In America’s Melting Pot, Blacks are the only ones melting

[Thuso]

As we consider our "covenant relationship" with America, here is a perspective from Jim Clingman that is worthy of consideration.

In America’s Melting Pot, Blacks are the only ones melting. -- June 2006
By James Clingman Jr.

What will it take for Black people to stand up against centuries of unfairness and mistreatment? I know we’re tough and can take a lot of abuse, but c’mon brothers and sisters, we don’t have to continue proving our toughness by submitting to and even participating in the destruction of our own people. Where is Chancellor Williams when we need him most? Have we not been hurt severely enough? Are we still waiting for the crucial blow that will finally make us fight back? Well, the longer we wait the less effective we become, and the smaller and more insignificant we become as well.

This melting pot thing has definitely played us for chumps. Every other group is doing its thing by building wealth for themselves. Black people are busy melting away, soon to become invisible and a “non-people” as Albert Cleage told us we would become if we continued down the yellow brick road of social integration without an economic foundation.

We are engaged in silly discussions about Democrats and Republicans, as if we have any say in what happens politically in this country, and as if the rulers of these parties care about what we think. They put us in political trick bags by inviting us to their parties and allowing us to run for office only after we have pledged allegiance to one party or the other, again, as if that means anything in terms of real political power for Black folks.

Some of our Black politicians are so scared of offending their white handlers that they never put forth any agenda that is pro-Black. In some cases they are even ashamed to be Black. They seek our votes and move into their plush secure political offices, while we melt away in a society that has two things on its mind: money and power.

The silly Black electorate goes along with these do-nothing politicians, both Black and white, by falling into the trap of endless and mindless dialogues about issues that mean absolutely nothing when it comes to the economic wellbeing of Black people. We engage in high-brow political conversations, again, as if our rhetoric will change things, and as if we have real political power in the first place.

We wrap ourselves in the agendas of others and subvert our own interests for the silliest and flimsiest of reasons. For instance, in Ohio the discussion is now centered on the governor’s race. Like our neighbors in Pennsylvania, we are faced with a political choice between a Black Republican and a white Democrat, the Blacks being Ken Blackwell and Lynn Swann, respectively. I can’t imagine what the rationale is in Pennsylvania for electing Lynn Swann, who said George Bush is the “most qualified and most credible candidate to fulfill the role as president of the United States.” But in my hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio, the rationale being promulgated in support of Blackwell is, “Let’s make history.” That’s what they said about Doug Wilder. How are you Black folks in Virginia doing these days?

Black people should have had enough of just “making history” by now. Heck, Condoleezza made history, y’all, but what have we gotten from that? You would think Black people could come up with a better reason than that to elect a governor. Another silly political platform is gay marriage. What in the world does this issue have to do with the economic uplift of Black people? Nothing. But we will vote for someone simply because they espouse a Constitutional Amendment that defines marriage.

Newsflash! To all of you Black right-wing religious zealots, all of you empty-headed political pundits, and especially you wannabe political office-holders, the marriage amendment has already been written, passed, and instituted by God a long time ago. He sanctioned the first marriage and His word does not change; He does not need help from George Bush, Bill Frist, or anyone else with defining what constitutes a marriage. The arrogance of those who promote this amendment nonsense amazes me. Although most of us know it’s only a diversion and an attempt to regain the Republican base, we fall for it anyway.

The immigration issue has been reduced to discussions about Black people disliking Latinos. How silly is that? This issue is about Black people loving ourselves enough to stand up for our own rights, which have been trampled not only by the establishment but by other groups that have come to this country. They walk on the legacy left by our relatives who suffered and died to get their “rights,” as we silently do our best Stepin Fetchit impression and move to the end of the line – once again.

Here’s the deal, Black folks, and I do mean “Black folks.” You cannot allow these shallow-minded, unconscious, conniving, political hacks, and “misleaders” to cause the destruction of the Black race. We have made mistakes by trying to assimilate, by trying to make others love us, and by buying into the minority game. We are suffering the consequences of silly political slogans and disingenuous politicians who want to be Black only when it comes to getting the Black vote. That is our fault; nobody else’s.

We must turn from being Stepin Fetchit and become Lincoln Perry, the man who “played” that role but was much smarter than people thought. He invented his game and played it well; he controlled his game. When are Black folks going to control our game? Right now we are out of control, and melting away fast in this melting pot called the United States. The sad part is that there are other blacks (intentional small “b”) aiding in that process, and we cannot allow them to get away with it. As they do in Detroit, “Call ‘em out!”

What are your thougts? Do you agree with this perspective? If so, or if not, how does this point of view affect your actions?

[kimsuccess]

I agree with Mr. Clingman and I want to take it a step further. Yes, we need economic gains but we must work together to get and retain gains in other areas too.

I would not like to focus only on economics or entrepreneurialship and negate healthcare, education, politics, family or anything else. We are not a one track people and the whole have to get together, figure out their talents, skills and expertise and we all work together.

This is what I like about the Covenant with Black America. Everyone working on a different area with the same overall goals in mind.

Yes, we are way behind schedule with this whole process because we have to get our part and keep others from taking what we have already gained. For example, I am hearing in Chicago that Arabs have bought up all the local Churches Chicken franchises. We are fast becoming the only people that are strictly consumers and you cannot survive in America like that!

Much Success,
Kimsuccess

[Thuso]

Jim makes some good points, but we are still not getting the point. Kim adds that there are multiple facets to the issues we need to be advocates for. This community, and this forum in particular, are both focused on the issue of strength in unity.

What will it take for Black people to stand up against centuries of unfairness and mistreatment? I know we’re tough and can take a lot of abuse, but c’mon brothers and sisters, we don’t have to continue proving our toughness by submitting to and even participating in the destruction of our own people.

The answer to Jim's lament is that we must develop a "Covenant with Black America" that knits together all the positions that we can negotiate with Mainstream America to address our issues.

The Covenant with Black America:

• Sets forth our priorities.
• Spells out specific solutions that we agree are needed.
• Prioritizes what is important to us.
• Establishes a broad base of agreement among ourselves from which we can negotiate.
• Documents issues that those who are seeking our support can address.
• Makes it clear that our votes and support cannot be taken for granted.

In Columbus, Ohio, we hosted an initial "Covenant Conversation" in May. We are planning a follow-up discussion soon. What's happening in your community?

[collectone]

When did I forget to get on the bus? A Covenant, what a novel idea. What ever happened to simply picking ourselves up by the bootstraps and getting it done in our communities? I think we should draft a covenant to never draft a covenant. While I agree that blacks have suffered centuries of unfair treatment, the failings in the black community have little to do with past treatment and more to do with our dependency on government and our lack of dependency on ourselves.



If Whites, Asians, Hispanics, and others do not need a covenant, why do we? As I see it a covenant is nothing more than are attempt to deflect responsibility for our own failing onto others. How's this for a covenant; stop buying Microsoft stock and invest in building Mr. Johnson’s corner market into a major supermarket chain. We get a astounding return on our investment, our young people have a place to find employment and the community prospers. Sorry, my mistake we cannot do that because Mr. Johnson went out of business, replaced by a Korean market financed by a group of Koreans (not the SBA). How can an ethnic group with the economic ability to turn Wall Street on its ear sit around pondering the need for a covenant to get us back on track?



Rebuild our communities and the crime rate will fall, invest in our businesses and unemployment will drop, return wealth and prosperity to a point of vision and alternative means of deriving wealth will lose its popularity. As my father always said, “It’s easier to push a man than a donkey.”

[Thuso]

Michael,
I really appreciate your comments.

As I see it a covenant is nothing more than are attempt to deflect responsibility for our own failing onto others... Rebuild our communities and the crime rate will fall, invest in our businesses and unemployment will drop, return wealth and prosperity to a point of vision and alternative means of deriving wealth will lose its popularity.

Your beginning and ending points are connected, but actually point out the need for a "covenant" among ourselves. THIS IS NOT AN ATTEMPT TO DEFLECT THE RESPONSIBILITY, BUT A DIRECT EFFORT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.

The examples you site are examples of ethnic groups who "escaped horrors and tortures and war, and poverty to come to the land of opportunity." They were motivated to work together when their feet hit our shores. Moreover, their progress was more or less unhampered.

Consider the 400 year "psyc-job" that slavery did on us -- disconnected from our heritage, language, traditions, and brutalized into thinking we were inferior. Then we were "set free." Free to be exploited by share-cropping schemes, labor ripoffs when we escaped the south, exclusion from land and homeownersip, locked out of the economic and political system, lynched and intimidated, then isolated in communities where we were easy targets for the "new immigrants" to take advantage of. The closest thing to a "new economic order" was destroyed with the Black Wall Street riots and destruction in Tulsa, OK.

So, do we need a "covenant?" Yes -- with ourselves. We need to establish a foundation of making and keeping commitments to ourselves first. That covenant should include a commitment to do all the things that you mentioned. But sadly, we were collectively brainwashed, and like a person recovering from the brain damage of a stroke, there are some things we have to learn all over again -- like how to walk, and talk, and plan, and collaborate. These natural functions were systematically removed from our rich cultural heritage and replaced with self-doubt, hatred, mistrust, and dysfunction. That is what you see all around you -- and it is no accident.

The "Covenant with Black America" is not a prescription written by Tavis Smiley, but a framework for collaboration with many inputs (that should also include your input). Your comments in this post are a part of the record. It takes more than a "just do it" attitude. Please continue to offer your thoughts, commentaries and recommended solutions. We have spent enough time criticizing one another.

I look forward to your input to any one of the 10 Covenant Solutions.

Amandla!

[Daud Musa]

Amen (Ra)!

Thank you.

[collectone]

Thusa,

I appreciate your desire to be involved in any action directed towards uplifting us a race and will take your advise and respond individually to each point in the covenant. While I will admit to not agreeing with it in concept, You will find that I will not agree with its individual calls to action.

[collectone]

I couldn't do it, I tried. I reveiwed the ten covenants and found them to be nothing more than a collection of rhetoric and common sense suggestions. Here is my probem with the entire structure of the covenant. It is based on the theory that the challenges faced in the black community are the fault of those suffering from the lack of opportunity and resources available in this country. It also points blame on public officials and black leadership. While we each hold some level of responsibility for the crime ridden under educated urban societies. The missing party in this entire covenant are the architects themselves.

They have, be it subconsciously or purposefully forgotten to lie any of the responsibility for our failings at their own feet. While in reality they hold the greatest level of responsibility for the failings in the black community. Nowhere in the covenant does it call for a financial commitment from those of greater means to ensure the financial growth of our community. Nowhere in the covenant does it call for a financial commitment from those of means to financially support an educational system that will provide black youth with a higher-level of education than is now provided by pubic education. Nowhere in the covenant does it call for investment into small black business by the wealthy to ensure economic growth in the black community. This is what I reference when I claim the covenant to be nothing more than a document of deflection.



The black community does not lack morality, religious organizations or political leaders, what it lacks is the financial commitment from those posing as authorities on the needs of the black community but failing to take any responsibility. I call for an all out investment back into the black urban and rural community by those claiming to have the answer for the black community. Let’s review the claim of a 400 year “psyc-job” you claim still haunts us as a people. Dating back to the 1860’s through the 1930’s blacks have thrived as a community, economically and socially. Blacks have historically provided their communities with resources such as medical care, jobs and education. These were blacks that were actually living is Slavery, Jim Crow and Hangings. How can we claim these as reasons for our failures when black society refused to do so while actually living through it. Our failing began with the stock market crash during the 30’s and the implementation of Jim Crow; the Civil Rights Movement further advanced it. Now before I start getting email threatening my life, allow me to explain my theory. While the Civil Rights Movement achieved great things for blacks it failed to address one important need, the need to recycle our gains and redistribute them within our own communities. It failed to develop a long-range plan. As a result those of us (myself included) that have been fortunate enough to reach some level of success, elected to become part of a economic group, leaving those of less fortune (our ethnic group) to make their own way. Take education as an example, look around and you will find private schools for Jewish, Korean, and White Americans. These are funded not by the federal government but by wealth within the ethnic groups.



We must take the blame as the leaders of our family as well as the responsibility to ensure that every member has the opportunity to succeed.