I cannot recall which scholar related this info to the Brooklyn community at the UAM meeting back in the early 90s, whether Ishakamusa Barashango, Naiim Akbar or Molefi Asante but it was stated that,
the Traditional Chief in precolonial Africa
never spoke directly to his subjects
On the first of each lunar cycle he would have all of the adults line up and present thier greivances or issues
and his acumen as a leader,
was his ability to solve those issues and greivances within a reasonable amount of time
Here is a simple test that anyone of African descent living in a Black neighborhood can take;
take an average piece of 8x11 paper, fold it in half.
On one side list all of the Black leaders one is aware of.
Then on the other side of the paper,
list the 12 major problems
one sees sisters and brothers faceing in the community, every day
then go down the list
one by one and indicate how each leader has or has not
worked to ameliorate those problems within the past 3 years, 5 years, or 10 years,
or
have inspired the community,
to actively and collectively solve those problems themselves
the Traditional Chief in precolonial Africa
never spoke directly to his subjects
On the first of each lunar cycle he would have all of the adults line up and present thier greivances or issues
and his acumen as a leader,
was his ability to solve those issues and greivances within a reasonable amount of time
Here is a simple test that anyone of African descent living in a Black neighborhood can take;
take an average piece of 8x11 paper, fold it in half.
On one side list all of the Black leaders one is aware of.
Then on the other side of the paper,
list the 12 major problems
one sees sisters and brothers faceing in the community, every day
then go down the list
one by one and indicate how each leader has or has not
worked to ameliorate those problems within the past 3 years, 5 years, or 10 years,
or
have inspired the community,
to actively and collectively solve those problems themselves