The NFAC, Grand Grasp Jay, Ahmaud Abery And The Silent, Sinister Racism Of Erasure

“I had a strong presence on social media, however I got here into the actual world and put boots on the bottom. I grew to become an actual particular person. And plenty of these persons are not prepared to place in that sort of labor.”

– Grand Grasp Jay to Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur

Grand Grasp Jay, already recognized for his activism and management throughout the Black neighborhood, took a dramatic flip within the aftermath of Ahmaud Arbery’s dying. Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man, was jogging in Brunswick, Georgia when he was hunted and fatally shot by Gregory McMichael and his son Travis McMichael. The McMichaels claimed they believed Arbery was a suspect in latest break-ins and had been trying a citizen’s arrest. This incident, occurring on February 23, gained nationwide consideration and outrage, particularly after a video of the homicide was launched to the general public. 

Grand Grasp Jay, actual title Dr. John Fitzgerald Johnson, was one of many very first individuals on the bottom in Brunswick after the homicide of Arbery. He instantly fashioned the NFAC (Not F**kin’ Round Coalition) in response to the modern-day lynching. The group, comprised of Black army veterans and former U.S. army personnel, was not solely a reply to the Georgia incident. It was a stern response to the killing of unarmed African Individuals by police or wanna-be vigilantes like George Zimmerman and the McMichaels.

Instantly after Arbery’s killing, I interviewed Grand Grasp Jay. He had not even taken his masks off. That was solely three years in the past, in 2020. The nation was a hotbed of racial strife and was nonetheless coping with a worldwide pandemic. At that time, the NFAC’s formation emphasised the group’s dedication to self-defense and defending Black communities. He confused that state-sanctioned violence was as American as stars and stripes. In 2024, every thing has modified.

At present is the fourth anniversary of Ahmaud Arbery’s disgusting, shameful homicide by three cowards (the motive force included). Not solely are villains The McMichaels and driver William “Roddie” Bryan in jail, however so is Grand Grasp Jay. He has loads to say in regards to the present state of affairs in addition to the gradual, seemingly deliberate erasure of his then-revolutionary actions and extra in regards to the situation of Black management. Right here is an edited transcript of the dialog we had.

AllHipHop: Okay, nice. I needed to say one thing. My barber, his title is Skilz, he talked about you final time I obtained my hair lower with out my prompting. He requested me the way you had been doing. So I believed that will make you’re feeling slightly bit about that there are individuals on the market.

Grandmaster Jay: I do know for a incontrovertible fact that there are individuals on the market who’re doing what they’re speculated to do. What I’m saying is, it’s superb to me that a few of the books that I’ve had which have made it to me, as a result of I get plenty of books. There’s a e-book known as “The Second,” the place they discuss in regards to the Second Modification Motion in america within the final 5 or 10 years. There’s plenty of books that I’ve learn the place they write in regards to the summer time of 2020 they usually speak about all the high-profile instances like Elijah McClain, your [inaudible], they speak about Emanuel 9 [This refers to the Charleston Church Massacre, an anti-Black mass shooting in Charleston, SC on June 17, 2015]. They’ll speak about this stuff, however they purposely skip over sure details. I’m like, “What’s going on right here?” That’s what I’m speaking about.

Grandmaster Jay: Once I watched the particular that CNN did, the place they appeared again on the summer time of after the quarantine they usually confirmed all of those protests they usually confirmed all of these things they usually even present a few of the footage, however they gloss over it.

And I’m going like, “What are you all doing? Are you all attempting to place America to sleep? Do you all not need them to comprehend that historical past repeats itself? Is there a motive?” I advised you, in Michael Eric Dyson’s e-book, Lengthy Time Coming, he truly goes on to make a quote that I believed was very fascinating as a result of he talks about us however he talks about us within the context of… Matter of truth, the quote is, “Through the Black Lives Matter Motion in 2020, a brand new pro-gun, a Black self-defense militia, the Not Effing Round Coalition emerged. Group members decked out in army [paraphernalia] and supporting semi-automatic weapons agitated many white people whereas drawing better acclaim in some Black circles due to their attendance, their protests.” Okay, so we all know that we hit on some factors that had been effectively acquired, however the place is that in the middle of the dialogue of the aftermath of what has occurred? Such as you mentioned, “Have a look at the place America is right this moment.”

Grandmaster Jay: Have a look at every thing that’s loopy that’s occurring. Y’all obtained administrative amnesia. What’s it going to take for y’all to comprehend that you could’t ignore historical past? Historical past goes to be advised both by you all or after I come residence to put in writing the e-book. Come what may, you’re going to need to take care of the reality. That’s nearly as when you all had been afraid to confess what has occurred or grow to be so complacent that you simply simply settle for issues which can be simply the way in which it’s.

Grandmaster Jay: Once I hear about brothers… You speak about Skilz and guys like that, I do know there are guys on the market that miss me ’trigger I get letters. I get letters. That’s one thing you didn’t ask me about. I get tons of letters. As a matter of truth, I get extra mail than anyone. Each day. Some individuals I do know, some individuals I don’t. Playing cards, footage, effectively needs, commissary, articles, even individuals attempting to assist out legally. So, it’s not like they’re ignoring me. It’s identical to I mentioned, in the middle of the dialogue of the place we’re right this moment, it simply disturbed me by those that are out on the forefront of the dialogue who act like nothing’s occurred since Malcolm X.

Grandmaster Jay: Pay attention, the constructing brick of any neighborhood is the household. And till we begin to rebuild the household, you’re not going to rebuild any communities. That’s what makes… Household is probably the most highly effective aspect of a neighborhood. And so we obtained to begin proper there. Folks act like I fell out of affection with the Black race. I really like the Black race, however I additionally love humanity. And humanity is predicated on household. We’ve to reestablish our personal id and cease letting different individuals outline us. So, my recommendation is, y’all obtained to get collectively, get across the desk, cease having all these meaningless conversations. Come out with a roadmap for 3 to 5 years, break down these areas, politics, finance, tradition, schooling, infrastructure, farming, meals, the entire 9 yards, do for self but in addition be taught to work together with different teams so that everyone obtained one thing to carry to the desk proper now. What are you bringing to the desk as a individuals?

And matter of truth, when someone say, “Properly, what are you bringing to the desk?”…inform them “I’m the desk. What you speaking about?”

AllHipHop: Expertise appears to play a giant position in the place we’re proper now as effectively. The social media apps and different issues, different platforms. The cellphone even has, appears to me, derailed us. I may very well be mistaken, however I feel even our leaders “Are chasing likes and views.” And after I say-

Grandmaster Jay: You must keep in mind one thing, Chuck, I used to be mild years forward of everyone on social media, cellphone, and expertise, largely due to what I do in my civilian world. However on the finish of the day, I consider that you simply’re proper. I feel individuals at the moment are getting caught up in a cyber world that’s not the actual world with out realizing that that too is a assemble to regulate you.

AllHipHop: Mm-mmm.

Grandmaster Jay: Okay, data is energy, and energy is information, however on the finish of the day, the mistaken data may have you making the mistaken choices and rob you of your energy. I don’t consider that individuals understand identical to what I used to do. Yeah, I had a strong presence on social media, however I got here into the actual world and put boots on the bottom. I grew to become an actual particular person. And plenty of these persons are not prepared to place in that sort of labor.

The rising generations born into this expertise don’t know find out how to socialize with individuals anymore. The whole lot they do is digital. They don’t have these abilities anymore. You’ve got to carry that again. What’s it going to take a moratorium on social media, a moratorium on telephones? You possibly can’t. That’s what our society is now constructed on. Eat, sleep, and breathe. That’s why one of many books that I advised you, the Hidden Historical past of Huge Brother in America, these programs are allowed as a result of these programs acquire data, and knowledge is purchased and offered to regulate.

And on the finish of the day, I feel that plenty of people don’t understand that these are great tools-that management you.

AllHipHop: Proper.

Grandmaster Jay: And I confirmed everyone find out how to stability that and a few individuals, and I made it look straightforward, nevertheless it wasn’t, was not a protracted shot. That’s why I obtained the eye of the US authorities as a result of I used to be capable of stability expertise and actuality into a mix the place we had been getting outcomes. And that’s one thing that so long as you simply dwell in our on-line world, you’re innocent.

AllHipHop: Yeah, that’s true.

Grandmaster Jay: You possibly can have 125,000 followers on-line, however what number of will present up once you say, “I’m attempting to lift funds for this, or attempting to do one thing, a political drive or…” What number of going to indicate up? Keep in mind earlier than we had this expertise, you needed to put your ft on the street, you needed to knock on doorways. The Jehovah’s Witness came to visit each Saturday morning and knocked in your door. There was no social media for Jehovah’s Witness.

For extra archived data on Grand Grasp Jay or the NFAC, click on right here.

C/O: Dr. John F. Johnson #20257509 

FCI – Ashland 

P.O. Field 6001

Ashland, KY 41105