It seems that politically, there are two schools of thought when it comes to Black empowerment.
The first teaches that despite any challenge or unfair environment we face, we can creatively find a way to prosper through self-sacrifice, discipline, and wise judgment. History has rewarded people willing to accept this approach with success.
The second teaches that the full scope of opportunity has been denied to many of us, that our society's existence depends on some degree of inequity, and that a certain portion of our population is effectively removed from the ability to improve themselves socially.
Because those ideologies contradict each other, the irony facing Black leaders today (and in the past), is that both of those statements are absolutely true.
So where do we begin in our effort to create a better future for ourselves? Does it begin in our own attitudes and ability to innovate, or does it require us to develop a new social structure that is fair to all of its citizens?
The answer is that we must do both. We must train ourselves to adapt to challenge, but we must also demand justice in our society.
I think that many African-Americans have bought into the lie that self-determination and social justice are mutually exclusive. By all means, we should make every effort to educate ourselves, eliminate weakness and excuses from our attitudes, create strong ties to our families and our heritage, and find ways to make something from nothing in order to liberate ourselves from financial bondage. The most successful civilizations in history have done exactly that.
The next step is to require that the full resources of our nation's government and economy be invested in the well-being of its citizens. There is simply no excuse for poorly equipped schools and an ineffective healthcare system in the world's leading economy. When we eliminate the costs of drug abuse and addiction, poor nutrition, and preventable disease, our national resources can be used much more efficiently.
The catch is that these two strategies are only effective when used simultaneously. Equality without discipline will create a welfare state; autonomy without justice will create a caste system of elites and servants.
Posted By: Jon C.
Monday, December 31st 2007 at 11:11AM
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