Jam Master P: Colin Powell Bigs Up Africa Show »
Posted By BronxBomber 8 months, 3 weeks ago in Arts & EntertainmentEx-US Secretary of State Colin Powell has joined a hip-hop band on stage in London to dance and sing in a celebration of African culture. America's former top diplomat took center stage along with Nigerian group Olu Maintain at the Africa Rising Festival in the Royal Albert Hall.
More seriously, he said his own black identity mattered as much as ever. He told the audience that Africa, with hard work and foreign investment, could prosper like Asia and Eastern Europe.
"I stand before you tonight as an African-American," Mr Powell said. "Many people have said to me, you became secretary of state of the USA, is it still necessary to say that you are an African-American or that you are black? And I say, yes, so that we can remind our children. It took a lot of people struggling to bring me to this point in history. I didn't just drop out of the sky, people came from my continent in chains."
A lot of wrongs had been done to Africa by Western powers faced with "an iron curtain and a bamboo curtain," he said in an apparent reference to the USSR and communist China. But these barriers had fallen, Powell argued. (No video has yet surfaced of Powell onstage, but you can see a photo gallery of the former diplomat strutting his stuff here. And for a quick compare-and-contrast, check out these classic videos of Karl Rove and George W. Bush dancing up a storm.)
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amervtrn8 months, 3 weeks ago
Fore those of us who had the pleasure of serving with Colin Powell, we knew him as strict but fair, intelligent, no nonsense, facts over politically correct, a soldier's soldier. His humanity, reasonableness, and humor could always catch you off guard. His sense of duty was unquestioned, as demonstrated at the Arlington Cemetery Protest of Bill Clinton, regardless of his personal feelings, he did what he knew to be right for the good of the country.
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It is very unfortunate that he chose not to seek the presidency. I believe he truly would have made a great difference.
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AresXIVComment removed: User banned.
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daniel1011128 months, 3 weeks ago
Hello atheist. Apparently you believe the unprovable theories from atheist scientists instead of the Bible. That's fine. One day (some call it Judgment day), you will kneel before Jesus Christ on the Great White Throne Judgment (reserved for those who rejected Him, before you they all go to Hell - for eternity). We are all descendants of Noah's three sons (since the entire world was flooded), not a chimpanzee (named Lucy by atheists). daniel101112@aol.com
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busybeenk8 months, 3 weeks ago
Well, dear, when the Black is gone, then the white can show their true colors and start killing and slaving each other off. There is a poem written in the 80s somewhat akin to your thinking. The problem is that humanity will ALWAYS find fault with an"other". Hitler did, and look at that.... the Jews in Biblical times enslaved people, the good ole' Christian white Crusaders were non-violent merciful saints of course; Asian people, ouh! read some the Chinese-Japanese conflicts throughout history and their own internal strifes, why even THEY have problems with the darker-skinned of their own race!!!
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White people throughout history have committed sick atrocities. Did a Black person kill Jesus Christ?? Did Black people gas a whole group of Semites? Did Black people totally disenfranchise Native people from two continents, Australia and North America? Did Black people forcefully enslave themselves an ocean away to help build America? No, we only helped good Christian white people, who fear and love and respect ALL creation of their Christian God, get away with the killing, raping, torture, mental debasement of Black people. And your ancestors had the NERVE to teach us Christian values, in segragated venues, OF COURSE!
Well, let he who is without sin, cast the first stone .... what goes around comes around. Oh well, I guess White people should have been nicer... heh heh heh heh heh..
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AresXIVComment removed: User banned.
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tatf8 months, 3 weeks ago
If you know history, as is was not as it has been re-weritten, you would know, that the Blacks that were the initial slaves were sold to the Europeans by BLACKS. The Europeans set up trading posts along the coast where Blacks came to sell Blacks they had captured during tribal wars and raids. The Europeans were fearful of venturing inland, plus there was no need. The blacks delivered there human cargo to the posts.
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If you read non-biased media news, you would also know that slavery continues to this day in Africa, In the Sudan region, Moslems take Black Christians and keep them as slaves. They live in far worse conditions than that of the South in the 1700 and 1800's. Where are Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton? I'll tell you, there is no money for them on these Black issues. -
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lattelvr8 months, 3 weeks ago
well let he who is without sin cast the first stone,looks like you think you are without sin, because you are colored? DO you think that makes you better, sounds that way to me,you sound like a hater. And what goes aorund does come around, so wathc those comments before someone who isn't white does something terrible and you can't blame the white people anymore! I happen to love my black husband, and he doesn't care that I am white! mmmmmm
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vega420788 months, 3 weeks ago
geez... you are further the untrue stereotype of black people being uneducated whiners! first of all, it was black african tribal leaders that sold their own people into slavery. added to that you have africans practicing self mutilation, forced genitalia mutilation of young girls, hazing of young boys, extreme gender discrimination/repression, etc. oh, don't forget the thousands of years of extreme violenve, civil war and strife -- and yes, blacks vs. blacks in religious genocide. on top of that you have a massive aids epidemic across the continent that shows no sign of waning, all because africans refuse to educate themselves and use protection due to ridiculous cultural beliefs. most importantly, african countries and governments have been know to be the most brutally repressive, violent, and corrupt on earth. they are notorious for taking relief money and line their own pockets. so please, quit trying to make africans sound like picturesque utopian societies and face the facts. enlighten yourself quick and for christ's sake, quit whining.
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catpalma8 months, 3 weeks ago
Your right, Black people were not responnsible for any of those things at all. Now they're just responsible for Black on Black crimes and the injustices done to their own race by one another. To truly be free, show respect for your women, be true and good to your children and respect one another as Black men. Then no one of any race, creed color or religion can touch you!
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marcyshamb8 months, 3 weeks ago
I have always liked Powell, and if he chooses to run in the future I will be voting for him for President. I agree that its great when folks embrace their roots. I think its awful when folks reject them. IT must be difficult for Powell this year with Obama running. Everyone wants him to back one or the other. And like most African Americans he despirately wants a "black" person in the white house, while deep down he also wants a person who voices his own political vantagepoint. For African Americans who want both but are not Dems it must be difficult. Most are voting race this time along rather than vantagepoint. I think it wise Powell
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not officially back anyone. He has too much integrity to lie even if yes, he does want an African American to win. I think at this time in American Politics it makes a lot of sense too for him to stand up and show that, yes, he is culturally very much still an African American. I hope that one day the color and race of a person will be so much behind all, African Americans too, that it won't matter for them or anyone the color of a persons skin...having had already several African American Presidents, such that African Americans can again vote
vantagepoint and who is truly the best 'person' in their mind for president. I am white, voting for McCain, but wanted and want very much to see an AFrican American President, if anything, just to get all this past us.-
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illyPhilly8 months, 3 weeks ago
What a well thought out comment. Your parents have obviously raised a well rounded individual with tolerance for human kind. If they are still with us, tell them that a 43 year old, African-American woman said so! I am attempting to raise my child that way so that she knows where she came from but also deciding what she must do to get where and what she wants for herself.
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ISITJUSTME8 months, 3 weeks ago
You know Colin Powell that well whereas you can articulate his position or is this some mindless gibberish? I ask this because and I quote
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"I hope that one day the color and race of a person will be so much behind all, African Americans too, that it won't matter for them or anyone the color of a persons skin...having had already several African American Presidents, such that African Americans can again vote".
You, yourself can bring this about by voting Obama/Biden 08.
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aryedirect8 months, 3 weeks ago
While most people would see my skin as white, I choose to identify as a member of the only one race, the Human Race. As such I feel connection with ALL people of good-will. The other kind don't interest me much.
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Colin Powell seems to be a person of good will. While our politics may be different, I recognize a proud member of the Human Race. President Obama is clearly a person of good will too. Happy to be related by blood.
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aryedirect8 months, 3 weeks ago
While most people would see my skin as white, I choose to identify as a member of the only one race, the Human Race. As such I feel connection with ALL people of good-will. The other kind don't interest me much.
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Colin Powell seems to be a person of good will. While our politics may be different, I recognize a proud member of the Human Race. President Obama is clearly a person of good will too. Happy to be related by blood.
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marcyshamb8 months, 3 weeks ago
The African American is little different from the Mexican American in that it is more of an Ethnic group than a Race. African Americans are, again like Mexicans, a mixed people evolved/developed in the New World. The culture also developed in the new world by a blending of various cultures, only one of which was from Africa, and then evolving in the USA. Take away any of the elements of this culture and the African American would be a very differnt person. I think that there is far far
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too much inphisis(sp) on the African Roots, and too little on all the other. Religion for one plays a big roll in African American life, but it doesn't come to the group by way of Africa but rather Europe with its roots in the Mid East. Foods...a complete American invention...even the stereotypical
Fried Chicken, collard greens, and watermellon...the sweet potatos..the macaroni and cheese. I would like to see African Americans embrace all of their roots and culture and pay homage to where they hail from equally. I understand that slavery and Africa have a large role in the making of the African American early on. But, even there their roots are of both the slave and the slaveholder/seller/transporter both in the old world and new. I think that embracing all of their roots instead of just one might be a far healthier and truer as well as positive alternative to afrocentrism. IT might help too greatly with
'race relations' when they are able to drop the imphisis on
victimhood, reparations, getting even, hatred, when they realize that today the African American is far more closely related to the whole slave issue on both sides than White America today...because frankly unlike most of White America they carry the blood and roots of both sides of the issue.
A reexamination of the issue from that vantagepoint would go a long way in reparing the longstanding distortions and perceptions between 'whites today' and 'blacks today'. A deeper look and just maybe the 'enemy race' lay within rather than in the face of those whos ancestors played no part on eather side of the issue in the past not having even been here at the times. To get past this issue and perspective and see things as they actually are would for all pritty much eliminate racism in the USA as it would eliminate its wrongful misconceptions and beliefs.-
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deCoihaique8 months, 3 weeks ago
You are still very much confused: being Mexican does not mean being of a particular race, as there are white Mexicans, oriental Mexicans, black Mexicans, the majority of a mixed -European and Indian- race. Being Mexican indicates a relationship with the country of Mexico, either born in Mexico o from Mexican ancestors.
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That's very true also with people of Latin American countries. Do not confuse them with Mexicans though, as you semm to do in your comment. They do not like to be called Mexicans, even though they share much of the European-Indian culture, and respect Mexicans. You are mixing oranges and apples... be careful in your appreciation. -
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MJK598 months, 3 weeks ago
When one is not faced with the struggles and schisms of another it is easy to make the comments that you make. Your comments would require that all people feel as you do. They don't. You are correct in stating that american culture has shaped much of African-American culture; however, we can never leave off the fact that Africa has been and shall always be our mother land. That said, every american must strive to take advantage of every opportunity available here in our great country. Fmr. Sec. of State Powell exemplifies this in the extrordinary journey he has made through this system. I am both humbled and very proud of his accomplishments and wish him Gods care and comfort. May we all aspire to such greatness.
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marcyshamb8 months, 3 weeks ago
I agree that slavery existed in Africa with black on black slavery and selling of African slaves to other continents. It also existed in earlier times with the selling of slaves from Europe to other continents, from Asia to other continents...it existed by selling ones own group to outsiders and also by selling rival tribes and peoples to other groups. ITs a thing mankind has done since the beginning of time. Today, however, I will also agree, that slavery doesn't exist in Europe and the New World, but does still exist in Africa and some parts of the near and far east. IT is a distortion of history and perception to portray Whites and Europeaners as the major slave traders and holders. Its also a misconception to blame migration of whites soly for the changes, dominances, extinctions, misuse of other peoples since this has been going on since man first stepped out of Africa. When one group comes into an areas already inhabited by another they change the orignial group for ever though assimilation, dominance, conflict, influence, etc. It is so with the many waves of immigrants to the USA each affecting the lives and cultures and genetic make up of the previous...it was so even in ancient Americas as each migration of 'native americans' affected the previous one, and even at times exterminated and fought with. European migration to Fifteen hundreds Americas was not the first human migration or
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mistretment of earlier settlers. Native Americans themselves are decedndents of folks who did same. They didn't come in one wave but over tens of centuries. They are decendents of who survived of various peoples, shades, languages, cultures that came here. And the same can be said, again, all over the world. -
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littlewing12228 months, 3 weeks ago
I am a die hard Democrat....... but I wish that Colin Powell was running for President of these United States. I would certainly have voted for him. He is well versed on what's going on with the war, I'm sure he knows what's going on with the economy and he sure as hell isn't lame like either of the so called candidates that are running. Colin Powell for President, Hillary Clinton for Vice President!!!!
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marcyshamb8 months, 3 weeks ago
Well, I am a republican so he is right up my alley. I like him as a person and agree with his politics. If he,as much as I like him, held ideals that were not in line with mine, I couldn't
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vote for him. I might like him, but I would have to vote for someone whose vantagepoint was
aligned with mine. My vote is about who I want to act in my place, to speak for me in government.
We are a country and government of the people, by the people and for the people...
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msr8 months, 3 weeks ago
i really like collen an would vote for him as well .but this african american gets to me not all of color are from africa so i say a black man or white no insuts to any one . i see nothing wrong there .you cant be pc if not all black are not african.the way i see it just show respect for all
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Digi8 months, 3 weeks ago
Gen Powell and George could come out now as third party and send the inexperenced people back to continue the training needed for the position they both desire.
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Gen Powell is a class person no mate what his background is.
I was very disapointed he did not run but understand the reasons awhy
So lead us General like you were born to lead your country your people still need and want you
A huge admirer
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lbrtyordeath8 months, 3 weeks ago
Ha! This is great! Good ole Colin. I always admired him. He refused to play Bush's game after it got so rediculous. A good soldier, and a true patriot.
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And evidently, he's got some moves as well! -
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marcyshamb8 months, 3 weeks ago
MJK59, I will agree with you on Powell. But, on Africa...Africa is not your motherland. Your motherland is in many continents and nations. You are a mixed people...a people that only came together in the USA when all of your various ancestors mated and had offsprng. What Africa is to you in reality is that the part of AFrican American in you is what you have in common with other AFrican Americans. You all have various other peoples in you. They are not all the same...some Asian, some Native American, some White, some Mid East or Indian, or South Pacific and so forth. African is the only thing again that you do share in common. Often though, regardless of how you "look" genetically African could be even the least thing in you in comparison to other roots. So, its not your Motherland. AS a people known as African American in reality America is your mother and father land. Anything before that addresses only one of your many roots. The other thing you share again is American rooted..your culture. Your culture is a mix of many things...the slave experience yes, but also the immigrant from other continents experience, and even the slave owner experience. Again, you more than most Non African Americans are the actual decendents of the slave owners. Because of extensive migrations post slavery and to areas that didn't have slavery most non African Americans have no connection in their past to slavery. Your group, regardless of what name it takes, is not unlike the Hispanics or more spicific the Mexicans. You are a very recient people created out of the blend of various peoples, genetic roots and culture sharing an American history.
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My hope is that you as a people find peace in the USA, that racism which is misguided given your groups isn't even a race but rather a people..an ethnic people, not experience any more racism not exibit racism towards others..and again you solve within your own group, given you own both sides of it, the whole issue of slavery. Again, slavery is yours..both as slaves and as owners. Its not, for the most part, ours. You need to make peace with yourselves, and get on with your lives disconnecting the whole issue of slavery with your fellow americans who are not African American.
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