I attended Governor Mark Dayton’s Black Economic Summit a few weeks ago, and like most of the folks there I didn’t receive an invite. And to be fair, I still am not sure that it was an invitation-only meeting, but that was the rumor.
Speaking of rumors, I heard quite a bit of murmuring about who should and should not have been involved in the planning of the summit, which was held at the University of Minnesota’s Research and Outreach Center (UROC).
But the rumors overlook three important aspects of organizing:
1) If they are asking for what you would have asked for, go with it; it’s the don’t-throw-the-baby-out-with-the-bathwater theory.
2) Always keep in mind that they are going to do what they do, which is why they are in place.
3) Despite what they are doing, what are you going to do?
Without a doubt, the murmurers have some valid points; in fact, they were right to suggest that the meeting probably would have been better suited for North High, as folks packed the meeting room at UROC.
But with that said, anyone who took a look at the recommendations would have to acknowledge that they were indeed solid recommendations. Who is opposed to asking for more jobs, or giving Black ex-offenders a fair shake when seeking employment and reentry into society? And who would argue against the proposal that state and federal government contract jobs be divvyed out more fairly and equitably, or that Black businesses — especially those with a track record of success — be given equal access to the market?
I feel with those who were leery about the process. I understand concern about why certain people were asked to make presentations and others were not. But in this case, it really didn’t matter who delivered the message. The message was delivered.
“There seems to be two Minnesotas, one White and one Black, both separate and unequal,” declared Professor Nakima Pounds-Levy of the University of St. Thomas. Could anyone argue that the plight of Black folks could have been articulated better and more to the point than that? It really doesn’t matter what you think about Roger Banks of the Council on Black Minnesotans, or Pamela Alexander, Louis King, Natalie Johnson Lee, Rev. Jerry McAfee, Leah Hargett, or anyone else; the point is that, on that date, they told the truth.
If we are serious about helping our community, we shouldn’t care who gets the credit. As an old-school radical, I seldom see eye to eye with our usually more moderate politicians and community leaders. They can never ask for or demand enough justice and equality for my taste.
But when they are right, they are right. When they push an idea or legislation, or make a demand that is going to benefit us as a community, I am all for it, as everyone else should be.
Let’s be clear: Folks are going to have their secret meetings. They always have and always will until there is a radical redistribution of wealth and power in this society. And some of us wouldn’t know the secret handshake even if we they did let us in.
And the truth be told, some of us want to be in the secret meeting so that “we” can be cut in, not the community. So some of the criticism is just plain old-fashioned “hatin.”
We ought to stop wasting time talking about who is getting this or that. The “powers that be,” along with the philanthropic community, aren’t going to give you a dime if you don’t fit their purposes no matter how much you complain. And besides, “All money ain’t good money.”
The folks in power are going to fund who they chose to fund, and the recipients are going to do what they do. No amount of editorializing and criticism is going to change that. The Negroes that we spend too much time complaining about don’t get their money from you, so they don’t have to answer to you!
There are always going to be folks in our community who take advantage of our situation. It is what happens in oppressed communities.
Furthermore, folks on the same side don’t always agree. Malcolm X and Martin didn’t see eye to eye. In fact, Malcolm had to change his mind about the need for a civil rights fight, and he began to search for ways to cooperate with Martin. They agreed on goals but differed on tactics.
At the end of the day, the question is: What are you going to do?
Mel Reeves invites readers to visit his blog, Dred Scotts Ghost, at www.dredscottsghost.blogspot.com. He welcomes reader responses to mella neous19@yahoo.com.
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