Don’t Front on My Brothers, I Take Care of Them Before I Take Care of Others

It feels too good to be thought of as God, a Brother, and not a Nigger.  This line came from the seminal Hip Hop group Bran Nubian who at one point or still are members of the 5% nation. The 5% believe that the Black man is God and the Black woman is the Supreme Mother of the world.  They also believe that it is only 5% out of 100 (Ghostface voice) that can civilize the deaf, dumb, and blind. The 5% Nation was an essential part of setting the foundation for Hip Hop in its toddler years.  Them, along with Rakim as the father of that movement in Hip Hop, Big Daddy Kane, Wu Tang and many others who if not members were greatly influenced by the NGE (Nation of Gods and Earths). These men taught me the five percent lesson in a song and I have not forgotten to this day. You have to know, the ledge, the wise the dom (dumb) and understand your culture of freedom, power equally with the God so you could build and born your cipher. (Knowledge, wisdom, understanding, culture, freedom, power/equality, god, build, born, cypher). For a Hip Hop song to impart a lesson so profound and yet so subtle on a generation of listeners, and beyond is truly amazing. So while understanding this culture freedom powering equally with the gods I’m gonna continue to build and born this cipher.

Sadat X (the wild cowboy) is the emcee that spits the affirmative line, saying, “If my crew cant get in then the X makes an exit to the rear, I’m outta here, don’t front on my brothers, I take care of them before I take care of others”.  Powerful. Group Solidarity. Black Men educated and unified and orderly; for the people.  Sadat X was demonstrating humility; not the arrogance that can dominate in a capitalist society showing that he, and no other man or structure,  was above his people,  who may not have what he has or know what he knows but are his people nonetheless.  When I was a young girl I lived in a nice New Jersey suburb, it wasn’t no Rev Run NJ, but black folks did have nice houses and cars.  We use to visit family members in the South Bronx every weekend and I was sent to stay with them every summer.  One time I complained to my mom about the trips, the hood, the environment…even tried to call her out on some ole, “why you got me in the hood, it is unsafe?!” She calmly turned to me and told me in that way when you know you are not to say anything else, they are your Family. She also said something like; I lived here before I had you, as did your sister.  What would you have us do with your cousins, aunts, grandparents and father? Leave them in the city? Invite them all to NJ? Don’t front on your people take care of them before you take care of others. A person is a person because we are a people.

This verse speaks to another type of pinned for unity: economic, cultural, and spiritual.  It is an affirmation that we do see each other as one.  There was a time when everything was about a crew and you really weren’t shit if you did not roll with people that were just as about it as you.  Everyone had a crew Wutang,  Junior Mafia,  Hit Squad,  Native Tongues,  Boot Camp Clique,  Terror Squad and this practice continues somewhat today in the form of YMCMB-Gwinnin and the Pit-bull dj’s.  The Africanennss of the crews is that “Umuntu Ngu Muntu Nga Bantu” belief–A person is a person because we are a people. You are mine and I am yours and I got your back, your side and your front. What happens to me affects you as well and the cipher continues.  Ubuntu is a South African loosely translated to “unity or humanness”, that non tangible stuff that makes us human and the need the essential universal demand for unity.

For a young lady it also takes on the connotations of we came together we stay together (leave no sister/home girl behind-force that chick if need be to bring her ass with the crew and not go with that cute brother-this shit could save your life) and this is something young girls are taught or should be taught as they enter the dating/socializing scene. You know when you roll deep people are less likely to mess with you. Now for black men there is the problem of the local law enforcement, however even in regards to that you might be better off with a gang of brothers that can assist if you need to defend yourself, video tape the police, or acquire bail money. Stick together, stand together, rise together, common phrase is together.  Whatever we do, we will do it together, whether we rise or fall, we will do this as a unit. What would our communities look like if we cared more about one another? If we pooled our money? If we controlled our schools? If we didn’t front on our brothers/sisters and took care of them over anyone else. The homey Ken Brisbon (thegameissoldnottold), had an article speaking of the need for Blacks to be racist like White ethnic minorities, Chinese, etc, however we cannot “be racist” until we control our institutions and we will not be able to do that until we love ourselves and care about those who look like us, who live in our neighborhoods.

We need a revolution of care, of love, of mental healing to support or provide foundation for all these facts we’ve accumulated. I’m about to give out hugs; put up a stand like Lucy from the Peanuts, you down?

I generally am not a hugger, my family is Native American and West Indian and in those cultures hugging is essential or done frequently unless something is wrong with you and then they’re either telling you to burn sage or drink tea. However as I’ve matured I’ve seen how powerful a hug, a kind word, honest concern can be. As a whole we’ve been conditioned to not feel, to not love, to not care. Let’s get off this wheel of hate and do for self and one another.

Additionally let’s stop fronting on brothers. We as Black women are hurt, angry, disappointed, frustrated in our men and for many good reasons. However they are still our men, our fathers, grandfathers, nephews, cousins, and they are BEAUTIFUL. We have begun to focus on all the flaws all their struggles with no regard to their own feelings and challenges. I am not making excuses for deadbeat dads, pimps, abusers and their ilk. I am just saying let’s remember who they were/are, who we were/are, and who we all could be. I’m out of here, don’t front on my brothers, I take care of them before I take care of others. Word.

Peace, Love and Light from SoulForce worker #1 Lola Fulani aka Bonitaah Applebum