Faith in Action

This past Wednesday was a fantastic day for social justice in Baltimore City.  I was privileged to participate as a speaker for the NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet - an impressive fundraiser for the local branch which included such notables as Sen. Larry Young (MC), Pastor Harold Carter, Sr., Fred Mason, and civil rights author, Taylor Branch.

However, the highlight of my day was participating in the march for jobs and education organized by the Baltimore Algebra Project.  A diverse crowd of about 300 activists gathered at City Hall ready to raise their voices and move their feet for a noble cause.  The bottom line is that students in the Baltimore City Public School System have been short-changed for years in the areas of funding, mis-management of acquired funds, and the lack of the same types of resources in the classroom that their peers enjoy in the suburbs.  We also marched to express our disdain for a city that does not provide gainful employment for its youth.  In a city that has construction cranes everywhere, one would think that there would be enough jobs to go around, however, that is not the case.  Young people in strained financial situations often have to make tough decisions regarding how they are going to help make ends meet in their homes. 

I was encouraged by the variety of participants at the march - local Hip Hop artists who I met last week made good on their promise to come out and support the youth.  Representatives from United Workers Association were there and White kids from I don’t know where came out in strong support.  (One White sister got manhandled in the middle of the street by a police officer - got up and wrote the officer’s name down in her notebook and kept on marching unfazed.) 

I’m aware that some believe that marching is a “old school” and antiquated technique however, I tend to agree with Dr. King’s take on this tactic.  I saw first hand how the march caused inconvenience to the forces in power.  Mainstream press was also present that helped to amplify the issues that caused the march in the first place.  (Their photographer caught this picture of my brother, Ryan at the bullhorn - and a certain rebellious preacher in the background -:)  Sustained effort and frequent marching will place the type of pressure on the political powers that is necessary to effect change.  As Dick Gregory often points out, the work of the washing machine is not done primarily by the detergent that’s used.  Before the cleansing solution can do its work, the agitator - which is the device in the middle of the machine - must first do its work, creating friction to loosen the dirt. 

I pray that we continue marching, causing disruption, and great inconvenience until the system realizes that we are not going anywhere and that they must deal with us. 

Kudos to the young, African American students who organized and led us to protest in this way. May more adults be inspired by your courage.