Thug Life Army

Dr. Mutulu Shakur Speaks About Katrina Anniversaries

The objective reality we face in the wake of Katrina's horrors requires a decision that we will never again allow our basic survival to depend on any state or any people, but on ourselves. Our oath must be that we will act to formulate basic structured and coordinated strategies, committed to the proposition that we will defend and protect our people against all forms of catastrophe. If we fail, we will have no future. However, if we fail in the course of committed struggle as a people, our legacy will not be one of shame, but of honor.

Black people continue to be heroic on the battlefields of a foreign country, as law enforcement officials against a robber, or as Black militants against the system, and have affirmed a commitment to our peoples survival. Although there are laws which have been challenged as a result of this commitment, the rule of right and wrong should, above all else, achieve the greatest good for the greatest number of people. I believe that what is embodied in this principle is a dedication to all people's human rights.

That said, our people who violate the masses and embarrass the dignities of our peoples endurance in times of war or natural disaster, should meet with their just termination. Gangs that allow their members to commit crimes against the people during our struggle to survive a catastrophe are the enemy of us all. During riots and revolts of the 1960's through the 1990's, during blackouts, snowstorms and earthquakes, there was always a common understanding of truce between crews and gangs. This Principle of the Thug Code of Conduct must be upheld. Violation will not be tolerated or forgiven.

Morality is so instinctive that even monkeys make moral judgments. If one were to act on what was right, it would have positive results. Conversely, if one acts immorally, the results are predictably negative. Witness the collaboration between the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the National Guard and the US military with Operation Blessing, an organization owned by Reverend Pat Robertson.

The same Pat Robertson who suggested the assassination of President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, never mentioning America's involvement in a failed coup attempt there a year earlier. The same Pat Robertson who used the tribal conflicts in Liberia and Uganda as an excuse to wrangle donations from US citizens, by playing on their sympathies. The same Reverend who then used these donations to buy mining equipment to ship to his conflict gold mines throughout Africa, particularly within Liberia and Uganda.

Real power is defined, in earnest, by the ability to respond to crisis by or against a specific group. Katrina exposed us. Although in the past we have been faced with the crisis of drug proliferation, indiscriminate police violence, gentrification and land exploitation, this was the 21st century test that exposed our lack of power.

Have we relinquished our obligation to respond to the various crises of our people to the point that we are too paralyzed to plan for immediate and long range crises? We are confused around this issue, because a decision to prepare ourselves challenges by its nature the present power structure.

We must become psychologically committed to the idea that wherever we are, whatever we are doing, at any time, when our peoples lives are endangered as a result of a natural disaster or unnatural crisis, we will come to their aid. We must prepare and organize in anticipation of these possibilities.

In the early years of my study of the predictability of Acupuncture against the crisis of the 1960's and 1970's drug epidemic (another government endorsed catastrophe), we were motivated as a generation to prepare for war, prepare for natural disaster, and do all we can for the people. As we enter the anniversaries of Katrina's horrors, we must make a pledge. Protect ourselves at all times.

Straight Ahead

Stiff Resistance

Dr. Mutulu Shakur

Federal Penetentiary

Coleman, Florida