The annual State of the Black Union, an annual symposium hosted by Tavis Smiley, was broadcast on C-SPAN yesterday. The focal point of the symposium was the publication of the
Covenant with Black America, a series of essays and position papers that is intended to plot the course of economic, political and social development of the African-American community. For those of you who were unable to watch, below the fold is a summary of various participants' comments on
The Covenant and state of black America in general.
The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina loomed large at the symposium, and the discussion started off with
Rochelle Smith and
Al Seymore, two survivors of the storm giving their accounts of escape/rescue during the storm and challenges in the aftermath. Mr. Seymore was rescued by a Fishing and Wildlife boat and dropped off at a bridge where he was instructed to walk several miles to the Superdome. Ms. Smith was brought directly to the arena. Both spent the days after the storm at the Superdome and separately described their experiences as time spent in "a combat zone" protected only by local men who took up security responsibility, and being surrounded by those "having nervous breakdowns." When Mr. Seymore described how after several days he and others were "herded" onto a bus without being told where they were going, all I could think of was old news reels of Jews in Europe being boarded on trains without knowing the tragic fate that awaited. After going to different locations in the southwest, Mr. Seymore ended up in an extended stay hotel in Houston where he is due to be evicted on March 1st.
The overriding theme that followed was that African-Americans live an existence that is reactionary, not pro active, and such a state was never more evident than during Katrina.
Rev. Al Sharpton was first to speak. His take on the storm was that the levees "broke on those who claim to be in leadership, but their egos have gotten in the way and have left people vulnerable." I think Rev. Al could very well have been looking in the mirror when making that remark. He criticized the upcoing municipal election in New Orleans and what he called a 'reconfiguration' of the city. Rev. Al's take on The Covenant is that academic processes are fine but action is what's needed.
Cornel West spoke and was far more lucid than normal as I often come away scratching my head wondering what it was the brother was trying to say whenever Prof. West speaks. Cornel West asked "What will it take for people to wake up ?," and stated that black people must have more love for each other to avoid the self neglect that is in community today. He leveled some criticism at the King children for uninviting Harry Belafonte to speak at Mrs. King's funeral. West made a historical nexus from the slave trade to Jim Crow to Katrina. He also cited the poor people of Venezuela, South Africa and Bolivia as examples of poor people "waking up" and realizing their time has come. Cornel West was credited by Tavis with being chief editor of a portion of The Covenant called 'the Covenant Curriculum,' which appears to be a political action guide.
Na'im Akbar, an academic at Florida State University, continued the theme by declaring African-Americans to be the ultimate reactors and that Katrina was a situation in which black people were left waiting to react. He stated that The Covenant is a proactive guide for black Americans that defines an agenda of what needs to be done before 'getting pushed in the hole.' Prof. Akbar said that African-Americans need to 'emancipate selves' because we think like slaves, as victims, and not those who state what we want to do.
I disagreed with Prof. Akbar and thought it belied several historical facts and movements over the past two centuries.
Fortunately, Harry Belafonte was next to speak and I thought he set the record straight with, IMO, the best comments of the day.
Hard to believe Harry is almost 80 ! He looks great and used his family background to give an overview of black liberation struggles over the past century. His mother was a follower of Marcus Garvey and early in Belafonte's career he was mentored by Paul Robeson through which he was exposed to W.E.B. DuBois. All these men laid out blueprints, thoughts and instructions on black people taking charge of destiny, with a theme that black people throughout world must not forget African roots and links to the diaspora.
Belafonte said what black people can achieve has been demonstrated, but maintaining our gains has been illusory. The problem is that once reaching a certain level of (presumed) achievement, black people buy into "the American dream" without recognizing that there is no truth in the paradigm. Imperialism invents new ways to subjugate people and it was long ago decided which peoples (coloured people) would be subjugated. The problem is the European/American paradigm of subjugation and oppression. Belafonte urged greater affiliation with people of color in other parts of the world and cited the growing independence of newly elected South American governments as examples of breaking "outside the box" of Euro/American dominant thought. Belafonte then expounded on how Bush's policies are terrorism and that black people should define terrorism as we see it and not as how Bush would describe. The murders of King, Medgar Evers, Emmett Till, Malcolm X were all cited as terroristic acts.
Early in his comments, Belafonte recounted a conversation with Martin Luther King in which King said African-Americans have lived in the box long enough, but if we must go outside the box, make sure the next box is our own. Belafonte concluded by noting that Civil Rights movements have been rooted in formal covenants, often unpublicized, in the past but people cannot come to such movements for vanity purposes. You must ask if you're ready to die for a struggle. If the answer is yes, then you must find the box you wish to build. If the answer is no, then stay in the box.
Wade Henderson, the Executive Director of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, opened with comments about how Katrina was metaphor for issues related to race, class and poverty. The tragedy of Katrina cannot be attributed to 'an act of God' but at the hands of man who failed to respond. Several remarks were made on importance of voting. Most noteworthy comment was tribute to Shirley Chisolm in which he paraphrased the late Congresswoman credo that "we have no permanent enemies or friends, just permanent interests." Wade Henderson was referring to any allegiance to a political party or proclaimed 'liberals' or 'conservatives.' Tavis Smiley on several occasions noted how The Covenant made no references to either political party.
This segued into Tavis Smiley noting that black Republicans Kenneth Blackwell (Ohio Secretary of State), Jeanette Bradley (Ohio Treasurer), and HUD Secretary Alfonso Jackson were all invited, accepted their invitations, then cancelled. Michael Steele was invited but declined. Tavis reiterated that all voices must be heard.
Jackie Winters, a black Republican state senator from Oregon, was on hand to represent for the GOP. She stated that we can set aside differences on some issues and recognize that we are all African-Americans and asserted that black Republicans and Dems work together in OR state legislature. Later, Congressman Mel Watt said we all knew we were black before we were Democratic or Republican. Stated that we can't marginalize selves by failing to have voice in both caucuses. She was concerned that we must leave conditions for next generation better than what we have, and noted that family and neighborhood issues must be addressed.
Bishop Henry Jackson appeared to have his pulpit (and likely, his collection plate) in both caucuses during his remarks. He said he is willing to work with whomever is willing to work with us. He chided the Democrats for taking black votes for granted, running into the church on election eve and demanding pulpit time "like an adulterous lover showing up for a midnight visit." He also challenged the GOP to put their money where their mouth is (GP asks, maybe looking for faith based $$ ???)and noted that black 'mega churches' are the largest segment of the mega church community. Bishop Jackson said power corrupts and GOP leaders have become corrupted in half the time it took the Dems to reach such state. Bishop Jackson believes the power of church is to impact individuals overcome malevolent influences like drugs. Strangely, he says the Civil Rights movement hasn't done a good job in past 25 years, but there is political capital to be made in both parties.
Angela Blackwell, president of PolicyLink, a national nonprofit research, communications, capacity-building, and advocacy organization, is a real dynamo and is credited with doing a lot of the grunt work in getting The Covenant published. She brought back the theme of being proactive and noted that we don't need any research to know that the community is in trouble and faces challenges. The purpose of The Covenant is to develop policies for action that could be put in front of legislators and policy makers. The Covenant is meant to be a three prong pre-emptive action plan. It acknowledges what can be done to improve circumstances; allows everyone to get in the face of those in chrage of setting policy with a detailed agenda; and allows us to hold those in charge accountable for geting the work done.
Tavis Smiley said he will be sending copies to Bush, Rove and Condoleeza Rice.
Congressmembers Sheila Jackson Lee and Mel Watt spoke. Watt said The Covenant gives a criteria by which the people can hold their elected officials accountable. He noted that the Congressional Black Caucus has to work with Bush, meets with Bush and that this tome allows them to set an agenda. Jackson-Lee said she is willing to be held accountable by the goals of The Covenant
Rev. Louis Farrakhan appeared to be in poor health and said that he flew in on a chartered flight from recuperative time in Arizona. Farrakhan's statements can be summed up as : The Roof ! the Roof ! The Roof is on fire ! We don't need no water let the mother fucker burn !
His theme was why do we want to integrate into a burning house. America is disintegrating and we need to look at Koranic verses and Biblical scripture to prepare for the aftermath. Farrakhan sounded physically and mentally tired, and I'm one who can normally cherry pick his speeches for insightful comments but none here.
Kimberle Crenshaw, a law professor at UCLA and Columbia, stated that the idea of color-blindness is damaging because race follows us from birth to death. The idea of color-blindness belies the fact that African-Americans face far greater perils and challenges in America solely because of color; affirmative action is necessary.
Litigator Raymond Brown was involved in editing The Covenant and believes its purpose shall be as a tool to hold elected officials accountable to the black community. He cited Rwanda and Darfur as respective examples of Clinton and Bush not being held accountable even on issues that are close to their core consituencies
Of the closing comments, again Harry Belafonte stood out. He acknowledged his personal relationship and dialogue with Farrakhan but disagreed with the Minister's assessment. He noted that he did not want the house to burn down on his children and grandchildren and a destruction of the country is a failure of our faith, nation, and descendants. Belafonte noted that no one gives power or rights, they must be taken. He then recounted a meeting between A. Phillip Randolph and Franklin D. Roosevelt in which Randolph went through a list of grievances and demands with FDR. FDR's reposne was that he agreed with Randolph on all points but said "that you need to make me do it." Referring to The Covenant Belafonte urged all listening to MAKE them do it.
I also have some notes from the subsequent panel that featured "emerging leaders." If enough of you are interested, I can post some of those comments as well.