BY
TAVIS SMILEY
It would be an understatement to say “WE BAD” if you are referring to the commitments made by members of the Still I Rise Book Club after discussing this month’s book. How could we just read How to Make Black America Better and then do nothing? We can’t! It’s not possible! So our discussion was focused on Smiley’s ten challenges to Black America. Here is the list and our commitments:
1. Think Black First – When a Black person does a good job for us, we will share the information with family friends and club members. If you have business cards of Blacks, bring them to meeting and share.
2. Look past whites & see ourselves – Each member is to bring a letter addressed to herself at the party on December 8. In that letter, the member will write what she plans to do in 2002 to make Black America better through self-determination, self-reliance and self-respect. Include at least one goal for an economic plan.
3. Put Family First – Each member will select one family member to reach out to.
4. Consider consequences of our actions – Consider yourself a role model.
5. Be part of the larger Black Community – We can reach out to African students at Malone, Walsh and Mount Union. Perhaps connect with an African from Ghana one of our members knows. More about him later.
6. Preserve health – Each member will concentrate on physical, emotional, psychologically, and spiritually health. We may begin walking together.
7. Develop an Economic Plan Apply the principals on page thirty to our lives. Maybe establish a trust. When you write the letter to yourself, include economic plan.
8. Make education number 1 each member will attend the swearing in of a fellow book club member, on January 14 at Timken High School to show support of Black folks for education. We will tell others to come also.
9. Encourage the Black Church. We ARE the Black church. As a book club, we are going to plan a coming together of women for one week in Canton about the Black church. As we plan each member is to seek prayful guidance every Wednesday at 6:PM. Time and day are important because we want to speak with a united voice.
10. Establish a legacy – Define your own legacy, what do you want people to say about you when you are gone.
Although we did not discuss the remaining portion of the book, perhaps we can devote some time to it at a later date.