by Mumia Abu-Jamal
"Revolution is doin' it, or it ain't bein' done"
-- John Africa, MOVE Founder
The late March barring of revolutionary organizer Pam Africa from the historically Black college Norfolk State University is an assult not just on a fine, committed revolutionary life Pam, but an assult on the life of the mind that is supposed to be the very heart of what it means to be a student.
NSU Administrators barred Pam on the dubious basis that, given her, "controversial nature" and the recent death of Gangster Rapper Notorious B.I.G." it was not in the school's "best interest" to allow her to speak.
Huh?
This incredible pretext insults Pam and NSU students both, for by what means are Pam and the late 'Biggie Smalls' related?
She's not a materialistic, drenched-down-in-gold, wannabe-gangster-music rap artist.
She is a deeply committed revolutionary, a Minister of John Africa's teachings, and an activist known for her good work for the freedom of the writer and of the MOVE 9.
An there's the rub.
Pam Africa is a revolutionary who fights for the freedom of revolutionaries and political prisoners, and therefore, to the administrators, she is not welcome. Since when is "controversy" a bad thing for students? Controversy only means a clash of opposing views. There can be no study of any human endeavor, of history, of philosophy, of psychology, of the sciences, which is not a study of opposing views.
Why is this view, by this speaker "Not in the best interest of the school?" What is it that NSU officials don't want NSU Students to hear? and why not?
Is it a coincidence that Ramona Africa, sole adult survivor of the infamous police bombing of MOVE on May 13th, 1985, has been invited to speak and lecture at colleges across America and never once at an historically Black college? Why are neither Pam nor Ramona Africa welcome at such institutions?
The answer obviously lies in the message, and amount of control exercised over such schools by funders and the state.
For Pam and Ramona (and all MOVE members) are unapologetic advocates for revolution, and for resistance against this repressive system Those so-called Black colleges, many of which are (like NSU) state supported, must answer to the state for what they do, if they want to contiue getting government support.
So the state uses the power of the purse to keep its dependent colleges in line.
Think of former Black Panther Defense Minister, Huey P. Hewton, a PhD. Social Scientist, who never was given the opportunity to teach at a Black college, and of former Black Panther Chief, Elaine Brown, who, in her autobiography, A Taste of Power, tells of the harsh and failing battles with Black colleges to obtain a place for a Black Panther convention and national meeting.
For a people who are still the primary target of state and class repression, it is in their own interest to hear the words of people who have been moved to rebel against this system. For students who are reading stale books about the system it is in their own interest to hear the words of a woman who has seen the savage hand of the system first hand.
Pam Africa ain't talking about gold chains, Lexus cars, Dom Perignon, or shaking one's butt to the beat - she's talking about freedom, and in a repressive, highly racialized country like America, ain't nothing more controversal.
We say, let the students, not the state decide what they want to hear: Let Pam speak!
Call or write:
Dr. James Scatterfield,
Vice President of Student Affairs
Norfolk State University
2401 Carprew Ave,
Norfolk, VA 23504
(757) 683-8200
For More Info:
Virginia Coalition to Free Mumia Abu-Jamal
(757) 468-2693
Column Written 4/20/97
© 1997 Mumia Abu-Jamal
All Rights Reserved
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