Aaron Hamilton recently said what many others in the mostly African-American and solidly middle-class Leimert Park district of South Los Angeles think but won't say:
"It is almost taboo to speak out against black leaders even though they may not be measuring up to the various tasks at hand," Hamilton said. "To speak out against them is a sin. And that hesitance to be objective and abandon old ways is what is going to bring us down. The black community must ask themselves: Is it important to have a leader who is black? Or one that is effective? We must look inward first. Healthcare is important. But we have problems here and we must address them. We have failed to do so. We can not blame anyone but ourselves for that."
All eyes have been on Washington since President Barack Obama held his bipartisan summit to begin a final push for passage of his healthcare reform bill. In South Los Angeles, folks are discussing the political maneuvering surrounding the legislation. Will it be approved? When will it be approved? Why won't it be approved?
The prevailing attitude is that right-wing Republicans in the U.S. Congress want to force the failure of President Obama. Their goal is to regain power. The intransigence of the right wing, their refusal to compromise on the proposed healthcare package, will bring them one step closer to regaining power in November, the thinking goes.
So there's plenty for folks in Leimert Park to talk about when it comes to healthcare and Republicans. But the silence about local issues and local political leaders is deafening. Los Angeles has a set of problems separate and distinct from those that are afflicting the nation. These problems have been festering for a long time, and are advancing rapidly towards a chronic state. Yet no one is calling local black leaders to the carpet for their failure to resolve issues that threaten the future of this city in general and the African-American community in particular.
The sounds of silence are yielding to some questions, though.
James Fugate, a co-owner of Eso Won Bookstore in Leimert Park, said he sees the current state of affairs as a generational problem.
"We black baby boomers have dropped the ball," said Fugate. "We are not self critical enough."
The failure of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) in educating the youth of the city is a prototypical example of one of the community's problems. The LAUSD graduates only approximately 50% of its students from high school. It is largely accepted that many of those who do graduate still fall short on basic skills.
"If there is anything we all have in common in this country is the need for education," said Fugate. "Everything starts with that. We are the first black generation to widely enjoy the fruits of the educational doors that opened up for us. We should be outraged that the public school system is failing to provide our children an education and prepare them for the future. We should be protesting in the streets!"
Joan Cook, an educator and resident of Leimert Park, agreed.
"Yes, we have dropped the ball," Cook said. "We have used our respective educations to purchase big houses and drive luxury cars, but we have not been vigilant in protecting the one thing that has ensured our success — that is, the persistent attention to the political processes and policies that determine the educational future of our children. We, as a people, have failed to grow in that regard."
It is ironic that many of the students who are getting something less than a full education at LAUSD campuses are the offspring of African-American baby boomers, a generation that has benefited greatly from the cohesive, vocal and persistent application of political pressure applied by their parents, who were determined that their children would be afforded a quality education. Black baby boomers inherited a rich legacy of political accomplishment from their parents, who maneuvered adroitly in advancing the goals of their community. But boomers have failed in utilizing the basic tools that made their parents successful.
Holding those in power accountable for failing to respond to the needs of the community requires steadfast attention. The African-American community remains hesitant, however, to exercise objectivity in assessing its own leaders. A case in point is Karen Bass, who is a virtual shoo-in for the 33rd Congressional seat currently held by retiring U.S. Representative Diane Watson. Bass earned some points during her tenure representing South Los Angeles and other parts of the city in the State Assembly — including the last two years as Speaker. But she also left one of the most powerful posts in California politics with the state enmeshed in an historic budget crisis.
Hamilton said he sees the heir-apparent status bestowed on Bass in the race to fill Watson's seat as a mistake.
"When is the last time members of the community brought attention to black leaders that are ineffectual?" Hamilton asked. "We must at least have an open discussion of the issues. We have problems in Los Angeles that only we and our local leaders can fix. If we fail to work together to do so, we cannot blame anyone but ourselves."
Walter Melton is a writer for the L.A. Garment & Citizen.
Photo by Walter Melton.
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