A Path to Glory takes work and money

FIRST IN A SERIES OF SIX GATHERINGS TO DISCUSS BLACK PATHS FOR OUR BLACK MOVEMENT!

Dear Brother Joe:

I Am Finally getting around to writing the document I had promised to write to you several weeks ago concerning a Public Event where Attorney Michael Coard and Myself argue and discuss what some suggested paths  might be for Our Black movement. This entire document is for the betterment of Black People, not our Caucasian friends. Often we work and work for progressive change, but no one really knows the parameters of this change, How to achieve it, when enough change is enough, who shares what, How to get there, How do we include EVERYBODY, including communities of Black People we personally might not like or appreciate and so forth. Some of the items I want to air out include:

1] The absolute ridiculousness of not having a system set up where Black activists are paid some sort of money or stipend in an on-going and consistent manner for the work they do as long as that work has been deemed effective, helpful and needed.

2] How to include communities that are traditionally left out and or get communities that generally don’t relate to each other to work on at least some issues together. Er Go: How to include more Black children & Black youth and Black teenagers; Black women; Black elderly;  Black Lesbians, Black Gays, Black Bisexuals and Black transgendered People; Blacks in the prison system; the Black church and Mosque communities; etc. & How to include the community of Black handicapped People, etc.

3] How do we determine what to work on. For example, I thought to spend a whole election cycle on fighting the Republicans on voter ID was ridiculous. Such an ID would cost maybe $10. Or $5. and would have put the issue to rest. To fight on this issue meant we didn’t get to some meatier issues like child abuse in our own homes; the rape of our women by our own men; the abuse and rape of men in the prison and general reform of the prison system; getting enough money in everybody’s Black hands to have enough to live a decent life; and protecting our Black males and Black females from harm when they are of an impressionable age. I live in the Black community and I am Black and I have seen poor Black People spend upwards of $100. a month of lottery tickets. Yet no Black leaders had the heart or fortitude to stand up and say we should take the responsibility to buy our own ID card to vote properly and shut the darned Republicans up? Preposterous.!! We as Black Poor People also spend a good amount of money hundreds of dollars a year-- on alcohol, marijuana, brand new sneakers for our children, haircuts when we don’t need them and food at McDonalds and Burger King that is literally killing us, and we spent an entire election cycle talking about voter ID cards and How we don’t want them or don’t want to pay for them?.  Preposterous Again.!!

4] Money from the state, federal government, the private sector and the city of Philadelphia to enjoy the Arts each month. I think we should get a $250. a month to enjoy artistic events in the city and I think such a program should be extended to each and every city and hamlet and village in the United States and the world. It is fantastically ridiculous that we can live in Philadelphia and never get out of North Philadelphia and go down town or in our own communities to enjoy a first run movie; a play with Black actors and Black actresses; a jazz show; or other Black artistic events. Such events enrich us; teach us and broaden and widen our experience as Black humans and help us understand communities within our community we might not like or want to understand because we have bought into some of the prejudices that are sold like hot cakes on the open market through the media.

5] We should also use each and every opportunity to make sure ALL Black People of every stripe and income level and sexual orientation are included in on the development and production of the artistic events we experience as Black North Americans.   I am dog sick and tired of seeing a few Caucasian gentlemen share so much of the production access and wealth generated in that development of media  only with and among themselves.  We are often the ones who have the source brain power and ideas to create plays, tv shows, movies, music, etc, and we are sucked dry of our talent & ideas, but we often end up NOT reaping the financial benefits from the creation of this media. Our own Black millionaires and Black billionaires don’t seem able or willing to stand up for the poor Black masses and make sure we all are included wholeheartedly in this media production process. We need Black groups, Black individuals, Black organizations & Black institutions that will stand up to be financed properly to do the Black advocacy work necessary to broaden our Black inclusion at every level of production. And in ALL job categories

This document was written by Brother Tracy Gibson, full legal name: Mr. Tracy Charles Gibson; I am a proud supporter & member of the African American Museum in Philadelphia; The National Museum of Jewish American History [Look up the proper name]; WURD Radio 900 AM; & Other Progressive media & or other Progressive Black media .