A Black Man Like Me(Part Three)

Dear reader, in part one and part two, I have illustrated and defined the archeological data and references of the phobia, intolerance, irrational hatred, and misconception of the Somalis towards the Gabooye community. In this last chapter three, I have nothing new to say, with the exception of requesting from all of you, to think positively all together, and to find out a way out of this mess, inhuman act, of slavery and humiliation. And to find out a lasting solution and a remedy for the broken hearts of those innocent citizens of the Gabooye Community. What I am offering here, is nothing but a fairly substantial change in our way of thinking, judging, valuing, reasoning, and assessment of the Gabooye Community. To get rid of the grass – roots of the deep hatred, intolerance, phobia, misconception regarding the buried – alive citizens of the Gabooye Community. We are confronted primarily with a moral issue. It is as old as the Scriptures and is as clear as the American Constitution. We are all embracing the faith of Islam which teaches and preaches that all human being born free and they excel each other only and only, on the merit of their good deeds towards the worship of Allah, and how good they treat the other human beings. It condemns and forbids all sorts of discrimination and segregation. John F. Kennedy said in his Civil Rights Address in June 1963. It ought to be possible for every American to enjoy the privileges of being American without regard to his race or his color. In short, every American ought to have the right to be treated as he would wish to be treated, as one would wish his children to be treated. We are committed to a Worldwide struggle to promote and protect the rights of all who wish to be free. This Nation was founded by men and women of many nations and backgrounds. It was founded on the principle that all men are created equal, and that rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened. It has become one country because all of us and all the people who came here had an equal chance.
One hundred years of delay have passed since president Lincoln freed the slaves; yet their heirs, their grandsons, are not fully free. They are not yet freed from the bonds of injustice. They are not freed from social and economic oppression. And this Nation, for all it’s hopes and all it’s boasts, will not be fully free until all it’s citizens are free. The fire of frustration and discord are burning in every city, North or South, where legal remedies are not at hand. Redress is sought in the streets, in demonstrations, parades, and protests which create tensions and threaten violence and threaten lives. If one cannot enjoy the full and free life which all of us want, then who among us would then be content with the counsels of patience and delay. This is one country. It has become one country because all of us and all the people who came here had an equal chance to develop their talents. We cannot say to ten percent of the population that you can’t have that right. We preach freedom around the World, and we mean it, and we cherish our freedom here at home, but are we to say to the World, and much more importantly, to each other that this is the land of the free except for the Negroes. We face, therefore, a moral crisis as a country and a people. It cannot be met by repressive police action. It cannot be left to increased demonstrations in the streets. It cannot be quieted by token moves or talk, Mr. John F. Kennedy ended in his speech. Dear Somalilander, Enough is enough. It is time to act, and act fast in all of our daily lives. It is not enough to pin the blame on others, or deplore the fact that we face. A great change is needed, and our task and our obligation, is to make that revolution, that change, peaceful and constructive for all of us. Those who did nothing are inviting shame, as well as violence. Those who act boldly are recognizing right as well as reality.
But members of the present ruling families don’t like the change. Because it might affect their property values, status – quo, status symbols, statute – law, and statute – book of the present ruling – junta. Besides that, they don’t have the guts to face the truth. If the Gabooye Community fight with the ballot instead of the bullet. My final suggestion and ultimate advice is, some of the professional politicians with fame and honor like the Chairman of the Traditional leaders, Mr. Suleiman.
As well as those politicians with high calibre like the handsome former KGB graduate, from Ahmed Suleiman Daffle School of wiretapping, like Mr.Ali Waran Adde. Who feeds wild lions with fresh meat while his neighbor next door has no the lunch for the day. Plus those religion dignitaries like Sheikh Mohamed Omer Dirir, and some of the money manic business men like Mr. Mohamed Aw Said, from Russia with love , and some Iconic personalities of Somaliland like Mr. Hadrawi, and Abdi Qais. Must break the ice by getting married from the Gabooye Community. That may start the wheel of integration to move; and act as a gesture of a healing process to those old wounds of our brothers and sisters that we have buried them alive for centuries.
To feel genuinely sorry is not enough, for all those damage that happened to the broken hearts of our brothers and sisters of the Gabooye Community. I am not scratching those old wounds, introducing or teaching hate. But a sip of a cup of apology of integration, is insufficient pay for eight hundred years of slave – labor and humiliation. The Mosque and it’s Imam must stand up and say loudly. Gabooy is handsome, Gabooye is smart, Gabooye is my brother and sister, and I owe him mountains of gold. Then the dark shadow of shame and disgrace, will be replaced with a beautiful, colourful rainbow, and a big honest smile. Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish the treasure from the trash. A Nigger enslaving another Nigger through the reasons of bigotry and ignorance. But by now, no more trespassing on the rights of a black man like me, a moslem man like me, with a language like mine, and a culture like mine, and a religion like mine. It is not a matter of segregation alone, but a serious, heavy crime against the human dignity. But talking and debating alone cannot solve this deep rooted problem. It must be solved in the homes of every Somali, in every Community across our country. Act not out of sense of legal duty but out of a sense of human decency.
I close my statements and remarks by saying to you, what Mr. Martin Luther King believed. His physical death was the price he had to pay, to rid America of prejudice, and injustices, nothing could be more redemptive . To paraphrase the words of the Immortal John F Kennedy, permit me to say that Martin Luther King work on the earth must truly be our own , as Somalis.
Dear reader, this is a matter that concerns us all, not merely politicians or the president, but it concerns all Somali citizen. Having suffered a loss which can never be restored. The lack of an adequate education, denies now the Gabooye Community a chance to get a decent job. To say sorry is not enough for eight hundred years of subordination and misconduct.
Yusuf Deyr, Hargeisa
Somaliland