We all know 'em. The uncle who claims he's not racist because he never owned a slave. The friend who can't possibly be a bigot because he has "at least three black friends." The former education secretary who saw a hypothetical correlation between lower crime rates and more African-American women getting abortions. Our president.

If you still think racism is a thing of the past — all fire hoses and sic-'em Dobermans — look no further than Hurricane Katrina. Just don't be shocked by what you see. Penny Hess wasn't. "Nothing about the aftermath of Katrina was surprising," says the chairwoman of the African People's Solidarity Committee (APSC). "That's what happens to the black community everyday."

Led by Hess and African People's Socialist Party (APSP) chairman Omali Yeshitela, the Uhuru Movement is landing in Philadelphia for a four-day visit highlighted by this weekend's Uhuru Solidarity Conference, a "Katrina Didn't Kill Those Africans! The U.S. Government Did!" speaking engagement at Pearl of Africa and an Omali Yeshitela Speaks book reading at Penn on Monday.

Yeshitela, née Joseph Waller, first gained notoriety in 1966 when he took a group of young African-Americans into the St. Petersburg City Hall and tore down a racist mural that had been hanging for more than 30 years. Yeshitela was sentenced to five years in prison for civil disobedience.

After his release, Yeshitela organized the APSP, founded the Uhuru Movement and fought for African liberation and justice alongside Mukassa Ricks, the late Kwame Toure (aka Stokely Carmichael) and Winnie Mandela. He also formed the APSC, a group of whites organized under the APSP's leadership. What's the point? Uhuru supporters want the white community to stand up politically for social justice, economic power and reparations for Africans. "It's the only guarantee for peace in the future," says Hess.

Africa is arguably the wealthiest continent in the world, yet many countries are crippled by foreign debt payments. About half of the people in sub-Saharan Africa live on less than a dollar a day. And that's to say nothing of the problems facing African-Americans right here in the United States, including poverty, police brutality, grossly inadequate housing and health care, unjust imprisonment and substandard education. Hess observes that 600,000 people will get together to protest the war in Iraq, but injustices of similar magnitude exist in our own back yards and no one seems to mind.

Uhuru Solidarity Conference, Sat., Oct. 22, 1-5 p.m., $5-$20 suggested donation, First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., 215-552-8722; "Katrina Didn't Kill Those Africans! The U.S. Government Did!" event with keynote speaker Omali Yeshitela, Sun., Oct. 23, 2-5 p.m., Pearl of Africa, 624 South St., 215-474-8182; Omali Yeshitela Speaks book reading, Mon., Oct. 24, 12:30 p.m., Penn Bookstore, 3601 Walnut St., 215-898-7595.