November 19, 2013 | THE BLACK LADDER

By: Dr. Samori Swygert

Chicken has long been an international staple in the dietary menus of many humans for centuries. Chicken provides a high source of protein in its daily nutritional value. In America, blacks have somehow been pegged with the stigma of chicken and watermelon eating folks (but we know that’s nonsense). However, if prepared correctly, this avian delicacy can play a part in a savory meal for all ethnicities in America, and yes whites are included!

However, the culinary processing of poultry is not what this article is about! There is a deeper tie in to this correlation between blacks and chicken. First, before taking offense, I challenge you to look deeper and have an honest introspective review of us as blacks in contemporary times, and the plots on our lives. The question I challenge you with is this, “Are you a chicken or an Eagle”?

Scan your local city terrain, and you will see pigeons, in parks you may see or hear the presence of owls and other birds that fly around. However, you will not see a chicken flying around the streets of L.A., Harlem, D.C., Miami, Chicago and etc. Chickens like Owls, Ravens, Eagles, Hawks, Doves, and Pigeons, have wings to fly, but you don’t see them flying. You can even go camping in your nearest forest or State Park, and you will not see a chicken flying around. Why is that?

Chickens have been mentally conditioned that they can’t fly, and/or don’t have the ability to engage in prolonged flight, or are fattened to the point that their wings can’t support their weight. Subsequently, they spend the majority of their life walking the grounds subjected to the will of their farmer. THEY HAVE BEEN DOMESTICATED! The farmer controls the farm and has constructed a chicken coop to warehouse his commodity, the chicken.

The chicken is unassuming and unassertive and relies on the farmer to provide chicken feed for its food supply. The farmer does not feed the chicken because he is nutritionally philanthropic. The farmer has goals and financial objectives for each stage of life of each chicken in his coop. The savvy farmer routinely feeds the chicken to fatten and plump it, to the maximum desirability for the consumption of his customers and profitability of his business. When the chicken is at maximum potential, it produces the highest quality and quantity of eggs and meat.

The unassuming chicken allows its offspring to be taken, processed, and sold to the market. The other plumped chickens are sold for the slaughter of wings, breast and thighs. Lastly, a select few are choicely preserved for the continuum of breeding and preservation of his business. By preserving some live chickens, he will always have production. When he slaughters or sells eggs, he will create two markets of commerce. This is quota control and inventory management. The chickens and eggs grow under a well regulated and controlled environment specifically for the financial aggrandizement of their master.

Furthermore, the female chicken is referred to as the Hen and the male chicken is the Rooster. The Rooster is known throughout the farming community for being a polygamous fowl and will have many Hens nesting at one time. The Rooster is also referred to as the, “c**k”. The farmer also will sell Roosters or breed Roosters for entertainment purposes of, “Cockfights”! This is where other Roosters fight each other and the winning owner gets paid.

Because chickens are unassuming of their ability, potential, and independence they are captured, caged and domesticated, and subsequently their whole lineage is subjected to domestication. In human terms, domestication equals incarceration and control.

Who are the customers of this farmer? The customers are now the private prison corporations, the military, careless educational systems, and other correctional facilities.

What does this American farmer feed his chickens to plump them for maximum desirability? The chicken feed is Crack-cocaine, alcohol and other designer drugs that keep us unassuming, noncompetitive, complacent, docile, and in violation of the law (fattened and prepared for prison).

Who are the Hens that watch over and control the coop? The Hens are preselected black leaders and entertainers that urge us to remain in the coop, or men that exert physical control of homes and communities, but provide no quality influence over family and community structure or future progress. We are engaged in “cockfights” as military soldiers for big government desires for global control, and domestic benefit of slave labor in prison when we kill each other.

I believe we are eagles, capable of our own freedom of flight, and keen perception of independence to feed and provide for ourselves and families. Eagles build their own nest, determine their future, and will fight to the death for their offspring. I favor the story of Rev. CL Franklin about The Eagle Stirs Her Nest. I encourage us all to be eagles and teach the power of flight to our fellow friends, and family to get off this farm. Peace!

The Irony behind Nelson Mandela’s hospitalization

by: Dr. Samori Swygert

Nelson Mandela earned his international notoriety by boldly confronting and condemning the racist system of apartheid in South Africa. He is revered by many as a beacon of courage, fortitude, and resilience. During the mid 1940’s to the early 1990’s, the National Party, a political party comprised of Afrikaners that maintained a racist and segregationist socio-political philosophy commanded the South African government. The ideologies and philosophies were endowed to white supremacy that extended from prior Dutch colonial rule of the South African region.

Nelson Mandela was a persistent agitator that sought to dismantle this oppressive regime. He was eventually jailed as a political prisoner for his activities. Nelson Mandela earned a two-year diploma in law which enabled him to utilize his training in his pursuit to disrupt the oppressive system of apartheid. He also established the first black law firm in South Africa with an associate called Mandela and Tamblo. He was arrested several times for conducting, and participating in what would be termed “sedition”. In the system of apartheid, resources were reallocated and redistributed to enrich the privileged, and deprive the underprivileged. The racism permeated all institutions (financial, educational, political, labor, law and etc). The heads of South African apartheid regimes conducted acts of removal, where approximately 60,000 black people were forcibly moved from Johannesburg to Soweto. Black African communities were bulldozed and rebuilt to construct white communities. Laws and policies were preferentially skewed in favor of the National Party such as the Public Safety Act of 1953, where mass arrests were enforced upon nonviolent, civil disobedient protestors of apartheid. Ultimately, Nelson Mandela was arrested in 1962 and started a 27 year prison term. When released he became the first Black South African president in history. Mandela’s story is extremely compelling and complex, but there is an ironic twist to this.

In recent years Mandela has been hospitalized, discharged and readmitted for numerous physiological ailments associated to general aging, and secondary ailments associated with the harsh environmental conditions of his prison facilities. He’s battled prostate complications, pneumonia, and other pulmonary illnesses. This week he has been readmitted to Pretoria Hospital in South Africa, and listed in a “serious but stable” condition. What is significant and ironic about this prominent leader staying at Pretoria Hospital?

Historically speaking, the majority of South Africa was once inhabited and controlled by the famous Zulu Tribe. During the 1800’s, a group of Dutch emigrants called the Voortrekkers from the Cape Colony traveled into the South African region controlled by the Zulus. The Voortrekkers tried to arrange a geographical settlement between themselves and the Zulus. The supposed agreement deteriorated and resulted in the Zulus killing approximately half of the Voortrekkers. The remaining Voortrekkers that were focused on conquest engaged in a retaliatory strategy against the highly skilled Zulu warriors. The emigrant Dutch resurfaced with superior weaponry, guns! They literally circled their wagons and had a 2-3 man reloading system, and when the Zulus approached with spears and other subpar weapons, approximately 15,000 Zulus were slaughtered and only 3 Voortrekkers were injured. This was known as, The Battle of Blood River. Subsequently, the descendents of the Voortrekker lineage have maintained power and control over South Africa ever since. The National Party had genealogical and philosophical heritage directly linked to the Voortrekkers. The leader of the Voortrekker assault on the Zulus at The Battle of Blood River was named, Andries Pretorius. There is a whole region of South Africa named Pretoria after the Voortrekker general, and so is the hospital that Nelson Mandela is currently staying. The same bloodline that usurped and commandeered the South African region from the Zulus started the system of apartheid. This is the very same system Mandela fought against, and now at the tender age of 94 his health is in the hands of healthcare practitioners in the hospital named after the patriarchal leader of this oppressive regime. If you would like more info on this topic, I encourage readers to buy the book or watch the documentary entitled: Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond. He clearly explains the timeline of events and historical perspectives.

Empowering the climb to success and higher understanding!