Are African Americans Losing the Race? Part I

by Dr. Matthew Lynch

The infamous childhood tale about the tortoise and the hare has infused valuable lessons concerning strategy, wisdom and patience into the lives of many around the world. It proved that one who is swiftest does not always win a race to one who is equipped with self-sufficiency, endurance, protection and perseverance. Unfortunately, the fast paced society in which we dwell has evolved and no longer presents a finish line that was once the key component to this fable. Incessant modifications to lifestyles and circumstances, including advancement in technologies, have caused what used to be sedentary goals to become moving targets in our journey towards succession.
Now, more than ever, concession has become essential to our survival as individuals, communities and more importantly – as a society, a people. The truth is every race, culture and ethnicity (excluding those of Caucasian/European descent) has encountered significant struggle in the progression of their people. Jews, Native Indians, Hispanics, Asians and Africans (not to be confused with African Americans) have all thrived in acclimating to the American system. Where most ethnicities have managed to flourish despite the disadvantages common to immigrants, congregate in support for their families and loved ones, educate their young and patronize their own business, egotism, greed and materialism has prevented African Americans from doing the same.
A man deeply-rooted in the wisdom of Dao once shared an extraordinary philosophy with me: “To liberate a revolutionary is to feed him… fill his belly with food and provide him with everything he desires.” I am inclined to believe that somewhere along the way, our voices were silenced and our vitality diffused in the process of obtaining our piece of old fashioned apple pie. In retrospect, we can follow the trail of African American undertakings and observe how our mission for triumph became muted and less urgent as each hardship and hindrance to success was surmounted.
Seldom is it ever disputed that our momentum as a people previously deemed the majority minority has subsided since the yester years of the Civil Rights Movement. A select few may debate whether or not we remain contenders in this cultural campaign we set out to win almost a half century ago. The general consensus declares that the days of African American leadership have been left behind to smolder in the ashes of the revolution. Silence has replaced the utter cries of “Black Power” heard amongst those gathered in Black Panther rallies or “We Shall Overcome” protests marched on the back roads of Alabama and Mississippi. The selfless “by any means necessary” valor that once ignited our passion to unite and conquer – or at least “take back what the devil done stole” – of the 60’s and 70’s has seemingly been eradicated by egotistic attempts to acquire a portion of the American “dream.” Thus, by abandoning and sometimes disowning our fellow brothers or sisters while undertaking selfish ambitions, we’ve failed in recognizing that the formula for prosperity also includes the gallant deed of paying forward what we are blessed to acquire.
True, this is a new day. And in this new day I refrain from watching the news as often as possible in an attempt to shun the anti-intellectualism and misrepresented barbarism of our people displayed on CNN and Headline News every morning. Why? Because it angers me that as time progresses, we seem to regress – at least according to the media. Nevertheless, I can no longer stand up and speak against the media portrayal of our people, being that I can potentially walk the inner city streets and encounter those same thugs, transients and welfare recipients who remain content in living off the system; because I find myself asking questions like: at what point will we break free from the clutches of stereotypical perceptions and realize that we keep ourselves imprisoned by remaining targets of ridicule; when will we conduct some deep soul searching and emerge as beings that look nothing like the images portrayed on television screens; because I wonder when we will make liars out of mainstream media; because I wonder where the positive African American figures that can inspire young sons and daughters to be educated, powerful and influential groundbreakers like Colin Powell and Oprah Winfrey have gone.
Don’t get me wrong, we have Barack Obama, Tavis Smiley, Dr. Jocelyn Elders and Al Sharpton among a few prominent spokespersons who continue to stand and raise voices. But is it accurate to pronounce that these few figures are enough to win the race or even heal the state of Black America today. Or are they merely studio heroes placed in the public eye to perpetuate irrelevant discussions about hair styles donned by the likes of Professor Cornel West and Condoleezza Rice among the uneducated folk? Or could they be fragmented remedies strategically placed on deceptive mantels of media to silence the mouths of optimistic protestors, coercing them into believing our battle has been won?
The courage that once drove Martin Luther King Jr., Maya Angelou, Angela Davis, Andrew Young, Huey P. Newton, Jessie Jackson, Louis Farrakhan, Nikki Giovanni and Afeni Shakur has vanished. True, history proves that many of our prevailing leaders were either killed or thrown behind bars for standing up for a divine cause. I myself am torn between the idea of letting go of the past and moving on; stepping up out of the quagmire of dysfunction created by our own history to arise a legacy in my own right. Yes, the idea of relinquishing the pain and suffering of my forefathers hurts me; however I would be the first to sign a petition that proposes we begin to think outside the box in regards to change.
I marvel at the words of Professor Cornel West when he spoke on Tavis Smiley’s State of Black America panel in 2006. He stated, “If you can control the minds of men, you can control their actions…our mind is the most powerful weapon we have…” Statistically speaking, how many of us are actually using our artillery to our advantage. Most of us will not pick up a book (though entertaining to some, urban content that has recently flooded the literary market does equate to books with pages filled with knowledge, wisdom and a history that reflects royalty; just like Hip Hop, urban literature perpetuates depressed street mentality) to even begin the process of equipping ourselves with the knowledge and wisdom it take become contenders once again.
Instead of using the agony of our past to obtain the vigor necessary to become something other than what they expect, African Americans remain oppressed and controlled by our own misrepresented realities. Still today, we organize marches against police brutality and embark upon a revolution for social change. This amazes me being that we have yet to stop and change our own actions. In fact, statistics of divorce, single parent homes, incarceration, teenage pregnancy, college and high school drop outs rank high among the African American communities (this isn’t even including drug dealing, black on black crime and the spreading of AIDS/HIV epidemic). These alarming statistics are enough to prove that we have yet to stop and take a good look at what we are doing as a people to incite the hideous cruelty Blacks often encounter by the powers that be. When will we begin to recognize that the antiquated concepts of Christian organizations (SCLC and NAACP) rallying together to coordinate marches and demonstrations only advocates and fuels the rage that cripples us? Regardless of innocence or guilt in these situations that stir the emotions of pretentious leaders and pastors, as long as we remain angry about the deeds of others – which by the way we can not control – we can never move on. Anger and force are conduits to frustration and resistance, which ultimately creates dis-ease.
Amid a group of pastors and intellects, I hear conversations that carry the depiction of trepidation, doubt and indifference regarding the absence of leadership outside the ambit of Christianity. “Black people think the fight is over,” says Pastor F.T. Currie of Francesco T. Currie Ministries. “No one wants to stand in the line of fire. We are too afraid of death. You see, leaders back in the day were not afraid to follow their purpose, to march for a cause, to protect their families and fight for righteousness. Men today don’t want to get dirty; they don’t want to sacrifice their bodies, minds and souls for a greater cause like they did 40 years ago.”
I contemplate the notion to spark debate over the function of organizations such as the Rainbow/Push Coalition and the SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Conference). Do leaders like Al Sharpton and Jessie Jackson really help in the progression of or race, or are they simply capitalizing off of the struggles and tribulations of African Americans? Though they served their purpose during the 60’s and 70’s, is it not odd that amid the call of community activism (which should be applauded, don’t get me wrong), that we seldom hear of their good deeds on an average day. Yet, the moment a prominent figure is facing judicial confrontation or an innocent black man is gunned down for no apparent reason, the organization emerges in attempt to “rescue”. Somehow notoriety is gained in making these unfortunate circumstances a racial discrimination case. Is that really standing up for a cause, or contributing to the notion that we as a people need to be emancipated instead of encouraged to lift our heads high to become leaders and politicians, and stop wasting time worrying about what someone is trying to take from us. It is through the empowerment of self where the resilience to avoid crippling mentalities is learned and practiced. Once we begin to change our paradigms and understand that freedom is a state of mind of which we were born, we can then begin to alter our behavior to that of affirmation and rehabilitation.
Black politicians who claim to be liberal in their determination to represent the people are not exempt from scrutiny. It boggles my mind how even in having obtained some of the highest positions in the White House – including the potentiality of Presidency – the urgency of remaining contenders in this race is still last on the agenda. Even in power, hopeful opportunities for change are swept from under our feet. “Every one thinks we have to pick sides – republican or democrat…but we have to listen and use our own minds to choose candidates and laws based upon your beliefs, not based on what side of politics a candidate sits. Black people automatically vote democratic, just because Republicans are conservative. Democrats are part of the problem also…they are the ones fighting to grant illegal aliens citizenship. We are already struggling at getting jobs here, and how am I supposed to feel now if I’m standing in the unemployment line and someone who wasn’t even born here has the same opportunity as me. Black people are already behind… if Democrats are so for the people, how can they allow this,” a caller shared on a syndicated Al Sharpton radio interview.
In my opinion, our focus is pointed in the wrong direction. We should turn our cheeks to the provocations imparted by a society that expects us act antagonistically. We should look within for the peace we seek to obtain from others who don’t have the power to give it in the first place. We should focus on finding answers and solutions to becoming a greater, mightier people, rather than bringing attention to ourselves. We should focus on gaining respect for ourselves rather than forcing outcomes from people who are less enthused about us rising out of poverty, lowering the percentages of incarceration and black on black crime and combating the AIDS/HIV epidemic. How can we expect others to respect us when we have very little respect for ourselves? Our focus should be education, entrepreneurialism and the value of family and life, instead of trying to force America to give us something they obviously have no interest in parting with. Instead of deliberating the act taking back, we should center our attention on creating.