Community Sovereignty - Black Cowboys, Freemasons, and Ministers

What does the pursuit of Black sovereignty look like through the lens of history and community activism? Calvin sits down with Dr. Timothy Nelson about this concept. Dr. Nelson shares his journey from a tough upbringing in Compton to being inspired by Malcolm X's autobiography, leading him to academia where he studied Blackdom—an early 20th-century Black community that formed its own government and established a business in oil. He illustrates how Blackdom exemplifies Black sovereignty through municipal governance and economic independence.

 

The discussion covers the challenges of achieving true community sovereignty. Dr. Nelson highlights the essential role of education and collective understanding in advancing Black communities’ autonomy.

 

Later in the episode, community activist Curtis Pitts brings a practical perspective on activism. With decades of experience, Pitts explores how reclaiming and effectively utilizing community resources are crucial for development and local control.

 

This episode connects historical examples and contemporary challenges faced by Black communities striving for self-determination and economic independence, offering insights into the past and guidance for today's efforts in community sovereignty and empowerment. 

 

Quotes

• “To be Black is to be political.” (06:51 | Dr. Timothy E. Nelson) 
• “If I’m talking to you and I’m telling you about Black people, it’s different than when I’m telling my dissertation chair about Black people. Because now, I’m trying to prove that Black people are human to my dissertation chair, who is white.” (15:43 | Dr. Timothy E. Nelson)
• “Sovereign is a state of mind. I heard that a sovereign requires agreement and understanding. I had to be sovereign. You have to invest. And once you get to the point where you have a sovereign mind, then you have to find a way to protect that sovereign mind. And remember that you still live in a place that is threatened by your sovereignty.” (22:49 | Calvin)
• “People don’t realize that black folks going to the projects was a forced migration. It was not a voluntary thing. They forced us into the project, they broke up our families,they sent us in there, and we developed this dependent mentality that was never us. We have to go back from being at the children’s table at the picnic and force our way back to the adults table. And the way we do that is we have to be able to say, ‘What we brought to the table allows us to eat the good food and the good news.’” (38:28 | Curtis Pitts) 
• “We have to create sovereignty by creating a hub of self-help and self-work. That does not mean we have to exclude anyone. Racism and Black nationalism is not a place where we have to use that as a means and a medium to destroy and move others by taking pride in our history and culture… It took them 70 years to separate us from our economics, our culture, our music, our faith, and our families, because they know with our churches and our families, they could never defeat us. We got married in slavery, even when they didn't know it.” (49:12 | Curtis Pitts)

 

Links

Dr. Timothy E. Nelson:

https://blackdomthesis.com/

 

Curtis Pitts

https://curtispitts.us/services

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