Revolutionary Suicide (Book 2)

I put my first book on pause, due to me getting frustrated with the author of the book....I began reading Huey P. Newton's Revolutionary Suicide last week. A much better read for me. I can't say I was ever really taught about the Black Panthers, or Huey or Bobby Seale. Time for some self-teaching! I'm almost through with Part One and this is a good book! 

Huey says:

I do not think that life will change for the better without an assault on the Establishment, which goes on exploiting the wretched of the earth. This belief lies at the heart of the concept of revolutionary suicide. Thus it is better t oppose the forces that would drive me to self-murder than to endure them. Although I risk the likelihood of death, there is at least the possibility , if not the probability, of changing intolerable conditions. This possibility is important, because much in human existence is based upon hope without any real understanding of the odds.

What I got from that is that if you want to change your conditions, you have to directly challenge those that cause your conditions. Having the will and the genuine desire to change where you are will cause you to go as far as risking death in hopes of changing something. An all-out effort....at the end of the day I think before we all go to sleep, we should ask ourselves "How bad do I want it? What am I willing to put on the line for my hopes and dreams...what is really driving me to change what I see everyday?"

Hopefully I finish this book this week. Got way more to do this summer.

Revolutionary suicide does not mean that I and my comrades have a death wish; it means just the opposite. We have such have strong desire to live with hope and human dignity that existence without them is impossible. When reactionary forces crush us, we must move against these forces, even at the risk of death. We will have to be driven out with a stick.

-Huey P. Newton



~Rell

Summer Reading: Book 1

Summer 2012

What up world! Haven't blogged in a minute....hopefully this is the rekindling of something I enjoyed doing when I had it going strong. My semester turned out pretty good. There's one grade I have an issue with, but other than that I made out well. But this post isn't about what happened in the spring...it's about what's to come in the next few months...

Let me start off by saying that I have been thinking about changing my appearance for awhile now. From head to toe, a complete new look going into this new school year. I want to dress more professionally. I don't mean suited and booted 24/7, but more button ups from time to time, and maybe a tie every now and then. Just something to try out. The Fro' has done me justice thus far. I love it. But that'll probably be done with in the next couple of weeks. It was good while it lasted! Something new has to replace it so keep your fingers crossed for the a good new look.

Presidency....going to be president of an organization next year. Definitely gonna have to step my game up in different areas. Public speaking for one. I honestly don't think I'm that great of a public speaker. I don't mind doing it, but I hate the anxious, nervous, cracked voice you get. Mentally I think I'm not as nervous as my voice always shows....besides that, finding my inner leader will be a challenge. As much as I want to lead, sometimes I don't think I'm cut out for it. Guess its time to strap up huh? It should be exciting though. Shoutout to Afro-Ethnic Student Association (AESA), I hope to do you justice this upcoming year.

No summer school for me. However, I think I'm at that point in my life where I can't just do nothing....got to keep the gears moving in some way. This summer I have a pretty interesting to do list. It includes:

• Read 10 books
• Write 5 poems

The 10 books sound like a lot....but if I stick to a rigid schedule, I could get close I think. The upside to that is that even I don't read all ten, knocking out 6 would still be a great accomplishment. Writing 5 poems I think is feasible. I'm a lazy writer. I have about 4 poems that need to be written...just haven't got the focus to do them. So hopefully this small part of my to do list will keep me focus on being productive in something. 

I think an unsaid part of my list is to just write. Even writing this blog post is something that was needed. My mind needs to be exercised in ways that aren't just me thinking and coming up with mad ideas that never see the light of day. My moms always tells me "Use your head for more than a hatrack." So as much video games and lounging I want to do, hopefully I find myself doing stuff that gets my mind to the level I want it to be at. 

Definitely have to get back in shape. My goal is to get down to 140 pounds. Shouldn't be too difficult if I stick to it and eat right...which is the biggest challenge. 

So to this Summer, let's do work. And to anyone who took the time to read this:

"We just soldiers my nigga, don't know you my nigga, but know you my nigga!"

-Wale 

~Rell