Continuous examination of your motives, relevance and importance in life (business, personal, social and otherwise) is important, primarily to check that one is reaching or surpassing goals. Here, we take the cultural thermometer to our presence and evaluate the state of things as they are…

As we trod the information super duper highway we are and will be constantly redefining ourselves as to who we are and where we stand in the struggle.

Life is not always all black and white. Stylistically, we choose to tell it in black and white because it helps us to focus on things and not get bogged down with other issues which in the past have tended to obscure the need for equality, respect, justice, peace, harmony and freedom.

This is particularly true after we’ve demystified historical events and observe certain untruths, misconceptions and established cultural practices. We don’t pretend to represent a balanced view as our purpose is to celebrate the joys of being of African descent, without apology or excuses and regard for commercial considerations.

We find that these tend to cloud the issue of reality many make when trying to establish the claim that “we’re all born equal” or “we’re all the same under the skin”. These are lofty, worthwhile and wishful ideals but in practice Africans (and other people) are dispossessed by forces within and without that contrive and conspire to keep us “in our place” or subservient to another race or ideology which regards itself as “superior”.

On the whole the African Diaspora does not instigate the ideology of Black Supremacy: we usually react to the effects and efforts of other groups that seek to downpress (oppress) us. This is historical fact and not a pigment of my imagination!

Increasingly, we find there are many people who are ignorant of historical facts. Some find the whole issue depressing and prefer not to remember what has gone on before and ignore the Black Holocaust, wishing it never happened or try to marginalise it by saying stuff like “that’s all in the past and is not relevant today…” We disagree.

There are many examples to illustrate the fact that while there are groups who wish to impose a controlling influence over another group racism will always be an issue. Until “the colour of a man’s skin is of no more significance than the colour of his eyes” there will be racism and several thousand years of history cannot be wiped away with libertarian wishful hoping. Alternatively neither can radical “let’s kill whitey” Black fundamentalism. It is therefore incumbent upon all fair minded people to keep the relevant issues alive.

We have other previously downtrodden and persecuted groups like the Jews as shining examples of how to proceed. They use whatever means necessary to ensure we never forget the Jewish Holocaust. Many films keep their agenda alive. But since many Jews command top executive positions in Hollywood and are generally seen to be more united as a vociferous community, the task is substantially easier. We’re not jealous: maybe a little envious but definitely always admiring! We want some of that too!

Until that day we will be forever vigilant. Watch with us! You’ll need a bullet proof vest and patience. Lots of it because the race is not for the swift but for those who can endure. Long haul here we come!