This is not a call-out of anyone. This is a call-to-arms for everyone.
I hear that there are looking for other participants in the Derrion Albert death in order to process more indictments and charges.
At this point, the authorities are targeting about 3 other people.
Truthfully, though, there are millions of them that need to be served.
Starting with me.
We have let down the Black community as leaders with our failed to maintain focus on what truly matters in our world. While we continue to chase relevant matters of the heart and mind, we have failed to achieve the most relevant matters of our souls – particularly, the souls of our communities. We have allowed the manifestation of rampant crime, inexplicable violence, and generational confusion to turn our gains from the Civil Rights Era to a fork in the road where a huge segment of us are detoured towards death.
It sickens me about as much as our communities are sick with the toxins of death and despair.
So, I feel compelled to start asking:
What are we going to do?
What are we going to do, Rev. Sharpton? When I told folks not to spend time protesting the New York Post in February (over the monkey cartoon), it wasn’t because I was tolerating their irresponsibility. I was afraid of this time right now – a point where we would continue to fight against racism at the highest levels of society and fail to adequately address the insanity of sorrows going on in our communities. Let’s do something now because before we can truly address the undercurrent of racism in America in 2009, we have to dry up the river of blood flowing in the Black communities at our own hands.
What are we going to do, President Jealous? I met you on Friday and I was impressed by your ability to see the patterns of history playing out in the current events of our times. It was made clear that we sit on opposite sides of the political fence, but we as Black men must find a way to immediately correct the dysfunction we face before the nobility of the NAACP’s 100 years becomes nothing but formality as we continue to bury more young people. As you said, all movements start with the young. Once we safe our young, then we can unite to address the lingering effects of racism in America with a unified force. At that point, how could we ever lose to racism again?
What are we going to do, Malcolm Thomas? My brother, I see you doing your thing with hundreds of children in the Pittsburgh area. I met you in the Hill District and together, we helped young Black teenage men become better students and responsible fathers. It’s not enough, Malcolm. As one of the smartest brothers that I know, it is time for you to take your message of love, wisdom, spirituality, and energy to Black America. For every Rev. Sharpton and Ben Jealous, we need a Malcolm Thomas as well. We need you now. I beg that you not shy away from your calling.
Wh
