An argument for a black consensus

Guest Commentary by Tony Spires, The Comedy Doctor

-I don’t know about you but I spend countless hours pondering the plight of Black people. A proud and enthusiastic Black man myself, I deeply love my people to our beautiful, multi-faceted, colorful core. To be honest, I get mad at us from time to time. I find myself feeling frustrated by certain negative stereotypes to which we seemingly too often give credence. But more than any other emotion, I feel unadulterated adoration. In the midst of one of my many existential Black love fests, it dawned on me. Like any conscientious suitor, before I get to serious I need to find out if we’re on the same page.

We are an extremely diverse and complex people. It’s a universal fact that, whatever the endeavor or expression, nobody does it quite like we do-often times not even us. We are definitely not all the same. In fact, I find it difficult to pinpoint more than a small group of African Americans to agree on any three things. (Maybe I’m exaggerating a little here but bear with me.) Our views and methods differ from person to person. Is this phenomenon exclusive to African Americans? Of course it isn’t.

This is America. Freedom of opinion is akin to freedom of speech. Self-expression comes natural to Black folks. It’s something we as a people freely practice and cherish. Ironically, something that comes so organically to us was not always guaranteed Black Americans. For centuries our expression was restricted and repressed. Yet African Americans have contributed a veritable plethora of scientific inventions, social reforms, artistic developments and innovations as well as other major vehicles attributable, at least in part, to our unique ways and means of self-expression. Our ability to express ourselves is a national treasure in and of itself.

Some times we get together and compare notes on our opinions and various points of view. It’s always been that way. We have an ancient oral tradition that spans thousands of years. We as a people “can talk for ours.” It’s a beautiful thing. Witnessing it can be quite entertaining, when it comes to debates on an array of non-essential subjects. Which recording artist is the people’s favorite? Where’s the best place to get authentic Louisiana gumbo? What’s the soundest long-term financial investment in this economy? The answers you receive will likely vary as much as the people to whom you ask the questions. And for those types of topics that’s fine.

But if the queries were more along the lines of: these What are the most important issues facing Black America today? Have we taken our eyes off the socio-political ball? What is the substantive role of “Black leaders” in the 21st century? Is a Black President electable? If one were elected would Blacks actually benefit? Do we expect that? Shouldn’t there be at least the basis for a consensus among African Americans on matters of crucial importance to our people? And the big question, in 2008/2009 can we develop and adhere to a practical, realistic Black agenda that’s good for us and the entire country?

From Emancipation, through Reconstruction, through Jim Crow, the Civil Rights Movement and all the rest, we as a people formed a general consensus. Black folks were a hard-working and determined people. We were a modest and humble people in those days. We counted our blessings. We prayed, struggled and strived for more of them. We were out and wanted in. Even without many visible role models, we imagined, we dreamed, we achieved. Yet we were a complicated and diverse community wrought with myriad ideas, convictions and varying contradictions.

Even then we didn’t all get along. But our broad agenda as a community was crystal clear. We lobbied for, demanded, fought and even died for: freedom, human rights, integration, equal employment opportunity, equal protection under the law, civil rights, fair housing, equal educational opportunities, voting rights and all the other basic, fundamental rights supposedly enjoyed by all full-fledged U.S. citizens. We wanted life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We demanded respect as human beings; as living, breathing, thinking people who mattered, who were relevant to society and contributed to the tightly woven fabric of the American tapestry.

In those early years after slavery, we were regulated to the bottom rung of society, sentenced to a virtually hopeless existence inside an impenetrable and unyielding caste system. In later years, among our strivers and highly motivated achievers we saw smatterings of evidence of some minor erosion in some remote regions of the caste. Today some would say that the caste has been replaced by an equally formidable glass ceiling.

Leading Black leaders and thinkers of the early 20th century like: Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. Dubois, Marcus Garvey, Farad Muhammad, Nobel Drew Ali, James Weldon Johnson and others found themselves at polar opposites politically-sometimes vehemently and irreconcilably so. Their differences notwithstanding, they dedicated their lives to the task of establishing the irrefutable foundation for the freedom, dignity and self-respect of the Negro.

Yes, back in the day our agenda was clear. Our preachers dedicated sermons to it. Our singers sang about it. Our leaders and activists were all over it and absolutely all about it. Our entire struggle was about improving the quality of life for our families, our people and ourselves. While doing my literary research on the subject and when personally polling elders who recall the era long past, I found that all my sources agree. In the broad scope of things, it was hard to separate one Black person’s agenda from the next. I think it’s time for a 21st century Black consensus-a new age Black agenda.

As I write this commentary, Senator Barack Obama has just clinched the Democratic nomination. How big is that? I’m trying my best to be objective and take it all in as an observer but of course it goes deeper with me. I see myself as a fair and reasonably responsible person. I’ve examined the candidates’ views. I’ve analyzed their positions on what they perceive to be “the issues.” If a person, in my view, is right, they’re right. Conversely, if a person is wrong, they are just that, wrong. That being said, I firmly believe that Obama is right for the job-not only to go up against John McCain but also to be the next President of the United States.

Keeping it real, yes, I’m enthusiastic about the possibility of a Black man being President. I already explained what kind of Black person I am. In my estimation, the manner in which the prospect stimulates the imagination is unparalleled in African American history. Even devout Black Republicans Larry Elder, famed conservative talk radio host and Secretary Of State Condoleezza Rice are excited. Plainly put, I want the “Brutha” to win. I’ll freely admit that. He’s clearly earned the nomination and I think we as a people have earned this milestone in history. But for everyone who thinks as I do, publicly or privately, there are some out there who don’t see it that way at all.

Like I said, this is America. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and their vote. I also understand the malignant cancer of racism and the seemingly innate resistance to change that still lingers in some segments of society. What puzzles me is that it actually exists among some Black people. What’s up with that? At the end of the day, don’t we as a people have an obligation to future posterity to give a qualified Black candidate a chance? Aren’t we all standing on the shoulders of our forbearers? Shouldn’t the progress of our people be on every self-respecting Black person’s agenda? Barack Obama’s historic achievement is progress-for African Americans and all Americans.

Will “President Obama” make everyday Christmas in America for us? No. Will he undo all of the past centuries of injustice in just one or two, four-year terms? It’s not possible. Will he erase racism in America? He absolutely will not. I don’t think that even the most ardent Obama supporters believe that or even imagine it in their wildest dreams. But I do think the nation will be able to exhale in unison-perhaps for the first time.

People who believed things were never going to improve for them in this country, to a degree that the change would trickle-down to them, must think again. I believe that Black (and other minority) children are going to grow up in a brand new America. Not a fairytale land where all will be finally as it should, but an America where dreaming of being anything, including the President of the most powerful nation in the world “ain’t nothin’ but a thang!”

Thanks to all of you for reading the column. It’s my pleasure to share these insights with my people. It’s food for thought. If you can’t chew it, don’t swallow it. May God bless you all abundantly. Until next time, be safe, be smart, be successful, be thankful. One Love, for real. Holla at your Doctor!

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Tony Spires is a Los Angeles-based filmmaker, event producer, personal manager, award-winning playwright, critically acclaimed director and co-writer of the 2007 NAACP Award nominated, “Ali: The Man, The Myth, The Peoples’ Champion and columnist for The Humor Mill Magazine. Known as The Comedy Doctor is comedy circles, he is perhaps best known as the founder of the nationally reputed Bay Area Black Comedy Competition & Festival and as writer/director of the acclaimed feature film, Tears Of A Clown now available on DVD.

Email Tony at: ComedyDoctor@BlackComedyCompetition.com

Visit his blog at http://TonySpires.com