OPINION:
Black History Month was a missed opportunity to focus on the efforts of groups and individuals capable of redirecting the current social narratives that are crippling our culture. It reminds me of the ’70s R&B song “Side Show” and how easily we are distracted from doing what is necessary. The song directs people to ignore the main events and enjoy the secondary events (the sideshow). So far this year was much the same as 2021: You see the main events (issues) of intercultural violence, education, crime and health being ignored while side shows such as embracing addictions to food, gambling, drugs and alcohol are normalized.
Missing last month were demonstrations of courage from more African Americans (public officials, celebrities, entertainers and athletes) to change the social narrative.
Martin Luther King Jr. demonstrated courage as necessary to speak out against social and cultural norms. He would never embrace the use of the N-word in normal conversation. Harriet Tubman could have stopped every time she reached Canada with slaves but she had the courage to go back to help others. Recently the mayor of New York called out African American music producers for creating and distributing violent based lyrics influencing our Black youth. We need more leaders like these.
We should be matching the issues to partnerships with our most influential African American individuals and groups. Let’s use public-figure influence to establish national reading, fitness, health and anti-crime campaigns and programs for youth.
These celebrations should be about the best and the brightest efforts, not about side shows. If a senior citizen tells me they are in more fear of being targeted by Black youth criminals than the Ku Klux Klan, why are we celebrating?
GREG RALEIGH
Washington
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