MALI F.M.: NO TO ECOWAS

Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger announced their departure from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on 28 January. 

This decision came in response to ECOWAS’s sanctions and opposition to the military governments that had overthrown Western-aligned leaders over the past few years. The three states disagreed with ECOWAS on handling counter-terrorism and governance in the arid Sahel region they occupy south of the Sahara Desert. 

Continued….. During a recent interview with US state-run Voice of America (VOA), Mali’s former minister of foreign affairs, Abdoulaye Diop, said the decision to leave ECOWAS was irrevocable and each state’s new leadership aims to pursue a shared political, security and economic agenda under the newly established Alliance of Sahel States confederation. The decision to team up had more to do with building unity amongst themselves than denouncing ECOWAS. They also wished to pursue their shared goals without the constraints they said ECOWAS imposed as a Western-influenced regional bloc. They also seek new alliances and partnerships that better align with their interests and priorities.

Video credit: @VOAafrica (X and IG)

WHITE PSYCHOLOGY CAN’T EXPLAIN BLACK PSYCHE

There’s long been concern over White psychology being used to produce misleading and prejudicial conceptions about Black people.

Psychologist Mamie Phipps Clark (1917-1983) found many Black children in America who were told they had a disability or learning problem were wrongly diagnosed due to biased psychological testing.

Joseph L White published a seminal article in Ebony magazine in 1970, called ‘Toward a Black Psychology.’ It highlighted how White psychology pushed flawed narratives that Black people were ‘lacking’ or ‘less than’ and failed to address their unique experiences and perspectives.

Continued……In this 1982 clip, the late Dr. Amos Wilson lays out why the Black psyche cannot be understood through a Eurocentric viewpoint.

It’s an issue that spurred the launch of The Association of Black Psychologists in America in 1968. It aims to boost the mental health of the national Black community and has over 1,400 members. Important work and an important issue. Give us your thoughts and experiences below.

Video credits: SCETV, 1982

RACE AND IQ AN IDEOLOGICAL WEAPON

Although race science or scientific racism has been repeatedly debunked, the idea that certain races are inherently more intelligent than others is as far-fetched as it is ignorant.

A 1977 New York Times article sensationally claimed Blacks have below average IQs which is why many fall below the poverty line. But that was discredited by US political commentator, Noam Chomsky, who pushed back against such offensive thinking.

Here, he explains that if environmental factors are equalised and socio-economic disparities removed, then IQ differences disappear. The supposed science of race is at least as old as slavery and colonialism, and it was considered conventional wisdom in many Western countries, until recently.

In apartheid South Africa, the idea that each race had its own characteristics and intellectual ability was part of the justification for the system of exploitative white rule. Ultimately, race and intelligence have deeper layers than the mere colour of skin.

PT. 4: FORMER CIA AGENT SPILLS ON WAR AGAINST THIRD WORLD

This former CIA agent, John Stockwell, has revealed CIA crimes against humanity that most people may find unbelievable. In this 1988 clip, he said a CIA operation in Afghanistan created the ‘Golden Crescent,’ the world’s centre for illicit opium production.

The 2001 US invasion of Afghanistan devastated the lives of millions as the US carpet-bombed the country, k*lling thousands of men, women, and children. The poppy and heroin trades became the cornerstone of the Afghan economy. Under US Central Command head John Abizaid, Afghanistan’s poppy fields grew from 4,163 acres to 510,766 acres, and production of opium increased from 40 metric tons to 5,000 metric tons of opium.

Continued….. In 2001, Afghanistan’s heroin inventory was worth $600 million on European streets. By 2004, the same crop could fetch over $50 billion on the same streets.

At one point, Afghanistan was producing 80 per cent of the world’s opium. Afghan opium still produces 95 per cent of European heroin.

Throughout the world, 60 million people suffer from opioid addictions. Meanwhile, 2.1 million US residents are addicted to opium products like heroin and other opioids. History has shown imperialist US foreign consistently comes back to wreak havoc on those who live within its borders. 

This week’s proverb advises us to know how and when to control our anger. It imparts much needed wisdom about the fine line between one’s level of fury and irrational behaviour. Intense, uncontrolled anger can lead to actions resembling madness or insanity.

KWAME TURE: ‘DO THE WORK FOR THE NEXT GENERATION’

Kwame Ture (1941-98), formerly known as Stokely Carmichael, remains a towering figure in the annals of Pan-Africanist history. 

In this clip from an unknown date, Ture denounced elder activists who wanted to know when they can stop working. Ture was well-known for sleeping on couches as he traveled and eating the same food as students when visiting university campuses.

Born in Trinidad and Tobago and raised in Harlem and the Bronx, Ture’s journey to becoming a prominent revolutionary began at Howard University. 

Later, his tenure as chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) marked a turning point in the civil rights struggle, emphasising grassroots organising as the cornerstone of liberation. Ture popularised the ‘Black Power’ concept during the 1960s, galvanising marginalised communities worldwide.

Continued….. As he evolved, his unwavering commitment to Pan-Africanism manifested in his work with leaders like Kwame Nkrumah and his later efforts to promote socialist ideals across the African diaspora, cementing his legacy as a catalyst for justice.

In the twilight of his life, Kwame Ture remained a beacon of hope and resilience for activists worldwide. His relentless pursuit of justice never wavered, even as he battled illness. Ture’s legacy continues to inspire contemporary movements.

UGANDAN KIDS SATIRISE TRUMP SHOOTING - VIRAL CLIP

We all know how creative our people can be, and this viral clip of Ugandan children re-enacting the assassination attempt on Donald Trump has sparked plenty of reactions online.

Kids with wooden guns pretend to be Trump’s security detail while real audio from the shooting is played over the top. It was posted by TikToker Blud Ug, who’s made many other spoof videos about current events.

This latest @https://www.tiktok.com/@bloodoffical0 has been viewed millions of times, and many people appreciate the kids’ talent. Others say it shows the power and reach of American politics worldwide.

While we never condone violence, we couldn’t help but smile at this satirical take. Film producers may contact them soon.

Video credit: https://www.tiktok.com/@bloodoffical0

Will Kamala Harris be the new Democratic nominee for the 2024 US presidential elections?

Joe Biden has given his endorsement… but what is she really like as a candidate? For the past four years, she has served as vice president of the United States, the first Black (and Asian) woman to occupy this position. Yet, compared to another Black lady VP in the Americas, she seems not to have her people’s best interests at heart. Let us compare Kamala Harris’ record to one of her neighbours to the south, Francia Márquez, vice president of Colombia.

Kamala Harris, throughout her career, has consistently sided with the racist, capitalist, imperialist system. Her career as a prosecutor was built off of the war on drugs and strict policies targeting the Black and Brown working class. She is a strong supporter of Israel and has spoken more than once at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the largest pro-Israel lobbying group in the US.

Continued….. The country she represents as vice president is sending billions of dollars to Israel, as Tel Aviv bombs Gaza to ruins and kills thousands.

Francia Márquez, the first Afro-Colombian vice president, is part of a long tradition of grassroots Black liberation and environmental justice activism. Unlike Harris, she represents the interests of the African diaspora and oppressed peoples worldwide. The government she represents has restored relations with Venezuela, strengthened ties with the African continent and stood in solidarity with Palestinians facing an Israeli onslaught.

Comparing Harris and Márquez in this way reveals why radical politics matter more than just shallow representation without commitment to the people.

Do you think Kamala Harris would make a good pick for president of the United States?

THE WORST KIND OF IMPUNITY

Is William Ruto a time traveller lol?

Well, this 2008 clip of William Ruto - then Kenya’s agriculture minister - speaking out against deceitful leaders who break election promises and act with impunity has come back to haunt him… in it, he seems to be speaking to himself in the future as it is the perfect denoscription of President Ruto in 2024!

On the campaign trail, he vowed to bring down the cost of living and taxes but instead tried to push through IMF-approved austerity measures and scrapped fuel subsidies. His security services brutally cracked down on the mass protests against the planned tax hikes, killing dozens, and state agencies are accused of covering up human rights abuses. Ruto promised to reduce government spending but has been blowing the budget on lavish private jets for his trips abroad and renovating official residences.

Continued….. And he’s been borrowing faster than his predecessor but spent less on development. Ruto also completely ignored Kenya’s Supreme Court, which ruled that his deployment of police officers to Haiti was unconstitutional - while people close to him have had corruption cases dropped.

Do you think the 2008 Ruto describes the 2024 Ruto well? Watch it and let us know in the comments.

Video credit @citizentvkenya

IBRAHIM TRAORÉ EXPOSES U.S. DESTRUCTION OF USSR

Ibrahim Traoré continues to expose imperialism at every opportunity. During his 11 July address to the nation, the 36-year-old president used the US destruction of the Soviet Union as an example to warn his people to be cautious in the face of the imperialist system.

As he pointed out, the United States deployed multiple tactics during the 20th century’s Cold War, from economic destabilisation initiatives to backing the Afghan mujahideen in a war against the Soviet Union in the 1980s. This group would eventually form the basis of the Taliban that returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021, almost 20 years after the US launched an invasion claiming the group was behind the September 11, 2001 attacks in the US.