I have been asking myself and others, “Where has the Movement gone?” Where are we as a people headed? It appears in many ways that we are running in place or even going backwards.
I have been asking myself and others, “Where has the Movement gone?” Where are we as a people headed? It appears in many ways that we are running in place or even going backwards. The old soldiers who preceded us and risked their lives, took the beatings, went to jail and died for the cause would be proud of the advancements that have been made. On the other hand, I think they would be disappointed that more hasn’t been done, given our economic, educational, political, and social status.
I think they would wonder why we haven’t started our own political party and why we haven’t developed our own cultural/educational and financial infrastructure to serve us today and to serve future generations. I think they would be displeased with the corruption, disloyalty and greed of the Blacks in leadership/elected offices who have failed to keep their pledge of serving the community and, in far too many instances, mimic the behaviors of their white counterparts. In addition I feel they would be saddened by our apathy, complacency, cowardice and lack of racial pride.
Many in my generation grew up during the Black Power Movement, an outgrowth of the Civil Rights Movement which was led by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King and others.
The Black Power Movement appealed to many but especially the young because it told us not to be ashamed of our Black skins, kinky/nappy hair, big lips and noses. We challenged, stood up to the white man and this bigoted racist economic/political and social system called America. We collectively demanded our civil/human rights. The goals of this movement were to unite us as a people, and to encourage us to work collectively to build and control the cultural, economic, educational, political and social institutions in our communities. No, these goals weren’t accomplished then but now they are rarely seriously discussed or worked on.
The success of this movement was brief and the reasons for its failure were numerous. Many of the leaders were killed or jailed; people dropped out, drugged out and sold out, but this was a people movement. It inspired us and made us proud to be Black men, women and families. It invited us to use our collective creative power and imagination to devise plans and strategies not only to attack fight the system, but also to attack the issues, problems and social ills in the community. Where has the movement gone” Ellis Hutchinson Dayton, Ohio
Copyright 2010 Chicago Defender.
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