Moving with Reparations Movement

reenwich Village Gazette columnist Donna Lamb was the featured speaker at the Freedom Banquet held in Charlotte, North Carolina on May 15^th by the Kushite Institute for Wholistic Development, an African-centered ministry of liberation – personal and communal change-healing-salvation, founded by Minister (Dr.) Gyasi A. Foluke.

The theme of the evening was "Ethnicity (‘Race’) and Reparations". As the Communications Director for Caucasians United for Reparations and Emancipation (CURE), Lamb told of her experience reaching out to other white Americans to have them see the justice of reparations to descendants of slavery. Her words were received enthusiastically, and she was given a standing ovation.

Lamb was then presented with the Ma’at Amos Award "for demonstrating principles of the African goddess Ma’at – truth, justice and righteousness – and the social justice admonitions of the Biblical prophet Amos – in performing spiritual, courageous, African-centered service in support of wholistic development in America."

She was also presented with a signed copy of Dr. Foluke’s most recent book, The Scoundrel Syndrome: Essays on the African American Experience, 1995-2003, Revisiting the Real-Holocaust.

The following weekend, Lamb headed over to Camden, New Jersey for the Reparations Education/Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Weekend, held at the Masjidu-Nur’s Islamic Learning Center and organized by Brother Saleem-Abdullah Muwwakkil.

During the Friday evening session, Donna Lamb discussed the questions most frequently asked by European Americans about reparations and how she responds to them. Robin Glasco-Jones, President of the Loving W.A.Y.S. Agency, also spoke on issues in the African American community that must be overcome in order to mobilize effectively for reparations. The evening was crowned with an excellent address entitled "An Islamic Perspective on the African American Social Justice Struggle for Reparations," delivered by Al-Hajj Talib Abdur-Rashid, the esteemed Imam of the Mosque of Islamic Brotherhood in Harlem.

The second day of the conference included talks by Frank Tyson and Milton McGriff from the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America (N’COBRA); two Camden elected officials, Mr. Dobbs and Ali Sloan-El; and a statement by Pastor Wolfgang from the Bridge of Peace Church. He talked movingly of his support for reparations to descendants of slavery in America from his vantage point as a German citizen.

Atty. Ajamu Sankofa, N’COBRA’s Human Rights Public Policy Specialist, delivered the day’s keynote address. He spoke powerfully and to the point on "The Moral, Factual and Legal Basis for Reparations and What We Must Do to Win."

Conference attendees were also treated to an inspiring performance by the Black Beans Drum Ensemble and a phenomenal demonstration of marital arts skills by the El-Karate school. Students showcased many moves, including their ability to break boards and even bricks with a blow of their bare hand or a kick from their bare foot.