Taking A Stand (SI) Continued

Last night I attended the Universal Zulu Nation's meeting at the Black National Theater in Harlem, their meetings are held every 1st and last Wednesday of the month. It a time for all the chapter heads and other Zulu member to get together and share what they all have going on and to open the floor for people to offer words of encouragement, asks for help, volunteer for support etc.

One of my Mentors Debra Koffler has been working on a documentary about Afrika Bambaataa and was able to provide some encouragement in asking some of Zulu Nations Members including Afrika Bambaataa to participate in the Taking a Stand Staten Island Project.

All the men I spoke with after the meeting said that they have experienced harassment by NYPD, they've been called, Niggers, Spics, pussies. These vibrant, positive, creative brown men, have been dehumanized by authorities, yet they continue to create positivity into the world through their heart, talent, drive and recognition that art, music and positive action can create change in this world.

Zulu Nation has been using Hip Hop to take a stand for their communities for almost 4 decades.

 Shaikym AKA DJ Street Tech is from Staten Island he wanted to remind all of you that we need to know our rights, "Read your state constitutions, your city charters, the US constitution, ask for their badge number. If you're educated and assert that you know what your rights are it will be harder for them to violate them."
Shaikym also joked how his homie says that "anything you have to take a boat to is, exile." I personally love the Staten Island Ferry but again it's another statement and bad pattern humans have of quantifying the value of someone based on geography.

At any rate more and more people are taking a stand.