Dare To Struggle, Dare To Win

As we begin the New Year, we must adopt and internalize a winning attitude. Every winning team, in every sphere of human competition, accepts the position that they must prepare themselves psychologically, physically, spiritually, intellectually and strategically to win.

They refuse to let their collective spirit be broken and they refuse to become engulfed in the romance of rhetoric and postures of reaction and inaction. So it is incumbent upon all of us in the African American community to be about the serious business of fashioning action-oriented programs and activities that speak to the highest levels of self/group excellence.

The sobering but prophetic words of the incomparable and quintessential scholar and "Father of Black History," Carter Godwin Woodson, ring loud and clear today in 2003 as they did, when he wrote them in 1933:

The problem of holding the Negro down, therefore is easily solved. When you control a man's thinking you do not have to worry about his actions. You do not have tell him to stand here or go yonder. He will find his "proper place" and will stay in it. You do not have to send him to the back door. He will go without being told. In fact, if there is no back door, he will cut one for his special benefit. His education makes it necessary.

So, seventy (70) years after Dr. Woodson's sage admonition, we must now be about the business of thinking and acting in support of our own group progress and elevation. To regain our autonomy, respect, power and to demonstrate a winning attitude, I suggest we do the following:

1. INSIST UPON EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE. We must demand excellence from every student of African ancestry, and enlist the involvement of every serious and committed adult to support and advocate for every student.
   
   
2. SUPPORT BLACK BUSINESSES AND ECONOMIC INITIATIVES. We cannot and should not expect others to be the primary funders of our life-sustaining institutions.
   
   
3. SUPPORT AND START MORE INDEPENDENT CULTURALLY ENRICHED, LEARNING CENTERS FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN CHILDREN. The total education of our children cannot be left up to public schools.
   
   
4. FORM COMMUITY-NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH GROUPS to report drug activity and other negative behavior
   
   
5. PRACTICE THE PRINCIPLES OF KWANZAA 24/7/365. The seven principles of Kwanzaa provide an excellent framework for optimal self/group functioning.
   
   
6. WRITE LETTERS TO THE MEDIA, both print and electronic requesting that they consider reporting more positive storeis of Black accomplishments.
   
   
7. REGISTER TO VOTE. There are truly no excuses not to at least register to vote.
   
   
8. BELIEVE IN THE DIGNITY, SPIRIT AND POWER OF BLACK PEOPLEHOOD. We must control our own destiny, or someone else will control it for us.
   

   A winning team does what a losing team refuses to do. Members of a winning team come to practice early and leave late. Moreover, they are prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice to win. The socio-economic, political and educational stakes are high. We can no longer be faint-hearted or fearful in the midst of the struggle for our survival and the future survival of our children.

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