As the year draws to an end, I am constantly hearing the refrain, “What is this world coming to?” Sung in many different ways and voice pitches, what it really says is that people feel they have little or no control over the forces that impact their lives. For African Americans, the highlight of the year may have been Randal Pinkett climbing his way to becoming the season’s pick for The Apprentice. The highly educated and poised Randal represented only one black man’s success story in America. For the majority of us, we still have some mountains to climb.
We’re all dealing with government corruption, high energy costs, unemployment and downsizing, an unjust war, confusing and harmful changes in Medicaid and Medicare, the rising costs of health care, and the list goes on. For the poor and for people of color, the list doubles, and the impact is weightier.
Public schools are playing havoc with our children’s education and futures; the criminal system foregoes the search for justice; police terror intensifies; our job options are dwindling as companies search for cheap labor markets; and that list goes on.
What is America’s future? What is the future of African Americans? There’s a saying that when America catches a cold, black folks cough. Every generation or so, this country comes to a crossroads, and I believe we are there now. We are at a moral, social and political turning point.
This may be more difficult to see because we have the industry of “spin” working to distort, manipulate and flat-out lie about information that we need to make informed decisions or intelligent assessments. One-third of us knows its spin and know the truth. Another third of us know its spin but don’t have the wherewithal to find the truth. The other third of us lead clueless lives about what’s real and what’s contrived.
In this country, 10 percent control 70 percent of the wealth. The O’Jays tried to tell you this back in the ‘70s. This elite dictates to the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the government. We have allowed them to use, misuse and abuse the natural and material resources, not just of this country, but of the world. These families and multi-national corporations are NOT the majority – we are. So, why are we allowing them to take our power?
Here are three resolutions We the People need to embrace in 2006.
First, stop being victims. Whining “they gonna do whatever they want to do” is simply not true. These power mongrels do what we allow them to do. Don’t give up your power without a fight.
Secondly, join or support an organization that is truly challenging the power relations. “Buffering the suffering,” as I call it, only addresses the symptoms. Giving a family a food basket is noble, but how do you get to the roots of hunger and homelessness? All the food baskets in the world won’t change that dynamic.
And, third, spend at least an hour a week getting information from alternative news sources. Share that with friends, family and co-workers instead of exchanging the latest gossip or complaining about what ain’t happening for you. Knowledge is power, and it also lessens someone’s ability to get over on you.
A different world is possible. It will be built by those who win the hearts and minds of the people, by any means necessary. There are more of us who want a world of equality, justice and peace. But we have to work for it. Let’s unite the many around some collective, meaningful and achievable goals to defeat the few. Next year, this time, maybe we can celebrate a happy year.