We cannot continue to move from tragedy to tragedy expecting a different outcome without doing some work. Everyone gets all charged up when a police officer takes the life of an unarmed black person or our rights are trampled, but what are we doing on a daily basis?

Here are some things we can do before tragedy strikes to better the black community and move us forward.

1. Volunteer – There are thousands of wonderful organizations working in our communities. All they need is your assistance, energy and spirit. Volunteer in your community.
2. Mentor – Take a young person under your wing, expose them to a larger work and share your insight, connections with them. This is a direct investment into our future.
3. Tutor – Take your intelligence and education to the forefront of the fight, tutor young people. You can select the subjects you are strong in and help a young person academically.
4. Donate – Everyone doesn’t have the time or schedule to consistently volunteer or mentor, but you can donate your funds to the cause. Just select worthy organizations operating in your community and donate.
5. Support Black Businesses – It is imperative we support our businesses operating in the community circulate the funds among one another and lift our economy. We spend over $1 trillion dollars a year and less than 3% is with black owned businesses. This is unacceptable.
6. Recommend Black Businesses – We must take our support further by recommending good black businesses operating in the community. Tell someone else about the ones that deserve support.
7. Boycott Black Businesses under performing – We are not saying you should support a business purely because they are black. They need to be worthy of our support. If they aren’t, starve them with boycotts until they raise their level of service and products.
8. Start or Join a Think Tank – It is time we begin to unite our minds and agendas to concentrate our efforts.
9. Share Resources & Information – It is imperative we begin sharing information and resources instead of hording it among our secret society groups or ethnic circles.
10. Encourage Education In Other Children – The adults in the community must support and encourage the youth of the community to continue thriving educationally….not just what the school system requires.
11. Parent Your Children -You had them. They are your responsibility…and no one is going to give you a medal. Handle your business, care, love and nurture their interest. Show them unconditional love….and please have some order to their days.
12. Promote Accountability – Community wide we must hold one another accountable to excellence. Why not, we are capable of it, but must foster an atmosphere that holds one another to higher standards.
13. Vote – I know many of you are going to say to hell with the political process, but still we must turn out and vote. We have to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time. I didn’t say you had to put all your cards in the political process, but we should vote.
14. Hold Politicians Accountable – Voting is cool, but here is the gold. We must own our local politicians and hold them accountable for making change for the better in our communities. If they don’t, we use our vote and influence to get them out.
15. Attend City Meetings – Local politics is everything. We must begin attending, following and getting involved.
16. Politically Educate Yourself – Commit to building your education and understanding of local politics, what the needs of your community are and who is standing in the way of said progress.
17. Connect People – Be a resource in your circle of influence. Be the person people appreciate because you spend time and effort helping others find the people they need to take it to the next level.
18. Your Turn…. What would you add to the list of things we can do to help the black community before tragedy strikes?