There must come a time when we hear more about successes; rather than the same old complaints. We all know the complaints and issues Black folks face:

*high unemeployment
*disproportionate incarceration, welfare and poverty rates
*low achievement of our youth in failing public schools
*high than average out-of-wedlock birthrates
*crime and drug ridden neighborhoods
*dilapidated housing conditions
*inequities in public funded contracting
*silence by Blacks, Whites, and others on issues most pressing in the area of Black lives

I know there are some I missed but these show identified areas that need to be addressed if we are to turn the tide and move toward being more self sufficient and reliant.

To move beyond the complaints and into action, we must first acknowledge that there is a problem so important to us that we will do whatever is necessary to form a strategy of action. The means in which we need to address them won't be conventional, because the problems are so out of control that it now demands extraordinary efforts just to bring stability to our situation. Piece meal won't do.

We can continue to point fingers and blame someone else for our situation and we can even make demands that the very people who created or added to the problems figure out a way to resolve the elements that keep the above problem areas status quo. We can also begin real dialogue and discussion on forming teams that will go down in history as 'those that fulfilled the dream." There is a demand on our generation to lead by example; just as those who came before us. Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, Harriet Tubman, Martin King, just to name a few led by example and we are all better off for it to this day. The attorneys and families that took on school desegregation did so without the thought of pay, but for the sake of equity, justice and a better life for those that will come in our ranks. Beyond dead leadership mentioned, there are also examples of living leadership, but without knowing what it looks like, it is at best, passed by without a thought. Like a slight-of-hand trick, 'some acts of leadership won't be televised.'

For the next ten years Black folks need to commit to leadership development among themselves and work to tranfer those skills on down to those younger. Within this new era of Black leadership must come a strategic force that can think, walk and talk at the same time; on a variety of levels, at any given moment; from whatever position we are in. When we are not thinking, walking or talking we need to be about action!

Currently in Topeka there is a turning in the tide to take better control of a destiny. From a small act of confrontation, comes an opportunity that never before existed. In 2000 there was a small band of folks that pressed government for equity in spending its sales tax dollars which led to the allocation of money on an annual basis to assist in the growth and development of small business; including those Black-owned. It didn't happen by chance or without struggle and legal battles, but nevertheless, when the smoke cleared we definitaly came away from the table with a vantage point. How we deal with the opportunity is now the next form of action we need to take. The economic development needs of Black businesses is not the same as it is for Latino, Asian or Indo-American. The support services needed to assist businesses owned by Black women is not the same as it is for White females. We must be clear about what's round and what's square, as even though they may have the same cubic diminsions, they are not the same.

With financial backing of our tax dollars there is no reason to not take advantage of the situation and do those things that will have a lasting affect on our economic livelyhood. We have more than enough MBAs, Ph.Ds, entrepreneurs, activist, mobilizers and organizers to get the job done, what we lack is organized leadership. As a people, we lead so well for other folks companies and organizations; don't you think it's high time we utilize those talents for ourselves and to ensure a better future for children that look like you?

In Kansas City Kansas, local Black leadership are pressing local government to address a disparity study that shows only $70,000 of $54M in public funded construction contracts going the Black construction firms and unemployment of Black men and women at rates off the charts. After meeting with the Mayor and other people of influence to hammer home the facts, ground has been broken to bring forth a plan they can review, accept and adopt to promote and finance development programs that will increase Black employment and contract earnings; or suffer the same legal consequences Topeka/Shawnee County government had to go through on the sales tax issue; and lost. This isn't rocket science.

Since communication is so important, we need to ensure we have a concrete way to connect so we can share, review, and act off of information in a quick, efficient and effective manner. One way is registering on listserv's that have the mission and capablity of reaching a large arena of Black intellect online. The Kansas African American Affairs Commission (www.KAAAC.org) is a good place to start if living in Kansas. By signing up you will definately be in line to receive information you can either use or share. You can also join the IBSA email list at (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). We scan the net to retrieve and send out useful information daily. In the end, it is up to us as individuals to seek out and find the information that can help us, our families, friends and businesses. It is also up to us as individuals to act off of the information received. As far as I am concerned, every state should have at least one Black organization that focuses solely on being the email disseminator. And, Black business, agencies, dept. heads and company officials should be proactive in feeding them policy, employment and contracting information to share via our networks.

Before we were born it was stated by Black leadership that 'Black folks problem is their failure to organize'. Well, we can either accept this or make an active effort to do just the opposite. The cards are in our hands.

So, the next move belongs to you. We not only need Back contractors but also grantwriters. We need folks who can do research. We need people that are willing to create the programs needed in neighborhoods whereas Black youth and adults are disadvantaged to empowering information and services. We need those knowledgeable in public policy, organizational management, advocacy and the visioning process that leads to change. We need agents of change.

Click Here to Find Black Kansas Organizations