February 19, 2014
The
Portland Observer
Black History Month
Page 19
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Joining the Forward Together Movement
Solidarity for a
common cause
R ev . M. L inda J aramillo
On Feb. 7, I got
to be part of a march
through Raleigh, N.
C. M ore than
80,000 people from
across the country
and all walks of life
joined together in solidarity with
our North Carolinian brothers and
sisters to call attention to the re
cent immergence of state legisla
tive actions that will further deny
basic rights to those who are
already marginalized.
Led by the North Carolina
NAACP, the Forward Together
Movement has gathered over 150
groups who have joined together
in a powerful nonviolent demon
by
stration of unity.
The issues of injustice being
raised by North Carolinians in
clude the rolling back of voting
rights, access to health care, re
segregation of public schools,
immigration reform, income
inequality, women’s rights,
LGBT rights, and environ
mental justice.
Each of the 150 coalition
member groups continue to
focus on their primary mission, but
it is clear that The Forward To
gether Movement has increased
their visibility, strengthened their
determination, and demonstrated
the power of the people to come
together for a common cause. It is
democracy in action.
We congregated in Raleigh as a
demonstration of solidarity. Over
whelming hospitality and welcome
was extended by North Carolin
ians that day. However, some
press reports noted that thou
sands who showed up did not
reside in the state, some criticiz
ing the presence of outsiders.
One such story even referred to
non-North Carolinians as agita
tors being lured in by the North
Carolina NAACP to support their
dissenting views.
Another reason we joined the
public rally was to remind state
elected leaders that thousands of
North Carolinians are left out.
They do not have access to a
government “of the people, for
the people, and by the people.”
These principles give people the
right to challenge their elected
officials who are passing laws
that are unfair and unjust. Exclu
sion from democracy is happen
ing in North Carolina just as it is
happening in other states through
out the land.
All the justice issues that I
named above do plague the com
mon good in our country. One
that is a glaring obstruction of
justice is the right to vote. The
North Carolina Legislature just
passed new rules requiring that
voters present acceptable I.D.
cards. Furthermore, they have
shortened voter hours and done
away with early voting, knowing
full well that 70 percent of Afri
can Americans voted early in 2012.
This does not look like democ
racy to me.
Voting is fundamental to this
nation and essential for a sound
democracy. Unfortunately, in
cases like these, it seems to apply
only to the wealthiest and most
powerful. We see it demonstrated
over and over during the election
season when the most viable can»
didate is measured by his or her
ability to raise money rather than
votes. Then highly financed lob
byists converge on elected offi
cials to ensure that their wealth is
protected during deliberations on
laws meant for the common good
also known as equality and fair
ness. This is happening in North
Carolina as it is in states through
out the land.
We came from across the
country as near as Georgia and
Washington, D.C. and as far as
Ohio and Oregon to show that
Dr. King was right, “a threat to
justice anywhere is a threat to
justice everywhere.” On that day,
we knew that we were all North
Carolinians.
Rev. M. Linda Jaramillo is
executive minister for the United
Church of Christ’s Justice and
Witness Ministries.
Month: Now More
America’s
diversity is our
strength
fortunately, the suppression of "W hat we need is not a history
voting rights and other instances of selected races or nations, but
of racial discrimination remain. the history of the world void of
All one needs to do is look at national bias, race, hate and re
the glaring disparities between ligious prejudice.” That is a goal
blacks and whites in income, that America is still struggling to
by M arc H. M orial
employment, incarceration rates, achieve.
Ever since the election of educational achievem ent and
In fact, legislatures in a number
Barack Obama
health status to see that race still of states, including New York,
as A m e ric a ’s
matters in America. Income in Illinois, Pennsylvania and New
first black Presi
equality and equal opportunity Jersey, have passed laws man
d en t and the
100th anniver
sary of the Na
tio n a l U rban
League two years later, the pe
rennial debate about the need
for Black History Month has
intensified.
Some have questioned the
need for a special month to rec
ognize the many unknown and
unsung achievements of Afri are still part of the unfinished dating or encouraging teachers to
can Americans. With Obama as business of American democ broaden their history courses to
President, the logic goes, we racy.
include more ethnic, racial and
have now achieved Dr. King’s
In 1926, after centuries of gender diversity. That is why we
dream of a non-racial America blacks being excluded, not only still recognize March as Women’s
where everyone is judged by the from the mainstream o f Ameri History Month, May as Jewish
content of their character, not can life, but also from the text American History Month, Sept.
the color of their skin. I wish it books in our schools, the African 15 to Oct. 15 as Hispanic Heri
were so.
American historian, Carter G. tage Month and February as Black
Last year we celebrated the Woodson, did a service to all History Month.
50th anniversary of the March A m ericans w hen he created
These celebrations serve a
on Washington and the passage Negro History Week, which was dual purpose: first to build self
of the Voting Rights Act. This ex p an d ed to B lack H istory esteem among historically op
year marks the 50th anniversary Month in 1976.
pressed people, and second to
of the Civil Rights Act and the
W oodson’s vision was one of remind all Americans that in the
repeal of the Poll Tax. But un- unity and inclusion. He said, face of seemingly insurmount
These celebrations serve a dual purpose:
first to build self-esteem among historically
oppressed people, and second to remind all
Americans that in the face o f seemingly
insurmountable odds, our diversity is our
greatest strength.
able odds, our diversity is our laughter, and of hope. It should be
greatest strength.
a beacon that reminds us of what
Black history is American his we were; what challenges we still
to ry . W hile the sto ry and face; and point us towards what
achievements of African Ameri we can become.”
cans are especially celebrated
As we honor those who have
this month, the contributions we made history, we must also rec
have made and the struggles we ognize that we are history in the
still face deserve recognition making. Through our work, com
every day of the year.
mitment to equality and civic
Next year, for the first time, engagement, we can and we
Black History will enter the main must, in the words of President
stream when the Smithsonian’s Obama, continue to “right the
National Museum of African wrongs of history and make our
American History and Culture world anew.”
opens on the National Mall in
Marc H. Morial is presi
Washington. The Museum de dent and chief executive of
scribes itself as “a place of mean ficer o f the National Urban
ing, of memory, of reflection, of League.
THE LAW OFFICES OF
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Patrick John Sweeney
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