The RE-Up: Marching for Justice is a waste of time – let’s PLAN!

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Adam Clayton Powell, African Americans, afrocentric, black power, economics, education, Emmitt Till, Jordan Davis, March on Washington, Martin Luther King, President Obama, Roland Martin, strategic planning, Trayvon Martin

Ok…if anyone is terribly shocked that Jordan Davis’ murderer was not charged with his death get your head out of the sand!  Just as Trayvon Martin, Emmitt Till and countless others who were lynched simply because they were Black Men, there will be more to come.  As racism has the dye cast, rooted and steeped in tradition, we realize we have been involved in a dysfunctional relationship with an oppressor; and ourselves.

As I checked my Twitter last evening I noticed Roland Martin intimating “let’s get ready for “the march!”

FOR WHAT?!  

This is an old, predictable tactic.  Marches ability to stymie or shake racism to the core fail to eradicate racially hostile schools and communities.  In the words of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. who lead marches in Harlem boycotting bus companies who scarcely hired African Americans and stores that only allowed Black People to shop but not work in stores they could shop in; “eventually get on people’s nerves!” Referencing the March on Washington in 1963, Powell mentioned that he not only used that tactic 20 years prior, he zoomed in on the title of Dr. Martin Luther King’s speech “I Have A Dream”, stating that his speech would have been entitled…

 I HAVE A PLAN!!

A PLAN!  That means the first order of operations is to CEASE AND DESIST all strategies, efforts, and works to “break into” a dysfunctional relationship with an oppressor that has long since moved on.  Crashing glass ceilings and ivory towers may have eked some of us into a position to help; yet rarely enough to saturate where the benefit was leveled, let alone satisfied. If only WE went that hard for our own institutions…oh that’s right: WHAT ARE THEY?!

**Think about it, if you had all the money and power in the world off the backs of someone else, even if you knew it’s wrong, would you be that willing to write a check to eradicate a “moral debt?!”

I’ll wait.

Other ethnic cultures of color got a clue early.  Not to oversimplify African American’s struggle in this country, yet I notice a completely different mindset among West Indians, Africans and Haitians. Don’t get me wrong, some African Americans get it in the midst of hard core, ingrained institutional racism. Yet I see these ethnic cultures of the African diaspora becoming franchisees or creating businesses to build wealth as an affront to unfair hiring practices.  I see neighborhoods being developed and purchased. A school for allied health careers was created and taught by Nigerians as to serve their own who encountered educational challenges.  Years ago a local teacher started a preparatory school with an Afro-centric curriculum, taking so-called “at-risk” kids and converting them into scholars.

From another perspective East Indians in my neighborhood have erected several temples and strip malls with stores that cater to the needs and culture of East Indians; only.  Native Americans who an oppressor literally obliterated off the face of the country are doing more than casinos…they have the payday loan business on lock!

So if we really want to honor Jordan Davis’ life, if we really want to get serious about the true enhancement and enfranchisement of African Americans be clear:

AN OPPRESSOR WILL ONLY ADVANCE A CAUSE WHICH SERVES TO ENHANCE THEMSELVES!

FOREGO MARCHING:

CREATE PLANS, STRUCTURE STRATEGIES AND EXECUTE POWER!!!

Black Power: What would Adam Clayton Powell do? How should President Obama proceed?

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Abyssinnian Baptist Church, Adam Clayton Powell, black community, black power, Blackness, congress, Harlem, Jr., NYC, politics, President Obama

QUESTION:

“How come prominent and/or wealthy so-called Blacks/African Americans aren’t doing more to help “our” community?”

A fellow scholar-sista’s inquiries is directed toward hip-hop moguls, professional athletes and entertainers; as well as those who are regarded as our foremost thinkers (i.e. Ivy League affiliated professors, politicians, etc.).  Basically, this gentry of people are assumed to have the financial wherewithal to make things happen. Through our discourse we explored reasons and rationales of why these resources may have a less than direct presence in so-called Black/African American communities that have become educationally bankrupt and rampantly violent.  As we dialogue I immediately turned my attention to who I believe is one of the most underrated yet effective so-called Black/African American leader in our history: Congressman Rev. Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.  Someone I believe foots the bill of a Black man making a difference.

Despite personal shortcomings pastor and politician Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., he tends to get lost in the history of the African in America between the integrationist non-violence stance of Martin and the pro-Black self sufficiency mantra of Malcolm.  Powell is rarely discussed in his full effect as a Black man who in the words of the late historian John Henrik Clarke who “got the job done!”  More legislation passed under his watch and work, Powell was deep in the trenches of Harlem, using his lifelong privilege to bridge gaps between his congregation of the famed Abyssinian Baptist Church and the country’s politics.  He was so adept at how he did business Harlem thrived off of Powell’s charisma, charm, and power – and Congress, much to their chagrin…had to love him; regardless.  Regardless that a towering, well dressed articulate educated unabashed Black man refused to cower, and reveled in his power in the presence of White men who possibly believed he should be no more than a butler; the help.

Unfortunately, many are fearful of “going there.”  Even though Powell came from privilege, he showed up and showed out.  Certainly, he did not always measure up morally; his exploits were major and many.  Yet he was inadvertently teaching the so-called Black/African American community what sacrifices were necessary where the collective could thrive at levels that no one thought possible; and others feared would come to pass – an all encompassing BLACK POWER!

So when I ponder my scholar-sista’s inquiry I think of the position President Barack Obama is in.  As Powell’s genetic lineage gave him skin color privilege where he could easily pass for White, our president’s mother was White.  As Powell grew up “Black”, President Obama grew up “White”.  As Powell was clear about how to use his light skin to code switch and retain his blackness all in one fell swoop, President Obama had to “step into” his blackness – one step at a time;” life for him ain’t been no crystal stair.”

It has been argued that our president has done little or nothing for the so-called Black/African American community; yet he has attempted to follow in Adam Clayton Powell’s footsteps.  Maybe not as brash or forthcoming; maybe not as assertive and demanding.  But in his own way President Obama is navigating through an often harsh atmosphere in which he may not have fully realized is boldly racist toward his quest and agenda.

In an effort to not come off as a scary “angry” Black man, President Obama appears more reserved yet powerful in his own right; and possibly lacking the one aspect of hutzpah that is necessary to make a deeper impact worldwide, most specifically in the so-called Black/African American community – the spirit of Congressman Rev. Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.  I dare say his picture should hang prominently and fearlessly in the Oval Office as a constant reminder to President Obama to always

…Keep the faith, baby!