Sept. 29, 2013
Where Do We Go From Here?
By Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq.
(TriceEdneyWire.com) - Many talk about post-racial, post-civil rights, and post-March on Washington, but reaching certain milestones doesn't mean that our journey is complete. Often, our accomplishments clearly contrast with the setbacks we presently experience. Regressive efforts against voters’ rights and the waging of War Against Women evidence the unmistakable design to turn back the clock on our rights.
Acknowledgment of the value of citizens, regardless of difference, is the offspring of a Civil Rights Movement which has dismantled many barriers for people of color and expanded access for Disabled Americans, the LGBT community, senior citizens, immigrants and workers. Although past struggles have resulted in unexpected achievement, our present challenge is remaining vigilant against those who'd reverse the gains we've made and retard future progress.
Violence against US is framed in police practices such as Stop and Frisk; in the vigilantism that spawned the murder of Trayvon Martin; the audacity of the mindset that justified the murder of Jordan Davis because of the volume of music in a car. The violence we experience is also measured by disparities in education, employment and opportunity. We see millions mired in the oppression of poverty while politicians debate properly funding education, creating jobs, or mandating a living wage. We can’t support this violence by allowing the denigration of women, especially single mothers, and we must not ignore the abuse of our fellow humans who happen to be labeled LGBT.
I believe that the necessary action steps toward these goals include:
- Removing the egos that prevent us from accomplishing our goals. The "WE" is more important than the "I." We must act from a position of unity and common purpose or organize under the banner of an umbrella organization that speaks for a larger, more powerful segment of Black America.
- Working to build/expand Black businesses to provide jobs and circulate more of our money in our own communities. We must compete for jobs in the corporate sector which provide the authority to hire and to promote. It’s not enough to secure a well-paying job and miss the opportunity to be a greater asset to our community.
- Making a greater impact on education in our communities. I applaud those who support education in Africa and other places, but we who are successful must give greater attention to improving schools in the neighborhoods in which we live. If we accept unique educational challenges in our communities, we must work to create unique remedies. We must increase mentoring so each one can reach one or more.
- Encouraging the accurate teaching of OUR history. This must involve the contributions of women. While we honor the accomplishments of our men, more of the story must be told about Diane Nash, Ella Baker, Vivian Malone Jones, Harriett Tubman, Ida B. Wells-Barnett, Sojourner Truth, Rosa Parks, Shirley Chisholm, Barbara Jordan and more. Children without an historical anchor are bound to drift in obscurity.
- Registering and getting more people out to vote. We've made a strong first-step in that direction by electing President Obama, but we must give reasons to continue and expand the process. We must teach the importance of all elections - local, state and Federal - to our community.
- Coalescing with others who share our interests. Our activism must increase on immigration, election of more Blacks, more women, more Hispanics and others who have common goals.
- Supporting the Black press and media. They're often the only outlets telling our positive stories.
- Finally, by reading the 2013 “21st Century Agenda for Jobs and Freedom" plan developed by our major Black organizations and doing all we can to make the plan work.
Despite thoughts to the contrary, THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES!!!!
(Dr. E. Faye Williams is National Chair of the National Congress of Black Women, Inc. www.nationalcongressbw.org. 202/678-6788)