Solidarity of Black Men

Given by T. Rashad Byrdsong, President & CEO - Community Empowerment Association, Inc.

400 Lexington Avenue, Bldg. 500, Pittsburgh, PA 15208

Saturday, June 23, 2007 – Black Male Solidarity Day

Bro Rashad Byrdsong

Most of us gathered here today are here because of our commitment, compassion, and continuous efforts toward social, political, and economic justice. Although we come from different experiences, social stations, and ideological beliefs, the struggle for democratic human rights, social inclusion, and self-determination has been a common experience for us all.

Traditional Black-appointed leadership has fallen short in the development of a collective social agenda that guarantees the quality of life issues for Black people are addressed and corrected. This is not an indictment against Black political appointees, but a critical analysis of the state of the Black community.

In the spirit of cooperation, collaboration, and mutual consultation, we must develop a strategic plan that will embrace the diverse talents and experiences of Black men in general, and Black people in particular.

United in strength and vision.

Black people spend over six hundred billion dollars per year as consumers in this country, but very few of those dollars are invested back into Black institutions or directed toward economic and community development.

Community infrastructures fell victim to white flight and the outward migration of the Black middle class during the height of the Resistance and Black Power Movement of the 1960s, continuing through the '70s and '80s. The steel mill industry abandoned Black workers in Rust Belt communities in the Mon Valley, pursuing new markets and a cheap labor force. This left a vacuum of goods, services, and jobs in already distressed communities. Traditional Black institutional leadership in the community also became absentee.

There must be a concerted effort to restore the social, political, and economic infrastructures of the Black community—efforts that are community and grassroots-driven.

Black Men United

The Brother to Brother Movement—“Brotherhood by Any Means Necessary”—underscores the crisis.

"OUR HOUSE IS ON FIRE."

We know when a house is on fire, we sound the alarm. We don’t ask:

• What color is the hydrant?

• What religion or social group is the person holding the hose?

• What ethnicity is the person driving the fire truck?

The water, the hose, the hydrant, and the fire truck all use their individual talents to achieve the goal—which is to put out the fire and save lives.

Brothers, I'm sounding the alarm.

The call today is to address the social fires that are consuming the Black community:

• The flames of Black men killing Black men

• The flames of arrogance, deceit, jealousy, betrayal, and undermining your brother

• The flames of miseducation and lack of education—children in school but not learning

• The flames of racial tension and racism

• The flames of self-hate and abuse

• The flames of disunity and fragmented leadership

• The flames of Black people supporting police, legislation, and politicians whose interests are anti-Black communities

• The flames of family, children, and community neglect

• The flames of violence against children and women

• The flames of an educational system preparing our children for prison instead of college

• The flames of feeding your addiction instead of your babies

• The flames of state-sponsored violence

• The flames of poisoning the Black community with drugs

• The flames of underemployment and unemployment

• The flames of individualism

• The flames of Black men representing others’ interests rather than their own

• The flames of structural and institutional exclusion

• The flames of gentrification

• The flames of the Penal Industrial Complex—in which millions of Black men are incarcerated

• The flames of the over-representation of Black boys in special education classes and on psychotropic drugs

• The flames of not taking responsibility for your children and family

• The flames of calling each other "niggas," "bitches," and "ho's"

• The flames of no courage or manhood

• The flames of no healthcare

• The flames of rundown, dilapidated housing and urban blight

• The flames of hatin’ on your brother or sister

• The flames of letting our children die without saying one word

• The flames of poverty

Today, we must make a pledge to become FIREMEN.

Social fires that are consuming the Black community

It is time for all Black men to "man up" and move collectively to confront the social fires that plague our families and communities. It is time for all Black men to embrace the Brother to Brother Movement—for mental liberation, self-determination, and building a collective consensus.

We encourage responsibility and self-reliance.

This day, we declare the Day of Solidarity for Black Men!