My Thoughts On The Black State Of The Union

Joe Fields

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Tue Feb-28-06 10:57 AM
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My Thoughts On The Black State Of The Union

I sat up last night, until 2 a.m., watching the entire C-Span repeat of the coverage of the BSOTU symposium, conducted by Tavis Smiley.

Let me preface my thoughts by announcing that I am a white American. I feel it is important to make that distinction, because, as a "white American," I cannot begin to know the pain and suffering, the oppression, the lack of opportunity, the dis-enfranchisement or disconnect that African Americans have faced throughout American history and still face today.

I only know what I feel in my heart and have witnessed through forty-nine years of living in a still "whites only" establishment.

Last night, I sat on the edge of my chair, listening carefully to every word of every speaker who was on that stage. I COULD NOT HAVE AGREED MORE WITH WHAT EVERBODY HAD TO SAY. I even agreed with most of what the Reverend Louis Farrakhan had to say.

"The Covenant," the book that outlines ten areas of concern for African Americans, facts, problems and solutions for empowering them to TAKE WHAT IS RIGHTFULLY THEIRS, and to TAKE BACK WHAT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THEM WITH ONE HAND OF THE ESTABLISHMENT, and STEALTHILY TAKEN AWAY WITH THE OTHER HAND, should be called the BLACK BIBLE OF EMPOWERMENT.

I truly believe that, as a nation, we are only as strong as our weakest link. We cannot go forward if we continue to allow oppression of any type to continue to be directed toward ANY segment of our society. Harry Belafonte said, that in our history, oppressors have never given empowerment to the oppressed. The oppressed have always had to rise up and TAKE EMPOWERMENT for themselves.

We, as a free society must ask ouselves some hard questions:

Why are Katrina and Rita victims, still begging for help? Still homeless? Still begging for trailers, electricity, begging to have motgage payments suspended?

Why are our social programs being systematically dismantled? Why are education budgets being slashed? Why aren't inner-cities being provided with equal education across the board? Why isn't there equal employment opportunity? Why are there still a disproportinate percentage of blacks in prison? Why are there a disproportionate number of blacks in the military? Why can't ex-cons vote, when they have paid their debt to society? Why should they be denied their rights as citizens when they have paid for their crimes?

Maybe for the most part, outward racism no longer exists. But it has sure gone underground, and is manifested in many, more subtle ways.

Even the Democratic Party, the party that looks to the black vote, and has counted on it as a given for so long, ignores the African American community's demand for equality on all fronts.

The Democratic Party had better wake up and realize that, as a people, African Americans will no longer be taken for granted.

I was heartened by the formulation of the Covenant that was created by the activist, legal, political and spritual leaders who were on the stage at that church in Houston the other night. I got goosebumps. I got a lump in my throat. I was proud.

The Reverend Al Sharpton said to the audience that night that "The Civil Rights movement was not "Back in the Day," but still continues today." Those words are true.

It's way past time for white America to realize and come to terms with the fact that EVERYBODY, no matter what race or color, who live in this country, have the inalienable right to an equal seat at the table.

And as for my party, the Democratic party, the leadership, meaning Howard Dean, John Kerry, Ted Kennedy, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and everyone who who call themselves Democrats, it's time to quit taking the people you all rely on for granted and do what is right for them. You need to realize that, by doing right for them, you are doing right with ALL of America.

God bless everyone.