We believe that the political, monetary and social benefits that the Civil Rights Movement gave us have largely run their course.  For African-Americans to continue to advance in our society, we feel that we must bring about another movement.  One that will encourage unity and investment in the black community by taking back the following three sectors: banking, insurance and grocery stores. In essence, our mission is to unite our people.  We understand that this is an enormous undertaking.  Yet we are driven by the questions-If not now, then when?  If not us, then who?

What can we say to you and other leaders to encourage you to support a National Strike Day?  Many of you have achieved the American dream, but most African-Americans will never have that experience.  There are numerous African-Americans who would love to have that experience but will not because they are trapped in the cycle of poverty.

How is it possible for us live to in the richest country in the world and yet millions of poor children go to bed each night hungry?  Who will allow their tears to continue to flow and not be seen? Who will continue to hear their cries but not help?  Who will bring a voice to their pain and suffering? Who will address their needs? We, as elected leaders of our community, can no longer continue to sleep each night knowing that there are children in our neighborhood who did not have a meal.

We must no longer allow our society to discard our children as if they are waste. Some of our children have been placed in large gated communities where the cost to house them is about forty thousand dollars a year.  In many cases, they are there because we have allowed the system to fail them.  I cannot cast the first stone because I am also guilty of closing my eyes and ears to the reality that many African-Americans face in their daily lives.

Our children are receiving an education from school systems that are strategically designed to produce failure. The monies designated for quality education is grossly under funded. Yet our government officials pledge to leave no child behind.

So the members of AAFABS ask “Who will stand with us on June 19, 2007 to fight against inequality and social injustice”?

We are merely the spokes that keep the wheels of our economic system moving.  We are paid wages at or below the standard to maintain an adequate lifestyle. It does not surprise us that there is no hope in our community.  In short we are viewed as a necessary evil in a society that continues to deny our people economic and social equality.  Sure we have some power, but we lack the political numbers in elected offices to make changes to laws that will improve the standard of living for most African-Americans.  In the south the confederate memorial day is a legal holiday in several states.  Where is the justice in honoring men who fought to keep us in enslaved?  That holiday would be like honoring the British who fought against colonial freedom.

We will never erase the memories of the black faces in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. The horrific scenes revealed to the world the covers of social injustice that are so deeply embedded in our country. The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina clearly depicted inequalities that we knew already existed but tried to deny.   How many of our people died simply because they were poor and lacked the funds to evacuate?  Again we ask “Who will stand with us on June 19, 2007 to fight against inequality and social injustice”?

We, the members of AAFABS, are looking for leaders in each state to partner with us by promoting and organizing a National Strike Day rally.  We also ask all African-Americans not to spend any money on this date unless it is in African-American establishments.  We ask for your support, not for ourselves but for our children.

Lyle G. Russworm is the Founder and CEO of African Americans for a Better Society (AAFABS), based in Stone Mountain, Georgia.

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