DM Lawrence, The Humanitarian Afro-Rights Activist DM Lawrence

This poem was created and spoken by the most beautiful person in the world to me, my daughter Destiny. Recorded during the morning of June 30th. Thank you Destiny, for blessing me. You are a gift to the world, and I’m blessed to be your father.

Sharing this piece of timeless art is a form of trauma therapy for me, as I let go and embrace giving my daughter the best of me. For any listeners who are parents - thank you - keep your head up, and please keep pouring into your children. As someone relatively new to the parenting journey, I’m still finding my way.

In February 2022, I had the privilege of interviewing Mr. Anthony Browder for a Black History Month special for The Hilltop focused on Washington D.C.. (See article "Black Inequality In Washington, D.C." here: https://thehilltoponline.com/2022/02/28/black-inequality-in-washington-d-c/

This recording is the entire interview, with excerpts written for the article below. Please comment and share!

“In 1986, I created an activity that is now known as the Egypt on the Potomac field trip, where I outlined specific architectural structures in Washington D.C., that have a direct historical, cultural, symbolic, and spiritual correlation to ancient Egypt” said Howard alumnus Anthony Browder. “The Washington monument is a 6000-year-old African symbol. There's African symbols of the ankh in Meridian Hill Park. The energy that went into the creation of the city exists within Black folk native to D.C.” he continued.

Originally from Chicago, IL, Browder has worked in D.C. since completing his studies at Howard in 1974. Browder founded the IKG Cultural Resources Center, an institute focused on disseminating information about the worldwide African experience. Since the 1980s, he has traveled to Egypt over 50 times for archeological research and lectured throughout the U.S., Caribbean, Mexico, Africa, Japan and Europe on issues related to African and African American history.

Browder believes D.C.’s Black population has special energy and consciousness due to their spirit, culture and prowess within the capital of the wealthiest and most powerful nation in human history, however he is concerned the District’s public-school system may be failing the city’s youth.

“The mindset of many of our people is ‘to be smart is to be white’, not acknowledging that Africans were the first people to read, write and think. Our youth may not know about pivotal ancestors such as Rev. Anthony Bowen who was born enslaved in Prince George's County, yet purchased his freedom at the age of 19 in Washington D.C.” Browder said.

“Bowen bought land in D.C. and built a house, which served as a stop on the Underground Railroad and as a school where he educated formerly enslaved African people. He also developed several businesses and hired Black people. The former YMCA on 12th Street in NW was the first Black YMCA in the world and named in his honor” Browder continued.

Never Forget Your Roots by DM Lawrence

The Black Equalist (TBE) is another compilation of speeches and essays about human rights (or Afro rights) which are not protected for African descendants. TBE is a mixtape/audiobook/podcast about international social, economic, and political issues in America.

The purpose of this project is to introduce my Pan-African philosophy of "Black Equalism", which focuses on the fact that despite our social, economic, and political status - all people are equal. Moreover, "B/black", "white", and race are not real but social constructions created to compel people to dislike "Black/black" (non-white) people.

All in all, I attack the dividers of people and social constructs and systems/practices (colorism, racism, sexism, xenophobia, poverty, sexuality, religion, ethnicity, gender, political affiliation, region/geography), that are created to hold people back and maintain the status quo.

The Black Equalist (TBE) is another compilation of speeches and essays created by human (Afro) rights activist, DM Lawrence. TBE is a mixtape/audiobook/podcast about social, economic, and political issues in America and internationally.

The purpose of this project is to introduce DM Lawrence's Pan-African philosophy of Black Equalism, which focuses on the fact that despite our social, economic, and political status - all people are equal. Moreover, "Black", "white", and race are not real but social constructions created to compel people to dislike "Black/black" (non-white) people.

All in all, DM Lawrence attacks the dividers of people and social constructs and systems/practices (colorism, racism, sexism, xenophobia, poverty, sexuality, religion, ethnicity, gender, political affiliation, region/geography), that are created to hold people back and maintain the status quo.

The Black Equalist (TBE) is another compilation of speeches and essays about human rights (or Afro rights) which are not protected for African descendants. TBE is a mixtape/audiobook/podcast about international social, economic, and political issues in America.

The purpose of this project is to introduce my Pan-African philosophy of "Black Equalism", which focuses on the fact that despite our social, economic, and political status - all people are equal. Moreover, "B/black", "white", and race are not real but social constructions created to compel people to dislike "Black/black" (non-white) people.

All in all, I attack the dividers of people and social constructs and systems/practices (colorism, racism, sexism, xenophobia, poverty, sexuality, religion, ethnicity, gender, political affiliation, region/geography), that are created to hold people back and maintain the status quo.