The End of Black Radicalism

The beginning of the 20th century saw the rise of black nationalism and black power organizations as a response to severe injustices suffered by African Americans and black throughout the world. It was a response promoting spiritual and social growth through the destruction of oppressive chains. The rise of Marcus Garvey that inspired millions of blacks to come together to form a government that would protect their rights instead of exploit their humanity, Henry M. Turner who turned God black, Malcolm X whom used religious separatism to inspire spiritual and social growth did so because they felt a black man could and would only go so far in America. It was this premise that gave black radicalism its base.

No matter how you describe black radicalism it was a movement that drew hope from despair. A despair that it fueled if only to galvanize and aggregate the community into movement. And it worked and failed! And we could go through the movements successes and failures that would take a book to dispose. However, what we have to acknowledge today as we witness the historic rise of now President Elect Obama is that black radicalism is dead dead dead.

If the premise of black radicalism is that you will never be equal, you could never be president, white people will never elect a black leader; then how now in 2008 could any black radical leader appeal to its base? This of course is not to say that injustice has miraculously disappeared. Yet, it should shed light to the African American community that suffering and injustice is not our birthright. As early as 2005 I remember a discussion with a African American Studies professor about the need for African Americans to form a force in America to physically fight injustices. This was of course in the wake of Hurricane Katrina when a lot of African Americans felt helpless and those more liberal longed for organizations likened to Marcus Garvey's UNIA. But I think now, as we watch closely Obama assume power and transform the hearts and minds of blacks through imagery if black radicals have a leg to stand on.

The truth of the matter is that we have found hope in this country and there is an opinion for success. Gone are the days when just because your black are you subjugated to despair, hopelessness, and poverty. And truly gone is the option that the only way to cast off injustice is through separatism, reverse racism, and war. In fact, their is little appeal for an ideology now when so many have found hope elsewhere. I know that in the future, my children will be born into a world that they will never know without computer and the possibility that non-whites can be leaders of this country. I honestly do not want them to be urged into any movement out of feelings of hopelessness and despair. In these hours, those blacks that were deemed moderate have been vindicated and those that were radical have been farther marginalized. Fact if Black radicalism...dead dead dead.


Final thought, I wonder what this means for the future of the House?!?