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What’s Going On?: Perspectives on Black America An Effort by the Center for Community Change
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, Feb 27, 2008On Saturday, February 23 in New Orleans, Louisiana, talk show host Tavis Smiley will convene African American leaders from across the country for the State of the Black Union 2008: Reclaiming Our Democracy, Deciding Our Future.
State of the Black Union (SOBU) is a public dialogue with a diverse group of black leaders about the challenges and opportunities facing black America. It is part of the broader Covenant with Black America (CWBA) national action plan.
Like previous years, Saturday will feature up to 30 leaders – Cornel West, Al Sharpton, Mayor Cory Booker and others -- on stage during two different panels discussing the major issues facing black America. Some are academics. Some civil rights leaders. Some elected officials. Some policy experts. A few are organizers (in the traditional sense).
To spotlight and lift up the craft of organizing and the numerous black organizers and other leaders engaged in change work across the country – from in-your-face neighborhood organizers to student leaders -- would take more than a day. It would take an entire career.
Given the above, the Center for Community Change wanted to get started now. During February and March, we will engage a diverse group of black leaders who will NOT be on stage for the SOBU in a conversation about the state of black America. This work will kick off with a viewing party and discussion of Saturday’s event (which will broadcast live on C-Span) on college campuses in the South followed by a series of conversations with up to 15 black organizers and other leaders from across the country.
The views and perspectives that emerge from these conversations will be posted on the Center’s website, the Movement Vision Lab website (www.movementvisionlab.org) and will be the subject of op-ed pieces or essays about the state of black America.
Questions and themes to be explored include:
- What’s the single most pressing issue facing black America today?
- What’s the greatest barrier to our building a collective base for change among African Americans and with other race and ethnic groups?
- How do we overcome? What change strategies (organizing, movement building, politics) will get us to where we want to be and who do we need to be in relationship with in order to build the power to win?
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