Today's version of The Black Slate deals with some random thoughts on Cosby and on the NAACP. Because Jelani, Neal (I think), and Izrael already offered their thoughts on homeboy I was going to take a pass. But when the Bush NAACP thing came up I thought there might be a way to weave the two in together. I don't like the NAACP as far as I can throw them, and to a certain degree I sympathize with Cobb when he throws down the gauntlet. I even agree a bit with McWhorter here.
But the bottom line is a simple one. In making the decision to speak to the Urban League instead, Bush is taking the line that he's taken for a while--that the poor shouldn't rely on government to deal with their problems. In as much as we need an inside/outside game, SOMEONE has to talk to Bush with that perspective in mind, and the Urban League is the best thing we've got going here. In fact, they are probably the closest thing to a conservative black organization that we have--Armstrong Williams and the rest of the black conservative crew don't really have mass black organizations to stand on.
However at the same time we need someone to push for changes in government policy. The Urban League doesn't do that. The NAACP barely does it. But right now, especially because of the loot they are giving out to organizers...I'll take them.
Fitting Cosby in was a bit of a stretch I think...but I was able to push his stomach in a bit and get him in there. With all of his bluster he is pretty much saying the same thing that the conservatives are saying anyway--fuck politics. The more I think about it the more we need conversation starters like this. All we need afterwards are the folks with policy proposals in hand for those in agreement with Cosby, and for those in disagreement.
As an aside I gave a few workshops at the League of Independent Voters Smackdown 2004. I have never been more hopeful in the future than I was seeing those young brothers and sisters. We've been waiting YEARS for them. As opposed to the pie in the sky approach taken by many (we want reparations NOW), they fully recognize that we're running a relay marathon, not a sprint. I can't wait.
what these folks are doing is fighting on the local level for various referenda, and then fighting at the national level. i rode the airplane back with an activist from manchester, new hampshire. she's working to keep a corporation from taking like 310,000 gallons of water/day from the new hampshire area. at the same time though she's registering and educating voters.
i don't want to jinx anything, but i think this is the closest thing to sncc i've ever seen.
that's right, you are in minnesota right? if you are really interested you should talk to mattie weiss and toki...a couple of organizers up in minnesota. if i remember correctly, they've got a high schooler too....not even old enough to vote yet.
Posted by: Lester Spence at July 21, 2004 08:21 AM
What sort of policies should these young organizers focus on? National policies or local ones?
I think that the answer is obvious: the local ones. I cannot see these young organizers forming the coalitions required to really impact national political policy.
What strikes my cynical mind is this: dumping Bush is a real possibility and nothing breeds success like success. So, get out the vote and be a part of the changing of the guard, but focus the emerging organizations and groups on local policies -- the ones they can really impact and control.
[Think about it: what policy changes will be attributed to our votes?]
Change is not going to come from the top down; change is going to happen from the bottom up.
Posted by: Ward Bell at July 20, 2004 10:33 PM