The Hard Truth – Where did the fight go?

14th February 2012   ·   0 Comments

By Min. J. Kojo Livingston
Contributing Columnist

Part II
Last week we began a discussion of the epidemic of Black docility in the face of outrageous events and situations. It does appear that a combination of distraction via entertainment and induced fear have put our people into a very similar mental disposition to that of chattel slavery. This is enhanced by the use of modern technological methods for manipulating people.

The result? Individuals won’t speak out about injustice on the job because they fear getting fired. Therefore employers are bolder about abusing workers. Civil rights and advocacy groups will not address life-threatening issues that could affect their funding or popularity. Most of our elected officials won’t even squawk when obviously destructive or genocidal policies are proposed or passed because they value re-election more than justice. A great example of this is virtually every Black state representative who voted with Piyush “Bobby” Jindal on the budget and everything else.

Our leaders are mostly sellouts and cowards. The condition of our communities and the direction of public policy is both the result and evidence of this fact.

So how do you get the fight back in the dog? The formula we used in the 60s and 70s is still as valid as the ancient methods to keep us scared and apathetic. Educate, Agitate and Organize. We just need to update some of our methods, but even today the person-to-person, door-to-door method of organizing is incredibly effective and essential. This is what I call the ground attack.

Modern technology has given us an air attack best evidenced by the Occupy Wall Street movement. They have literally mobilized millions and impacted the world using the internet. Problem is, if this government or any branch of it decides that folks are getting a little too close to revolution (or just righteous change) for comfort they can either disrupt communications or shut them down altogether. Depen­dency on anything other than the creator is a mistake.

Our children need to hear more stories of righteous courage and less about reckless thuggery. They need to see more examples of us standing up and taking righteous risks for truth and justice. Unfortunately the closest thing to real guts they are likely to see is some criminal jeopardizing lives. The closest thing to boldness they will be exposed to is some rapper or celebrity engaging in lewd behavior or spewing profanity in front an audience or camera.

Using my prophetic powers I am able to predict exactly when this will change…It will change whenever decide to change it. (Damn, I’m good! You know, I was born with “the gift.”)

Anyway, we must use the air and ground attacks to rescue the minds and hearts of our people. We must step up our teaching efforts at all levels. And what do we teach? We teach our true history and destiny. We teach self-love, because when you love yourself there are some things you simply will not tolerate. We teach our people what it means to live as a free, civilized people and contrast that with how we live today. We teach our people vision and the methods used to fulfill vision.

Where do we teach? Anywhere! A church, a home, backyards, living rooms, community centers, libraries, businesses. Heck, on a good day you can use a vacant lot. Let’s be creative in what, where and how we raise the awareness of our people.

Then we agitate. Expose our current condition in all of its aspects. Show the people what is happening to us in every facet and level of this system. Let them research and study the plans that white people have for us in education, housing, criminal justice, health care, employment, and every other area of life. Let them get mad. There is a place and time for righteous indignation. It is abnormal for humans to accept what happens to us everyday. Let the people know that there is something very wrong with being satisfied with our predicament and show them how to fight back.

Then we mobilize and organize to get the people some victories. If we have clear, specific objectives then every victory will lay the foundation for the next. Victories, even small ones, encourage and embolden the people. As more people come aboard, you start the process over and build to higher levels.

The handwriting is on the wall. People are trying to destroy us and our leaders have, for the most part, abandoned ship. We can re-establish a culture of righteous resistance or continue to die like victims and dogs. The choice is ours.

So, Whatchagonna DO?

This article was originally published in the February 13, 2012 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper