Politics : A Challenge For The Youth

BEDFORD, NH - JANUARY 25: Former Minnesota Go...

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A major part of the population in this world, do not prefer to play a role in active politics. The main reason for this type of response from the young generation is the number of problems that each one faces in their life when he enters into politics. In this world whenever there is a debate on politics, most of the youngsters often have a very bad opinion about this field whereas it’s the opposite.

Just like in any other business venture in this world even while entering into politics care should be taken so that we are prepared for all types of situations which life is going to offer to us. The onus of playing healthy politics entirely depends on the younger generation and that’s because it’s up to you that the whole community looks up to for making the changes which are good for the community.

Though we see many people talking negatively about politics and the ill effect it might have. But truly speaking, it is those people who don’t understand the very purpose of using politics and are often found to be in wrong place for taking the wrong decisions. Politics is a very cheap but a delicate game where you can end up being a winner or a looser. The important thing here isn’t the result but it is the effort which has been put and the effect it has among the people around which makes the difference.

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Charitable Organizations Dedicated to Advancing Black People

Black family at Construction SiteThe legacy of African-Americans through the efforts of people like Rosa Parks and Dr. Martin Luther King has brought improvement in the lives of black Americans. To keep the legacy going, many charitable organizations have made educating and empowering black people their focus. Here are some charity organizations dedicated to advancing black people.

  • Institute for Black Charities (IBC)

Also known as Black Charities for Children, Families and Communities, this non-profit organization founded in 1997 provides a broad range of services to African-Americans living in poor and underdeveloped communities. Services provided include emergency relief, funding to support community programs, educational workshops and public awareness campaigns. IBC currently has six affiliate chapters in Maryland, Washington DC, Virgina, Missouri, North Carolina and Texas.

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  • National Black United Federation of Charities (NBUFC)

For over 17 years the focus of the NBUFC has been to generate funds for education assistance, health, economic and social development of African American communities and African countries overseas. The NBUFC is comprised of 28 non-profit organizations some of which are, the Black Women in Sisterhood for Action based in Washington D.C. and Georgia Black United Fund based in Atlanta.

  • United African-American Relief Foundation (UAARF)

The UAARF was founded in 2005 by Marshall T. Hall who comes from a family of wealthy black entrepreneurs from the early 1900′s. Marshall’s grandfather Robert Houston Isabell was a Pullman Porter during the 1800′s who went on to become a successful business and land owner. This legacy of black entrepreneurship is embodied in the philosophy of the UAARF through its committment to raise funding for education and promoting high school and college completion.

 

 

 

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Teaching Laws to the Young

Have you ever meet a kid that doesn’t know how to obey rules? If you have, then you have a meet a child that’s never learned about obeying laws. This is the child that opens the candy bar at the store, eats one bite, throws it on the ground, and doesn’t look back. It’s hard to imagine meeting this child, but they exist. If you spend a few days in a grocery store candy aisle, you’ll probably meet one. This isn’t the exact situation you’ll probably meet them in, but just ask any kindergarten teacher, and they can tell you about the first day of school with such children. When children are raised in a home where rules or laws are not taught and enforced, they don’t know how to obey. This can lead to all kinds of problems in normal socialized settings.

Families can instill obedience to basic rules, and teach children about obeying them starting at a very young age. This doesn’t mean that children should be hurt or held to harsh consequences. But it does mean that very young children can be taught simple rules, how to follow those rules, and the consequences that occur when those rules aren’t followed.

Children become adults. Adults, who have never been taught to obey rules at home, often don’t know how to obey the laws that are enforced outside of their home. It isn’t just parents who can teach children about rules, laws, and consequences. Teachers have to enforce rules with children every day. Think how difficult it must be for both a teacher and a student when that student hasn’t been taught to listen to a rule, obey the rule, and benefit from it.

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Remembering the Montgomery Bus Boycott

Rosa Parks holds a name in the history of Black Heritage as a woman who took a stand for her civil rights and did not budge. On December 1, 1955, she refused to give up her seat on a city bus in Montgomery, Alabama.

She was arrested for her non-compliance with the Jim Crow laws of the time which legalized segregation on city buses.

It is interesting to note though, that this was not the first time this had happened. In March of 1955, Claudette Colvin, a 15-year-old girl also refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery city bus to a white man. Her case was reviewed by a committee. Martin Luther King was one of the committee members. It was determined though that this case should not be pursued since this school girl was pregnant and unmarried at the time.

So when the unfortunate occurrence with Parks happened, King and his followers were ready for peaceful action. Parks’ arrest gave birth to the Montgomery Bus Boycott which was led by King. This boycott changed the history of racial segregation in the United States.

In this boycott all African Americans in Montgomery were urged to not use the city buses in protest of the unfair laws which supported segregation. The boycott lasted for 385 days and caused much tension. In fact, Martin Luther King’s own home was bombed.

During the boycott King was arrested, but all these grievances did lead to change. In the end, the District Courts ruled that segregation on all Montgomery City Buses was no longer legal. King and all those who supported him were able to bring about change through peaceful means. This kind of action set a new civil rights law that influenced others around the country.

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Influences on King, Influences on the Country

Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Martin Luther King Jr. is a legend of heroism and a champion of civil rights. His cause was to overcome discrimination and racism and to strongly encourage the government to put in place laws that would guarantee rights to all Americans.

Americans, of all races hail him as one who was able to peacefully make a stand for right and influence the masses.

While many may know about King and his historical work, it is good to learn of the early influences in his life that shaped and molded him in to the great man the nation knows and loves.

One early mentor was Howard Thurman. He was a class mate of King’s father at Morehouse College and had done missionary work. King often looked to Thurman as a mentor while attending Boston University when Thurman was the dean of Marsh Chapel there. It has been said that the nation would not have had King without having Thurman, whose writings and work were very influential.

Mahatma Gandhi was also one who had a profound impact on King and the cause of Civil Rights. In 1959, King took a trip to India to visit the birth place of Gandhi. It was here that his understanding and appreciation for peaceful activism deepened. King became more committed to non-violent methods for change and grew in his unquenchable desire to move the cause of Civil Rights forward in America. He recognized that pin Gandhi that peaceful activists have a power and ability that can truly bring about change.

Bayard Rustin was a peaceful activist who mentored and offered counsel to King in the early years of the Civil Rights Movement. Rustin had studied and researched the writing of Mahatma Gandhi and was also influenced by this man’s ability to create change peacefully. Rustin supported King and urged him to maintain principles of peace throughout the Civil Rights Movement. Rustin is also known for his organization of the March on Washington in 1963.

As we celebrate Martin Luther King and all he did, we also celebrate those who influenced him and ultimately influenced the country.

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Celebrating African American History All Year Long

Although February is considered the official Black History Month, this important part of United States history should be remembered and commemorated all year long. Remembering the significant contributions African Americans have made individually and collectively is important for understanding our history and determining our future.

Below are some important dates of significance to African American history (Note: Dates are listed in chronological order as they transpired in history).

May 31, 1909. On this day about 300 African Americans as well as whites met in New York City to form the NAACP. James Weldon Johnson was the first African American secretary of this organization and took the position in 1920.

November 6, 1928. The first African American is elected to the United States Congress, Oscar DePriest of Chicago (Note: by the year 2000 there were 39 African Americans serving in Congress and 14 of them were women).

April 15, 1947. The Brooklyn Dodgers boasted the first-ever African American baseball team member, Jackie Robinson. This landmark debut on April 15, 1947 opened the doors for other African Americans to integrate into college and professional sports.

September 18, 1950. Ralth J. Bunche was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his successful mediation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He was named the United Nations mediator two years prior and was given this specific assignment. Bunche was the first-ever African American to win the coveted prize.

May 17, 1954. The Supreme Court of the United States unanimously voted to do away with legal segregation of blacks and whites in the school system. Although it would be many years before this law was truly applied and enforced, this date marks the supreme decision for legal change.

December 5, 1955. This day was the start of the bus boycotts in Alabama. Such individuals as Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King gained fame through these events.

October 1, 1962. James Meredith entered the University of Mississippi as the first African American student. He was escorted by a large number of Federal troops.

While there are many more dates to remember in Black History, it is good to note some of them.

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Ursula Burns – Xerox Corporation CEO

Ursula Burns is the first African-American to become head of a Fortune 500 company. Her rise to the position of CEO of the Xerox Corporation turned many heads in the financial and global business markets. In 2009, this amazing woman ranked ninth in the list of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business, according to Fortune Magazine. She was only three places below Oprah Winfrey who was number six on the list. It is important to mention that Ms. Burns is only in her early fifties.

Most people including African-Americans would believe she came from a wealthy family. Surely, an African-American woman could never achieve such success any other way. It surprises many people to know Ms. Burns was raised in a Lower Manhattan housing project by a single mother. Her mother made a living in childcare and ironing clothes.

Ms. Burns not only had to overcome racism because of the color of her skin, she had to overcome gender discrimination as well. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Polytechnic Institute of NYU in mechanical engineering and a master’s from Columbia University. She joined Xerox in 1980 as a summer intern. Her career at Xerox moved quickly and in 2000, she became Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategic Services.

She is a prime example of the ability of African-Americans to earn an education and earn their way to a promising future. Ms. Burns was not given a free ride. She earned her success every step of the way. She has raised the bar for African-Americans and it is important for her community to recognize her achievements.

Even in the most undesirable circumstances, people can succeed if they focus on an education and hard work. Handouts only keep people trapped in a never-ending cycle.

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Dr. Otis Brawley’s Rise to the Medical Elite

Dr. Otis Brawley holds one of the most elite positions in the country. He is currently the Chief Medical Officer of the American Cancer Society. Dr. Brawley is a remarkable example of a determined African-American youth to take control of his own destiny.

He grew up in the 1960s and during this time, no one would have ever predicted his rise to the medical elite was possible.

He grew up during a time when racism was vocalized and opportunity was rare for African-Americans. He also grew up in the inner city of Detroit. Even today, Detroit is still one of the roughest and most poverty stricken inner cities in the country. He fought the odds and has now become one of the most respected medical doctors in the world. Not bad for a kid growing up during a time when African-Americans had little hope of success.

Dr. Brawley achieved a tremendous success in a field that few African-Americans think about as a career path. In the 1960s, only six percent of all physicians were African-American. That number continues to be low even today. His accomplishments are nothing short of remarkable to say the least.

Dr. Brawley is an out spoken man that continues to fight against cancer and works toward the efforts to provide fair medical treatment for all Americans. He is a champion for men and women that suffer from cancer. He is the voice for those who lack insurance to pay for costly cancer treatments.

Black History months is important to educate the country on the contributions of African-Americans to our rich history. However, many distinguished African-Americans are making history in our society today. These are people that have overcome poverty and racism to reach heights no one could have imagined. These distinguished people should serve as role models to the African-American youths of today.

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Big Heart, Innovative Ideas

Will Allen came from humble beginnings as a son of sharecroppers. Most African-Americans do not remember he played basketball for the University of Miami. They also do not remember he was the first African-American to play for the team.

He played professional basketball for a short time and he worked for Proctor and Gamble in the sales department. One day he decided to change his life and he bought farm in Milwaukee. His small 3-acre farm was successful and he received requests from the community to teach youths how to grow food, farming techniques and gardening techniques. His small farm quickly became a teaching center.

Before organic food became popular, Will Allen’s goal was to provide people with access to healthy food. He quickly became popular with advocates of health food for his efforts to promote healthy eating and to make healthy food available to people who could not afford it.

At age 60, Will Allen is the CEO of Growing Power. This organization is committed to bring about a change in eating habits. Will Allen is the driving force behind what he calls the “good food revolution.” The organization works with non-profit organizations around the country. Growing Power teaches people in urban communities how to grown their own fresh produce in small areas. The organization operates urban farms in the inner city of Chicago and has other farms in Illinois and Wisconsin.

Will Allen’s biggest concern is that people with little money cannot afford to eat healthy. He wants people to realize they can grow their own food even if they live in an inner city environment. Growing Power and Will Allen strive to make healthy food available and affordable for everyone.

Will Allen is a man with a big heart and he continues to be a driving force behind healthy eating and making healthy food available to those that are least able to afford it.

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