Let’s bring on a day only we observe and celebrate. Never one to be diluted by “American approval” or commercialized (economically weaponized against us) by invasive appropriators. On this day, we converge as a distinct ethnic group to assess our situation, plan/plot our own course, and support one another in our quest to reach that grand destiny. This is a day we alone initiate the purpose of and time for—not one set by the “graces” of a White man—i.e., one derived solely from Black self-initiative rather than White “mandate.” Juneteenth is about commemorating the PAST. B.A.D. is about taking control OF THE FUTURE...and what we need in order to have a great one. That being the case, we need to adopt a standard set of activities designed to unite our efforts for the best results:

*1) Elect a National B.A.D. Strategic Planning Commission. (Interested parties can also apply for any Commission position/positions HERE.) This should be the MAIN FOCUS of the first B.A.D. observance (especially if nationally observed). Commission members will be in charge of supervising the overall development and operations of the B.A.D. organizational infrastructure. They'll also be charged with helping our people compose a general and united plan (Plan for Black Advancement) for our people’s advancement leading to our autonomy and charged with supervising the implementation of the stages of development of that plan--with all stages of the plan being listed on the official B.A.D. site/app (and also in The Ebon Run--if this magazine is ever actually established). (Make suggestions for the plan here.) This is a plan that will not die because a single leader dies--a perpetual and concrete guide we've been needing since Reconstruction. On B.A.D., leaders of local gatherings would hold Black-only Strategic-Planning Meetings, whereby the attendees would present their plan proposals designed to advance progress for their local Black base. The National B.A.D. leaders would use this info to devise wide-scale initiatives to include their locality in any benefits generated therefrom. If/When expanding worldwide, it would become the  Global Planning Commission. Commission members would not be paid financially, but would, instead, receive free nationwide, and possibly global-wide, publicity regarding their entrepreneurial and/or Black-activist endeavors.

   Until the National Planning Commission is put into place, individual communities could create their own plans for local Black Advancement.

2) Establish a Fund for Black Advancement (FBA)--to be disbursed throughout the best, most stable, Black-owned banks and financial-investment institutions. Supervised by the Planning Commission, the FBA would be a fund our people, as well as our non-Black allies, could contribute to, whereby the principal would never be touched. Instead, only the interest would be used to fund Black advancement—industrial development, home ownership, education, etc. Example: If the FBA reaches $10 billion and earns even just 1% interest, we’re looking at $273,970/day or close to $100 mil. a year...without us risking a cent! Plus, think of that money being invested back into the Black community by those Black banks/institutions. After its establishment, all Black persons, especially on B.A.D. at least, should make a contribution to the FBA. (If you're a Black financial expert desiring to establish this type of fund for your people, click here.)

   Until, and after, the National Planning Commission is put into place, individual communities could create their own FBA for their own local Black socio-economic advancement.

*3) Every B.A.D., Write Two Letters—one to your Congress rep., and one to the President—regarding reparations for our people for slavery/racism (and also mentioning a request for donations to the BCF if/when it's available)...millions of letters FLOODING the U.S. mail channels! (Cease this practice only if reparations are indeed granted.) Our leaders need to compose a form letter that can be used by those of us not grammatically skilled or not adequately educated about the subject of reparations. We also need to come together as a people to set a fixed—and universal—set of demands we want as reparations as well as how we want to be paid. (Contact B.A.D. for a printed and/or PDF copy of the REPARATIONS pamphlet detailing the need for the Board. Also see the info at RepWeb.org.)

   Another letter option: Also write a letter to an inmate-activist group, criminal-justice authority, and/or government official regarding a Black inmate who may be innocent (especially on Death Row) and/or is being systematically abused.

*4) Market/Buy B.A.D. Gear. This would be done year-round, but would kick into high gear on B.A.D. Black merchants/designers would be appointed by the Planning Commission to supervise the creation, production, and marketing of official B.A.D. goods--T-Shirts, hoodies, caps, bags, bottles, greeting cards, etc. 25% of the profits must be contributed to the BCF. (BLACQUITY GEAR is also available, free of charge for its members to market.) (If you're a Black designer and/or merchant desiring to provide/sell B.A.D. gear, click here.)

*5) Hold B.A.D. Merchant Festivals. Only for Black merchants selling goods produced by Black businesses/entrepreneurs. Besides other goods sold, make sure there are multiple merchants selling healthy food; decrease the diabetes and high blood pressure ravaging our community by offering healthy alternatives to traditional Soul Food as deliciously prepared as possible. Official (Commission-appointed) conductors of these events would allow free admission to the general public and charge merchants a reasonable fee, with *25% of all profits generated from those fees being donated to the BCF. These festivals can also be used to exchange business cards to connect with one another. (*Until the BCF is actually established, the 25% would be directed to B.A.D. to be used for development and other needs.)

    Make sure to reserve a visible/conspicuous area (booth/table) for signing up new B.A.D. members as well as non-Black allies.

   Also reserve up to 5% of available spacing for prisoner-rights organizations to sell items and/or collect donations for Black inmates possibly innocent (especially those on Death Row) and/or who are being abused by the criminal justice system.

*6) On B.A.D., Buy Black Goods/Services...AND from Black Businesses Only. Buy only Black-made goods/services and only from your entrepreneurial bros/sisses at the festivals, online, in stores...wherever. DO NOT buy anything non-Black-made/rendered or buy outside of the Black Business Base if you can help it. DO NOT allow non-Black merchants at your marketing events—they have 364 days to take money OUT of the Black Community; B.A.D. is the one day money should only be brought INTO the Black Community. Non-Blacks attending the festivities...fine!...but only if their wallets/purses are open and emptying...not open and filling. (Want to help establish a Black store-network across the nation? Click HERE.)

   Black Merchants: Use this special time to offer discounts to your Black consumer masses. DO NOT use this day as a cue to gouge them or “Buy-Black” guilt them into paying $20 for your $10 jar of Shea Butter. In fact, B.A.D. organizers should make deals offering special privileges to the most generous Black merchants. Those caught gouging should be kicked out of the process.

   ANOTHER GREAT OPTION would be for the B.A.D. site/app to offer e-commerce services allowing Black merchants to list their goods/services either at good discounts, or at regular price but with 15% or more of the sale price being donated to the FBA--automatically contributed after the refund period expires after the customer pays for the order.

   (Also see about the Collective Capital Club. If we use and develop this asset, it would make “Buying Black” vastly more affordable.)

*7) On B.A.D., Buy At Least One Book about Black History and/or Awakening/Enlightenment. Find a Black-authored book about Black history that’s vital but you don’t know much about. And/or find one about an enlightening subject concerning the Black mind, spirit and/or soul...or that just educates you on an important subject and that is written by a Black author.

8) On B.A.D., When Your Child is 7, Present Him/Her with the "B.A.D. Black History for Children" Book. This would be a book, written by B.A.D.--appointed authors/illustrators, that describes Black History from the ancient times up to today, simple enough for that age group to understand. It would explain to them their people's ancient and Golden Ages, on to our downfall, on to why things are the way they are now--nothing hidden, but tempered for young Black minds. The book would be available on the B.A.D. site/app, whereby 25% of the profits would go to the BCF.

9) Black-History Bee. For Black children ages 12-16, our brightest youth answer questions about our history. The winner gets cash (say, $25,000) plus prizes made by Black businesses.

*10) On B.A.D., Give A Bro/Sis a Gift Bought From, and Made By, a Black Business. Before B.A.D., families/friends and/or groups, draw a name “from a hat” and get that single person a gift. Nothing over, say, $25. And schedule a time/place for gift-giving. Show love for Black-on-Black patronage while showing love for each other—affordably and without the financial and mental hassles of a long, and uncertain, gift-giving list.

*11) For Your B.A.D. Political/Activist Event, Book Radical Black Speakers. Hire the most progressive, fearless, truthful, knowledgeable (and thus “controversial”) Black speaker(s) you can find to speak at your gathering for such. There are some who may do this just for expenses paid—or even for free if you let them sell their books and/or products. (May be best to hold it indoors--with security checks--considering all the recent gun violence, and also to better prevent interference/sabotage from antagonists.)

SUGGESTED BOOKINGS:
Sister Shahrazad Ali * Dr. Claud Anderson * Dr. Molefi Asante * Brea Baker * Ajamu Baraka * Camille Bennett
Jason Black (Prof Black Truth) * Laby Boule * Dr. John Boyd * Nino Brown * Yvette Carnell * Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao * Papa Duck Raymond Dugue * Min. Louis Farrakhan * Dr. George Fraser * Neely Fuller, Jr *. Donnahue George * Dr. Shawn Ginwright
Dr. Hadiyah-Nicole Green Kamm Howard * DL Hughley Karen Hunter * Rizza Islam * AJ Johnson * Julian Johnson
Dr. T. Hasan Johnson * Dr. Kaba Kamene Margaret Kimberley * James Lane * The Amazing Lucas *  Prof. PLO Lumumba
Marc The Messenger * Najambi McGrath * Tariq Nasheed * Ondiro Oganga Tyree Boyd-Pates * Robin Sue Simmons
Professor James Small * Nkechi Taifa * Dr. Supreme Understanding * Redirecting-Proverbs 31 School of Wisdom-P31 SOW
Dr. Boyce Watkins * Believers of the Way * The Minister of Wellness * Dr. Theron D. Williams * Zeke Williams * Omali Yeshitela

*12) Concerts/Plays, Other Entertainment. These B.A.D. events should feature only those performers of a positive, progressive, and/or wholesome nature--NEVER that gangsta stuff downgrading our people...like White Corporate America pushes to degrade Blackness and make BIG money turning White youth onto Black buffoonery and off of empathy for the Black plight. Allow Black—as well as non-Black—sponsors to help fund these events. As long as everyone sponsoring them know their money is going toward Black Advancement and Autonomy, non-Black money is just as good as Black money—even better when considering it’s outside-money coming INTO the Black Community, not just circulating WITHIN it. (I personally believe we need to conduct "Rebirth of Soul" events--as well as establish soul-music recording companies--dedicated to revitalizing the genre as a counter to the treacherous destruction of it by the White controllers of the media.) (May be best to hold entertainment activities indoors for better security and/or to better prevent interference/sabotage from antagonists.)

SUGGESTED BOOKINGS:
Conscious Rap Artists * Dave Chappelle

*13) Official B.A.D. Publication: This commemorative magazine would be published once per year and would be sold, after B.A.D., ideally for a break-even price, including being subsidized by sponsors. It would feature news and info about the latest B.A.D. observance that's important for the people to know, while also giving the Black Community info with which to make connections with progressive Black B.A.D. observers so that they may network and work together. A good volume would be around 100 pages or so. (A good name for the magazine: B.A.D. WORDS.) (*SPECIAL NOTE: Until a Strategic Planning Commission is elected to take charge of the publication, all participating communities observing B.A.D. could appoint a Black media entity to travel from city to city, record content, publish the publication, and sell it.)

*14) And, finally, Greet Your Brothas/Sistas. On B.A.D., greet your brothas/sistas on the street, call/text them on the phone, email them, write them and send a greeting card, whatever methods you prefer to wish them "A very BAAADDD Day!"

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES

*1) At Festivals, Allow Spaces for Job Fairs. Invite Black and non-Black companies (maybe 50/50) that are especially seeking Black employees.

*2) Run Black-Activist Ads on Broadcast Media. During B.A.D., run TV, radio, Web, print, etc., ads regarding injustice in the criminal-justice system, the righteousness of reparations for our people (and/or the availability of the BCF for contributions), and also how consumers may support Black businesses via the B.A.D. organization. Interest earned via the BCF could be used to partially help fund this, plus people could make donations especially for this.

TIME FRAMES FOR ACTIVITIES
(* = available now.)

Since events tend to wore more in harmony on a schedule, here is my suggested time frame for the aforementioned activities:

January thru June) The National Planning Commission and Local Organizers book any speakers, entertainers, performers desired for the year's B.A.D. events.

*January thru July) Orders are taken for the upcoming B.A.D. commemorative magazine.   (SPECIAL NOTE: Until the Planning Commission is in charge, this would have to be done via the collective action of all communities observing B.A.D.)

*March thru June) Applications from Black merchants are accepted for the Merchant Festivals.

*June 10) Draw names to identify the person you'll give a gift to on B.A.D. and schedule a time/place for that day where everyone will meet to exchange gifts.

*June 15) Black merchants begin listing goods/services on the B.A.D. site/app at discounts and/or at regular retail price with BCF donations given regarding sales--especially giving customers time to get their desired gifts well before B.A.D.

*July 10) All localities observing B.A.D. appoint/hire a reporting staff who will take photos, interview attendees, and document local activities--assembling possible content for the B.A.D. commemorative magazine.

*July 10) Also use this time to prepare any business cards and/or brief literature you wish to exchange with our people.

*B.A.D. Eve) Write your two letters (or as many to as many recipients as you wish) to your Congress rep. and to the President regarding reparations for slavery/racism (and also the BCF if/when it's available).

*B.A.D. First Thing in the Morning) Mail your letters immediately--to beat the letter carrier.

B.A.D. Second Thing in the Morning) Make a donation to the BCF--if/when it's available. (Or donate to your local fund, if available.)

*B.A.D. 10 AM to 12 PM) Local Strategic-Planning Meetings are conducted, allowing participants to get things done with sufficient time left to enjoy the other festivities. Also, a progress report is given by event organizers regarding any progress made toward accomplishing prior goals submitted by the local activists.

*B.A.D. 10 AM to 6 PM) Merchant Festival operating time. Also time for exchanging business cards/literature.

B.A.D. 12 PM to 3PM, or later if necessary) Black-History Bee is conducted--broadcast on a Black network and/or live online.

*B.A.D. Scheduled Gift-Giving Time) Whatever time/place you and your participants scheduled to exchange gifts.

*B.A.D. 5 PM to 8 PM) Political/Activist Events.

*B.A.D. 9 PM to 12 AM, or later if desired) Concerts/Performances.

*First Monday after B.A.D.) Local reporters submit content to staff of of B.A.D. commemorative magazine.

First Wednesday after B.A.D.) Organizers should be ready to contribute their 25% of profits to the BCF. Staff of B.A.D. commemorative magazine begin working on that year's edition.

First Friday after B.A.D.) Local Organizers submit a summarized version of local plan-proposals to the National Planning Commission.

*September 1) The B.A.D. commemorative magazine for that year should be completed and available for customers.