Nigga Please!!!: Remember Who You Were Before You Were Told Who You Should Be

Nigger is a persistent and rebellious word in the history and vocabulary of theUnited States of America and plays a significant role in centuries of terrorist actsagainst African Americans. Yet within the Black community a curious familialbond with the word has existed through generations of slavery until today. NiggaPlease!!! Remember Who You Were Before You Were Told Who You Should Be presents a theory grounded in ancient and present day Ethiopian nobility whichmay explain why this is so and why the ruling class found it necessary to corruptits original sovereignty.Nigga Please juxtaposes this theory against the blasphemous language andbehaviors of Rap Gangsta Rap and aspects of Hip Hop culture intersectingwith multi-ethnic versions of nigga being exploited and abused worldwide to thedetriment of African American youth young adults and our communities.vRemember Who You Were offers a basic metaphysical model for re-imagingAmericas most enduring dilemma and a prescription for healing fromgenerational traumas as we move towards restoring our people to our originalgreatness. The Honorable Marcus Garvey believed that if we as a peopleknew the greatness from which we came we would be less likely to disrespectourselves. Black survival and the rich musical legacy African Americans havecontributed to the world gives us cause to celebrate our humanity and creativity.Gangsta lyrics give us nothing to be proud of.Patricia Meade Leonard is an educator andworld traveler with special interest in the artsand spiritual traditions practiced in West Africanand African Diaspora societies. She is thefounder of Sankofa House Education whichdevelops and presents media programs forteens young adults and lifetime learners.Dr. Leonard is a graduate of the City College of New York and The AmericanInstitute of Holistic Theology. When not travelling she divides her time betweenHarlem New York and Ghana West Africa where numerous forts and slavedungeons stand as evidence of the trade in human beings known as the AfricanHolocaust.