By Dr. Ron Daniels 

President of the Institute of the Black World 21st Century 

Emanating from the call to Black Power, the Black consciousness movement spawned an incredible array of movements, associations, organizations and caucuses within majority organizations and institutions—the Black arts and culture movement; Black education movement which included the Black studies movement in higher education and independent education movement in elementary, secondary and higher education.

Also, (there was) the creation of parallel professional organizations like the African Heritage Studies Association,  National Conference of Black Lawyers, National Black Police Association, National Black Officers in Law Enforcement, National Black Associations of  Black Social Workers, Sociologists, Psychologists, Psychiatrists, Nurses, Architects, Engineers; National Conference of Black Mayors, National Conference of Black State Legislators, and of course the Congressional Black Caucus. Federal government workers formed Blacks in Government (BIG). And, virtually every predominantly White Church/faith denomination had a Black Caucus. Indeed, Black caucuses within predominantly White institutions became the order of the day.

  What they had in common was a determination to root out racism as a deterrent to Black progress in their respective areas or institutions and a passion to pursue strategies utilizing group awareness, culture and pride as a basis for demanding improvement in the quality of life for Black people. 

That focus is missing today. While most of these organizations are still on the case fighting for Black people, the fire, passion and militancy have been muted. 

  Perhaps it was inevitable that the power of Black consciousness would be diluted by popular culture and its vital élan sapped by the successes it produced for a sizeable minority of Black people. In addition, the idea of Blacks preserving a distinct community came under withering attack as “separatist” and un-American by the forces of reaction on the right. 

Concepts like minority, people of color and diversity gained greater popularity because they appeared to be more inclusive and palatable.  And, under the leadership of Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, organizations like the NAACP even considered broadening their membership and concerns to include all people of color. Indeed, this troubling notion has been revived by Benjamin Todd Jealous, the current President/CEO of the NAACP.

  Let me be clear that there is nothing wrong with people of African descent identifying with the oppression of other people and joining in coalitions and alliances to promote social justice and social change. At a personal level, I could not have served as Executive Director of the National Rainbow Coalition, Deputy Campaign Manager for Rev. Jesse Jackson’s 1988 presidential campaign or Executive Director of the Center for Constitutional Rights if I did not believe in building coalitions with other oppressed people and people of goodwill.

Wanna Read The Entire Story??? Well Call Us Today and Subscribe to the New Journal and Guide, 757-543-6531.