OPINION: The African American task of destroying racism in America

By Ivory Phillips

JA Contributing Editor

Part II 

Last week, we discussed the importance of Black political, economic, and cultural power in the war against racism. We also discussed the need for African Americans not to become weary, and to remain “normal”, steadfast, and alert as a warrior for racial justice and equality. 

Today, we address four additional items that must be considered and accounted for in the struggle. 

(1) There is the perennial and present need for racial unity among African Americans. To some extent we saw such unity developing behind Marcus Garvey, behind Martin Luther King; and behind Malcolm X. In each of these and other cases, however, there were fractures and disruptions, often instigated by the federal government. Recent developments in Africa ought to lend some hope. 

The movement to ease travel and trade between African countries, to limit exports to America and European countries, to facilitate the acquisition of dual citizenship, and to have the United Nations condemn the Transatlantic Slave Trade are all positives that African Americans can use. They reflect a reviving Pan Africanism and can be models for unity among African Americans. 

(2) Even as we discuss the need for unity, however, we must not neglect accounting for and dealing with those in the African American community operating “outside the pail” because they fear the punishment they might experience from the larger society for daring to be warring opponents. They are correct in realizing many proponents of Jim Crow and other forms of White Supremacy are not beyond such violent tactics as bombing their churches, businesses, and homes; having them investigated and arrested on bogus charges; having them and their children denied opportunities and even fired from positions; and many other acts of retribution for being activists, spokespersons, or otherwise participants in freedom struggles. 

In their cases we must continue to keep them in our orbit, encouraging them and helping them to understand their best protection is in numbers, in lifting their voices with others who are similarly situated. Many leaders in the freedom struggle have confessed that the courage they displayed came from their deep convictions and their bonds with other strugglers, not from an absence of fear, because they often were speaking out despite their fear. 

(3) In addition to those who absent themselves out of fear, we must account for and deal with those who absent themselves in order to be rewarded for being “not like those others.” These are the real traitors, the genuine descendants of the mythical Uncle Tom. They would include the willing enslaved overseer, the proud house servant, and the current HNIC at various plants, agencies, or institutions. These individuals can best be handled by being exposed for who they are and then being isolated or shunned, lest they gain access to too much of the information and power of the freedom struggling group. 

(4) The final factor with which we address is the need to discover, develop, and sustain leaders in the struggle. It needs to be clear that such leadership must always be plural rather than singular in structure, but united in ideology rather than divided. 

As one can imagine, there have been capable and creative individuals in every historical period of African American history – the same can be said of African history. As alluded to when we discussed the need for unity, African American leadership has sometimes been hampered by disunity and dissension. For an example, Marcus Garvey vs. W.E.B. Du Bois, Martin Luther King vs. Stokeley Carmichael, Malcolm X vs. Martin Luther King, Booker T. Washington vs. W.E.B. Du Bois. While in each instance efforts were made to increase unity, there was enough dissension to prevent the full-blown unity needed. 

In addition to those historical tactical instances, the full potential of African American leadership has also not been realized because there have been generational factions. 

What we are suggesting here is there must be strategies for new leaders to be discovered and developed. Too often some leaders get into positions and become so entrenched until they lose their creativity, effectiveness, and support. This creates a void because they are no longer as effective as they had been and because they are blocking others from moving into the positions. The community has to find ways to effectively deal with such situations.

On the one hand, current leaders should be shown appreciation and be recognized for their contributions, perhaps also being engaged as valuable advisors, but yet eased out of positions of chief leadership. 

On the other hand, young, budding leaders need to be discovered and a way made for them to learn and build on the wisdom that has gotten the group to its present position. 

Strategies also must be developed and implemented to avoid clashes that too often occur and wreck what was and what could become because too many overly ambitious would-be leaders forge ahead, despite the organizational environment or condition. 

Finally, we must come to realize that lasting success is not built on egotism on the part of the elders who feel that they cannot be replaced nor on the part of youngsters who just want others to move out of their way.