PHILADELPHIA
PLAN (copyright@2007)
[SOME WAYS
TO MOVE TOWARDS DEVELOPING A THRIVING AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN
PHILADELPHIA OR ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE UNITED STATES]
by G. Djata
Bumpus
Attention: The
Philadelphia Plan is merely meant to be an intellectual model that provides
guidance and direction to institutions and programs that already exist. It is
NOT meant to be something to start as an institution in and of itself.
During the
mid-Sixties, Harold Cruse's great tome, called Crisis of the Negro Intellectual., asserted that Harlem, New York was the origin
of modern African American cultural development. While I agree with many of his
findings in the book, I disagree with his basic premise. That is, I feel that
it is Philadelphia that is the pivotal place for African American cultural
progress, in this country, and has been ever since Richard Allen and his folks
formed the Free African Society here, over two centuries ago. Moreover, the
crises in the African American community in Philadelphia has spread throughout
the nation.
We must
end the murders and other overwhelmingly inhuman actions that leave Us always
on the receiving end of suffering. In order to do so, We must convince Our
youth to cease their current behavior, whether it is legal (like gangsta rap)
or illegal (like robbing and/or stealing from, and killing one another).
Politicians who now call for more police and additional funds for crime and
social programs have no plan or clue. In fact, these same people have witnessed
the decline of Our community, on their watches. Period! Therefore, it is up to
the community itself to solve this problem. We must convince Our youth that
they have a stake in the continuation of Our historical experience.
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Many
academic disciplines analyze people as if We are talking insects. Yet, whether
you place a creature like an ant or a bee either in the Sahel of Africa or on
the North Pole, it will be the same creature and exhibit the exact same
behavior. Again, people are not talking insects. We are political animals. That
is, We all want what We want. However, We must behave according to the
circumstances in which We find Ourselves, due to the social interactions that will
necessarily need to happen in order for Us to survive. That is where the
politics begin. In other words, since few of Us grow Our own food or make Our
own clothes, and so forth, at the bare minimum, We must have contact with
others, and behave in a way that is favorable to the party who has what We
want, in order to acquire whatever it is that We need. Ants and bees, for
instance, do not have that need for social adaptation.
Moreover,
the history of humankind is the revelation of lots of stories about
generational activities, among particular groups. It is not a chronology of the
tales of either “great” individuals or “great” events. Additionally, because We
are social beings, Our existence is based upon two conditions. They are: 1) A
cooperative effort to co-exist. 2) Shared responsibility to engage in
activities that are regulated by specific rules which allow the continuation of
the particular group for hundreds or even thousands of years. The
aforementioned generational activities are more commonly referred to as
“culture".
In Our
society, culture is a word that is often used to refer to the higher
achievements of a particular group - like painting and music. However, it (culture)
involves everything that We do. Therefore, it even has a physiological
significance. This is easily identifiable by recognizing the actual mental and
motor reflexes that are initiated when a European American (so-called white
person) who is sitting in a car pushes down the lock button as an African
American approaches the vicinity of the former’s vehicle.
This notion of the
initiating of both mental and motor reflexes also explains the cultural
differences in the way that people draw, dance, sing, and so forth. In fact,
even Our five "senses" are culturally-defined. That is, Our
perceptions, regarding what We feel, taste, hear, smell, and see, are
determined by Our cultural experiences.
Additionally,
Our culture determines the manner in which We transmit and share both behavior
and ideas to present and future generations. However, the first thing that We
must understand about culture is that it is largely tied to a people's
resources. That is, social status and income as well as materials to produce
what people need or desire determine how, why and through what medium folks can
express themselves as a distinct group.
African
American culture has contributed quite positively, and in a large way, to the
development of the United States of America. However, the legacy of chattel
slavery that was bestowed upon Us by both European American and African
American enslavers has left Our culture in shambles. Worse yet, much of the
problem of the lack of community amongst Us is based upon cultural habits that
are made all too obvious by the sense of disenfranchisement that many of Our
youth both feel and display.
There’s an
African proverb that goes, " To live together is to have a common fate."
In other words, as a community, in the grand scheme of things, as it were, We
need each other, regardless of whatever extent that We are physically-able or
whatever social differences that We have - like gender and age. But if people,
in any specific community, share a common fate, then it only seems fair that
all parties involved should have a voice in their destinies. Unfortunately, for
all of America’s brave words of "freedom and democracy", when do Our
children ever experience either of these lofty ideals, particularly, democracy?
What young
people actually feel is that they are controlled, having little or no input,
regarding decisions that directly affect their existences. They feel powerless.
As a consequence, they become angry and frustrated. Moreover, in their feeling
of powerlessness, quite intelligently, they rebel. Yet, the problem with much
of the rebellion of Our youth, particularly, in the inner city, is that young
people often protest in ways that are self-destructive, largely due to the
types of options available to them.
We should
no longer ignore the anger and frustration that Our youth must necessarily
express in a negative way, if We do not provide them with opportunities to make
good choices. Consequently, it seems that Our efforts need to be concentrated
on building Our community from its most basic unit - the non-adult human being.
After all, Our youth have a great deal to learn in order to competently replace
Us and, in turn, pass on adequate knowledge and ability to those who will
follow them.
Participation
in both the decision-making and application processes of building Our community
will help young people to look inside of themselves and resolve the anger, fear,
sadness, and frustration which results from their feeling of powerlessness,
through the personal strength of positive energy and group support. Mastering
skills in most activities, whether for business or pleasure, requires using
energy in a positive way, relying upon focus and concentration - each being
human powers just as energy itself is. We must help Our youth develop these
skills.
By the
way, while many adults are quick to write off Our youth, as if they are lazy
and selfish beings who came from another planet, it is important for Us to
remember that Our youth are not alien creatures. That is, they came from Us.
Their language, and, therefore, their thoughts, along with their actions are
all based upon behaviors, both good and bad, inherited from Us.
Notwithstanding, to paraphrase the great philosopher Kahlil Gibran: Before one
is willing to get rid of an oppressor, he or she must first get rid of the
oppressor from within.
We do not
like the behavior of many of today's youth. Yet, when people are breaking
social customs, as many of these young folks do, just as many of Us did during past
eras, in order for such behavior to proliferate, the practitioners must
necessarily develop obsessive and perverted habits, in order to motivate
themselves and justify their very being. Otherwise, the aforementioned
practitioners will cease the behavior, having no incentive to continue it. Our
children witness this same kind of anti-social behavior with adults through the
latter's actions, not Our pretentious claims - from everything like alcoholism
and drug addiction to sexual behavior. Certainly, youths' ideas and subsequent
activities are not the result of something falling from the sky.
Worse yet,
while the quintessence of "democracy" is non-violent conflict
resolution, in terms of the self-destructive deeds of Our youth that were just
mentioned, Our responses to anti-social behavior by said young people are often
expressed with violence, destructiveness, counter-productiveness, and
mean-spiritedness, and, therefore, quite undemocratic. For example, more police
to monitor and/or dominate them, " zero tolerance" in schools, and
harsher sentences for youthful offenders may feel good to some, but not
even those punishments or " more jobs" will change the present
circumstances. As a matter of fact, if either punishment or reward changed
behavior, then there would not be such high recidivism rates in the prisons or
so many lottery winners who end up broke in short time.
We must
convince Our young (and allow them) to not only share in controlling their own
destinies, but, as well, to prepare for the generations that will follow them.
Of course, again, as mentioned earlier, Our young behave according to the
options available to them. Still, behavior is a "choice" that people
make. For instance, the greatest natural urges are those that remind Us that We
are hungry and/or thirsty. In our society, unless one lives in abject poverty
in a desert or the hills, he or she, usually, has access to, at least, water -
whether clean or dirty. To be sure, the "choice" to eat and/or drink,
is a wise one, since without consuming nutrients of some sort in periodic
intervals a person would succumb.
Another
strong "natural" urge is the sexual one. Yet, no one needs another
person or outside element like food or drink to satisfy that frustration.
Everyone has the ability to solve that problem by himself or herself.
Therefore, said one makes a "choice" to go to someone else in hopes
of having that person or persons join in the sexual activity. Unfortunately,
this urge, because it is so strong and can be satisfied, often, at so little
cost - if any, has had a great deal to do with both power and sexual greed
becoming the basis for sexual/social relationships in this society. For lower-middle class African Americans,
it has resulted in childhood pregnancies and futures of hopelessness for the
offspring of such young parents. It also, ultimately, leads to the
aforementioned progeny growing up to be angry youth who have no love for
anything, life included. Much of that anger comes from said progeny witnessing
the disdain for life displayed by their economically- and
socially-disadvantaged parent(s).
More
importantly, anti-polar to, or, on the other side of, the earlier-mentioned
show of passion (that is, sexual release)
is violent behavior. Once more, We return to the legacy of chattel slavery.
However, Our youth also witness rampant violence practiced by adults, in many
forms. That means that We as adults must change Our behavior, if We expect
young people to change theirs. Period.
So, it
seems that the problems that We now face as a people or cultural group result
from Our unwillingness to look within Ourselves, then combine Our resources so
that We can transcend the conditions of economic and social slavery to which We
and Our ancestors have been subjected for centuries. This can be successfully
overcome, if We enhance Our present cultural institutions, by engaging in
activities that are specifically designed for community building.
For
example, there already exists an assortment of both cultural and social
institutions here that can adequately begin a drive towards developing a
genuine African American “community” in Philadelphia. We have to develop a
“spirit” within the present African American population in Philly that reflects
a great deal of caring and concern for each other. We already have the
resources; We just do not use them either efficiently or effectively.
In order
to get things done, We do not need to rely upon grants and other largesse
(although some entities, at some point, may want to contribute to Our community-building
efforts through matching grants programs and so forth). If We get Our youth
involved and make them part of the growth process of the community, then they
will have a vested interest in building - not destroying - it.
No doubt that one of the biggest obstacles in persuading
youngsters to change their behavior is that the word discipline is often
used in place of the term "punishment" (which is what is really meant
in the first place). Discipline is an inner power that allows a person to perform
tasks whether he or she wants to or not. The accomplishment of useful results
due to the aforementioned self-motivated activity bring joy (as opposed to
pleasure (which requires no inner effort and can, in fact, be bought).
On the
other hand, punishment comes from the outside and is never either wanted by or
favorable to the recipient. Moreover, because young people attach the word
"discipline" to punishment, they are repelled by the notion
altogether. This means that they are then unable to recognize an important
power in themselves that would benefit all concerned. We must convince Our
youth to develop and continue to strengthen their inner powers, especially
discipline.
Of course,
in their community-building activities there will need to be a lot of peer
monitoring amongst themselves, so that youngsters do not get off track,
regarding the goals that We are all trying to reach. While We are speaking of
goals, I must mention that in setting goals to develop Our community, We must
be sure to distinguish goals from ambitions. A quarter of a century ago, while
studying at Temple University, I developed a kind of intellectual model that I
call the "Urban Fire Department Paradigm", in order to help people
distinguish goals from ambitions. There is, unfortunately, a bad habit of
folks, throughout Our society, not being able to do so (that is distinguish
goals from ambitions), because they listen to politicians. The latter often
claim to be stating goals, when their alleged plans are merely ambitions.
At any
rate, the aforementioned intellectual model goes like this: A person is named
as the new chief of a fire department. A reporter asks, “Chief, what are
your new goals for the fire department?” The chief confidently responds, “I’m
going to have a truck at every fire in city limits, before the fire becomes
dangerous.” That is not a goal. Rather, it is an ambition. Consequently, an
answer by the chief that would represent a goal should have been, “I’m going
to have a truck at every fire in city limits, in twenty minutes”. In other
words, the chief does not know how bad the fire will get or how quickly it will
spread; yet, he or she is determined that there will be a truck full of
fire-eaters there fairly soon.
Below,
you will find a set of programs that could be used to jumpstart Our effort for
community building. The suggestions have been categorized in relation to the
"main" issues that politicians and the government- and
corporate-controlled media have designated as the most important problems to
confront. As well as those ideas expressed here, other ideas, from many
sources, will certainly develop and will be equally as efficacious and
effective as those found here. As a matter of fact, We already have church
youth groups and other community organizations (e.g., NAACP youth groups),
college student groups, and individuals from all walks of life, who would want
to share in the effort.
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FIGHTING THE CRIME INDUSTRY
FIGHTING THE CRIME INDUSTRY
Many of
the young people in Our community, especially the teenage boys, are not either in jail or in contact with the
criminal justice system, because they have been lucky thus far. However, it is
only a matter of time before they may get swallowed into what is essentially an
industry in this country. It is, the Crime Industry.
In fact, I
do not care how well you raise your kids, for some reason, particularly,
African American youth can fall prey to foolishness. Many great parents and
those who work with youth through supportive community programs will attest to
that. In other words, even those youngsters who have had all of the right
parenting, environment and so forth can become food for the vultures of the
Crime Industry. It's tough. The Crime Industry does not care about guilt or
innocence. They make stuff up. Our children suffer. Also, peer pressure to be like the
frauds on the hip-hop records is a major problem.
Again, it
must be said: Crime in the USA is an industry just as enterprises that manufacture, for example, food, clothing, real
estate, automobiles are. Crime as
an industry makes sense, of
course. After all, less crime would mean less police, judges, prosecutors,
corrections officers, court officers, prison architects to design prisons and construction
companies to build them, food- and other types of vendors, you name it. Moreover, without the salaries
and pensions of those groups just mentioned a large part of the overall economy
of this country would be destroyed.
Actually, one would think that our energies should be used towards more
useful purposes like finding cures to human maladies and the like. However,
manufacturing crime is, also, a major component of programming for both print
and electronic media - another source of great income for many.
Still, in especially urban settings, we hear talk about need to have more police and less
guns in our communities as a
means to solving our crime problems. Domestic
guns are being made mostly for police purposes and sport hunting.
Consequently, without the Crime Industry, the gun industry itself may
have succumb by now. Let’s
face it. In Philadelphia alone, during 2006, for instance, it has been reported that, at least, 20
people were killed by the police (17 of them unarmed). Consequently, the
aforementioned data reveals that more police simply means more guns - and more
deaths.
In all
fairness, that just mentioned reflects only one side of the Crime Industry. On
the other side, we have an
inordinate amount of African American and Latino young people who display
absolutely no dignity for themselves or respect for others, including a lack of
consideration for authority. In other words, we have a population filled with young people who,
emotionally and intellectually, seem to want to remain in the infant stage of
the human experience.
Many of
these youngsters were brought into this world by those who were children
themselves. Now, the former are repeating what their parent(s) did. Moreover,
these African American and Latino youth are the chief commodities of the Crime
Industry, whether as petty thieves, drug-dealers, stooges for either drug
distributors or the district attorney and the like, or those who are caught up
in the court and prison systems with its probation and parole agents. The worst
part of all of this lies with the fact that, in the general population of US
society, European American (so-called white) youth, clearly, must commit more
crimes, because of their numerically greater levels of poverty; however, they
are not victims of a marked group that is "profiled".
At any
rate, our children’s
current behavior reflects our own. Let’s face it, again, history is
the story of generations of families of varying sizes. Historically, these
families have been headed by a single mother, because men have died young, gone
off to war and been killed, or just left to indulge in selfish behavior. The fantasy of the Ozzie
and Harriet two-parent household is a fabrication of Hollywood. Moreover, wisdom suggests that a young
person, male or female, having a male figure around to help direct him or her
through life's uncertain journey, is essential. Yet, single mothers do quite fine, and have done so for
millennia. Hence, what is even more important than having male “mentors” is
having a community that supports the development of its youth.
Of course,
a civil society certainly needs some of those people mentioned at the beginning of this piece (e.g., police, judges,
lawyers, and so forth). However, many jobs are created, specifically for and
because of the Crime Industry, and maintained by those whose best interests are
served by continued criminal behavior in our society. A good example lies with the fact that, all
across the country, in many municipalities, district attorneys, are allowed to
use confiscated drug money, for instance, for future hires, raising wages in
their offices, and improved pensions for the same workers just mentioned. It is
not, therefore, in the best interests of prosecutors and their agents to be too
“tough on crime”. Dig? As a matter
of fact, it makes more sense for such people (DAs, and so forth) to actually regulate
crime.
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Here are a
few ways that we can fight against the proliferation of the Crime Industry
which robs African American people of so much of our potentially
productive energy and resources. Can you think oof some ways to do the same?
1.) Free Buses To
Prisons Program
Transport
children to prisons for the explicit purpose of having reading lessons with
their incarcerated parents. Dr. Seuss books and other “phonics” type of reading
materials are a great way to start. Many of these folks who are incarcerated
have only first- and second grade reading levels. By learning their phonics
better and due to the fact that they are older than their children, thus more
experienced in life, invariably, these "parents" will begin to read
at a higher grade level, acquiring deeper comprehension as well as greater
mental stamina. This means that they will gain new ideas, by reading more
informative literature, instead of only consuming thoughts from people who,
like them, are locked up as well and just as clueless about how to be
productive citizens.
As stated
above, many of the brothers in prison either cannot read or read only at first-
or second grade levels. More help in the classrooms at the first- or second
grade levels (and a relationship with a loving elder) may have kept them trying
in school longer. Their children deserve a better chance than they had. Also,
regarding females, sisters in prisons are often there because of some
knucklehead males. Therefore, young girls will also benefit from having a wider
range of caring adults in their lives, whether those elders are incarcerated or
not. Note: A dear friend of mine who lives in Florida has assured me that
her state gives youngsters at the lower elementary level (2nd- and 3rd grades)
statewide exams that help that state government decide how much additional
prison space will be needed in future years, based upon how many youngsters fail
the aforementioned exams. Imagine that! Did someone say, "Crime
Industry"?
2.) Letters to
Prisoners Program
Get people
to be pen pals with inmates in area prisons. The main problem here will be that
we need to make sure
that inmates are not being selfish and engaging in deceitful behavior, in order
to borrow money or get “favors” done on the outside. Telephone calls should be
prohibited from being a way for inmates to connect with their pen pals.
Incarcerated people should learn to write, so that they can think about why they are in that
situation in the first place. A phone call does not require such reflection;
people can just talk and feel good - then hang up.
3.) Convict Redemption Program
Get those convicted of either human or property damages -
of any kind, to construct ways themselves to make up for their transgressions
against their fellow community members. For example, as part of the “Buses”
program, inmates who are not parents can still donate time to read and learn
with young people.
Inmates
must redeem themselves! Merely proclaiming belief in God or asking to be
forgiven does nothing to repair the damage done. Besides, neither apology or
claims of religious loyalty has meaning, if the person has not repaired the
damage that he or she caused. For example, people go to AA and NA meetings and
hold what amounts to religious revival forums. Yet, as far as I know, not a
single member of those groups has ever gone back to a victim and said,
"Here's the $100 that I stole from you." Instead, that AA or NA
person says, "Will you forgive me for what I did?...I believe in God
now." Well, guess what? Everyone on death row, conveniently - now -
believes in God, after the fact. Moreover, no one can forgive anyone else.
Rather, people must forgive themselves, then redeem themselves by trying to undo the wrong
committed against the victim. Otherwise, there is no justice. You just have a
crook who has gotten away once more.
The
three programs mentioned above are only some of the ways that the community can
reach out to our fallen
brothers and sisters, in hopes that they will be appreciative for the love that
the community has shown them, and, thus, return to the community as productive
members.
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EDUCATION FOR LIBERATION
Perhaps,
the biggest problem with the US educational system is that the goal of this
system pertaining to what it is trying to do for its charges has never been
clearly defined. In fact, at least, for me, the answer that I have received to
that question has often been, at best, dishonest.
My own
understanding of the purpose of education in this country is to make either
military or non-military workers. It certainly is not intended to make
thoughtful, competent, cooperative, independent-minded citizens, as a real
education should do for people. Instead, the educational system in this country
superimposes ideas and feelings onto and into the students' minds, in order to
make the latter acceptable for later service to those who run the society.
Also, it
(said system) demands that students NOT cooperate with each other by having
them compete against each other, through both exams and grading schedules that
serve to sort out and classify them for their later use within the economic
system as workers - not entrepreneurs. That is why, if you have noticed, the
rulers of this country do not send their children to public schools. In other
words, the roles of their progeny are already in place.
Moreover,
unless the community itself develops a collective conscience, how do we expect
Our children to? That is why African American history should be part of the
curriculum as well as the history of Irish. Italian, Polish, German and other
peoples (instead of the lie that clumps all folks of European descent together
as "white").
Finally,
some talk about violence in the schools being a deterrent to "good"
kids getting an education. They even make statistical estimates like "95%
good and 5% disruptive". Yet, that calculation is a false abstraction,
because on any given day, any of the kids can be rebellious. Remember, they ALL
feel powerless. Therefore, We as adults need to start looking at Ourselves,
instead of blaming kids for Our failure to have provided them with a useful
educational system prior to them coming to school in the first place.
Below,
are some ideas for programs that can enhance Our youths' life opportunities -
through education.
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1.) Bank for Knowledge
Our youth
need to think about the future. African Americans, as a people, are legendary
for collecting baubles, but We never save. We have never been taught to, as the
children of the more wealthy have. A good goal for young people to save towards
is their education. Business groups, like the African American Chamber of
Commerce can play a giant role in monitoring such a program. Surely, an
organization like NEEED (Networking for Equal Education and Economic
Development) can help a great deal in the effort.
Of course,
in order to save money, you have to make it first. As far as a program for
youth to earn then save a few bucks is concerned, one of the major problems for
African Americans is: Our, historically, poor sense of how to spend our money.
Only the wealthy in this country are taught about wealth. The rest of the
citizens (many European Americans included) have little or no idea of even what
wealth is let alone how to either acquire or keep it. Unfortunately, with this,
African Americans have been the worst. And even worse than that is the fact
that just as we are beginning to gain some sense of the possibilities of
saving, investing, acquiring property, and so forth, the train has just about
left the station.
It used to
be that if a person invested in an IRA from the time they were 19 until they
were 25, they could see that grow into enough to retire on even if they never
invested another cent. Now, with interest rates so low in banks and investments
so "iffy", you have to keep investing, certainly, much longer, to make
it worthwhile.
Additionally,
the question then arises, how do African Americans tend to spend money anyway,
when they are 19-25 years old much less younger than that? It is then, perhaps,
more meaningful to develop as a standard that all youth are expected to have a
college fund started by the time they enter Middle School. It may start out
small, but it is the continual growth that makes a difference.
Imagine
for example in 6 years, from 7th-12th grade, a students saves $5 per week-the
first year, $10 /wk-the second year, $15/wk-the third year, and so forth. Even
without interest, that student will have a substantial chunk of money with
which to enter college.
The real
benefit is developing a mentality that puts planning for the future and the assumption
that We are all college bound, in the forefront. People who realize that they
have a future may be less likely to squander it with petty and larcenous
thinking like drug-dealing.
While we
are on the subject, the worst thing about the drug-dealing mentality is that
drug-dealing has no future and people who are involved in it have no vision of
the future. No one can say with any degree of either logic or sanity, "I
am going to deal drugs for a few years to earn money for college and then,
after college, get a good job and raise a family." Even the strippers
- who, often, claim to be putting themselves through college, by dancing up and
down a pole - make more sense than that. (That is, at least, their
profession is legal and has a fair amount of history to it.)
Now, what
happens to the money, if the student does not go to college? Let it be
available to the student when he or she is ready. It may go towards tuition in
a trade school. It may be usable as downpayment on property. It should not be
available as cash or to buy a car or pay rent. The point is that it is about
moving the person forward.
2.) Sweep my steps, please?-
Ten
dollars ($10) per week, for a specified pre-teen or teenager (must be enrolled
in school) to come by so many times per week and sweep your steps. No teenager
should be allowed to sweep more than ten sets of steps per week. (Let us try to
be democratic.) Businesses -
including realtors, as well as both homeowners and renters, could be sponsors.
Also, concerned adults who simply want to contribute, by sending $10 per week
to the specific bank designated to monitor the funds.
This can
become a great community cultural institution, lasting for generations. Some
kids may feel, initially, that drug-dealing brings in more cash. However, it
(drug-dealing) really does not bring in even $10 per week that they can save,
for most kids. In other words, after they end up paying the bigger dealers and
spending (on baubles) the peanuts that are left extremely quickly (if not
before they have even paid the former his money back), they have no money.
Additionally,
logic and a simple slogan like, "If you make money fast, then you’ll
spend it fast...If you make money slow, then you’ll spend it slow",
may eventually convince youngsters to realize that there is no future in
drug-dealing. After all, young folks should understand that, if they get caught
selling drugs (and they will, because addicts snitch to the cops just for
reasons like the dealer will not give the latter drugs on credit), while in
jail, they (young drug dealers) will not make any money. Therefore, the
potential $500 for their college funds that they could make, with only one
sponsor, from one year of the “Sweep” program, is far more than what they could
make during that same amount of time while in jail or a youth detention center
(which is, basically, nothing).
Imagine if
a hard-working youngster got a (Sweep My Steps) sponsor from the community who
would put that money in an interest-bearing account as part of a stipend for
the chores represented by "Step-Sweeping." The student will get $10
for his or her College fund. Of course, the student is aware that it is his or
her responsibility to maintain a connection with the sponsor who keeps that
account growing. What is more, this is the type of activity, if gotten off the
ground, that could get matching funds rather than grants. Both businesses and
individuals, knowing that the money is going to an account that cannot be
touched except by an accepting college or an entity of that sort, would feel
much better about their donations and more willing to make what is clearly an
investment in the larger community.
Finally, in order to make any kind of work- or
study-related initiative happen, we must, as it has been said, convince young
people that "Work is a reward!". In other
words, it is the work itself that is the reward, not any prizes received for
one's efforts. Unfortunately, so much currency is given to the idea of "reward"
as receiving either Nobel, a Pulitzer, a Grammy, an Oscar, or Lottery prize that youth do not
understand that the greatest rewards they will receive in life are far more
mundane, coming from the joy that they create through their experiences with
other people, non-human animals, and even - things, with no one standing nearby
giving applause. Moreover, work is a "power" that one should
hold with great esteem. Whether it is working at MacDonald's or as a messenger
for an attorney, Our youth should consider appreciating the fact that their
ability to get up in the morning, go to school and/or a job moves them forward
- in the direction of controlling their own lives (destinies). What could be more empowering, than the ability to
work, through study (mind) or labor (body)? And, who does not love the
feeling of being powerful?
Note: To
be sure, the idea of appreciating Our own ability to work has been one that has
often escaped youth throughout human
history. After all, it is hard as a young person to hear that the
satisfaction of a job well done is its own reward, when he or she sees the
inequities of the distribution of the harvesting of the "fruits" of
labor all around Us. It is one of those notions that would be fine if everyone
believed it, but hard to swallow when you know others are getting away with
doing so little. Hence, it is the unfairness that eats away at Our resolve to
do Our best in a society that, on top of the aforementioned, finds humor in its
own inadequacy (as revealed in so many Hollywood productions like the Bad News
Bears). Still, We must push forward in getting Our
youth to appreciate work.
3.) Black churches/Black History libraries
Churches
need to play a strong role in Our community building. The Black church is the
oldest institution that We have. Beginning in the holds of enslavers' ships
through chattel slavery, manumission, and the series of freedom movements that
have led up to this point for African Americans, the Black church has been
there.
Unfortunately,
too often today, Black churches seem to betray the mission of Our predecessors.
There are far too few activities that deal with Our liberation, such as church
folks freeing captive workers (so-called slaves) during chattel slavery to
helping out with marches and breakfast programs and such as they did in the
Sixties and Seventies, and helping to lead the fight against apartheid in the
Eighties. Too much concentration is on “being saved” and using the word “God”
in every other sentence as some type of password. Many folks are even using
religion as a narcotic - like heroin or cocaine; a common refrain from them is:
"I'm high on Jesus!". (Please remember, Our spirituality should be a
vitamin - not a drug.)
Also,
having “fellowship” is another term that is being bandied about these days. I
went to a church, quite recently, whose Sunday program sheet read at the
bottom, after the hymns and prayers listed: Worship ends, Service begins.
Unfortunately, and shamefully, this was not in a Black church.
Black preachers must imitate the life of the historical
Jesus who fed the hungry and healed the sick - physically, mentally,
emotionally, and spiritually. The latter did not just sit around and pray. He
"worked" for change. During 1963, in his now famous Letter From
Birmingham Jail, Dr. Martin Luther King wrote, in part:
"There was a time when
the church was very powerful in the time when the early Christians rejoiced at
being deemed worthy to suffer for what they believed. In those days the church
was not merely a thermometer that recorded the ideas and principles of popular
opinion; it was a thermostat that transformed the mores of society. Whenever
the early Christians entered a town, the people in power became disturbed and
immediately sought to convict the Christians for being "disturbers of the
peace" and "outside agitators"' But the Christians pressed on,
in the conviction that they were "a colony of heaven," called to obey
God rather than man. Small in number, they were big in commitment. They were
too God-intoxicated to be "astronomically intimidated." By their
effort and example they brought an end to such ancient evils as infanticide.
and gladiatorial contests.
Things are different now. So
often the contemporary church is a weak, ineffectual voice with an uncertain
sound. So often it is an archdefender of the status quo. Far from being
disturbed by the presence of the church, the power structure of the average
community is consoled by the church's silent and often even vocal sanction of
things as they are.
But the judgment of God is
upon the church as never before. If today's church does not recapture the
sacrificial spirit of the early church, it will lose its authenticity, forfeit
the loyalty of millions, and be dismissed as an irrelevant social club with no
meaning for the twentieth century. Every day I meet young people whose
disappointment with the church has turned into outright disgust.
Perhaps I have once again
been too optimistic. Is organized religion too inextricably bound to the status
quo to save our nation and the world? Perhaps I must turn my faith to the inner
spiritual church, the church within the church, as the true ekklesia and the
hope of the world. But again I am thankful to God that some noble souls from
the ranks of organized religion have broken loose from the paralyzing chains of
conformity and joined us as active partners in the struggle for freedom, They
have left their secure congregations and walked the streets..."
While Dr. King's "letter" was largely directed
towards "white" clergy, today, these words, very much, apply to most
African American clerics across the nation, as well. That is a fact that should
bring a feeling of shame to many who call themselves ecclesiastics. The Black
Church has the power to change things! It is not up to "God" to make
this world better. After all, if it is, then why does "He" need
clerics?
At any
rate, Our church facilities should be open to Our youth, so that they can study
Our history (with no membership or attendance at the particular church
required). Resources like the great Charles Blockson collection, community
activists, and college professors can contribute tremendously to making this
happen.
A major
problem with fighting against Our oppression and becoming a community lies with
the fact that We are often Our own worst enemies, because of Our self-hatred.
That is, from African American bank tellers who treat Us differently than other
customers to drive-by shootings, both feelings and acts of self-hatred make it
difficult for either African American men or women to form genuinely loving
relationships of any kind, much less encourage Our youth to get along with each
other. We must learn to love Ourselves and Our fellows.
Note: "Love",
as it were, is only of any use as an "act of being" as opposed to a
"state of being". That means that love is only effective as a verb -
not a noun. In other words, in this society, love, as a "state of
being", is a passive experience that we hear about through so many cheap
songs on the radio and see on tv soap operas. However, as an "act of being",
love means that people are "actively" loving towards one another.
Consequently, love should be an active, not passive, practice of caring about,
being concerned for, concentrating on, and feeling responsible towards not just
Our mates, but Our work, and Our communities, as well. Besides, when love is
passive, it doesn't last long, because it is just a "mood". To be
sure, moods change, all of the time. Hence, the serial polygamy practiced by so
many of those involved with the institution of marriage and other "love"
relationships, in this country.
Still, the
cultural institutions in Our society lend to the aforementioned self-hatred
that is practiced amongst Us. Literature and images in schools, the arts, and,
especially, the government- and corporate-controlled media deliberately
perpetuate this indignity too. Groups like Men United For A Better Philadelphia
are, apparently, made up of wonderful people. However, the idea that the
violence among African American youth is largely the result of a lack of jobs
and gun possession may be missing the point, which is: Lack of both social and
historical conscience is at the bottom of Our dilemma.
That lack
of conscience is no accident. The great Marcus Garvey pointed out: "This
propaganda of dis-associating Western Negroes from Africa is not a new one. For
many years white propagandists have been printing tons of literature to impress
scattered Ethiopia, especially that portion within their civilization, with the
idea that Africa is a despised place, inhabited by savages, and cannibals,
where no civilized human being should go, especially black civilized human
beings." - Marcus Garvey (Philosophy & Opinions of Marcus Garvey,
edited by Amy Jacques-Garvey)
Additionally,
in that context, long before Garvey, W.E.B. DuBois wrote: "The
discovery of personal whiteness among the world's peoples is a very modern
thing...The ancient world would have laughed at such a distinction...by
emphasis and omission to make children believe that every great thought the
world ever knew was a white man's thought, every great deed the world ever did
was a white man’s deed..."darkies" are born beasts of burden...Such
degrading of men by men is as old as man and the invention of no one race or
people...It has been left, however, to Europe and to modern days to discover
the eternal worldwide mark of meanness -color!" - "The Souls of
White Folks",
Education,
of course, is something that you get for yourself. It is NOT something that
someone gives to you. Notwithstanding, the Black church should be the place
where young people in Our community can get helpful knowledge and ideas, along
with developing useful skills. The schools will, ultimately, follow, if Our
churches show them the way. Our young should know that the adults of the
community will provide the type of environment where their minds can develop in
a manner that will make them be able to control their destinies. Therefore, for
Our youth, We must all embrace the old Nigerian proverb that goes, “If you
pick a good tree to climb, I will help lift you up.” Moreover, where is a
better place for Our children to learn to appreciate scholarship than the Black
Church?
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
INTERGENERATIONAL ACTIVITIES
Monitoring the Elderly
One of the
most important aspects of youth-oriented programs are their intergenerational
activities. This would more likely be successful by forming youth clubs, for
the elderly. That way, you could have peer monitoring, to make sure that elders
were being watched and cared for and more importantly to make sure that they
were not being mistreated or taken advantage of. You do not want young people
stealing from their houses, bullying them. borrowing money from them, and so
forth. There has to be a strict system of etiquette monitored by peers. Youth
in churches would be good for this and the churches could identify elders who
would take advantage of the service while keeping track of those elders to make
sure the service was as intended.
1.) "I'm Okay" Program
Teenagers
could get small stipends to volunteer services for their elderly neighbors -
like running errands, or keeping an elder company, by reading to him or her.
The money earned from the stipends could go towards their college funds.
Regarding intergenerational programs, a dear friend of mine who lives in
Florida (she was mentioned earlier) who saw a rough draft of this proposal
wrote back, “When I worked in a low income housing development here in Florida,
we used to have a program where the elderly would put a sign in their window
every morning saying "I'm Okay". As the kids would go to school they
would look for the signs. If there was no sign in the window, they reported it.
Every other month their would be a "social" for both groups to dance
or sit and talk. The kids loved it and the senior citizens felt like someone
cared.”
We need an
“I'm Okay” sign program in Philadelphia. In other words, if elderly folks have
signs in their windows that say “I'm Okay”, then they are left alone. However,
if the sign is taken down, then that address would be reported to a designated
person who after contacting that particular elderly person who is not “Okay”
(for reasons other than medical ones), said designator would then assign a
teenager to take care of the problem, whether it be grocery shopping, being
read to, just wanting some company, or whatever.
Now, I
will admit that the idea of a sign in the window would have worked well for Our
generation (Baby-boomers and those before Us), because We were taught to stop
and help an elder carrying heavy bags, and so forth. This generation is getting
very little of the "manners" education. Neighbors are much more
alienated from each other than Our generation. (In the wealthy
neighborhoods, they do not even bother to make sidewalks anymore.)
2.) Grandparents Read Too
It will be
valuable to include some Elementary school program with elderly as well. There
are some schools around the country that have a grandparents' breakfast each
week. Elders are invited to come and have breakfast with the kids, even if they
do not have grandchildren there. However, mostly kids invite their own
grandparents. Additionally, elders can help with reading, afterschool homework,
and classroom projects.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
CLOSING REMARKS
It
cannot be emphasized enough that We don't need grants for anything that We do,
and reliance upon grants only serves to hamper Our resolve to grow
independently. We have the resources, We simply do not control them, because We
do not think in terms of "We".
The unfortunate truism just mentioned reminds me of an
old religious tale that I learned as a child who grew up in the Civil Rights
Movement of the 1960s. I forgot all about it (said tale), but was reminded of
it once more in an e-mail sent to me recently by another dear friend who lives
in New York City.
The story goes:
A cruise ship was sailing on an ocean. It was packed with
people and their cargo.
At some point, the ship's bottom hit a large object. The
ship began sinking.
The water filled the ship so quickly that almost everyone
aboard either drowned while still on board or as they tried to flee by swimming
away from the vessel.
Two men, one bald-headed, the other - hairy and bearded,
did survive, however. In fact, they were able to swim to a small island that
was nearby.
The island was completely barren. There were no trees,
plants, or animals - only sand and a few boulders here and there. Fortunately,
the weather was nice, not too cold or hot.
The two men, now seemingly bound together, decided that
the only thing that they could do is hope for some divine intervention.
They agreed that prayer was the answer. However, the bald
man said, "I don't know whether or not we'll be saying the same type of
prayers or asking for the same things...Why don't we just split the island in
half and each of us can pray for himself?"
The bearded man went along with him.
A line was drawn in the sand. Each man stood on either
side of it. Right away, each man dropped to his knees and began to pray.
The bald fellow prayed aloud for food. Lo and Behold! Out
of nowhere, a banquet-size amount of food appeared in front of him.
The bald man looked over at the bearded man who was still
praying and seemed to have added nothing to his situation.
The bald man then said to himself, "I don't know
who he's praying to or what he's asking for, but he better learn how to pray
like me, if he doesn't want to starve to death."
It was now getting late and the sky was darkening. The
bald man decided that he'd try his luck again by praying for some shelter. So,
once again, he got down on his knees and prayed. Well, what do ya know? A small
shack appeared out of nowhere. The bald fellow jumped up and down, and ran
towards the shack for a good night's sleep.
Just as he entered the doorway of his new abode, he
looked over and saw that the bearded guy was still praying, but had nothing to
show for it.
When he got up the next morning, the bald man went
outside and saw the bearded man still kneeling down and praying. He yelled over
to the bearded man, "Hey, what's the matter?...You don't know how to
pray?"
The bearded man said nothing. He just kept praying.
The bald-headed guy was really beside himself with pride
and confidence, by now. He decided that he would pray for a woman, because he
was lonesome in his little shack.
Meanwhile, as fate would have it, as he prayed, another
cruise ship had a wreck nearby. The only surviving passenger was a woman. She
ended up on the island.
The excited bald man invited her in for food and gave her
shelter. She gladly accepted.
However, after a few hours, they both began discussing
the need to get off of the island and return to their previous lives.
The bald man now got down on his knees, for a fourth
time, and prayed. However, nothing happened right away, like it had previously,
so he and the woman went to sleep inside of the shack.
The next morning when they got up, looking outside, they
saw that a boat was sitting right there on the shore, in front of them.
The bald-headed guy started dancing and jumping around,
once again, to see that his prayers had been answered. "I'm going home!",
he exclaimed.
The woman, although excited too, asked him whether or not
they were going to take the bearded man with them. The bald guy responded,
"Nope...Let him pray his way out of this by himself - like I did."
So, over to the boat the pair went. The bearded man was
still on his knees praying.
Just as they reached the boat, the clouds darkened. There
was thunder and lightening.
A deep voice from the sky roared, "Where are you
going?..Are you going to leave the bearded man?"
The bald-headed guy looked up and replied. "He's
been on his knees praying for almost three days and nothing has happened...Why
should I help him?"
The deep voice responded, "Do you know what he's
been praying for?"
Still looking towards the sky, the bald man said "No,
I don't...What was he asking for?"
The voice told him: "He's been asking that all of
your prayers be answered."
************************************************************
To be
sure, there is a generation raising children that is so steeped in this
possession-oriented culture that ideas of community, and so forth, represent
the folklore of generations past. Additionally, it is hard to steer the
imagination towards humanity, community, and the common good in a society that
holds individualism as paramount. Individualism has its place, but given too
much emphasis, it can encourage greed, selfishness and petty materialism,
creating serious identity problems along the way. For instance, there already
exists a vulgar mimicry of genuine individualism that has young African
American males wearing pigtails, earrings in each ear, along with placing
jewelry and tattoos at bizarre points on their bodies.
Most of this can be attributed to the so-called "hip-hop"
genre of music, adequately labeled as being nothing more than "buffoon minstrelsy", by a genuinely accomplished musician, Wynton
Marsalis, and a noted journalist and music critic, Stanley Crouch. Initially,
rap music had a revolutionary potential, with lyrics, by groups like Public
Enemy, which sought to articulate the social conditions of urban youth.
Unfortunately, before long, greedy record companies convinced equally greedy
young folks to produce recordings without using either musical instruments or
dignified lyrics (with the latter still calling what they produce
"music", mind you).
Unfortunately,
the music and beats are often attractive many African Americans, because the record industry and
so-called “artists” mentioned earlier, initially using “samples” from,
mostly, the rhythm and blues genre of African American music, have simply, and to a great extent,
hijacked the aforementioned R & B genre and claimed itself (that is,
hip-hop) as being original.
Some of
these new "recordings" have focused on the childish narcissism and
selfishness in which people with low self-esteem engage, as they try to
convince themselves that they have worth. Others, mostly young African American
males, have attempted to gain their self-worth at the expense of others, using
sexual infidelity and violence as proof of their manhood, in their
"lyrics". None of these behaviors has been abandoned by either the
so-called artists or record distributors of the "hip-hop" industry,
as of this writing. Thus, for the most part, the revolutionary potential
mentioned above has all but dissolved, except for, perhaps, a very tiny group
of independents (mostly called "underground").
Several years ago, on
C-Span, I saw Lerone Bennett Jr., the great historian, speaking at an academic
conference of some sort about his dismay with Our young Black
"rappers" and their "fans" who are calling their mothers,
aunts, sisters, daughters, and cousins "bitches and hoes". No other cultural
group does that in the whole world, be it the entire music industry or the
general public - only African Americans. This brings Us back to the issue of
self-hatred. Worse yet, the so-called hip-hop moguls who receive so much
publicity these days are no different than the Black slavemasters of the
antebellum South. In fact, it is not an exaggeration to suggest that the former
are the "spiritual" descendants of the latter.
Nevertheless,
connecting to institutions where youth already participate, rather than trying
to form new ones, is essential, for any hope of success. Church youth groups,
school clubs, athletic teams, specialty learning centers (like boxing, karate,
art, trade schools, and so forth), as well as college groups will all have
interest in community service on some level, whether for positive publicity or
to give concrete application of their principles. Eventually, even gangs could
be convinced to act more as social clubs, giving their members a more positive
sense of purpose.
By the
way, instead of being “anti-gang”, perhaps, We should consider getting gangs to
identify with positive behavior, at least, under some circumstances. After all,
who would have ever thought that the famous biker gang known as the “Hell’s
Angels”, originally out of California, would be connected to philanthropic
activities, although their name continues to, sometimes, be connected with
criminal activity? Even the infamous Blackstone Rangers of Chicago, at one
point, became known for actions other than their violent ones. This can happen
with the Crips and Bloods, as well.
Still, for
all that has been discussed thus far, the proverbial bottom line is: Capitalism has been so attractive, because it is,
thus far, the only type of economy that has afforded total political freedom to
its participants, as workers. That means that a person can "flip the boss
a bird", as it were, and walk away, being "free" to find another
opportunity for employment. This was certainly not the case in either slave or
feudalistic societies. Socialist countries do not allow that kind of freedom
either, since everyone works for the "State" and, therefore, must
work where he or she is assigned, more or less.
The downside of total political freedom for workers within
the capitalist political economy is: The "market” then controls all
economic and, social relationships, based upon the notion of "supply and
demand", whether for the human commodity - labor, or non-human ones
(commodities). Unfortunately, since, the end of World War 1 or so, the
"market" has taken control of what we see as culture. As a result,
the definition of culture, which historically, has referred to all of the
actions by a specific population group,
has become anything that the market determines it to be. Consequently,
the notions of “youth" culture (clothing, hairstyles, piercing and
tattoos, books, magazines with ads sold
in them, and so forth), "Hip-hop"
culture (drugs, guns, gangs, and so forth), and “gay" culture (weddings, nightclubs,
exclusive recreational venues, magazines and newspapers with ads sold in them,
and so forth), are, totally, market constructs. Additionally, while there are
social constructs like age and gender, for example, those social structures
were not created for the appetite of the market. Rather, they serve the purpose
of establishing social relationships within that society itself that will allow it (said society) to last for
hundreds or even thousands of years.
The idea that a culture
can develop without any connection to the past (except its increased
availability of consumables) is a contradiction in terms. Hence, the notion of
"youth culture", for example, is designed to exploit the vast and
seemingly endless energy and enthusiasm of young people. Yet, it seems, at
least, to me, that the energy and courage of Our youth should, actually, serve
the purpose of moving society forward -
but only under the guidance of that part of society (parents and other elders) that has both the experience and
understanding to recognize the values that maintain both Our humanity and
spirituality.
Moreover,
once the market is allowed to define culture, Our only values become those
which drive it (the market). For that reason, the mentality needed to function
within the market system itself, has a great deal to do with causing the people
in this society, for the most part, to not have the ability to act in a loving
way towards each other, since it defines people by price or money-name. Hence,
terms like low-income and wealthy become the false abstractions, like so many
other monikers, that tend to sort out and classify people, then assign said
folks to their stations in society and life, with most people never having any
real control of their destinies
Therefore,
and ultimately, if Our youth are to be Our future, then it will only happen if
We as adults, particularly parents, take the reins of this present culture and
provide Our children with both an historical and social conscience, and set the
example for them, by informing identity through recognition of the connection
between generations and defining human life in a meaningful way (as opposed to
basing who they are upon unstantiated claims regarding with whom they are
having sex, or what "gang colors" they're wearing). That way, Our
society will benefit from the "leadership" of Our youth. As well, the
"market" will then be a function of the values of the society and not
vice versa.
Finally,
culture has no meaning once taken out of the context of a reproductive process.
A people who cannot reproduce themselves as a people will cease to exist as a
people and become part of something else. This is not necessarily a bad thing
in and of itself. For example, the culture that held Africans in slavery, in
this society, could no longer reproduce itself in that form and had to change, because
of the well-deserved hostility and resistance it engendered.
In any
case, let Us stop asking children what they want to be, in the context
of what they will possess, when they grow up. Instead, let Us ask, what they
want to be, regarding their relatedness to others. Let Us ask, "How will you help the
community when you grow up?" Let Us ask, "What kind of work
will you do to help people when you grow up?"
If We are
to become a real community, We need the will and actions of a community.
Obviously, We do not have either right now. Still, it seems that it is equally
apparent, from the current standpoint, that We definitely have the resources to
develop a loving and prosperous African American community here in
Philadelphia, and in any other locales across the country. Let's do it! Peace.
G. Djata Bumpus
