By Bobby R. Henry, Sr.
I will start my opinion by first thanking Reuben Shelton III, Esq., the National President (Grand Polemarch) of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc for stepping out there and speaking honestly about what is going on in Florida with Governor Ron DeSantis and his latest attack on Black people in his state. During the Kappa’s 86th Annual Conclave on the Bay in Tampa, Florida, Shelton took to the microphone and spoke candidly about the idiocy of the state of politics in Florida. DeSantis’ latest stunt is publicizing social studies standards that claim slaves benefitted from slavery. It wasn’t enough that he attacked the College Board about the content and curriculum embedded in the teaching of African American History Advanced Placement course. It wasn’t enough that he has cut support and funding to all diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. It wasn’t enough that his ban on books is specifically targeted at Black authors and content that is important to Black history. Teachers are afraid to teacher Black History and have shied away from anything that has the slightest hint of equity, diversity, or inclusion.
It feels as though Black leaders have stood by in almost stunned silence as DeSantis has strategically and boldly dismantled the decades of progress made for racial progress. We are literally at war for our survival in the state of Florida. Organizations have begun publishing travel advisories telling people not to travel to the state. Organizations are cancelling conferences which is negatively impacting the economics of travel and tourism. Yet, DeSantis is full steam ahead. He doesn’t care.
What nags at me most is the silence of ‘most’ of the Black churches, The NAACP, Divine 9 collectively and eight individually and Black elected officials.
Where is the outrage? We have more Black elected officials than ever before yet our voice and influence over racial injustice are weaker than ever before.
I remember a time when just a handful of Black leaders met at the Elks, talked about the issues in our community and planned to get things done. Our coming together is like a noisy gong and clanging cymbal. There is no collective purpose, only individual greed, and comfort.
There is an enemy in the midst and our leaders are focused on individual needs like their re-elections and not the needs of community.
I consider the sacrifices of the parents of Linda Brown, Ruby Bridges, and The Little Rock Nine. They sent their children to integrate schools knowing that they would be cursed at, spit on and possibly hurt or killed. These parents were likely uneducated and had very little money. But they had something we lack. They had a vision and hope for their children and their children’s children. Unlike us, they understood the assignment.
“How long will we keep silent. Will we find our voice when they come for us? When it is too late? In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.
