The Task Ahead

Fall 2002

Solutions For Blacks In America In the 21^st Century!

In solving the problems of Blacks in America, it is the viewpoint of the Universal African Peoples Organization that we have to approach the solution from the perspective, that there are two major factors from which all our major problems originate. Those two factors are external and internal.

Our external problem is the system of white racism, overt and covert, which is manifested throughout every major institution of this society. It is manifested throughout this economic system, that has fostered “last hired-first fired,” the “glass ceiling,” redlining in the form of preventing access to capital for business development and housing in our community; as well as tax dollars being used to accelerate quality services in their community and the lack thereof in ours. This same economic system always allows for the unemployment and underemployment of our people to double the national rate compared to whites; therefore creating a climate of crime and fear in our community leading to the incarceration of thousands and thousands of our people.

As an extension of this white racist system that is the external problem, you have a judicial system dominated by judges, prosecuting attorneys, juries and lawyers that are white; however we are the cannon fodder for their prisons which further exploits the labor of inmates for the profit of corporations. All the while, this racist system have in their employ, thousands and thousands of terrorists (the police officers who are supposed to “serve and protect”). Many of these racist officers constantly harass, brutalize and murder our people for little or nothing and constantly stop us on the highways and streets of America, ticketing us through their discretionary stops, that led to a new crime (DWB) Driving While Black. Check out all the various municipal courts and see who’s paying traffic fines which is another form of exploitation, (the fines themselves and the higher insurance rates are examples of this exploitation). These terrorists (the racist police officers) are also hired in disproportionate numbers where we are concentrated in the urban areas. For example, in the City of St. Louis, the population is 53% Black, yet the St. Louis police department is 70% white. In essence, jobs are displaced and we pay the salaries for those who disrespect us. The example of this city is quite similar to all cities throughout America.

This external factor of white racism is manifested in their political system that is dominated by two political parties (the Democratic and Republican Party) that refuses to address our issues and perpetuate the ongoing political disenfranchisement of our people. We are 15% of the total United States population, yet only 3% of the 497,155 publicly elected positions in the United States. In the United States Senate, there are 100 senators yet none are Black. This wing of Congress makes the decision to spend billions of our dollars in places such as Israel, rather than in our own communities or ancestral homeland of Africa.

This external factor of white racism maintains a health care system that allows the death of our people through diseases such as AIDS, cancer and heart diseases which always disproportionately affect us. Studies have shown that Blacks have been targeted by tobacco and alcohol companies that interject their death and disease causing products in our communities.

This external factor of white racism is galvanized through a well organized media that molds and shapes our thinking through misinformation, through the demeaning projections of us via news stories, songs, videos, etc. This media helps to create well trained slave adherents to a system that hates/deplores us.

Finally, the white racist system further exploits us through their educational system that refuses to provide our true history, which would reflect our worldwide contributions to human civilizations; our role in building this society and many worthwhile inventions; along with refusing to teach the true African Holocaust. All the while school districts/boards throughout America that are predominately Black are being put under state supervision. Along with this scenario, Black teachers are being displaced and we have (like the police departments), a disproportionate number of white teachers teaching our children.

Given the various analysis cited above, this external factor of white racism has been so entrenched and thorough that it has nearly destroyed the Black family structure.

So what are the solutions to the external factor of white racism? The best answer is its Death! However, it is the Universal African Peoples Organization humble opinion that Black people have several options in response to this evil factor. Number one, we can escape this immediate in your face reality by relocating to another country en masse or in small numbers. We do have the example of the Hebrew Israelites who have communities outside of this country and the historical examples of people like W.E.B. Dubois and Kwame Toure who moved to Africa.

Number two, we can as a people mass migrate from the North, West and Eastern section of this country to the Southern states of Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, North and South Carolina, and Florida in order to concentrate our number, whereby we may vote ourselves into state power. By electing ourselves as governors and U.S. senators we can begin to control billions of dollars, create greater international trade opportunities, control the state institutions affecting education, judicial/police, along with the Air and National Guards, etc.

Number three, accelerate the struggle to dismantle and destroy racism wherever we reside throughout the United States.

However, to achieve any of the above options there are some basic things we need to do! First, we must organize! In saying we must organize, we are saying that every able bodied Black person should/must join and be active or minimally financially supporting an organization that is actively seeking social justice and peace for our people. It is in that spirit that we encourage people to join the Universal African Peoples Organization.

We must organize city by city, state by state and nationally, consumer boycotts/sanctions of this economic system while putting forth concise demands for the overall dismantling of racism impacting the economic and social policies of this country. Let it be clear, we support the complete withdrawal of our dollars for nonessential items until our demands/needs are met! Conversely, we must reinvest our money back into our communities.

We also advocate a political assault by our progressive forces on this political system. Therefore, by the year 2004, we advocate that we should have candidate in every political race/election from the Presidency, to U.S. Senators, Governors and other Federal, State, county and city elections. At the base of this political assault would be the same campaign themes for all of our candidates. These campaign themes should address reparations, economic justice, judicial fairness, an end to police harassment and violence, a more just foreign policy, affordable healthcare and housing, etc.

Given our people slave like obedience to the major political parties, then Black Democrats and Black Republicans should lead this charge within their party during the primary elections. However, we feel our political fortunes for the future would be best served by aligning with other independent political parties who would be willing to advance and support our cause. Or we create our own Black led independent party!

Therefore, in order to achieve the suggested political strategies, the Universal African Peoples Organization will address this concept through Statewide Black Peoples Political Conventions that we will be organizing throughout the United States.

Finally, in addressing the external problem of white racism, we say that Black people must be prepared to WORK. To promote our upliftment the UAPO encourages our people to support and actively participate in our concept called WORK which is illustrated in another section of our paper.

Returning to the second major factor impacting Blacks in America, the Internal Factor; it is our contention that in overcoming this problem the external factor would be defeated easily. So what is the internal factor? It is multiple which stems from the “Willie Lynch” syndrome reflecting 1) disunity 2) fear 3) lack of discipline 4) lack of consistency 5) disrespect 6) jealousy 7) envy 8) pride 9) arrogance 10) greed 11) illiteracy/ignorance.

In overcoming the above-described internal ills of our race, we say solutions include spiritual rejuvenation/resurrection per individual. This would allow people to recognize the GOD in them and at the same time recognize the God in others, regardless of religious affiliations. In essence, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you!” As an extension of the spiritual rejuvenation/resurrection, our people must realize the fact that we should fear no man (especially the white man) when God is with us! Unity defeats disunity, therefore we must embark upon literacy campaigns based on truth, justice and equality.

Actualizing, the above-suggested solutions we feel will help lift our people from their wretched condition to a New Day and New World Order!