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Donald Trump

Obi Egbuna Jnr Simunye
When US President Donald Trump decided to use a dehumanising four letter word when discussing the quality of life in Haiti, El Salvador and 55 African nations, only those children of Mother Africa at home and abroad who are truly devoted to revolution maintained their poise.

Based on the manner that any controversial statement from President Trump can pick up steam thanks to the US-EU imperialist apparatus 24-hour media cycle, which at this stage of the propaganda war is their most important mechanism in their arsenal, African people keeping a poker face was extremely necessary.

We remember the brilliant Pan-Africanist writer, physician and frontline warrior Frantz Fanon in his debut book “Black Skin White Masks” making it plain to the masses of our people when he said; “There are too many idiots in this world and having said it, I have the burden of proving it”.

What this tells us is part and parcel of exposing any idiot’s lack of intelligence requires highlighting the intelligent and even brilliant minds, who let these idiots rock them to sleep, even for a millisecond.

Unfortunately, this dilemma is causing the democratic machine in the so-called African American community, formerly known as the Civil Rights Movement and their white liberal cohorts many sleepless nights, which from the look of things continues to affect their better judgment.

Because the never ending quest for One Unified Socialist Africa putting it mildly has its bumps and bruises, we cannot turn a blind eye to the predominantly neo-colonialist heads of state, who are attempting to make off like thieves in the night while insulting our collective intelligence.

During a recent appearance on the Van Jones Show, which airs on CNN, the hip hop corporate mogul Shawn “Jay- Z” Carter called President Trump’s comments hurtful. While many of our people consider Jay-Z the face and best example of hip-hop’s rag to riches saga, they might very well overlook the degree of his hurt and pain when it comes to President Trump.

Let’s go back to 2007 when Jay-Z was in the process of completing the final phase of his cultural and artistic makeover from an artist who glorified blue collar crime in particular crack cocaine distribution, courtesy of a record label (ROCAFELLA Records) that paid the ultimate homage to one of US imperialism’s most notorious families, to gaining full acceptance in political and corporate circles that made the Rockefeller family reign supreme.

It was during this period that Jay-Z purchased a lavish apartment at none other than the Trump World Towers. The apartment had five bedrooms, five bathrooms, a gourmet kitchen, library and maid quarters, to the tune of 65 000 US dollars a month. All tenants enjoyed access to the Towers Health Club Spa, wine cellar and room service from the popular restaurant Migu.

This dynamic could very well confuse our precious millennials who put Jay-Z on a pedestal and are seeking to follow his recipe and blueprint for success or looking to slide him their resumes.

Such people probably won’t take the time to figure out whether President Trump’s recent outburst truly ruffled Jay-Z’s feathers, or whether his source of disappointment is because he and his corporate handlers had hopes of doing business with his former landlord somewhere down the line.

We also have to consider that Jay-Z was thinking about future concert appearances and record sales in the nations lambasted by President Trump, that not only impact his ability to line not only his pockets, but his significant other R&B and corporate mogul Beyonce Knowles-Carter.

Let this serve as a lesson to those who underestimate the spreading of the point of view that plagues the hearts and minds of the elitist and affluent of Generation X, who sincerely believe that overcoming oppression is to amass the wealth and fortune of your oppressors.

It was not a coincidence that Jay-Z’s recent moment of militancy occurred while being interviewed by Van Jones. Prior to becoming a media personality, Jones was President Obama’s Special Adviser for Green Jobs and was once considered by Time Magazine one of the most 100 influential people in the world, especially since after President Trump’s very first state of the Union Address stated; “He became President of the United States period”, but earlier this week called President Trump’s recent State of the Union Address “Sweet tasting candy with poison in it.”

Our African heads of state who demanded an apology based on their unwillingness to fight decolonisation tooth and nail, are offended primarily because President Trump used profanity when describing the nations which they preside over, which explains their collective silence when President Trump was breaking bread with the African heads of state from Cote D’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Uganda, and South Africa at a luncheon that took place on the sidelines at last year’s UN General Assembly.

Because we are more consumed with the form of political statements as opposed to their very essence, let us turn attention to President Trump’s position on US imperialism investing in Mother Africa.

“Africa has tremendous business potential I have so many friends going to your countries, trying to get rich. I congratulate you. They’re spending a lot of money, but it does — it has a tremendous business potential and representing huge amounts of different markets. And for American firms it’s really become a place that they want to go”.

What neo-colonialist African heads of state will do is use this opportunity to shake their age old tin cup at President Trump, hoping like hell he feels guilty, therefore, they can capitalise on his lack of better judgment.

The best case scenario for the reactionary African presidents is that President Trump either during or immediately after his Presidency can transform into former US President George W. Bush, who has visited Mother Africa seven times since leaving office, and our people flock to him like children do to Santa Claus when he has a bag full of presents or the Easter Bunny with a bag full of eggs.

In 2012 the Dallas News published an article titled “Bringing Africa Back to Life: The Legacy of George W. Bush” where the former President of Botswana Festus Mogae stated; “No American President has done more for Africa. It’s not only me saying that, all of my colleagues agree.”

This was followed by a Zambian woman saying George Bush “is a great man he tried to help poor countries like Zambia when we were really hurting from AIDS.

“He empowered us, especially women when the number of people dying was frightening. Now we are able to live”.

Shortly thereafter The Bush Foundation launched a programme, which has been working with the Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon Initiative to confront breast and cervical cancer among women that had 14 co-sponsors, including the Obama administration. Isn’t this the same man we attacked with unlimited vitriol just like President Trump?

The precedent neo-colonial Africa is setting. All a former US President has to do is approach Mother Africa like customers approach dancers at strip clubs with a fist full of dollars and everything is forgotten.

Inside US borders the Democratic machine, formerly known as the Civil Rights Movement and white feminists with a liberal leaning, has to admit they have benefited immensely from President Trump’s white supremacist antics across the board.

President Trump’s history of sexual conduct resulted in the opportunist and racist billionaire George Soros opening his chequebook to Brave New Films who in November released “16 women and Donald Trump, which is the story of 16 women who publicly reported sexual assault and harassment by the President.

Mr Soros appears extremely eager to butter the bread of the Me Too movement in the 89 campaign to voice displeasure with sexual harassment, the way he took care of the bills for #BlackLivesMatter, the vehicle created to protest police terrorism and brutality a few years ago, hoping that it would not lead to militant urban rebellions that burned down 289 cities from 1965 to 1968.

Those so-called African Americans who were enjoying their dream when the Obama family resided at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, are suddenly outraged by allegations of slavery in Libya, but stood idly by when their favourite US President under the guise of NATO alliance bombed Libya for seven months in a row.

These dynamics and contradictions make it abundantly clear why countries like Zimbabwe, Cuba, Eritrea,Venezuela, Bolivia see the need to stand alone and watch the parade go marching by.

• Obi Egbuna Jnr is the US Correspondent to The Herald and External Relations Officer to ZICUFA(Zimbabwe Cuba Friendship Association). His email is [email protected]