In two weeks the path that black folks pounded for more than a century in the annual Annie Malone May Day parade will symbolize the journey toward a new legacy for African-American men in St. Louis.
On June 1 the old parade route will be revived to culminate the kick-off to a renewed sense of responsibility and commitment from black men in the form of “A Call To Oneness.”
“You have 70 percent of African-American homes that are single-parent-driven,” said the Rev. Dr. Robert C. Scott, pastor of Central Baptist Church and a leading coordinator of A Call to Oneness.
“A lot of single mothers are doing an exceptional job raising children – but the absence of a significant male presence has played a dominant role within African-American culture, and we are trying to reestablish that presence.”
The organizers see the march – they ambitiously expect at least 20,000 black men to participate – as a new beginning.
“The real work starts on Monday June 2nd,” Scott said.
“And we are going to do an assessment of concerns and needs, and establish collaboration with those brothers who need job opportunities, job skills and educational opportunities and link them with those organizations in our community who are already doing that – and, if necessary, establish new entities that can bring those things forth.”
Scott credited the Rev. Dr. F. James Clark, pastor of Shalom Church (City of Peace), as the visionary behind A Call to Oneness. Clark said he was inspired by a series of conversations among friends about black St. Louis’ disturbing national rankings with regard to crime and violence.
“We have been moved to demonstrate what we believe God has led us to do,” Clark said.
“To make our community a better place comes as a result of knowing that we can’t be as effective if we continue to live in isolation.”
Clark accepted some responsibility for another contributing factor in the community’s disconnect – successful individuals who don’t actively pursue community betterment.
“As much as I’ve tried to do my part, looking back I see so many other things that I could have done,” Clark said.
“There are so many that have so much to offer but don’t because of a busy schedule. Hopefully A Call to Oneness will help us regain our focus and our footing.”
The participants of A Call to Oneness are putting their foot down in a major way, with a State of Emergency Panel discussion on the Friday before the march (May 30) at Shalom, community sessions taking place simultaneously at more than 20 sites, and the march, worship and reconciliation on Sunday.
“Like Jacque Land, president of 100 Black Men of St. Louis said, ‘First of all we want to apologize to them for leaving them,’” Scott said.
“And then we’ll have conversations about crime, violence prevention, educational opportunities political and economic enfranchisement as far as the community is concerned.”
Clark said the organizing effort itself has been inspiring.
“I know people are thinking, ‘In theory, it sounds good,’ and there are many who are skeptical because we’ve seen it all before,” Clark said. “But I haven’t seen the kind of determination in the men that I’ve been working with to bring this to pass.”
“The lesson that we are hoping that will come out of this is that the brothers who feel like no one cares will see that they have a father, a brother and a friend,” Scott said.
“What we are going to do is get in the trenches, and if we save one life it will be worth it.”
The march will start at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 1 at the Roberts Building (at the intersection of Kingshighway and Dr. Martin Luther King). For more information, visit www.acalltooneness.com.