind others of where we used to be. While some might say that the only way to remove the negative power of the shackle is to possess it as a different kind of symbol, I personally would not wear such a piece of jewelry. This young woman must have a sense of ambition and great intelligence to have her own business, I'd suggest strongly she focus on more positive images and symbols for her jewelry.


Submit Date: 29 NOV 1998
Name: ann jackson
Email: "annjackson@erols. com
Response: I see nothing wrong with selling jewelry as a representation of the past. Certainly if I were a slave and actually wore those shackles, obviously my point of view would be different. I think the death camps where the jews were slaughtered were a horrible reminder, for that moment, of the cruelty of man, but life goes on. They should be transformed into something beautiful that represents life, like shackles into jewelry.


Submit Date: 29 NOV 1998
Name:
Email: "NubianQT1@aol.com
Response: I am very interested in the opinions that are given here, I saw this 'jewelry' this past weekend at a cultural fair - I came upon a vendor who was selling them. I received some information and am forwarding the web page for this company for those of you who wish may receive more information about the product (www.welcome.to.ujaama) . I assume they wont mind me giving it out seeing how it was available to the public...


Submit Date: 28 NOV 1998
Name: R. L. Hilliard
Email: "KnewBnMan@AOL.COM
Response: Hell yeah I'm offended...an African-American might not see how disgusting that is, but this "BLACK" man does! I suppose the "African-American" rationale would be that it's taking something negative and turning it into something positive that can be admired and appreciated (b*llSh*t). The only "positive" I see is the cash flow and that's a shame... who is buying this "art/jewelry" anyway? Hmmmm...maybe I should start making decorative ornamants out of "swatikas" (just in time for Christmas) or how about my on line of KKK cotton 200 thread count linen. "Mo' Money, Mo' Money".....NOT!!!! Stay BLACK!!


Submit Date: 28 NOV 1998
Name: JustLojo2
Email: "JustLoJo2@aol.com
Response: A Chicago African American sister is offerering slave shackles as jewelry. Should African Americans be offended by the commercialized embellishment of tools of their enslavement? Yes!!!! The sister should make a shrine for these shackles, this is not and was not jewelry. This is really horrible, she must be half red_ _ _ k. These shackles would make me feel so bad, because I would always think of my ancestors that were in them and how they were treated while they were in the, and believe me they were not treated like they had on diamonds!!


Submit Date: 28 NOV 1998
Name: Rotimi Adebola
Email: "Radebola@aol.com
Response: I personally think it is really a sad day and age in which we live when people can do such a thing for such little financial gain. It is bad enough people or should i say the black youth of today don't know or care about what happened only 30 years ago. But would adorn something that was used as a restraint on their own people and wear it as a fashion accessory.


Topic: Shackle Jewelry: Commerialized embellishment of slavery.
Submit Date: 26 NOV 1998
Name: Qwaku^-
Email: "rickie.anderson@gte.net
Response: It is imperative that we always remember the past, stand on it, understand it and never repeat it. The Jewish community spends MILLIONS so that we never ever forget their history. However I must also say that I believe that in the future the United States will have to make a decision regarding what to do with this troublesome presents of the African-American. You see we built this country with our blood, and the loss of millions of lives, Black lives and we have become (in their eyes) a useless commodity. Myself and my contemporaries believe that the militias lining the hills of Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina and many other states are preparing to destroy black people, and who’s to say that if genocide were to take place that this government would turn it’s head. Those so called “good Germanys” did not salute Hitler as he walked by, but they sure as hell winked an eye at him. THE LOGICAL CONCLUSION OF RACISM IS GENOCIDE. More importantly than all of that is we have several generations who do not know their heritage. They have eternalized the negative images that the white media throws at them not realizing that our past is Regal and Majestic, but also tragic. For a moment the younger brothers and sisters picked up Malcolm X. I’m not sure they got the true meaning of his life or whether he was the THANG at that time, but the BIO of MALCOLM X should be required reading in every African-American HOME. It is my assertion that the gold chains we line our wrists and necks with is also symbolic of a slavish Pyhcodynamic deeply embedded. So whether we agree with this sister in Chicago or not, let’s utilize this commercial endeavor to educate our people, so like the Jew, we make sure “IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN.” Peace - Productivity - Prosperity - Power * Your Dearest Brother *


Submit Date: 26 NOV 1998
Name: concern
Email: "hello2524@aol.com
Response: the only thing that a person like that think of is money. if someone is offended "money" don't care.


Submit Date: 26 NOV 1998
Name: Elder W. Kofi Files
Email: "isiserg@webtv.net
Response: Vibrations! The Sister needs to learn her history. Obviously she does not realize that is a no no no no.She has my permission to write via e-mail address above.


Submit Date: 25 NOV 1998
Name:
Email: "gy13@webtv.net
Response: There should be no commercializing of anything that involves the enslavment of human beings!


Past discussion topics