I am convinced after reading the Rev. Kojo Nantambu’s open letter that a hijacking of the principles realized by the civil rights movement and its leader, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., has occurred.

This larceny of philosophy will not produce peace, nor will it unite and create change in the Charlotte community. Alternatively, it is an attempt to create a “piece.” Yes, a piece of media capital, a piece of social standing, a piece of political power.

In his “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” King spoke of an eroding church that would become “an ineffectual voice…and will be dismissed as an irrelevant social club with no meaning.” Rev. Nantambu, in his proposed protest and written argument, makes his voice irrelevant and dismisses the former function of the church in the civil rights movement.

If the voices Rev. Nantambu represents are the voices of the “least of these,” a boycott could potentially hurt those people. However, the benefit of media exposure, increased membership revenue, and social power is added to the good Rev. and his organization at the sacrifice of those already disenfranchised.

When true equality and justice are sought, there must be a combined effort from those represented to attain a result. In 2011, a problem in the black community is as much in problem in every community, because social ills have ripple effects. It is no longer an effective model to segregate “black issues” as “our” problems. Poverty does not have a racial identity. Hunger, unemployment, crime and injustice have embedded their web throughout the city, not just along the Beatties Ford Road corridor.

Yes, we must act to address these issues, and protest is a valuable means to do so. However, it must be from a united effort with all our communities. The foundation built on the efforts of King and untold others has provided a table around which we can gather and produce a different result.

A failed boycott will become an irrelevant voice (i.e. South Carolina), and protest for a piece will not gain a peaceful result but will move us further from the table of unification. I suggest we attend the CIAA, NCAA, and every other “A” with all fervency. It is our brothers and sisters (of all races) who are stuck in low-wage jobs who will benefit from our attendance.

I say we begin a protest in our homes. I suggest that parents in low-income homes and poor-performing schools protest by showing up to PTA meetings and getting their children help with homework and tutoring if needed. I call all churches, sororities, fraternities, social clubs, and members of all communities to offer volunteer help in our schools. I want us to protest murder and crime in our community by speaking with police during investigations and not allowing a life lost without community outcry.

This is the kind of protest that works. This is the product of the American success story. It is only when we protest together, for the benefit of all, that it becomes effective.

Peace, equality and justice for all are the words of our nation’s founding. There is no better time for us to use that same language to begin making a change for all. Charlotte can become a model for the nation when this happens.
***
The Rev. John Hicks is the founder of The Namaste Network, a newly formed 501(c)(3) nonprofit group that assist and engages all communities through action.

Got news to share with Qcity readers? Email us at editor@qcitymetro.com.
Sign up for our weekly email newsletter below

Sign up for our Weekly Email Newsletter Email: For Email Marketing you can trust

Other Ways to Share Twitter Del.icio.us MySpace

Discussions and Submission Agreement