Could a new African American political movement be on the rise to counter the Tea Party Movement? The National Action Network took place this weekend and promised a 12-month action plan. Those involved came together and talked for two hours in a forum broadcast by TV One at the First Corinthian Baptist Church in Harlem.
During the NAN one person suggested that blacks should counter the Tea Party movement with a “Cocoa Party” movement focusing on the well being of black children. Others suggested establishing black financial institutions and demanding that governments at all levels deposit some of their money in those institutions. And several talked about expanding mentoring opportunities and finding ways to re-integrate convicted felons into society and to help them find jobs.
As the Rev. Raphael Warnock, pastor of the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, told ER Shipp after a ministers’ luncheon Friday at the National Action Network annual meeting: “This conference is important at a moment like this because we are still confronted with major issues in the African American community, and in some ways they are more complicated than they were 30 or 40 years ago. Our coming together around shared struggle, sustained resistance and deep analysis – in some ways it takes more work.”
The tea party movement is a group of protestors who claim it’s sole mission is to rise up against the raising of taxes and maneuver with limited governmental control towards certain policies. The group is blindly charged and predominantly white in members. Some of the theatrics displayed at their events have shared in discriminating under-tones, which prompts outsiders to question whether the group has racist intentions. The tea party also has a seemingly negative affiliation to the radical Republican Party, and it’s efforts to resurface for the election in November 2010
Things to keep in mind for a new African American movement would be whether the group will be progressive and how effectively will it be mobilized. People of every color and creed simply want solutions. How does one get to this point? Perhaps the answer is by challenging the government to reform education, unemployment, and health care. Whatever agenda should come forth it must be practical and collectively active.
Fox News has fed into the tea party and provided them a platform that other wise would not have had a voice. If the “Cocoa Movement” should begin will they receive the same amount of fair media attention, it makes one wonder?
