What Role Should HBCU's Play In Supporting President Obama's Policy Initiatives?
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Posted By: Rudolph Hickman on January 09, 2011 Welcome to the second decade of the 21st century. As I pause to reflect on the first decade and try to figure out where the country is headed, I have also looked at the past and tried to determine why it is African-Americans have not reached that place where we are judged by the content of our character and not the color of our skin. While there is more than enough blame to go around, I am particularly dismayed by the meager effort that 'we' as a community have expended in protecting and extending those rights our fore fathers were able to secure for us. One notable example of our lack of vigilance is the meager black voter turnout during the recent mid-term elections. Had we turned out in the kind of numbers that resulted in the election of this nation's first President of African-American descent, we would not be in the position where most of the policy gains that President Obama was able to achieve are in jeopardy of being dismantled. In trying to access why we seem to lack political strength, I recall growing up in Richmond, VA during the '50s, '60s and '70s. It was a time of dire racial strife as civil rights leaders and community organizations strived to make America live up to the promise of equality and justice for all. It was a time when educators, preachers, teachers , lawyers and civic leaders joined forces to achieve the common goal of fundamental fairness and justice for all Americans irrespective of race, color or creed. Today, it seems that the institutions that did so much to galvanize our community; to educate us about the issues that affected our day-to-day lives; and that helped us formulate our political strategies have relinquished that responsibility. In its place is a fragmented, fractured, disorganized array of interests and organizations that haven't been able to move us forward. When I attended Virginia Union University in the early '70s, I can remember how proud I was to finally be able to study subjects that had to do with the history and struggle of our people. For me it was a kind of rebirth...and the dawning of a new understanding. While there are various and sundry reasons why HBCU's have seemingly abandoned their role as community organizers and educators, I believe a return to this role is critical to future advancement. Indulge me in this hypothetical, if HBCU's had used all the resources at their disposal to educate their constituencies about the issues and stakes of the November Mid-term elections, would the outcome have been different than it was? What do you think? If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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Rudolph Hickman
Owner, Rudolph Hickman Photography Virginia Union University class of 1974 Member Since August 2005 |
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