Toward a More Perfect Union

Politicians have come to count on the fact that most Americans are stupid. The political game is played by people who have learned to use the masses as pawns. The concerns, beliefs and will of the people are mere sideline issues. The main objective of our elected officials right now is not to represent the will of the people. The main objective is to get elected and remain in office.

This is what most people believe. This is why most people stay out of the political process. They feel it is a waste of energy to vote, write elected officials, go to political meetings and activities or follow current events. It is a waste of time, some believe, because the politicians in power are corrupt. Many share the feelings suggested in the John Mayer song, “It’s not that we don’t care. We just know that the fight aint fair.”

Watching the so-called town hall meetings on health care reform, it appears that Americans are beginning to get into the fight. However, some say these participants are only offering hate-filled speech, coaxed by politicians and lobbyists.

Currently, the strategy for the political game is division, extreme division. Leaders are playing on the fears, emotions and ignorance of the American people. Leaders should be educating the electorate so that the people can make informed decisions. Instead, leaders are giving out partial and misleading information to scare people and incite them to the point of protest.

Journalism is known as the fourth branch of government. Journalists are supposed to watch politicians and hold them up to be accountable to the people. However, these days, it’s hard to tell who is a journalist and who is a political player. The result is the American people are becoming more and more divided. People are not referring to America as our country. Instead they are asking, “What are they doing to my country.” It is all about us and them.

Lincoln said shortly before the Civil War (paraphrasing a quote by Jesus) a house divided against itself can not stand. Instead of our leaders bringing us together, they are encouraging division for the sake of political gain in ideological battles. Sure, unity does not mean no differences of opinion. But it does mean we work together to settle differences for the best interests of the whole. Our leaders need to stand up and lead our country. Our citizens need to be educated not played. Why don’t true news organizations sponsor roundtable discussions where we can hear from all sides? Now the populace is being duped by infomercials. It looks like news. The talking heads look like journalists. Thus, the people are totally confused. If we the people gain the knowledge, we won’t be so susceptible to being provoked by extremists. We could then have meaningful discussions. Then the political players would have to factor in the will of people for real.

Racism for the New Millennium

Just recently, a local Church’s restaurant was closed down. The speculation is that it was closed due to health code violations. They are getting ready to reopen under new management. Comments I have heard regarding this are:

“You know black people flooded it. I know they are going to be happy it’s back open.”
“You know they had a bunch of black people working up there before. That’s why it got closed down.”
“They had a black man running it. Black people can’t ever run anything right.”

It is sad and hurtful that in 2009 such comments would be made about black people. We have worked and labored in this country for nearly 400 years. America and the world have benefited from our inventions, artistic contributions, business acumen and just plain hard work. What a shame that such racism would still exist today.

We have heard about the recent incidences with Henry Louis Gates, the Harvard scholar who got arrested in his own house. We heard about the little black children getting kicked out of the pool in Philadelphia.

These hateful comments about the Sanford Church’s are just one more example of racism in America. Right? Maybe. But probably not as one might think. These comments were made by black people. I’m not making it up. I heard this with my own ears coming from the mouths of people I love.

This local situation was jarring for me. It made me think about the circumstances of black people in America. I know many of us have analyzed the circumstances of the pool incident and the situation with Dr. Gates. So have I. These situations were very unfortunate. However, I do not believe they happened due to racism. Everything that happens is not because white people hate us or fear us or profile us or unfairly judge us.

Sometimes, a waitress in a restaurant is just rude. Sometimes a teacher in the class is just incompetent (or your kid just needs to study more). Sometimes the management at a country club gets greedy and overbooks the pool without thinking of the consequences. Sometimes two otherwise great people get caught up in a situation and handle it with emotions instead of reason.

I really don’t believe Officer Crowley is a racist. What most likely happened is Dr. Gates felt insulted and hurt by the fact that after all his wonderful work with racism in America, he was being questioned in his own home by a policeman for no good reason. Officer Crowley was hurt and insulted that after all his work with race relations in America, a man was standing there accusing the officer of racism. They then proceeded to have a battle of wills. Because the officer had the gun, Dr. Gates went to jail.

I am not by any means suggesting racism is over. I am just saying these situations, like many others, may not have been due to racism. In fact, I am sure, just like in the Church’s situation, our major battle to fight is not against racism from whites, incidental or institutional. Our battle is the racism that prevails in our own minds.

If we believed in our own intelligence, beauty, and ability, we would speak and act accordingly. Today, more often than whites, we call each other nigger, black and ugly, nappy headed, etc., etc. I have heard it said from black people when other black people move into a neighborhood: “You know, it’s sad to say but I know this neighborhood is going down because more of us are moving here.” As my Grandma Harriet use to say, charity begins at home and spreads abroad. Let us love each other, lift each other up, teach each other and believe in each other. If you say... You know how black people are... and you are black, just think about what that must mean…. That’s all.

Michael Jackson: A National Treasure

Some might describe the emotion and attention in response to Michael Jackson’s death as idol worship. It is not. It is simply love. Love for our brother who represented the best in us. Our talent. Our work ethic. Our durability. Our resilience. Our transcendence. Love for our brother who represented the worst in us. The pain. The insecurity. The self loathing. The self doubt. He danced the greatest dance. He sang the greatest song. He simply was and will always be the greatest entertainer to have ever lived. He was family. So as a family member, we grieve him. We celebrate him. We will always remember him. We will always love him. We have always loved him. My only regret is that we waited, like we so often do, until our spirits were so moved by his passing to say it. Please, let us learn now, to say it now. Treasure our treasures with a loud voice while they walk among us. Appreciate our gifts right now, everyday. For life is but a vapor and if we wait too long, they will be gone far too soon.

America the Beautiful

America is still the greatest country on earth, not because we are smarter, carry the biggest stick or are the most moral. We are the greatest because we have allowed ourselves to dream (and pursue) the greatest collective dream. God put a dream in everyone. However, American citizens are guaranteed the right to pursue happiness. What is going on in Iran now is a prime example of why we should be proud to be Americans.

This pursuit, however, takes work. It has been a work in progress since exactly 232 years ago when America declared that all are equal under God. I highlight the phrase “work in progress” because we all know all men did not have equal rights in 1776. Some would say all men still don’t. My point is that the ambitious dream and audacious hope of America is incomparable.

The war for Independence was fought not just because America was being mistreated and disrespected by the British. The Declaration of Independence was not just written so that American colonists could get out of paying taxes. It laid down a blueprint for the pursuit of happiness. The forefathers devised a plan for a government like no other. We would be a government run by the people. We have never had a king. The design of our government is that we should elect people from among us to represent us. Then we are to hold them accountable, making sure they are really representing us well.

Here is where we drop the ball. First of all, a pitiful amount of us even vote. Then those who do vote just vote based on what politician is talking the loudest or has the most money to throw at a campaign. Then when they get in office we just let them do what they want until it’s time for them to run again. They come back to our churches and festivals, with their flyers, signs and empty promises. Then we send them right back to do nothing. Of course, there are some elected officials who really work for the people. But how would we know it? We’re not paying any attention.

I know our lives are busy. We often don’t have time to research every issue in depth. However, we can do something. If each of us takes just a little time to do what we can, we would see a change in American politics.

When Barack Obama became president, it was proud day for many Americans. We weren’t proud just because he is black. We should also be proud because Barack Obama was the most democratically elected president in the history of our nation. Until 1965, many were prohibited from voting. Still, years later, there are reports of voter tampering. The most painful realization though is many just don’t vote. However, during the election of 2008, there were record turnouts all across the country. Let’s not stop the momentum.

President Obama is not King Obama. We still have a government of the people, for the people, by the people. I’m reminded of the Bible story when the Israelites begged God for a king. God gave them what they wanted. The results were war, chaos, scandal and oppression. The Bible also says we are to be subject unto the higher power. In America, guess who that is. It is us. We have a lot of work ahead of us. Economic crisis, war, health care reform. The list goes on. This is not all up to President Obama. He didn’t start this fire. His professed goal was to lead a truly democratic government with all the people giving input. In fact, President Obama set up Organizing for America for just that purpose. However, we're being silent and waiting for “them” to fix this thing ASAP. Get involved, read the paper, don’t just depend on the politicians to do it. It’s our job. We are the higher powers. Let us use it to make a change.

Juneteenth: A Recollection of Redemption

If you ask any student of American history who freed the slaves, the reply will most likely be, “Abraham Lincoln." However, upon a closer look at history, it is clear that Abraham Lincoln did not actually free the slaves. Not only because technically the war had not ended and slavery was pretty much still in effect for another two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Not even because even after the 13th Amendment officially declared slavery in the United States illegal in 1865, blacks were still enslaved by unjust laws and codes that denied civil rights.

Some would say, “Okay then, African Americans were freed by marches and boycotts and speeches and protests and such." Look closer still and see that Abraham Lincoln did not free the slaves, because the slaves were already free.

Bearing the pain of the whip and the lash, they were free. Working long, cruel, unjust, unfair hours with no pay, they were free. Having their sons and daughters taken and sold, free. Women raped, free. Men emasculated, free. No education. No civil rights. No human rights. Through all this, the black man in America somehow knew he was still free. Free because God said he was free. Free because deep in his heart, he knew he was free. Free because no whip, no shackles, no segregation, no dogs, no fire hoses could strip away this human birthright.

The gospel of freedom has been proclaimed by blacks since they arrived in chains. It is in the spiritual, the sermons, the poetry, the dance, grandma’s old sayings, and granddaddy’s quiet strength. There is a moral fortitude that comes from knowing, as the song use to go, “This joy I have the world didn’t give to me. The world didn’t give it and the world can’t take it away.”

Barack Obama became president in 2008 and even that didn’t make black people free. It didn’t change the reality of racism and oppression. In fact, organizations like the Southern Poverty Law Center have found a rise in hate crimes, hate speech and hate groups since the election. Just recently, security guard Stephen Tyrone Johns was killed at the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. However, evil has and will always be present. Our ancestors knew not to fear evil. So should we.

Our fear should be the detachment from the reality of the force that kept us going for almost 400 years in America. The fear should be that we may be losing our grip. That we are failing to pass down our birthright. Let us not become fooled by an illusion of freedom as seen on MTV Cribs or Access Hollywood. Granddaddy’s moral fortitude and Grandmama’s insights are the true valuables that have to be transferred to coming generations. Our freedom lies in these.

Let us celebrate Juneteenth, reminding each other of our source of freedom, reinforcing our value of faith, love and truth. Let us take time to remember and appreciate how far we have come. Let us give thanks to who brought us this far. Let us proclaim that we have a reason and a right to hope.

Make no mistake. Faith without works is still dead. However, faith must be the foundation for fruitful work. Then we can educate our young and free our minds. This will lead to economic, political and social freedom. This is an Emancipation Proclamation. You are free to leave the plantation.

Juneteenth History

The Juneteenth Celebration began in Galveston, TX in 1865 when the slaves there were given the message that slavery in the United States was outlawed. The Emancipation Proclamation had been given by Lincoln and ordered to go into effect on January 1, 1863. However, it was not a reality until General Lee surrendered in April of 1865. Major General Gordon Granger gave the order:

"The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and free laborer."

The celebration of this occasion began to decline in the early 1900’s. However, during the Civil Rights Movement, the Juneteenth Celebration became popular again. It became an official state holiday in Texas on January 1, 1980.

Death of the Strong Black Woman

When you think of the phrase “Strong Black Woman,” very often it conjures up images of a neck-rolling, hands on her hips, better not mess with me woman. The phrase has become so widely used, it is now a cliché. But where did it come from and should we embrace this definition of black womanhood?

Over the last four centuries black women have had to endure some pretty tough circumstances: rape, abuse, the emasculation of black men, oppression, depression, a society that fails to value our contributions, a standard of beauty that does not appreciate our beauty. In other words, they beat us, violated us, left us, ignored us, called us ugly and exploited us.

But all this points to some “other”. They. The image of the SBW is a response, a reaction to outside forces.

After all the years of pain and suffering, the black woman had to build up defense mechanisms. She developed a hard shell and tough exterior to protect her against very real threats. She learned to bounce back when knocked down. She learned to push down the pain and hide the hurt behind false bravado. And even though this image today has too often become a caricature, mocked, laughed at and used as the butt of jokes in media, the SBW has learned to turn it around and embrace it with pride.

However, I challenge us as black women to examine this definition to see if it is still useful and beneficial.

Sometimes the SBW strikes up negative connotations. She is seen as aggressive, threatening, someone who lashes out and can’t control her mouth or her actions. This perception oftentimes gets our girls expelled from school and our women incarcerated. Still, we in our efforts to encourage ourselves, end up encouraging behaviors that are not conducive to growth and real empowerment. We say, “Girl I wouldn’t take that mess.” “Speak your mind.” “You better not mess with that sister.” “Say it with attitude.”

Is this who we are?

I assert that who we are and what has gotten us through a painful history has been something quite different. Our gentleness, discretion, and faith. Black women endured hardship with grace, not a bad attitude. Our grandmothers prayed, instead of lashing out. They spoke their hearts with wisdom, instead of saying the first thing that came to mind. They comforted broken children and beaten down men. They inspired. They organized boycotts behind the scenes. They helped fund-raise to support a movement that changed the world. They welcomed strangers into their homes when necessary. Instead of making people feel threatened by them, they became beacons for comfort and real strength.

I encourage us all that we can now stop drawing the image of ourselves based on a reaction to a threatening world. We can stop defining ourselves by what something or someone else is doing and our response to it. We can do what our grandmama’s did to get through, depend on what God has gifted all women with, the ability to bring forth life. Create. Nurture. Love. Share. It is not brute strength that we need right now. It is your indomitable spirit and ability to love unconditionally. It is not the circumstances and people around you. It is the power that is in you. There is a well inside of you. Draw from it. You are not only strong. You are powerful. Use the power. Happy Mother's Day.

Obama's Win in Iowa: A Reason to Believe

If ever there was a reason to hope, Barack Obama’s victory in Iowa last night is one. If any person had any reason to give up, Obama did. All the political pundits said he could never rise above the so-called Clinton machine. His own people chose Hillary Clinton as the best person to speak for them. Many said Obama was too young, too inexperienced, too black. But something inside him and his supporters made them keep believing in and working for what others could not see. That something is hope.

And so a junior senator from Chicago who started with little name recognition, little Washington experience, little money and little clout inspired millions of people to gather themselves behind him and his vision for change. They united together under the cause of America’s greatest promise, the promise that anyone who has the passion and work ethic can rise up and accomplish anything.

In his victory speech, Obama spoke about the founding fathers who against all odds rose up to overcome the oppression of the British. He also referenced those freedom fighters in the 60s who faced vicious dogs, angry mobs and the threat of death to win justice, liberty and the hope for America’s promise for all people. They were able to keep going, not because they had the greatest resources or physical forces among them. They kept going because of the inner strength that propelled them. Martin Luther King called this soul force.

The Iowa caucuses are considered important because they are the first true test of a candidate's chances. However, this victory is important because it is evidence that the power of faith is greater than the power of fear. It is important because it reminds African Americans that the greatest force is soul force. It is important because it gives America a reason to be proud again, because as Obama said in his victory speech, it is the moment that America remembered how to hope.