In an attempt to stay connected to current events in America one relys on podcasts, online newspapers and blogs in order to consume sweet American awseomeness. This clip from the Rachael Maddow Show was thought provoking.
Sat in the UK watching this I was forced to become reminiscent for home and my deceased grandfather. My grandfather was somewhat of a groundbreaking individual. My grandfather was an Omega Man, he attended a Historically black Union University. He moved to Boston in the 1930's to attend Boston University graduate school. He was admitted to the school only to be told the quota for black students was full. Not to be deterred, he became the first black man to run a national chain grocery retail store where he employed Malcolm Little who later be known as, Malcolm X. He was the head of the Massachusetts NAACP and Urban League successively. While head of the NAACP he debated the Nation of Islam at Boston University, the religious groups representative was Malcolm X. Malcolm opened the debate by stating, "Mr. Cooper, you gave me one of my first jobs, I am going to take it easy on you."
My grandfather also was the first black man to run for Mayor of Boston Massachusetts as a Republican (This was in political protest of a oppressive, Democratic party in 1950's Boston). I remember being the only one in the family to have the honor of sitting in his chair in our livingroom. Seated in that chair I was surrounded by copies of the Crisis, Ebony, Jet Essance Magazines as welll as the prototypical aspiring middle class badge of honour, complete sets of the western cannon.
Listening to the grown folks talk I often overheard conversations involving multiple political groups including Congressional Black Caucus. When I was still very young, Senator Ed Brooke was the black senator from the Massachusetts Republican party. Political banter and critique played a major role in my childhood, actually being board to death hearint it was a clearer view into my childhood memories. Listen to “Forerunner: Edward Brooke, Black Power, and White Votes.” by historian, Dr. Jason Sokol. (Aired: 4-17-11) here
Currently in the UK, I question who among any political players at the Council level or seated in Paliment have the cultural, political and social skills to garner the over whelming support of black constituticancies. In class struck Britian is a politiation able to speak both to the middle class and working class (although no one claims the working class moniker any longer in ol' Blighty)? Specifically which Black politico's are able to connect to voters both ideologically and verbally. Do all black professionals the fear of apperaing uncooth in both general society and politics?
How does one speak to the folks in private and to the country in public? In what ways do politicians navigate political parties and use their standing in their local communities as leveraging votes or a political party as well as having the ability to push policy that is beneficial to their constituency economically and socially. This is a much more difficult course to navigate here in England than in America.
In The North East corridor of America identity politics used to revolve around race and ethnicity. Big cities split recources unevenly along lines of colour, ethnicity and religion. These lines crossed strata of class but ethnicity played a large role. In England is class the determing factor in politicial identity? Have the English bought into the idea that this is a classless society? We are all middle class, as we are in America, amen. Or as current events point out is there a Janus faced outlook in Blighty? Are divisions in society drawn between racial identity in multicultural Britian or does the spectre of class mark socitial divisions?
How does the black politition garner the public support wielded by the CBC or even President Obama? How does a politician acrew the support of a significant percentage of the electorate? To whom do they speak? What do they talk about and who do they talk to? More importantly what obstacles are before the democratic process here in England? A concerted effort to make the democratic process difficult for some exists in America. With the political clout that some blacks enjoy the ghosts of the apartheid past still roam the corridors of Washington DC.
Exercising ones rights of citizenship are paramount for any democracy. A legacy of both the tireless pursuit of civil rights as well as apathetic attitudes define the civil rights or voting rights struggle for black voters in America. From the civil rights movement Blacks in America were able to forge a political identity and gain leverage within the system. Like everything else that governs black identity in America the black political representative had to adopt what WEB Dubois dubbed a dual conciousness.
I believe my exposure and induction to the world of politics was special, but perhaps not unique. As my grandfather was active in civil discourse, England also has a legacy of black forefathers who have sacrificed for our current freedom and citizenship. I understood that dual conciousness is a requirement for maintaing sanity in the modern era. The Legacy of African survival in the west also required a secure sence of self rooted in admiration for the legacy of sacrifice of my fore fathers and mothers. This legacy pre-dates America's by centuries. Black presence in Britain has helped to establish institutions and shape the country we love today. It is time to celebrate ourselves, it is time to remember our black heroes from England. It is time to remember our grandfathers. It is time to fully celebrate our Pan-African roots, our Atlantic roots?
Sat in the UK watching this I was forced to become reminiscent for home and my deceased grandfather. My grandfather was somewhat of a groundbreaking individual. My grandfather was an Omega Man, he attended a Historically black Union University. He moved to Boston in the 1930's to attend Boston University graduate school. He was admitted to the school only to be told the quota for black students was full. Not to be deterred, he became the first black man to run a national chain grocery retail store where he employed Malcolm Little who later be known as, Malcolm X. He was the head of the Massachusetts NAACP and Urban League successively. While head of the NAACP he debated the Nation of Islam at Boston University, the religious groups representative was Malcolm X. Malcolm opened the debate by stating, "Mr. Cooper, you gave me one of my first jobs, I am going to take it easy on you."
My grandfather also was the first black man to run for Mayor of Boston Massachusetts as a Republican (This was in political protest of a oppressive, Democratic party in 1950's Boston). I remember being the only one in the family to have the honor of sitting in his chair in our livingroom. Seated in that chair I was surrounded by copies of the Crisis, Ebony, Jet Essance Magazines as welll as the prototypical aspiring middle class badge of honour, complete sets of the western cannon.
Listening to the grown folks talk I often overheard conversations involving multiple political groups including Congressional Black Caucus. When I was still very young, Senator Ed Brooke was the black senator from the Massachusetts Republican party. Political banter and critique played a major role in my childhood, actually being board to death hearint it was a clearer view into my childhood memories. Listen to “Forerunner: Edward Brooke, Black Power, and White Votes.” by historian, Dr. Jason Sokol. (Aired: 4-17-11) here
Senator Ed Brooke
How does one speak to the folks in private and to the country in public? In what ways do politicians navigate political parties and use their standing in their local communities as leveraging votes or a political party as well as having the ability to push policy that is beneficial to their constituency economically and socially. This is a much more difficult course to navigate here in England than in America.
In The North East corridor of America identity politics used to revolve around race and ethnicity. Big cities split recources unevenly along lines of colour, ethnicity and religion. These lines crossed strata of class but ethnicity played a large role. In England is class the determing factor in politicial identity? Have the English bought into the idea that this is a classless society? We are all middle class, as we are in America, amen. Or as current events point out is there a Janus faced outlook in Blighty? Are divisions in society drawn between racial identity in multicultural Britian or does the spectre of class mark socitial divisions?
How does the black politition garner the public support wielded by the CBC or even President Obama? How does a politician acrew the support of a significant percentage of the electorate? To whom do they speak? What do they talk about and who do they talk to? More importantly what obstacles are before the democratic process here in England? A concerted effort to make the democratic process difficult for some exists in America. With the political clout that some blacks enjoy the ghosts of the apartheid past still roam the corridors of Washington DC.
Exercising ones rights of citizenship are paramount for any democracy. A legacy of both the tireless pursuit of civil rights as well as apathetic attitudes define the civil rights or voting rights struggle for black voters in America. From the civil rights movement Blacks in America were able to forge a political identity and gain leverage within the system. Like everything else that governs black identity in America the black political representative had to adopt what WEB Dubois dubbed a dual conciousness.
WEB Dubois
I am well aware of the dual conciousness psyche required of black British political players. How can these players draw upon on England's civil rights struggles? Or does black England need its own Harlem Renaissance or Nigritude movement? There seems to be a need for self definition, and reckoning among blacks in England as well as greater Europe.
I believe my exposure and induction to the world of politics was special, but perhaps not unique. As my grandfather was active in civil discourse, England also has a legacy of black forefathers who have sacrificed for our current freedom and citizenship. I understood that dual conciousness is a requirement for maintaing sanity in the modern era. The Legacy of African survival in the west also required a secure sence of self rooted in admiration for the legacy of sacrifice of my fore fathers and mothers. This legacy pre-dates America's by centuries. Black presence in Britain has helped to establish institutions and shape the country we love today. It is time to celebrate ourselves, it is time to remember our black heroes from England. It is time to remember our grandfathers. It is time to fully celebrate our Pan-African roots, our Atlantic roots?
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