I don’t know about you, but it frustrates me when people assume that all African-Americans think alike and believe in the same things.
This is so not the case in our community.
As a Black person, I don’t have a right to think that I can speak on behalf of all Blacks. Being a journalist, who is able to publicly offer my personal opinion about certain people and issues, does not mean that my perspectives are the views of the entire African-American population.
No one should assume that one Black person speaks for all Black people. That’s why it was important for the Recorder to publish the “Who is right?” story on page A1. Lately, there has been a lot of attention drawn to local African-American spiritually-based groups such as the Baptist Ministers Alliance and the Ten Point Coalition. The attention hasn’t been presented in the fairest manner, nor is it completely true.
“The Black religious community is at odds with each other,” is one comment I’ve heard a few different ways. “Why do Blacks always have to fight with each other” is another.
As a matter of fact, when the editorial staff and I were in the early stages of the “Who is right” discussion, one staffer was afraid it might be portrayed in a negative light.
“I think we have to be careful not to create a rift or promote tension between Blacks,” was what he adamantly said.
His initial impression of the subject matter is one that many people may feel, but that was never our agenda.
The purpose of the story is to detail why having different options is a good thing. The piece is an effort to take us beyond the box that we often find ourselves placed in (be it by our own perceptions or those of other cultures). It shows that there’s more depth to our community than a singular thought or perspective.
Thinking all Blacks are Democrats, love chicken, or can’t swim is as absurd as thinking that we all look alike.
As our discussion about the specifics of the article continued, the once objective writer changed his perspective and realized that we were actually promoting uniqueness and individuality.
Individuality in regards to the groups discussed in the article is a good thing, especially since they all have the same goal: to improve the community and address major issues of concern. They all agree that some of the foremost issues are education, jobs, crime, and justice. The end result for the groups is the same; the difference is the route each believes is the best way to get to that common road.
So the answer to the “Who is right” question is actually relative – it depends on who you ask and what his or her individual opinion is. Some of the groups think that Public Safety Director Frank Straub should resign. Others have a wait and see attitude. Some other group may feel that Straub is actually doing a great job.
It just depends on who you ask.
In addition to highlighting each group’s perspective, it also was important for us to initiate a dialogue within this community.
In reading the article, you may have learned something you didn’t know previously. You may have felt one way when you picked up the paper, but a completely different way when you finished reading the article. My goal was to make sure that you were not only educated, but also motivated to become more engaged.
I have no problem with a difference of opinion, as long as everyone remains respectful of the next person and keeps their eyes on the prize. In other words, don’t get so distracted by someone whose opinion differs from yours that you lose sight of the most important aspect of your quest. And don’t get so full of yourself or your own views and agenda that your quest becomes less about anything or anyone else and more about you.
You can e-mail comments to Shannon Williams to Shannonw@indyrecorder.com.
