RE - VISITED;

"LETTER TO BLACK LEADERS"

Every now and then, I review old AG articles to see if they are as relevant today as they were when they were written.

Recently I re-read  An Open Letter to Black Leaders  and was very disappointed to see many of the problems I mentioned in 1998 are still prevalent in the activist community. That's right three going on four years later, I see the same old mess.

I didn't get caught up and think just because I addressed it, it would change.  No, not at all. However I had hoped that as we matured our childish habits or idiosyncrasies would abate and maturity would set in. 

What do we have to do to get people  to understand that we see some real mess, even within the activist community, and it is long past time for it to end.  Have we learned nothing from our history?

For example, the activist who often attempts to create disharmony within the ranks, by pitting one so called 'team' against each other. 

Personally, I am sick of it and send the perpetrator the following advice;  CUT IT OUT!!!  IT IS NOT CUTE!!!! AND AT YOUR LEVEL IT IS DISGUSTING!! YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE BUILDING NOT CAUSING DIS-HARMONY!!

To the activist who has a serious EGO problem and think they ARE the organization, I have this piece of advice:  THE NEED FOR THE FREEDOM OF OUR PEOPLE DID NOT BEGIN NOR WILL IT END WITH YOU.  YOU ARE NOT THE END ALL AND BE ALL, THE CREATOR IS!!  PLEASE LET GO OF THE EGO AND BE A LEADER!  IF YOU CAN'T LET GO OF YOUR EGO,,, LEAVE THE ORGANIZATION BEFORE YOU DESTROY IT.  BECAUSE IF YOU KEEP THAT EGO STUFF UP, YOU WILL DESTROY THE ORGANIZATION, BELIEVE IT!!

To the activist who is plotting to take over the organization I only have a few words: YOU DO KNOW SOONER OR LATER YOUR SCHEME AND PLANS WILL BE KNOWN TO THE MASSES OF THE  ORGANIZATION, DON'T YOU?  EVERYTHING DONE IN THE DARK IS REVEALED IN TIME.  RIGHT?  SO WHY PUT YOUR REPUTATION ON THE LINE WITH THIS MADNESS?

OR ARE YOU THAT FAR GONE THAT YOU DON'T SEE IT WILL DAMAGE YOUR REPUTATION AND PEOPLE WILL NO LONGER HOLD YOU IN ESTEEM AND WILL TALK ABOUT YOU AND TELL EVERYONE THAT YOU TRIED THAT DIRTY STUNT?  OK, KEEP BELIEVING IT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY FIND OUT YOUR LITTLE PLOT.  IT WON'T BE PRETTY!!!

In closing, I wish to share a quote by  The Honorable Marcus Garvey which I think sums up my rant;

"The ends you serve that are selfish will take you no further than yourself; but the ends you serve that are for all, in common, will take you even into eternity." 

Philosophy & Opinions of Marcus Garvey