An Intro

These files were generated (fall 2005) during the aftermath of Katrina  in New Orleans. As many of us became aware of the devastation taken by the flood and the lack of response by government officials, a network of email messages and inquiries began. (Note Arthur Flowers report in his piece Magical Negro The Root.) Hopefully, we did some good. In addition, the particular situation of New Orleans was of national import, for we knew other cities in the North and West were just as vulnerable as New Orleans—economically, socially and politically. Questions were raised about what should be our response to assure that such neglect to our needs never happen again, nationally as well as locally. Clearly, people understood what we were doing had failed us and our vulnerability was ever so apparent. Clarifications were more forthcoming than solutions or group actions. But understanding the field of operation is necessary. What we discussed has been here recorded, sometimes in the form of a dialogue—which has an interesting impact. These individual statements initially were an exchange of email messages, usually responding to statements by others, that I pulled together somewhat arbitrarily into dialogue format. Though these discussion did not lead to direct action, they may remain for sometime a valuable record of where many minds were during the time of a national crisis and they may provide important information and maybe suggestive how some topics and issues should be handled or thought through. 

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baltimore, cleveland, detroit, d.c., new york, milwaukee, newark. . . . the numbers are basically the same. i think rudy puts it best when he says that white americans equate the reconstruction of u.s. cities with a loss of white skin privilege.

how to confront this new white racism, this re-invention of white supremacy, is the question. my view is that it can be best approached from the standpoint of an attack on corporate profits. this requires the leadership of a civil rights-centered democratic party.

yet the dems are going down just like the labor party in israel—they haven't been heard from since oslo. i think the dems will perish completely within 5 years.

in the meantime, the task is the same: to build a systemic alternative. this, to me, means a total withdrawal of all african americans from the democratic party. the feminists and "organized labor" are not doing it. it should be led by folk like john conyers and cynthia mckinney, barbara lee. i don't see any alternative at this point. we need a new mississippi freedom party.

the basic demands would be: (1) single-payer healthcare system; (2) 30 hour work-week for everyone, zero unemployment; (3) a moratorium on corporate profits, meaning huge progressive taxation at the state level; and (4) a national education funding system in which every district gets exactly the same money. the demands can be met by simply reforming labor law and taxing the hell out of the rich. if the rich don't like it, we'll charge them with treason and seize their passports.  Abell Report on Baltimore Education

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Rudy, you address an important issue, but we must concentrate on ideologies and institutions, not personalities.   This "emergency" and the need for "emergency relief" will persist beyond our lifetimes, and we must not console ourselves with charitable donations to mere mortals.  We must be selective and systematic when deciding where our limited financial contributions are to be applied.   I am certain that a large portion of whatever we give should go to education, but our "widow's mites" are too minute to be effective if dissipated indiscriminately among the several educational institutions.  We must contribute only towards the maintenance of viable institutions. 

Furthermore, we cannot entrust limited resources to the Princess Dianas, whose well-meaning efforts invariably divert energy away from ideological issues. We cannot continue to support the Mother Teresas whose charitable efforts divert capital away from fundamental institutional reforms.  That may sound brutal, but I think it necessary to support institutions rather than persons, after ascertaining which institutions are capable of surviving.  We must focus on institution building, rather than sinking capital into a vortex of heroic, but ultimately futile, efforts.  Feel-Good Giving & Capital

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The inactivity of my peers is very frustrating, but let me provide some reasons, as I see it, as to why this is. Yes, social consciousness certainly isn't being transmitted from the parents, or for that matter, any other outlet; thankfully I had the parents and grandfather that I have. In any case, it seems the generational gap is too great. I recall speaking with an older gentleman, a community leader, who spoke of his own community's apathy to anything, but their own struggles. And this can be expected.

However, this gentleman went on to condemn my generation, without thinking of extending his hand to us, providing us with some mentorship perhaps. I spoke of another gentleman as well whose ideology was similar. There is a disconnect, no dialogue between the youngsters and our "elders." This leaves us susceptible to other messages, particularly "dog eat dog" and materialism.

Education too is at fault. Take the Baltimore City Public Schools as an example, of which I am a graduate. 73% of the student are receiving free or reduced lunch, that’s poverty, and not once were names such as Du Bois uttered, and Baldwin maybe once, with other black leaders getting their token treatment.

One doesn't learn of the achievements of younger leaders such as Fred Hampton. My generation is expected to take it upon ourselves for this sort of self-education, and this isn't an excuse, but things aren't up in our face as they were in the past...its so much more subtle with said education, and one must commit themselves to discovering these subtleties.  Political Movements White Issues

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Well, Rudy, this discussion has forced me to reconsider the resolution of the Colored Convention in Buffalo 1843, when Frederick Douglass suppressed Garnet's "Address to the Slaves of the United States," because he wanted to achieve his freedom "in a better way."  Maybe Douglass was right, maybe not. 

In any case, I have written about the incident in Creative Conflict, and I suppose I shall write about it (certainly think about it) many times in the future.  For the time being, I can say that no, I could not justify killing baby Hitler on the basis of a mystical vision, and yes, I could have justified killing him according to the reasoning of the theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer who was executed for collaborating in the failed assassination attempt.

Love Should Deflect Contentment

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There are a lot of derogatory racial and gender slurs that make me cringe, such as "bitches" and "hos," which are used by male & female rappers and in music videos.  Such terms, as well as "nigger" are examples of internalized racism & sexism, low self esteem, and a lack of self respect.  We have some real teaching to do with our young people.  

Like you, I'm disappointed in some of the recent actions of the NAACP as well as recent leadership (Ben Chavis, for example, and even Ben Hooks, a Memphian and long-time friend), but I'm a life member of the NAACP who applauds the historic role of the organization in helping to eradicate lynching, fueling the desegregation movement, spearheading voter registration campaigns in the South, etc. 

We owe a lot to people like Medgar Evers, Daisy Bates, Gloster Current, Constance Motley, and the branch leader in Florida (can't remember his name but there was a PBS special on him) who worked for years for little money and who was eventually assassinated in the 1950s.  You wrote in one of your messages that the Civil Rights Movement was a middle-class movement.  Not so. 

In Memphis at least it was supported by carpenters, students, housewives, & church folk, who marched, demonstrated, sat in, and went to jail.  Some of the leaders of the CRM came from the middle class, and this had to be because the barbershop owners, ministers, lawyers, insurance salesmen, small business owners, dentists, undertakers, and doctors were the only ones who were "free" (i.e. who made their living from Blacks). And I can tell you that in Memphis we gave our money and laid our lives on the line, big time. The Middle Class the Poor  Socialist Joy

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Dear Rudy, I am not certain on what scale one measures "the best black minds," but I can assure you that some of the most intelligent black women and men I know are not teaching at HWCUs.  Having vowed to teach at black colleges—although I have taught very briefly at the University of Virginia, Grinnell, and Wayne State and lectured at a number of white colleges, I do not berate my former students who have Ph.D.s for their decision to make their careers at schools that are well-endowed, equipped with up-to-date research materials in their specialties, and often more concerned with productive scholarship than with the quality of one's teaching. 

Until HBCUs as we know them vanish at some point in the late twenty-first century, it is necessary that some of us who have good minds, good preparation in our disciplines, and a sense of historic responsibility offer students at black colleges the challenge of high academic standards. Otherwise, they will not be prepared for the challenges of graduate studies or the demands of professional schools.  I do know from bitter experience that a number of non-black teachers at HBCUs do not teach well, and I do not bite my tongue when I inform some of them that they are doing a disservice to black students.

I agree with much that you have written about the pettiness that exists among many administrators at HBCUs, but I must disagree with a blanket condemnation of the black professors who chose not to teach at HWCUs. The State of HBCUs

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updated 16 October 2007