The recent passing of the late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and Congressman Sylvester Turner was a tough blow for the city of Houston, which was still in mourning over the transition to the ancestors made by iconic leader Rev. Dr. William A. Lawson a few months prior.
These three losses should serve as a painful reminder of the importance of proactively preparing the next generation of leaders.
The question Black Houston has to ask is “Who’s next?” Also, “What has been done or what is currently being done to raise up the next generation of Jackson Lees, Lawsons, Mickey Lelands, and Barbara Jordans?
The preparation of leaders is an issue faced in both political circles and in our houses of faith and worship. And with the current assault on education from kindergarten to college, it’s an issue that will face educational institutions, as well.
Here are things we can do to get this much-needed work started:
IDENTIFY CURRENT INCUBATOR EFFORTS
The first order of business is locating such efforts that may already be taking place, and supporting them. What places, fellowships, organizations, and community centers are intentionally developing our young people to be local and global change agents, community servants, thought leaders, and way-makers? Whoever and wherever they are, share them with everyone you know. And again, support them with any and every kind of tangible form of support available to you.
TEACH OUR STORY ANYWHERE & EVERYWHERE
One of the most effective ways to generate action and excitement in our children and young adults is to expose them to our story beyond the BS white lies they’ve been fed for far too long. A study found that high school and college students who take African American Studies courses improve in every educational metric known to humanity. Their attendance, grades, and behavior all improve exponentially.
And why wouldn’t it? One of the most foundational spiritual teachings that can be found in all faith systems that trace their roots back to Mother Africa says this: “Man/Woman, know thyself.” Those words, or some variation thereof, can be found in Ifa, Candomble, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Judaism, etc. The message: knowing who you are, your history, heritage, story, strivings, successes, failures, recommitments, and overcomings, empowers a person to see beyond the misinformation and hate, and low expectations others may have of them. Knowing self is like spiritual plutonium – powerful beyond measure.
If we want young folk ready to pick up the mantle of leadership to become present and future Ida B. Wells and Marcus Garveys, and not young folk who are going to be the next-gen versions of Clarence Thomas, Tim Scott or Byron Donalds, we’ve got to expose them to our story every chance we get.
CREATE ELLA BAKER CENTERS
The late Ada Edwards, a legendary activist, organizer, community leader, and Houston City Councilmember fought her entire life to empower Black people and all those who are marginalized and oppressed by systems of supremacy. She, like El Hajj Malik el Shabazz (Malcolm X) “made it plain” when she spoke. She broke down the intricacies behind the inner workings of politics and other systems in a language we all could understand. Her mission was to get more folk to understand and make the connection between civil education and civic engagement with a people’s or a community’s access to (or lack of access to) resources.
She was a longtime advocate of faith congregations and community organizations creating what she called “Ella Baker Centers;” places that taught people young and old civics, and the part we play in it. Though those centers never materialized to the level she would have liked, she was a living, breathing Ella Baker Center. But we would do well to create tangible centers like that in our fellowships so that we are teaching our children, teens, and adults how our votes translate into action, who to hold accountable for which piece of the resources puzzle, and other vital info.
The only way we successfully train up the next-gen Sheilas and Mickeys is to get them to see the part they play in this system. Or their need to dismantle and build a new system. But they have to see and understand it first.
TALK POLITICS AT THE HOUSE
When I lived in Detroit, I realized why the Motor City was (and arguably still is) the Blackest city in the nation. They treat politics like Blackfolk engage with sports – they are hyped to the Nth degree about every political seat, issue, proposition, amendment, etc. Detroit has a long history of serious, incredible political engagement via its Blackfolk, thanks in large part to the efforts of the under-appreciated Black Slate.
But that energy translates to conversations about issues impacting Blackfolk in churches, temples, mosques, barber shops, beauty salons, PTA meetings, little league games, parties, etc. And they then transfer that conversational energy to the polls when it’s time to vote.
But please don’t miss the importance of those ongoing, political conversations. And what makes Detroiters’ conversations so powerful is the fact that they recognize everything is political. There’s no such thing as “I’m not into politics.” Detroiters realize that politics impacts everything – the food you eat, taxes you pay or don’t pay, quality of the flushes in your toilet, educational opportunities, scholarship money, access to healthy food, etc.
We’ve got to have those conversations on a regular… and our children and young adults need to be in them so they can be fired up and ready to go as the leaders we need tomorrow… and right now.
APPRENTICES EVERYWHERE
Everywhere where there are Black people taking care of Black business, whether in political, community, faith, arts, or business circles, each leader, manager, coordinator, etc. should have a young sister or brother as their assistant or apprentice who is training right now to take that spot.
Waiting until leaders have passed is killing us. One, the generations of information and contacts, etc. that deceased leaders had more often than not died with them because it was never passed on. There was no succession plan. Two, their crucial mentorship is lost if current leaders die before sharing what they know and preparing someone else to pick up the mantle of leadership.
