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Once again, the venomous tentacles of racism have risen, this time in the small town of Jena, Louisiana. With the nation and the world focused on Louisiana and its justice system, the reality of systemic racism in the United States has become, again, a personification of our daily reality. What is now happening in Jena, Louisiana is symbolic of what goes on day in and day out across our country, along the lines of Black and white as well as rich as poor. The situation in Louisiana that has festered now for more than a year, has ignited a passion and a new-found fury among people who, historically, have been marginalized and victimized. It is now giving a voice to those who have, as a matter of reality, had no voice. Every movement throughout the world that has created meaningful change has been born out of such an environment as is now present in Jena. There comes a time when the masses arise, declaring in one united voice that business as usual is no longer acceptable.        

William Shakespeare, in the tragedy, Hamlet, profoundly states, “not that I love Caesar less, but I love Rome more.” Such a case can be applied to these United States of America. While we traverse the globe in the name of freedom, justice and equality, singing the chorus of “My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty” there is a counterpoint footnote of history that resounds as a prayer, “God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, thou who has brought us thus far on the way.” There is a strange dichotomy created by our culture; while freedom bells toll in lands far off, there is suffering and poverty at home. Jena, Louisiana is representative of so many issues to which the country now speaks. The people are saying that we are tired of a failing war against terrorism that is costing exorbitant amounts of money, not to mention lives! The people are saying that we are tired of the religious right and their hypocritical message that is the antithesis of truth, justice and equality. The people are saying that we are tired of the tremendous socio-economic disparities at every level of society. The people are saying we need wages and health care costs in line with the cost of living. And lastly, the people are saying that we want a fair and open government.

The series of tragic developments abroad reveals the selfishness and corruption of man while illustrating, with frightening clarity, the truth of Lord Acton’s dictum, “power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

One must never forget that while some joyously ring the closing bell on Wall Street, other less conspicuous crowds are wondering what ever happened to the trickle of the “Trickle Down Theory.” What ever happen to the “Thousand Points of Light?”  What ever happened to all the rhetoric of a kinder, gentler nation? Why has the long-awaited birth of our hope been aborted so soon, in a country full of potential and promise? In the coming days, as we look, with an abundance of caution, to Jena, Louisiana, it is with a hope that events there will give birth to a new, socially conscientious America, where “justice does run down like water, and righteousness an ever flowing stream.”   

Reverend Douglas Demetrius Prather, noted civil/human rights activist is a native of Atlanta, Georgia. Click here to contact Rev. Prather.

Denisha M. Delane is President/CEO and founder of Revive the Vote, a grass-roots nonprofit advocacy organization based in Berkeley, California.