|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
 Askia At-Large
Askia Muhammad
Columnist Page
Friday, March 4, 2005; Page 21
State of the Black Union 2005
Tavis Smiley probably thinks he really could become President of the United States one day. That’s probably part of why he works so hard, putting dots on all his “i’s” and crossing all his “t’s”, clearly articulating all his “ing” endings. He is a brilliant and gifted interviewer and conversationalist.
In the pulpit of a 25,000-member Black Baptist “mega-church” near Atlanta, Tavis complained that had he been invited to the White House by President George W. Bush, there would be no embarrassing questions about what went on, but alas, he gets no invitations. Minister Louis Farrakhan, one of three dozen distinguished Black thinkers, religious leaders, labor leaders, elected officials including Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), Dr. Cornell West, civil rights leader Rev. Dr. Joseph Lowery, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rev. Al Sharpton and Dr. Michael Eric Dyson among them declared that Tavis need not worry.
As sure as he was able–for the sixth consecutive year–to draw the elite Black minds together, that guarantees that Tavis Smiley is certainly a future force to be reckoned with in Black America. Min. Farrakhan and the others were there in suburban Lithonia, Ga. to participate in three public discussions to consider what might appear in a definitive “African American Agenda,” a “contract,” a “covenant,” which could be used to hold politicians and others seeking Black support, accountable.
“The next time you come calling on our vote, you come correct on the contract or you don't come at all,” Mr. Smiley declared at the first afternoon panel, held at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, a so-called “mega-church” in suburban Atlanta.
The ironic thing about Mr. Smiley’s bold omission from White House invitation lists is that the meeting was held in the spank-brand-new church home of a Black pastor who was at the center of a storm after he attended a session Mr. Bush hosted for conservative Black clergy members.
The grounds of New Birth are an architectural marvel. It is a modern entertainment arena, adapted instead into a sanctuary for the worship of God. In addition, the church grounds boast a modern Family Life Center as well as a parking lot, which can accommodate thousands of cars and dozens of buses.
But New Birth’s pastor, Bishop Eddie Long, who has supported banning gay marriage, was the subject of criticism right there in his own church. Several speakers, including the Rev. Jackson, took aim at the White House visit.
Bishop Long responded good-naturedly, saying he thought it was important that Black religious leaders gain access to powerful circles. “Just because we went to the house,” he said, “does not mean we had intercourse.” The audience of 5,000 roared its approval.
Earlier, in a private meeting, Bishop Long held hands with Min. Farrakhan–whom he met for the first time that day–and the men prayed together. Bishop Long said he hoped that the time would end when Black leaders have to “meet each other through the media” instead of working together, face to face.
Min. Farrakhan’s appearance at the event was eventful within itself. Mr. Smiley’s annual “State of the Black Union” forum takes place in late February, when the Muslim leader is normally preparing for the Nation of Islam’s annual “Saviour’s Day” observance in Chicago. The times ahead are critical however, Min. Farrakhan explained, and he decided to attend and to deliver an important message.
“If they are so afraid of ‘weapons of mass destruction,’” the Muslim leader said, “my teacher, the Honorable Elijah Muhammad said: ‘Our unity is more powerful than an atomic or hydrogen bomb.’ That’s the one thing we have never tried.
“We’ve kneeled-in, crawled-in, prayed-in, lied-in, slept-in, but still, we’re out. If you want to get what you want, we’ve got to start with a contract, with us. A contract, a covenant, with us. We in leadership make a covenant with your people that we will never sell them out,” said Min. Farrakhan.
“That’s what we’re talking about, brother Farrakhan,” agreed Dr. West. That ground-up, brother to brother to sister bonding, in the leadership ranks as well as the rank-and-file may account for a “paradigm shift,” meaning that every fundamental rule of Black politics and power has changed. At least that’s how Dr. West saw it.
“There has been a paradigm shift,” the professor of Religion at Princeton University declared. The fundamental shift in the framework of Black Power in U.S. affairs–in world affairs–is because many in the leadership have shifted from “parochial” individual “ambition,” focusing instead on “addressing the problems of our people,” Dr. West said.
In a few words, that describes the “paradigm shift.”
Now, we’ve tried everything else. Maybe now if we try uniting the progressive Black leadership–symbolized by Min. Farrakhan and Dr. West, for example–with the conservative, church-based leadership symbolized by Bishop Long; maybe then, we as a people can start taking some giant steps. |
|
|
|