How African American Followers Can Be Leaders

On several occasions, I've heard African American people point to Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, and lyricists whenever there is a national or local crisis. Complaints are heard about how these people are not doing their jobs, not working fast enough, or not giving back to the community. Not only is this not true on many occasions, but it is also not fair. Accusations of the two political activists, Jackson and Sharpton, being hams in front of the camera and not doing their research are illogical to me. Why wouldn't they want the cameras in front of them? That's how the word spreads. Now there are times when I agree that I wish the two would come down harder on some issues and ignore other not-so-important topics, such as the Boondocks animation show using the n-word and "The Barbershop" movies. But even when they do come down and concentrate on issues like Hurricane Katrina and the Sean Bell case, somebody always has something to say about "Well, why didn't they fight for __________?" Well, I'm here to talk to that crew and ask why don't you fight for it yourself?

African American history is full of leaders who succeeded in their goals by going against the grain and talking to people who agreed with them and were willing to fight the good fight too. Although Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and Rosa Parks were born leaders and helped to guide African Americans to a fight for diversity and concentrate on African American issues, they had a strong backing unlike that of today. Some of us complain about rappers who don't contribute to the community but don't take the time to really find out the truth. Russell Simmons has done an enormous amount of work to put money into African American peoples' pockets, to help their political standpoints, to try to rid the poverty issues in Africa, and donate to worthy causes. In Simmons' book "Do You," not many people know that rappers are some of the most reliable people to contribute back into their community. Examples include Puffy, Jay-Z, TI, Ludacris, 50 Cent, Kanye West, Nelly, Ice Cube, Damon Dash, LL Cool J, Chingy, Wyclef, David Banner, Cash Money, Mos Def, and Dead Prez. I give a strong head nod to Puffy and Jay-Z for donating a million dollars to Black Entertainment Television (BET) during the Hurricane Katrina fund. I applaud Nelly for concentrating on cancer with his 4Sho4Kids Foundation. I love how Ice Cube speaks up about police corruption, racial profiling, diabetes, and autism. 50 Cent donated money to the Boys Choir of Harlem and to the fight against AIDS. Wyclef Jean is forever doing something to help his people in Haiti, and even without giving money, he was brave enough to lay down in front of the police to be arrested and bring publicity to educational cuts in New York City. People were thrown off when Jay-Z put in money to help clean up the water in Africa. David Banner, Cash Money, and Master P worked hard during and after the Hurricane Katrina disaster. These aren't the only entertainers, specifically African American ones, to give back.

As citizens with ancestors that fought long and hard for Freedom of Speech and equal rights, African Americans finally have the opportunity to speak up and out to any and everybody. Some of us are doing it. Most of us are not. It makes me cringe when someone complains about a political, social, or financial issue and has done absolutely nothing about it. Don't wait on someone else with a bigger mouth than you to handle your issues. A stamp is 41 cents. Write. Email is free. Press "Send." Petitions only take a pen and paper. Sign it. You were born with a mouth. Use it. If you don't have the financial backing to make an effective push to solve the issues yourself, organize a fundraiser. The energy it takes us to complain to our barber, our beautician, our family, and our friends could better be used if we tried to organize a group with these same people who also won't stand for things wrong in the community. Harriet Tubman took the initiative to help free approximately 70 slaves during 13 missions. Frederick Douglass took the initiative to learn to read and to help with the abolishment of slavery. Russell Simmons could not have organized the Hip Hop Summit and Alicia Keys could not have sung "Don't Give Up (Africa)" or donated money to Keep A Child Alive if they didn't put their best foot forward. Decades have passed and African American people are still making a contribution to American society.

But, it doesn't always have to be the political leaders like Jackson and Sharpton or the rappers with money to do something. Neither does it have to be rich people. Anybody with a mouth and a hand can get a point across if we try hard enough. There are millions of leaders and followers who could be leaders if they tried. It is all of our jobs to make a statement, be it through writing, speaking, volunteering, or donating, but pointing the finger just won't cut it. For those brothas and sistas who are doing something to help your community, I applaud and respect you. Keep the movement going.