Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Re: FW: Police Brutality at DelawareState University Dover Cops BeatAssociate Professor at Non-violent rally 3/1/2012

Mwalimu Kwame Zulu Shabazz, those of us who are familiar with your academic and activist work know that your credentials as an Afrikan and, thus, a Pan-Afrikanist are impeccable. I, nevertheless, was disappointed by your falling into the divide et impera trap. We have enough battles to fight against our real enemies; we do not need one among ourselves.

 

As to your analogy that you would be "amiss if the University of Ghana was dominated by Nigerian faculty," this may not be a problem in Afrika. I believe that at one point in the 1960s-1970s, there were more Nigerian professors than Sierra Leonean professors at Fourah Bay College, the first Western-styled and oldest university college in West Afrika founded in 1827. Also, the first Black principal of the college was Reverend Edward Jones from South Carolina. And as it is well documented, the college enjoyed some of its heydays during his tenure. And, indeed, there are many of us Afrikans who were born on the Motherland that are constantly in the struggle against racial inequalities in the United States; it is just the case that our battles are not publicized. But as the saying goes, "The [TRUE] Revolution Will Not Be Televised."

 

A Luta Continua! Stay Strong, Afrikan Strong!

 

> [Original Message]
> From: kwame zulu shabazz <kwameshabazz@gmail.com>
> To: USA Africa Dialogue Series <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>
> Date: 3/5/2012 6:25:21 AM
> Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Re: FW: Police Brutality at DelawareState University Dover Cops BeatAssociate Professor at Non-violent rally 3/1/2012
>
> Peace Akwasi,
>
> A quick check of the internet suggests that the judges seem to be
> leaning towards the notion that students have the right to freely
> assemble on a campus and protest without permits or authorization. As
> for the video, the officer looks to be twisting Dr. Issa's arm in a
> way that was painful--totally unneeded excessive force, in my view--
> certainly no way to treat a university professor. And, yes, I am a pan-
> Africanist. But that doesn't mean I move about the world with blinkers
> on. Akan history is not Igbo history is not African American history.
> There are distinctive politics in all of these regions that should not
> be broad-brushed with an uncritical nod to pan-Africanism. There is
> clearly a problem if African faculty are outnumbering African American
> faculty at an HBCU (I teach at Winston-Salem State). Likewise I would
> think something was amiss if the University of Ghana was dominated by
> Nigerian faculty. And, yes, my experience is that African students and
> African professors are far less likely to challenge racial inequities
> in the US. So the metric is not about being "black enough" but,
> rather, at issue is a political engagement with racist institutions.
> kzs
>
> On Mar 4, 6:12 pm, "Akurang-Parry, Kwabena" <KAP...@ship.edu> wrote:
> > Akwasi,
> >
> > I hope that your response below speaks to Kwame's piece, not mine since I quoted from him. Thanks.
> >
> > Kwabena.
> >
> > ________________________________________
> > From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com [usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com] on behalf of Akwasi [aosei121...@gmail.com]
> > Sent: Sunday, March 04, 2012 12:32 PM
> > To: USA Africa Dialogue Series
> > Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Re: FW: Police Brutality at Delaware State University Dover Cops BeatAssociate Professor at Non-violent rally 3/1/2012
> >
> > I have seen the video and I do not see police brutality.  Understand
> > that much more went on long before the filming started.  They are
> > still looking into this, and as a a part of the mix I will wait for
> > decisions to come in later.
> >
> > The bigger issue for me is in your last two sentences.  It appears to
> > me that your real point--the legitimate concerns you refer to--is to
> > separate out diferrent 'Africans in order to privilege one over the
> > other.  Why else will you put "black" in closed uqotes, and proceed to
> > clearly insinuate that those who were born in Africa perhaps do not
> > belong on DSU's campus.
> >
> > I assume you are pan africanist in your orientation; if I'm right,
> > then I'm afraid you cannot have it both ways:  we are either all
> > Afircans , or we are not.  That Africans do really belong on HBCU
> > campuses or we do not.  That indeed there is a global Africa in which
> > true pan africanists truly believe.
> >
> > On Mar 3, 10:28 pm, kwame zulu shabazz <kwameshab...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > > Akwasi,
> >
> > > Have you watched the video? The police are clearly abusive. Arresting
> > > a university professor exercising Free Speech is outrageous. Delaware
> > > State has a white majority faculty and much of the "black" faculty is
> > > not African American. The students have a legitimate concern.
> >
> > > kzs
> >
> > > On Mar 3, 11:27 am, Akwasi <aosei121...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > > > Hi Abdul:
> >
> > > > Someone called my attention to this, and I thought I should respond as
> > > > best as I could.
> >
> > > > First, how are you?  It has been a hile since we made contact.  Hope
> > > > all is well.
> >
> > > > As Chair of the History, Political Science and Philosophy department
> > > > at DSU, and as a long serving faculty member, I want you to know that
> > > > whatever infiormation you have on this topic is flawed, full of
> > > > innacuracies, half-truths and outright misrepresentations.  Clearly, I
> > > > am unable to share what I know , but I can say this:  there has been
> > > > no evidence of police brutality on this campus that anybody is aware
> > > > of.  You do not want to be the carrier of rumors and innacurate
> > > > information.
> >
> > > > I notice Dr. Nyang also was concerned.  You can tell him that there is
> > > > no issue of police brutality on our campus.
> >
> > > > Sinceley
> >
> > > > Akwasi Osei
> >
> > > > On Mar 2, 12:39 am, "Abdul Bangura" <th...@earthlink.net> wrote:
> >
> > > > > From Dr. Randy Short:
> > > > > For Immediate Release 3/2/2012
> > > > > Delaware State University Professor of History Brutally Treated and Arrested by Dover Police Officers
> > > > > Stop Police Brutality at Delaware State University!
> > > > > Human Rights Activist and Professor of African American History at Delaware State University (DSU), located in Dover, Delaware, Dr. Jahi Issa had to be hospitalized prior to his arrest. Dr. Issa was part of a student-organized protest concerning the unfair treatment of proactive faculty at Delaware State. Recently, Dr. Issa had filed an EEOC complaint regarding unfair and discriminatory treatment of African American faculty at the university. Delaware State University has since the ultra-conservative presidency of Dr. Allen L. Sessoms who had the Africana Studies library materials destroyed in 2008. Sessoms ordered staff to leave Africana studies books to be left on the lawn to be destroyed by rain.  Dr. Harry L. Williams replaced Sessoms as President of Delaware State in September 2008.  President Williams earned his Ed.D. from the conservative East Tennessee State University.
> > > > > Dr. Issa who is very popular with students who have become disenchanted with the plantation styled administration of their school. Recently, Dr. Issa had written about the inner threat that reactionary administrations pose to the future survival of Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the Chronicle of Higher Education and the Black Agenda Report ezine in late 2011. Friends to Dr. Issa were concerned when DSU President made veiled threats to protect the image his university on a cable program that aired Sunday, February 26, 2012.  Media concerns interested in learning more about the plight of minority colleges and universities or the recent violence at DSU can contact Dr. Issa of the HBCU Initiative at 302 465-3787 or his email jahiiss...@gmail.com or his Washington, D.C. representative Dr. Randy Short at wrandysh...@gmail.com. Presently, Dr. Issa is under arrest in the custody of the Dover police (302) 736-7111. As of 10:00 p.m. 3/1/2012, the authorities have refused to release Dr. Issa or explain the charges for his arrest nor given his family time for his arraignment.  President Harry L. Williams can be reached at 302 857-6001 or hwilli...@desu.edu. What kind of university leadership uses police state methods on non-violent students and faculty?
> >
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