On the heels of protests surrounding the controversial deaths of unarmed black men, a new breed of denizens is emerging to answer the question: “Where are new civil rights leaders?”
As we celebrate black history, commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act and approach the end of Barack Obama’s historic presidency, one needs to merely consider the recent racially charged and volatile outcries to recognize we are in what the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. once called a “decisive hour.”
Recently, 12 pastors, all under 40, co-hosted with me an inter-generational gathering to lay a new foundation for social and civil justice. Revered icons including U.S. Rep. John Lewis came to consecrate our gathering.
Faith communities have historically undergirded movements for progressive social change, so we began organizing with clerics. There was inordinate brilliance in the room as more than 70 ministers met to establish a national consortium that provides space for another generation of advocates to combat today’s burgeoning civil and human rights challenges. That base will expand to involve additional faith leaders, lawyers, educators, technologists, entertainers, business leaders and entrepreneurs.
The movement to rid society of racism, poverty and militarism remains unfinished. Minorities, women, immigrants and LGBT persons, among others, continue to face inequities. Crime and violence are rampant in urban cities. Equal access to economic opportunity remains elusive. Our educational system falters and threatens our nation’s global dominance.
The unemployment rate among people of color is disproportionately high. Homelessness remains pervasive largely due to inadequate public policy relative to mental health. Food deserts persist in low-income neighborhoods and result in health disparities. Our nation’s prison population is exorbitant. Global capitalism continues to export jobs. Still, more unites us than divides us.
There are too many concerned, conscientious and capable women and men of every race, age and ideology for this moment in history to be so void of leaders in the vein of the icons recently portrayed in the widely acclaimed movie, “Selma.”
Failure to propel another crop of drum majors committed to King’s philosophy and conciliatory tone could subvert progress made during the past 50 years. While outrage about injustice is understandable, regrettably, many recent demonstrations have been ineffectively profane and in contravention to the transformative spirit of reverence, peace and allegiance to America that permeated the civil rights movement.
A new body of activists genuinely committed to the King tradition is long overdue. Many in the media erroneously present activists and anarchists together. Activists brought the Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin and Eric Garner tragedies to public light. Covert and dilettante anarchists converged to wreak havoc and incite riots.
An absence of courageous servants like King, Lewis, Ralph Abernathy, Joseph Lowery, Andrew Young, Hosea Williams, C.T. Vivian and other Atlantans who fought for fulfillment of the American promise has given rise to a movement that lacks identification, accountability, discipline and the kind of defined policy and cultural agenda that made the Voting and Civil Rights acts possible.
The challenge of our time is to weave our common threads of decency, altruism and respect for our differences into a beautiful quilt of freedom and justice for all. Atlanta remains the global capital of civil rights, human rights and racial understanding. The journey to the mountaintop continues here.
On April 9, the 47th anniversary of King’s funeral, we will announce the creation of a civil and human rights organization that affords this generation productive space to continue advocating for “The Beloved Community” where all people, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, class or sexual orientation are treated equal.
With community support, we will bridge gaps between the glories of our past, challenges of our present and hopes of our future, moving Atlanta and America forward.
The Rev. Markel Hutchins is an Atlanta-based civil and human rights leader.
