During the past week, Denise Tyler, executive director of the National Policy Alliance, held a meeting in Washington, D.C., during the Congressional Black Caucus. Johnny Ford, longtime mayor of Tuskegee, Ala., served as moderator of the meeting and shared many words of wisdom.
The packed house included many attendees with valuable information to share. Ms. Tyler did a masterful job selecting speakers. Among the distinguished presenters were Rev. Bernice King (daughter of Dr. Martin Luther and Coretta Scott King); Rev. Jamal Bryant, pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Georgia; members of the powerful Blacks in Government; and numerous other brilliant speakers addressing a variety of interests for mayors, local/county officials, heads of various organizations, and business owners.
Tony Wilson, known as “Young James Brown,” performed a new song he, George, and Angelyn Gordon recently created in honor of Vice President Kamala Harris. Mr. Antoine Thomas led an outstanding discussion on housing. Darryl Barnes, chair emeritus of the Maryland Legislative Black Caucus, spoke on government resources in various areas. Another speaker offered this advice: “There are three things that always matter in what we do: Collaboration, collaboration, collaboration! No one man or woman can do everything alone in our community, but together we can make a difference.”
Among the resolutions coming from the conference were:
– A resolution urging Congress to pass a bill honoring Rosa Parks with a federal holiday, noting that she is highly worthy and there’s currently no federal holiday honoring a woman of any race.
– A resolution in support of Black farmers, Black contractors, and playgrounds for children in our communities.
– A resolution in support of clean energy, including building charging stations in our communities to encourage more electric cars.
– A resolution that encourages greater homeownership by assisting people in readiness for homeownership.
– A resolution to develop a plan and strategy to address community needs.
It was noted that while we currently have many plans, there is little action. We must remember there has to be a leader, and we must coalesce around somebody. We were encouraged to create a blueprint to present to the White House with our issues. It was decided that this blueprint must include affordable and available housing, passage of the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, and the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. We agreed to support the resolutions and bills because if we don’t drive the agenda for our communities, others surely will.
Mayor Johnny Ford urged attendees to support the resolutions passed at the conference, saying, “All that we said means nothing if we don’t do the work.” Attendees left the conference pledging to do the work and were urged to remember that it is time for us to stop financing the dreams of others while leaving ourselves out. What we do must be based on strength — not just passion — through collaboration and coordination.
One immediate part of the work is being registered to vote and then voting for candidates who’ve made it clear they will do their part to work for our betterment. Pastor Jamal Bryant added that this would include those pledging to vote for what is beneficial to the least of God’s people. He also reminded us of our obligation to be concerned about what is going on in Sudan, the Congo, Haiti and other places on the African continent. Remember these subjects as we vote. Vote early, and at the latest, vote on November 5.
Williams is president of The Dick Gregory Society (www.thedickgregorysociety.org).