By Brother Love
Special to the Courier

Do I write a lot about the painful and uncomfortable subject of racism and racists many Columbus citizens would rather not face up to or forthrightly address? Yes. Why do I emphasize racism or racial prejudice in my writings and my analysis of the issues we confront in Columbus? It is because I am totally convinced and do believe that racial prejudice is at the root of many of the decisions as well as many of the problems. The veil of ignorance has been lifted from my eyes regarding racial prejudice. I have a very keen knowledge and understanding of the insidious and pernicious nature of racism and the associate manifestations. As a respected and trusted community activist and founding member of the Grassroots Unity Movement For Change I must do all
that is humanly possible, all within my power to lift the heavy veil of ignorance
from the blind eyes of my worthy brothers and sisters as it pertain to racism or racial prejudice.

The racial hate and prejudice of the oppressor may be both found in and are easily transferred to the oppressor’s target victims by the horrible conditions
and the very traumatic experience of racism. Calling our own people niggers
is a manifestation of racism or a product of the conditioning and environment.
The slave master called us niggers and taught slaves to call each other nigger. One is just as bad as the other, as they both come out of the same sickness and promote the same sickness. The so-called N-word has done damage to the African American community whereas it has effectively convinced scores of young Black people that they are thugs, gang bangers, and ghetto boys living authentically Black. Well, the thug life is not the life relegated for every African American to live. Just as racism is poison, the Nword is, has, and always will be poison because of it evil origins and nature. We need to adopt a healthier and more productive mind set regarding who and what being an African American is truly all about. Being African American is not about being what is termed a nigger or some stereotype. It is not about giving up on your community, yourself, or your future. It is not about being a zero, but a hero in the eyes of you neighborhood, your family and friends along with other influential, productive members of the community. We should be proud of
our African American history, the very fact that we have persevered against the greatest odds and overcome some of the worst circumstances of any American people.

We need to critically examine and understand the negatives of the past in order to bring about a better positive for today and tomorrow. Know how we
all have been tricked and trapped so that we would forever be divided. We
need to accurately identify causes and effects so that we can free ourselves
from the negative influences they have had on our personal lives and in our
community. If you know better and are taught better you will do better and
be better. We must be radical and aggressive in taking back our children
and our community. We can no longer be namby-pamby regarding the present situation and the state of the African American family. In order for us to be better we have to put in the hard work. We must draw definitive lines in the sand about whoever the real enemy is or whatever the real threat happens to be. We must not be reticent or taciturn, but outspoken and bold about our own future and destiny leaving anger and hatred for any group behind like a bad memory.

Brother Malcolm told us there will no Black/White unity and brotherhood until
there is first Black/Black unity, and it takes lot of effort to effect true unity
and real equality. Our focus has to be about family and community. We need
to get back to it takes a village to raise a child, which is an African proverb
rooted in family, unity, and community. African Americans have only been successful in the ongoing struggle against racial prejudice and injustice when they stood tall together and fought back against racism and open discrimination. Faith and Unity has always been the key to our success.
Together we have always succeeded and gained. Divided with these self-centered attitudes we have never accomplished anything worthwhile for the
African American family. So the key to victory in Columbus for the African
American community is our trusting in Almighty God to guide us and keep
us on the straight path and banding together as an African American family.
If we get our act together we then can help others better get their acts
together.

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