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Editorials/Columns
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A Mile In Our Shoes
think it may be an under- statement to say that, when it comes to the acts of defiance being displayed by Black athletes across the coun- try and the protests occurring in cities like Charlotte, North Carolina, the average white person still doesn't have a clue as to what's at the root of the
anger he or she is witnessing. Even though they may have a surface understanding that our frustration is due, in large part, to the seemingly endless killing of unarmed Black men by members of law enforce- ment, to a large degree, they fail to comprehend why these
incidents so deeply affect us. They haven't been able to grasp that what they view as blatant disrespect for this country, and what appears to be unjustifiable lawlessness in the streets, is simply our way of showing our disapproval of
a blatantly biased system.
Of course, it shouldn't come as a surprise that the motiva- tion behind the struggle is lost on some white people. When
you've been on the winning side of a situation, as they have, for so long, and have grown up inside of a nation built specifically for your ben- efit, it's probably hard trying to conceptualize what it's like to be in near constant posses- sion of the short end of the stick.
The fact is, white America has become so accustomed to seeing Black people humbly deal with the burden of being born with dark skin inside of a whitewashed society that, when we loudly vocalize our discontent, it catches them off guard. In their minds the image of a Black man raising his fist in rage stands in stark contrast to the more pleasing image they've come to expect of the happy-go-lucky-Negro who joyfully sings "zip-da-di- do-da" even while the blue bird of happiness steadily takes a crap on his shoulder.
This is why the dialogue and “conversations” we've been constantly told we need to en- gage in haven't gotten us any-
where over the last 50 years. One side remains blinded by the facade they've created while the other desperately fights to show the ugliness of the reality that exists behind the gloss.
The other day I asked a white guy, who thinks it's des- picable the way players like Colin Kaepernick continue to dishonor the American flag, how he would feel if the situa- tion were reversed? I asked him, “If you lived in an African country where your ancestors were held in bondage and your people were consistently vic- timized by a system that didn't value their lives, while the Blacks around you lived in rel- ative peace, would you con- tinue to proudly acknowledge the anthem of that nation and not say or do anything?”
He looked at me for about a minute in silence before reluc- tantly answering, “No Way.”
His response was proof that trying on someone else's shoes, even for a second, can often give you a better under- standing of his or her walk. The only problem we have is convincing each other that it's ok to unlace.
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A Tale Of Many Americas
he opposition to Colin Kaepernick and a growing num-
ber of Black athletes and Black elected officials’ right to sit out the flag salute and/or National Anthem by whites is an obvious example of the fact that there would seem to be two Americas.
Indeed, Black people (more than most), recognize the benefit of living in America, which is why Black enlisted per- sonnel make up 30 percent of the Army, 20 percent of the Marine Corps, 17 percent of the Air Force, and 13 percent of the Navy even though only 13 percent of our nation is African American.
That is why there has been no mass exodus from America, the country our ancestors shed blood, sweat, and tears to tame. For, as poet Langston Hughes concluded, “We, too, sing America. We are America’s darker brother (and sister)!”
Yet, Black people and other minorities continue to see on a daily basis all of this country’s rear-end. We witness 19th century-minded Ku Klux Klansmen marching through our communities in broad daylight, and we still live in a nation where our faces, names, and street addresses preclude us from good jobs and an admirable quality of life.
And certain people have the nerve to demand “Make America Great Again!” In our heart of hearts, we know the reality of what they means. Moreover, we live in a country where Blacks account for 47 percent of all hate victims. But the face of America is changing. Haven’t you noticed? We, too, sing America!
Ask The Candidates: How Will You Protect Democracy?
MARC H. MORIAL President and CEO National Urban League
“Before enacting that law, the legislature requested data on the use, by race, of a number of voting practices. Upon re- ceipt of the race data, the Gen- eral Assembly enacted legislation that restricted vot- ing and registration in five dif- ferent ways, all of which disproportionately affected African Americans. Although the new provisions target African Americans with almost surgical precision, they consti- tute inapt remedies for the problems assertedly justifying them and, in fact, impose cures for problems that did not exist." -- U. S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, striking down North Carolina’s “Monster” voter sup- pression law.
s this most unusual of
Presidential campaigns barrels toward November, it often has been difficult to focus on the issues challenging our communities, rather than per- sonalities and inflamed rheto- ric.
On Monday, September 26th (tonight) from 9 P. M. -10:30 P. M. EDT, Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton and Republi-
can nominee, Donald Trump face off in the first of a series of debates. The issues challenging our communities must be on the table.
In a recent Op-Ed published in Newsday, Patriotic Million- aires Board Chair Morris Pearl and I issued a challenge to NBC News anchor, Lester Holt and the other debate mod- erators: demand answers to the most fundamental American question: Do you believe in the essential equality of each Amer- ican and if so, what specifically are you going to do to ensure that each citizen has equal po- litical power?
There are dozens of topics to tackle that will lay bare the can- didates’ commitment to our uniquely American promise. Whether Holt asks about voting rights or gerrymandering, cam- paign contributions or executive powers, the nominees’ answers will reveal their underlying com- mitment to equality, and to democracy itself.
Tonight’s debate offers an excellent opportunity for citi- zens to continue to become in- formed and engaged – and our National Urban League Young Professionals are leading the way on voter engagement.
Here are some highlights of what the YPs will be doing from
now until Election Day to en- courage voter participation:
• #NovIsComing Con- test: Counting down to the Gen- eral Election, NULYP will issue a series of "tasks" to chapter members that seek to Educate, Engage, and Empower voters. This contest will take place on the NULYP GOTV Facebook page. The chapter member that completes the most GOTV tasks will be eligible to win the Grand Prize:
• Interactive Debate Watch Parties: The YPs will incorpo- rate online polls, etc. to spark real-time conversation and en- gagement around issues brought forth during the Presi- dential Debates. Instructions is- sued prior to each debate will ensure chapters are "plugged in" to the conversation.
• 2016 National Voter Reg- istration Day (NVRD): Once again, NULYP will partner with NationalVoterRegistration- Day.org to promote voter regis- tration and ensure no one is left out of this important part of our political process. This year NVRD falls on, September 27th.
• College Absentee Voting Campaign: College students are a key demographic in our elections on the local, state, and national level. However, many miss the opportunity to vote be- cause they fail to apply for an absentee ballot for their home districts. To raise awareness about the importance of timely absentee voting, NULYP chap- ters are encouraged to share pertinent absentee voting infor- mation with non-partisan stu- dent organizations at local university/ college campuses.
Tulsa And Charlotte: When The Truth Cannot Be Seen
enjamin Franklin said, “Believe none of what you hear,
and half of what you see.” But, Benjamin Franklin was- n’t at the shooting scenes of Terence Crutcher in Tulsa, Okla- homa, or Keith Scott in Charlotte, North Carolina. But based on the popular belief that “seeing is believing,” which in itself implies that we will not accept the truth of something unless we can somehow see it, you can understand how frustrated the public was, especially in Charlotte, North Carolina, when two videos seemingly failed to find out specifically whether Keith Scott was brandishing a gun or reading a book, or whether Tulsa resident Terence Crutcher was backing up to get a gun or was simply reaching to retrieve his driver’s li- cense. On both situations, our eyes deceived us.
Or was it our eyes’ fault? Teary-eyed, a policewoman who fired the deadly shot that took Terence Scott’s life swore on her own life and livelihood that she shot not only in fear of her own safety, but the safety of her fellow officers. Maybe, she did. Who knows the inner mind of a public servant? Charlotte, meanwhile, is holding its breath after two videos could not seem to sweeten the stench of racism and mistrust that has hovered like black mold in the Charlotte society for centuries.
Yes, seeing is often believing. But what happens when be- lieving preempts seeing? What occurs when mistrust blinds the eyes, and without sound, no words of healing may be heard? Then we begin to understand the sad wisdom in Ben Franklin’s words and the warning in Christ’s parable, “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing they do not understand.”
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2016 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 5
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