DO YOU BELIEVE ITS TIME FOR "OLD BLACK LEADERSHIP" TO RESIGN

Blog by +Wanda Dorn 

Rev. Al Sharpton

Rev. Dr. Jesse Jackson

Its Not Time for Old Black Leadership to Resign! 

Seasoned Leaders are More Important Than Ever!

According to an AfricanGlobe article, it is time for old Black leadership to resign, calling them "media appointed Black leaders who has got to go".

The solutions offered by this article might be good ones, but have those solutions been offered to "Hannity" and "Fox News" appointees?  I think not.  Perhaps they were not accepted in the mainstream media.

The seasoned leaders are still working, but are working where they are at in today's leadership arena.  The younger leaders must work where they are at in today's leadership arena.  They can work together with the seasoned... but, oh, yes, Black people are still like the adage says, "crabs in a barrel".  Perhaps it's because the younger leaders want the limelight and money and don't know how to get it yet.  

Jesse & other "Old Leaders"
pointing to where the
assassin's bullet rang out 

Jesse Jackson with MLK at motel
just before the assassination

The article says, "The new leadership may require sacrifice and their lives as Dr. King, Malcolm X, and Medgar Evers did."  These seasoned leaders did the same thing.  Jesse had given up his life and marched just as MLK did. Rev. Sharpton was there for us after Civil Rights when they demanded a new voice, a more concessionary voice, as the mainstream media is always looking for.  Fortunately for America, Rev, Sharpton did not fall into the place they wanted.  Jesse was on that balcony with MLK when he was assassinated and could have been shot.  That's as close to giving up my life as I ever want to be - yet Jesse still continues. 

I note that the author of this article is collecting donations to go out and fight for his solutions to the problem while criticizing others for the same thing - shouldn't all leaders have our financial support - not our negative opinion support?  I usually ask every Black person who complains about Black officials this question:  "When was the last time, if ever, you've donated a dime to a candidate or leader"?  This is the reason our officials and leaders can't wheel the power they need.  It costs money to give up your job to run for office, let alone the millions of dollars it takes to successfully run for office.  

I lived in a city where there were no Black Judges.  I once served as President with the "The Black Concerns Association" as we fought to get our first Judge.  We only had three Black attorneys in town and the Crab Syndrome set in.  At a recommendations to the County meeting, some objected to either of the three, saying they are no good.  I told them that I had worked for White Judges who were no good, and that even a less experienced Judge would keep the Judges aware that there is a Black presence when making certain decisions - that's better than none at all.  We shortly received an appointment of a Professor from Stanford; a female, and top notched.  If a "leader" is present, there is  awareness that there is a "Black" presence.  

The article states, "They only show up when tragedy happens".  The leaders would be remiss in their commitment if they don't show up.  They are damned by the critics if they don't --- and damned if they do by people who want to be them, and to those who don't want to hear their seasoned opinions, or deal with their seasoned abilities to strategize.  This is why seasoned leaders are still important.

So you think its time for these great know-it-all youth to step up?  First, they need to learn what it took for these leaders to make the institutionalized changes that had crippled us from slavery until the '60's.  It only took them a decade to make sufficient changes whereby youth wanna-be leaders can write defamatory articles of the people who made it possible for them to write their articles. Before these heroes and she roes fought, there were no Blacks on TV, no Black TV news, no national Black media, especially no news media that would allow Blacks to speak freely.

What these leaders did back then, they saw no hope but they created hope.  Where are the young Black leaders who are leading us from just hope to full and equal participation in today's global society?

What have our youth leaders done?  So many have listened to and joined in the rhetoric that there is no more racism, no more discrimination, no more prejudices; that it's the victim's fault and we are stupid. Of course, it's our fault that we were the only race of people in the history of man to be forcefully lifted up from one continent, brutally dropped off on another continent.  However, by the way, I thank God for being dropped off on this side of the planet.  When I travel, upon returning to the US, I literally want to "kiss the ground" as the old saying goes - that's why I fought the civil rights fight;  America will never be perfect, but improvement is worth fighting for.

When we were dropped off in the Americas, we were not from the same Country, community, or linguistics location.  Our memories, languages, and self-strength were brutally beaten from us.  We were not allowed to read or write in this new language for hundreds of years - hundreds of generations.  Even after the Brown vs the Board of Education and the Civil Rights Bill passed, we were systematically relegated to separate but not equal education.  These laws are on the books thanks to our "Old Leaders", including Harriet Tubman, who, by the way Raven-symone, belongs on a stamp, and I commend you for learning to be a "new" youth leader.

In spite of this devastating legacy, more than 60% of Blacks are middle class to rich, more Black females have college degrees per capita than White males, and more White women are on welfare per capita than any other group.  We have surpassed the number of elected officials that we had during "Reconstruction" ~~ I consider that great works by our "Old Leaders".

I am proud of our young people who have taken up the gauntlet, but, I'm afraid complacency of new Black 60%'ers, who will never become real 1%'ers, may slowly allow doors to re-open to possible future blatant discrimination.  The old leaders lived it and would see it coming.  

The trick of life is growing to be old, bringing skills and wisdom with you - hope the young people who believe what this article states, live long enough to bring their skills and wisdom that they have not yet acquired to help the younger people coming behind them.

I liken the writer's article to telling one's parents, "You did all you could for me, you fought for me, you struggled and could have died for me, but I won't need any of your help or wisdom going forward".  When I was working in education, I had this fun  sign on my desk:

Now young leaders ~  to take up the gauntlet

~  Don't worry about what others are doing

~  Network with seasoned Leaders ~ a must-do

~  Find out what needs to be done ~  and do it

IT ONLY TAKES ONE YOUTH TO MAKE A CHANGE!

#wandascafe      #DiversityEtiquette

5/15/15