Now is the time

[Perry Ealim]

 I do not consider myself to be particularly prophetic, though I know some who read this will say 'you are out of your mind I can't be around you.'  I know that some will distance themselves from what I am saying because they will feel I am not a good Negro.  Some will say I 'don't know how they do business in this State or County.' Some will say I 'don't help the cause by saying such things.'  Others will stay away because they don't like confrontation. Others don't like to hear the truth.  Others have good government jobs and don't want anyone to threaten their GS level.   Or, they are too educated to be marching, and take every opportunity to apologize for being BLACK in America and Maryland.

 

As a student of history I remember when Martin L. King Jr. started marching and calling on the good old Negros to take a stand.  So many of our good old Negros started distancing themselves and their families from Dr. King and his movement.  Our people. They questioned why he was out there doing that.  After all, he was a Morehouse grad and a minster.  No Morehouse grad should be out there marching and singing "we shall overcome".  He had a good education and could go anywhere to preach.  There were so many reasons why the other Negros would not be a part of such a movement.

 

One of the best lines was "Doesn't he know, we've come a long way?  Why is he messing it up for the rest of us?" (Sounds like House Negros to me.) But then came the Letters from the Birmingham Jail.  And then the white folks started to march and they started to say things like in this great country of ours something is wrong here. This country needs to take another look at what we are doing to the Negros in this country.  Then and only then, with the validation of white folks, did the good old Negros come out and put their soles (not soul) but feet to the fire. When will we stop playing the House Negros vs the Field Negros?

 

You know I volunteered to help one of our community organizations develop an agenda for business owners in this county and state two months ago. As of today, I have yet to hear anything from that organization, maybe for the reasons stated above.  House Negro vs Field Negro.  Us versus them. You against me.  Nothing new under the sun.  “Same groceries just a different bag.”

 

Now, there are opportunities we need to pursue.  Let's see if there will be anyone who will stand up and be counted in the country and the State.  It is time that all minority and women owned business owners take a stand and have our voices heard.  It seems that the leadership elected to represent our views only looks at those with whom they have been doing business or working with on an ongoing basis.  Who knows why?  It makes me wonder if they are getting some type of kickback to keep other Blacks and minorities in place.

 

We are so afraid to take a stand and say what needs to be said. Our communities are going to hell.  No jobs, no businesses, lack of quality education for our youth.  The words of that song,  "Wake up Everybody -- no more sleeping in bed" are so true and needed today.  Look at our Black Chambers.  Where is the effective voice for business development? Look at our other organizations.  Many have been reduced to social groups who want to have dinner and a drink,  and pat the same old people on the back who have done nothing to move our business communities to the next level. We give awards based on ability to sell tickets to raise money for the organization and not deeds to the communities.

 

We all say things are changing. Let me say this about that.  Look across the country.  We all got excited about having Black mayors but nothing in our business community has changed. We got excited about Black Governors, but nothing in our business communities has changed. We got excited about (here in Maryland) having the largest number of Black elected group in the State House, and I ask you, what has changed? And we have no one to blame but ourselves.  We did nothing to prepare for their victory and did not ask for what we needed to succeed.   It is time we set an agenda, a BLACK BUSINESS AGENDA. It is time that those of us who are not bought and paid for take a stand and speak out.

 

We need to start asking the right questions in order to get the right answers.  Can we be brought for seven pieces of gold? Can the seven pieces make you turn your back on your people?

When is it time for us to set a national agenda for Black Republicans?

When is it time?