[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfTxV1S-1wI]
TV1 did a special on old black television shows and their contributions to the media industry. One of the shows they highlighted was the briefly aired Richard Pryor show. I remember seeing bits and pieces of this show when I was a kid, but I finally got a chance to watch it in its entirety last month. What was so funny and true was the episode shown above about Kamit/Kemet. A lot of people think that the black peoples’ interest in Kamit/Kemet began here recently or may have even begun when Cheikh Anta Diop first wrote his book African Origins of Civilization: Myth or Reality. The truth of the matter is that we have been interested, fascinated, encouraged and inspired about the Kamitic/Kemetic tradition for a very, very long time. Possibly since the days of slavery.
Did you know that the first African American collegiate fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. (founded in 1906) was inspired by the Kamitic/Kemetic culture, Kamitic/Kemetic mystery system and tradition. In fact, all of the Divine Nine (Black Greek-letter Organizations) were inspired by the Kamitic/Kemetic and their early initiation/pledge systems were originally based upon the Kamitic/Kemetic mystery system with a little bit of Masonic symbolism thrown in, watch Spike Lee’s School Daze. We won’t even talk about how much Kamiticism/Kemeticism exist in the Masonic orders. That’s a whole new discussion.
But, don’t get it tWiSteD like a lot of brahs and soros have done and think that they are “Greeks”. The Greek lettering was used as a mask, a classic defense mechanism developed from having a double-conscious.
Even W.E.B. DuBois was aware of this as indicated by the NAACP Crisis publication, and further analysis reveals that it goes back beyond that to when African Americans learned of their presence in the bible.
What’s interesting about this is that we are talking about shortly after slavery, African Americans knew that the Kamitic/Kemetic people were black and brown Africans. The reason they chose the Kamitic/Kemetic people as a source of inspiration in the early 1900s is to combat the racists and stereotypical imagery that existed during those times. It was a reminder that we are a great people and can or will be great once again. If we remember, put into practice the concepts and principles left by our Kamitic/Kemetic ancestors we won’t forget ‘dis time.
I love it! That’s a classic video clip!!!
Quite informative……..thanks for posting…….
In relation to the same topic you may find this info just as interesting:
As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” album, a ‘master class’ of stellar production & performance, I can think of no better way to end this ‘American New Year’ than to tell of the ‘drama’ surrounding the video “Remember The Time” & the reason this video was made. This bears repeating as often as possible because VERY VERY few people know this reason & what’s really interesting is that VERY VERY few who were close to MJ know about this (or at least they don’t let it be known that they know).
I have spoken to folks who were around MJ during this period, including his brother Tito & when I asked them about this, they gave various answers, but none of these answers were pertaining to the reason. Even Wikipedia & other such sites do not divulge this reason. I found out about it near the late ’90’s by a singer I was working with who was then signed to Geffen records. At that time she was close to David Geffen’s secretary & was told by her. Later around 2003 I heard an interview with Minister Farrakhan on cable TV & to my amazement he mentioned it in the interview. I also heard the same story from two of MJ’s business associates.
Below I have included a clip of Farrakhan speaking briefly about MJ telling him what happened when he met with Steven Spielberg, David Geffen & others of this film idea. It can be heard into 7:44 of the clip……….
NOW…………..I do NOT follow Farrakhan, nor do I vilify him. I’m simply posting the information because so far online he is the ONLY one divulging this information, (so don’t be ‘shootin’ the messenger’ here).
The reason the “Remember The Time” video was made was because MJ wanted to do a feature film which showcased the greatness of Black Africans in ‘ancient Egypt’. He approached Spielberg & Geffen, who were then his good friends, with the intent of having them get behind the film. BOTH men & the others refused. When Michael said he would finance the film himself, he was told that if he did the film would NOT get major distribution………(this is one of those moments when you just have to say “HHHmmmm~!!!!!”).
Now the story could have stopped right there & STILL it would’ve been an incredible story not only because it was MJ saying this & not some other famous well-positioned Black filmmaker, but also because this isn’t the MJ that we’re used to hearing about in the media. He’s supposed to be this lunatic Pop star who hates his people, etc…..
Well, with deep cleverness, MJ devised a plan to tell his film’s story by doing a long video. Knowing that he would run into opposition because of the story’s content, he ‘disguised’ the video with comedic overtones………Now, I never spoke to MJ, but I would wager he did this video with the hopes that a filmmaker (Black, White, Asian, Latino– whatever) would take this story idea, ‘pick up the ball & run with it’. Man was he wrong~!!!!!!……TO THIS DAY, none have done so.
So this is the main reason, besides his talent that MJ is of the utmost importance to me & should definitely be cited not just as a great entertainer, but also as a ‘film pioneer’~!!! We in the Black film industry are used to films being turned down because of the deepness of the story plot/content, but as far as MJ’s story idea, it just don’t get no deeper than this………
STILL today, this video is the most important FILM (yes FILM) made regarding this subject. It’s not about liking or disliking MJ. It’s about the idea he stood for.
youtu.be/H8NtCrpazqc
Thank you. I am sure readers would love to know this.
Hetep (Peace)
Oh Hell No! Richard knew? Oh MY God! Imma have to borrow this video for my black culture blog. This is brilliant! And Im checking Richard fluently reading and translating the Book of Life! Too funny and poignant as well. It’s in our spirits. Oh, thanks for blogrolling me!
Peace Sis.
Yeah, you know that double consciousness is something. All this time people thought that Richard was just a comedian not understanding he was using comedy, like griots and story tellers, to get a message across.
Interesting thing, I heard that he channeled the character Mudbone and stopped performing him because Mudbone told him to stop. Richard was Deep Huh?
Peace.