Wake Up America

fits of enslavement, don’t vote, engage in self-destruction, be hopeless, and to accept consignment to poverty, police brutality, racial hatred and indignity, l believe that Joann Watson’s reverberant call on Detroiters to “Wake Up,” should be extrapolated to a national call to all Americans to “Wake Up.”

“Wake Up America.” We must defend the civil rights of all. We have to come up and get out of the slumber of do-nothingness and get up out of the long-suffering coma of hopelessness. We have to stay awakened. We have to stay woke!

“Wake Up America.” We must get up and reject the miseducation of the Negro. We must demand that the educational system in Florida and in every state across the nation teach the truth about the centuries-long genocide and the brutal enslavement of African less of the legal rationale, the impact on the survivors and descendants has been devastating.

This denial of justice adds insult to injury for those who have already suffered immeasurably from the consequences of the Tulsa Race Massacre. It reinforces the idea that the pain and suffering of Black Americans are not worthy of acknowledgment or reparations. The wounds of the past are not allowed to heal when the legal system denies the very existence of the injustice perpetrated against an entire community.

Additionally, this dismissal sends a chilling message to African Americans advocating for reparations and acknowledging historical wrongs. It says that despite the promises of progress and equality, the institutions of justice are not yet ready to reckon with the deep-seated issues of racism and injustice that still permeate society today. It discourages those seeking accountability and reparations for other historical people in America and throughout the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

“Wake Up America.” We must continue to demand and to ensure voting rights. Our fundamental right to vote is a God-given right that the U.S. Supreme Court cannot take away. We oppose all forms of voter suppression. In 2023 and certainly in 2024 we must GOTV (Get-Out-The-Vote) in record-breaking numbers in every precinct, in every congressional district, in every state, and across the nation in the upcoming national elections. The future of our families and communities is at stake. The future of American democracy is on the ballot.

“Wake Up America.” We must not relent. We cannot give up. We cannot get too tired. We must keep marching for freedom. It is time to end poverty in America. We support the Poor Peoples Campaign led by The Reverend atrocities from pursuing their cases, fearing similar outcomes.

Detroit has been at the forefront of advocating for reparations and has faced tragedies that adversely impacted the progress of African Americans in the city.

Paradise Valley was a vibrant and predominantly African-American neighborhood known for its cultural richness, including music venues, clubs, and businesses. Similarly, the Black Bottom neighborhood was a historically significant African-American community with a rich heritage.

In the case of Paradise Valley and the Black Bottom neighborhood, the construction of the I-375 freeway led to the destruction of homes, businesses, and cultural institutions, displacing many residents and disrupting the vibrant community life that once thrived there. These developments disproportionately affected African-American communities, as they were more likely to be situated in areas deemed suitable for freeway construction.

The impacts of these urban renewal projects and the construction of free- ways are still felt today, as many communities struggle with the legacy of dislocation and loss of historical heritage. In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the negative consequences of these projects, leading to discussions about equitable urban planning and the preservation of cultural landmarks.

Dr. William J. Barber II, The Reverend Dr. Frederick Douglass Haynes III and many others. We support attaining financial literacy led by John Hope Bryant and Operation Hope. We must continue to demand equal justice, social justice, racial justice, economic justice, environmental justice, and climate justice.

“Wake Up America.” In remembrance and in tribute to the indefatigable spirit of Queen Mother Joann N. Watson, we all have to stay woke, stay committed, stay active, and to stay involved as we strive to raise up a new generation of young freedom-fighting Generation Zs and millennials. Long live the spirit of Joann Nichols Watson.

Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr is President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), Executive Producer and host of The Chavis Chronicles on PBS TV stations throughout the U.S., and Executive Producer and host of The Good News daily audio commentaries on local radio stations.

Despite no active case addressing the disparities resulting from the loss of those prominent communities, Michigan leaders are actively advocating for reparations. However, dismissing the Tulsa trial is an eerie reminder that these requests broadly fall on deaf and unsympathetic ears.

The Tulsa Race Massacre lawsuit may have been dismissed in a court of law. Still, it remains a powerful testament to the survivors’ and descendants’ enduring spirit of resilience and determination. It is a call to action for all Americans to confront the injustices of the past and work towards a more equitable future. Only by acknowledging and rectifying the sins of the past can the nation hope to heal the deep wounds of injustice that continue to afflict us today.