The State of the Black Union (SofBu) has been appearing on our TV screens for the past 10 years, and still yet, for 10 years there have been the same issues, the same echoes, from the same scholars. In an ever-changing political environment this is unacceptable. Some may say I am being a pessimist, but it is time someone became critical of our black leaders.
I appreciate all that they do for us, but when Tavis Smiley asked Campus Progress’ Deputy Director, Policy and Advocacy Manger Erica Williams (age 24), “Do the young folk really get it?” I was utterly offended. I felt as though Tavis did not get it. Young folks did not vote for President Barack Obama because we thought he was cool, hip-hop songs about him or because we wanted to rock the newest Obama gear. We voted for him because we understood the issues and how they affected us. For 10 years, SofBU has been offering solutions to a series of problems but they have failed to act. You speak about solving Black folks socio-economic issues and have broad agendas, but coming to Kent State University (KSU) to speak about your agenda is NOT the same as being on the ground. Yes, we need academia to find solutions, but we also need them to translate their agendas in to action.
Speaking of KSU, when Tavis Smiley and Dr. Cornel West came to speak they met a group of students who were members of Black United Students (BUS) who had been organizing and mobilizing since 1968. Not only did we get it, we lived it. These are students who forced a predominately white campus to reinstate students (Protest) and marched for a $10 million dollar renovation of their Oscar Ritchie Hall (Renovation). Hell, these students had to fight for $35,000 to bring Smiley and West to KSU because the Undergraduate Student Senate did not understand the cultural need! So next time you want to ask, “Do the young folk really get it?” check those check stubs and the universities you have visited.
As I continuously listened to Smiley question, “how do we dance with the nation’s first black President?” My reaction is “we dance the same way have always danced, except maybe with a little more funk, add a Cleveland Hustle.” In my mind, it has been proven that black leaders can navigate through America’s complicated, often times troubling legislative system. The best approach we can take is to continue to be active on the ground. This does not include community service at your local homeless shelter, which is a great a service. Being active means to engage the legislative process.
You will never understand why American Governors are using 4th grade reading scores to determine number of prisons they plan to build or why the level of funding for corrections his risen 30% and higher education’s budget has decreased by 18%? We see our brothers going from Classrooms to Cell Blocks but never question how this legislation has occurred and how we can change it!
Want to know more about Kent State’s Smiley/West event? Read Alexia Harris’ article here and check out her blog at http://progressivehealth.wordpress.com/.
Blogs to Come...
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