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BUDDHA THE 1ST BLACK REVOLUTIONARY HERO - 4

The one place in America that African/Americans can fins solace and cultural Expression is at the Black Church in America. America's 1st original music "Negro Spirituals" came from the black. Many of America's greatest singers came from the Black Church. Many African/American found solace in the Islamic Religion via the nation of Islam which preached a message of "Black Nationalism. " Islam produced the Great Malcom X while Christianity produced Dr martin Luther King. Buddhism in America manifest itself in America in a way that inhibits African/American cultural expression by way of its dominate Japanese Culture. Both SGI and NST subordinate African/American cultural expression.

This picture of me Antony "Amp" Elmore from my movie "The Contemporary Gladiator." At the time of writing this lecture I just turned 60 years old. I grew up in Memphis, Tennessee where Dr. martin Luther King was killed in1986. During my youth in the South I experience segregation . many working in cotton fields. My mama like many African/Americans youth worked as a maid for White People. My parents came from a farm in a town called Lamar, Mississippi. My grandma lived to be 104 years old and I learned how my great, great Granddaddy Issac Peterson came form North Carolina Mississippi. My three brothers went to Vietnam in 1966. Me being a youth in America was part of those who integrated various things in Memphis. I went to an integrated school and sang in an all White band that wanted a "Colored Singer." I was around the White Hippies. After finding racism in our Band I gained a Black Conscientious and joined the Black Movement. During my High School senior year I lead the 1st 18 year old voter registration in Tennessee.

In 1972 I met Rev. James Bevel who was a member of the SNCC who was an aide to Dr. martin Luther King who brainstormed the March Selmer to Montgomery with Dr. King . In 1972 we travelled to the Black political convention in Gary, Indiana. Rev. Bevel influenced me to quit college and join the Black revolutionary movement full time. Many people who are now giants in history as a youth I was around them and I was part of the movement. Today I am writing an African/American Buddhist lecture. This is not something I take casually.

I live the movement with my life. What is happening in Buddhism in America is tragic. Also it is insulting to me as an African/American to see how Japanese Buddhist teachers in America are so very arrogant and insulting to African/American people. Our African ancestors struggled and those who came before me struggled for future generations. Do not continue to let Japanese people insult you or to insult African/American people or your intelligence or historical facts.

Shakyamuni came from a Black warrior tribe located in what is the southern region of Nepal where the Shaka clan has built a Republic. The Republic had ten Chiefs and the Chiefs chose a leader they called King. Shakya was the name of his tribe and the title "Muni" (meaning sage). Shakyamuni's father's name was Suddhodana and their capital city was called Kapilavastu. Shakyamuni was also known as Prince Siddhartha who exhibited wisdom from infancy, and he was skilled in learning as well as the martial arts.

When Shakyamuni left on his path to attain Buddhahood has father dispatched five ascetics to go with Prince Siddhartha. First they trained under two ascetics and this did not lead to enlightenment. Afterwards for the next twelve years he pursued every religious practice imaginable and one day he rebelled from the religious ascetics and sat down, dug inside and attained enlightenment at the age of thirty years old. We Nichiren Buddhist understand that the "Lotus Sutra" that reveals Shakyamuni's true Enlightenment.

Shakyamuni came from a Black warrior tribe located in what is the southern region of Nepal where the Shaka clan has built a Republic. The Republic had ten Chiefs and the Chiefs chose a leader they called King. Shakya was the name of his tribe and the title "Muni" (meaning sage). Shakyamuni's father's name was Suddhodana and their capital city was called Kapilavastu. Shakyamuni was also known as Prince Siddhartha who exhibited wisdom from infancy, and he was skilled in learning as well as the martial arts.

When Shakyamuni left on his path to attain Buddhahood has father dispatched five ascetics to go with Prince Siddhartha. First they trained under two ascetics and this did not lead to enlightenment. Afterwards for the next twelve years he pursued every religious practice imaginable and one day he rebelled from the religious ascetics and sat down, dug inside and attained enlightenment at the age of thirty years old. We Nichiren Buddhist understand that the "Lotus Sutra" that reveals Shakyamuni's true Enlightenment.

The Nadas were succeeded by Mauryan Dynasty which was also of Black origin. The dynasty's founder Chandragupta Maurya steeped in and conquered the Nanda forces when Alexander withdrew. The Mauryas ruled what was at that time the largest empire in the world. Chandragta was succeeded by his son Bindusara around 300 B.C.E.. Bindusara was succeeded by his son, Ashoka one of the great King in India's long history.

It was Buddhism under Black King Ashoka that spread Buddhist teachings throughout Asia, Europe and Africa. Godfrey Higgins points out that there was Buddhism practiced in Africa before Shakymuni Buddha of India. The ancient Egyptians practiced Buddhism and Historian Godfrey Higgins points out that the ancient Egyptians were Buddhist and that Buddhism was once practiced all over the world. Higgins points out that "Stone Henge" in England was an Ancient Buddhist Temple. Higgins tells us about the Gymnosophist or the Buddhist in ancient Egypt.

Reference: Antony "Amp" Elmore Sr.