Page 6
Fortiani» (Observer
December 7, 2011
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Engaging More in the Occupy Movement
Drawing
strength by
giving back
about a w om an nam ed dent Stephanie Bullock, and died a
O seo la M cC arty from few months after Stephanie’s gradu
Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
ation in 1999.
In 1995 at the age of 85,
1 tell that story because it reminds
Ms. McCarty, an African- us of the legacy of community ser
A m erican w om an w ho vice and philanthropy that have al
by M arc H. M okial
earned a living washing and ways been at the heart of the black
The
black
ironing other people’s laun community. There is no way we
‘Twittersphere” and “blogosphere” dry, donated her entire life-savings, could have survived the hardships
< are abuzz with talk about ways to $ 150,000, to the University of South of slavery, Jim Crow, the Great De
( engage more African Americans in ern Mississippi to give black chil- pression and the Great Recession
! he “Occupy” movement. There are
< ;ven social networks forming under
The black church has led the way. Community
t he banner: “Occupy the Hood.”
From Zuccotti Park in M anhat- “giving circles, ” where individuals collectively pool
an to W estlake Park in Seattle, their resources and decide what projects to fund, are
he participants in Occupy events
t end to be overwhelm ingly young, on the rise. For years, philanthropic organizations
I vhite, and middle class. This is such as the National Urban League, National Black
he case even though the ills the United Fund and the United Negro College Fund,
( Occupy M ovem ent have identi-
ied, income inequality and the have been providing critical, and in some cases, life
C orrupt and predatory actions of saving assistance.
»ig banks, are hitting comm uni-
ies of color the hardest.
dren the chance she never had to without leaning on one another -
In pondering the potential rea- attend the previously segregated whether that meant assisting travel
ons for this disconnect, I thought university.
ers on the Underground Railroad, or
hat maybe the stress of unemploy
Her actions inspired many and sharing food with an out-of-work
ment and lack of opportunities are led President Clinton to award her neighbor. Giving back has always
s o draining in the “hood” that there the Presidential Citizens Medal. been front and center in the African-
s imply isn’t enough time or energy Osceola McCarty’s only wish was American experience.
t( mjoin a rally. Or maybe, with more that she be allowed to attend the
The black church has led the
o f a focus on racism’s role in struc- graduation of the first recipient of way. Community “giving circles,”
tl lral inequality, more people of color the McCarty Scholarship. She de where individuals collectively pool
w 'ouldjoin. Then, however, I thought veloped a friendship with that stu their resources and decide what
projects to fund, are on the rise. For
years, philanthropic organizations
such as the National Urban League,
National Black United Fund and the
United Negro College Fund, have
been providing critical and in some
cases, life-saving assistance to mil
lions of African Americans. A new
generation of African American
philanthropists is also making a dif
ference , people like Oprah Winfrey,
Bill Cosby, and Alphonse Fletcher
are empowering the most vulner
able to dream and create better to
morrows.
As we enter the holiday season,
we should draw strength from that
well-spring o f compassion. We
should remember, while public pro
test has its place, these African
A m erican s th at have w alked
through the doors of opportunity
and achieved economic success
have an absolute responsibility to
make a difference and to give back.
Giving back can be in the form of
time and talent as well as money.
Occupy the Hood with whatever
gifts you have. As Oseola McCarty
put it, “If you want to be proud of
yourself, you have got to do things
you can be proud of.”
Marc H. Morial is president and
chief executive officer o f the Na
tional Urban League.