Reparations and our Black Leadership

In this age of performance enhancement, steroids and human growth hormone (HGH), we learn that it affects our black leadership as well. For quite some time, there has been a problem where we have worked against ourselves, to prevent others from rising above us. We call it: crabs in a barrel. When you put crabs in a barrel, you do not have to put a lid on the crabs...they will keep each other in the barrel. As one crab tries to climb out, his fellow crabs will nip at him and pull him back down. We are witnessing "crabs in a barrel" on steroids.

Black politicians rather support the establishment than one of their own. And, I do not say support him because he's Black. I say support him because what he embodies is the epitome of the Civil Rights movement. What he is doing is why we have struggled. What he is doing is why many have been beaten, imprisoned and lynched. What he is doing is why many have died.

John Lewis was bludgeoned. Andrew Young felt the fire. Our ancestors fought so that we might be able to elect our own representatives. Yet, they did not die so that these so-called leaders could shirk their responsibility to the advancement of Black Community. We live in the land of freedom. Why must our freedom come at the hands of others? Are we not capable of setting ourselves free?

People speak about waking up from Obama's words to the reality of his experience. What about waking up from the myth of Hilary's experience to the reality of her opportunism? She has been planning on being president...that is her life goal. Her campaign is not about America. Her campaign is about her being the first woman president. The ONLY reason she was able to become the Senator from New York (where she hadn't lived), was because of Bill Clinton, and his moving to Harlem. The ONLY reason she chose New York for her Senate seat was because it would provide her with the media spotlight that would make her a national figure, assisting her in this presidential bid.

Maybe opportunism is also in our nature...that's why our leaders support Hilary. They feel that the Clintons have more grease for their pockets. Our Black leaders feel that the Clintons can do more for their personal ambitions. They do not care about Black people. Kanye West missed the point - I see it now - it's not that Bush does not care about Black people...that does not even matter. The problem is that our Black Leadership does not care about Black people. They have forgotten: the movement has moved from the streets to the halls of Congress. Now we wish to move it from their to the White House. But, our leaders have forgotten. So, we must remind them.

Here they are:

1. Rep. Corrine Brown (D-Fla.)
2. Del. Donna Christensen (D-V.I.)
3. Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.)
4. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.)
5. Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.)
6. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas)
7. Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.)
8. Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-Fla.)
9. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.)
10. Rep. Donald Payne (D-N.J.)
11. Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.)
12. Rep. Laura Richardson (D-Calif.)
13. Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.)
14. Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-N.Y.)
15. Rep. Stephanie Tubbs-Jones (D-Ohio)
16. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.)
17. Rep. Diane Watson (D-Calif.)
    

There is also a petition going around from Color Of Change. If you sign this petition you will send letters to each of these members and work to convince them to switch their allegiance. Sign the petition.

Reparations demands that we defend ourselves - not from "them" - from ourselves. Now, we must remind these Black Leaders who they are leading. We must remind them of their responsibility. We must let them know that we will not stand by and watch them kiss up to the establishment while the people suffer.

They argue that we need better role models, then they refuse to support that role model. We speak about uniting people and transcending race, yet we work against the ONE candidate capable of uniting folks from across various persuasions and the ONE candidate who transcends race. Our leaders need to know that we are watching and that we will end their careers if the prove to be enemies of the Black Community.

Come and Get Your Reparations!