Welcome to the "Proud Black Buddhist" website. This is the world's most comprehensive website to learn "Black Buddhist history culture and Language." Our story and website is not just "A Black Story" we are an "American Story." In fact our "Proud Black Buddhist Website" is not only the "World's 1st Black Buddhist Website" we are among the 1st Buddhist websites in America in that we started in 1998. The founder of this website is me; Anthony "Amp" Elmore. I can confidently say "That I am the most Blackest Buddhist in America." We tell the unknown and untold story of a "Black Buddhist in America." Please note that I as a "Black Buddhist in America" I did not have voice in regards to the Asian and Japanese Buddhist Sects. While a Black man in America rose to be President of the United States in regards to Buddhism in America a Black man has no voice in "The Buddhist Religion." While I was a Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism, a five time World Kickboxing champion, Memphis 1st independent filmmaker I was not allowed to speak to other Black people about Buddhism. Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism and the Nichiren sect place Black men in subordinate positions.
In terms of documentation I am the most "Personally Black Documentated Buddhist in the World." In 1988 I wrote, produced, directed and starred in the 1st Kickboxing film producted in American history titled "The Contemorary Gladiator." This movie is a semi-autobiographical story of me Anthony "Amp" Elmore. As a Black youth in America I came directly out of the "Black Movement" and I have association in Memphis with historical Black figures. You can google the movie edited and called "Iron Thunder." In the edited version the erased the "Black Buddhist history."
While at Hamilton High school in Memphis I lead the 1st 18 year old voter registration in 1971. In 1972 I quit college at the University of Memphis to join the Black movement full time with "Rev. James Bevel." It was James Bevel who inspired Fannie Lou Hammer in Mississippi. It was James Bevel who was the brainchild of the historic "Selma to March" dated March 21, 1966. In 1968 when Dr. Martin Luther king was killed in Memphis the room where Dr. KIng was killed was James Bevel's room. They switched the room and placed Dr. King where he could be killed. I became disenchanted in the Black movement under Bevel's leadership whereas I devoted my life to my Buddhist practice. Buddhism has been a part of my life as a "community activist."
I began practicing "Zen Buddhism" in 1970 as part of my "Old Japanese Shotokan" Karate training. In 1974 I joined a Japanese Buddhist organization called NSA or "Nichiren Shoshu or America." It was my Buddhist Faith that changed my life whereas "I applied Buddhism and my Buddhist Practice" as a way for "Black Liberation."
Via my 1988 film "The Contemporary Gladiatory" I show in the film how I got introduced to "NSA Buddhism" and how Buddhism changed my life. In 1979 a new sport called "PKA Karate" was born in America." I show in the film when I vowed at a Buddhist meeting to become the "World Heavyweight Kickboxing Champion" whereas I would use my success as a World Karate Kickboxing champion to make change in the world.
In the video below I feature scenes from our movie. Click on the images below to see the various movie scenes.
In regards to the "Buddhist Religion" I can say "Unequivocally I am the Blackest Buddhist in the world." There does not exist a Black Buddhist or any person in the world who has documented more "Black Buddhist and American Buddhist history, Culture and language" than me Anthony "Amp" Elmore.
Let me be clear; "I Speak and Teach Buddhism" in a "Black Language." What is rarely told in Buddhist stories are the "Black prospectives. In regards to Buddhism I teach Buddhism on the ground via my everday life. There does not exist another Buddhist like myself who is "on the ground." My Buddhist story is not just in some book or movie, instead my Buddhist practice and story is in "Real Time." In regards to the Buddhist teachings; we teach Buddhism "Commprehensively" and about "Real Life."
One thing that is unique about my life as a "Proud Black Buddhist" is that my story as a "Black Buddhist in America" is the fact that my "Buddhist practice, history and culture" was that of " Black revolution and Black liberation." The history of Buddhism is about "freedom and liberation." In the past and today I use my Buddhist practice as a practice of "Black Liberation and freedom."
In regards to our story we are "Black Buddhist" and I am not some "Asian on a Mountain Meditating" and saying "everything is cool." I am a Black man in America who face the unique challenges that Black people face. In regards "Buddhism" I use my personal life and experience to teach Buddhism. What I present via this website is my 70 years on "Planet Earth" and how Buddhism changed my life and how Buddhism is helping me to live not only "A quality life," Buddhism is helping me to use my life to "Make change in the World. In the above image you will note that I live in "The most African home in America." In regards to "Black Liberation" the fact that we have a "Proud Black Buddhist" website is "Black Liberation."
Most importantly what I give not only in "Black America" and "Black people around the World" we purposefully give Black people "A Black view of Buddhism." Let me be clear; I am not an Asian, I am not White and I am not just an "American" but I am a "Black Man Living in America" and via this website we unapolgetically present and teach a "Black Cultural Prospective of Buddhism." Without this website there is no website where a "Black person" can get a Black prospective of Buddhism.
Let me be clear, we are not "Racial." Instead we are "Cultural" and not racial. Let me explain throughout America the strongest institution in Black America is the "Black Church." The Black Church is just that; "The Black Church," while "The Black Church" is mostly Christian the "Black Church" has a history, a culture and a tradition that specifically deals via Black culture. Any ethnic group can visit a "Black Church" and gain. What the Black Church offers is "Black Culture." Via this Proud Black Buddhist websites anyone is welcome. The problem in America is that we African/American have to apologize for being "Black and Proud" and non-threatnen to White or Asian people. In American culture a strong Black male voice is intimidating and often crushed in America. You will not find America media showing images of a "Strong Black Male Image."
Via my life I have taught both Blacks and Whites Buddhism. In the case of this website, I speak a Black language and I include via our Buddhist teachings Black history, culture and language. Please note that Asians and Whites have extricated all Black Buddhist history out of Buddhism. Unknown and untold is the fact that the Buddha Shakyamuni and people of Ancient India as well as Ancient China and Japan were Black people.
In the case of Buddhism in America, most Buddhism is taught by Asians whereas Asians include their history, culture and language. In America in regards to Buddhism the "Asian Masters" expect Blacks to adjust to Asian culture whereas the the "Asian Masters" do not adjust to or include or consider Black culture.
In regards to this "Proud Black Buddhist" website; and our Buddhist practice; we are not formally associated with any Asian Buddhist sect or have an "Asian Buddhism Master." Specifically when we learned that our Asian Buddhist teachers have extricated all Black Buddhist history, culture and language from the Buddhist teacings, we extricated them out of our Buddhist practice.
In practice and via our image ; we try to get as far away from the image of "Asian Buddhism as possible." This website is our way and evolution to establish "Black Buddhism in America." We have no "formal structure" no organization or a group of "long term practicing Proud Black Buddhist."
For the record we "Proud Black Buddhist" have been ostracized not only from "Asian Buddhist Sects;" we are "ostracized" from Black Buddhist in America. For example is that I was told by my friend Shaka Klaphani who is a Memphis Nichiren Shu Buddhism member that I was not welcomed at his home. My friend Gerald Hopkins who is a Nichiren Shosu Buddhism Member told me that I was not welcomed at his home.
In 2012 Nichiren Shoshu Priest Rev. Shinji Iwaki came to my "Most African Home in America" and the Japanese Priest told me to "Leave Culture out of Buddhism." What the Priest meant was that I was to leave "Black Culture our to Buddhism. Below is a video that tells my entire story titled "The Birth of the Proud Black Buddhist World Association."
In the case of me Anthony "Amp" Elmore by virtual of the fact that I am a five time world Karate/Kickboxing champion who is also a Black filmmaker who created the 1st Kickboxing film in American film history, who has traveled extensively in Africa and one who has written more about Black Buddhist History than anyone in the world has a lot to share. There are cases whereas a young Japanese Priest who has never experienced life outside of a Buddhist temple is respected whereas I have traveled the world and live Buddhism with my life. When you come to this Black Buddhist website you are communicating with one who has over 50 years of Black Buddhist Experience. In regards to being "A Black Buddhist in America" comes with challenges. We teach African/Americans how to navigate as a "Black Buddhist" in a predominantly Christian society.
It is important the Black Buddhist learn their "Black Buddhist History." In regards to Asian Buddhist teachers there exist a culture of "Asian Superiority" as in my case I Anthony "Amp" Elmore practiced "Old Japanese Shotokan Karate," what is unknown and untold that is was Bodhidhara a Black man from India who introduced Martial Arts to China. Learning history and culture makes a difference. What you will get are "Strong Black Buddhist."
