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Abstract

e-9fa209806067?source=---------</a> former U.S President Obama speaks of the twin pillars of protest and politics. He seems to suggest that people should vote and elect conscientious officials who would treat blacks with respect. I cannot argue against a former U.S President. He knows American politics better than me.At the same time, his solutions seem as naïve and simplistic because racial prejudice against blacks is deep-rooted. It is slavery’s legacy that America forgot to relinquish despite the fact that a large majority of the white population is liberal. These well-meaning individuals cannot change institutional prejudice against the blacks on their own. Racial discrimination against blacks is not going to go away merely because a few officials and policemen behave like gracious gentlemen.This brings us to the question of whether violence is the right way to claim justice. Some people have justified the mob violence by stating that structural violence can only be countered through retaliatory violence.It is true that violence has achieved more things in history than non-violence.”Violence never settles anything should be debated by the ghosts of Hitler and Stalin, with the city fathers of Carthage as referees.”( Robert A.Heinlein )People cite Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr, as proven examples of non-violence’s success in forcing changes. There is a counterargument to this. Martin Luther King succeeded only because previous incidents of black violence forced the whites to relent.Would Gandhi’s non-violence have worked against Hitler? Would the British have given up India had World War-II had not happened?</p

Options

Nelson Mandela was not exactly an apostle of peace.The allure of violence is hard to resist when retributory passions are running high. I assert that mindless violence by blacks will harm the black community’s quest for justice. To argue that anger is natural and should be allowed free expression is dangerous. Violent reprisals targeting innocent people will antagonize the silent majority who sympathize with the blacks. Violence will play into the hands of a hostile regime which will use it as an excuse to unleash further repression.Forget about violent revolution. Strong political mobilization and consolidation of black votes will force politicians to take reforms seriously.Black Americans should organize themselves politically instead of depending on the two mainstream parties. Why not start your own political party, say the African- American National Congress?However, political mobilization will not work without strong leadership. No movement has ever succeeded in history without being led by a strong and popular leader.Leaderless movements will create anarchy. They are doomed to fail.Political unity under a powerful leader will force the government to climb down and negotiate reforms. The political mobilization of a minority is a legitimate aspiration in a democracy. There is no reason it should lead to secession if the party’s vision and mission state the aim of securing the right to equality and justice for the blacks within the U.S. constitution.But where is the leader who will emancipate the blacks?Thanks for reading.</article></body>

Black Americans Need Political Mobilization Under a Strong Leader

Leaderless mobs cause more harm than good

I wondered whether I should write this article. As a non-American, what right did I have to judge America or Americans? Should I wade into America’s troubled political waters?

Watching the violent protests after the brutal murder of George Floyd, my heart went out for the black community whose fight for justice and equality has stirred the conscience of the international community.

My intention in writing this piece is to offer an outsider’s perspective of what is missing the black community’s quest for equality and social justice.

Strong leadership by Martin Luther King helped the civil rights movement to get the historic Civil Rights Act passed.

Unfortunately, black Americans are politically divided. They lack a pan-American organization led by a charismatic leader who can articulate the community’s aspirations to the nation. He/she can become the community's interlocutor and spokesperson.

In his Medium article, https://readmedium.com/how-to-make-this-moment-the-turning-point-for-real-change-9fa209806067?source=--------- former U.S President Obama speaks of the twin pillars of protest and politics. He seems to suggest that people should vote and elect conscientious officials who would treat blacks with respect. I cannot argue against a former U.S President. He knows American politics better than me.

At the same time, his solutions seem as naïve and simplistic because racial prejudice against blacks is deep-rooted. It is slavery’s legacy that America forgot to relinquish despite the fact that a large majority of the white population is liberal. These well-meaning individuals cannot change institutional prejudice against the blacks on their own. Racial discrimination against blacks is not going to go away merely because a few officials and policemen behave like gracious gentlemen.

This brings us to the question of whether violence is the right way to claim justice. Some people have justified the mob violence by stating that structural violence can only be countered through retaliatory violence.

It is true that violence has achieved more things in history than non-violence.”Violence never settles anything should be debated by the ghosts of Hitler and Stalin, with the city fathers of Carthage as referees.”( Robert A.Heinlein )

People cite Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr, as proven examples of non-violence’s success in forcing changes. There is a counterargument to this. Martin Luther King succeeded only because previous incidents of black violence forced the whites to relent.

Would Gandhi’s non-violence have worked against Hitler? Would the British have given up India had World War-II had not happened?

Nelson Mandela was not exactly an apostle of peace.

The allure of violence is hard to resist when retributory passions are running high. I assert that mindless violence by blacks will harm the black community’s quest for justice. To argue that anger is natural and should be allowed free expression is dangerous. Violent reprisals targeting innocent people will antagonize the silent majority who sympathize with the blacks. Violence will play into the hands of a hostile regime which will use it as an excuse to unleash further repression.

Forget about violent revolution. Strong political mobilization and consolidation of black votes will force politicians to take reforms seriously.

Black Americans should organize themselves politically instead of depending on the two mainstream parties. Why not start your own political party, say the African- American National Congress?

However, political mobilization will not work without strong leadership. No movement has ever succeeded in history without being led by a strong and popular leader.

Leaderless movements will create anarchy. They are doomed to fail.

Political unity under a powerful leader will force the government to climb down and negotiate reforms. The political mobilization of a minority is a legitimate aspiration in a democracy. There is no reason it should lead to secession if the party’s vision and mission state the aim of securing the right to equality and justice for the blacks within the U.S. constitution.

But where is the leader who will emancipate the blacks?

Thanks for reading.