NDG Editorial
In the wake of nationwide protests following the death of Michael Brown and the sham of a grand jury proceeding Black America finds itself once again in a familiar dilemma. Where do we go from here? What are the solutions? How do we reaffirm our humanity in the eyes of White America to convince them that #Blacklivesmatter#?
Thousands of activists, young and old, throughout the country — including Dallas — have taken to the streets to demand justice. They are asking for accountability, transparency, change in policy and most importantly, an end to the onslaught on African-American life, males especially.
In observing from the outside looking in the question that repeatedly arises is where is the Black leadership in Ferguson? Where are the community activists and local organizers? In a town that is 67 percent Black, why are five of the six city council members White as well as the mayor?
With Blacks comprising 86 percent of traffic stops, 92 percent of arrests and the only ones being shot dead in the streets unarmed, why are we not turning up in droves at the polls. How come between the shooting of Michael Brown on August 9 and the deadline to register to vote on Oct. 8 only 204 residents of Ferguson became registered voters?
It goes without saying the righteous indignation of those in Ferguson in the form of protests, rioting and looting is understandable. Their pain is not only felt but also shared. However this energy can and should be much more effectively channeled. There must be someone on the ground, some voice of reason in Ferguson who can provide the much needed direction and guidance to lead Blacks in reversing their current condition.
How is it the same people who created close to half of this country’s inventions during the Reconstruction and Jim Crow eras are now incapable of electing a government that is representative of and speaks for them when they are two-thirds of the population? This kind of reality can only exist within the Black community. No other ethnic group would allow this.
And while we are still waiting on “the Man” to save us, thinking White America holds the key to our
salvation, we continuously forfeit the opportunity to change our own reality. On Nov. 4, 2014 the same residents of Ferguson and the St. Louis region who are enraged and protesting the gross injustice that occurred with the killing of Michael Brown and subsequent acquittal of Darren Wilson had the opportunity to elect a new County Executive, an African-American. But not just any African-American, a long-time civil rights activist who also led protests against the killing of Trayvon Martin. Coming on the heels of the killing of Brown, Zaki Baruti should have been a shoo-in. Especially when one considers the alternative, Steve Stenger who won his primary largely due to the support of Prosecutor Bob McCulloch.
Blacks in Ferguson and in cities all across America do not have the political clout to change legislation in Washington but what we do have is power to change our local governments. Protesting, boycotting, marching, pleading, moral suasion, even looting has not nor will never persuade White America to fix what is wrong in the Black community. It is not their responsibility nor are they capable. They have their own problems that need fixing. No, just as we built flourishing communities in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Hampton Roads at a time when segregation was legal, we had no voting rights and very other civil rights, so can we now.
There is a particular resonance in that age-old saying “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can and wisdom to know the difference.”
Black people in Ferguson, Chicago, Philadelphia, Jackson, Dallas or anywhere else in these United States of America cannot change how Whites feel or think about them. We cannot change how White America values us. What we do have the power to change is us.
The time is long overdue for Black America to break the curse of Willie Lynch and empower ourselves and communities.
