Our own Deliverance

 

To the Brothers and Sisters around this country,

Hello, my name is Kevin Thomas Johnson, and I open this letter with a quote from Kristin Hunter a columnist for “O Magazine.” She says, “First it is necessary to stand on your own two feet. But the minute a man finds himself in that position, the next thing he should do is reach out his arms.” Let me begin by saying that I am the most ordinary of the ordinary. I don’t even have a My Space or a Facebook account. I am not wealthy nor am I of what could be considered a part of the intellectual community. I am simply a father and a husband. I write to you because as Jean Nidetch had said, “It’s choice-not chance-that determines your destiny.” I made choices both good and bad that have allowed me to be in my current position in life. Too many of us who are of African descent by chance have not been so privilege. I am writing to you because like Coo Coo Cal said, “I am tired of being sick and tired.” The reasons are many for why we are in this position, but there is only one way in which we can get out of it, and that’s together.

The Ghetto is not a locality, but a mentality. History has shown us that no government program or an arbitrary amount of money can change that simple truth. The only way in which to move beyond our present predicament is to get off the treadmill to nowhere; instead we must go outside and run towards an actual destination. This shift will require us to reprogram our programming. There is a need for us to stop living up to society’s low expectations. This will take reprioritizing of our priorities from the short sighted desire to escape the Ghetto, towards rebuilding strong and self sufficient communities here as well as around the world. The Chinese have a saying, “that wealth only last three generations.” In America for those of us who are of African descent it usually lasts about one. We as a community suffer the most from class decline, where subsequent generations actually become poorer. This occurs because of an economic infrastructure that cannot independently support a middleclass without the help of a large and well paying outside company or government agency.

Marcus Garvey once said, “God and Nature made us first what we are, and then out of our own created genius we make ourselves what we want to be. Follow always that great law. Let the sky and God be our limit and Eternity our measurement.” It is beyond my writing capability to conceptualize any better of the need for us to come together and create this reality for all of us. No organization, charismatic leader or movement spurred on by emotions derived from an event can sustain such a paradigm switch. It can only happen if we as a community empower ourselves to take on this responsibility for ourselves. This will teach our children through deeds not by words the line Jesse Jackson made famous, “I am somebody.” I am asking for your support by contacting me at ourowndeliverance@hotmail.com.

I would appreciate if you either forward this call to action to someone else, write me helpful suggestions, or by volunteering some particular skill that you may have.

These are no longer the times for marches, rallies, TV interviews, or any other activist activity. Now is the time for work in a well concerted and organized effort. Momentary freedom is a fool’s platitude. A well organized and sustained movement is the first step in creating an enduring and strong nation. With no money, infrastructure, or connections I cannot possibly do this alone. My only possession that I have is the belief that every father and mother should be able to look upon their sleeping children secure with the knowledge that they will be alright. Those beautiful brown babies that they look upon will grow up in a world where their skin color will be neither a help nor a hindrance. That being from a two parent household is the norm not the exception. Greatness’ can never be found in reflection, but in the progression of continued struggle. I ask you to enlist in the greatest struggle of all, the struggle for the totality of all our people not to struggle any more. In doing this we will create a new reality for our children’s children.

by Kevin Thomas Johnson
Contributing Writer