To African American Leaders
From a Black American

I’ve never been to Africa, no one in my family, that I know of, has been to Africa. Aside of a few visits outside the United States on military duty, I’ve never called any other place home except America. So why, for heavens sake, should I call myself an African American?

Let me explain my descent to this African American cause and to those who insist that there is viable reason why I think the idea of black Americans calling themselves African Americans is in no way a part of the ‘Dream’ for all Americans.

My great, great, great grandfather was a slave, as were his parents. As to what time during America’s history, my family came into the country, is uncertain. But, let’s say, for the sake of argument and to the point of this letter, that my family was among the twenty sold in Jamestown in 1619 and lived their lives in slavery until the end of the civil war in December of 1865. Undoubtedly, that would give my family 246 years on American soil, more importantly, 246 years off African soil.

So possibly from 1619 until 1961, the year I was born, my family would have been on American soil for 342 years, and according to current U.S. law would be considered an American citizen. So, any reasonable person would understand why I’m having a hard time calling myself an African. But, what if, again for the sake of argument, my great, great, great grandfather was among the last African slaves to arrive on American soil just before the end of the civil war in 1865. That would mean from 1865 to 1961, my family would have had 96 years in America. Obviously not as long as those who arrived in Jamestown in 1619, but still nearly a hundred years of residency in America, which again qualifies me for citizenship. In fact, the first child born to an African slave would, by today’s laws, be considered an American citizen. So, after several generations of this process, without ever stepping foot on African soil again, which would be the country to which that individual should be considered a citizen of?

I don’t really understand the reasoning behind the African American leaders switching, yet again, to another title by which blacks should be addressed. The ethnic designation, or official titles of the black Americans in this country, has gone from African slave, to n*****, to colored, to negro (which technically is the same as black just in a different language), to black (in English), to n***a, to African American.

A title well traveled and altered.

The African American title is presumed to give us a base of where we come from, a connection to the motherland, to Africa. Apparently, however, the term white American is all right for white America, but the African American leaders have decided that black Americans can no longer be identified by a color, but need something more grandiose. I suppose being known as something outside of an American gives us more sense of who we are. I can only guess that this was the African American leaders’ way of thinking. But, unless there was a call to go back to Africa at some point, the logic of black Americans switching to African Americans, escapes me. Besides, changing my homeland is even less desirable than changing my title.

At any rate…

I begin to take into account all of those who lived and died in this country as slaves over the many years, and wonder whether their suffered lives were for nothing. I wonder about those who lived and died for the right just to live in peace and freedom, or those who lived and died just for the right to be considered Americans, whether what they lived and died for was for nothing. Please, don’t tell me that all the tribulations my ancestors went through, were for nothing. And, just when the deaths of those who died in this struggle was beginning to pay off, don’t tell me that 342 years of living, working and dying in this country was all for the objective of separating ourselves from the only home and people we have ever known.

Our beginnings in America, we, the black Americans, is one of conquered people, but to look at where we are now as opposed to where we came from, one would have to say we have dawned into a great people. I, of course, give thanks to all those who came before me, for without their sacrifices I would not be here today. But, how could I give thanks to the black Americans who endured those times without giving equal praise and thanks to those of white Americans, a great many of whom, nearly a million to be exact, gave their lives during 1861 thru 1865 so that black society could become black Americans. I have heard the arguments that those who died during the civil war didn’t die for black America, yet here I sit because of their sacrifice. It is impossible to count the sacrifice of one without the counting those of the other, in fact it is just plain wrong.

I think Martin Luther King Jr. said it best…

…there is something I must say to my people, who stand on the warm threshold that leads into to the palace of justice: In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers are, as evidence by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. And they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.

Martin Luther King Jr. August 28, 1963

Such powerful words from a man who has earned, and most surely deserves his place in history.

After the death of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968, in my opinion, black America has been without a leader capable of picking up where he left off. I regret to say that I was denied the honor of ever meeting the man, so I had to get to know him through his words. I was around seven years old when he died and can vaguely remember the sadness of the time. America was suffering a great much during the 60’s, with the death of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Francis Kennedy. The pain of those tragedies brought about such confusion and fear in our society that those who had to live through it, have yet to recover. But, that is another topic for another day.

The words of Martin Luther King Jr. influenced my life in such a way that as I listened to those who attempted to pick up the baton and continue with his vision, I became confused. Their words, unlike the King, seemed different. Even in the early days of Martin Luther Kings Jr.’s death, the new leaders attempted to revive the spirit of black America’s most noticeable leader and nation altering movement, but something had changed. What had been a movement of hope and promise for all Americans, quickly became a movement similar to George Orwell’s Animal Farm. The oppressed new leaders spoke of change, but their method of getting to the end of the rainbow altered in words and actions. What use to be heartfelt words that touched the soul of all who heard them became sound bites and rhymes designed for children. Actions began to focus on irrelevant issues and misguided causes. What black Americans had once considered malicious thinking and behavior, became the new philosophy and deeds.

To this day, I’m still trying to figure out what happened to Martin Luther King’s idea of an American Dream. It was one of unity for all, where blacks and whites worked together and not against one another.

When I hear young blacks speak of how white America is still the racist people of old, I smile, because there hasn’t been a black lynched from a tree for quite some time.

Now, I’m no fool, I know that racism is an issue in the American society, but that will never change, not ever. Even if racism is one day obliterated, mankind will always find other ism’s with which to focus their attention, and only the blissfully unaware would think otherwise.

Here is my point, the African American leaders have failed black America. Yet black America has prospered in spite of a lack of clear African American leadership. Not to say that black America has been without leaders, because their have been many black leaders who have guided black America since the death of Martin Luther King Jr. The black leaders of today are working hard every day on their jobs, stepping up as leaders in their communities and telling those around them, not so much by words but by deeds, that opportunities are available for all who choose to go out and take advantage of them. The black leaders of today are opening businesses and running those businesses with their own sweat and determination. The black leaders of today have worked their way into government positions never before held by a black American. And in spite of their success, you African American leaders have failed to honor them, a fact that discourages me to know end. Nevertheless, these true leaders of black America strive on anyway, as all great leaders do.

Our African American leaders have become rich spreading their ‘blame America’ ideas. They’ve insisted that the problems plaguing black Americans can be solved by blaming everyone, everyone except the face glaring back in the mirror. Many of black America’s problems can be solved by looking inward, and I don’t mean to say all problems, but a great many.

I don’t want to change again, I don’t want others looking at me wondering if they should call me African American or black American. I have no plans to relocate to Africa. I just want to be an American who’s skin happens to be black. Insisting that we once again switch our identification to that of African American is a slap in the face to all those who sacrificed everything in order for America to look upon black Americans as a race who have contributed to the building of this country. Black Americans have been in this country since its beginning, we are a part of the big picture, and never should consider ourselves the whole of it. This country became great when it decided that free spirits and individual determination and individual responsibility would be the rule of law. We all play our part in securing America’s future for those who will come after us, but if the African American leaders keep telling those who listen to them that America has yet to except them, this not only hurts black Americans but America as a whole.

African American leaders, keep your African American titles for the new Americans who actually typify the title. Those who have recently immigrated to this country from the shores of Africa are true African Americans, not those who have resided in this country for decades.

As for me, allow me to “say it loud, I am a black American and proud!”