Читать книгу Still Invisible? - Elvin J. Dowling - Страница 10

Martin Luther King, Jr., once prophetically declared: "In the end, we will not remember the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." Today, in the age of extreme racism, with vicious screeds of "go back to where you come from" emanating even from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, open discrimination and bold faced bigotry, the time has come for men, women and children of goodwill to stand up, speak out and be heard. Arm yourselves with the truth and give yourselves permission to empathize with the black male experience.

When you consider the debt that is owed by you, and can never be repaid, as you begin this journey of enlightenment and understanding, it is important to remember that what makes the "promise of America" an idea whose time has come, is that each of her citizens are "endowed with certain inalienable rights" that must never--ever--be abridged! So until the tenet of total inclusion is realized by all Americans, the fight for freedom will continue.

If America is ever to be "America" again, the time has come for those who love this land to pause, if only but for a moment, to acknowledge the extraordinary challenges that come along with being born a Black male in this country. Along with that blessing comes the burden of constantly being on the run from vigilantes who have questions and authorities who demand answers for doing what others do: going about your everyday existence. Nonetheless, you must run the race that is set before you, while never giving up on the promise of a brighter future.

Famed Abolitionist, Harriet Tubman, once said: “If you hear the dogs, keep going. If you see the torches in the woods, keep going. If there's shouting after you, keep going. Don't ever stop. Keep going. If you want a taste of freedom, keep going.” There are many reasons, as a Black male in today's America, for them to simply give up and quit on themselves. And there are plenty of reasons for everybody else to give up on Black males. But life in America would not be the same without the demonstrable contributions of African-American males. And America must never forget it.

So, it is in this vain, with the hope of reigniting a dialogue that can no longer be ignored, I ask you to consider one critical question...