Today was the dedication of the MLK monument in Washington DC. It was a stirring ceremony. I myself was struck with how things today are eerily similar for as Dr. King referenced “Citizen’s of Color”. Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream Speech”, was shown in its entirety and it is amazing how history has a way of repeating itself. Today racial and economic oppression continue to be reality. At this particular moment in time, most American’s are becoming keenly sensitive to the current economic oppression and while not necessarily based in color; (today it is the haves versus the have not), it is impacting people of color disproportionately. In a commentary today following the MLK dedication, Roland Martin spoke of the need for us to “stop waiting on the sidelines to take the baton and do something”. What are we willing to do Citizen’s of Color?
If you are willing to be misled by the economist(s), you might be slowly coming to the realization that we are in a recession. However, we as African American’s (Citizen’s of Color) are in a depression. Our men our facing unemployment rates of 32%. What are we missing here? As we speak, the Occupy Wall Street movement is gaining momentum from state to state and even internationally.
The Occupy Wall Street movement is about economic injustice and this injustice is true. But are people realizing that the politics of “Defeat Obama” are at the root. President Obama is essentially a “lame duck” President with “Defeat Obama” being the call for the day. President Obama’s jobs bill stalled this week, essentially being defeated. Our legislators are not listening to those on the ground at the “Occupy Movement”. America does not realize that the 1% will sacrifice the 99% just to unseat our current president. The policy of those legislators in Washington is that American’s will “vote their pocketbook”. And if they can turn back the President’s policy initiatives for just a little while longer they can go back to creating policy to benefit the 1%. Without jobs, President Obama will be voted out! But without President Obama, we will be counted out!
Well, I don’t believe they anticipated this level of unrest…notice the lack of media coverage at the various “Occupy” gatherings. It’s almost as if the powers that be are saying “let them eat cake”. I myself am glad people are voicing their discontent. I hope ultimately it helps them to mobilize around and support President Obama. For Citizen’s of Color, I believe we are more than capable of weathering this economic storm as we have for so long. Our rich history shows time and again that we are a people that will OVERCOME. I just pray we don’t become apathetic. We MUST put on our HARDHATS AND BOOTS for President Obama. We must recognize the mind game that’s being played and regain our voice, and work to elect President Obama and those willing to WORK with our President for the betterment of our country and our economic condition.
~ M
