The Future of Black America Beyond the Gary Convention
By Jacqueline Frances Taylor
Dr. Ron Daniels (File Photo)
(TriceEdneyWire.com)– African-American leaders gathered on Capitol Hill last week to discuss social, political, and economic advancements following the 1972 National Black Political Convention held in Gary, Ind. One of the resounding agreements 40 years later was that it’s time for action.
“We pull these conferences together and we spend a lot of resources, a lot of time, effort, energy, and money….and then what do we come out of it with?...We have very rich conversations,” said panelist Dr. Julianne Malveaux, President of Bennett College for Women and a member of the Shirley Chisholm Presidential Accountability Commission—a group that monitors the president's administration for advancements on issues of importance to the African-American community.
To celebrate the anniversary of the historic convention, the Institute of the Black World (IBW) 21st Century, sponsored a national symposium that addressed, "The Relevance of Black Agenda Process in the Age of America's First Black President." The event was led by Dr. Ron Daniels, President of IBW and convener of the forum. It was moderated by Verna Avery Brown with WPFW, Pacifica Network.
Bill Lucy, President of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionist, echoed Dr. Malveaux’s sentiments, noting that leaders must organize and mobilize to impact change.
"We can meet forever and do nothing….We have to understand our relationship to organized labor,” Lucy told the audience in the Rayburn House Office building.
Lucy attended the 1972 gathering that led to the adoption of the “National Black Political Agenda”, which held candidates accountable for issues of importance to Blacks. He credited the convention as a leading factor to President Barack Obama's occupation in the White House.
The audience viewed the documentary, “It’s Nation Time,” which chronicled the 1972 convention. Daniels said the convention had a profound impact on his life as a young activist from Youngstown, Ohio. He expressed displeasured with the number of Americans unaware of the convention.
"There are literally millions of people of African descent who don't even know that the Gary convention happened. This is particularly important for young people,” Dr. Daniels said. He believes leaders must be knowledgeable of ground that has been laid before them.
Catalina Byrd, an Activist/Organizer of the Hip Hop Caucus and the youngest voice on the panel noted that the next generation is not being “groomed.” She took issue with older candidates—with considerable political experience— for not effectively engaging in mentoring.
When asked about how African-Americans can be successful going forward, Byrd said, “You have to make yourself a bloc that either side needs,” Byrd noted. That will empower the issues that are important to that block, she explained.
That unity can also be used for economic strength, Byrd continued.
"We have to support businesses with black proprietorship. I know Jewish friends who will drive across town. They don't complain about the inconvenience,” she said. “At the end of the day, they know they are spending their money where their people will be.”
Both Byrd and Malveaux pointed out the need for the greater use of technology. Some organizations are how using Facebook, Twitter and even webcasting their forums and conventions in order to disseminate information.
Panelist Dr. E. Faye Williams, President of the National Congress of Black Women, is hopeful that African-Americans continue working together for the common good.
“When I look at what happened in 2008 in the election of the first black president, I am very hopeful,“ she said after the forum. She noted that African-Americans were able to come together in 2008 and accomplish what their ancestors were unable to do. Dr. Williams expressed discontentment with the number of African- American leaders who have publicly spoken negatively about the Obama presidency.
Members of the audience had their own ideas about priorities in the Black community.
Nkechi Taifa said America must address the drug problems in the near future. Taifa referred to the drug epidemic as the "new civil rights issue."
"Until we begin to address some of the policies and practices that have cropped up as a result of the war on drugs, which is now become known as the new Jim Crow, we will be further back than we were at the time of the Gary convention," said Taifa.
Dr. Joseph Evans, pastor of the Mount Carmel Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., referred to the Gary convention as "our Nazareth," a biblical reference to the childhood home of Jesus.
His belief is that African Americans must think globally in order to move forward. "I think we, who consider ourselves African-Americans, must understand that the challenges that we face in our nation will not be solved until we identify with the same challenges that Eurocentrism has caused Africans everywhere.”
Evans said African-Americans must also “identify with a womanist movement…moving forward,” meaning helping Black women take care of their families.
"If we can raise the standards of living for Black females, whether they are American or otherwise, then everybody wins in the black family,” he said. “If we don't do that, we have really missed the mark."