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Title of Course: Philosophy 101: "Black Race Matters" Instructor: Mba Mbulu

Textbook: Essays by Mba Mbulu are provided online.

Read the following Essay. Think about the questions below and explore them more fully.
(1) Is the following essay relevant?
(2) Do you agree with the author's assessment of a world power?
(3) What good would it do to have a Black world power?
(4) The author makes the following statement: "The concept of Black self-determination must be beyond debate, absolutely beyond debate. Otherwise, We will vacillate and end up supporting somebody else's program." What do you think about that statement? Is it relevant to the struggle of Black People in the United States?

Class #9 "World Powers"

Black People in North America need to establish a Black Nation and become a world power in the European sense of the concept. Why the European sense? Because We have been systematically abused by white people (Europeans). To end that abuse, We must begin interacting with them in ways that they understand perfectly.
What is a world power* within that context? After assessing the data, one would conclude that:
(1) A world power is composed of intelligent people who, nonetheless, will take to an idea and bitterly defend that idea beyond the point of reason;
(2) A world power is composed of people who are accustomed to working hard, working for something greater than monetary gain and working against the odds;
(3) A world power is composed of people who are efficient. Efficiency is characterized by a sense of order, precision, punctuality and discipline;
(4) A world power generates a leadership cadre that is buttressed by a substantial social and organizational infrastructure;
(5) A world power has a leadership cadre that is dedicated to research, development, engineering and manufacturing that enables the nation to be technologically competitive and militarily threatening; and
(6) A world power can point to a history of important military encounters and competitive successes.

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Throughout the 20th century, only four legitimate world powers have existed. In Europe there is Germany. In North America, there is the United States. And from the East, there are China and Japan. "What about Russia?" you ask. Russia took on the airs of a world power, but an astute student of history would have recognized that Russia did not hold that title legitimately. That is why, even during the early 1970s, I was telling people that Russia was a paper tiger. You are also probably scratching your head about Japan. Even at this time, when it is theoretically without an army, Japan is a legitimate world power. Review the characteristics above and you will understand why.
Of concern to Black People is the absence of a Black nation on that list. What We, Black People in North America, have to do is develop the capacity to join that list. As always, We must do it on Our terms to the greatest degree possible. Why? Because while in the process of keeping up with the rest of the world, We do not want to pick up practices that are abusive or damaging to Our own people. So, where do We start.
Reading the list carefully, one recognizes that the most important element in becoming a world power is the people who make up the nation. If you observed properly, you detected that reasons number one, two and three revolve around people. If the people of a nation are not seriously into that nation, then that nation is a nation in trouble. As far as Black People in North America are concerned, the ideology that We must take to and bitterly defend is the right and necessity of Black People being independent and self-governing, wherever We may be. But the idea must be supported by actions. We must work hard promoting the concept of Black nationalism, and We must not expect any personal monetary gains as a consequence of carrying out that work. The gains We make as a People will be much more valuable than any sum of money or material compensation. And, certainly, We must recognize that We will be working against the odds, but still march forward, ever and ever more determined. Many factors can overcome overwhelming odds, but none can do it as effectively as an efficient group of workers and pioneers. That is why We must not only work hard, We must work efficiently. That means possessing a sense of order, being precise, observing the rule of punctuality and demonstrating focus and discipline. A sense of order is the recognition that what you do is an essential part of a larger overall course of action. Being precise is doing what you are supposed to do in the manner you are supposed to do it. Being punctual is doing what you are supposed to do when you are supposed to do it. And being disciplined is maintaining the agreed upon course of action for as long as it is the agreed upon course of action.

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The second most important element in becoming a world power is the leadership cadre. Please do not fail to notice that the people are more important than the leadership, but leadership is a critically vital factor nonetheless. Point number four states that a world power "generates a leadership cadre." That means that the leadership develops (1) out of concern for those who are suffering and (2) with the realization that the remedy must be applied in a way that satisfies those who are suffering. If these two factors are observed, the leadership cadre will be buttressed by a substantial social and organizational infrastructure. That social and organizational infrastructure, in summary terms, is the harnessed energy of the people. This harnessed energy will (1) support the leadership through thick and thin (2) produce the institutions, norms and practices that enable the leadership to command respect from other world leaders and (3) enable the nation to develop serious damage (to its enemies) capabilities.
The leadership cadre must be dedicated to research, development, engineering and manufacturing, all geared toward the elevation of the masses of Black People. Black leadership must not doubt the principle that the development of the masses of Black People is a critical first step to the development of a world order that We are comfortable with. Even though Our well-being must not be Our only goal nor Our ultimate goal, it must be Our most immediate goal. More on this in subsequent columns.
The concept of Black self-determination must be beyond debate, absolutely beyond debate. Otherwise, We will vacillate and end up supporting somebody else's program.
*[In spite of all that has been said here, there is another bottom line that should not be overlooked: No single country could become a "world power" without the collaboration of other countries. Among these collaborating countries are what I call "chump countries," countries that, for whatever reason(s), fail to insist on their rights and fight against all odds when challenged by the world's bullies. In the 1790s Haiti proved that the world powers can not win if the country they attack will not surrender. Forty years ago, Viet Nam reminded the world of that fact. Some countries are bound to have larger and better equipped armies, but without the assistance of collaborating countries, no country could develop the ability to impose its will on the rest of the world.]

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