I recently saw a live stream of my former student at Weequachic High School in Newark, NJ broadcasting her outrage over a Black man killing a Black woman and her daughter in Ohio. The black woman was in a relationship with the black man. The victims were from Newark, NJ. My former student was very angry about the senseless killing of the mother and child. She said in a statement on social media, “[n -words] are [b-words]. Men are supposed to be the providers and protectors of women, children, and families. Men are not supposed to be the killers of their wives or mates.” You can read about the story in its entirety by clicking on the link below:

In another part of America, in Newark, NJ, nine people were shot through a window in an incident of senseless community violence during a drive-by shooting on June 30, 2022. All the victims miraculously survived. You can read the article from the link below:

The reason why I posted my student’s anger over the killing of a mother and her child and the drive-by shooting in the city of Newark is that the incidents were conducted by Black males. In many quarters of the Black community, in the US, and all over the world, Black men are committing various acts of senseless community violence. Black men are not alone in conducting violence in the Black community. On the flip side, the police are committing violent acts upon the Black community; which for the most part are conducted by white men. But that is another discussion for another day. However,  we as Black people must look both ways of the road to avoid senseless community violence and police violence at all times in America. As a community leader, I am equally outraged with both senseless community violence and police violence plaguing the Black community.

Both senseless community violence and police violence are two major issues affecting Black life in America.  I have personally spent a great deal of my career as an activist fighting against both police brutality and senseless community violence. Yes, masses of people will get out in the streets to protest police violence. And rightfully so. But when it comes to senseless community violence, very few lift a voice of anger to protest the violence in the Black community. This is because when it comes specifically to reasons senseless community violence takes place in the Black community;  most of us do not have a clear analysis (understanding)  as to why some of the most reactionary acts of senseless community violence are still manifesting themselves in 2022 and lack the drive to fix the problem.

Most of the conditions that created senseless community violence stem from decades of poverty and centuries of institutional racism.  Frankly, addressing senseless community violence takes long-term hard work. Many people are unwilling to commit themselves to prolonged struggles to find the solutions to the problems of senseless community violence in the Black community. However, there is another reason why community senseless violence still prevails amongst Black people.   And that is the lack of knowledge of self. The masses of Black people, particularly Black men, don’t know our origin in the world, nor know our place in the world as the fathers of civilization. We must add some history, and some of the 120 lessons of the Nation of Gods and Earths (NGE), to have a better understanding of why white supremacy works to consistently disconnect Black people, particularly Black men, from the knowledge of self.

Hands down, the knowledge of self is the basis for a purpose in life, self-esteem, pride, respect for humanity, and Black empowerment.  But since U.S. slavery and segregation,  western institutions worked to completely robbed Black people of the knowledge of self to keep us in a permanent state of servitude. However, Black leaders and movements independent of the white hegemony came into existence that centered their programs on educating Black people on the knowledge of self, especially the Blackman. And they did these things without the approval of white people or any non-Black cultural groups.

The wisdom of these Black leaders is still with us today to tap into to help African people, especially Black men, find the pathway to the knowledge of self.