The Angela Basset Award for Excellence

When it comes to performers, athletes, singers, actors, etc., we use superlatives to describe what they do. I have no superlatives to describe Angela Bassett. When you look at the performance history of Ms Bassett, what you see is an actor that has played some of the most iconic Black women of our time. Tina Turner, Dr. Betty Shabazz, Katherine Jackson, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King.  We must also give props to her role as Queen Ramonda in the Black Panther movies.

 

There is no doubt that Ms Bassett deserves all of the accolades that have been, and will be bestowed upon her stellar career.  I don’t know how the legacy of her work will be enshrined, but if an actor gives an “Angela Bassett” worthy performance, then the award for that performance should be named accordingly.

The Last Free and Fair Election in the United States of America

The upcoming 2022 mid-term elections in November will be the most important election in the history of the United States for Black Americans.  With the greatest political and cultural divide the country has ever witnessed, and with countless issues feeding the divide, this election will go a long way to determine the future of the country as a whole, and the future of Black America in particular.  Quite literally, this could be the last free election the United States will ever see.

In the sixties, Black Americans realized that economic, educational, and social prosperity would only be realized through political power.  Black politicians who understood the problems facing Black communities and had plans to solve those problems, needed to be elected.  Developing such candidates was, sometimes, the challenge, but the real problem was mobilizing the Black citizenry to get out and vote for those candidates.  The skepticism of politics in the Black community is strong, and that skepticism is warranted.  Some politicians have a history of showing up in the community only during voting season, and not keeping promises made.  But in the sixties and seventies, the community overcame many of those concerns, and Black mayors were elected in Cleveland, Chicago, Gary, D.C., Atlanta, Detroit, and Newark.  More Black members of Congress were elected, as were state and local officials.  It is sobering to think about how people were beaten and killed over the basic right to vote, yet it is that sacrifice that lead to the creation of Political Black Power. 

In this election prominent issues such as personal rights of choice, banning books, and sanitizing the racial history of the United States are under attack.  Even the 1965 Voting Rights Act is in jeopardy of being eliminated.  There are more Black elected officials today than at any other time in U.S. history, yet because of these challenges, there is an ongoing need to elect more in order to create policies that will protect the community from those who peddle in bigotry and divisiveness.  The election of President Obama proved what Political Black Power could do, and in conjunction with other coalitions, elected a Black man President of the United States.  In the six years that President Obama has been out of office, there has been a continual and concerted effort to erode the progresses Black Americans have made.  To thwart these threats, it will take the efforts of all of the coalitions of the past, plus the participation of a New Generation of strong, knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and socially aware young adults.

The mandate is clear:  Black Americans and their allies must get out and vote in the 2022 mid-term election.  Too much is at stake.  If you don’t vote, and the other guys win, you may never have the opportunity to ever vote again in a “free and fair” election in the United States of America.

10.14.2022

DON'T FORGET THE ACHIEVERS

No one can argue that events over the last few years have created tremendous challenges for students in the United States.  The pandemic is still real.  Economic uncertainty clouds the future.   Social injustice continues to plague our cities, and political maleficence makes it hard to maintain a positive mindset at times.  While many Americans are affected by these issues, the Black Community, historically, has been negatively impacted more than the nation as a whole.  That’s why the Graduation Season is particularly important to the Black Community.  In the midst of all the negativity, it is necessary that we shine a light on the positive accomplishments and contributions of our high school and college graduates.

These young people have chosen to be more despite societal obstacles and roadblocks.  What we hope is that these achievers will lead us to a more just, safe, and compassionate society.

We need to remember to celebrate these students who put in the effort to obtain an education.  Those who didn’t quit when it got hard and remained positive and focused during a tsunami of negativity.  While they may not quite understand the importance of their achievements today, it is certain that their educational perseverance will have a positive impact on our communities for years to come.

So if you see someone who is graduating, congratulate them on their achievement, encourage them to be all that they can be, and thank them for choosing to affect change in a positive and constructive manner.

 

 

S. A. Miller (Steve A. Miller)

Fort Wayne, IN

Email: soulperspectives20@gmail.com

Phone: 260-744-6511

Blog: www.soulperspectives21.blogspot.com

 

S. A. Miller is a movie producer, author, educator, and entrepreneur who has opined on social, economic, educational, and political issues for the last 40 years.

 

A SPECIAL MOTHER'S DAY MESSAGE

Mother’s Day is the day we celebrate the Heart and Soul of our Family.  Take time to remember how important Mom is, not just on one Sunday in May, but each and every day of the year.  Just simply say, “Thanks, Mom!”

Happy Mother’s Day from The Video Factory

A Mother’s Day Message Video

https://vimeo.com/416156438

COWARDICE POLITICS: THE REAL THREAT TO DEMOCRACY

Much of the discussion in the media during the last two years has been about the “threat to democracy.”  Stories and polls sound the alarm that the United States’ version of democracy is about to be taken over by a bunch zealots intent on destroying what has become the “American way” of governing.  The biggest threat to democracy, however, is cowardice politics.

The fact that so many elected officials vote based on nothing more than whether there is an “R” or “D” after their name causes more harm to this country than any other threat.  For many legislators, governing is a game, and the goal is to win and retain power at all costs.  It is that mindset that is eroding the bedrock of democracy.

The latest example is the confirmation of Judge Katanji Brown-Jackson to the Supreme Court.  There were senators who voted against her confirmation based on the fact their party leadership opposed her confirmation.  From a logical and practical standpoint, it made no sense for these men and women to oppose her confirmation, but they did because they are beholding to the letter “R”.  Of course there was bias, prejudice, and bigotry also in play, but the majority of those voting no, like Indiana’s senators, Young and Braun, did so because of their fear of reprimand from McConnell.  How else can you explain Tim Scott (R) South Carolina, voting against Judge Brown-Jackson’s confirmation?

So it is the blind politics of fear that will have democracy constantly putting out fires to defend itself.  If, and when politicians find the courage to make decisions based on what is right and good for the people, and not on the fear of leadership, that is when we will see democracy protected and fortified.

S. A. Miller