Where Do We Go From Here?
In a speech given in 1967 in Atlanta, GA Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. posed the question “Where do we go from here?” Dr. King surmised in that speech that before we map out our path we must first “honestly” answer an even more important question, “Where are we now?” As we live out arguably the most exciting, and some would say important, time in American politics I think that both of the questions posed by Dr. King should be revisited.
In my lifetime I have never witnessed the political enthusiasm that the emergence of Barack Obama has inspired in African Americans. There seems to be a common sentiment among us that if Senator Obama wins the upcoming Presidential election the ills of the African American community will begin to heal and we will finally realize our full potential as a people. That thinking is flawed. I agree that having an African American assume the most powerful position in the world would be monumental but would all of our problems be solved? I think not.
In Dr. King’s 1967 speech he stated that “When we view the negative experiences of life, the Negro has a double share.” That fact could not be argued in 1967 but in 2008 does that statement still ring true? When I survey the landscape in 2008 I see educated African Americans living in fine homes in some of the best suburban communities, occupying important positions in Corporate America, running successful businesses, driving the finest automobiles, their children attending private schools and basically doing what they want whenever they want. The majority of us are not in prison, we take care of our children, we love our wives and husbands, we believe in God (or at least we say we do), and are basically living the American Dream. So honestly, Where are we now?
I can tell you where we are not. We are not in our own communities but have instead chosen to follow our so called “oppressors” to the safe confines of the suburbs. We are not in public schools because we don’t believe they are good enough for our children. We are not participating in local elections that impact our day to day lives far more dramatically than the presidential election. So, Where are we now?
We have found it easier to gather in our safe circle of friends and complain about the “evil” George Bush than it is to attend a school board meeting. We talk about how we are “suffering” under the Bush administration while we go on shopping sprees every weekend. We demand that the government do something to help the poor and underprivileged while trying to convince ourselves that we have something in common with people that most of us shun on a daily basis. Where are we now? We are right where we want to be. In a place where most of us have more in common with the George Bush’s of the world than we do with the poor and homeless who live in unimaginable circumstances day in and day out.
So, where do we go from here? We must first realize that Barack Obama cannot change the plight of the poor in our communities. He cannot improve the schools in our neighborhoods. He cannot curb the gang violence that is overwhelming urban areas all over this country…………and we shouldn’t expect him to. We must begin to take responsibility for our own plight. We must move back into these forgotten neighborhoods and reclaim them. We must get involved in local politics. We must give young African Americans models of success. We must get involved in our churches and other civic organizations to help fight poverty, teenage pregnancy and the HIV epidemic. We must stop blaming Republicans for our problems! We must stop making excuses! The government cannot save us! Until we collectively decide to take responsibility for the so called state of Black America it won’t matter if Senator Obama becomes the next president. Where do we go from here?………….
2 comments:
Well Mike, you got me on fire now, thanks for such a thought provoking post. I will start off by answering the question at hand first."where are we(African Americans)at now? You said it best, it is easier to ask where we are not. But yes, we have moved out of our neiborhoods,schools,churches.....But on another note..who said we had to stay in the confines of a certain area?????Stay with me now, after years of observation, I have come to the conclusion that what is really wrong with "moving out" is that we forget what got"us out", and as a result, cut the rope off and thus cease to be an example to those that need a positive example.
Yes, we need to go back, but also we need to organize and show what it is like in other environments....I remember as a young child, one of the best motivators was the "carrot theory", in other words, show me whats out there and I would go get it, that simple. We have to ask ourself, have we ever got a group of inner city kids together and brought them to our house, just to hang out? what about, bring them to our business or office? Something like a career day.
Second, would our problems be solved by having a black President? Nope, not at all...It would be a great example of what hard work and dedication can get you. I remember the Million Man March, and how wonderful it was to see so many men pledging to break the ills that have plauged our familys(did you know crime went down in inner city neighborhoods after the march-for a short time).
Third, where do we go from hear?
We must be the leaders in our homes, that means we must be there for our family...no matter what...
We must become financially inteligent....we have got to get a grasp on our finances and teach wealth building not debt building...
We must become the role models for our youth, not 50 Cent or Jay Z...we have to show that you can live the good life without becoming a rapper or ball player...we must out pimp the pimp or out deal the drug dealer.
We must show that life is great and we all have a unique purpose on earth, that we must fulfill.
My point about us dispersing to the suburbs speaks to the fact that our "power base" is diluted. Until we can find a way to mobilize our resources we will not progress. Don't get me wrong, I understand the appeal of the suburbs but we can't have our cake and eat it too.....don't complain about what's going on in the inner city when the extent of your time spent there is on Sunday when you go to church.
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