On December 12, 2009 I participated in a panel discussion and visit from the National Leadership from National Black United Front (NBUF) in Milwaukee, WI at the Wisconsin African American Women's Center. This conversation dealt with the following topics:
Where do we go from here? Chaos or Community?
The discussion tends to make me frustrated. Since I have been actively working in the community to unite, I have felt that we are a problems based people. We see all that is wrong with society, life, people, places and things. Rarely do we focus on the solutions. In this discussion it was important to me that we stayed solutions based. We are all angry about some cause, some issue that faces our community. Being Black in America has often been synonymous with struggle. And it is a struggle to fight against racism and prejudice in our daily lives. But the question remains "I know you're down, but when are you gonna get up?" I am not suggesting that we forget the history of struggle here, but if we constantly project the negative into the universe, why do we expect anything positive in return? Chaos is a playground for uncertainty. Lack of stability in what we are able to succeed in is based in not knowing who and what we are. I think we are living in a time where race is no longer a barrier. Our minds are what hold us back. As long as we never shift our paradigm we will always be what we have always been. A people enslaved. Developing community is something we MUST do, before we are FORCED to. WE ALL WE GOT! So if we do not begin to seek the solutions and build them ourselves to the problems we are faced with we will continue to be at the mercy of those that have decided for us for hundreds of years.
How do we bridge the generation gap?
This discussion is one that often causes me to become angry. I will site examples: We no longer have an African World Festival in Milwaukee. As a result, the one festival where we were able to take delight in all things of the African ancestry are dying a slow and miserable death. We are approaching the third year without any answers to this problem. But we have several strong young professionals that were not engaged in the process of bringing this tradition back to life. It was more than just a summerfest grounds festival. I was a child coming to these events, experiencing name changing ceremonies conducted by Teju, I spent my time watching performances by some of the best African American and Afro Caribbean performers and artists in the area. And I was exposed to some of the most influential Hip Hop I have experienced at African World Festival. Yes there were some incidents that left the festival robbed of the rich heritage it once bolstered. But now we are doing nothing to save it. I watched the efforts to revive it and did not understand what was going on. I am not pointing fingers here. I am simply addressing an area where I offered my service and did not see anything change. I felt disenfranchised. I still do. Why? Because this is an example of the elders in the community disengaging from the youth. This is an example of how we can become so consumed with being in power that we refuse to share the leadership. This is an example of a tradition disbarred because no one wants to loose control. It is a beef that I have not satisfied yet. I have fallen back from this issue, because in many ways, it is too big for one person. I know some will accuse me of being misinformed or unaware of what efforts took place. I will not reveal what I truly know about the events that lead to the demise of this wonderful festival. Instead I am asking what is our solution? Forget what happened to cause this, what can we do to engage the young professionals to keep this tradition alive. It is vital to the culture that we have lost.
Nationally I am seeing many organizations give their leadership over to the young generations. At the NBUF event I attended it was highlighted that the MOVEMENT was initiated by the young. NBUF has just transitioned to young leadership. Kofi Taharka and Salim Adofo are in their thirties. They are fresh minds and ideas that will engage the young population. I am impressed with their desire to empower us and pass the torch. The question is how many other organizations will follow suit? Will we see more of this in the Milwaukee area? Or will we continue to tell the youth what is best for them, instead of respect their minds? College students start organizing and there is no limit to what they can accomplish. We need to engage the campuses, the high schools, the youth centers. Because the negative role models are starting at the DISNEY CHANNEL level teaching our young people that being sneaky, disrespecting parents, and acting a fool are acceptable behaviors. That is not the case. But are we going to intercept these messages while we have time? Because if we don't the young will continue to do whatever they feel like doing, instead of trying to influence their environment in a positive way.
What will it take to build a village?
Family, community, and love for each other. We are one. That is not some cliche statement, we really are. It is time to start behaving that way. WE must stop collapsing on each other and show each other respect. No more self missions. It is time to share the same love that used to live in the hoods, ghettos and communities that were considered a total loss to the establishment. I remember a time when people were not afraid of the children. I remember somebody else's mother stopped us from doing wrong when they saw it. Now we are afraid of our young people. Now we turn our heads when we see a young girl being picked up by a man twice her age. Man, I am not judging I am just saying. It is time to take some responsibility for the things we can affect.
How can we connect the Black Power Generation to the Hip Hop Generation?
By respecting the common truths in both generations. They are misunderstood. They are intelligent. They are aware of the negative connotations that they are living under. They are not willing to conform. They are able to adapt and use the knowledge they gain to further their efforts. There is so much about the young Panthers that emulates the current youth. But the panther generation has been demonized to the point that no one is allowing themselves to see the obvious similarities that exist. Stop fronting. We are the same. The rebellious are usually the young. Now that the Panther Generation has aged and become professionals, teaching in colleges and institutions all over the country and world they are now somehow separate. But they started out as the outcasts. Now they are esteemed professors. That is what this generation is headed towards. They just don't all realize it yet. It is time to show them.
This panel discussion addressed all these areas, but I do not believe we are anywhere near the end of this discussion. It has only begun. The leadership at NBUF will be returning to Milwaukee on January 20, 2010 to discuss what we will do to reach some SOLUTIONS to empowering the young generation. I intend to be there to ensure that I speak for this population. My hope is that many others will show up and do the same. Many people have stated that they will participate and bring at least 2 youth to discuss this and identify ways to make change. Will you be counted among these change agents? I hope you will. Because if we do not engage these youth we are to blame for the complete and utter destruction of a people destined for greatness. You may not agree. Show up and disagree then....
Tonite I will be discussing this further with my partner in crime VIVA FIDEL!!! Why? Because this is what the RELATIVE THEORY is all about. If you want to participate in this discussion tonite it will be on BLOG TALK RADIO. Here is the call in number:
Call-in Number: (347) 324-3221
Please come to the table and share your thoughts. We look forward to identifying ways we can commune and build bridges instead of live in despair. HOTEP!!!!
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