Author Archives: Biko

On the 50th Anniversary of the Assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Press Release

The Black Workers for Justice (BWFJ) will hold its 35th Annual Martin Luther King Support for Labor Banquet on Sat April 7th at the NCAE building. As we approach the Banquet it is important to point out that Wednesday, April 4th, marks the 50th Anniversary of Dr. King’s assassination as he stood in support of a Memphis City Workers Union strike and on the front lines of the struggle of Black workers in that city. The BWFJ held its first banquet 35 years ago as we joined the movement to make Dr. King’s birthday a national holiday. Continue reading →

the Justice E-Zine: March/April

[gview file=”http://bwfj.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/MarApr2018JSJZine.pdf”]

“State of Emergency,” Fruit of Labor Singing Ensemble New CD

The Fruit of Labor Singing Ensemble, our songs and music were born out of the struggle of organizing African American workers in the “Black Belt” region of North Carolina and the South. Recruited from workplace and community struggles, The “Fruit” has captured in music oppressed peoples’ and the working class’ history of community and workplace struggles.

Many folks have experienced the powerful political messaging of our lyrics bound up in soul stirring, gut wrenching blues, bouncing to a hip-hop or reggae beat or sliding in and out of a jazz melody with a little scat included. Our lyrics have also been known to get caught up in a 70’s funk beat and break it down rhythm & blues sound. They are even infused, at times, with a bit of pop flavor and, at others, a take them down to the river and lift ‘em up gospel flavor! The Fruit of Labor’s songs and music touches all because it is rooted in our people’s ageless traditions of chants, call and response, spirituals, reggae, jazz, blues, R&B, soul, folk, hip-hop and spoken word. This new CD “State of Emergency” features some of these and a fun new genre we call reggaebilly. It’s an exciting mixed bag of dancing, energy, down in your bones spiritual and “fightback” coming at you!

Thanks to all our many fans, supporters, fellow freedom fighters and activists involved in the many righteous progressive workers’ rights, civil rights, environmental rights and human rights struggles who inspire us and our music! We invite you to listen to “State of Emergency”. We hope you enjoy it and it makes you get up and move and get activated!

fruitoflabor.org

National Assembly for Black Liberation

Black people are fighting against oppression and injustice on every battlefront, but the Black liberation movement is still fragmented in various alignments whose programs and demands have much in common.

The unity of these organizations and alignments would represent the critical mass of activists and cadre rooted in the many mass battlefronts of the working-class and poor masses, able to wage a more conscious, coordinated and powerful struggle for radical change.  This unity would be a catalyst inspiring the struggles of other oppressed, working-class and poor people and social movements.

 

The UN proclaimed 2015 – 2024 as The International Decade for People of African Descent.  The 2018 US elections will also shape a political climate of national discussion, debate and actions not only about who to vote for, but about the needs and demands of working-class and poor Black and oppressed masses, and the need for radical change that brings about an alternative to the capitalist system.   This period should be the period to develop a national and international mandate for Black liberation and radical change.

On May 18-20, the National Assembly for Black Liberation will be held at the North Carolina Central University in Durham, North Carolina to discuss the Draft Freedom Manifesto as a unity document along with resolutions submitted by battlefront committees begin to draft a program of action.

We appeal to you as fighters in the battlefronts, allies, supporters, human rights activists, friends, and Revolutionaries, to help us by donating to the National Assembly Organizing Committee – through the Ebony Book Club – link.

Thank You,

Saladin Muhammad

https://www.blackactivism.org/single-post/2018/01/22/Save-this-Date-National-Assembly-for-Black-Liberation-%E2%80%93-May-18-%E2%80%93-20-2018

Continue reading →

HKonJ 2018:Fellow Lovers of Justice

HKonJ 2018 comes in the midst of a rising tide of racist white supremacist and anti-working people attacks that include:

voter suppression * attacks on workers rights to organize unions * national systematic gentrification of our communities * tax breaks for wealthy corporations and the 1% and more budget cuts for workers, the poor and public schools * environmental racism and ecological destruction * attacks on women, the LGBTQ community, Muslims and Immigrants * police brutality * racist violence * immoral wars * and more. Continue reading →