"The Power of Community" Essay Submissions

[Sunshyne_Is_Essence]

I know it may sound cliché, but there is strength in numbers. It is important for Black Americans to understand that in order for us to overcome many of the obstacles that we are facing today it is necessary for us to come on one accord and realize the we all really do need each other. With that said, re-building the sense of community that seems to have become lost in the last two decades will provide a sturdy foundation for solidarity and strength similar to that of the roots of the Civil Rights Movement. But in order for this to happen, our generation needs to be reintroduced to fundamentals of our heritage so that we all understand the history and blood from which we came. At the risk of sounding cliché again, the saying goes that you can’t understand where you’re going until you know where you’ve been. Well I’ll take that saying a step further and say that as Black Americans trying to reconnect to each other we can’t have a shared sense of our future until we have a shared sense of our past.

Looking at some of the growing and thriving communities in the Metropolitan Detroit Area, specifically the Arabic and Hispanic communities, I see two groups of people who are extremely educated , knowledgeable, and proud of their heritage. They are also able to organize and build social movements amongst each other that help benefit their own communities in an efficient manner. As Black Americans, we lack these abilities. We are able to build movements but they very rarely cause social change and reform in today’s society. I can’t help but believe that this is because today’s generation just does not understand the very real potential in our power and complacently dismisses our situation as something we can’t do anything about. Online social networking communities can change this by becoming platforms for social awareness, outreach, and information forums that explain and express the power that the black community holds.

I believe the most important way online communities dedicated to empowering the disenfranchisement of the black community is by allowing people to see for themselves that life is not this way for Black Americans everywhere. Most people are only allowed the fortune of seeing what’s going on in their “own backyards”. Most local news channels don’t report the positive things that goes on in their own communities, let alone the positive of other communities. Online social communities can expose many people to the light, so to speak, and provide them with examples of how other Black Americans are “making it” and resources and knowledge for how they can start organizing and building in their own communities. I’m looking forward to the day when my generation realizes that , while everything is not going to work out in their favor all the time, we don’t have to be complacent with the hand that life deals us and we can manipulate the cards to suit our goals. After all, stumbling blocks work equally well , if not better, as stepping stones!

[LtGeneral]

Blacks Americans need to regain a sense of pride in themselves as students, and as a people as a whole. Everyone’s lesson starts from somewhere little do most know that it starts from their own community. The community sets the pace from which that child can succeed, with technology’s growth , library’s and athletics to keep the children busy. Most student’s who participate in sports in elementary, middle, and high school later attend college with a scholarship for being in that sport. In most communities they offer job placement, license’s for people to work in hospitals or nursing homes. Most of the people in America can say that in their community it was something that kept that person wanting to continue striving for the best. Something that made them want more to have a better life than they had before, but it all depends on the environment and community that the child lives in.
The black race in general needs to stop disrespecting their women, children, and themselves period. You do not see any other race doing these kinds of acts so out in the open with such intense language. Their favorite term to call a woman is the name of a female dog or to call her out of her name, it is no need for that. Our women and men need to know that there are special, respect your woman as you respect your mother, encourage our students to strive for excellence, to be better than we were when we were their age. So many opportunities for our children to succeed if we just helped them to do so. Besides we already have a stereotype for our race let’s make a difference starting at home base first. On the holidays that we celebrate MLK day, June 19th, and many other special celebrations, have a good time, no need for all the arguing and fighting that you see happen when most black people get together for an event. It’s suppose to be a day of enjoyment and celebration, just celebration how hard is that.
A growing community has advancement opportunities for the children and for adults to prosper. A community, is somewhat like a village, helping to raise a child. In my neighborhood we offer scholarships for graduating students, it helps the student to know that you support them no matter what. Community’s offer many job opportunities for students after school, volunteer services for NJHS, a community is the backbone behind many successful students today, it starts from home and expands from there.
Online social networking helps bring a sense of pride, a way for friends and family to connect with those who are away at college, or those that are not at home. I have a myspace account that I use only to keep in touch with my friends, to gain new ones, and for basic fun for a student who typically spends most of her time on the computer. In my perspective this helps many people that are normally shy to go and begin a conversation with someone, will instantly gain a friend with someone over the net.

[GlobeChanger]

I, like everyone else in this country, was shocked at the blatent displays of racism being expressed over the last year. First, Kramer rants for at least 5-10 minutes on how we are still ******s, then Sean Bell and his friends get gunned down in Queens, and now Don Imus thinks that the Rutgers Basketball Team was a bunch of "nappy headed hoes". All of those things were appauling andI was shocked for a very brief moment.
Then I was enraged. We as a people are fighting the battles as they arise, then once we feel successfully appeased, the fight dies. It saddens me because at the time of Malcolm and Martin, we rallied on all issues that affected Black people, but now we seem to focus on those issues that socially affect us.
Sean Bell was killed on the eve of his wedding to the mother of his kids and his two friends were also injured by that same gunfire. I heard about how outraged people were until Don Imus called those young ladies some "nappy headed hoes". Then our entire focus turned from what was a more severe issue: NYPD firing excessively at unarmed people of color. To me, I want to know that if I am coming outside and I am confronted by the cops, I am able to reach for ID without being gunned down.
At this point, I think as a community, we need to consider what problems we are really facing. There are so many things going on in African American culture: AIDS, violence, drugs, sex, prison, and other real and pressing issues. I think we are only bothered by what others tell us to be bothered by. Until enough people are dissatisfied with the way of this society and the treatment of African Americans, then we can only begin to use the power contained within the community!

[drewpreme]

Power of Community

The African American race needs to be re-familiarized with the term unity. We have come a long way in the past 400 years, and I’m not sure that’s the right way. We need a sense of self. Blacks need to come together in way that can help us excel, regardless of society’s limitations.

It is important for African Americans to rebuild a sense of community that transcends socioeconomic boundaries. Divide and conquer. That’s the mentality of the enemy, and they have successfully carried that out. A race divided is a race weakened. As of now, Africans, whether in America or on the continent, are dependent on others. Blacks have come a long way, but are still nowhere near freedom. We are virtually still slaves, just not to the degree of before. For African nations to declare themselves ‘independent’ is ludicrous. The same goes for Black Americans. Among the many definitions for independent, two struck me. To be independent is to be ‘not depending or contingent upon something else for existence, operation, etc.’ or ‘not relying on others for aid or support.’ In essence, true independence means socially, economically, militarily, etc. Blacks have none of this. Sure, African countries have militaries but how do they outfit those militaries? No Black man owns the factories that make the soldier’s uniforms. No Black man owns the factories that produce the weapons that African armies use to slaughter their own people, let alone even know how to assemble the weaponry. Everything is imported (usually Europe or Asia). In America, the Black man spends his money in every community except his own.

The key to our survival is the support of each other. African Americans need unity because there is strength in numbers. Everyone else has mastered it. Indians come here poor. They’ll work menial jobs and live 20 to a house until they save up to buy a property, and then they open a gas station. When the next Indian arrives, they have a job waiting for them. Koreans do the same thing with nail shops. They support each other. Blacks in the states are trained to hate those from the motherland and vice versa. African Americans criticize their accent and complexion, while native Africans look down on Black Americans as ignorant. Yet everyone hails the white man. If you have a Caucasian business partner, you are seen as having more credibility. We need to reevaluate how we measure success. Most Blacks believe they have made it once they move into a ‘white neighborhood.’ Our neighborhoods can be just as nice. But we have to look at it like an investment and treat it as such. Blacks need to open more black-owned businesses instead of spending their hard-earned cash everywhere else. Black Americans must support and embrace each other.

A thriving community has the support and maintenance of its inhabitants. It is sad but Black communities (and this is not to say everyone) don’t care about themselves. Why do people equate success with living in a white neighborhood? This is because whites take care of their own. You don’t see this as often in the Black communities. This means treating your property as the investment it is and cutting the grass, picking up trash, shoveling the driveway, etc. A community will flourish if money can be reinvested back into that community. Here’s an example. In Harlem, the so-called capital of black America, how many people working behind the counters of stores are black? Approximately 95% of the people living in Harlem are Black, yet only 10% of the buildings in Harlem are Black-owned. There’s something wrong with that picture. Yet, if you go to Chinatown, every person you see is Chinese. They speak Chinese too, although they are in the states. They have Chinese businesses in their Chinese-owned buildings. They even have a Chinese busing service that many of us patronize because of cheaper rates. Black Americans need to learn from our foreign counterparts and work hard, support each other, and invest our money back into the community.

As Blacks, we need to learn to take care of ourselves. Indians wear saris made in India. We can do the same. Black Americans need to communicate with each other. Online social networks like Facebook and Myspace might be a step in that direction. Blacks need to embrace and support each other. Blacks must invest in themselves and their community. We also need to stop blaming everyone else for our shortcomings, and take some responsibility. Through these efforts and more, the African American race can become united.

[trevon98]

It is very important for blacks to rebuild a sense of community that transcends socio-economic boundaries in order for us to balance the racial/economical divide in our country. As blacks we must come together and support each other in every effort. We must do this by supporting black owned businesses, voting to support candidates who support improving the state of black America and we must stop degrading our selves, and allowing others to degrade our race. There are various fragmentations that ruin the black community. The two major ones are the idea that anything white is inherently better than blacks, which is a result of mental slavery, and the major ways in which we degrade and allow ourselves to be degraded. There is nothing wrong with having the best; my problem is that often blacks consider something the best because white people have it. The most evident display of degradation in the black community is the language we use to refer to each other, for example we affectionately call each other *****s, *******, hoes, and other derogatory names. These names have a negative polarizing stigmatism to them, and perpetuate the current state of Black America. My mother always told me that words have power; and I wonder how we as a people can advance if we our constantly referring to ourselves as ignorant whores. It is important blacks begin to perpetuate the positive aspects of black America, for example the accomplishments we have made and the struggles we have overcame. Another stigmatizing thing in the black community is our lack of community service and of philanthropy. If we don’t make an effort to give back to our own communities, why would anyone else. Historically Black Colleges and Universities are a perfect example of this negative stigmatism. In most cases alumni rarely give back to there schools, the schools as a result have a very small endowment and can not sustain with out government funding. This is important because education is the one way to even the playing field regardless of your racial and economical background. With the current exiting of Affirmative Action policies at Historically White Colleges and Universities Historically Black Colleges and Universities will be at the height of there importance. Social networks can be very important to the improvement of the state of black America. However, I think currently they are helping to perpetuate stereotypes of African Americans. I do not think they need to help est. the community we are currently living because there are so many problems with our current state; the networks should be used to perpetuate positive images of our communities. HBCU connect is perfect example of the positive images that can be used to help change the state of black America. In conclusion it is our responsibility to use any outlet we can to display positive images of the Black American community. The most accessible outlets are internet social networking sites including myspace, facebook, and HBCU connect. However, these sites our currently use in majority to degrade ourselves.

[clburton09]

I never thought I could use modern pop music to explain something along these lines, but rapper/singer Akon has a song that perfectly envelopes the community ties of African Americans.

Nobody wanna see us together but it don’t matter, no / ‘cause I got you / Yes, we gon’ fight / Yes, we gon’ fight / Believe we gon’ fight / Fight for our right to love, yeah / Nobody wanna see us together, but it don’t matter, no / ‘cause I got you

Transcending beyond our socio-economic status is what will really bring blacks together. We as, what I would call, the strongest creatures to roam this earth, have more in common than our pigments, poorness and a legacy of depravity amongst a racist race. Our culture should bind us. Our morals, values and believes are important in building a sense of community because the more we understand about each other’s ways of life, the stronger and more knowledgeable our minds are when tackling our socio-economic issues.

Years have passed where black people have chosen to become lax in the fight for our rights to freedom, happiness, liberty, love. In order to reconnect, maybe a sad event must take place to bring us back to the old feelings of disconnect. Sometimes pain can make us stronger. Perhaps in order to reconnect, we need a strong leader to show us that no one really wants to see us come together when really, the world is just trying to break us down and separate us. Perhaps Barack Obama can help.

Yes, we black people know that the misogyny of our black women through the media is ever evolving, that our rap music relishes the lives of gangsters and drug dealers, and that, furthermore, this is all being shown to our young black children. Yes, we know this. And we allow it to happen. No action has been taken until just recently. Russell Simmons is just now breaking ground on banning the word “*****” while the only thing that was the catalyst to all the melee was Don Imus’ remarks about NCAA womens’ basketball. Clearly, it should’ve been addressed a couple of decades prior to.

A thriving and growing community knows exactly what is wrong inside of the community and then proceeds to buckle down on the rising issues. A growing and thriving community has a leader, or two, that represent the issues, values and beliefs of the entire community. The black community does not have this yet, ergo, we are not a growing, thriving community. Not anymore, at least.

As far as web site communities such as MySpace, Facebook and HBCU Connect, the thicket – the safe haven - for every user is just the site itself. Being on these web sites make us feel as though we belong in one huge safe community. But when the thicket is getting lonely, the only outlet is to the field. Myspace and Facebook allow its users to post events. I believe that that is key to establishing a connecting community. We as users attend the events that we believe we’ll feel comfortable in. If someone were to create an event that said (and I know someone has in the past) “One Million Strong, an event for the Black Community taking place at the National Mall on such-and-such date,” I guarantee that nearly a million black people would show up…along with a gang of police squads, of course.

That right there closely mimics natural community ties that blacks are used to.

[mcampbel]

It is sad to say that racism is one thing that as divided the Black American community.Yes it is our own hatred against our own people that has divided us. We are still separated from light skin and the dark skin and those with good hair and those with kinky hair. Some still hold that golden rule of those being lighter than a brown paper bag being better than those that are not. We have began to start judging a person’s worth, character, and abilities on pure outside appearances. As a result, of this, we can not work together as one. We are now a divided people.
We still continue to judge people on their worth on the basis of the residence. We just don’t associate with those “On the wrong side of the track.” We use this as form of judgment of others, as though where you live depends you intelligence or your contribution to society. The different kind of education that each receives divides our community. Most, not all, who are college educated, seem to think that are smarter than those who are not. The same can be said about those who are street educated. The simple truth is, for some, if places were traded neither would last a day in each other world. And there are other reasons such has money. And it is for these reasons Black Americans need to re-build a sense of community that transcends socio-economic boundaries.
Black Americans need to find a way that would enable them to worth together as a whole so that we can better the community. The type of community that needs to be built is one where Black Americans can be able to listen to each other so that a better way of existing and living in the community can exist. By listening to each other, the concerns can be understood and addressed so that everyone in the community can be heard. Then the community can address the problems together.
A solution to the problem of a divided community is to stop seeing each other as “Those people” or “others.” When Black Americans start seeing each other as part of a collective whole or as one then a better community would come into effect. Part of what makes a growing and thriving community is one that can worth together. Once one put their petty differences aside then there is a clear start to work together. By working together, Black Americans can figure out what will better help their community out. If one argues amongst each other then there is no way for the community to grow. The results would be only of hurting the community and dividing it even more.
On-line social networking platforms such as HBCU Connect, Facebook and MySpace can best serve to aid in establishing the community that closely mimics the natural communities to which we were accustomed to growing up by having open discussion boards. Most of the sites have features wager one can blog, write notes, or create groups where its members are able to discuss issues freely. The issues of the Black American community can then be discussed country wide span. Platforms like these make it able for a large number of people to connect to each other and even work as a whole. These platforms mimic the natural community of one that works together as a large functioning system to better help each other.