As African Americans continue to confront the vestiges of slavery
and segregation, largely racial animus and economic subjugation (educational
differences are a challenge that is partially self-inflicted), the
community’s problems have outlived the advocacy born to address the
problems, and most of the leaders that emerged
to help remedy the problems. God raises a new leader to deal with each
generation’s issues. However, the advocacy no longer seems to work. Whether it’s
protest, negotiation, boycott or voter revolt (the latter two of which we rarely,
if ever, use), watching black advocacy is like watching re-runs of Sanford
and
Son; you know what’s about to come next – and what the line is going to
be when
Redd Foxx grabs his chest.
If we know what’s coming next, don’t think the people to whom the
protest is directed haven’t seen the same re-runs. I have visions of
racial discriminators, progress oppressors and equality obstructionists
sitting around a television saying, “Okay, this is the part where they
march in.” “Now, they’re about to holler and scream, and give long
speeches, watch ‘em.” “Here is the part where they put the community
mothers up to cry, sigh, ain’t it sad?” “Now this is the part where
they march out singing ‘We Shall Overcome,’ then they’ll go home and
be quiet until the next time we get caught violating them or their
interests. But the response will be the same.”
It seems as if black America has been stuck on the same page of a
fifty-year-old play book. New generations of advocates are doing the
same old thing because they don’t know advocacy, and are only doing
what they’ve seen the generation before them do, the ole’ one-two-three
(press conference, march, shout). Is this the future of black advocacy?
Re-runs of what we knew once worked? Typewriters once worked too, but
we no longer use them. Too slow, not as flexible as computers. What
do we call “black advocacy” today, and what is the future of black
advocacy? We have to begin to address these questions if we’re ever
going to see racial progress.
Over the past few months, the effectiveness of black advocacy and
activism has been called into question, as black communities nationwide
continue to experience a social regression that is both signifying
and stigmatizing, in terms of how relevant black issues are in the
context of the larger societal scheme. Two of our major advocacy organizations,
the NAACP and SCLC, have on-going leadership battles centered on what
the future direction of “the movement” should be. New groups like the
National Action Network and Operation HOPE claim to be the future of
the struggle but are fueled by “personality driven” activism (Al Sharpton
and John Bryant) that seems to serve a more singular interest than
collective – some say, replicating “the Jesse Model.” The “Jesse Model” only
replicated “the King Model” which replicated “the Garvey Model” which
replicated “the Booker T” in terms of organizations driven by personality
leadership. It’s a 20th Century phenomenon we can’t seem to get away
from, and the “take me to your leader” syndrome now causes a rush to
the front of the line that breeds conflict on another level – the lobby
for the white man’s (mainstream) attention. The point is, when you
get in front of him, do you really have anything to say?
Cities like Cincinnati and Denver are embroiled in mass protest over
police abuse controversies, while the closing of the trauma center
at the only “black hospital” in Los Angeles drew 3,000 protesters,
and like the aforementioned cities, fell on deaf ears. At the end of
the day, white folk did whatever what they were going to do. It was
as if black advocacy had no bearing on white decision makers. They
knew what to expect, sat through the “re-runs,” and turned the channel
when they had seen enough.
What does that say for black advocacy when targets of our activism
don’t even blink when hundreds and thousands of our protestors show
up. We’ve now been reduced to just another “special interest.” A longstanding “racial” special
interest, but a special interest none the less. Is it now enough to
just protest? When are we going to turn the page?
A new chapter of black advocacy is needed to address the follow-up
that is necessary to advance our struggle – for equality, for fairness,
for justice, whatever it is we’re advocating for. At present, we constantly
call for somebody to do something, and we see folk in the streets,
but we see no progress. That’s because we mistake motion for action,
and all activity is not progress. People can be busy, and not be productive.
We “look” busy at work every day. Particularly when the boss is around,
or that last hour before its time to go home. We’ve taken “lookin’ busy” to
another level. But what are we accomplishing?
There is a sophistication, an art, to advocacy, that requires training,
research, response, and remedy which most “black advocates” don’t engage
in. Folk are quick to tell you today that they are “activists,” or
hand you a card that says, “community activist.” Well, what does that
mean, brotha? That you activate? Activate what? “I antagonize,” “I
instigate,” “I agitate.” Well, as Frederick Douglass said, “Agitation
is necessary for progress. There is no progress without struggle.” But
what happens when the agitation leads to no progress. Do we struggle
endlessly, with no direction, and no purpose (other than to be seen – the
most common source of activism these days). What do we do when “the
show” is over, the camera turns off, and the spotlight goes down? How
do we insure that our advocacy stands for something more than the usual “twist
and shout?”
Future advocacy requires the development of new tactics, something
the mainstream hasn’t seen before, but is constructive – not destructive – to
our collective interests.
Times dictate measures, and extreme times call for extreme measures.
Extreme in the sense that advocacy offers a new twist that gets the
attention of all involved – “them” and us – and brings about solutions
to the challenges we face as a people, and as a society. Black America’s
biggest challenge is to figure out what the future of black advocacy
is, and what works in bringing about progress. Stop relying solely
on past advocacy efforts (and tactics). Enough of the re-runs already.
Anthony Asadullah Samad is a national columnist, author and managing
director of the Urban Issues Forum. His upcoming book, 50 Years
After Brown: The State of Black Equality In America is due out
in 2004. He can be reached at www.AnthonySamad.com.