Words from the Wise

 

Growing up in a city where there was evident government corruption and misguided leadership, I seen the poison that can pour into the crevices of our communities. That poison has affected urban neighborhoods for decades upon decades forcing us to strive for monetary pleasures and put morals and values to the side. These values and morals were placed under a microscope this past weekend at the Tavis Smiley: We Count! The Black Agenda is the American Agenda, a conference that aired on CSPAN Saturday March 20, 2010 held at Chicago St. University. This conference encompassed the black leaders of America discussing the priorities of our first African American President Barak Obama. Towering public figures like Cornel West (Princeton University Professor), Michael Eric Dyson (Georgetown University Professor), Louis Farrakhan (Nation of Islam Ambassador), Rev. Jesse Jackson (Activist), Julianne Malveaux (President of Bennett College for Woman), Ron Walters (University of Maryland Professor) Tom Burrell (Founder of the Resolution Project), Dorothy Tillman (Former Chicago Alderman), Michael Fauntroy (Author/Professor at George Mason University) and others. This covenant panel moderated by the vocal Tavis Smiley discussed the importance or non-importance of Pres. Obama and his need to address a "Black Agenda". This discussion can be categorized as a monumental step for black America. This union of some of the most articulate minds in America to address the struggles of oppressed African American communities has been a long awaited opportunity to put raw feelings and questions out into the open. Tavis Smiley asked the question does President Obama have an obligation to address the "Black Agenda" and is there any relevance to that of a "Black Agenda"?

An agenda is defined as a formal list of things to be done in a specific order. I do believe there are plenty of issues within our society that warrants immediate attention by President Obama. But there is no reason to expect him to accomplish all that needs to be done. Louis Farrakhan said during the conference "There have been plenty of black mayors, but the black neighborhoods still have not changed." This quotes explains that there have been many black political figures who have vowed for change (none as high as President of course) and the same problems we face as minority communities continue to accumulate and go unchanged. This leaves the changing in the hand of the people who are closely affected by the historical Health Care Bill that recently passed. This leaves the changing for the victims of the elevating unemployment rate. This requires change from the people who need help from the government, the forgotten dwellers of the inner city streets. The enlightened words of Dr. Cornel West "having a black face in a high place, makes it easier to forget about the ones in the field," shows that the importance that Obama maintain the vision of the working man who played a significant role in positioning him in office.

This conference was an important step in identifying our black leaders; figures like Michael Fauntroy, Dorothy Tillman and Julianne Malveaux were allowed to express their personal concerns and be introduced to a wider audience. That is what black America has been longing for over the last 10 years, the identification of our leaders and who will take the voice of the people and relay it to the President of the United States. "In Love" was the centerpiece of the discussion. Tavis Smiley wanted to make sure that people understood in critiquing the president it showed that black America is still paying attention and him being President does not excuse the fact that minority communities are still less privileged and overlooked. By the end of the 4 hour long CSPAN broadcast I could feel the looming controversy building and the debate about what was appropriate flaring in the air. I felt the conference opened the eyes and ears to the world allowing them to hear the enormous voice black Americans play in the foundation of the entire planet. Michael Eric Dyson one of my favorite Authors said it best "We love you; you know we love you (Obama), we just want you to love us back." I hope we all recognize these Words from the Wise, it is time we become active in the strengthening of our fellow black, brown and white Americans and stop expecting one man to right what has been wrong for centuries. Think about it...

To learn more about some of our BLACK LEADERS check out these links. Check out www.tavistalks.com for more on Tavis Smiley.

Julianne Malveaux http://www.juliannemalveaux.com/aboutjulianne.html

Tom Burrell http://www.hayhouse.com/authorbio.php?id=557

Ben Jealous (NAACP President) http://www.naacp.org/about/leadership/executive/jealous/index.htm

Marc Morial (Civil Activist and Former New Orleans Mayor) http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Marc+Morial

Cornel West http://aalbc.com/authors/cornel.htm

Michael Eric Dyson http://www.gibbsmagazine.com/Michael%20Dyson.htm

Michael Fauntroy http://www.michaelfauntroy.com/