What do we have to do in order to advance?

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David McGruder Morehouse College class of 2010 DANG!!! EXCELLENT COMMENTS...KEEP EM' COMIN!!! I MIGHT HAVE TO WRITE A BOOK WITH ALL THIS GOOD COMMENTARY Monday, June 26th 2006 at 2:19PM

Angi Porter Howard University class of 2010 I agree with everything that has been said thus far. I know that one big problem is education. I'm not talking about school systems here (although that's a whole different issue), but I'm talking about African Americans educating each other about our issues. We need more public speakers, teachers, meetings, outings, rallies at all types of venues where we can outline the issues we face today. I've seen many young people from my generation who are apathetic about the issues. They are tired of all of this talk, and they just want to carry on with their lives. They want to be like the people they see on TV (rappers, singers, athletes, etc.). They want instant gratification. They want to be selfish and only make a way for themselves. You can pursue whatever you want, but we need to rekindle our sense of community. We also need to educate our youth about these saturated careers like entertainment and sports; not everyone can be an entertainer, not everyone can be an athlete. Our focus has shifted to those careers, and suddenly there are fewer young black people who want to be politicians, teachers, doctors, lawyers, nurses, ministers, volunteers, leaders...We all need to get on the same page about this. We need to educate ourselves and find a way to refocus on our future. We need to learn more about our history, where we are now, and where we are going. That way, we'll regain that sense of community and produce more leaders. Only when the selfishness turns into selfLESSness can we advance as a group. ~Angi Monday, June 26th 2006 at 2:39PM

Jasmine Moore Howard University class of 2010 Let me start by saying this my brothers and sisters. The nature of the beast has changed from the 60's till now. We are no longer openly harrassed and spit upon. The news no longer shows reports of the police force beating black youths in the streets while loosing dogs and fire hoses on the masses. No, the aggression is much more subtle and it attacks in a different way. This day and age calls for mental battle, and this my friends is where we are losing. Mental battle is the most cunning and deceptive, because it can come in many forms and take many names. ie: standardized test, improper funding, low literacy levels, etc. The Black Panther Party was put into action as a means of self defense. Yes, they carried guns and knowledge hand in hand because the times called for such things...Today we carry guns without the knowledge which causes self-inflicted genocide. In these terms it is not so much a question of leadership. If I am politically aware, I can change things without the avatar of leadership. The voice belongs to the people. Now the people must be educated. If one takes a thorough examination of history, one can only conclude that in golden ages of government and society people were aware and involved in all aspects of politics and social agenda. Our oppression today is only due to miseducation and anti-intellectualism. The system works so smoothly because we do not know that it is working, we are ignorant to its internal machinations. To know the enemies move and to see it coming before the first blow is advancement. No, we must not march for this, there is no real means of fighting for this (at least not in the sense of fighting as we see it). The ancient samurai need not move in the offensive if his enemy openly acts the fool. He only need move in the defensive to offset such a weak attack. This is the strategy that we must adopt my people. We must be fully aware, or we will constantly be asking ourselves and others how we might come a few inches farther when hundreds of years ago we were miles ahead. Monday, June 26th 2006 at 8:56PM

Jasmine Moore Howard University class of 2010 Remember people. Do not practice PERSONAL SAVIOR SYNDROME. We must save ourselves. Leaders are not appointed. Global changers (notice this is plural) are made due to the situation and the time. We don't need any leaders to save us. We need ourselves to be independent and knowledgable. After all, the way Dr. Huey P. Newton became so notarized was through his thorough knowledge of the law. He could get around the system by knowing it. that's what we must do. Monday, June 26th 2006 at 9:35PM

WILLIAM W. HEMMANS III Florida A&M University class of 1995 I feel it, pray it and go for it as the "Go-Getter" I am... There are some great responses here by the way, I like the post. Tuesday, June 27th 2006 at 3:09PM

Chanel Mitchell Florida A&M University class of 2010 I say that this generation and the following generations need to stop looking at the pass and examine our future. We all need to step up to the plate and follow those like Malcolm X, Huey P. Newton and MLK… Do not think that I’m talking about starting a war or having hate crimes but speaking about the current issues that are always involving the black communities. Speak out and stand up for those that where whipped and beating during slavery. We need to stop allowing things to pass over our heads and start analyzing what the problem and situations are for ourselves. Stop allowing others outside our race to dictate what needs to happen for our race. We need to do for our people and be by our peoples sides. Like many of us said we need a leader who believes and who wants to make a change. But we all know that we are leaders… like the old saying goes it take’s a village to raise that child. I’m pretty sure we all went to go see the latest fresh movie or went to go purchase the hottest fashion out and talk about it… but how many of us picked up on the latest news about the black communities or been to a school board meeting and spoke out? When we all think about it we are not taking democracy into our own hands… Just think, we are apart of it!!! Thanks The devoted Rattler Tuesday, June 27th 2006 at 4:55PM

Jasmine Moore Howard University class of 2010 I'm sick of everyone talking about this need for leadership. If you want to change things so badly, be this so called "PROMISED LEADER" youself. Do you want to know why the "leaders" of the past were so revolutionary? It's because first and foremost, they did not recognize themselves as leaders. They were just people that were sick and tired of an unjust system. They were also great strategist...so before anyone talks about changing something, have a PLAN! We sit and complain and never have a plan or goal in sight. We speak of freedom as the newly freed slave speaks of freedom. It is only an unrealized dream with no focus or foresight. Everyone pay attention to this. The next time you try to mention a historic "black leader" in a blog, please try to also read something this person has written, or read up on what this person has truly done. Then we may speak of advancement and direction. Until then, we sound like a group of misguided, ignorant teenagers with a lot to say, yet little background. The people that we hold in such high regard did not have a massive following back when they were doing what they were doing. They were made into martyrs and that's when the world recognized their accomplishments. And being poor is NOT a pre-requiste for being influential. Otherwise W.E.B. DuBois would never have gotten any prestige with his middle-to-upper classdom. And to believe that competition between black business is bad is just misguided. The truth of the matter is there is no competition between black business because THERE IS NO BLACK BUSINESS! These are the failings of the black community. But as GLOBAL CHANGERS, I hope we may begin to ameliorate these situations. I know that I was born to do that, and in this knowledge is the first step to revolution. You can wait on your leader all you want, but unless you are the one affecting change (and I mean really making it happen) then the leadership you desire will always elude you. In the end, the people must take their destiny into their own hands. That's what revolution is, and that's what it has always been. The PEOPLE don't like something so they overthrow the old regime and create the new one. Leadership is only an avatar, a figurehead for the movement of the PEOPLE. Do not get it twisted. If you want true change, go to your neighborhoods and communities and help people become AWARE of their situation. Go to the government and make them know that you are AWARE of your situation and you will not STAND FOR IT. Do not keep sounding like the shuffling slave, singing for freedom and the promised land. Just as brother Malcolm said, the land is here for you if you are able to take it. Let go of the "what is we gonna do?" rhetoric. If the talented tenth is supposed to affect the change as DuBois says, then start doing it now, and get out of THE HOUSE NEGRO MENTALITY!!!!! Wednesday, June 28th 2006 at 2:35PM

David McGruder Morehouse College class of 2010 Excuse me while I play both sides of the fence here for a moment… First I ‘d like to speak to the issue of leadership! Like Jasmine I am one who disagrees with the idea of a “BLACK LEADER” mainly because they have always been devices of division in the black community used by the white establishment! Then I raise the question: Where are the white Leaders? Who Leads the Hispanic Community? Why is it that we NEED a leader? So I then would urge you all to think of the psychological suggestions of the word “Leader”. If I were a dictionary (BUT IM NOT) I would say that a leader is one that leads or guides. So then the idea of Black America needing a leader says that 1. We don’t know where we’re going 2. We don’t know how to get there 3. Without someone to show us the way, we are lost! Think about it! People need leaders because they cannot lead themselves. Because they have no control over their thoughts or actions! Is that our people? Are we that far removed from the regal people we were in the beginning? I think not! We don’t need a leader, but we do need responsible individuals who will uphold our race. BUT!!! I am not suggesting that we all singly and individually take the reigns of leadership as some have suggested we do! The state of Black America today is a direct result of that kind of activity. LOOK AT IT….you have Al Sharpton and “The Action Network”, Louis Farrakhan and the “NOI”, Jesse Jackson and “Rainbow Push”, Bruce S. Gordon and the new “NAACP, Charles Steele and “SCLC”, Marc Morial and the “Urban Leauge”,! We have all these organization and no results. LOOK AT CONGRESS…(the people who have an opportunity to speak on our behalf) Black Democrats support a liberal agenda & Black Republican support a conservative agenda…meanwhile back in the hood…WHO supports OUR (US’s) {that’s pronounced Us-is) agenda? NO ONE because there exists no consolidated effort on part of Black America to advance our issue! Why can’ the NAACP, URBAN LEAUGE, and the other organizations come together and form…..uhhh….uhhh…A.F.R.O. Hmmmm…I hope yall see what I’m sayin’! I’m not for a “BLACK LEADER” and I’m not for a bunch of people runnin’ around claming to have the answer! I want to see responsible individuals engage in a consolidated effort to save our dying people… PEACE, David M. McGruder for President in 2024 Thursday, June 29th 2006 at 12:15PM

Jasmine Moore Howard University class of 2010 That was very nice David. I'll vote for you, and perhaps be your Vice President in 2024 Thursday, June 29th 2006 at 11:32PM

Jasmine Moore Howard University class of 2010 Hey everyone, if you liked this blog, check out the one that's in my profile. Tell me what you think!!! Friday, June 30th 2006 at 5:38PM

Chanel Mitchell Florida A&M University class of 2010 men we have some deep minds here... Jasmine said somethings that where very deep.... lucky me I see what david and her are saying... We are our own leaders but it is for us to make things happen... wow I'm ready to see some of us posted on walls and speaking at different events.... good luck in you guys next path walk of life Monday, July 10th 2006 at 2:49PM

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