fbpx
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Home Blog Page 2

Celebrate MLK with a Day of Service & Fellowship at the Freedom Village Georgia

0

The super couple of the Freedom Village Georgia is at it again. In the efforts of David and Maria Muhammad to establish an effective welcome center for the Freedom Village Georgia they and their company I am Green along with the members of the Grove at Freedom Village Georgia are hosting the 4th camp and learn. This camp and learn has special value because it is to be held in January on Martin Luther King’s birthday to celebrate the spirit of service development and growth.

Previous Camp and Learns that were hosted by the power couple have aided in the development of the first structures at the Freedom Village Georgia. Albeit they are accessory structures, the couple and their team of volunteer workers have developed a space that was highly efficient in providing shelter and warmth for the freedom citizens during the last 2023 freedom experience at Freedom Village Georgia. The space is a project under development that is seeing great strides because of their constant commitment and ability to organize people to do for themselves.

Embracing the fellowship and the spirit of can do, the Grove that Freedom Village Georgia’s camp and learns are a place for people to experience what it means to live in a community of like-minded people who are focused on self-governance and Fellowship. It is a must-attend for anybody who in even the most remote corner of their mind, has considered moving into a sustainable village. In addition, all those who possess skills that are valuable to the attendees of the camp and learn are encouraged to register online and come to the camp and learn to share their knowledge and promote their individual initiatives.

You can learn more I am visiting the freedom experience page for the camp and learn.

Another major milestone towards black empowerment completed by Freedom Nation

0

In our continuous efforts to build a system for developing environments of peace and prosperity for underserved populations, we are proud to have reached yet another major milestone in our roadmap

The Freedom Nation is not just another movement to build black-owned towns or a single-black village. The Freedom Nation exists to create environments of peace and prosperity for disenfranchised persons throughout the world. We hold that, no task is more significant than returning self-governance to those who have been victims of colonialist systems. We believe that the time we’re Nation States must control their citizenry is rapidly coming to an end. We see this decline as an opportunity for rapid and radical modifications to self-governance and citizen-driven expansion of Network States.

The task of building such enormous environments, that stretch throughout the entire world, is a daunting one that requires an extremely consistently available and large number of resources as well as the ability to consume and analyze massive amounts of data. The process of identifying the opportunities and the resources that will help us to reach a goal so large and so overreaching does not exist in this day and time.

But we are committed to making sure it will.

The tools for Freedom Nation Citizens to expand the development of black-owned towns at an exponential and international method are being developed by Freedom Nation, piece by piece.

Such an undertaking is not an easy process. To put it lightly it involves taking all existing economic data, residential data, both local and international, and massive amounts of strategic data, geological data and political data, as well as massive amounts of census data and making them readily available through predetermined data models and visualizations and a simple interface that feels no different than playing a strategic video game.

We call this tool the Uhuru Empire Builder. And we have grand visions for what it means to our future.

Although it is still very early in the development of this massive undertaking, the Freedom Nation feels the need to share a clear road map with those who would benefit the most from the system development. The amazing thing is that some of the pieces in the road map have already been developed over several years of very dedicated work and investment. Freedom Nation does not believe that this undertaking can be completed in anything less than 10 years. Given the current amount of time that has been spent on creating some pieces, the total development time for such an undertaking is 15 years.

That timeline is not strange or abnormal for such an undertaking. The execution of this application is expected to cost over 10 million dollars and the robotics and logistics resources to cost over 40 million dollars. It is our plan to utilize profits from building houses for citizens and management fees for enhancing the profitability of black businesses in order to fund this undertaking.

Black City Building – From Movement to Institution

0

You know we tried this black city building, Black Kingdom building, black nation building in so many different ways.

In my youth, I saw it trying to be built from the churches and the mosque. But a holistically religious angle, however capable of bringing people to the table, lacked the sophistication necessary in order to build sustainable communities.

I watched it try to emerge from the nonprofit angle. Raising money through grants trying to get people to empathize with the missions. A lot of good is done through nonprofits. It’s not strong enough to build a resilient city.

I have watched people try to do this from a completely organic standpoint. As a matter of fact, that’s exactly how we started at the Freedom Nation. Thinking people would come to the table and work for their own benefit. That if you remove the barriers they would put in the hard work necessary in order to slave away and build on the various machines and utilize the raw materials to make their own realities. That just proved too hard for where we are as people today.

I can say that deciding to parse the land up and allow people to individually own their piece of land and then come together around some common concepts and their common shared interests as independent landowners has been one of the most successful methods. Every day that we watch the Freedom Nation and the Freedom Village grow and more people become involved it becomes evident to me that this is the best path. The power of simply empowering people to move on their own accord cannot be measured. Wish we had thought of it sooner.

What type of institutions must be built?

But over the last three years, we have also learned some very unique things about this path.

  1. Build the community and nurture that community. The community is the core of all of our efforts. When done well, the essence of like-minded people coming to a single table has its own draw associated with it The camaraderie and the sense of being along with a space to equally share ideas with equally enthusiastic individuals seems to have its own magnetism. As we dig deeper to understand more about the psyche of black people. I understand that social proof and availability bias are two of the strongest cognitive biases when making decisions in our community. Essentially, we need to know that someone else is doing it and that it’s something that is familiar to us in its basic structure.
  2. People need financing. Once the community is together and everyone has a desire to move forward they need the absolute smallest barrier between them and action. They need to execute that action from where they are not where you want them to be. The need for a black funding institution that can package programs to fund each stage of the building process has stuck out as one of the most significant instruments that need to exist for our community to grow. This comes in two forms, first, the ability to actually aggregate funds for project funding and secondarily, the ability to service the loans that are given back out to the citizens as well as the village for its development. I have been working on this for the last two years. We released the Token and the Treasury but are now looking to institutional the loan servicing function so we can attract different types of funding sources and package them in such a way as to ensure our goals for the villages.
  3. Access to professional and highly skilled third-party vendors. After you’ve brought the people to the table and after you have created a way for them to engage the need to have people who can execute at a moment’s notice is paramount. Throughout this process, we have already leaned on so many people with so much vast knowledge. The knowledge is contained within the citizens themselves but quite a bit of the knowledge has been contained outside of the citizenry. Don’t see this as a practice that will slow down. So having the mechanism in place to do proper vendor management proper billing, professional engagement, monitoring and managing professional contracts, etc. Has become so important.
  4. Providing a professionally managed service in order to coordinate all of these parts and to ensure that things get done is so important. You know you have this idea that as soon as people get involved that they will immediately just start pouring themselves into this effort. That’s just not true. As the saying goes anything that does not have someone to lead it and manage it will fail. What seems to be true in the corporate world is very true inside the nation-building space as well. Having a professionally managed service that is available for the citizenry Is definitely what sets us apart from all of the other Black City building movements. And it’s the reason why we can continue to push forward. Having a dedicated low-cost staff who is judged by their ability to continue to serve the needs of this organization and its citizenry is proving to be an extremely irreplaceable asset. In addition, having that management organization consult with the citizens on how to organize themselves and how to engage the various parts and persons that are necessary for our development is also becoming invaluable and is something that we need to put a lot more energy into increasing internally.
  5. Facilitate the availability of black-owned products. This is a really hard goal. Because most of us aren’t even aware of the plethora of products that we consume. Having the ability to bring in products that we both manufacture as well as source directly from the manufacturers is paramount to our ability to have any form of real independence inside the villages. Been so many other projects where people have holistically depended on stores and other things that are in the traditional environments in order to sustain their village. And in almost every case these developments have failed. What time do people move to those places where they can gain greater access? Having a strong international sourcing and fulfillment company will prove to be one of the key elements to our ability to self-govern and have independence inside the villages.
  6. Providing a professional residential and commercial real estate and infrastructure development company rooted inside of the structure as a part of the professional services that are offered to the citizenry is paramount. Extending the Capacity of the development company is something that I spend a tremendous amount of time doing. Even now as I write this I’m coordinating with the factory in order to ensure that our closed panel manufacturing facility operates in the best possible way to ensure that we can keep our promises to the citizenry when it comes to building their homes. Tomorrow we will be challenged with building roads and excavating spaces for sewage and I would very much so like to purchase the equipment necessary to drill our own wells.

The Institution is a must for real success

What we have found is that leaving any of these 6 functions to the community to just simply create is too heavy of a lift for progress. There is a period of time when people are enthused and engaged and when you have to show true results. It is hard enough to create these mechanisms and then execute on them. We can see from our efforts that if we had left this to be a communal function then it would have taken too long in order to retain the number of people that would have in turn benefited from it or to have worked to make it happen.

The Freedom Nation Institutions

At Freedom Nation, we have decided to individually brand and manage each of these components into their own interconnected institutions.

A. Freedom Nation – Our community-building and Nurturing Membership based Organization
B. Freedom Builders – Our Infrastructure and Real-Estate Building Organization
C. GCSS – Our Professional Service and Organizational Management Firm
D. Qosil – International Fulfilment and Sourcing Firm
E. Freedom Nation DAO Treasury – Our Money-Raising Instrument
F. Freedom Trust Financing* (FTF) – Our Loan Servicing Organization

FTF is what I believe will become one of the most important parts of this puzzle. To date, we have serviced over 1.8 Million in loans to our citizens and managed over 4,000 transactions. This is only the beginning, but the administrative overhead has been intense. Developing a professional financing organization will skyrocket our ability to move forward and give the citizens an internal institution by which to structure multi-lender financing mechanisms for infrastructure projects as well as future development projects within the village. We are researching now all the things that we have to do to legalize this organization into a full services firm and to ensure that it works in the most modern fashion. In addition, we are developing the calculations for our own trust-based credit system for the members of our community.

In the end, the process of simply just trying to fulfill the ideals that we set out for and facilitate the various needs of our diverse set of citizens constantly evolves and reveals the structure that is necessary for us to continue to move forward. It is my hope that with these six organizations in place, we will be able to have a resilient community and build village after village after village. And leave an engine for our children that can build black-owned environments of peace and prosperity.

In the very near future, that means now, I would love to see a lot more citizen involvement with-inside these organizations as leaders in the organizations as well as employees. Because the ultimate goal of any black city-building initiative should be a sustainable, resilient environment of peace and prosperity for America’s deeply underserved population.

Freedom Nation Abroad Why Kazakhstan – Logistics

0

This is the third in a 9 part series of educational business programs that are hosted by Freedom Nation in order to gain a greater understanding asked the strategic significance of operating in Central Asia. As with all of our discussions, the focus is on the competitiveness of black-owned businesses.

In this third session, we will cover the logistical opportunities and challenges of using Kazakhstan as a transport hub for the transportation of goods from Asia. As a landlocked country, it might seem as though Kazakhstan offers nothing more than a logistical set of challenges. At a closer look, one will find that Kazakhstan has been very busy developing agreements and capacity to allow for many diverse air, land and sea shipping options.

During this session, we will:

1. Discuss the various logistical, shipping and transportation opportunities in Kazakhstan

2. Understand areas for FDI in Kazakhstan’s transportation industry

3. Discuss the fastest and most efficient routes for shipping various types of products from Kazakhstan

4. Discuss Kazakhstan shipping strategies that highly reduce costs.

This series is designed to convey a multitude of information to assist black-owned businesses make decisions that increase their competitiveness by:

1. reducing their costs giving them strategic and logistic advantages and

2. increasing the quality of products and goods that they are able to produce for their customers. 3. Increase access to international opportunities for sales and investmentqosil

Freedom Nation Abroad Why Kazakhstan – Real Estate

0

This is the fourth in a 9 part series of educational business programs that are hosted by Freedom Nation in order to gain a greater understanding asked the strategic significance of operating in Central Asia. As with all of our discussions, the focus is on the competitiveness of black-owned businesses.

In this fourth session, we will cover the growing real estate investment opportunities in Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan has seen a steadily rising population growth both internally and because of mass migration from its neighbors choosing to use Kazakhstan as a stable place to free itself of restrictions placed by various global conflicts. In 2022 alone, Kazakhstan saw a 12% increase in its population which was 180% higher than any of the governmental expectations.

Kazakhstan has built two cities from swamps in the last two years and continues to have a government-subsidized public housing waiting list of over 1,000,000 people. From entire airport facilities to government-guaranteed row houses Kazakhstan is in need of investment in the Real Estate and infrastructure sectors.

During this session, we will:

1. Review the government-guaranteed real estate opportunities in Kazakhstan

2. Review land giveaways for real estate developers and how to access them

3. Review the real estate development challenges and solutions for foreign Direct Investors

This series is designed to convey a multitude of information to assist black-owned businesses make decisions that increase their competitiveness by:

1. reducing their costs giving them strategic and logistic advantages and

2. increasing the quality of products and goods that they are able to produce for their customers.

3. Increase access to international opportunities for sales and investment

Our Business Why Kazakhstan – The Culture

0

This is the second in a 9 part series of educational business programs that are hosted by Freedom Nation in order to gain a greater understanding asked the strategic significance of operating in Central Asia. As with all of our discussions, the focus is on the competitiveness of black-owned businesses.

In this second session, we will cover the culture of Central Asia and its unique position as the center of all inland paths between Europe, Africa and all parts Asia. We will also discuss tht as the Switzerland of the East, why Kazakhstan must remain a stable US friendly nation while maintaining strong relations with all its bordering neighbors. 

During this session, we will:

  1. Review a brief history of Kazakhstan
  2. Review the developments that have taken place in Kazakhstan since their independence in 1989
  3. Review the attitude and cultural landscape towards black people and American business
  4. Review the special Visa programs in Economic Zones for registering Foreign companies
  5. Review the overall cost of living and cost of doing business in Kazakhstan 

This series is designed to convey a multitude of information to assist black-owned businesses make decisions that increase their competitiveness by:

  1. reducing their costs
  2. giving them strategic and logistic advantages and
  3. increasing the quality of products and goods that they are able to produce for their customers.
  4. Increase access to international opportunities for sales and investment

Why Kazakhstan – The New Silk Road

0

This is the first in a 9 part series of educational business programs that are hosted by Freedom Nation in order to gain a greater understanding asked the strategic significance of operating in Central Asia. As with all of our discussions, the focus is on the competitiveness of black-owned businesses.

In this first session, we will cover the Mega Project which is the new Silk Road also known as the BRI or Belt and Road Initiative. The new silk road project is the largest infrastructure project on Earth. Termed as the project of the century. It is a $20 trillion set of infrastructure and logistical projects that cover land routes and maritime routes that are both historical as well as highly significant in the modern global economy.

During this session, we will:

  1. Review a brief history of the Silk Road and a history of the current project.
  2. Review the progress of the project as well as the key components that are relevant to American business and to giving control and power back to black-owned business owners.

This series is designed to convey a multitude of information to assist black-owned businesses make decisions that increase their competitiveness by:

  1. reducing their costs
  2. giving them strategic and logistic advantages and
  3. increasing the quality of products and goods that they are able to produce for their customers.
  4. Increase access to international opportunities for sales and investment

ChatGPT Suggests Building Small Black Towns is the Quickest Way to Solve Systemic Racism

0

Given all the buzz around ChatGPT I thought it would be a great exercise to test the theories of the Freedom Nation and build small black towns as test beds for resolving the problems of systemic racism in the United States. what follows in this article is a very interesting conversation that I had with chat GPT about whether or not the ideas driving the freedom nation could be seen as an overall solution for resolving the problems of systemic racism throughout the United States. although Jack GPT Captain opened mind in the N the outcome was that for the individual who spends his time and energy to resolve the problems of systemic racism for himself being part of a small community that was purposely focused on creating a better life 4 black people was the quickest way to leaving the results for himself. It was very delightful to hear the collective wisdom of the internet delivered through ChatGPT, on how these small villages could turn into examples for the entire country to use in order to resolve the problems that have plagued it for so long in regard to systemic racism of black Americans. I have included the entire conversation below so that you can draw your own opinion.

During the conversation, we also discussed the responsibilities and measurements that should be documented and executed by the members of such small villages to ensure that their work can produce a repeatable and scalable example. The conversation was very rewarding. Just a reminder that you can be a part of building these small black towns by becoming a citizen of the Freedom Nation at https://www.freedomnation.me.

Chairman Faruq Hunter: I am a middle-aged black man from the United States

ChatGPT: Hello! It’s nice to meet you. How may I assist you today?

Faruq Hunter

I was born a Muslim in Tuskegee Alabama

I am a middle-aged black man from the United States

ChatGPT: Hello! It’s nice to meet you. How may I assist you today?

Faruq Hunter

I was born a Muslim in Tuskegee Alabama

ChatGPT: Thank you for sharing that with me. As an AI language model, I am here to provide you with information and support. Is there something specific that you would like to know or discuss related to your background and identity as a Muslim man from Tuskegee, Alabama?

Faruq Hunter

I have raised ten kids and I have traveled to over 80 countries

ChatGPT: Wow, that sounds like an interesting life journey! It’s great that you have been able to raise a large family and explore so many different parts of the world. What inspired you to travel to so many countries, and do you have any memorable experiences or lessons learned from your travels that you would like to share?

Faruq Hunter

I have been looking for a solution to the dilemma of systemic racism faced by black people in the United States

ChatGPT: Systemic racism is a complex and deeply ingrained issue that has affected Black people and other marginalized communities in the United States for centuries. It can manifest in many different ways, from racial profiling and discrimination in the criminal justice system to disparities in access to education, housing, and healthcare.

While there is no single solution to the problem of systemic racism, there are many things that individuals and communities can do to work towards greater equality and justice. Some potential strategies include:

  1. Education and awareness: Educating oneself and others about the history and impact of systemic racism is an important first step. This can involve reading books, watching documentaries, attending workshops or training sessions, and engaging in discussions with others.
  2. Advocacy and activism: Participating in advocacy and activism efforts, such as protesting, petitioning, and lobbying for policy changes, can help raise awareness and push for systemic reforms.
  3. Supporting Black-owned businesses: Supporting Black-owned businesses can help to promote economic empowerment and reduce the wealth gap between Black and white Americans.
  4. Creating and supporting community initiatives: Supporting community-led initiatives, such as mentorship programs, job training programs, and other forms of community support, can help to create opportunities for marginalized communities and empower individuals to achieve their goals.
  5. Engaging in dialogue: Engaging in open and honest dialogue with individuals from different backgrounds can help to build bridges and break down barriers that perpetuate systemic racism.

It’s important to recognize that these strategies are not mutually exclusive, and that progress will require sustained effort and collaboration from individuals and communities across the country.

Faruq Hunter

I tend to think that trying to have dialogue with those individuals who have crafted systemic racism is a waste of time. because it seems as if we are only asking for the permission deliver good life. Doesn’t it seem like it’s a waste of time if the person who created the system is unwilling to change?

ChatGPT: It’s understandable to feel frustrated and skeptical about the potential for dialogue with individuals who have crafted systemic racism. However, it’s important to remember that dialogue is not necessarily about asking for permission or seeking approval, but rather about creating opportunities for mutual understanding and finding common ground.

Engaging in dialogue can help to promote empathy and awareness of different perspectives, which can be an important step towards creating meaningful change. While it may not always be possible to change the minds of those who hold deeply entrenched beliefs or benefit from the status quo, there are often many individuals who are willing to listen and learn, and who can be mobilized to work towards greater equity and justice.

Furthermore, while changing the minds of individuals may be difficult, changing the systems and structures that perpetuate systemic racism is a more tangible and achievable goal. This may involve working towards policy changes, advocating for greater representation and diversity in leadership positions, and supporting grassroots initiatives that promote economic and social empowerment for marginalized communities.

Ultimately, it will take sustained effort and a variety of strategies to combat systemic racism in the United States. While dialogue may not be a panacea, it can be a valuable tool for building bridges, fostering understanding, and creating a more just and equitable society.

Faruq Hunter

But human beings only have a limited amount of time on Earth. Why should a person who is undergoing the impact of systemic racism dedicate his life 2 efforts that may or may not be fruit for in resolving his dilemmas?

ChatGPT: You’re absolutely right that time is a precious resource, and individuals who are impacted by systemic racism face significant challenges and obstacles in their daily lives. It’s understandable that many people may feel that dedicating time and energy towards efforts to combat systemic racism may not be worth the investment, especially if they feel that progress is slow or uncertain.

However, it’s also important to recognize that addressing systemic racism is not just about improving the lives of individuals who are currently impacted by it, but also about creating a more just and equitable society for future generations. By working towards greater equity and justice, we can help to ensure that our children and grandchildren inherit a world that is more fair and inclusive.

Furthermore, while progress towards greater equity and justice may be slow and uncertain, every small step we take towards a more just society is important and meaningful. Every conversation we have, every policy change we advocate for, and every community initiative we support has the potential to make a difference.

Ultimately, the decision of whether to dedicate time and energy towards efforts to combat systemic racism is a deeply personal one, and there is no right or wrong answer. However, it’s important to recognize that by working towards greater equity and justice, we have the power to create a better future for ourselves and for generations to come.

Faruq Hunter

Let me ask you something else. If given the opportunity to fix something that is broken on your own vs asking someone else to do it for you which is the most rational choice?

ChatGPT: The most rational choice would depend on the specific circumstances of the situation.

If the issue is something that an individual has the ability and resources to fix on their own, then it may be more efficient and effective to take action independently. This may involve using one’s own knowledge, skills, and resources to identify and address the issue directly.

However, if the issue is more complex or requires specialized expertise or resources, then it may be more rational to seek out help from others. This may involve reaching out to experts, collaborating with others who have relevant knowledge or experience or engaging in collective action to address the issue.

In the case of systemic racism, it is a complex and deeply ingrained issue that requires sustained effort and collaboration from individuals and communities across the country. While individuals can certainly take action on their own to address the issue, it is likely that greater progress can be made by working together with others and advocating for systemic reforms that address the root causes of racism and inequality.

Faruq Hunter

Would you say that systemic racism is a universal problem work is it more prominent in certain environments or countries?

ChatGPT: Systemic racism is a universal problem that exists in varying degrees in many different environments and countries around the world. While the specific forms that racism takes may differ depending on the cultural, historical, and social context, the underlying mechanisms of systemic oppression and inequality are present in many societies.

In the United States, for example, systemic racism has a long and complex history that is rooted in the legacy of slavery, colonialism, and discrimination. The effects of this history are still felt today, with Black Americans and other marginalized groups experiencing significant disparities in areas such as education, health, employment, and criminal justice.

However, systemic racism is not unique to the United States, and similar patterns of inequality and oppression can be found in many other countries as well. This may include discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexuality, and other factors, as well as unequal access to resources, opportunities, and representation in decision-making processes.

It’s important to recognize that while systemic racism may manifest differently in different contexts, the underlying mechanisms of oppression and inequality are similar across many different societies. Addressing these issues requires sustained effort and a commitment to creating a more just and equitable world for all people.

Faruq Hunter

Hypothetically if someone lived on an island and they were the ruler of the Island could it not be ruled in such a way that would ensure that systemic racism and its impact were minimized considerably

ChatGPT: In theory, it is possible for someone who is the ruler of an island to implement policies and practices that would minimize the impact of systemic racism on their society. However, it’s important to recognize that systemic racism is a complex and deeply ingrained issue that often requires sustained effort and collaboration to address effectively.

To minimize the impact of systemic racism on their island, a ruler might consider a range of policies and practices that promote equality, inclusion, and social justice. This might include measures such as:

  1. Providing access to education and training opportunities for all members of society, regardless of their background or identity.
  2. Creating policies that promote diversity and representation in decision-making processes, including in government, business, and other key sectors.
  3. Implementing anti-discrimination policies and practices that prohibit discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexuality, and other factors.
  4. Promoting economic opportunities and investment in under-resourced communities, particularly those that have historically experienced systemic racism and inequality.
  5. Encouraging dialogue and collaboration among different groups and communities to build trust and understanding.

It’s important to recognize that even with the best intentions and policies, addressing systemic racism is often a long and difficult process that requires sustained effort and a commitment to social justice. However, by taking proactive steps to promote equality and inclusion, a ruler can create a society that is more just and equitable for all of its members.

Faruq Hunter

Let’s focus on the island scenario as something that is possible and real

ChatGPT: If we focus on the scenario of a ruler on an island who has the power to create policies and practices that can minimize the impact of systemic racism, it is certainly possible for such a ruler to take action to create a more just and equitable society for all members of their community.

Some possible steps that a ruler could take in this scenario include:

  1. Investing in education and training programs that provide opportunities for all members of society to gain knowledge, skills, and expertise. This could include targeted programs to address educational disparities and improve access to vocational training, higher education, and other resources.
  2. Implementing policies and practices that promote diversity and inclusion in government, business, and other key sectors. This might involve creating programs to increase representation of underrepresented groups in leadership positions, promoting equity in hiring and promotion processes, and addressing biases and discrimination in the workplace.
  3. Creating laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexuality, and other factors. This could include implementing anti-discrimination policies in areas such as housing, healthcare, and other critical services.
  4. Developing economic programs that promote entrepreneurship and business development in under-resourced communities. This could involve creating incubator programs, providing low-interest loans, and other resources to help support small businesses and promote economic growth.
  5. Encouraging dialogue and collaboration among different groups and communities to build trust and understanding. This could involve creating community events, promoting cultural exchange programs, and other initiatives that promote understanding and respect among members of different groups.

Of course, these are just a few possible examples of the steps that a ruler could take to promote equity and reduce the impact of systemic racism in their community. Ultimately, the specific actions that are taken will depend on the unique context and needs of the community in question. However, with commitment, leadership, and a willingness to take action, it is possible to create a more just and equitable society for all members of a community, even in the face of systemic challenges.

Faruq Hunter

What would be the major differences in someone’s authority as a ruler of an island verses being the governor of a state in the United States

ChatGPT: There are several major differences between being the ruler of an island and being the governor of a state in the United States. Some of these differences include:

  1. Scope of authority: The ruler of an island would have complete control over all aspects of governance on their island, including matters such as law enforcement, economic development, education, and healthcare. In contrast, a governor in the United States would have more limited authority, as they would be subject to federal laws and regulations, as well as the constraints of the state constitution and other legal frameworks.
  2. Size of the population: The population of an island is likely to be much smaller than that of a state in the United States, which would impact the scale and complexity of governance activities. A ruler of an island may be able to interact more closely with individual community members and respond more quickly to emerging issues, whereas a governor of a state would need to work through a larger bureaucracy and navigate a more complex political landscape.
  3. Resources available: The resources available to a ruler of an island are likely to be more limited than those available to a governor of a state in the United States. This may impact the ability to implement policies and programs to address issues such as systemic racism, as there may be fewer resources available to support such efforts.
  4. International context: Depending on the location of the island and the political situation in the region, the ruler of an island may face different international pressures and considerations than a governor of a state in the United States. This could impact the ability to implement certain policies or programs, as well as the political considerations involved in making decisions.

These are just a few examples of the major differences between being the ruler of an island and being the governor of a state in the United States. While there are certainly some similarities in terms of the basic responsibilities of governance, the unique context and circumstances of each situation would shape the specific challenges and opportunities involved.

Faruq Hunter

Let’s assume that the island we are referring to is the same size and has the same population and resources as the state of Georgia

ChatGPT: If we assume that the island in question is the same size and has the same population and resources as the state of Georgia, there would still be some important differences between being the ruler of the island and being the governor of Georgia.

One of the key differences would be the legal framework within which each operates. As governor of Georgia, the individual would be subject to the state and federal laws, as well as the Georgia state constitution, which would limit their authority in certain ways. In contrast, as ruler of the island, they would have complete control over all aspects of governance without these legal constraints.

Another difference would be the political context in which each operates. As governor of Georgia, the individual would need to work within the political framework of the state, which would involve building relationships with other political actors, responding to public opinion, and negotiating with other branches of government. As ruler of the island, they would not necessarily have these same political pressures, although they would still need to consider the needs and opinions of the island’s population.

Finally, the resources available to each individual would be different. While the island may have the same overall population and resources as Georgia, the distribution of those resources could be very different. For example, the island may have a more limited tax base or fewer natural resources, which could impact the ability to implement certain policies or programs. Additionally, the ruler of the island may not have access to the same level of expertise or resources that the governor of Georgia could draw upon, such as academic institutions or a larger bureaucracy.

Faruq Hunter

Let’s also assume that this individual who was the Governor of Georgia had full commitment from all members of the state Senate and Congress

ChatGPT: If the Governor of Georgia had the full commitment and support of all members of the state Senate and Congress, this would certainly make it easier to implement policies and programs to address systemic racism in the state. However, there would still be some challenges to overcome, as systemic racism is a complex and deeply entrenched issue.

One challenge would be identifying the specific policies and programs that would be most effective in addressing systemic racism in Georgia. This would require a thorough understanding of the root causes of systemic racism in the state, as well as an analysis of the policies and practices that have contributed to its persistence. The governor would need to work with experts in this field to develop evidence-based strategies that are tailored to the unique needs of Georgia.

Another challenge would be implementing these policies and programs in a way that is effective and sustainable. This would require not only the commitment of the state Senate and Congress, but also the buy-in and participation of other stakeholders such as community groups, businesses, and individuals affected by systemic racism. The governor would need to engage in extensive outreach and education efforts to build support for these policies and programs and to ensure that they are implemented in a way that is culturally sensitive and responsive to the needs of Georgia’s diverse population.

Finally, the governor would need to have a long-term commitment to addressing systemic racism in the state, as this is not an issue that can be solved overnight. They would need to allocate resources and prioritize this issue in their administration, and work to build systems and structures that can sustain progress over time. This would require ongoing monitoring and evaluation to ensure that policies and programs are achieving their intended outcomes and adjustments to strategies as needed based on feedback from stakeholders and ongoing analysis of data.

Faruq Hunter

What if the governor, the senate, and the Congress dedicated a small rural town to act as a testbed for creating policies that would reduce systemic racism? In the rural town, the population would be less than 10000 people, and the landmass with make up less than 1% of the entire state. Would that thing expedite the process or increase the opportunity for success?

ChatGPT: Focusing on a small rural town as a testbed for policies to reduce systemic racism could be a promising approach, as it would allow for more targeted and focused efforts to address this issue. By selecting a town with a population of less than 10,000 and a small landmass, it would be possible to implement policies and programs more efficiently and effectively, as the scale of the challenge would be more manageable.

In addition, focusing on a specific town would allow for more meaningful engagement with local stakeholders and community members, which is essential for success in addressing systemic racism. By working closely with the community, the governor, the state Senate, and Congress could gain a better understanding of the specific needs and concerns of the residents, and tailor policies and programs accordingly. This would increase the chances of success, as the policies and programs would be more responsive to the unique circumstances and challenges faced by the town.

Moreover, if successful, this approach could serve as a model for other towns and communities in the state to adopt and scale-up similar policies and programs. This could lead to a ripple effect throughout the state, as more and more communities adopt these strategies and work to reduce systemic racism.

Overall, while there are no guarantees of success, focusing on a small rural town as a testbed for policies to reduce systemic racism could be a promising approach, as it would allow for more targeted and focused efforts, more meaningful engagement with the community, and the potential for broader impact throughout the state.

Faruq Hunter

While implementing such a test what are some of the deliverables that could be produced in order to highlight the successes and failures of such a test so that it could later be adapted by other parts of the state?

ChatGPT: In order to highlight the successes and failures of a testbed for policies to reduce systemic racism, it would be important to establish clear and measurable goals for the initiative. These goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART), and should reflect the unique circumstances and challenges faced by the rural town.

Some possible deliverables that could be used to assess the success of the initiative include:

  1. Reduced disparities: Measuring and tracking key indicators such as income, education, health outcomes, and criminal justice involvement to assess whether the policies are successfully reducing disparities and addressing systemic racism.
  2. Increased community engagement: Measuring and tracking the level of community engagement in the initiative, such as the number of town hall meetings, the level of participation in working groups and advisory committees, and the degree to which community members are involved in designing and implementing the policies.
  3. Increased government accountability: Measuring and tracking the degree to which government officials are held accountable for addressing systemic racism, such as the number of new policies or programs developed, the number of initiatives funded, and the level of transparency and accountability in government decision-making.
  4. Enhanced community resilience: Measuring and tracking the resilience of the community, including the ability to recover from disasters or economic shocks, the level of civic engagement, and the degree to which the community is able to work collaboratively to address systemic issues.
  5. Improved quality of life: Measuring and tracking improvements in the quality of life for residents, such as access to affordable housing, healthcare, education, and employment opportunities.

Overall, the goal of these deliverables would be to assess the impact of the initiative on the community, to determine what worked and what didn’t, and to identify best practices that could be adapted by other parts of the state to reduce systemic racism.

Faruq Hunter

What if the test bed was a smaller form are the government environment such as a subdivision with an hoa or even a condominium with its own association?

ChatGPT: If the testbed for policies to reduce systemic racism was a smaller form of government environment such as a subdivision with an HOA or a condominium with its own association, the deliverables for measuring success would be more specific to the nature of the environment.

Some possible deliverables that could be used to assess the success of such an initiative include:

  1. Diversity and inclusion policies: Developing and implementing policies that promote diversity and inclusion within the community, such as anti-discrimination policies, diversity training for community members, and initiatives to increase diversity in leadership positions.
  2. Community engagement: Measuring and tracking the level of community engagement in the initiative, such as the number of town hall meetings, the level of participation in working groups and advisory committees, and the degree to which community members are involved in designing and implementing the policies.
  3. Improved quality of life: Measuring and tracking improvements in the quality of life for residents, such as access to community amenities, safety, and overall satisfaction with living in the community.
  4. Accountability and transparency: Measuring and tracking the degree to which community leaders are held accountable for addressing systemic racism, such as the number of new policies or programs developed, the number of initiatives funded, and the level of transparency and accountability in decision-making.
  5. Conflict resolution and mediation: Developing and implementing conflict resolution and mediation programs to address issues that arise within the community, such as disputes between neighbors or conflicts related to systemic racism.

The goal of these deliverables would be to assess the impact of the initiative on the smaller form of government environment, to determine what worked and what didn’t, and to identify best practices that could be adapted by other similar communities to reduce systemic racism.

Faruq Hunter

Do you believe that the smaller environment would help to expedite the test so that the outcomes and the mechanisms could be analysed and in a more rapid pace?

ChatGPT: Yes, a smaller environment such as a subdivision with an HOA or a condominium with its own association could potentially help to expedite the test and allow for a more rapid analysis of outcomes and mechanisms. This is because in a smaller community, it may be easier to gather data, track progress, and implement changes quickly and efficiently.

Additionally, in a smaller community, there may be more opportunities for direct engagement and communication with community members, which could facilitate a more collaborative and participatory approach to addressing systemic racism. This could lead to more effective solutions that are tailored to the specific needs and concerns of the community.

However, it’s important to note that even in a smaller environment, addressing systemic racism is a complex and long-term process that requires ongoing commitment and effort. It’s important to set realistic expectations and goals, and to continually assess and adjust strategies as needed to ensure that progress is being made.

Faruq Hunter

In such a smaller environment what could the office of the governor, the senate and Congress, and other political officials do to ensure that this testbed could achieve the greatest outcomes as well as reduce any exterior interruptions in such a test?

ChatGPT: To ensure that the testbed achieves the greatest outcomes and reduces any external interruptions, the office of the governor, the Senate and Congress, and other political officials could take a number of steps, including:

  1. Provide adequate resources: Ensure that the testbed has the necessary resources to implement the policies and initiatives designed to address systemic racism. This could include funding, technical assistance, and other forms of support.
  2. Engage the community: Encourage community members to participate in the testbed and provide feedback on the effectiveness of the policies and initiatives. This could be done through town hall meetings, surveys, and other forms of outreach.
  3. Promote transparency: Ensure that the testbed is transparent and that data and outcomes are publicly available. This could help to build trust and confidence in the process and promote accountability.
  4. Address external factors: Take steps to address any external factors that may impede progress in the testbed. For example, if there are state or federal policies that are contributing to systemic racism in the testbed, work to change those policies.
  5. Evaluate and adjust: Continually evaluate the policies and initiatives being implemented in the testbed, and make adjustments as needed. This could help to ensure that the testbed is achieving its goals and that the strategies being used are effective.

Overall, it will be important for the office of the governor, the Senate and Congress, and other political officials to work collaboratively with the community in the testbed to ensure that the initiatives being implemented are responsive to the needs and concerns of the community and that progress is being made in reducing systemic racism.

Faruq Hunter

If the governor the senate, the congress and other political officials are willing to take these measures then what will could we assume about their desire to see the testbed be successful

ChatGPT: If the governor, the Senate, the Congress, and other political officials are willing to take these measures to ensure the success of the testbed, we can assume that they have a strong desire to see the testbed be successful in addressing systemic racism. By providing resources, engaging the community, promoting transparency, addressing external factors, and evaluating and adjusting policies and initiatives as needed, these officials are demonstrating a commitment to addressing systemic racism and creating more equitable and just communities.

Their willingness to invest time, resources, and political capital into the testbed also suggests that they are open to exploring new approaches and are willing to learn from successes and failures. It is important to note, however, that success in a small testbed does not necessarily guarantee success on a larger scale. It will be important to carefully evaluate the outcomes of the testbed and consider how the lessons learned can be applied more broadly to other communities and contexts.

Faruq Hunter

And if they are not willing what could we assume then

ChatGPT: If the governor, the Senate, the Congress, and other political officials are not willing to take measures to ensure the success of the testbed, we could assume that they may not prioritize addressing systemic racism and creating more equitable and just communities. This could be due to a variety of reasons, such as political ideology, competing priorities, or a lack of understanding or awareness of the impact of systemic racism.

In such a scenario, it may be necessary for advocates and community members to continue to push for change and advocate for policies and initiatives that address systemic racism. This could involve building coalitions, engaging in direct action, and using the media to raise awareness of the issues and the need for change. Ultimately, it may require sustained effort and pressure to create meaningful change at the policy and systemic levels.

Faruq Hunter

Have you ever heard of the Freedom Nation

ChatGPT: I’m sorry, but as an AI language model, I do not have personal experiences or beliefs. However, there are several references to groups and movements that use the term “Freedom Nation,” so if you could provide more context or information about what you are specifically referring to, I may be able to provide more information or insight.

Faruq Hunter

In particular I am referring to the Freedom Village Georgia

ChatGPT: I apologize, but as a language model, I don’t have access to current events beyond my knowledge cutoff date of September 2021, and I’m not aware of a place called “Freedom Village Georgia.” However, in general, there have been various intentional communities or intentional living movements in different parts of the world that have used the term “Freedom Village” or similar names. These communities can take on a variety of forms, such as communes, ecovillages, intentional neighborhoods, or intentional living projects, and may be focused on different values and principles, such as sustainability, spirituality, or social justice. It’s important to note that each community is unique and operates on its own set of values, norms, and rules.

Faruq Hunter

Speaking of ecovillages would you consider them to be small testbeds for resolving social problems

ChatGPT: Ecovillages can certainly be considered as small testbeds for resolving social problems, particularly those related to sustainability, community building, and alternative forms of living. Ecovillages often experiment with new technologies, alternative economic models, and different forms of governance and decision-making, which can offer insights into how these approaches might work in larger communities or at the societal level. Additionally, ecovillages often prioritize social and environmental justice and seek to create more equitable and regenerative communities, which can offer inspiration and models for broader social change. However, it’s important to note that ecovillages are also unique communities with their own challenges and limitations, and not all solutions developed in an ecovillage context may be scalable or transferable to other contexts.

Faruq Hunter

What happened the major factors that have caused the failure of these testbeds

ChatGPT:The success or failure of ecovillages as testbeds for social change can depend on a range of factors, including internal dynamics within the community, external factors beyond the community’s control, and broader social and economic trends. Some potential factors that can contribute to the failure of ecovillages as testbeds for social change include:

  1. Lack of diversity: Ecovillages that lack diversity in terms of race, ethnicity, class, and other social identities may struggle to develop inclusive and equitable communities that can serve as models for broader social change.
  2. Limited scalability: Ecovillages are often small-scale and may not be easily replicable or scalable to larger communities or the broader society.
  3. Limited resources: Ecovillages often operate with limited resources, which can make it challenging to sustain experiments or projects over the long-term.
  4. Lack of institutional support: Ecovillages may face resistance or lack institutional support from local governments, businesses, or other stakeholders, which can make it difficult to implement broader social change.
  5. Internal conflicts: Like any community, ecovillages may experience internal conflicts that can impede their ability to serve as effective testbeds for social change.

Despite these challenges, however, many ecovillages have also been successful in developing innovative solutions to social and environmental problems, building resilient communities, and serving as models for broader social change.

Faruq Hunter

Given what you have said do you believe that it is a more productive use of time for a set of black people who are facing systemic racism to develop a testbed in order to resolve and create an example for how these issues can be resolved or is it a better use of their time to protest an lobby?

ChatGPT: Both approaches have their own merits and can be effective in their own ways. Protesting and lobbying at the national level can bring attention to systemic racism and put pressure on those in power to enact change. However, it can also be a slow and challenging process, with no guarantee of success.

Developing a testbed to resolve and create an example for how these issues can be resolved can also be an effective approach. It can allow for more immediate and tangible results, as well as providing a model for others to follow. However, it may require significant resources and support, and may not necessarily address larger systemic issues at the national level.

Ultimately, both approaches can be valuable and can complement each other in addressing systemic racism. It is up to individuals and communities to decide which approach or combination of approaches will be most effective for them.

Faruq Hunter

Which option would provide immediate results for the individual that is vesting his time in those options?

ChatGPT: Protesting and lobbying at the national level may provide more immediate visibility and attention to the issue of systemic racism, but it may not necessarily lead to immediate results or solutions for the individual facing the problem. On the other hand, developing a testbed to resolve and create an example for how these issues can be resolved may take more time and effort, but it may potentially provide more direct and tangible solutions for the individuals involved. Ultimately, both approaches can be important and valuable, and it depends on the individual’s goals and priorities in addressing systemic racism.

Black People Coming Together – Building Multiple Communities in One Black-Owned Village

0

Today was magical. A group of us, coming together. Stretching, setting intentions, laughing, praying, learning, engaging and eating… All while watching a sustainable cuisine workshop while we build our eco village. Just magical. I love us.

Sister Maria Muhammad

Build Build Build… was the model of the 2022 annual freedom village meeting. Kicking off a year of amazing building projects. It’s a jump start to the Freedom Village Georgia into the black town that we all have dreamed it can be. Ahead of the sprint are brother David and sister Maria Mohammed. Being the absolute first to take everything they own from California and move across the entirety of the country to Georgia to become the first full-family residents of the freedom village Georgia. But they didn’t stop there.

Instead, they began to recruit. Pulling in friends and family from Baltimore to California to purchase over 11 lots and side of the freedom village Georgia. In the most admirable and forward-thinking manner, the couple understood the necessity to combine the efforts of the willing, the excellent, and those deeply seeking the success of their dreams. The Grove at Freedom Village Georgia would become the first independently inspired idea of a sustainable village that would establish itself within the structure of the Freedom Nation and the Freedom Village Georgia. In no uncertain terms, the couple understood that Freedom Nation is an environment builder, not a dictatorship. It is meant to act and is no different than the city where several villages and communities can flourish both independently and conjunctively in collaboration with the ideas of the whole.

I’m just the type of person who likes to get the work done. I am not going to sit around and wait for things to happen. I make things happen

David Muhammad

But David Muhammad is no stranger to working inside a group of black people to achieve amazing things. Originally from Baltimore MD, David served as a Captain in the Fruit of Islam’s organized and disciplined structure within the Nation of Islam. Always willing to do what was necessary to push forward his thoughts and his ideals, brother David started out as a young man selling newspapers with the willingness to execute tasks that required minutia and those that required a senior level of thought and strategy. His wife Maria, joined him early in their battle for black equality and has and is an amazing fighter and worker for promoting causes of black excellence.

Sister Maria Mohammed holds a ladder while members of the Grove at freedom village help build the welcome center

“I’m just the type of person who likes to get the work done. I am not going to sit around and wait for things to happen. I make things happen” said Brother David Muhammad during his presentation for joining the Village Council of the Freedom Village. As a seasoned community organizer, brother David knows full well that it requires a leader to set an example to get others to pitch in. After moving to Freedom Village with his family and all his possessions brother David has been active in Hancock County working to establish a basic presence and an understanding of the needs of the community at large.

The courage and the quickness to movement displayed by brother David and sister Maria have been personified and acknowledged by the citizens of Freedom Village by first electing brother David to the Village Council of our Freedom Village Georgia 1 and then later by electing him as the first mayor of Freedom Village Georgia. And it is with that banner that mayor David Muhammad collected and gathered people from the community of the Grove at Freedom Village and organized the raising of the first permanent purpose-built structures in the village.

Sisters of the Grove at freedom village posing for a selfie while taking a break from building the welcome center at freedom village Georgia

Mayor Muhammad purchased lot 1 for the Grove at freedom village to create the first general stores, farmers market, and welcome center for those coming into the village. Village rules mandate that only Freedom Nation Citizens and their guests can enter the village itself. By opening up lot 1 to the visitor center mayor Muhammad not only facilitated a building project for the Grove but also gave a gift to all visiting members of the village from now and as long as the structure stand. With less than half the lot cleared, the Grove at Freedom Village’s welcome center is a demonstration of exactly how large 1.25 acres is.

Half of the one-acre lines are owned by citizens of freedom village Georgia

Currently, there are five more projects that are being built off-site to be installed at Freedom Village Georgia in October of 2023. One of the dedicated Village Council members, sister Nina Shabazz, has led the way in both volunteering to help build the welcome center along with Mayor David Muhammad and to purchase her home from the freedom builders purchasing program, to be located in the lot next to lot 1. Council Member Shabazz named the first five builders of homes in the Freedom Village “The Foundational Five”. As yet another servant leader, she put her money where her mouth was, and despite over 20 years of city planning and very organized planning of her resources, she took the leap necessary to be one of the first people to work within the processes and the programs that have been developed in the Freedom Village to grow it into a city of black excellence.

Nothing short of amazing, the 2023 town hall meeting in Hancock County is shaping up to be a very special event. where citizens from all around the country will converge when Hancock County and be some of the first people to walk into the finished welcome center thanks to the efforts of the amazing Freedom Nation Citizens and the pioneering members of the Village Council.

The Deep Africa-American Relationships of The Freedom Nation

0

Accra, Ghana… While most African Americans were simply looking forward to a tourist visit or the simple relocation of a beautiful home in the motherland of Africa some black American Muslims saw the return to Africa as a sign of returning to wealth, riches and the ability to provide other African Americans with opportunities that have been stolen from years past. The entrepreneurial story of African Americans in Africa is one that is far too little told. But there are a set of amazing African-American Muslims that are working hand in hand with local tribal and religious leaders to take back a piece of their heritage and claim it as a part of our future.

Utilizing the international networks available through the freedom Nation (freedommation.me) several black Muslim entrepreneurs have begun to tap into Africa’s natural resources in order to accelerate their growth and the growth of the black Muslim community as a whole. One such entrepreneurial black Muslim is used to getting in the trenches and literally spends his time digging through the dirt.

Mustafa Shahid, who is best known to our community for helping to bury our loved ones and ensure that the rights and duties that are incumbent on Muslims for the dead are carried out with expertise and precision, has now started to dig holes for another reason. Gold. But don’t think it an easy task. The process that many foreign Nationals of other countries have begun to invest in West Africa for is now being used by one of our own in order to extract this precious metal and bring it home to the United States.

Freedom Nation Citizen, Mustapha Shaheed with the Grand Imam of Accra and Ambassador of the Dagbon Kingdom

With over 23 local employees on his staff and a set of personal right hands on loan from the grand Imam of Accra, Mustafa is exploiting a multitude of relationships and opportunities that stretch directly to Black Muslims. Through the numerous connections that our community has established with the tariqa tijania and the Cisse family that stretch back over 50 years in Kaolak Senegal, Mustafa has experienced first hand the benefit of working in a network that includes over 200 million Muslims worldwide and is led by what is un-arguably one of the top 10 most influential Muslim on the planet.

But behind his story is an even greater one. Local Atlanta Imam Ihsan Muhammad, remains one of the strongest links that the black Muslim community has in the United States to the Muslim leadership of West Africa. Having completed over 7 years in Senegal learning the Quran by heart he is revered throughout the West African Sufi community as one of the top students of the late Cheikh Hassan Cisse. That leverage and multiple marriages, joint children and students from our community into West Africa have produced a deep and extensive network of trust in order to facilitate those highly entrepreneurial black Muslims to follow their ventures into West Africa’s waters of opportunity.

Freedom Nation Co-Founder, Ihsan Muhmmad, with Sheikh Hassan Cisse – Spiritual Leader to 200 Million

As one of the board members of the Freedom Nation, Imam Ihsan Muhammad, utilizes those relationships to quietly facilitate others within the citizenry of the Freedom Nation to go after major opportunities throughout the world. included in that is a strong relationship with the leadership of the Northern and Sahara regions of Ghana.

The Northern and Southern Regions are the largest producers of Shea and Cocoa butter in the world. Recently the Freedom Nation has begun whole selling a high quality, hand made version of these products to the black owned businesses in the US. Using the Freedom Village Georgia as a distribution center, the Freedom Nation, is providing a core material at a fair price to many black entrepreneurs in the US.

The Freedom Nation is a member based  independent economic development organization that is dedicated to creating environments of peace and prosperity for black Americans on a national and international scale. To learn more visit https://www.freedomnation.me/

Freedom Nation Citizen Musa Hasan Serves up Soul Food in Sparta

0

Shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles, fried green tomatoes oh hallmarks of true southern food. As one of the latest additions to Sparta GA, freedom citizen Musa Hassan, is an expert on farm to table foods and southern cooking. In one fell swoop, the expertise of our brother was a single deciding factor and the owners of the largest urban farm and Sparta and one of the most historic southern food restaurants handing over control to Bread and Butter Farms and the Hassan family.

It’s an absolute amazing achievement to know that living in a rural space does not include the isolation from excellent food. Moose’s family knows all too well about ensuring that the heirloom seeds that they grow bloom into beautiful plants they’d nurture both the soul and the palate. In addition, Bread and Butter Farms is approved by the Georgia Department of health to provide meat products and maintains a 600 pound a week growth center for three varieties of mushroom right inside of downtown Sparta GA.

Located just a 5-minute drive from freedom village Georgia, the world’s most forward-thinking black-owned self-governance development, citizen Musa Hassan shows us on a daily basis the value of being self-sustainable, organic and still truly enjoying some of the greatest pleasures of life, eating.

300 farm-to-table is the name of the amazing establishment that sits directly across from the mushroom growth factory and catty corner to Sparta’s largest greenhouses that are all part of Bread and Butter farms. The next time you think to come to the village make sure that you stop in Sparta and get your grub on at 300 farm to table.

Black Leaders Lead Efforts for Hancock County Urgent Care facility

0

SPARTA, Ga. — It’s no shock to the people in rural counties that health care is limited. The drive to these services is not close. With small emergency medical units, little to no licensed counselors, and other basic necessities, it can be hard for the community to call for help when they are in need.

There was once a Hancock Memorial hospital in Sparta, but it closed almost 20 years ago, so what have the city mayor, councilmembers and doctors been doing to provide for the community?

Councilman Prince Rav Yisrael brought in physician assistant Johnny Presley and Dr. Cynthia Sadler to speak with Sparta Mayor Allan Haywood and Chairman Sistie Hudson about bringing putting an urgent care clinic in the city. Haywood says getting the urgent care clinic takes time because they need doctors and a provider who will support the clinic.

“We just got to have a partner for an urgent care. I’m very, very, very excited about this project with these folks,” Haywood says.

Paula Dixon has been working with the city official and doing her own research about adding other medical services in Sparta. She hopes to see more than just an urgent care clinic. 

“With the rural emergency hospital and critical access hospital, I think that would be a plus. I think we need to put all options on the table, not just urgent health care,” Dixon said. 

Haywood told 13WMAZ since the county is majority low-income, getting grants to fund the clinic won’t be an issue. However, Dr. Sadler says the community has to want the urgent care clinic before they put one in Sparta. 

“The transition from planning to planning to implementation depends on the community because you have to have the buy-in from the community,” Sadler says. 

Councilman Prince Rav Yisrael says politics aside this is what the county needs. Currently, his mother is on 24-hour care in New York. He couldn’t imagine what his mother would go through if she were living in Sparta.

If someone in Hancock County needs medical attention, they have to drive almost 45 minutes to Milledgeville or 30 minutes to Sandersville. Both are in opposite directions and in different counties. If it’s a more serious medical emergency, the closest trauma one hospitals are in Macon or Augusta, which are hours apart. 

During the meeting, there was no definitive timeline of when the urgent care clinic would come to Sparta.

Source: Hancock County hopes to attract urgent care center | 13wmaz.com

Black-Owned Fulfilment Center Signs Cooperation Agreement to Operate on Chinese Border

0

It might seem so far away, but the truth is more of the products used by black Americans come from Asia then we would like to admit. In actuality almost 80% of black owned product brands are made in Asia. In the long term it is necessary for us to try to focus more of this manufacturing energy back into the continent and into black owned manufacturing villages. But as it stands, having a deep and independent relationship with Asia and with its primary logistic partners is a necessity to the idea of our self-governance.

With the motivation of creating the independent logistics and trade channels for black-owned businesses, the Chairman of the Freedom Nation, acting as Managing Director for Freedom Nation subsidy, Qosil, Ltd,  and the Chairman of the Kazakhstan Postal Service have signed a multi-lateral cooperation agreement. The agreement allows the Freedom Nation subsidy to act as the official black-owned fulfillment center and last mile delivery coordinator for the country of Kazakhstan’s National Postal Service, with delivery to it’s neighboring countries throughout Central Asia and for inbound traffic from China. In addition, the cooperation agreement lays the framework for the establishment of the Extraterritorial Office of Exchange, within the premises of the Freedom Nation warehousing and fulfillment facilities by the Atlanta airport.

Kazpost and KFS (Black Owned Division of Freedom Nation) Joint Product Fulfilment Center on the Chinese Border

The agreement will also see the creation of a subsidy of the Freedom Nation to bear the name KFS. The acronym is short Kazpost Fulfillment Services (a black-owned fulfilment center) when operating in Central Asia. The agreement marks the beginning of the creation of a fulfillment Network owned and operated by the freedom Nation that allows Freedom citizens to manufacture and develop product in order to sell to the 340 million citizens of the United States as well as the 200 million citizens of Central Asia with preferred shipping and logistic rates.

Diagram of the KFS Joint Fulfilment Center

The landmark corporation deal has also authorizes the Freedom Nation chairman to act as a representative of the Kazakhstan Postal Service throughout Western Europe, Canada and South and Central America to facilitate the establishment of the ETOE in those countries.

Never has any black owned movement for self-determination and self-governance created unilateral and direct relations with logistic carriers on an international basis at this caliber. This critical move allows us to move product from China to the United States and back with a single tightly bound partner in full adherence of the local laws of each country and the unified terms of the United Postal Union, the international body of over 150 Postal Services.

Although this new agreement will benefit all Freedom Nation citizens, it is important to note that it offers unique opportunities to reduce costs and increase competitiveness while widening the customer base of Freedom Business Citizens. To learn more about citizenship in the Freedom Nation and to take advantage of the many agreements ad resources of the Freedom Nation, please visit https://www.freedomnation.me/apply

Black Owned Georgia Village Elects First Self Governing Council

0
Black Owned Village First Elections
Black Owned Village Holds first Elections

*** PRESS RELEASE ON ELECTION RESULTS ***
Monday, September 26, 2022

On September 1st 2022 the black owned Village of Freedom Village Georgia elected their first Village Council. The election marks The Villages successful attempt at developing a self-governing body from their own inhabitants. the citizens of Freedom Village Georgia have elected four of their own members to serve as a Village Council and agreed to allow the council to select the village mayor in the first of their many Council meetings. The exercise was held in the most professional manners and has given a sense of pride and self-determination to a village of black Americans seeking to take control over the structures of their communities and the outcomes of the interactions.

In 2017 Freedom Village Georgia was originally founded by three brothers that desire to build a village for black Americans to realize self-determination and self-governance. Throughout the last 5 years, The Three Brothers vested and identifying the appropriate legal structure in order to develop such a community. Utilizing George’s condominium law, The Village was able to take a 205 acre portion of land located in Hancock County Georgia, and divide into 82 1.25 acre lots with planned roads, common areas and infrastructure for building homes.

In accordance with the condominium law, Freedom Village Georgia developed an association for the management of all common areas and general policies in regards to the land condominium. A special committee of volunteers from amongst the landowners was established in order to research and to construct the rules of the election process and the structure of the Village Council as a governing body over the association. After 6 months of diligent research and Town Hall meetings with the other landowners of the village, the special committee developed a comprehensive election process.

As a part of the established election process, the special committee on election procedures was dismantled at the end of their duties and the second volunteer elections committee was established to oversee the elections.

During the annual Freedom Village experience in Hancock County Georgia, nominees for the positions of Village Council were given 10 minutes to State their disposition on certain topics and answer questions from a gathering of Freedom Village citizens. After which, the presentations were recorded and placed in the public space for the citizens to review at their leisure (Freedom Village Georgia 1 2022 Village Council Election Nominee Presentations Full).Following the presentations, the election committee utilized an electronic voting method in order to solicit votes from the citizens of the village. Every citizen was required to validate their identification as well as their unique citizen electronic identification number in order to cast their vote for Village Council. Prior to the elections The Village support company had developed specific procedures and guidelines for online voting.

Almost 50% of all available citizens voted inside of the elections and four clear winners were established and order to create the Village Council. The results of the election were as such

Total Possible Voters: 51
Total Votes Counted: 22
Total Voter Participation: 43%
Total Vote Count:
Bro. David Muhammad – 18 Votes
Sis. Nina Shabazz – 18 Votes
Bro. Kareem – 14 Votes
Bro. Len – 13 Votes
Sis. Izegbe – 10 Votes
Bro. Jamal – 10 votes

Freedom Village Georgia is the first of the freedom Villages developed by the freedom Nation. Freedom Nation is a development company focused on building Villages that are self-managed and governed by its inhabitants. Freedom nation is especially focused on reducing the negative impacts of racial prejudice and legislations against black Americans. The outcome that is desired is that if black Americans are given the opportunity to govern and manage themselves then they will provide outstanding output to the society at Large while ensuring a peaceful existence for themselves and their families.

To learn more about the freedom Nation please visit https://www.freedomnation.me.

John Eaves Leads in Georgia Secretary of State Poll

0
John Eaves Leads in Georgia Secretary of State Poll

Atlanta, Georgia – Dr. John Eaves , a father, a grandfather, a Morehouse graduate, a Spelman Senior Instructor, and the former Chairman of the Fulton County Commission, leads all aspects of a professional poll done by Change Research of 596 likely Georgia voters done between March 12th to 20th. Dr. Eaves leads in a head-to-head race over Bee Nguyen by 12 points. Dr. Eaves leads in a three-way race against Bee Nguyen and Michael Owens by 10 points. Dr. Eaves’ state name ID is a very healthy 45% going into the primary election.

“I am humbled and grateful that our positive message of protecting voters rights is resonating in every corner of our great state,” said Dr. Eaves. “I look forward to continually taking our message of fighting against voter suppression, becoming the first African American elected to the Secretary of State in the south, and taking my proven record of voter turnout and job creation to the Georgia Secretary of State’s office.”

Dr. Eaves is a senior instructor at Spelman College, teaching constitutionally based Political Science. Dr. Eaves is a proud Morehouse graduate and a walk-on football player his freshman year and graduated as the captain of the football team. Dr. Eaves has a Masters in Religion from Yale and a PhD in Educational Administration from University of South Carolina. Dr. Eaves is the proud father of Isaac (26) and Keturah (21) and the new grandfather of Brielle (7 months). Dr. Eaves was first elected Chairman of the Fulton County Commission in 2006 and served 11 years in that position. During that time Dr. Eaves created the Souls to the Polls voter turnout program, increased voter turnout in Fulton County across the board by 7%, oversaw the largest voting operation of any county in the state of Georgia with 350 precents and an annual budget of about $9 million. While Chairman Dr. Eaves oversaw programs like Neighborhood Stabilization, Second Chance Re-entry, fought to pass the first T-SPLOST in Fulton County, gave over $50 million to the Creative Arts Industry and recruited Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and Sunoco to Fulton County.

https://www.johneavesforgeorgia.com/

Per surveys conducted by Change Research , Dr. John Eaves leads the Democratic primary field for Secretary of State in an informed ballot because he is the candidate with the record and profile to defeat Brad Raffensperger. This is according to a new Change Research survey of 596 likely Democratic primary voters in Georgia conducted March 12-20, 2022. Below are the findings. Eaves is as well known as Bee Nguyen. Eaves’ name recognition is statically the same as Bee Nguyen’s (45% ID and 49% ID, respectively).

John Eaves has a decisive lead in the Democratic primary for Secretary of State in the informed ballot. After voters read biographies for Dr. Eaves, Bee Nguyen, and Michael Owens, Eaves leads a 3-way ballot by 10 points (46% Eaves, 36% Nguyen, 12% Owens). He leads by 12 points and wins a 54% majority in a head-to-head with Nguyen.

Eaves is the top choice of Black voters who will determine the outcome of this race. Black voters prefer Eaves over Nguyen by a margin of more than 2-to-1. A record of successfully making voting more accessible and increasing voter participation, which Dr. Eaves did as Chairman of Fulton County, is the single most important thing voters are looking for from the next Secretary of State. A near-universal 97% of primary voters said this was important and 90% said it was very important. Eaves is the only candidate in the race with a proven record of increased voter access in Georgia . As Chairman of Fulton County, he made voting accessible by creating Soul to the Polls, expanding early voting, and increasing the number of precincts. As a result, the average turnout in presidential elections in Fulton was actually 7 percentage points higher on his watch than it was in 2020.

Voters are also particularly eager to elect the first Black Secretary of State in the South at a time when the right to vote is under attack and he is the only candidate. Making history and electing the first Black Secretary of State in the South was important to 82% of voters, including 91% of Black voters.

Finally, voters want a Secretary of State with a proven track record of job creation, which Dr. Eaves established as Chairman of Fulton County. A 92% majority of voters say it is important for the next Secretary of State to be a proven job creator with a record of supporting minority and women-owned businesses. Dr. Eaves has a proven record as the former Chairman of Fulton County of growing the economy, creating jobs, and forging public-private partnerships like Grady Memorial Hospital. As the chief business officer of the state, he will stimulate the economy by recruiting and supporting minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses.

Last updated on April 1, 2022

This post is curated. All content belongs to original poster at atlinq.com

Destination Ghana launched – projects targets a million tourists from UK, Europe annually

0
Destination Ghana launched - projects targets a million tourists from UK, Europe annually

President Akufo-Addo (4th from left) with Papa Owusu Ankomah (left), Ghana’s High Commissioner to the UK; Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey (3rd from left), the Minister of Foreign Affairs; Dr Mohammed Awal (2nd trom right), the Minister of Tourisnt: Akwasi Agyemang (right). CEO, GTA, and other dignitaries after the launch The country has launched a flagship tourism project, Destination Ghana, to whip up interest among travellers around the world to look to Ghana to satisfy their leisure and adventure curiosities.

Riding on the back of vast ecological and unique heritage sites across the country, the project seeks to attract, by 2024, one million tourists annually from the United Kingdom and Europe.

Beyond leisure and adventure, Destination Ghana also encourages tourists to take advantage of the country’s friendly investment laws to establish businesses and other economic ventures.

It is a sequel to the success of Ghana’s Year of Return marked in 2020, just before COVID-19 struck, which did not only put the country in the global spotlight but also brought in nearly $2 million by way of spending.

The project also comes under the Beyond the Return concept, which seeks to build on the Year of Return by encouraging people of African descent everywhere in the world, particularly North America, Europe and the Caribbean, to return to the motherland and take advantage of friendly investment laws to establish businesses and other economic ventures.

“I want to invite you, here in London and Britain, Europe and the rest of the world, to the Centre of the World, where Longitude Zero degrees crosses Latitude Zero degrees; where the bright sunshine enriches the quality of the skin and bodies of all; where music, dance and culture not only create fun but also excite the body, soul and mind for spiritual growth.

“Indeed, I welcome you to Ghana, the Centre of the World, to enjoy our famed hospitality and take advantage of our favourable investment climate,” President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo declared when he launched Destination Ghana in London last Sunday.

He noted that with a steady recovery in the tourism sector after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, interest in nature-based adventure and leisure tourism had grown, offering new opportunities to visitors.

“Ghana has an abundance of these offerings, and that is what we are here to present to the world, using our historical connection with the United Kingdom as a launch pad,” the President said.

He indicated that the tourism industry offered a great avenue to deepen Ghana-Britain relations for the mutual benefit of the two countries.

“We can turn the tourism and hospitality industry into a major tool for the positive transformation of the Ghanaian economy and into a win-win situation for investors,” he stated.

Best business place

The President said the country was not only gifted with a rich culture but was also the best place for doing business in West Africa, as well as the safest and most stable country in the sub-region.

He explained that Ghana was endowed with a governance system that rested on the separation of powers, with an independent Judiciary promoting accountability in public life and respected the rule of law, human rights and the principles of democratic accountability.

President Akufo-Addo said for several years, the country had been the recipient of the largest foreign direct investments in West Africa.

He noted that in addition to the abundance of natural resources, Ghana had, over the last few years, embarked on a product improvement plan, with many tourist sites currently undergoing renovation.

They included the Aburi Botanical Gardens, modelled after the famous Kew Botanical Garden in London, and the Yaa Asantewaa Memorial Museum and the Kente Museum, both in Kumasi, he said.

Investments in tourism

President Akufo-Addo said his administration had added an aggressive sector skills development initiative under the Ghana CARES Obaatan pa Programme, which involved the investment of GH¢100 billion in selected sectors of the economy to engender the post-COVID-19 economic recovery of the country.

He explained that the Ghana Tourism Authority was implementing the tourism bit of Ghana CARES, under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.

He revealed that this year alone about $25 million would be expended to upgrade some iconic sites, including the famous Elmina and the Cape Coast castles, the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and Mausoleum, the Mole and the Kakum National parks and the cultural museums in Yendi in the Northern Region, Ejisu in the Ashanti Region, Akropong in the Eastern Region and Ho in the Volta Region.

He said the works were under the Ghana Tourism Development Project, supported by the World Bank.

In addition to that, the President noted that funds would be directly injected into supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the hospitality and the beverages sectors, with negotiations currently ongoing with the World Bank.

“This $40-million project is expected to position the tourism and the hospitality sectors as key drivers of social and economic development. Some of the benefits that the project is expected to bring are an enriched access to Ghana’s tourism market, better provision of tourism products and services and the upgrading of skills in the labour force in the tourism, arts and culture sector,” he added.

President Akufo-Addo said Ghana needed the support of business partners the world over and challenged the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and its agencies to ride on the back of the Destination Ghana project to attract, by 2024, one million tourists annually from Britain and Europe.

“I have made my contribution by lifting, a week ago, virtually all the COVID-19 restrictions, including the opening of all Ghana’s borders, to enhance movement in and out of Ghana, while still maintaining the hygiene protocol, such as the wearing of face masks at indoor gatherings,” he added.

This post is curated. All content belongs to original poster at www.graphic.com.gh

Jackson had to keep her cool. These Black women could relate.

0
‘This is akin to a hostile takeover’

As President Biden’s pick to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Stephen G. Breyer, Ketanji Brown Jackson has faced hours of questioning this week in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Many Republicans have pushed back against her historic nomination to the Supreme Court, challenging her work as a public defender , her sentencing on cases of child sex abuse and more.

But it was a line of questioning from Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) that evoked what several reports interpreted as Jackson’s first hints of exasperation.

On Tuesday, the senator brought up the school curriculum at Georgetown Day School, where the judge serves as a trustee. “It is filled and overflowing with critical race theory,” he said, singling out “ Antiracist Baby ,” a 2020 children’s book by Ibram X. Kendi.

In response, Jackson let out a sigh and long pause before she chose her next words. She said critical race theory — an intellectual framework to examine systemic racism — is taught at the graduate- and law-school level and added that her praise for GDS came out of its history of integration and equality.

Social media quickly seized on the exchange, with many Black women interpreting Jackson’s reaction as a prime example of how they try to maintain composure in the face of aggression and hostility in the workplace.

“Every Black woman in a professional setting understands exactly what that moment was,” said Cynthia Ntini, 38, who added that it triggered memories of her experiences working for a management consulting firm. “We have to think, ‘Is it worth it to react to how I’m feeling inside? Is this person worth my career?’”

Ntini, who has been watching the hearings all week and tweeting commentary from her home in D.C., said she felt particularly triggered by Cruz’s remarks that suggested the real racism was against White people. “I grew up in apartheid and post-apartheid South Africa,” she said. “To this day in South Africa, a lot of White people insist that they are the victims of reverse racism.”

Her own outrage to Cruz’s line of questioning, she said, made her more impressed by Jackson’s reaction while in the hot seat: “She is refuting them point by point and she is standing her ground. I think it’s resonating with the public.”

Trimiko Melancon, a professor of African American and African studies at Michigan State University, said this is something many other Black women exhibit in their lives: “Black women intentionally and almost intuitively have to calibrate their posture and their demeanor and their tone to mitigate and lessen prevailing stereotypes that are circulating in people’s minds.”

“All of this really stems from that ‘angry Black woman’ stereotype and trope that is so ubiquitous and pervasive,” Melancon added.

This characterization of Black women, she said, can raise concerns that they will face consequences in the workplace. And those worries aren’t unfounded, according to a study by the American Psychological Association.

The research , published last year, found that expressions of anger from Black women can lead to worse performance evaluations and assessments of leadership capability.

For prominent positions like Jackson’s, the scrutiny can be far more intense, said Melancon, and especially amid the gaze of social media. Since taking office, Vice President Harris has faced criticism from Republicans about her ability to serve as second-in-command, and national polls have reported a dip in her approval ratings.

In 2019, former first lady Michelle Obama told journalist Gayle King that she was stereotyped as an “angry Black woman who was emasculating her husband.”

“As I got more popular, that’s when people of all sides — Democrats and Republicans — tried to take me out by the knees,” Obama said, “and the best way to do it was to focus on the one thing people were afraid of: the strength of a Black woman.”

“Men have historically and contemporarily always been afforded a level of emotional expansion that women generally don’t have,” said Melancon, citing sports and politics as areas where men’s rage is widely accepted. “It’s not misread as aggression, it’s not deemed inappropriate, nor is it viewed within the lens of [unprofessionalism].”

Indeed, some users on social media noted the juxtaposition of Jackson’s hearing performance this week and Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh’s in 2018 — a dramatic confirmation fight prompted by sexual misconduct allegations against him that surfaced at the height of the #MeToo movement. (Kavanaugh vehemently denied the allegations.)

At his hearing, Kavanaugh’s outbursts and emotional testimony worked in his favor, Melancon said: “In crying, [he showed] a certain level of masculine affability, like the lighter side of his personality.”

In recalling the media’s coverage of his testimony, Ntini said some “news articles were casting it in a positive way … that he’s passionately and vigorously defending himself instead of what it was: It was a tantrum by a man-child who wasn’t prepared to be scrutinized or to be held accountable.”

Many Republicans at Jackson’s hearings chided their Democratic colleagues for how they sparred with Kavanaugh at his hearings.

This week’s hearings have brought their own displays of performative behavior , said Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb) on Wednesday. That came after Committee Chairman Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.) called out Cruz after his allotted time for questions, and the exchange devolved into a shouting match. At the close of testimony later that day, Durbin applauded Jackson’s patience, dignity and grace in the face of what he called “offensive treatment” from Republican lawmakers.

Among Democrats at the hearings, Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) was applauded for delivering a passionate speech on Wednesday that moved Jackson to tears. “You have earned this spot,” Booker said. “You are worthy. You are a great American.”

It was the first time Jackson had shown that much emotion during the proceedings, and some Black women viewed it as a powerful moment of vulnerability amid a grueling two days of questioning.

“He saw Ketanji Brown Jackson being tore down and he took the opportunity to lift her up,” one user wrote on Twitter , “and she deserved to shed tears because she, like all Black women, is human.”

For Ntini, Booker “spoke to what all of us were feeling,” she said. “That she deserved to be there. That [support] isn’t something that a lot of Black women have in predominantly White, professional spaces.”

But Jackson demonstrated her poise in other ways beyond just her performance, said Melancon: “Her attire also intersects with that level of composure because when we’re talking about Black women, everything gets read.”

In the way Jackson precisely picked her words during the hearings, Melancon believes that same effort went into the colorful suit jackets she wore and the way she styled her hair . They’re subtle decisions, Melancon said, but nonetheless “they’re so symbolic and they’re powerful.”

The imagery was something Ntini said her 10-year-old son picked up on. Last month, as they watched the news of Jackson’s nomination to the Supreme Court, Ntini’s son said , “Mommy, she looks like you.”

The general public has largely supported Jackson’s ascent to the Supreme Court, and Ntini thinks her performance during the hearings brings her closer to that reality.

As she put it: “They’re really seeing her poise under immense pressure, her intellect, [and] the breadth of her legal knowledge.”

This post is curated. All content belongs to original poster at www.washingtonpost.com

Georgia State House passes bill ending license requirement to carry a handgun

0
State House passes bill ending license requirement to carry a handgun

The House approved a measure that would nix the requirement for someone to have a state license to carry a firearm. This story also appeared in Georgia Recorder The bill passed late Friday with a 94-57 vote that fell along party lines after a spirited hourlong debate. The Senate passed its version of a permit-less carry bill early this month, all but assuring some version of the proposal will land on the governor’s desk.

Gov. Brian Kemp, who is in a heated GOP primary contest, has pledged to sign a “constitutional carry” bill – a commitment he reiterated in a speech after officially qualifying to run for re-election this week.

“We live in precarious times,” said the bill’s sponsor, Canton Republican state Rep. Mandi Ballinger. “There’s evil in the world. We need to protect ourselves. And this bill allows us to do so without having to pay money to the government to do it.”

Ballinger argued Georgia residents are not required to have a license to exercise their other constitutional rights.

Rep. Shea Roberts, at Atlanta Democrat, accused Republicans of wanting to relax what limited checks are currently in place for firearms. Want to see more in-depth journalism for Savannah and Coastal Georgia? Have The Current delivered to your inbox each Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday. By clicking submit, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and Mailchimp to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time. “I’ve got to ask you: If you thought filling out that little piece of paper might stop a non-law-abiding citizen or somebody with a mental health history from hurting one child in the state, wouldn’t you just prioritize filling out the paper instead of the inconvenience?” Robert said.

And Sandy Springs Democratic state Rep. Josh McLaurin noted similar proposals have been filed in recent years, only to go nowhere. He pressed Republicans on what had changed this year.

“Did y’all care about freedom in 2019? Did you care about liberty in 2020? Or did you just figure it out this year?” McLaurin said to his colleagues.

McLaurin’s appearance at the microphone was also meant to be symbolic. McLaurin and the other Democrats who spoke against the measure were part of the so-called blue wave in 2018 that quickly shrunk the GOP’s majority in the House. Roberts flipped a seat in 2020.

“Every Democrat who spoke from the well tonight flipped one of your seats on the message that the public doesn’t want stuff like this,” he said, calling it “drift-right BS” meant to appeal to the Republican base.

But to his question of why pass a permit-less carry bill now, some Republicans offered answers.

Rep. J. Collins of Villa Rica, who chairs the committee that advanced the bill, recalled images on his TV of Atlanta “burning.” A Wendy’s in southwest Atlanta was burned down during protests following the shooting death of Rashard Brooks in June 2020.

Collins said concerned constituents tried to apply for a license only to find the local probate office was “shut down,” an apparent reference to the COVID-19 pandemic disruptions.

“So yeah, my mind was changed about constitutional carry,” Collins said.

Rep. Alan Powell, a long-time supporter of expanded gun laws, offered a more pragmatic explanation.

“We never had a governor that promoted permit-less carry or ‘constitutional care,’” the Hartwell Republican said.

“There’s a lot of members of this House that’s always been Second Amendment strong,” he added. “But if you don’t have a governor that says he’ll support the bill, we’re not going to pass a bill he’s going to veto. That’d be crazy. So, we now have a governor who has said that he will support permit-less carry. That’s the difference, ladies and gentlemen.”

Georgia Recorder is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.

This post is curated. All content belongs to original poster at thecurrentga.org

The Freedom Nation Network
Discover the many services available to our member citizens in the Freedom Nation