THE BLACK STATE OF THE UNION
PART TWO
Gary N. Gray
2/7/05

The year 1965 found African Americans holding lower cabinet Offices like Secretary of Housing and Secretary of Urban Affairs. Now we see African American Americans serving in the two highest cabinet positions.

This year Secretary of State Collin Powell will give way to Dr. Condoleezza Rice. Both of these highly qualified individuals are now the highest political positioned African Americans in the United States.

Mr. Powell served as the Joint Chief of Staff to the military. He had the honor of being the highest-ranking officer in the military in the late 1990’s. Dr. Rice was President Bush’s chief of staff in last four years and formed the Bush Administration’s foreign policies. There is also the possibility that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas maybe be the first African American Chief Justice. Many African Americans do not agree with the political, social, or economic positions of Justice Thomas, General Powell, or Rice but the torch is being passed.

Illinois US Senator Barack Obama is considered to be a new, bright star in the Democratic Party. His eloquent and deep heartfelt speech at the Democratic National Convention last summer captured the souls of the American People. His life story is truly an American story--the son of an African father and an Irish mother, born in America, making that difference, and making American legislation. THE TORCH IS BEING PASSED from Julian Bond and Edward Brooks to the young Senator Obama.

Kweisi Mfume, Former President of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, took the reigns of a bankrupt organization and put it back on solid ground. He turned around a 3.2 million-dollar deficit into a 2.3 million dollar surplus. Regretfully, he stepped down from the NAACP this year; his great courage and strength will be missed. His unrelenting leadership will not be forgotten.

THE TORCH IS BEING PASSED from Elijah Cummings to United States Representative Mel Watt who will lead the Congressional Black Caucus. The Caucus will be making some critical decisions is the next four years. The caucus now knows that it does not have a friend at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., therefore making the task a daunting endeavor.

THE TORCH IS BEING PASSED from Mary Frances Berry to Gerald Reynolds; Reynolds will become the new Chairperson of the Civil Rights Commission. This commission that has been muted by the political acts of the Bush Administration. It’s time for a change and Mr. Reynolds should address this change.

This year we mark the 50th anniversary of Brown V. Board of Education. We celebrate the victory but lament the present. African Americans won that battle but Black children are losing the war. The question is, “Are we moving forward or backward?” Inner cities schools across this nation are failing our Black Children. Teachers are not teaching and students are not putting their heart into studying and succeeding. These inner city schools should be producing more doctors like astronaut Mae Jamison. The goal should be that 70 % of the senior class graduate.

THE TORCH IS BEING PASSED! African American Churches will once again take the lead in the new Civil Rights Movement. A new phenomenon, which they must face, is the offer of federal funded Faith Base Programs. Black Churches have a clear choice either accept Faith Base Monies or fight for the rights of every poor American.

THE TORCH IS BEING PASSED!

Make sure that its light keeps shinning for a bright African American future.