This week marked the 43rd anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King. A gunman’s bullet killed the man, but it didn’t kill the dreams of a people on that dark day in Memphis. In the absence of Martin, we might ask the question, “Do we need leaders?” Who are those leaders? And why are they relevant today, especially in the age of President Barack Obama?
It is remarkable. An African-American president is in the White House. That still feels unreal to write, and probably a little strange to even read. The first Africans arrived in the slave-holding state of Virginia in 1619. The District of Columbia, sandwiched between Virginia on one side and another slave-holding state, Maryland on the other side, needed the labor of slaves to help build the White House and many of our national landmarks.
America is as complex as she is beautiful. The same America that gave us slavery and Jim Crow, gave us the underground railroad and the civil rights movement; the same America that gave us the great depression gave us “prosperity” with a chicken in every pot new deal; the same America that gave us dream homes gave us foreclosures and financial collapse. The same America that elected Barack Obama is the same America that can just as easily turn her back on a native son.
The national unemployment average is now at 8.8 percent. For African-Americans that number is 15.5 percent; for Hispanics that number is now 11.3 percent.
My sister’s paycheck is smaller because in order to keep her job she had to accept reduced hours. I have a nephew who is working sporadically and a niece who will lose her job in June because the clinic where she works will no longer be funded.
Welcome to the new American dream. Will all the solutions come from President Obama and a divided congress? Who really cares about the growing poor and the shrinking middle class?
The priority of us belongs to us. It is NEVER restricted to the NAACP, the Urban League and the National Action Network or groups like them. The NAACP, the Urban League and the National Action Network – three separate organizations, with three different missions, championed by three distinct leaders – are making news this week with various initiatives.
Ben Jealous of the NAACP issued a startling report citing America’s over incarceration and under education of blacks. Marc Morial of the Urban League revealed the annual ‘State of Black America’ report and showcased a small business job initiative. And Reverend Al Sharpton of NAN is hosting a conference this week in New York, his special dinner guest at the convention Wednesday night – President Barack Obama.
WATCH AN MSNBC PROFILE OF AL SHARPTON HERE
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What is the relevance of those organizations today? As African-Americans, we are in every layer of the American story. We are as diverse in talent and jobs as we are in thought. We are Democrats, Republicans, liberals, conservatives, rich, poor and in-between. We are athletes, economists, entertainers, surgeons and stylists. We not only work for the network, we own them. Yet we are less likely to be the head of a Fortune 500 company, even though there is an African-American residing at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
For those of us busy living our American dream, should there be leaders looking out for the collective ‘we’? Do you believe the voiceless still need a voice and the powerless still need a power broker at the table when America’s priorities are being debated and decided? Or do you believe every man for himself and the good Lord for us all?
The concept of building a stronger black community is probably a controversial topic because it might seem exclusionary and not inclusive of all Americans. Yet the courage to tackle tough issues defines us as Americans and it defines MSNBC as a network. All week on MSNBC our “Stronger America” series examines the challenges and showcases success stories in the black community. New faces, different voices find the spotlight in a dynamic programming look at us. Those of you familiar with our network know Ed Schultz champions the cause of putting ALL Americans back to work. Schultz will be joined by Reverend Al Sharpton during a lively two-hour debate about getting America back to work and improving education for all. Also joining the discussion this Sunday at 12:00 noon ET, are Cornell West, Ben Jealous, Marc Morial, Jeff Johnson, Velma Hart, Russlyn Ali, Karen Finney and others.
Ben Jealous. Marc Morial. Reverend Al Sharpton. The three need not stand alone, just as MLK didn’t stand alone. The rest of us must shoulder our way to the front of our communities and take an active role in finding solutions, helping where you can, teaching what you know and sharing your success.
Building a stronger America starts with building stronger individuals, families, communities, cities and states.
I believe in order for America to be stronger, it starts with the health, wealth, education, employment of each of us – no matter the color of your skin.
Join the conversation about building a stronger America and watch for more stories on MSNBC and theGrio.com.