See the book Black Leaders of the Twentieth Century. It outlines examples set by black leaders and leadership in the past. A movement, that is going to bring about REAL change needs leaders who are studied in world history in general and Black history in the U.S and throughout the world, in particular. World history teaches us at that the most basic level, it is really is about conflict between the haves and have nots. When a society makes promises that it fails to follow through on; if it ceases to distribute resources and justice equally, equitably or fairly, the people, as independent free thinkers with God given rights, then feel justified to TAKE IT. When the have-nots have had enough, they take it to the streets. If revolution is the answer, then as in all conflicts that have occurred the world over, the victor DESTROYS and/or TAKES the wealth and property, as “booty” of those defeated.
In Black history in the U.S. there were two primary ideologies early in our history for how Black people would exist in U.S.: INTEGRATION vs. SEPARATION (have our own land and government) From where we stand today, integration was the obvious the choice. There were two primary strategies for how to bring about change: The Civil Rights Movement (Peaceful Protest/ Non-Violent Disobedience; Civil Rights Leaders) and the Black Power (Overthrow the government/Revolution, e.g. the Black Panther Party, although they started out protecting Black people against police brutality). Since the revolutionaries were killed off and incarcerated, unless we are prepared for a whole lot of blood shed—that is people are willing to die ((and not because they are hopeless and have nothing else to do) then revolution might not be the answer. Because the HAVES are not going to give it up easily.
It is also important to know something of the history and origins of policing in the U.S. as well. The origins of policing started with policing minorities; Night Watchers (Boston, New York, Philadelphia, etc.)—to police Native Americans and Slave patrols in the South made up of white volunteers to enforce slave laws; to crush uprisings, catch runaways, and punish those who violated slave laws; essentially to help wealthy landowners recover and punish enslaved Blacks who essentially were considered property. Even some prisons in the South started as convict labor camps to incarcerate Black for any reason and put them back to work in prison slavery.
The Book, Black Leaders of the Twentieth Century. outlines strategies and tactics that Black leaders of the past used to get us to where we are today. See specifically the strategies and tactics used by A. Phillip Randolph, who staged a March on Washington in 1941, before the March on Washington in 1963. A non-violent peaceful movement might be national, perhaps with chapters; it needs to be a well-organized machine, with trained leaders and protesters; it has to have tactics and strategies, as well as a list of REALISTIC demands to be put before the Federal Government; and local and state governments by local chapters. Unless there is some organized strategy, protesters, protest, and then go home until the next person is killed.
Although the Peaceful Non-Violent Protest of the 1960s, bought about some changes, we are still dealing with the same issue of police brutality (cell phones and social media is just bringing it to light); and blacks are still disproportionately on the bottom in every arena of life. This is why Black Americans are frustrated. In the words of Fannie Lou Hamer, “We are sick and tired of being sick and tired,” of our men and children being killed on the streets of America. The thing we do know is that one of the best strategies to get people to listen is hit them where it hurts most; their pockets. However, it has to be done in an organized manner. A lot of shops in Black communities are small business, many of which are Black owned. Think about it like this: If you burn down the local grocery store, then where are you going to buy food, since most of us do not grow it. And many of our communities are already neglected and in horrible conditions.
People know that there is something terribly wrong, when economic disparities are so wide; when they are surrounded by so much wealth, and they cannot even feed their families and and the wealth is their face every day, all day. In light of COVID 19, it was predictable (see link where we predicted that there would be riots) that there would be riots. The Federal government attempted to prevent it by giving the stimulus check. However, you cannot help some people and not have a well thought out plan and mechanism in place to help those most in need—the self-employed and the unemployed (those not in the unemployment records) . All we needed was something to tip it off, and the murder of George Floyd (& Ahmaud Arbery & Breonna Taylor) did just that.
Since the peaceful non-violent approach has not work; at least on some levels; perhaps there is a need for new strategies and tactics. Whatever it is, it needs to be well organized.
SEE THE LINKS BELOW
Policing Origins & History
https://plsonline.eku.edu/insidelook/history-policing-united-states-part-1
https://plsonline.eku.edu/insidelook/brief-history-slavery-and-origins-american-policing
COVID 19—Where we discussed that the COVID 19 could lead to riots
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