LETTER TO THE PEOPLE

We are still the most abused race of people in the United States. Our justice system clearly discriminates against our people. How long will we allow our children to face these social injustices before we stand together; UNITED? The reason why we are still social pawns and have not greatly improved our social condition during the past century is Poor leadership; Lack of unity; and Discrimination, which manifests itself through racism.

As we move into the first decade of a new millennium, I personally feel we must evaluate our present condition and subjectively critique our past.  It’s obvious that we have made progress during the 20th century but the question is have we achieved social and economic equality?  The answer to this question is No!  Our collective accomplishments don’t compare to the overall condition of most African-Americans.  Most African-Americans are trapped living from paycheck to paycheck.  Only a few missed paychecks and we could become homeless.  We are still the most abused race of people in the United States.  Our justice system clearly discriminates against our people. The point:  how long will we allow our children to face these social injustices before we stand together; UNITED? The reason why we are still social pawns and have not greatly improved our social condition during the past century is as follows:  Poor leadership; Lack of unity; and Discrimination, which manifests itself through racism. 

Most Americans believe racism exists only in the mind of minorities.  Apparently we feel it is a minor concern because we have allowed it to continue with little or NO protest.  This is why I am compelled to re-submit this letter to the Nation, because the time is right.  For sometime I have advocated for an annual National strike day, for all minorities to protest racism and the long term effects it has created for minorities, especially African-Americans.  This protest day would address these concerns:  unity, leadership and our frustration with a social system that continues to promote, allow and justify racism.  We must determine and set clear goals for the first half of this century.  To achieve this, our leaders must agree to work together for common goals, organize and finance this enormous undertaking.  The goals are simple.  Select one day where we show the World that African-Americans are united behind our leaders, to achieve social and economic equality during this century.   

Imagine for a second, over 20 million African-Americans, other minorities and whites across this country who refuse to go work or school and who are organized and protesting at each state capitol and all major cities.   This would not only shock the world, this would also shut the United States down for one day each year.  The power elite would start changing the way they treat minorities in the United States because this would cost corporate America billions of dollars.  This annual national protest day should continue until all minorities achieve social and economic equality.  The journey from slavery to physical freedom took over four hundred years and to remove the shackles of social injustice it may take another hundred years.  But we must start this journey today, by abandoning our passive and compromising approaches to achieving social and economic equality and adopt more aggressive yet non-violent approaches to solve our social problems.

I am but one man, but each of us, collectively is the foundation of the African-American power.  I only hope and pray that our leaders have the courage and the wisdom to unite.  But if they don’t may God send new leaders who have the courage to lead our people during this century and fight the forces of social injustice.  

The winds of social change can blow away the sands of social injustice in our life time.  But we must unite and stand together as one and support this National Strike Day.  The first National Strike Day will be on June 19, 2007.  Please support this day as Freedom Day/Black Labor Day. 

Anything can be achieved through God, Faith and Unity.  

Lyle G. Russworm
Founder and CEO of AAFABS

You may contact Lyle Russworm at [email protected] or [email protected] and www.aafabs.org

 

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