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.

Continued……President Ronald Reagan also set up the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), which some opposition forces called the ‘Star Wars Program,’ to serve as a space-based missile defence program. Ultimately, the totality of these and other tactics led to the Soviet Union’s dissolution and the Western capitalist takeover of Russia’s economy in the 1990s.

What lessons do you think Africans can learn from this history? Let us know in the comments.

Video credit: Faso7 TV (@faso7tv on YT, @faso7_bf on X and IG, @faso7bf on TikTok)

KAMALA HARRIS NOT FOR REPARATIONS

US President Joe Biden appears to have heeded calls from fellow Democratic Party members to withdraw from the 2024 US presidential race, ending his re-election bid on 21 July.

This follows his debate performance on 27 June, which fuelled some Democrats’ worry about Biden’s ability to defeat former President Donald Trump. Public opinion polls released over more than a year have shown Biden faring poorly against Trump.

He has endorsed his vice president, Kamala Harris, whom reports say is the only other Democrat who could access $91 million in Biden-Harris campaign donations.

Since the announcement, Harris has secured the backing of several Democratic Party bigwigs. However, beloved figures like former President Barack Obama held off on endorsing Harris.

Continued….. The Democratic Party will hold its nominating convention in August in Chicago. Still, it remains unclear how the party will democratically choose a nominee, with state primaries ending in June.

The mainstream media has touted Harris’s identity as a mixed Indian and Black woman as why her candidacy is notable, showcasing her as a champion of Black people. 

However, in this 2020 interview with theGrio senior correspondent Natasha Alford (@NatashaSAlford on IG, X and TikTok), Harris made it clear that she does not support calls for paying reparations to Black people who are descendants of enslaved people in the United States. Meanwhile, a Reuters/Ipsos poll in 2023 revealed that at least 74 per cent of Black people support reparations.

That position, as well as her record imprisoning Black people as California’s attorney general, has raised questions about her loyalty.

Like Biden, Harris fares poorly in polls against Trump.

Video credit: @theGrio (YouTube)

GENOCIDE JOE’S LEGACY

US President Joe Biden’s dropped out of his re-election bid after weeks of pressure from fellow party members, sparked by a disastrous presidential debate performance against Donald Trump on June 27th. Behind him, ‘Genocide Joe’ leaves a destructive legacy as bloody as they come.

He’s armed and bankrolled Israel’s obliteration of Gaza and consistently vetoed UN resolutions for a ceasefire. Domestically, many Black people will remember him backing a crime bill which disproportionately locked up the Black community. Even as a young politician, he fought against desegregation of schools in case his children ‘grow up in a racial jungle’.

Continued…. In all, it’s good riddance but the future isn’t looking brighter with his endorsement of his Vice President Kamala Harris for president. She’s also a terrible record when it comes to keeping Black men locked up to provide cheap labour. As for Trump, let’s not even bother.

It’s clear the African community in the United States still needs a voice. The question is, where will it come from?

Credit : Carlos Latuff

CROWDS DESPERATE FOR MEDICINE IN DRC

Medical supplies are so scarce in eastern DRC, crowds gather as soon as health workers arrive to offer help in the war-torn region. The desperate situation was highlighted by #TheRealHumanitarian documentary, which followed X Medical provider Joy Dale. She says her ‘tiny, little medical supplies’ run out every day, as people queue for treatment.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has been the site of one of the world's most violent conflicts for decades, with militia groups fighting for control of resources. Many have international backers, with a UN expert recently confirming Rwanda’s 'de facto control' of the M23 rebel group.

Continued….. The consequences for civilians are devastating. Since the beginning of 2024 nearly 358,000 have been displaced, bringing the total number of internally displaced persons to around 7.1 million. Disease is widespread, prenatal care is limited, and sanitation systems have been destroyed.

Aid groups, such as @focuscongo (also shown in the video) step in to help, but the roots of the crisis remain.

Video credits:
@foreverjuicebae
#TheRealHumanitarian documentary

Six weeks of anti-government protests in Kenya have paralysed the East African nation's economy and inspired similar 'occupy' demos across the continent. Starting, in Kenya, as demos against a now-shelved IMF-backed finance bill, the Gen Z-led resistance’s rallying cry now is: Ruto must go!

The embattled leader dismissed his entire cabinet on July 12th, only to reappoint six of them a week later in what he describes as a 'broad-based' government. The move has riled protesters demanding radical change in Kenya's political and economic structures. Several recycled ministers are tainted by corruption and abuse-of-power scandals.

Continued…. President Ruto has come under fire for brutally cracking down on nationwide demonstrations. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights reports that at least 50 protesters have been killed - with 413 injured, 682 detained and 59 abducted/missing. The interior minister, under whose ultimate control the police falls, was among those sacked and reappointed by Ruto, who's vowed to end protests against his administration.

With increased global media attention on Kenya, protesters feel they can put enough pressure on Ruto to make him leave office.

MUSEVENI’S ANTI-PROTEST WARNING: DON’T PLAY WITH FIRE!

Looks like someone’s nervous about people power. Uganda’s president addressed the nation to warn citizens - especially Gen Z - against taking part in anti-corruption protests on Tuesday (23rd July). Yoweri Museveni clearly doesn’t want to see the kind of mass-rallies that have swept Kenya and forced its president, William Ruto, to make concessions - though in this video, he claims what he’s really worried about is protesters stepping on the wares of street sellers! He said people should just come and see him for a friendly chat if they want to see any changes… as if!

Continued….. Museveni also presented himself as a defender of the ‘revolution.’ He came to power in a military coup in 1986, when he wrested control from Milton Obote. Since then, he’s ruled with an iron fist, cracking down on opposition figures such as Bobi Wine and Kizza Besigye with house arrests and violence.

Tuesday’s planned protests are largely driven by growing public discontent with the government. In his address, Museveni said he and his team were ‘wealth creators’ - and warned protesters that they’d be ‘playing with fire’ if they dared to gather en masse in the capital Kampala. That’s created concerns that there will be violent scenes, as were seen in Nairobi a few weeks back, when peaceful protesters were met with deadly police brutality.

Do you think Ugandan’s will heed their president’s warning?

Video credit: @ubctvuganda

INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY DEFENDS THEIR BOY AND CULTURE

The audacity of colonisers. After centuries of genocide against the Indigenous peoples in the Americas, displacing them from their lands and confining them to minuscule reserves, settlers continue to police Indigenous people celebrating their culture. 

Watch this white man in Canada’s Vancouver Island in the British Columbia province intimidate an Indigenous boy from the W̱SÁNEĆ First Nations. A surprise twist followed as his community came out the next day, playing drums, singing and dancing in the same spot to defend their son and culture.

Throughout the world, European settler colonialism in centuries past sought to eradicate native populations through various methods that the United Nations now defines as gen*cide.