An Editorial
Not Just a Paycheck
“Power properly understood is nothing but the ability to achieve purpose. It is the strength required to bring about social, political and economic change,” said Martin Luther King Jr.
Though it seems most people are unaware of any words King said other than “I have a dream,” during his short lifetime King published several books and gave dozens of speeches in which he directly linked the Civil Rights Movement with economic advancement for Black Americans, a concept known as “financial justice” or “economic justice.”
In fact, at the time he was assassinated on April 4, 1968, King was in Memphis to support the local Black sanitation workers’ strike, demanding better pay and working conditions. Workers marching in the strike carried signs declaring “I Am a Man,” asserting their dignity, their worth, and their entitlement to the same level of prosperity that was enjoyed by their white counterparts.
King and the sanitation workers understood that civil rights and economic justice were one and the same thing, and they used that knowledge as power to effect real change.
The world is a very different place today than it was in 1968, and the opportunities for economic growth available to Black people in America today would have been inconceivable to past generations.
Today, the Civil Rights battle means not just fighting for the right to eat at the lunch counter, but for the opportunity to own the café.
The fight has changed, and our leaders’ tactics and goals need to change accordingly. We need to continue to work for civil rights, but we also need to work toward building wealth within the Black community.
It is not enough to yell and squabble and protest against what we don’t want; we must advocate to obtain the things we do want. We want good jobs that provide a living wage, so that we can take care of our families. We want safe, decent, sanitary, affordable housing. We want to build the kind of wealth in Northeast Oklahoma City that can sustain public services, provide quality public education for our children, and support the entrepreneurs that open and operate their businesses here.
We must have a seat at the table in government, yes, but the person who occupies that seat must be able to negotiate and work with the powers that be in order to get results. We need someone to not only defend the Black community from harm, but to advocate for quality-of-life improvements on our behalf.
Northeast Oklahoma City is now presented with the opportunity to identify and elect new leadership to serve the next generation.
It is our understanding that after ten years of service in the Oklahoma Legislature, State Sen. George Young (Dem., Oklahoma City) will retire from his position in November. We at The Black Chronicle wish him well in his future endeavors.
State Sen. Young’s departure may lead to an opening on the Oklahoma City Council, as Ward 7 Councilwoman Nikki Nice is reportedly considering a run for Young’s seat in the legislature.
This is a wonderful opportunity for anyone who thinks they can be of help to step up and enter the political arena. We need a slate of candidates to come forward for both open seats and present their ideas and policies for how best to position our community for the future.
We realize there are different factions within the Northeast Oklahoma City community, but it is high time for us to put aside petty squabbles and mean-spirited attacks. We as a people simply don’t have enough resources to waste time and energy on negativity.
We also don’t need anyone running to represent the Black community who is just seeking a government paycheck and a public platform to suit their own vanity. We need leaders to guide the way toward a better future.
Here’s how Martin Luther King put it:
“Every society has its protectors of status quo and its fraternities of the indifferent who are notorious for sleeping through revolutions. Today, our very survival depends on our ability to stay awake, to adjust to new ideas, to remain vigilant and to face the challenge of change.”
We hope to see a number of political newcomers come forward to challenge both seats, looking to insert new thoughts and energy into the discussion – not just looking to collect a paycheck.
