This weekend I'm going to DC for the Reparation March. I know this is an highly volatile subject for some so I'm not even going to ask for opinions. But, for the record here's my stand - I'm for reparations based on principle. I know the Gov't isn't going to shell out trillions of dollars to 'Black' folks - It's not in the best interest of the ruling elite and the best interest of our economy. Most of the conscious people in the movement don't really want money, in fact most of the folks already have money. What good is the money if we would just reinvest it or spend it in the same system that discriminated us in the first place? If a type of reparations is distributed, I would want it to go towards education, housing, employment, any privilege that was/is denied to us.
One of the main reason I'm involve in the movement is for education purposes. Ever since I became conscious of this issue, it's been a learning process about the True History of the U.S. Most folks don't like to talk about the past of African Americans and it's effect in the present and the future, but it's vital in order to make additional progress. Progess has definately been made, but we have a long way to go. This movement will raise the consciousness of many Americans - Like it or not this issue will be with us for a long time.
Anyway, this subject brought to mind a article I wrote for a local paper last year regarding protesting in general. If you have time check it out (warning: It's pretty long) if not, thanks for your time :)
Peace and Security - LL
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Let Talk About Protest
The year 2000 was truly a year of confrontation - From sustain agitation in New York to mass demonstrations in Philadelphia to vigorous activism in California to standoffs in Seattle. The nation as well as the world around us was sick and tired of being sick and tired, and they wanted folks in power to hear their cries of dissatisfaction. However, the year 2000 was not unique with its share of challenges, because protesting is not a new phenomenon. Every world power had its groups of dissenters, from Africa to America.The Record of Protest
The biblical Jesus Christ revolted against the evils of the Roman Empire and the corrupt leaders of his day because he fought the greed of the money changers in the temple, and spoke up for the poor, the meek, the afflicted and the oppressed. Not to mention his revolutionary teachings of peace, love and forgiveness. During the 16 th century, Martin Luther, leader of the Protestant Reformation, protested the Catholic Church actions with his 95 these refuting the sale of indulgences with resulted in a break from the Catholic oppressive yolk. American revolutionaries boycotted the corrupt taxes forced upon them, including the tea tax, to bring about change against the British. The women movements in the late 1800's held silent vigils, mass demonstrations and hunger strikes for over 100 years before they had a right to vote. Mohandas Gandhi lead a 20 year campaign for civil rights of Indians living in South Africa before any change was administered. He also lead a 200-mile march to collect salt in defiance of government monopoly - more than 60,000 people, including Gandhi was imprisoned, but it helped India gain there independence from Britain. The Montgomery bus boycott in 1955 electrified the nation, when protestors refuse to ride the buses for over a year before the Supreme Court ordered the desegregation of buses in Montgomery. The 60's exploded with pandemonium, with the likes of sit ins, freedom rides, voting registration drives, marches, and global defiance - Even Bill Clinton protested the Vietnam War. During the 70s we have seen much activity regarding, anti-nuclear power, environmentalist, anti-intervention, anti-apartheid, and anti-nuclear weapons movements. That spirit of resistance has been reawakening in this 21 st century.
Why Protest?
"Those who profess to favor freedom, yet deprecate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground. They want rain without thunder and lightening. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters. This struggle may be a moral one; or it may be a physical one; or it may be both moral and physical; but it must be a struggle. Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will." ~ Frederick Douglass.
"Freedom is not free" ~ Dr. King
Every right or privilege we have is a result of struggle. Nothing was ever given to us, we werent born privilege with the same inalienable rights as others. Protesting gives a voice to the struggle. Silence and apathy, in most cases regarding injustice, is interpreted as acceptance. If we are mute on a certain issue, for example the Amadou Diallo debacle, in which an innocent unarmed African immigrant got shot 41 times in his own home by four highly trained police officers from the infamous Street Crime Unit and all that could be given in the cause of justice is an apology, than our inactivity speaks volumes.
Some persons may feel that demonstrating is a waste of time, which is understandable, taking in consideration that thousands felt the Civil Rights leaders in the 50's and 60's, including Dr. Martin Luther King, were wasting their time with voices of dissent. However, time is needed to expire before noticeable change occurs. Granted, many of the changes African Americans and others groups deserve and demand will not occur in our generation. However, what we are doing now is establishing the ground work for future generations.
I could recall coming into consciousness with the struggle and asking my relatives iF they were at the 1963 March on Washington, which drew 250,000 participants or if they heard any of Malcolm X speeches live in Harlem and to my surprise they nonchalantly said no. I said to myself how could they miss out on being part of history that effects them the most. Whether we want to acknowledge it or not, all endeavors of protest shape our history. Many folks questioned the sensibility of protesting the Bush Inauguration, but considering the historical shenanigans of that election how could one not protest? If history is recorded with no notation about the Selected President and the thousands of people voicing their disagreement, than people reading about it in the future will assume that the American public accepted it - Silence will be interpreted as acceptance. Dr King said "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."
Why We Dont Protest
Mohandas Gandhi was discriminated in South Africa because the white establishment did not want a "Black" man traveling first class on a train, so he tried to convince the support of the non-whites in South Africa to stand up for their rights. Instead, he found what dominates many folks today when it comes to the struggle for justice - Fear, fear dominated their response. The mind set was/is "What will happen to my family? My job? My home, possessions and money? What will my neighbors say?" Often times the middle-class is content with trying to achieve the American Dream and the pursuant of happiness that they will submit to the injustices rather than stand up to them and risk losing everything. However, true liberation is achieved when we liberate the fear that has a controlling influence in our life. Dr. King said "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."
Some people dont protest because they are waiting for a prefect issue. There is no perfect issue, each issue is valid and contributes to the overall struggle for freedom and equality. If everybody waited for a perfect issue we would still be riding on the back of the bus. If we wait too long, our whole life could pass by without us doing anything. Dr. King said "The time is always right to do what is right."
"I gave at the office" is the attitude some people have. Meaning that they volunteered their time at soup kitchens or homeless shelters during holidays or gave to some charitable organization. Volunteering is very important - There is no question about it.. However, volunteering combined with activism is more effective. Volunteering is like a band-aid effect, its short-term. It is not until we force change that those soup kitchens and homeless shelters will not need our volunteering services. A person is homeless or hungry because of a root cause, perhaps its due to discriminatory hiring, racial profiling or red-lining practices. Forcing change through protesting and activism will tackle the root cause, and remedy the situation. The short-term is important, but it is the long-term which creates true change.
Some people refuse to protest because a particular Leader is taking the lead. However, the protest is larger that the individual leader. Regardless of the many disagreements we may have with the so call leaders of our community, we have to look at the issue at hand. The issue(s) far exceeds the personal dissatisfaction with the person. Interestingly, last year was a time I witness many political enemies putting aside their various differences and ideologies for the betterment of the cause. Even if we refuse to participate in a protest because of personal differences, why dont we start our own? Why do we have to wait for somebody to protest in our behalf, arent there enough substantial issues to go around for us to mobilize our own protest? Dr. King said "No man is worth his salt who is not ready at all times to risk his body, to risk his well-being, to risk his life, in a great cause
." He DID NOT say "No man is worth his salt who is not ready at all times to risk his body, to risk his well-being, to risk his life, in a great individual."Types of Protests
The various methods of protest are: Picketing, marches, boycotts (social, election, economic), civil disobedience, labor strikes, sit-ins, slowdowns, revolts, demonstrations, hunger strikes, vigils and petitions. Every little bit helps - licking envelopes, making phone calls, attending a demonstration, sending letters, signing petition, distributing flyers, etc. Your attendance at events shows that you care and that you believe in the cause. Even if we are not present, we can protest on a daily basis by just holding our wallet, refusing to support certain establishments that perpetuate the injustices of the people. These are all crucial efforts to a successful movement.
In ConclusionProtesting is not only part of world history but it is a natural response - just look at an infant that doesnt like the food being feed to him/her or the body language of a teenager that disagrees with their parents, teachers or anybody in authority. Let us fulfill that natural urge to right the wrongs. We can not wish for justice and expect results, individual effort is required for a collective change to happen. For countless years we have been waiting for the other person to change first, but it has to start with us. We are in this struggle together - Dr King said "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." We may not see the immediate result of our efforts, but our participation is building a solid foundation for the future. We should not presume that things will stay as is. The universe is undergoing constant change - it sometimes needs a little push to trigger monumental change. Protesting is the spark that will trigger change in our global community.