"The Power of Community" Essay Submissions

[tsosanya]

Community is a place where individuals share culture, language and possibly ideas and beliefs. It is a place where identity is established and individuals should feel understood. Community is a place of cultivation and growth, a haven, and at times a place of retreat for rest. The African proverb, “it takes a village to raise a child,” alludes to the role of community, which is sharing with and building-up individuals on a micro basis for the common good of those who live in the community. Because community is a place of empowerment, a condition contingent upon its degree of unity, it is important that community be a place that transcends socio-economic barriers and embraces the values and qualities individuals bring, regardless of social or economic status. Once this barrier is removed, then ideas, gifts, time, language, culture, every good quality that lends to fortifying community can be shared freely and produce fruit that is empowering and unifying. However, this level of respect must exist before the community can excel to a beneficial level of sharing and enjoy the benefits thereof.

Historically, the Black community has shared convictions of the Christian faith, placed significant importance on family and education and worked collectively to help each other in process of attaining equality in America. The Civil Rights Movement is an example of shared culture and beliefs, forged into a harmonious movement, manifested in a concerted effort to empower and unify for the common good of Blacks in local communities and nationwide. During this time, Black men and women had the commonality of their experience to fuel their investment of time and resources toward improving the conditions of their brothers and sisters, whether locally or in another state. Whether educated or uneducated, poor or of professional status, whether Southern or Northern, individuals invested what they had for the common good of the Black community. Community requires commitment, care and a willingness to act.

Today, a mindset change is needed. Blacks must return to a place of concern for community and not only immediate family. Additionally, family structure is the nucleus of community. The pandemic of deteriorating Black families is a plague that leaves more than half (53 percent) of Black children under age 15 being reared in single parent households; 48 percent being reared by single mothers (Children’s Living Arrangement & Characteristics, US Census Bureau, 2002). As a community, Blacks needs to discard minute differences and focus on rebuilding the Black family, educating Black kids, re-instilling faith-based values in youth and work to give voice to those who are under-represented such as the elderly and homeless. Again, community involves becoming engaged in the lives of others for the common good of the entire community. It may be the small unrecognized acts that ignite local change that grow to national effect. If seasoned married couples mentor young couples in their neighborhoods, this could decrease the divorce rate. If young women reach out to teen girls in their neighborhoods, this could decrease the teen pregnancy rate. If fathers and husbands mentor young boys in their neighborhoods who do not have a father in the home, this could help young boys develop into responsible men and give them a model to emulate for marriage and fatherhood. The family is critical in sustaining and strengthening the Black community, but improvement will require “each one, reach one.”

Strong families lead to a strong community. A strong community can lead to economic gain and social opportunity. Using the Jewish community as an example, it is apparent how faithfulness to a core set of values and beliefs has created a strong commonality amongst a group of people in which they use as their foundation for sharing knowledge and resources, which benefits their community as a whole. This statement is based on the strong Jewish presence in financial, real-estate, health-care and non-profit industries on the East Coast.

On-line social networking platforms such as HBCU Connect, Facebook and My Space can best serve to aid in establishing community that closely mimics the natural communities by promoting common threads that will strengthen and unify the Black community, such as family, health, education, faith in God and concern for each other. These on-line platforms have the powerful influence of media. Just as negative propaganda is spread via media, positive messages that promote community and the well-being of Blacks can be pushed to the forefront through these same tools. I am convinced diligence combined with faithfulness in this area will produce good results.

[Afrocentric]

It is not only important to rebuild a sense of community amongst Black Americans, it is absolutely imperative for our survival. When one looks at the history of our people, there has never been a period of time until recently when individual welfare took precedence over collective welfare. Our ancestors recognized a long time ago that life is a team sport, and if there had been no community, there would not have been any individuals…period. It was not Hilary Clinton that came up with the popular and overused adage, “it takes a village to raise a child”, it was our people that were the living embodiment of that very philosophy. While the notion of class and social hierarchies were not concepts that were conceived with capitalism, the absurd idea that one group of people has absolutely no responsibility to help less fortunate members of their community (especially when they had a hand in creating the conditions that the less fortunate are in) is a purely capitalistic invention. If the black upper and middle classes, and the rest of the so called black bourgeoisie, continue to ignore the plight of black lower class, they all will eventually share the same dismal fate.

It is no secret that Black America is deeply fragmented. And it also goes without saying that there needs to be some kind of unity for Black America to survive. However, most people seem to ignore the process whereby unity comes about. Contrary to popular belief, people do not wake up one morning and decide to be united. There are two main ways to build unity, either a common goal or a common threat, with the later being far more successful in achieving unity then the former. History has demonstrated the ineffectiveness of trying to get unity under a common goal. In the times of slavery, there was not a common goal of black of simply getting free. There were some that wanted to get free from slavery and there were others that wanted to be the master. During the Civil Rights era, there were some black Americans that wanted integration, some that wanted desegregation, and others that felt that things were ok just the way that they were. It becomes apparent that unity under a common threat is the only way that Black America can come together. Rather than repeating the mistakes of some in the past by identifying the threat as another racial group, it would be far more effective to tackle the problem at the root, and identify the threat to be the system itself. The deeply rooted racism of the system, which manifests itself as the prison industrial complex, “health scare” industry, the (mis)education system, gentrification, and government “blunders” like Hurricane Katrina pose the gravest threats to Black America and affect each of us, regardless of socio-economic status. A growing and thriving community is necessary to combat these systematic evils.

A growing and thriving community is one that is self-sustaining and self sufficient. This community is one that does not wait for others what it can do for itself. This community (like Tulsa, Oklahoma before it was bombed in 1921), would be one of producers, and not just consumers, and would not have to depend on outsiders to provide services, goods or jobs. Likewise, it would be a community that would be able to police itself and not have to suffer from the so called “protection” of outsiders to do it for them. “Each one Teach one” would be one of the primary tenants of the community, and each adult would take it as their duty to school the younger members, especially when they stepped out of line. This growing and thriving community would also be able to connect with other black communities all around the world and be able to exchange resources, ideas, and even people.

Social networking websites like HBCU Connect, Myspace, and Facebook are in some ways microcosms of some of our present communities. Although the majority of users on them tend to be middle class, the socio-economic diversity increases as internet availability broadens. These sites can serve as avenues to build alternative communities by connecting different individuals who most likely would have not communicated if not for the site. By sharing information as well as experiences, our people can be informed on the common threats that affect all of us, and most importantly, how we can defeat them. Regardless, the building of strong online communities cannot take the place of the building of the offline ones. Hopefully as more and more people get connected online, we might do the same offline as well.

[lucettepierre]

Question #1: If we do not embrace the idea of coming together as a community, then we truly lose our true identities. Our ancestors made it through a revolutionary period because they wanted this generation to be free from oppression and they fought breaking down boundaries for us. The only way social boundaries can be broken is if as a community we reconstruct internally offering physical, mental, spiritual, and finacial support for one another. As African Americans, we are minorities and as Webster defines it, we a part of a population differing from others in some characteristics and often subjected to differential treatment. As a community we need to work together in addressing issues that surround the our cultures on a daily basis because if we do not accept the fact that there is strength in numbers we will always be posses the title of being a minute entity running the never ending battle of acceptance and respect in this life time. Our race is comprised of several different sub cultures ranging from jamaican to haitian, etc. we have to first accept each culture for their diffences and begin creating bridges within that will allow us to become more educated about each of the struggles, traditions, history, and rituals they all posses. We all are ultimately categorized and treated as African Americans. As a unit we can grow to appreciate first our differences and our similarities and work on the evolution of a new future for generations to follow. Accepting this now gives us the opportunity to create new traditions and legacies amongst ourselves. As a unit we would have a better chance as one unified voice to create opportunities for both of our thriving cultures success.

Question #2:Characteristcs of a growing society consists of reproduction. As long as we continue to train up a child the proper way, we can always count on positive growth.

Question #3:Internet is the fastest and most accepted source of communication for our young generation. Having an online platform will allow the children to have readily accessible information on their history at the click of a button. In todays era, children are being taught through mediums like the internet and we have to move with driving forces of today. In my generation the quickest way to spread information was through the television. Now more than eber children are watching less television and substituting it for surfing the web. We cannot be hesitant to change or stagnant. The internet is the most effective way to reach many young people and we shoud take advantage of that and provide them with resources which can educate them on their history.

[drhumphrey]

Marion Humphrey, Jr.

Today’s world fails to live up to the vision of Martin Luther King, Jr. He envisioned a world full of equality, hope, and most importantly, love. This love would be demonstrated by a populace that worked together to build all nations and people up. Presently, however, human beings are too often guided by their own self-interest. This case is no less true in the black community. The loss of a sense of community in black communities is the perpetuation of self-interest and a retreat from true expressions of love.
The black community plagues itself not by a lack of funds, but by a lack of family. It does not have to be addressed how few sperm donors truly assume the responsibilities of fatherhood. Still, black communities too often allow single mothers to raise their children alone. This is unacceptable. A couple a generations ago, communities raised children. A child’s single mother would rely on the elderly lady down the street to keep and feed her children. The male pastor spent extra hours visiting the young boys in the church to keep them on track. The handyman taught the young male his trade and work ethic. Raising children was a group effort. If we once again team together as mentors for all of our children, division would cease among communities.
After the black community teams up to raise its children, then certain lessons must be emphasized to them. As with many thriving societies, children must be taught to value themselves. They should be told daily that they are loved. Moreover, black children must be aware that the greatest opportunities lie in education. They must not be allowed to get through high school without the ability to read and white. One of the differences between those students who thrive academically and those who do not is that those who thrive academically have patience. Patience allows these students to think about the long-term rather than the short-term. Instead of searching for quick cash, those focused on educating themselves see the benefit in building an infrastructure of information for future employments. This must be taught to black youth. Education can and will get them all the riches in the world. Furthermore, education and patience allow communities to transcend time-consuming practices of old and spread their efforts to benefit more of the populace.
As a user of social networking platforms, I find them to be great means of communication. Sites like HBCU Connect, Facebook, and Myspace have the capacity to pool and unite our nation’s youth politically and socially. For instance, Facebook has numerous, large groups supporting Barak Obama for president. Now the purpose of this essay is not a political one, but I believe that the black community would be benefited by electing Obama to office. These sites encourage communication, a necessary component for improving social awareness.
Communication, faith in education, and patience will lead the black community to the success we deserve as a people.

[Talented 1]

ONE COMMUNITY, ONE BODY, ONE SOLUTION
www.TalentedTenthave.com

1 Corinthians 12 “For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body....” This is the ESSENCE of our humanity, the truth to our existence; the concept of socio-economics is a secondary, man-made concept concept which is essentially divisive. The socio-economic boundaries start off as mental boundaries that we perceive to be real and, in turn, we make them tangible. In order for all to see and rise above these transluscent boundaries we must all see it under one accord since discord will only lead us to see only what our eyes allow us instead of what our brains can visualize as possible.

In order to classify our forests of issues we must first identify the type of seed from which each tree is sprung. In other words, in order for us to reconnect on a FUNDAMENTAL level, the most adhesive level, we must first identify what is dividing us in the first place. Perceptions, stereotypes, discriminations, etc are all mere catalysts in our divided culture, but we must realize that a catalyst is only as strong as the weakness of its prey. Fire is one of the world’s most deadliest elements that can burn up towns and forests but, once it reaches that surrounding body of water, it has zero effect and is actually is defeated. We, as blacks…we as African-Americans…we as ONE BODY must be that body of water and diffuse the external influences on our culture. Only an unwavering mindset and unwavering actions can combat the influences that we receive and would over time prove those influences to be ineffective.

Community is derived from the Latin word “communis” which means “sharing common duties” and the Latin word “munus” which means “gift” or “duties”. Evidently, as a community, we were originally meant to be one entity sharing common gifts but instead, on the surface level, we are more so comparing each others gifts. If we are to be a thriving community we need to “commune” and share. With that sharing comes growth of each individual, not just horizontally but also inter-generationally, an important element necessary to ensure progress in the Black community. Inter-generational growth is a perpetual growth that over time creates a paradigm shift of progress. This trickling down of gifts, knowledge, and wisdom through generations creates a new starting platform each go around but only effective through communal nourishment. According to W.E.B Dubois in his Talented Tenth essay, he says “Men we shall have only as we make manhood the object of the work of the schools — intelligence, broad sympathy, knowledge of the world that was and is, and of the relation of men to it — this is the curriculum of that Higher Education which must underlie true life. On this foundation we may build bread winning, skill of hand and quickness of brain, with never a fear lest the child and man mistake the means of living for the object of life.” The more we develop men and women in our communities today, the more self-sufficient, professional men and women we’ll have tomorrow. It is not sufficient to call it success by just rearing a child to make it successfully to adulthood, but it is more important to raise and nourish the abilities of leaders who evolve from being part of the problem to developers of the solution.

With the status quo of social networks like HBCUConnect, Facebook, and Myspace, there are many pluses and minuses in each. Rather than attack what’s wrong with each, it would be best to identify the good. As each is a niche network, each will, of course, market to a certain audience. HBCUConnect unites HBCU students and alumni, Facebook markets mainly to college students, and Myspace for anyone worldwide who wants to make a connection. There is no real “one size fits all” social networking site as each group has its particular needs. Like a suit, one has to get all the measurements before it is utilized to fit the person wearing it. Similarly, if we want to correct the status-quo in various realms, there must be something that fits our particular situation. I have been working on designing something that’s not just a site, but a concept that’s the beginning of the solution to issues in the Black community. www.Talentedtenthave.com will hopefully be the spark that we need to make a change in this world. It is still in the design phase because we need something very custom made to address the problems we face now and those ahead of us so much thought must go into its creation. I’ve been yearning for something for awhile to make a difference in society but never had the avenue. Now that there is an avenue, we have a location that allows us to drive forth in society. We do a lot of discussing possible solutions but never making any concrete solutions. Solutions are only as good as their followthru so, with the help of HBCUConnect and every other person concsious of the issues that we face, this solution can go from an idea to a reality if we all individual come together as one body to make a change.

[tanja_143]

NOW is the time for change. Not tomorrow or the next day, not next month, not even next year. Now is the time for us to look back and correct the mistakes that we have made in how we treat one another, as well as ourrselves. Its time to find out exactly what went wrong in the African-American community, resulting in us now disrespecting one another and not living up to our full potential. The only way we can overcome this obstacle is through being united, in terms of looking out for one another and treating each other with respect; and by being proud, in terms of who we are and where we come from. We need to reflect back on the concept of “I am my brother’s keeper,” instead of looking out for only ourselves. If we want our future to flourish, we need to instill in our children a sense of pride in where we come from and where we are headed as a race.
Even though the African-American community has come a long way throughout history, with the achievements of our race being some of the most profound of our time, we’ve still managed to take a step back in how we treat one another. What many fail to realize is exactly how important it is that we, especially as African-Americans build a sense of community that transcends socio-economic boundaries. If history has taught us anything, it is that if we stand together we can accomplish anything. Look at all the hardships and challenges that our people had to endure throughout slavery, and then later on in the Civil Rights Movement, where our people still pushed on and still remained a united front in the face of adversity. Take a look at Rosa Parks, whose refusal to sit in the back of the bus, is what eventually sparked the Civil Rights Movement. It was because of people like her that we, as Black people can now sit wherever we want to on the bus; even though most of our youth tends to head straight for the back. And that is exactly what is happening today; we’re taking a step back. But not in the way that it should be done, by examining our history and the richness of our ancestors; but by turning our backs on one another in time of need. Nowadays, there is too much time and energy spent trying to tear one another down, too much breath wasted on talking negatively about one another, and too much effort spent on killing each other off one by one. And for what? To have so-called “money, power and respect.” We should be teaching our children that if they want to gain importance and respect in the real world, that they should be doing it through the classrooms and the boardrooms, and not the streets.
So how can we correct the mistakes that have been made so that generations to come can understand what it means to be African-American? Well we can start with the leaders of today’s youth; the rappers, athletes, and other successful professionals. They can use they’re power and influence to help instill pride and respect in our children. For instance, look at Oprah Winfrey, not only one of the richest African-American women in the world, but one of the richest people in the world, period. She used her money and influence to build a brand new, state of the art, $40 million leadership academy for disadvantaged girls in South Africa. What impressed me the most about this act of sincere generosity is that she took the time to get to know the people whose lives she was changing. Oprah could have just as easily donated money for the project (like so many others in her league do), and never thought twice about it afterwards. Instead, she was involved in every little detail of the process; from the design of the building to the dorm assignments for the girls. This is just one of the prime examples of how money and influence can be used to help uplift our culture, instead of destroying it.
In conclusion, we can also start by utilizing platforms such as HBCU Connect, Facebook, and MySpace to bring help promote social change. In this day and age, it seems like everyone who is someone has a MySpace page. They can be used for different outlets such as promoting music, reconnecting with old friends, dating, and a variety of other sources of information and communication. So why can’t it be used to help bring about a change in our society? Since platforms like these are used to showcase the thoughts and ideas of others, isn’t it only sensible that it could be used to help bring our society, especially our youth, together to search for a deeper understanding of who they are and where they come from? I believe that it is time for those who act as elders, leaders, and role models in our society, in both the media and the community, to step up to the plate and realize their true potential to enlighten, inspire, and educate our children; who are the elders, leaders, and role models of tomorrow.