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PROJECT 2019 |
(Keynote Address: The 2009 "Project 2019 Annual Conference")
As always, it is an honor to come before you each
year to explain, to reinforce, and to bring you up-to-date on the vision of
Project 2019.
Those of you who have attended Annual Conference Banquets in the past might
remember that I usually base my presentation on one or more significant events
that have occurred over the past year. And while in some years it was a difficult
choice, the theme for this year’s presentation was an easy decision. And
that is because the most significant event over the past year that relates to
Project 2019 is, of course, the historic election of Barack Obama as the first
African American president of the United States.
Like the rest of black America, I was thrilled about the election of President
Obama. However, I probably was not as surprised by his election as some black
Americans were. If you know the message of Project 2019 – and you believe
in the message of Project 2019 – then you knew that it was possible to
elect a black man or a black woman president of the United States. However,
I must admit that I thought that the first black president would be an older,
more conservative black man with the credential of someone like Colin Powell.
In any case, for those of you on the Project 2019 e-mail mailing list, you may
have already read some of my thoughts regarding the election and the presidency
of Barack Obama. The title of the article that I e-mailed a few months ago was
– “President Obama Is NOT Mission Accomplished For Black America.”
Here are some of the highlights from that article.
On May 1, 2003 – less than six weeks after the start of the Iraq War –
former president George W. Bush, landed on the air craft carrier, USS Abraham
Lincoln, and spoke of the success of the Iraq war while standing under a giant
“Mission Accomplished” banner. Six years later – having spent
hundred of billions of dollars – and after thousands of Americans were
killed and wounded – we now know what a big mistake that “mission
accomplished banner” was.
Black Americans must not make the mistake of thinking that the nation’s
first African American presidency is an occasion to hang a "mission accomplished
banner.”
As President Barack Obama begins his first term, black Americans, based on all
standard economic measurements and social indicators, are at or near the bottom
of every socioeconomic category. And, short of divine intervention, eight years
from now when President Obama completes his second term, black Americans will
still be at or near the bottom of almost every social and economic category.
There is nothing that President Obama can do to change this reality. And this
would be the case even if America were not in the midst of its greatest financial
crisis in decades – not fighting two wars – and not heading towards
a two trillion dollar federal deficit.
This is not to say that black America’s many problems cannot be overcome.
It is to say that – one man – even an African American president
– can not solve black America’s problems. No less was true regarding
black America’s struggle for civil rights.
Dr. Martin Luther King – as a lone voice – could not have won the
battle. The battle was won because Dr. King “showed us the way”
– and millions of decent, hardworking black Americans did what was necessary
to ensure victory.
And, now, President Obama has “shown us the way.” And it is now
up to millions of decent, hardworking black Americans to do what needs to be
done to reverse the consequences of four debilitating centuries of slavery and
oppression.
There are three areas that black Americans – as a people – must
address in order to be successful in America.
Step one: Black Americans must accept the fact that – while racism may
still be “a” problem – in the twenty-first century –
racism is no longer "the" problem. Black Americans must also understand
that they have won the struggle for civil rights. And black Americans must come
to terms with the reality that they will never receive any “meaningful”
reparations for Slavery and that affirmative action – which at best benefited
only a few thousand blacks – will continue to be chipped away until it
is merely a footnote in history.
Step two: Black Americans must accept the harsh reality that, beginning with
the arrival of the first slaves in America, blacks have always been –
“by design” – the least educated racial or ethnic group in
America. This is why – in the twenty-first century – blacks are,
as they have always been, the least educated people in America. And it is paramount
that black Americans accept the irrefutable fact that – black America
will never attain social and economic equality – until black Americans
reach educational parity with the rest of America.
Step three: Millions of black Americans, young and old, rich and poor, leaders
and followers, must come together to change black America’s prevailing
“mindset” of apathy and even negativity towards formal education
and the seeking of knowledge. Black America must create a new, positive mindset
– a mindset that ranges from “enthusiasm” – to “fanaticism”
in regard to formal education and the pursuit of knowledge.
Clearly, black America’s shortfall in formal education is the major contributor
to its lower economic status. And black America’s lower economic status
is the major contributor to its many social ills. Educated, gainfully employed
blacks have no need for welfare. They are less likely to engage in criminal
activities or even be victims of crime. Their children are more likely to live
in two parent homes. And they are less likely to be involved in gangs, hard
drugs, or engage in other risky behavior.
It may be argued that education and knowledge is not “all” that
is required to reverse black America’s four centuries of being an underclass
in America. However, there can be no doubt that education and knowledge is the
"gateway" that will lead to the solutions to all the problems that
afflict black America.
Knowledge – is – power.
Rightfully so, black Americans should be proud of Barack Obama. However, black
Americans must understand that his success is essentially the success of “one”
black man. And, as long as black Americans – as a people – remain
the least educated racial group in America, blacks will remain the people with
the least amount of power and success in America.
Even as President of the United States, Barack Obama cannot fix black America.
And, at the end of the day, Barack Obama’s most significant contribution
to black America may be that his name was added to the roster of great Africans
Americans whose lives are “proof” of what can be accomplished by
black Americans who profoundly value and relentlessly pursue education and knowledge.
Now – as I pointed out a couple of minutes ago – these were some
of the highlights of the article that I e-mailed to hundred of people regarding
the election and the presidency of Barack Obama. And everyone who responded
to this article was in agreement – or, at least, got the point of the
article.
However, there was one response that caught my eye. Basically, the person suggested
that “I” needed to “chill out” – as he put it,
“give it a rest” – “let us (meaning black folks) just
celebrate now.”
Well…, after, taking a couple of deep breaths, I responded to his e-mail
– “politely” noting that, in fact, I really wanted to send
out this message last Spring when Barack Obama won his first primary. But –
I waited.
And, last summer, when Barack Obama became the Democratic nominee for president,
I wanted to send out my message then. But – I waited.
And, last Fall, as the economy began to fall apart, and I knew that black Americans
would be the first to suffer, I wanted to send out my message. But – I
waited.
And ten days before the presidential election when Jennifer Hudson’s mother,
her sister, and her nephew were viciously murdered by a black man, I wanted
to send out my message then. But – I waited.
And, needless to say, on Wednesday, November 5, the day after Barack Obama was
elected, I was dying to send out my message. But – I waited.
I waited all the rest of November, all of December, and most of January. For
eleven weeks – as the economy continued to collapse and black employment
rose twice as fast as the national average – I waited.
As black children all across America continued to go to bed hungry and wake
up to go to schools that get the least amount of funding – I waited.
As gang violence continued and drug use increased – as black Americans,
young and old, continued to be terrorized and murdered in our black neighborhoods
– I waited.
In fact, I sent out my article on January 21st – the day “after”
the inauguration of Barack Obama as president of the United States. In my mind
two and a half months was “long enough” for black folks to “give
it a rest” – “long enough” for black folks to “celebrate.”
And to be honest with you, I think that two days – the day after the election
– and the day of the inauguration – would been enough time to –
“give it a rest” – and enough time to “celebrate.”
As a people, we have “way” too much work to do to be “giving
it a rest.” And, as we look around at the social and economic problems
that 90% of black Americans are facing, we “don’t” have a
whole lot to celebrate.
But – I “do” understand. Our journey in America has been “so
long” – and “so hard” – it is easy to lose sight
of the ultimate goal. I am sure that this is the reason why a lot of black Americans
hung a “mission accomplished banner” – celebrated –
and took a rest – when Slavery ended.
And – when we successfully fought and won our struggle for civil rights,
in my opinion, I think that most black Americans hung a “mission accomplished
banner” – celebrated – and have been resting for the past
forty years.
We need to be smarted than George W. Bush. We need to know and we need to understand
that – the time to hang a “mission accomplished banner” –
the time to celebrate – and the time to “maybe” take a “short
rest” – will be when black Americans – as a people –
reach social and economic equality in America.
We can not rest as long as the median income for black Americans is almost half
the median income for the rest of America.
We can not rest as long as black unemployment is twice as high as the unemployment
rate of the rest of America.
We can not rest as long as one out of every five black children is born to a
teenage mother.
We can not rest as long as only one third of black children live with two parents
– and more than half of all black children are raised by single black
females.
We can not rest as long as more than one out of every four black women and more
than one out of every three black children live well below the poverty income
level.
We – can – not – rest.
And tell me this. What exactly do we have to celebrate…?
Should we be celebrating the fact that – although black Americans are
only 13% of the population, - black Americans account for more about half of
all new HIV and AIDS cases?
Should we be celebrating the fact that – although black Americans are
only 13% of the population – almost “half” of “all”
murder victims are black Americans?
Should we be celebrating the fact that – “one” out of every
“nine” black men between the ages of 20 and 34 is currently locked
up in America’s prisons and jails?
Should we be celebrating the fact that – although black Americans are
only13% of the population – almost half of “all” Americans
who are incarcerated are black Americans?
Indeed, it’s a good thing that President Obama did not have to depend
on the black vote to get elected because – as a result of felony disenfranchisement
laws – one and a half million black men – that’s 13% of “all”
black men – have permanently lost their right to vote.
And, finally, what I “really” don’t feel like celebrating
is the fact that the life expectancy of black men continues to be up to eleven
years less than the life expectancy of white women, black women, and white men.
"These” are the social and economic conditions that I am talking
about when you hear me say or when you read in Project 2019 literature that
“black America will never attain social and economic equality –
until black Americans reach educational equality with the rest of America.”
And let me say it again. I realize that education and knowledge is not “all”
that is required to reverse black America’s four centuries of being at
the bottom of the socioeconomic ladder. However, there can be no doubt that
education and knowledge is the "gateway" that will lead to the solutions
to all the problems that afflict black America.
And that makes all the sense in the world – because we are where we are
today – because for 246 years of Slavery, it was illegal to educate black
Americans – and for the 100 years of the Jim Crow era that followed Slavery,
the education that was available to black Americans was hard to come by –
and almost all of it was substandard. It has only been since the Civil Rights
movement of the 1960’s that all black children have an opportunity to
receive a quality education.
You know – my greatest fear is that America told us for such a long time
that education is not important to us – that we are still convinced that
“book leanin” is only for white folks.
And the facts speak for themselves. Black Americans are dead last in reading
proficiency, math proficiency, and science proficiency. Black Americans have
the highest grade school and high school dropout rates. And, based on percentages
of population, white Americans earn twice as many college degrees as black Americans.
And – here’s the thing. Black Americans are not dumb. Black Americans
are as “intelligent” as any other people in the world. However,
“intelligence” only means having the “capacity to learn”
– it does not speak to the desire to learn – or what it is that
someone chooses to learn.
Think about the last time you saw black kids playing a video game. If you’re
like me, you’re amazed at how they can learns all those moves –
and all that other stuff – and keep track of all of it in their heads.
And if you are ever listen to black kids talking about their favorite sports
team or their favorite hip-hop artist, it is remarkable how much they know about
them. But ask them to find Russia on a map – or who is Condoleezza Rice
is – and they don’t have a clue.
And what do they say when it’s time to memorize the preamble to the Constitution
of the United States – “it’s too hard…” A few
minutes later, you hear them repeating “every single word” of Beyonce’s
or “Fifty Cents” – excuse me – that’s “fiddy
cent” – latest rap song.
For hundred of years, America has told us that formal education was not important
to us – that the key to success was to “just – work –
hard.” Well, for 246 years of Slavery, we worked harder than any people
in the history of the world – and what did that get us…? Just more
hard work.
And during the Jim Crow era, we worked hard sharecropping, we worked at auto
plants, steel mills, and factories all across America. And what did that get
us…? It got us laid off – when America discovered these jobs could
be done in other countries where you only had to pay workers a couple of dollars
an hour.
Our – children – deserve – better.
I grew up at a time when the color of your skin had everything to do with how
successful you could be in America. The election of Brack Obama as President
of the United States has “proven” – that the color of your
skin may still matter in the 21st century – but – education and
knowledge matters even more.
"Our” children – not just “your” children –
but “all” black children – deserve better lives than the lives
lived by their great-grandparents, their grandparents, and their parents. And
the only way that this can and will happen is by black America reaching educational
parity with the rest of America.
Before I close, I want to take a couple of minutes to tell you about –
Carla James. Carla, who was my wife’s niece, passed away as a result of
complications from Lupus this past Christmas Eve. She had four children who,
at the time, were 11, 12, 13 and 16-years old. Destiny, the youngest, is now
being raised by Carla’s sister, Tamicka – along with Tamicka’s
husband and his daughter.
George, the 16-year old, is still struggling with making the right choices –
choices that will affect the rest of his life. We ask for your prayers for all
four of Carla’s kids, but especially for George.
And, finally, for those of you who do not already know, my wife, Rose, and I
are now guardians to the two middle boys – Darell, age 12 and Kyle, age
13 – soon to be ages 13 and 14.
Many of you here this evening knew Carla. And if you did, you know how much
she loved her boys and her little girl. And you also know that she would do
anything and everything she could for her kids. Her life was not easy –
being a single parent to four kids, working every day, while fighting a battle
against a disease that would eventually claim her life.
For those who did “not” know Carla – and even for those who
did – here is a fact about her that says a lot about who she was as a
person. Carla James was the recipient of the “very first” Project
2019 Hero Award after she went back to school to earn her high school diploma.
Now, there are three reasons why I am telling you about Carla. The first is
to assure everyone who knew and loved Carla that her family is doing and will
continue to do anything and everything possible to ensure that her kids grow
up to live happy, successful lives – just as Carla would have wanted.
The second reason that I am telling you about Carla and her kids is to assure
you that “I” understand that it is not going to be an easy task
for black America to reach educational parity with the rest of America. Now,
don’t get me wrong, I always knew that it would be hard – but now
Rose and I am reminded on a daily basis just how hard it can be.
And I thought that sitting at my computer writing and going out and talking
about saving black children was hard… Well just try convincing two teenage
boys that two hours of homework and studying is the “minimum” that
they should be doing “every” night. And, of course, the only way
to ensure that they do it is for Rose and me to sit there with them to make
sure they are doing quality work.
So, if anybody out there thought that I had it easy just “talking the
talk” – I want you to know that I am also – as old as I am
– once again – “walking the walk.”
The third reason for telling you about Carla and her kids is that Kyle is on
track to graduate from college in 2017 – Darell will graduate in 2018
– and Destiny will graduate in the year 2019.
So, I just want to let you know that if, God willing, Rose and I, Tamicka and
Garry, and the rest of the family pulls this off – I intend to celebrate.
I may even take a short rest.
However, let me assure you – I will not be hanging a “mission accomplished
banner” – unless – or until – the percentage of black
children graduating from high school and college is equal to or exceeds the
percentage for the rest of America.
And we, as a people, can not hang a “mission accomplished banner”
– unless – or until – all of black America reaches social
and economic equality with the rest of America.
Nor can we, as a people, hang a “mission accomplished banner” –
unless – or until – the day comes that we can look our parents –
our grandparents – our great-grandparents – look all of our ancestors
in their eyes – and say – I did all that I could – to “repay”
all that “you” did – to make life better for “all”
future generations of black Americans.
Charles E. Sanford
April 25, 2009