Columnist Bernie Hayes
Today would have been Dr. Martin Luther King’s 80th birthday. I believe he would be spending today preparing to attend the inauguration next week of President-elect Barack Obama.
I believe he would prepare a speech that would surpass his eloquent “I Have a Dream” oratory. I think he would ask the world to speak with one voice to cope with the income crisis and keep working to expand and diversify our urban economy and help parents balance their work and family responsibilities, as well as make education more accessible and improve the quality of our schools. But I know that he would not overshadow the speech that will be delivered by Mr. Obama.
Both have marked a turning point in the history of America, and their true goals are to achieve acceptance for all people, regardless of race or nationality, gender, sexual orientation or religious beliefs. I believe both would address the role of cultural identity and cross-culture skills. They would speak on interrelationships between cultural identities and the capacity to function in the dominant culture.
I believe both would recommend for us to be culturally competent and to make decisions with a favorable attitude towards ourselves, nurturing our own strengths. They would remind us that we as a people experience most of the struggles, so we must understand ourselves in terms of our own culture.
They would speak to the issue of our neighborhood youths that join the subculture of drugs and crime and insist on peace with honor. They would express deep concern over increased violence in St. Louis and in the African-American community in particular.
Although the year is new, there is a conflict brewing over neighborhood crime and violence. Yusuf Muhammad, the director of the Ministry of Defense for the Millions More Movement, opposes the proposal made last year by state Rep. Talibdin El-Amin asking the governor to bring in National Guard officers to patrol the streets of his district.
Muhammad said, “We agree our youth are out of line, out of control, in need of strong black male intervention and need a clear knowledge of self, God and the enemy. One of the main reasons we find ourselves at this juncture is because we have lost moral authority in our community.”
First Ward Alderman Charles Quincy Troupe’s neighborhood is in El-Amin’s district, and he has encouraged residents to apply for concealed weapons permits so they can start carrying a firearm.
We all know that differences of opinion and conflicts can lead to increased understanding and creative thinking. It’s how we deal with conflict that determines the outcome. It can take a great deal of effort, care, and thoughtfulness to address differences. We must agree that prevention is preferable to cure, and that strategies of prevention must address the root causes of conflicts.
I know that Dr. King and President-elect Obama would make a joint statement to reinforce this premise.
Join me Tuesday night at the Starlight Room on North Broadway for the Inaugural Ball, from 6 until midnight. I can be reached by fax at (314) 837-3369 or by email at: berhay@swbell.net.