“Black is Back” on Nov. 7: D.C. Rally and March on White House | Black Agenda Report

“Black is Back” on Nov. 7: D.C. Rally and March on White House

Glen Ford, BAR executive editor

22 Sep 2009

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A Black Agenda Radio commentary by Glen Ford

Click the flash player to listen to or the mic below to download the MP3 audio of this commentary.

The “period of passivity in Black politics” that accompanied the ascent of Barack Obama, is about to end. The Black is Back Coalition seeks to reignite a Black-led movement for social justice, peace and reparations – which will in turn energize progressive politics in general. See you in DC on November 7.

“Black is Back” on Nov. 7: D.C. Rally and March on White House

A Black Agenda Radio commentary by Glen Ford

“We will confront the forces of war, of neo-colonialism, of the rule of bankers and the crime of mass Black incarceration.”

The time has come to bring independent Black politics back to the forefront – to reignite and refocus the debate over the burning issues of the day. Nine months of the Obama presidency has taught us that a Black presence in the White House does not necessarily give voice to critical issues facing African Americans. Instead, Black concerns have been shunted to the side, treated as distractions, derided or ignored, by this president, even as the Black condition in the U.S. and the world steadily deteriorates.

When militant, politically conscious Black people fail to Speak Truth to Power, Power feels comfortable in pretending that somebody else's version of the truth is more compelling. When Black people make no demands, but instead defer to a Black president, then that same president will inevitably respond to other people's demands.

That's why a coalition of Black organizations and individuals is determined that the period of silence and deference and damn-near invisibility for Black people is over. Black is Back, and Truth will be spoken on November 7^th at a rally in Washington, DC's Malcolm X Park, followed by a march down 16^th Street to the White House, where Power resides.

“African Americans have invested more energy in circling the wagons around one man, than in defending the interests of Black people and humanity at-large.”

The Black is Back Coalition for Social Justice, Peace and Reparations was formed on September 12^th by activists from a wide range of organizations who believe that a Black-led movement is absolutely necessary to halt the destruction wrought by the predatory rich, the incorrigibly racist, and a world-threatening military. The Black is Back Coalition understands where the vital center of gravity for progressive politics in the United States is located: among African Americans, who have always stood for social and economic justice, and against U.S. military adventures abroad. That Black voice is coming back, beginning on November 7^th in Washington, DC, when we will confront the forces of war, of neo-colonialism, of the rule of bankers and the crime of mass Black incarceration.

When Black is Back, all of progressive politics is energized, educated and strengthened for the common struggle to save humanity. Since the ascent of Barack Obama, African Americans have invested more energy in circling the wagons around one man, than in defending the interests of Black people and humanity at-large. This period of passivity in Black politics ends on November 7

in Washington, DC.

Write to me for more information on the Black is Back Coalition for Social Justice, Peace and Reparations. I'll put you in touch with spokespersons Chioma Oruh, Rosa Clemente, and Jared Ball. When Black is Back, the movement gets rollin'.

For Black Agenda Radio, I'm Glen Ford. On the web, go to www.BlackAgendaReport.com.

BAR executive editor Glen Ford can be contacted at Glen.Ford@BlackAgendaReport.com.

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