REVISITING THE DUKE UNIVERSITY LACROSSE CASE: THE REAL DEAL
Privilege, Race, Gender and Class
By Fahim A. Knight-EL
This writer believes in setting the environmental scene, in particular the historical background when evaluating and accessing a topic such as the Duke University Lacrosse Case; it is important to give the outside readers some demographics and social variables to help them to analyze the underlying issues of race and class that permeated this most controversial case. The city of Durham was founded 1853, which it gets its name from one Barlett Durham who was a medical doctor by profession. Durham is passionately called the Bull City and the City of Medicine. It has a sister city of the same name Durham, England.
But prior to medicine, Durham was considered a huge textile and tobacco town and thrived off African slave labor. The first established Tobacco Company was called Green’s Tobacco (which specialized in a tobacco crop that was called brightleaf, a sweet tasting tobacco) and Washington Duke, the patriarch of Duke University which was initially named Trinity College became big in the tobacco industry. Jewish Merchants entered at some point along with the Dukes and took the tobacco industry in Durham to the next level with the establishment of Liggett and Myers and American Tobacco companies.
Their wealth was amassed on the backs of African slave labor—these plantation owners such as the Camerons , Mangums, Seamans, etc., reaped huge amounts of wealth which set a quasi-Dynastic bloodline of inherited wealth that has been passed down from generation to generation amongst these aristocratic white families. Let me say this, right off the back—there is Durham and there is Duke University , a city within a city, which functions as the most powerful entity in Durham and perhaps in all of North Carolina; next to Bank of America which is headquartered in Charlotte, the second largest banking city in America .
Thus, just like under the institution of slavery Duke probably is the second largest employer within the city of Durham. Duke University answers to no one, but themselves; so just imagine for one moment a poor African American woman accusing three of the white aristocrat of a criminal act such as sexual assault—these boys were symbolic representatives of the prominent and prestigious Duke University. Duke University has had a history of handsomely rewarding their allies and friends and severely punishing their enemies and political adversaries.
Many lawyers in Durham will not even represent a plaintiff who has perhaps filed a legitimate legal grievance against a powerful defendant like Duke University because of the fear of political and/or economic reprisals. Durham is a city of approximately 44% percent Caucasian and 43% African American and next to Atlanta, Georgia per capita income Durham has it share of black millionaires and a powerful influential black bourgeoisie class.
Thus, at the turn of the 20th Century prominent black families emerged who were recipients of Duke philanthropy money led to establishing themselves in banking and finance, insurance business, funeral services, etc., black bourgeoisie families such as the Moores, Merricks, Spauldings, Willards, Pearsons, Warrens, Shepards, Kennedys, etc, stood front and center and many of these black entrepreneurs appeared to have been from miscegenation relationships. Booker T. Washington, the founder of Tuskegee Institute and the Negro Business League who visited Durham in the early 1900 stated he hadn’t seen nor found a more economic progressive Negro any place in the United States as the one he found in Durham. The Chicago University trained sociologist, E. Franklin Frazier who authored the book titled, “The Black Bourgeoisie” drew the same conclusion. Blacks in Durham at the turn of the century had established their own insurance company in North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company, Mechanics and Farmers Bank and North Carolina Mutual Savings Company. (Reference: Andre D. Vann and Beverly Washington Jones; "Durham's Hayti").
Black Durham was thriving and Parrish Street in Durham was coined “The Black Wall Street” of the south. Also, black Durham had Hayti an economic and social hub where they owned two movie theaters, a printing press, black newspaper, a hospital, grocery stories, clothing shops, beauty schools, barber shops, clubs, etc., Hayti existed and functioned with complete autonym based on Jim Crow laws and segregation (1896-1965). They attracted James Brown, Sam Cooke, Fats Domino, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Charlie Byrd Parker, Bobby Blue Bland, Otis Redding, Billie Holiday and since Durham was the home of Clyde McPhatter, Shirley Caesar and Pigmeat Markham all them perfomed local acts because during that time of segregation many of these artists had no other choice but to perform on the ‘chitlin' circuit. (Reference: Earlie Thorpe; “The Central Theme of Black History).
Most historians refer to a thriving section in Tulsa, Oklahoma in the early 1900s as “Black Wall Street” in which in 1921 Tulsa Race Riot spearheaded by Ku Klux Klan and other hate groups and an entire black economic metropolis was burned down, which led to the killing of innocent men, women, and children in Tulsa. But Durham historically has been overlooked as the “The Black Wall Street” by some historians because of the infatuation with the sensationalism associated with Tulsa tragedy. (Reference: Jay Jay Wilson and Ron Wallace; "Black Wall Street").
Durham’s black leadership (many entered the black Boule on the ground floor in 1904, a fraternity modeled after the Skull Bones of Yale University that recruited bourgeoisie light skinned blacks —privilege and class) historically has always had a civil relationship with the white power structure, which was partially based on conciliatory and accommodation lines of acquiescence to power, but with a passive militancy under-girded by the White Anglo Saxon Protestant (WASP) principled in bootstrap economic philosophy of pulling yourself up the economic and social latter by being thrifty, hard working and doing for-self. (Reference: Tim Wise; “White Like Me; Reflections on Race From a Privileged Son”
The white power structure did not view their economic passivity as threatening or confrontational within the social dynamics of power relations. The great non-traditional historian Joel Augustus Rogers in his book titled, “World’s Great Men of Color” dedicated a chapter to Durham’s black economic moguls and North Carolina Mutual Insurance Company. The founders of North Carolina Mutual Insurance Company in 1889 were John Merrick, Dr. Aaron M. Moore and Charles C. Spaulding. Merrick who was a barber by trade, served as the personal barber of Washington Duke. (Reference: Joel Augustus Rogers; "World's Great Men of Color").
Merrick had the ear of the Duke Tobacco extraordinaire and strategically used this personal relationship to solicit philanthropy help from one of the wealthiest tobacco plantation owners in south in order to aid in black economic enterprises such as North Carolina Mutual Insurance Company. Also, Washington Duke’s son James Buchanan Duke and other white philanthropist helped Dr. James E. Shepard (a two term North Carolina Grand Master of Prince Hall Masonic Fraternity) establish North Carolina Central University (formerly the National Religious Training School and Chautauqua) in 1909, the first African American state funded Liberal Arts University. White Rock Baptist Church (founded in 1866) which was once led by Dr. Reverend Mark Miles Fisher perhaps the most influential and prominent black church in Durham yesterday and today, along with Saint Joseph African American Methodist Episcopal Church (founded in 1869), which has always housed the black brain trust of Durham. (Reference: Dorothy Phelps Jones; “The End of an Era’)
African Americans intellectuals and the black political bourgeoisie founded the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People in 1935, one of the most effective political action groups in Durham and perhaps in all of North Carolina; they have over a seventy year continued history and have had a huge political voice in the life of Durham politics. The Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black people has lobbied to get black and progressive candidates elected to city, county, state and federal offices. The recent November 4, 2008 election, it was Durham Committee that was instrumental in propelling a little known State Senator named Kate Hagan to the United States Senate defeating veteran U.S. Senator Elizabeth Dole, a senatorial seat that was once held by the racist and controversial Senator Jesse Helms.
This election symbolically ended four (4) decades of Jesse Helms divisive politics and turned North Carolina from a Red State into a Blue State; newly elected Senator Hagan owes her victory partially to the African American electorate, which she received over 90% of the black vote. Also, North Carolina elected its first female Governor Beverly Purdue, but believe me, these high level politicians courted the Durham Committee for the endorsement of their candidacy. No doubt this political action group possesses political power to sway the electoral process in North Carolina.
Thus, in 2006 Dr. Lavonia Allison, Chairwoman of the organization of Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People who had endorsed incumbent Durham District Attorney Michael Nifong for District Attorney Re-election. DA Nifong was running against a formidable and competent former Assistant District Attorney Freda Black. Assistant D.A. Freda Black worked under former District Attorney Jim Hardin who has since been promoted to a judgeship and next to the Duke University Lacrosse Case they presided over perhaps the largest criminal preceding in the history of Durham, North Carolina—the criminal case of Michael Peterson, a former mayoral candidate and prominent novelist who was also employed by the "Herald-Sun" newspaper, the oldest newspaper in Durham.
Peterson was accused and convicted on October 10 2003 of murdering his wife in their over million dollar mansion by beating her to death with what police described as blowtorch and throwing her down a swirling staircase. This legal case attracted national and international attention and became a very high profile case. It attracted a British news outlet that had shot hours of court proceedings footage for a documentary and even "Life Time" television did a movie based on the Peterson story. Michael Peterson hired a formidable and high powered legal team led my Attorney David Rudolf; they even hired forensic scientist Dr. Henry Lee who came to the public eye during the famous O.J. Simpson Trial, which Attorney Johnnie Cochran assembled the legal dream team. Simpson was allegedly accused of murdering his ex-wife Nicole Brown-Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman. The Los Angles, California Courts rendered a not guilty verdict against Simpson. (Reference: Michael Eric Dyson: Race: Navigating the Color Line).
Moreover, D.A. Hardin and Assistant D.A. Black presented a case, which the jury agreed that based on all the evidence and the legal standard of an unreasonable doubt, a jury found Peterson guilty of first degree murder of his wife Kathleen Peterson. Durham had never had this type of media coverage—CNN, BBC, NBC, CBS, ABC, Court-TV, TBS, etc., and various cable networks along with a host of newspapers—national and international print media and radio outlets surrounded the Durham County Judicial Building. This was unprecedented in the history of Durham until in March 2006 all hell broke loose with the Duke University Lacrosse Case where an African Americans stripper accused three white defendants who were members of Duke Lacrosse team of sexual assault that took place across the street from Duke University East Campus.
Durham is the home of the highly rated and former two time National Colligate Athletic Association (NCAA ) national champions Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team, which is a National Basketball Association (NBA)—unofficial farm team that is coached by future Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski who is considered a goodwill ambassador for the entire NCAA. The allege sexual assault had upended the squeaky clean reputation and character of one of the most well respected and sought-after academic university in the world and is passionately called the "Ivy League School of the South."
Duke possesses one of the most preeminent medical school programs in America ranked with the likes of Stanford University, and John Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. It attracts faculty from around the world, as well as enroll students from all seven continents and has a very active alumni. Duke University by far attracts the upper crust of our society; it perhaps cost over fifty (50) thousand dollars a year in tuition to attend this prestigious learning institute. How dare an African American woman accuse three white students of sexual assault?
After-all this was Duke University, a symbol of power, privilege, class and exemplar center of learning. This writer knew the Durham Police Chief Steve Chalmers and some of the investigators handling the Lacrosse case. The allege victim Crystal Mangum who was a student at North Carolina Central University by day and was a stripper by night. Some believed that District Attorney Michael Nifong who was running for re-election as Durham's D.A. recklessly and in an abuse of office and power used the Duke Lacrosse Case as a political maneuver, which to lock up the African American vote by assuring this segment that he so-called wasn't going to allow race and class to interfere with pursuing justices for the allege accused victim. Nifong who is white and the three Duke University defendants were white and the alleged victim was African American. But Nifong re-election campaign weighed in the balance and some pundits maintained that he desperately needed the black vote to secure a victory and out of political expediency, he indicted the three alleged defendants of rape and sexual assault, which some believe he did not have sufficient criminal evidence to pursue this case. (Reference: Stuart Taylor and KC Johnson; “Until Proven Innocent: Political Correctness and the Shameful Injustices of the Duke Lacrosse Rape Case”).
Some legal experts has argued that Nifong's criminal case from its inception lacked evidence of DNA and the physical evidence was not substantial enough to warrant a criminal indictment of these Defendants. Durham for months was the media center of the world;. It even made the Michael Peterson legal case appear as child's play. Perhaps because it had all the social and political ingredients that create sensationalism—really race and class was fueling this media blitz. All cameras were aimed at Duke University and the social tension was beginning to heighten on both sides. (Reference: Don Yaeger and Mike Pressler; “It's Not About the Truth: The Untold Story of the Duke Lacrosse Case and the Lives It Shattered”).
The New Black Panther Party for Self Defense in May 2006 and its charismatic leader brother Malik Zulu Shabazz came to Durham (this writer had the opportunity to sit and talk with Malik Zulu Shabazz and his assistant Hashim Nzinga) and led a peaceful march and demonstration on the campus of Duke University for justice. The black community was divided on the presences of the New Black Panther Party coming to Durham, but many loved Shabazz predecessor, the late Dr. Khallid Abdul Muhammad, the former national spokesman of Minister Louis Farrakhan and Nation of Islam; therefore extending themselves to Shabazz and his group. Bruce Bridges of owner of the Know Book Store in Durham was partially responsible for the New Black Panther Party coming to Durham.
Thus, with all the media attention evolving around this case the grassroots of black Durham had never spoken because the talking heads were acquiescing to Duke University, a symbol of power and privilege and this little poor black alleged rape victim and her powerless community had come up against a formidable institution of wealth. The coverage of the Duke Lacrosse Case was sexist, racist and had misogyny written all over the unbalance converge. This writer is taking this opportunity to speak for the voiceless grassroots.
Duke University has the power and wealth to make things go away and many African Americans felt there were some legal mistakes, but they also knew and understood that Duke University had plenty of money and a long political arm. It was perhaps their influence that led to this case unraveling like it did. Thus, even the North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper's decision to drop all formal charges against the three alleged defendants; it has to be assessed within the dynamics of Duke University power and wealth—having the ability to promote any politician with upwardly ambitions and therefore Cooper's legal decision has to be viewed from that context.
This case in one sense, was more about class than race but that is not to suggest that race wasn't lurking in the midst of this legal unraveling. Many believe that the night in question relative to the alleged sexual assault incident—something did happen and we might never know what that something was. Black women and all women have been victims of inequality subjugation, sexism and sexual violation perpetrated by men, which the jurisprudence and the criminal justice system have not fully overcome gender bias and the good ole boy network. African American women historically were raped and assaulted, and were victims of violence for 310 years under the evil system of Chattel Slavery, in which it was against the law for black men to defend their wives and daughters.
The Duke University Lacrosse Case had a lot of historical and social precedence and in their minds the allege victim Crystal Mangum had no rights, duly bound that required a white man to respect. This history lies just beneath the surface and the Duke University Lacrosse Case personified the historical racial and social injustice of white power—the violence and oppression associated with a paternalistic ideology that has been shielded by privilege and wealth. Duke University, no doubt is a racist institution this writer, is writing as an insider who has had a relationship with this institution for many years and my critique is one that is up close and personal. (Reference: Chip Smith; “The Cost of Privilege: Taking On the System of White Supremacy and Racism”).
Duke University in my opinion, for years had been able to hide under the radar, but for a brief moment the Lacrosse Case exposed their pristine hypocrisy while at same time gave the outside world a look into a society that is divided on class and race. The African American Mayor of Durham William "Bill' Bell and all elected and appointed politicians are puppets of Duke University and all of them are fearful of rendering any real critique of Duke because of the potential of economic and political backlash. For example, Duke University used its enormous influence and power to punish District Attorney Michael Nifong and to set an example for other ambitious adversaries who might consider in the future of contesting Duke's power.
Nifong has been character assassinated and has been publicly ridiculed for daring to come up against this historical great tobacco rich and aristocratic dynastic family institution. The North Carolina Bar Association, which is controlled by Duke eventually, disbarred Nifong stripping him of his law license and ability to earn money. There has been more than few lawsuits that have been settled and even Nifong himself has been sued in Civil Court. The real winners in the Duke University Lacrosse case have been the lawyers.
This writer also believes the victim Crystal Mangum who resides down the street from where I live, and I believe she was also paid off by Duke. Duke in one sense made her to go away. She has recently published her memoirs titled,”The Last Dance for Grace: The Crystal Mangum Story" and willing to bet you she has been very selective at the advisement of her attorneys about how far she was going to go with telling the story because I am quite sure she had signed a clause with Duke University forbidding her of speaking or writing the truth. But everybody else has made money, why not the alleged victim?
Duke University has gone back to its isolation as a city with in a city and has once again refused to extend itself and reach out to the broader community. Moreover, right after the Duke University Lacrosse Case they were eager to exit their Ivory Tower and showed genuine willingness to constructively use their wealth and privileged to build outside alliances. And breakdown some of the elitist barriers which has caused divisiveness in the community that has led to the characterization, of there is Durham and there is Duke. This writer thinks that the Duke University Lacrosse Case gave us all a perfect teaching moment and an opportunity to learn how the perception of race, wealth and privilege were at best artificial contradictions that had created two societies in Durham.
But after the case became unraveled people hurried back to their comfort zones and those who refuse to acknowledge and accept the lessons of history are doomed to repeat those same lessons. This case in many ways was much bigger than Crystal Mangum the alleged victim because the issues of race, class and gender within the context of American society transcends what happened in March 2006 between a stripper and the alleged three white perpetrators. But where do we as a society go from here to redress the larger grievances and to uproot sexism, racism and class-ism the three prongs that lead to the propensity for human chaos?
Fahim A. Knight-EL Chief Researcher for KEEPING IT REAL THINK TANK located in Durham, NC; our mission is to inform African Americans and all people of good will of the pending dangers that lie ahead; as well as decode the symbolisms and reinterpret the hidden meanings behind those who operate as invisible forces, but covertly rules the world. We are of the belief that an enlighten world will be better prepared to throw off the shackles of ignorance and not be willing participants for the slaughter. Our MOTTO is speaking truth to power. Fahim A. Knight can be reached at fahimknight@yahoo.com.
STAY AWAKE UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN,
Fahim A. Knight-EL
Submitted by fahimknight on Sat, 2008-11-15 17:24
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See a Video describing the theory HERE!
Wanted for Questioning regarding the December 9, 2001 death of Kathleen Peterson, and fraudulent lending schemes related to Tootsie Pops.
Suspect answers to the name "Hedwig". Approach with caution.
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"Stop judging by appearances, but judge justly."
I think this is a very important point : "the black Boule ... a fraternity modeled after Skull & Bones of Yale University that recruited bourgeois light skinned blacks."
I mentioned a few weeks back that when people like Rense.com state that "Jesse Jackson is a Freemason" they fail to explain that Prince Hall Freemasonry is a Black response to being excluded from White Freemasonry.
Peace: here is a link of Steve Cokely whom I consider the authority on the Black Boule and I had the opportunity to sit under the teachings of Cokely. Thus, he is one of the few African American personalities that do not mind telling the truth. He is liken to the William Cooper (Behold the Pale Horse) of the black community. I first came in contact with Cokely when he was an aid to the fomer Mayor Harold Washington of Chicago. But this guy has always been the real deal and has not sold out. There is to much damn "uncle toming" going on amongst African American leadership and Ralph Nader comments about President-Elect Obama, I must say I agree with him. Here is the Link with Cokely exposing the Black Boule http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ey7gDJfRICA&feature=related
Stay Awake Until We Meet Again,
Fahim A. Knight-EL
Thanks, I watched all three parts. By the end, it seemed pretty clear to me that Steve Cokely is really copying the Alex Jones formula, with the Boule as Skull & Bones. By exaggerating the old boys' networks that actually do exist, this view makes it seem that we are not yet living in true capitalism, but are still living under a sort of concealed feudalism that just pretends to be capitalist. This is also the view of the Alex Jones-type, 'libertarian' extreme right, which is ultra-capitalist and anti-state. But at the same time, secret societies actually are fascinating, I think.
By Fahim A. Knight-EL
This writer can not independently verify whether or not Barack Obama belongs to an African-American “powerful” group/or Fraternity known as the BOULE which is a Freemasonic type organization that attracts some of the top black politicians, intellectuals, business persons, etc, and those who are considered influential and for the most part the black bourgeoisie.
W.E.B. Dubois preached and advocated that blacks should pursue a classical and/or Liberal Arts education, as opposed to Booker T. Washington espousing technical training. Dubois model was geared towards sending 10% of the black population to the universities and colleges of higher learning with an objective of attaining liberal arts education and coming back to the black community and help to elevate the race. Dubois and historians called this theory the “Talented Tenth” theory (Reference: W.E.B. Dubois “The Souls of Black Folk”). Also, there is an interesting book written by Charles H. Wesley, titled, “The History of Alpha Phi Alpha: A Development in College Life” that deals African American race, class and the pursuit of education.
The BOULE (Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity) perhaps one of the first black Greek fraternities founded in 1904, but most of its founders were Prince Hall Masons and/or had strong Masonic affiliations. The term BOULE means “advisor to the king”. Steve Cokley is considered the authority on the BOULE, he has a video series titled, “Boule Buster: The Plot To Destroy Black Education”. Frontline Magazine did an article titled, “Boule” stated, “We know the Illuminati (Rhodes/Rothschild secret society) also goes by the name, the ROUND TABLE GROUP the Boule, which created the 8 black fraternities and sororities (now known as the Divine Nine). Rockefeller is a subdivision of the Rhodes/Rothschild or New World Order regime”
The Boule is noted for attracting the African American Talented Tenth, it was described this way “the quintessential brotherhood for African-American men." The incoming Grand Sire Archon, New Orleans banker and financier Charles Teamer, says the Boule "is unique because no other organization brings together so many talented leaders--sometimes you have in the same room the mayor and the biggest educational and economic leaders in town--and no other organization provides such an unparalleled opportunity to mentor, change structures, and build bridges." He says his administration will concentrate on mentoring, creating new international connections and moving networking to another level.
The BOULE was originally styled after the Skull Bones Fraternity conceived as an organization that would contain the "best of Skull and Bones of Yale and of Phi Beta Kappa," In the keynote address, Archon Vernon Jordan Jr. (former aid to Bill Clinton and Civil Right leader) presented a 12-point program for personal and collective renewal, saying, among other things, that "we must create a new sense of community among our own ... bridge the growing economic gap within the Black community [and] re-Brown Brown to counter the long slide back into de facto segregation." We must also, he said, "constantly remind the new entrants into the Talented Tenth that their exciting jobs in corporate America and investment banking and in law firms are not the result of their grades and their ability and their school all by themselves. They did not get there by themselves ... and they have to know it."
The Skull and Bones of Yale University, the author John Lawrence Reynolds book titled, “Secret Societies: Inside The World’s Most Notorious Organizations” he assess this secret society by stating, “One, however, exerts day-to-day influence over the lives of virtually everyone on the planet, and it achieved this not with a tightly structured organization but via an association of privileged young men attending a prestigious university. Its existence is verifiable, its history is linked to MASONIC traditions and the ILLUMINATI objectives, its practices remain shadowy, and its activities are replete with suspicious behavior. It is Skull & Bones, a hatchery of American leadership whose members has not only achieved POWER and Prominence on a scale far in excess of their numbers, but retains their close bond throughout their careers, creating at least the semblance of a cabal and perhaps something much more than that.”
Now! The above assessment is real high degree Freemasonry because these OATH TAKERS of an Elite sector of our society have sworn to use their DYNASTIC influence (High Finance) that is tied too prominent banking families and have placed their Devotes in every decision making endeavor which to influence the political, economic and social reality of world society. The 33rd Degree in Freemasonry under Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite is styled the Sovereign Grand Inspector General. This degree is an honorary and conferred degree and it is not up for petition; thus entry into this final and terminal degree is only at the recommendation of another 33rd Degree Mason.
The ceremonies and rituals of this conferment ordinarily include some of the most powerful men in the United States in particular and the world in general. We learn in the ritual a set of questions and answers that reads like this: QUESTIONS: Are you a Sovereign Grand Inspector General? ANSWER: By giving you the past word. QUESTION: Begin. ANSWER: Jacques de Molay. QUESTION: Hiram Abif. ANSWER: Frederick of Prussia. QUESTION: What are the meanings of the skeletons skulls, bones and torches in our Council? ANSWER: They serve to remind of the massacre of our ancestors by Philippe the Fair who delivered them to the most cruel tortures. QUESTION: Why do you appear in mourning armed with a sword? Answer: To mourn their loss and be ready to avenge them. QUESTION: Who established this degree? ANSWER: Our Illustrious Brother of Brunswick, Frederick, King of Prussia.
This writer wonder does the Skull and Bones and Black BOULE’ have a loose philosophical connection to The United Supreme Council of Sovereign Grand Inspectors General of the Thirty-Third and Last Degree in Freemasonry. This writer resides in Durham, which the Mayor of the city William V. “Bill” Bell is a BOULE’ member and in a recent citywide mayoral race, Obama came to Durham and endorsed the black BOULE member and it left this writer inquisitive whether his relationship with BOULE’ Mayor Bell was based on them both being perhaps OATH TAKERS. A writer in Ebony Magazine who authored and article titled,“1904-2004: the Boule at 100: Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity Holds Centennial Celebration” stated, “What makes the Boule's success all the more interesting is that it was founded as a secret or quasi-secret organization and did not seek public notice until the 1960s and 1970s”
Obama’s loyalty will not be to a race or ethnic group; it will be those hidden forces, the power ELITE, the individuals that truly shape the political and economic landscape of the world. For, example, the International Bankers, Israeli Lobby, Council on Foreign Relations, Trilateral Commission, Bilderbergers, etc. The majority of the masses of the people are ignorant to this fact and we have been deceived into believing that our voting is the determining factor of who will take the seat as the next president of the United States and the world. Electoral politics does not factor into that decision.
STAY AWAKE UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN,
Fahim A. Knight-EL
-- sorry -- I can see this person has been involved in conspirology for longer than Alex Jones, by decades. But generally, what percentage of Freemasonry, anywhere in the world, is not more or less derived from the British imperial model of Freemasonry, which seems to have been the form that first swept the world, am I right?
"FREEMASONRY AND ISLAM: WHAT DO THEY SHARE? "
by FAHIM A. KNIGHT
INTRODUCTION
The topic of Freemasonry is a vast and complex subject, it encroaches on the history and culture of every past, present society and undoubtedly it will even impact future civilizations to come. One could spend an entire life time researching and delving into the inner mysteries, symbolism and rituals of this ancient order; moreover, and never exhaust the traveling path of constantly acquiring wisdom, knowledge and enlightenment that Freemasonry seems to lead the serious minded scholar and researchers toward.
Most non-Masons whom have engaged me in conversation, relative to Masonry seemed overly infatuated with this so-called idea of Masonry being a "covert brotherhood" that operates behind a cloak of secrecy and communicate in a language of symbolism that is un-discernible to the uninitiated.
However, there is a false contention that Masons wield a lot of power and influence throughout society, in which some will argue for the worst or betterment of humanity, it depends on one's perspective of this controversial fraternal brotherhood.
Freemasonry in modern terms had its inception in Europe from local trade Guilds that functioned as Operative Masons in the early 1700's, but Speculative Masonry can be traced back to Ancient Egypt (Kemit) where spiritual schools of thought were developed that evolved around understanding the mysteries of Deity and enhancing moral principles.
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN IN KEMET (EGYPT)
The esteemed scholar and researcher Dr. George G.M. James in his monumental book titled, "Stolen Legacy" that was written in 1954, wrote about the Egyptian Mystery Schools, which he maintained that a complex system of neophyte initiations were developed and worked in Kemet (Egypt).
But more importantly, this sophisticated system of learning was of an African origin and not indigenous to Greece and Rome as traditional Eurocentric scholars have falsely maintained, but Plato, Aristotle and Socrates sat directly or indirectly, at the foot of African Sages who inspired them to enlighten Europe.
This small article is offered as a challenge to Prince Hall Masons from the Blue Lodge, concordant bodies, appendant adoptive bodies and auxiliary bodies to began to research, write, debate, document, etc., Masonic philosophy and stop relying on other scholars to interpret this ancient craft for them. Many believe the beauty in Masonry lies in one's ability to work and recite ritual, but what good has this, if we have very little understanding of truly why the Worshipful Master sits in the East, the Senior Warden in the West and Junior Warden in the South. We then only have symbol without real substance.
Many have never heard of Heru, Isis, Aset and the countless myths of resurrection fables that existed long before Jesus Christ and the Hiram Abiff mythical resurrection advents. They fail to know that the Masonic ritual has a basis of duality (macrocosm and microcosm), which is steeped in nature and cosmological mythology and correlated to human spirituality. How can they know, unless they have a teacher, and how can they have a teacher, unless one be sent. "Freemasonry (Moslem Sons) and Islam: What do they share?" This research evolved simply out of my wanting to know, if there was truly an Islamic and Masonic connection and if it was, how was these two entities related?;
Thus, there is very little written on the subject of Masonry and Islam and I was not going to wait on a Blue lodge, Consistory, Shrine, Royal Arch, Worshipful Grand Lodge, United Supreme Council, Nation of Islam, etc ... to sanction me with the permission to do this investigation. The Honorable Elijah Muhammad often stated we must get up and do something for ourselves.
SHIA ISLAM AND SHRINERS ORIGIN
The topic of Islam and Freemasonry is a very sensitive topic for Muslims because Shrine Masonry in particular, employs Islamic symbolism, philosophy and the entire general theme of Shrindom evolves around so-called aspects of Islamic history and the Islamic religion. The Shriners (Moslem Sons) perhaps will argue that their ritual represents the highest aspect of Speculative Masonry, it is designed to teach moral lessons and further define principles of spirituality, as well as their ever quest to know Deity by all his attributes.
This writer does not believe that Shrine Masonry places Islam on a higher echelon than it does Christianity, Judaism, Kabala, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, etc., nor is the Shrine Temple propagating Islam per se. But this is not to suggest that Islamic terminology such as: Allah, Mohammed, Holy Qur'an, Kaaba, Mecca, Medina, Moslem, Mosque, Ali, Hajj, Shahadah, Hegira, Islam, etc., aren't being drawn on by Shrine Masonry to reflect both the sacred and secular, as well as many more Islamic jargons.
The Mystic Shrine legend so-called had its inception in 644 A. D. in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, relative to Shia Islam in particular, and Caliph Ali Ibn Ibi Talib in general, the son-in-law and cousin of the Prophet Muhammad Ibn Abdullah (Peace and Blesses of Allah be upon him --570-632), the founder of the Islamic religion.
Shia Islam teaches that Ali was the first person to convert to Muhammad's religion of Islam and that Muhammad hand picked him as his true and only successor; thus, this belief nullifies the legitimacy of the other three Caliphs (Ali in Sunni Islamic doctrine is the fourth and final Caliph), Abu Bakr, Umar, and Uthman known as the "Rightly Guided Ones", and the successors to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), which is accepted by the dominant and mainstream Sunni Islam.
However, it is perfectly logical to reason that perhaps Shia Islam had to develop on the lines of "secrecy" because its "unorthodox" theology of only recognizing Ali as Muhammad's true successor, which went contrary to Sunni beliefs. Furthermore, Sunni Islam rejects the claim of the only legitimate bloodline is through Fatima, the Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) daughter and the wife of Ali, but according to Shia Islam this represents the so-called true heir apparent to Islam's right to succession.
Nevertheless, from this perspective came the belief in the Twelve Imams (blood descendants from Muhammad Ibn Abdullah through the linage of Ali and Fatima) leadership would only be recognized and accepted by Shia Islam. Historically Shia Muslims were persecuted by Sunni Muslims for deviating from "mainstream" Islamic theology and had to evolve clandestinely due to Sunni Islamic opposition. Some historians maintain that "passwords", "tokens" and "signs" were developed by Shia Clerics in order to properly identify a Shia believer, from a non Shia and this allowed the Shia Muslims Sect to quietly coexist alongside Sunni Islam and go undetected.
This controversial "Sect" survived from being extinguished by Sunni Muslims due to the concealment of its theology. Perhaps Shrine Masonry affix itself to the tradition of Islam because of the mystique and the aura, associated with Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem. And with the majesty and valor of Ancient Egypt (Kemit), but Freemasonry will argue that these societies became illuminated because of their direct involvement with Masonic "Free Thinkers" who advocated a doctrine of liberal arts, e.g., Grammar, Rhetoric, Logic, Arithmetic, Geometry, Music and Astronomy. These sciences evolved out of humanities ability to activate and exalt our dormant natural senses of hearing, seeing, feeling, smelling and tasting, which led to certain societies progressing politically, socially, economically, culturally, spiritually, etc.
Stay Awake Until We Meet Again,
Fahim A. Knight-EL
Ms. Crystal Gail Mangum was hired as a stripper for $400 the night the incident happened in March 2006. After a long court case, the state attorney general’s office concluded that there was no credible evidence to prove an attack had occurred. Crystal Gail Mangum, has since co-authored a book about the case and her life titled “The Last Dance for Grace: The Crystal Mangum Story.”
Do power relations sometimes compel women to do demeaning things? Does the gradation of society often instill and sue women to act against their interests, sometimes in ways akin to misogyny or racism? Yes of course this happens. Moreover, proving facts in a legal system that weighs credibility and integrity upon a set of criteria that may be objectively described as arbitrary i.e., involving considerations of class, race and gender based judgment wherein facts are certified. The legal system is a place where certitude becomes elusive if you can't afford justice -- through these social filters -- the theory of balance and the supposition of the impartiality of the blindfold cannot give one any sense of colloquial 'res juditaca' and lead to a realization that 'justice was served.' How far along are you along the totem pole, are you in a strategic position in the pecking order? The elements of the crime were not provable in the estimation of powerful actors and their government officials is all we can claim with certainty.
Left: Ms Mangum demands her private self back from the specter of public scandal.
"I am still claiming that a sexual assault happened," Ms. Mangum said. But she declined to go into detail. When proded about the men who allegedly raped her, she retorted that it was moot to contemplate on an impossible "justice."
"I have no comments about the details of the case," she said, adding later, "There's no point in going into that, because the trial will never happen. So what's the point? I just don't see the point."
Crystal Mangum said she wrote the book for closure and to help others. Mangum, 30, who graduated from N.C. Central University, said she hopes to get a PhD from the University of Georgia and open a group home for troubled girls. She appeared today in a neat gray suit and stylishly-cut hair, far different from her compormising image in photos taken at the team party.
"I don't mind, I guess, being sort of a sacrifice to help others as long as I can share my experience in a positive way," she said.
She wiped away tears at times, saying, "A lot of things went wrong in my case."
She said she wanted to be known for more than the lacrosse case. "This is very difficult for me, but this is something I have to do," she said.
"God has given me the grace and the courage to stand up. I'm a real person. I have feelings. I'm not just an ex-dancer. I'm not just someone who tried to frame someone who is innocent of sexual assault. My only intentions were for justice, and I wanted justice for myself."
The memoir, "The Last Dance for Grace: The Crystal Mangum Story," is being promoted by its co-author, Vincent "Ed" Clark, a former columnist for The Chapel Hill News and a self-employed publicist. Clark said the self-published book will be available through his Web site on a print-by-demand basis. A digital version of the book is also available for ten dollars less than the hard copy.
Clark said Mangum had tried to "push back against the tide of public opinion by herself" and had given interviews to television networks that never aired. "She has tried on a number of occasions to talk about her life and the sad night her life ended ... because she's a new person today," Clark said.
In excerpts released, Mangum says: "Even as I try to move on with my life, I still find it necessary to take one more stand and fight.
"I want to assert, without equivocation, that I was assaulted. Make of that what you will. You will decide what that means to you because the state of North Carolina saw fit not to look at all that happened the night I became infamous."
In the book, Mangum also says that her story "has never changed" and that some of those who participated in discrediting her were motivated by the politics of race.
Convenient for some if a powerful strand in Freemasonry were somehow allied to a tendency in Islam (Shi'ism) opposed to the people we are all supposed by our rulers to be opposed to (the "fundamentalists", "salafis", "takfiris" etc). That way, anyone who joins could immediately be enlisted in the ranks of anti-Sunni agitation.
All this can be amusing if handled lightly, as with Hakim Bey and the Moorish Orthodox Church of America (founded by Noble Drew Ali):
http://www.hermetic.com/bey/catechsm.html
The Moorish Orthodox Church was a product of a hybridisation between Noble Drew's Moorish Science Temple and some gnostic wandering bishopric or other.
WHAT INSPIRED ME TO DO THIS RESEARCH
By Fahim A. Knight-EL
What inspired me to write this article, I was giving a copy of the Phylaxis, Fall 2003 magazine by a Past Master named Ben Taylor of Doric Lodge # 28 Prince Hall Affiliated in Durham, North Carolina. Brother Taylor is an older brother perhaps in mid-seventies, but he has always struck me to be a serious student of Masonry.
He was aware that I was doing research on Islam (Muslims) and Shrine Masonry and there was an article in this particular issue titled, "The Moorish Science Temple: A Religion Influenced by Prince Hall Freemasonry", authored by Reverend Dr. Robert L. Uzzel that he thought, I could appreciate. 49
I was very intrigued by brother Uzzel's scholarship, which his investigation uncovers the root connections between the Moorish Science Temple and the Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. I believe Brother Uzzel is a Christian and a Mason and this writer considers himself a free thinker thus, this is not to suggest that objectivity can not be giving to an Islamic topic when covered by a Christian scholar.
Brother Uzzel does an extremely excellent job with this topic, he gave a great deal of attention to the Moorish Science Temple point of view, but did not expound upon what Freemasonry has in their body of liturgy, teachings, philosophy, dogma, ritual, etc., relative to the Islamic Religion. This is what will separate my research from Brother Uzzel and I too will cover some aspects of the Moorish Science Temple and its enigmatic leader Nobel Drew Ali.
A few years ago prior to his death, I had the opportunity to visited with Dr. C. Eric Lincoln who was a professor Emeritus at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. He lived about two miles from my home and we discussed the plight of Islam in America and consequently he had written the first scholarly sociological study on "Black Muslims" in 1961 titled, "Black Muslims in America" . Dr. Lincoln also was a 33rd degree Mason and he and I spent over two hours talking about Noble Drew Ali, I still value that discussion .
NOBLE DREW ALl: MUSLIM OR MOSLEM SON
Noble Drew Ali was born Timothy Drew on January 8, 1886, in the state of North Carolina in the rural mountain town of Cherokee. Ali incorporated Shriners philosophy, literature, Masonic regalia, etc., as part of his mystic Islamic teachings. In the Shriners 'Recognition Test', the question is asked, "Then I presume you are a Noble?" Answer: "I am so accepted by all men of Noble birth". 50
Thus, it is clear that the title 'Noble' was used by the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (the Caucasian side of the Mystic Shrine) years before the Moorish Science Temple of America was formulated. I stated earlier that the Mystic Shrine claimed an origin that dates back to 644 A.D. to the Grand Sheik of Mecca, but history gives the Mystic Shriners origin as being June 6, 1876. 51
There is no doubt in my mind and I am in agreement with Brother Uzzel that Ali had some involvement in Freemasonry. Noble Drew Ali's full and complete attribute was Sharieff Abdul Ali (name translates to mean: Honorable, Servant, Exalted). Some scholars claim that Ali came out of the Marcus Garvey Movement of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA). However, in truth and reality Garvey did not teach Islam, although, his mentor Duce Muhammad Ali was an Egyptian-Sudanese Muslim but Marcus Garvey taught a Pan-Nationalist view of Christianity and not Islam. 52
SHRINE MASONRY IS THE ROOT OF BLACK ISLAM IN AMERICA
Noble Drew Ali perhaps became affiliated with the Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (the African American side of Shrine Masonry), which was founded in Chicago in 1893. Ali may have even discovered a distorted view of Islam via his initiation into the 33? Masonry and the Mystic Shrine. 53
The Shriners in a subtle way perhaps pointed Ali to investigate Egypt, Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem, Morocco, etc., because the Order in theory does understand that the root of civilization and knowledge originated in the east. Ali borrowed the tall burgundy fez with the tassel from the Shriners, who borrowed it from the Muslims in the east. The symbolic clasped hands in Moorish Science regalia, in particular the position of the right thumb depicts a Masonic
Hand shake(Masonic Token). This is the symbol of unity in Moorish doctrines. 54
It is alleged that Ali traveled to Egypt, where he was initiated into the Lesser Mystery Systems of the great pyramids and also traveled to Morocco where he studied Islam under some of the top Imams of North Africa. It is believed that the Imams commissioned Sharrieff Abdul Ali (Noble Drew Ali) to come back to North America and teach the African descendants the true religion of Islam. 55
Sharrieff Abdul Ali (Noble Drew Ali) claimed a so-called bloodline lineage to Abdul Aziz Bin Abdul Rahman Bin Faisal AI-Saud (1876- 1953). He was passionately called King Abdul Aziz. Al-Saud took the country of Hijaz, the Arabian Peninsula in 1926 A.D., and renamed it 'Saudi Arabia' after himself. Al-Saud rule's marked the beginning of an anti-Islamic Monarchy in the Holy Land. He had 43 sons including King Fahd. Surely Allah will reveal and distinguish truth from falsehood. 56
Ali required his followers to relinquish their United States Citizenship; moreover, he issued them 'Nationality Cards', which stated, "This is your nationality and identification card for the Moorish Science Temple of America, and birthrights for the Moorish Americans, etc. We honor all of the Divine Prophets: Jesus, Mohammed, Buddha, and Confucius. May the blessings of the God of our father Allah, be upon you that carry this card. I do hereby declare that you are a Moslem under the Divine Laws of the Holy Koran of Mecca. Love, Truth, Peace, Freedom and Justice. I am a citizen of the USA" 57 Note the spelling of Muslim is 'Moslem', which is typically the way that the Shriners pronounce and spell it, the terms Holy Qur'an is spelled 'Holy Koran,' and Prophet Muhammad is spelled Mohammed the exact ways the Shriners use this lexicon. A1i could never from an ideological standpoint distance his teachings and Islamic philosophy from the essentials of the Mystic Shrine, even after visiting the east and witnessing the theology of Islam being taught by some of the wisest Imams and Sheiks.
His movement remained interdependent on shrinedom evidence of Islamic mysticism that existed in an oriental illusion. However, A1i's efforts must be applauded because he was the first African American (Asiatic Black man) and Muslim leader in 1913 in the city of Newark, New Jersey to formalize an Islamic movement in America. There is a loose theory that maintains Master Wali Fard Muhammad who was born February 26, 1877 in Mecca, Saudi Arabia and was in and out America, for twenty years prior to making his identity known; moreover, he personally taught five men, Drew A1i, Father Divine, Marcus Garvey, Charles Taze Russell (Jehovah's Witnesses Founder) and Elijah Muhammad and with the exception to Muhammad, it is believed by some, that the other four leaders corrupted his original teachings. Whether the latter taught the former or visa versa, it is without a doubt that the greatest influence on "black Islam" in America has been its unconventional relationship to Shrine Masonry.
Professor Ravanna Bey states, "Moorish Americans are required to master the Holy Koran, a text written in 1926 by the prophet Nobel Drew A1i. It is not to be confused with the Orthodox Qur'an inspired by the Arabian Prophet Muhammad. Drew A1i's Holy Koran is an abbreviated version of a Tibetan Text written in the Pali Language before being translated into English. The more complete version of the Tibetan Text is the Aquarian Gospel of Jesus Christ. (written by Levi H. Dowling 1844-1911). Some of A1i's critics state that as far doctrines are concern, he did not bring anything new. In fact he plagiarized the foundations of his teachings from The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ. 58
The author Peter Lamborn Wilson, who authored the book titled, Sacred Drifts: Essay on the Margins of Islam had this to say about Moorish Symbols: "The mystic circle-seven appears at the front of Noble Drew Ali's Circle Seven Koran. It relates to the Elohim, the angles or 'gods' called by him 'the Seven Eyes of Allah.' The handshake, used as a symbol by many groups, may be Masonic in origin. According to Isa Al- Mahdi, the handclasp represents Divine Unity. The Fez may also be adopted from the Black Shriners, although in Drew Ali's time it was common in the Islamic world, and the shape here is distinctly Moroccan ...Nobel Drew Ali was initiated in several branches of Masonry---a movement which has translated certain elements of Islamic into occidental culture. One possible link with Islam might have risen from the meeting between 'Assassins' and Knights Templar during the Crusades; Rosicrucian's also claim an Eastern origin (in Yemen). From the point of view of 'heretical' Westerners, Islam represents a source of esoteric knowledge. From Xerox Moorish Science Temple text, 1973. 59
Noble Drew Ali stated in his Holy Koran in a chapter titled, "After the Feast----the Homeward Journey-- The Missing Jesus--- The Search for Him---His Parents Find Him in the Temple----He goes with them to Nazareth----Symbolic Meaning of Carpenter's Tools. Ali stated: "One day as he was bringing forth the tools for work he said: These tools remind me of the ones we handle in the workshop of the mind where things are made of thought and where we build up character. We use the square to measure all our lines, to straighten out the crooked places of the wiry and make the corners of our conduct square. We use the compass to draw the circles around our passions and desires and keep them in the bounds of righteous. We use the ax to cut wiry the knotty, useless, ungainly parts and to make character symmetrical. We use the hammer to drive home the truth, and pound it in until it is a part of every part. We use the plane to smooth the rough, uneven surface of joint and block and board that go to build the temples for the truth. The chisel, line, the plummet and saw all have their uses in the workshop of the mind And then this ladder with its trinity of steps, faith, hope and love; on it we climb up to the dome of purity in life. And on the twelve step ladder, we ascend until we reach the pinnacle of that which life is spent to build the Temple of Perfected Man. 60
This above quotation by Noble Drew Ali is classical Masonic philosophy in each degree in Masonry the candidate is provide a set of working tools, but we as Free and Accepted Masons are taught to use them for the more noble and glorious purpose.61
This is what separate Operative Masonry from Speculative Masonry, the former used artistic trades to beautify the external, and the latter Speculative Masonry teaches how to subdue one's passion and improve themselves in Masonry by instilling the principles of God, friendship and brotherly love. The sublime teachings of right angles, perpendiculars and horizontals, etc., it is also designed to inculcate moral edification and spiritual values. The construction tools have a meaning of duality in Masonry that can only be interpreted from it rites and sacrament.
Arthur H. Fauset, in his pamphlet, Moorish Science Temple of America supports the contention that of Peter Wilson and Robert Uzzel who maintained that Ali's Islamic movement was heavily influenced by the Mystic Shrine and he indeed borrowed their philosophy, lingo, ritual and the Masonic world view; Fauset states, "Note the extensive use of ritual regalia reminiscent of the 'Ancient Arabic Egyptian Arabic Orders of the Mystic Shrine of North and South America and its Jurisdiction, 'known as 'Black Shriners'. The 'Black Shriners', consisting of 32 and 33 degree Masons were incorporated as an organization in 1893 in Chicago. They used such titles as 'Noble' (Sharif) and 'Sheik'; called their meeting places 'Temples' claimed an ancient origin in Islamic countries and wore fezzes on ceremonial occasions. The Moorish Science Temple utilize the symbols of the symbols of the star and crescent, the' All -Seeing-Eye' and two hands shaking (in a Masonic grip) their letterhead. The wearing of the red fezzes was mandatory for male members. 62
The Freemasonry critic Ed Decker in his book titled, "The Dark Side of Freemasonry", in which he gives a reasonable explanation relative to how the fez was introduced into Shrine Masonry, Decker states, " ... I did a little study on the Fez. The Fez comes from the name of the City of Fez, a city in Morocco, in northwest Africa. In the early eight century, the city was overrun by Islamic Hordes. They came into the Christian City of Fez and demanded they convert to Islam ... 63
In conclusion, this study could have focused a little more on the Master Wali Fard Muhammad (1877-1933), *the founder of the Nation of Islam who mysteriously disappeared in 1933 and Elijah Muhammad (1897- 1975). However, there is little doubt that the Moorish Science Temple, Nation of Islam, the Five Percent Nations of Gods and Earths, the Tabernacle Temple (Dr. York's Organization), Hebrew Israelite Nation (headed by Yahweh Ben Yahweh), the EI-Rukns, etc., have been influenced by Black Freemasonry in America. Yet, in an uncanny way, international Islam may have sparked Shrine Masonry in to existence in 644 AD. But there is very little research in this area to fully answer all the questions of how, when, where, what, who and why the six questions that allows social scientist and historians to objectively answer and substantiate the facts based on empirical findings.
Stay Awake Until We Meet Again,
Fahim A. Knight-EL
Yes, that seems to be pretty evident, though Mr. Hakim Bey goes out of his way to say that
Now the thing that strikes me is that the site on which I found this belongs to a high ranking member of the 'Caliphate' OTO. This suggests to me that the Gnostic Bishopric I mentioned as having been 'hybridised' with the Moorish Science Temple to produce the Moorish Orthodox Church, actually is the same one that belongs to the OTO - the Gnostic Catholic Church it calls itself there, but you will find the same disreputable 'wandering Bishops', discussed by Peter Koenig, here:
http://user.cyberlink.ch/~koenig/bishops.htm
The Boulé gets mentioned by KRS-One on a track on his 2007 album "Hip Hop Lives", in a track called "the Victory". He doesn't have anything in particular to say about it, he's just rhymin'.