BLACK YOUTH : REAL IS WHAT IT IS!

Stand up and say something
By: Dominique Huff

What does Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, the Clayton County Board of Education, the Fulton County Board of Commissioners have in common? The people are sick and tired of their refusal to deal with the issues facing the communities.

Mayor Franklin thought the West End community was her dumping ground when she needed to close a fire station. When she attended a meeting in the community, the residents really let her have it about the mistreatment of their community. The residents of the cities of Chattahoochee Hills, Milton, Johns Creek and Sandy Springs created their own cities out of frustration with the Fulton County commission. Several community members stepped up to take over the board of education in Clayton County as result of the schools potentially losing accreditation.

Things happen because we let them happen to our areas and schools. All too often, town hall meetings have little to no attendees, governmental meetings don't get the attention they deserve and mainstream tends to focus more on Washington than what's going on in their own backyard. In the 1970's and 1980's, the Georgia Department of Transportation proposed several new interstates that would have relieved traffic in the metropolitan Atlanta area. One of their proposals would have connected Georgia 400 to Interstate 675 in Clayton County. While, I think the roads should have been built, the communities in the path banded together to stop these interstates.

Then, we have student athletes and their supporters banding together to fight changes in their department at Georgia State University. While their efforts were unsuccessful, they have gone on to focus on the broad scheme of the elimination of many athletic programs in favor of more revenue generating programs for the schools. All of these examples are given because they are normal folks just like you. They made a sacrifice and commitment to stand up and say something. This is your community. This is your school. So why aren't you involved?

So many of us complain and moan about the current state of affairs going on but very few of us actually do something. Sure, it's easy to talk about how wrong everything is but making changes that we want to see requires work, time and energy. It is a commitment that we need to do out of necessity. We're not asking that you have a march or become a full time activist. You can however, make sure that you vote in your local elections and student government elections on campus. Make sure you are an educated voter and not voting based off race or party.

Next, you can speak with your officials. Upset about potholes, talk to public works. Concerned about crime, talk to the upper brass of the police department. Does financial aid have you worried, then speak with your state relations director of your university. The more people paying attention and being in the know, will let those in charge that they are being watched. When nobody is watching the government, they will do things that will have negative impacts on your quality of life or well-being. If your elected officials refuse to serve you, then make sure you vote them out in the next election. Would you let someone like Shirley Franklin, a public official, whose salary you are paying threaten you with seeing her "Philly" side. We need to let these officials know that they work for us not the other way around.

Whatever, your issue or concern is, you need to advocate for it. Stop waiting for someone to speak up for you. Do your research and homework on the matter, find out what the causes are and what solutions can be implemented. Often times in this process, you will meet others of like minds and similar interests. The more, the merrier but if you are the lone voice, be proud that you are standing. It is often that one lone voice that makes the changes happen.

Of course, you may not get any recognition or credit. It may not be televised, blogged about or even printed in the newspaper. But, you shouldn't be doing it for that purpose anyway. You should do it because you care. Sure, recognition will be nice, we all want it, but knowing that your community is a better place or campus is progressing is recognition enough. Every social movement has its large share of nameless faces but those faces helped make the change.

Let's stop having this apathetic attitude about the problems not affecting you. If you complain about them, then they are affecting you. Do something and stop sitting around complaining. What are you waiting for?

Dominique Huff is the General Manager of the Exceptional Radio Network. He hosts the University of Truth talk show on the network at www.exceptionalradio.com. New LIVE broadcasts will begin in September. Dominique can be contacted at dh@exceptionalradio.com.