TGR: FOR THE RECORD: The Mission of www.BMORENEWS.com
The question of a black agenda
By Doni Glover, Publisher
www.bmorenews.com
(BALTIMORE – March 25, 2009) – For the past seven years, BMORENEWS.com has worked arduously to attempt to represent the voice of the people. What people? Black people, people of color, African Americans, Negroes – whatever you want to call ‘em. Or, I should say “us”.
Maybe Soledad has a response to this lingering, if not evasive issue.
Given the historical precedence of the people of a darker hue in this nation, I will not go into why it is important to give voice to this population, nor why I, as a journalist, strive so fervently to ensure that this voice is heard.
What I will do, instead, is layout our agenda, i.e. the things that I, in 15 years as a professional, have come to deem significant to this otherwise terribly important group of people. Despite the dehumanization that has occurred in our tenure in North America, this is not about being a victim. Au contraire! This is ultimately about laying-out the challenges and some critical solutions to these challenges. Truly, we are a people in need of repair.
Hence, our 5-point agenda – for the record – includes black business, public education, ex-offender services, affordable housing, and universal access to healthcare.
In no way will I attempt to convince you, the reader, as to why this 5-point plan is critical. I do think it is, however, a beginning to an even broader discussion so as to better discuss the challenges – and the solutions – for Black America's impending development.
In short, I believe that by supporting black business – and not just MBE’s, but all black businesses, including the barber, the cosmetologist, the funeral director and the “ma and pa” shop owner – we are, in fact, supporting ourselves. Black businesses tend to hire black people at a greater rate than anybody else. Black business owners tend to understand the fervent needs of fellow blacks and tend to be more likely to make employment conducive. Secondly, between Baltimore and Washington, DC – blacks tend to garner an estimated $45 billion in annual disposable income. Yes, I think that this great consumer group – a top supporter and purchaser of everything from Mercedes automobiles to Hennessy to every holiday in the book, including St. Patrick’s Day – is more than capable of supporting any and every black business that offers a decent and respectable product or service.
Number two: Public education. Being based in Baltimore City, I can honestly say that I have found it easier for black men to go to jail than college. Drug dealers are offering the ill-informed opportunities to sell drugs and waste their lives like never before. Further, 44% of America’s prison population is comprised solely of black men. At the same time, black people makeup some 15% of the population (Some say 12%, but I figure a lot of blacks do not fill out the Census and so, that number is skewed). In Baltimore, 6 to 7 out of every 10 young black men do not graduate from school. In Prince George’s County, our neighbor to the south which is the richest area for blacks in the country thanks to Marion Barry, there is a 44% drop out rate (according to former Congressional candidate George Mitchell). To me, and I don’t know about you, something is fundamentally wrong with this picture.
That is why ex-offenders are a part of our overall mission. We seek to highlight entities, including the one started by Brother Ellsworth Bey called the Fraternal Order of Ex-Offenders (www.foxo.org). Having visited Baltimore’s Central Booking, I have found it troubling to see so many black men in jail because they do not have a paid lawyer and have not found a way to pay otherwise miniscule bails. As a result, the issue of institutionalization is way too pervasive in the black community, let alone the other resulting issues, including rape, child molestation, and the pervasive attitude of 'getting-over'. Getting readjusted or reacclimated or, my favorite, rehabilitated after release, is way too complicated. And getting a job after a stint in prison – well, that’s damn near impossible. Therefore, the recidivism rate is just off the charts. Too many people are hopeless. It definitely is an issue that deserves our full attention. Why? These are our brothers, fathers, uncles, sons and cousins. While they ought to be head-of-households, they are too often castigated as unwanted burdens. One immediate result is a broken, if not fractured, black family structure.
Finally, getting a decent place to live at an affordable price – and going to see a respectable doctor upon request – especially given that blacks have a montage of health-related issues, many of which are critical (HIV/AIDS, diabetes, obesity, heart disease, asthma, lead poisoning) – is too damn difficult.
Maybe you agree. Maybe you don’t. At least, however, this is a start to the broader discussion in question.
Send your comments/questions. We will gladly post/answer them.
’Til next time, thanks for visiting www.bmorenews.com, the news before the news where we uncover the truth!
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