“A Great Awakening”
Dr. Earl Jones led the way for a cadre of speakers who provided the audience with tons of golden nuggets of information highlighting the struggles being faced within our communities.
Cheryl Sable brought forth an eye opening report on the dismal dropout rate effecting today’s young people, especially in the African American community. She outlined the fact how this trend feeds the school to prison pipeline.
Sen. Harrie Ann Smith spoke of the importance of caring for our children and that all of us are responsible for nurturing these young citizens. She emphasized that we must work together across social barriers especially those of race, ethnicity, faith, and economic that cause us as a nation to lose the potential gifts and talents of our young people.
Gabriel Sayegh of the Drug Policy Alliance hit hard on the lack of justice for people caught up in the nation’s justice system. He illustrated how the so called “War on Drugs” has devastated communities of color and filled prisons with disproportionate numbers of black men, the majority of which are serving long sentences on drug charges. Mr. Sayegh presented a historical trend line of how soon after the abolition of slavery many states in the Deep South developed a justice system to imprison large numbers of black men and use them for free labor. His message asks all of us to make an effort to push for treatment and rehabilitation instead of incarceration for those around us suffering from drug addiction.
Dr. Bryon Clay, National President S C. L. C. spoke of the importance that the S. C. L. C. return to its legacy and work more closely with T. O. P. S. and other grassroot organizations. He identified key issues impacting young people including poor educational opportunities and dilapidated schools in African American communities. Dr. Clay noted that we must build strong relationships within our communities and become good neighbors towards one another. The S. C. L. C. President made it clear that strong neighborhoods can nurture our young people and wield political clout to make a change in policies that have negative impacts on the future of our children.
Rev. Al Sharpton was the capstone speaker and he spoke to the issue of healing old wounds and for unity. His words were both from a personal family perspective and to all us as people. For, example every family, every individual, and every community has its disagreements and fair share of pain and heartache. Rev. Sharpton emphasized that the only way to overcome such setbacks was “not to stay down when knocked down” but instead get up and do something to make a change. He challenged all to reconcile their differences, to forgive those that had hurt them, and to come together for the common good. Rev. Sharpton acknowledged and encouraged his brother Pastor Kenneth Glasgow to continue the great work of T.O.P.S. and its partners.
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