The problems of Africa and the African Diaspora are many and complex and dynamic, as soon as one is confronted, another occurs. But as long as that aspiration towards a free united Africa remains in our hearts ,we will eventually find a way out of the quagmire.

One of the more crucial issues is information. As long as someone in Brooklyn doesn't know about Lagos and vice-versa. Not just across continents, one block in the same neighbourhood on the same road could consider itself lightyears away from the next. We need to stop seeing chasms where there are none. In this day and age of internet and mobile phones, are we really isolated from each other?

While I commend Bantu-Kelani's insight, I don't think I would say that Blacks in the West have neglected the Motherland. I would say it's more the other way round. Of course, I have seen that many Black people in the West lack information about Africa now, even among the Pan-African movements. That is why you see more articles written is support of tyrannical gerontocrats like Mugabe, rather than on issues of human rights, economic rights, social developement, the environment and so on, issues which are more crucial to the creation of a strong Africa. More time is wasted arguing with nutcase missionaries like King David ,who have nothing to offer to anyone, not even themselves.

What we need is more information on the grassroots issues, the human rights ( and wrongs!), social developement ( or apparent lack) and so on. We don't want to hear more debates. Let's have encouraging accounts of how things are changing. Let's have those communities that have had success stories share with us how they did it.

Has anyone on this board heard of the Black Agenda?