The 50 year anniversary of the “I Have a Dream” speech by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr on August 28th, 1963 is coming soon. It was and is an incredible speech, but sometimes I wonder if the dream has turned into a nightmare for the Black community.
It seems to me over the past 50 years, blacks or African Americans have grown into this politically retarded group of people that refuse to learn the basics of how a “Democracy” works and why we should be involved. Clearly, we haven’t carried the torch Dr. King, Malcolm X, Marcus Garvey and countless others who have fought and died to shine a light on our situation in America and make things better.
5 Reasons the Black Community Is Politically Retarded
Today, I want to illuminate 5 reasons I feel the black community is politically retarded. Understood this word “retarded” doesn’t resonate well with many people, but someone has to deliver the straight talk we need in order to get back on track. The facts are clear we don’t understand, nor are supremely engaged in politics, so i’m not sure why everyone pretends like using the word “retarded” to explain our situation is out of bounds.
What does Retarded mean?
Retarded means delay or hold back in terms of progress, development, or accomplishment.
Source of definition for retarded: Google (see here)
After reading this definition, it should be IMPOSSIBLE for you to disagree with my reasoning on why we, as a community, are politically retarded. If you saw this definition in reference to the black community and politics, you would think this was designed to explain who we are. However, the question persist, WHY are we politically retarded?
5. Desire for a Leader
Because of the strong leaders, charismatic men and women “leaders” we have had in the past fighting for us during the struggle, it seems we have a leadership hang over. We all seem to be sitting back on our heels wondering and waiting for the next great leader in the mold of King, X, Garvey, and those of the black power movement. This has caused us to wonder into and live in a perpetual state of lack of action. It has crippled our progress over the past 50 years because in order for a people to thrive, EVERYONE MUST PARTICIPATE, but this knowledge is missed on us today.
4. Fear
A healthy amount of fear is good, but we allow it to paralyze us into inaction. Understandably, we have watched generation after generation of our people who have stood up and fought for us be assassinated, Cointelpro, imprisonment of leaders exile. No one wants to die or be sent away. I’m sure those that were killed or put into jail for decades, falsely, wouldn’t say that was their aim, but today we are so petrified no one wants to speak out.
Until the everyday people in the community, neighborhoods get involved in the day to day political conversations, voting, holding elected officials accountable, then we are going to get much of the same we are already getting,….not much. We have to get outside fo ourselves and our selfish moments of greed to think about the long term future of the black or African American people. If you don’t stand up and fight for our rights, how will your grandchildren ever have a chance to thrive and reach their full potential?
We can’t wait for superman to save us all. He isn’t coming!
3. Complacency/Moderate Success
Nothing quells anger, frustration, discrimination and rage like a piece of the pie. In my opinion, this is what integration was and is, a piece of the pie. Just enough for us to feel like if we put forth some effort, went to college, got an education, a “good” job, we could take part in the American dream.
This is exactly what happened. Many of our best and brightest was able to get an opportunity to work some comfy jobs, move into nice neighborhoods, and blend in among the majority community in this country. This level of “success” has led to a great level of complacency among many in the community.
Since this group feels everything is fine, they have a piece of the pie, there is no reason to ruffle any feathers. These individuals may have some political insight, but they won’t come back to the community, organize and motivate each other to join together putting our voting power and economics behind candidates that fully represent our interest.
The moderate success makes us say, I got it, why can’t you?
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