AUTUM ASHANTE: EVEN PITCHED, PITCH BLACK, PINT SIZED SHE-RO


A few points in honor of imminent success in the case of Autum Ashante and her Dad Bantim Ashante, and a short but sweet musical tribute using sounds from the Soweto Gospel Choir, "THE CLICK SONG."

Soweto Gospel Choir


This and the next several boxes were going to be a pictorial tribute to the Black Power Salute, but I couldn't move fotward without first drawing attention to Autum Ashante and her Dad, Bantin Ashante.

Bantin Ashante has raised Autum since she was 15 months old. In fact, what a fitting seague.

The courts in New York are attempting to have Autum literally taken from her Father's apparently able single parentage because of their distaste for a rather pungent poem she recited at school.

The question becomes, since when does the U.S. Goverment that mouthes allegiance to a smaller, "non intrusive" government, oppress parental rights by removing their children based upon socio-political view of the world.

We have observed countless Christian Right children gathered together outside of their schools, screaming at the top of their lungs at the American flag, neck glands bulging almost beyond repair, while waving bibles as big as their little bodies (probably because they don't know whose in them ).

That's not to mention the countless children and youth who softly recite crudely conservative, authentically bigoted poetry and other purported artistic forms of expression every day of the school year.

We know many White parents in particular mold their children to ultra conservatism from the womb and with the intensity with which Tiger's Father dragged his son around with those irons.

In the meantime, Autum and Batin's case has been heard by a Westchester Court Judge who Baba Batin and his attorney accuse has gone so far as to hand out materials to the press accusing him of raising Autum to be "a racist" in an effort to skew their possibilities for a fair hearing.

They say some of those materials have been handed to people who have ultimate influence on the decision of the court.

How dare a jurisdiction seek to set precendent for taking the children of Black parents whose children are easily able to look at the world around them, ask questions and draw artistic conclusions about what they see with their own eyes.

This is a terribly dangerous proposition, that has far reaching implications for Black parents across this country.

I sure wish I could be in New York to participate, and be present and accounted for at their next court appearance, January 30th, 2007 at New Rochelle Family Court, 420 North Ave., New Rochelle, N.Y.

I hope some of you will go with me and us in mind.



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Message from Brother Batin Ashante, Father of Autum Ashante

March 7, 2007


First the Ashante family would like to thank you for your thoughts, words and prayers in the custody situation with my daughter Autum.

With the pressure brought on by the family and greater community, the Judge stated that this may no longer be a custody issue, but rather a visitation case which is a direct contradiction of her earlier ruling.

So far we have retained custody and the Agency has not recommended that she be removed from my home. We're in the administration process and have various government entities to overcome and await the judges evaluations.

I need to stress that this change was brought about by the outpouring of love by the community and the pressure put on the judge and her supervisor.

We've been ordered to return back to court on March 19th at 9AM, and we're calling on all the members and supporters of the community to come to this extremely important hearing.

We're looking for 1000 people. On January 30th we shut court down and their waiting area was filled to capacity while the rest of the family had to stand in the lobby downstairs.

Again we're calling on mothers and fathers caught in this court system going through the same issues to participate on this day, to assure that the court gets the message that Autum is a child in a strong community.

We will no longer tolerate the separation of a child of color from their family as a unit.

With your voice and presence in the court-room, we can assure this wont happen to Autumn or any other person of color so that they too can retain custody of the children they love and care for.

Please, take a necessary moment and join me in and writing a letter to:

Judge Nilda Morales Horowitz at: 420 North Avenue New Rochelle, NY 10801 or call (914) 813-5650 to offer brief words of support. Please let's keep our energy, calls and letters of support positive and powerful and join us on the 19th. Thanks family, Hotep!

See you on MARCH 19TH at 9AM, thank you for your continued support. Hotep! REMEMBER, 1000 STRONG!!!!!!!!!

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GROWING UP BIG AND STRONG UPDATE:

February 1, 2009

"Autum Ashante recites Uncle Seagram by Gwendolyn Brooks"


Autumn Ashante










Autum, 2009

Autum Ashante' and HHYSC at 5th Annual United Nations Student Assembly for Disarmament
















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