“Bantu Biko wrote: the problem is white supremacy ,the only logical and psychological response is Black Consciousness”

I agree with this wholeheartedly!!! I have expressed similar sentiments on threads dealing with colorism and black leadership in black movements. We have no contradiction there at all. I have also seen no need to seek out Judeo-Christian beliefs to find myself or see my idea of god. As far as I am concerned as an African woman I cannot look to another culture/teachings for my worldview, not the Bible, the Ible, none of them. I can only look to AFRICA, which is the ROOT. While I can understand your idea that we must be rooted in the physical in order to break earthly bonds I do not see how blind worship of any human, Selassie or otherwise can bring this about either. All that we need to bring about change is contained within us if we open up to our powerful creative forces and properly engage history and the critical issues at hand. Worship really should be the emulation of the good qualities or actions of an entity. It does not mean the blind disregard for flaws and mistakes and unceasing prayer, expecting action to take place. Why can YOU not be the earthly fighting galvanizing force that can unite the race and lead us forward? The power for this is contained in each of us ocne we cultivate it properly.

When I look at Selassie’s life, what stands out to me is not the prophecy of his divinity, what stands out is the fact that he saw a situation and used all his power, internal and external, to try to address it as best as he knew how. There were also many others in African history and in other world histories or religions that have done the same. Each of us can do the same. Forget the idea of his divinity. As far as I am concerned we all have divine power in us. What distinguishes true earthly leaders is that they have learned how to harness this power and put it to creative, powerful, physical use. It is thus MY responsibility to emancipate the race, as it is YOURS. It is we, with the power of the universe, our ancestors and our leaders within us (for it all stems for the same source) that are “ the creator, the maintainer, the sustainer, the defender and the developer” I say this with no ‘blasphemous’ intentions. Even though I am sure some will take it as blasphemous that I should say so. Yes this is individualism as you may see it. But I do not separate myself from my community and I see my individual development as a responsibility to my community to bring about change; it does not exist in a vacuum.

So you see, to me there is no contradiction, no separation, and no division!

I must say I appreciate your reasoning and your attempt to fully and logically reason and explain your position on things. We may disagree, but much truth can come from such interaction!