Celebrate Black History
Thursday, February 09, 2012
African-American Heritage
Since February is the month we celebrate African-American Heritage , TheBochinche thinks it is important to recognize that so many of us are of mixed origins and that we should celebrate ALL that we encompass , so this is JUST the beginning ............. ENJOY !!!!!! At first, I wanted to write about black people such as Martin Luther King who had achieved great things. Then I thought it is more important to talk about ordinary people who can achieve extraordinary things. YOU are the topic of this article. You say you are ordinary, without academic preparation, too poor, too old and without a clue about what skills you have that can be used for societal change. Africans were plucked from Africa and put in slavery all over the world. In the North-American continent, Africans suffered a cruel form of bondage by the English. We are now free and citizens of the United States of America. During the 1960’s black churches began to organize people and money to create power. The world as it should be did not match the world as it actually existed.
A non-violent movement sprouted composed of ordinary people, like you, that changed the course of history. Everyone likes or dislikes things that happen on the local and federal level but we feel powerless so we bury ourselves in daily chores and pray to God for change. Alinsky, Martin Luther King and other visionaries realized that without power, the world as it should be was a dream; so they created power. Organized people and organized money generates power and that can be done by You. There are non-profit organizations and churches that employ organizers who can teach you how to effect positive change. Power is more than going to a rally and shouting,”Si se Puede-Yes, we can!” after which you go home and watch your soap operas. The creation of Power means getting to know each other individually, one-on-one meetings. It takes discovering who has the qualities that will help you materialize your desires whether it be to improve the Public School System or to prevent cuts in social programs. The next step is to join an organization (or start your own). Before you march down State street or picket, contribute money to your organization.
The organizations you join need the money to fund activities to persuade the power system in place to be accountable to its constituents. You can do all this without sacrificing your life to the cause. If you remain at home and complain nothing will change. You are a very important person in your community. We celebrate African-American Heritage in February, however, all the achievements of black people were born out of civic activism and action by ordinary people just like you. So let’s celebrate the end of slavery, segregation and the reduction of inequality for black people but remember that the underlying success came from the community. We are accustomed to choosing certain individuals as iconic symbols of beings who embody characteristics unattainable by the common person. We, the common people, are the force that can be focused and used for positive change on the local and federal level. Remember that You are just as important as Martin Luther King, Jessie Jackson, etc. and that one is never too old, too young, too poor or too busy to improve society. We are ordinary people that can do extraordinary things !!!!!!!
¿¿ HAVE YOU HEARD ??
Por : Harry Irizarry
Chicago Office
