The leaders of today’s protest are relatively unknown to the public. In fact, you see no transformational figures like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. coming out of the current protests. Why do you think that is and is it a good thing?
There are new faces on the horizon that have taken up the torch from the civil rights and black power eras. While many may not be known, they are found around the country. That there’s no transformational voice, like a Dr. King or Malcolm X, speaks to the fact that old guard may not have groomed enough voices to take certain spaces. As well, remember you had the Cointelpro program started by J. Edgar Hoover that stymied and spied upon the Black Power Movement and Civil Rights Movement, respectively. As such, the history of those times, along with the Big Brother machinery of today, may have many spooked to speak up, speak out, and continue to move the country toward true social justice. As a shameful example of being spooked or out of touch, if true, two prominent sororities (in the African American community) have asked their member not to wear their letters during any kind of protest. There was a time when African American sororities and fraternities were not only the vanguard, but were the main individuals and entities pushing for and creating social change in America. The luminary’s names ring out like a who’s who of royalty: Dr. Donald L. Hollowel (Kappa Alpha Psi), Dorothy Height (Delta Sigma Theta), Hosea Williams (Phi Beta Sigma), Septima Poinsette Clark (Alpha Kappa Alpha), Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (Alpha Phi Alpha) and Carter G. Woodson (Omega Psi Phi). While the organizations may fear that if a member loots they may be responsible for damages, what does this say for the forward movements of these organizations and the country as a whole? We cannot be afraid to speak truth to power. If our voices are silenced because of fear, or greed or wanting to be a part of the status quo — the community has lost and America is done — and those who remain silent will be next to have their human rights removed — yes, it’s that serious! (As a matter of self-disclosure, I am a member of Kappa Alpha Psi)
