OPINION: America needs activists

By Ivory Phillips

JA Contributing Editor

When one sees that America is being led by a president (Donald Trump) whose actions, including provoking multiple wars, are designed to make him a dictator, feed his insatiable ego and to prevent the discovery of his involvement in the Jeffery Epstein Scandal, there is no wonder that his disapproval ratings are so high and why so many people are marching in protest. (Trump is followed in lock-step by Governor Tate Reeves and others around this state and country.) Based upon that, it is easy to build a case calling for even more activists in America; a call for activists of a certain type and a certain quality.

America needs activists who: 

(1) through observation, study, or experience have come to realize the condition under which we are living in America, that is, under the threat of losing the structure and existence of a multicultural, multiracial democracy; 

(2) appreciate the importance of and are willing to join in citizen activist initiatives; 

(3) are willing to do more than just talk about the problem/condition; 

(4) are willing to join-in with other groups, either as individuals or coalitions, rather than simply starting their own group to fight; 

(5) are willing to and capable of helping to organize an offensive group, if and when, nobody is already doing the work in their area; 

(6) can and will influence others in their space – home, club, church, or workplace; 

(7) are willing to find ways and means to effectively assist the movement even though they fear the loss of a job/position through more open actions; 

(8) are willing to generously give of their time, talents, skills, and resources to advance the cause; and 

(9) are committed to the effort, despite temptations, criticism, and obstacles.

We express or emphasize all of these traits because we realize and have seen individuals deceive the people by emphasizing one while ignoring others. 

(1) Some have become activists without understanding the problem, only to realize down the line that they do not really see what is wrong with it or became overwhelmed by the enormity of the problem. 

(2) Some people feel that group protests are ineffective or at least not something that suits their style. 

(3) Some people may become great talkers, but never put their “boots on the ground.” We have long had too many what we call “rhetoricians,” who are all talk but no action. 

(4) Some are ready and willing to start their own group or to lead a group, but not to be a willing follower. These are the ego-trippers who add to the problem of fragmented, ineffective action. 

(5) Some are willing to follow, but want no part in leading/organizing, even when the need is overwhelming. 

(6) Some influential people prefer to remain silent even when it is clear that they could influence others if they chose to do so. (This includes many athletes, entertainers, entrepreneurs, and other celebrities.) 

(7) Far too many people become “Uncle Tom” or do nothing to help change even individual circumstances for fear of jeopardizing their job or losing white favor. 

(8) Again, too many people, even when they understand the condition, do not “contribute” to help the cause. Finally, we see many former activists who started out strong, but fell by the wayside as “opportunities” came their way, as they were severely criticized, or as they just grew tired.

People who have seen or been in the struggle understand what we mean as we spell out what the community and country need. They also understand the ways in which people have been duped, “pimped,” or otherwise “sold down the river’’ by people posing as activists and by straight-up “Uncle Toms.” What America needs is more genuine, committed activists. 

It’s past the time for each person looking around for somebody else to do what needs to be done. Look in the mirror; search yourself; know who you are looking for; and then jump in and do what you can with what you have. You are one of the activists that America needs; that Mississippi needs; that Jackson needs!