The Black Authority’s Credo Should Resonate with the Black Community

by | Jun 27, 2014 | Culture | 0 comments

Black empowerment is an issue that isn’t readily discussed in 2014. Many black people seem to be content with buying the latest in footwear, while obtaining the necessities for survival like decent housing, food, and water become secondary. If our people aren’t focused on fashionable footwear, we’re focusing on videos of our women fighting over who knows what (as if primetime television hasn’t provided us enough of that).  If that isn’t enough, there’s always music videos featuring rappers espousing messages that don’t enrich the black community in any way (but those messages do enrich the white record label executives that allow these messages to reach the masses. But that’s another story).

This writing isn’t an indictment of the aforementioned behavior, considering that none of it is illegal. However, it’s hard to find solutions in this behavior that could lead to black empowerment. Simply put, a viable alternative is needed. I think I might have found one in Jason Black, also known as The Black Authority (TBA).

TBA is the host of “The Black Channel”, a Ustream broadcast that broadcasts several times a week. I initially found his broadcasts on YouTube, and have been listening for about two months as of this writing.

TBA exhibits “intelligent black thought” while giving his opinion on social issues like Detroit’s economy, Donald Trump’s view on the five young men who were convicted of raping a female jogger in New York’s Central Park in 1989, and even the odyssey of former Los Angeles Clippers’ team owner Donald Sterling. TBA takes angles on these issues that may not have been considered by many, which makes his broadcasts a fascinating listen.

However, there are a few things you should know about The Black Channel: it isn’t about entertainment. TBA lets callers into his broadcast know that right off the bat. You may notice that I referred to The Black Channel as a broadcast, and not a show. TBA himself makes that distinction crystal clear to his listeners, even taking the time to correct callers that refer to his broadcast as a show.  If you’re looking to hear about dysfunctional relationships, or get information on where to find the next hoodrat fight or twerking videos, TBA’s broadcast definitely isn’t for you.

Furthermore, he might give callers an on air verbal excoriation for expressing thoughts that he construes as ignorant.

All this might sound rude and condescending. However, TBA makes it clear that this is his broadcast, and that if the offended callers had all the answers, he’d be calling them. But I digress. TBA’s broadcasts focus on the black community obtaining power, wealth, and influence. These are the three entities that will help the black community break the centuries long cycle of suffering that has plagued us  (some due to our own undoing, the rest of it caused by other entities).  These are the three things that will ensure our survival.

However, it’s TBA’s credo that should serve as a mantra for black people. They’re two simple words that are the embodiment of power, wealth, and influence: black first. Other ethnic groups might protest those words, but that’s fine because they’ve got solid communities and businesses built on power, wealth, and influence. The Black Channel wants to organize and mobilize black people in an effort to obtain those things and strengthen our community. Then, and only then, will we begin to rise collectively as a people.

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