How do we engage our Communities on the road to Political Representation, the my Inspiration from Jesse Jackson.
In this country we did not have the issues of social, economic, educational and political exclusions than Black Americans faced during the height of the civil rights movement.
Instead of this we have a situation where people find their comfort zones in the height of oppression that only celebrates diversity and talks of inclusiveness but does not practice it. The unfortunate thing is they accept this.
They key comment from Rev. Jackson for me was a simple one, “you do not pray for God to part the Red sea and don’t turn up” or “you don’t ask God to deliver and give you strength to fight the lion in the lion’s den and you keep the lion waiting by not turning up”.
The pray is the preparation being registered to vote and turning up is voting. If you do not register to vote why complain? If you do not turn up to vote why complain? “You deserve your predicament.
Why allow injustice when we can do something about it?
Why settle for inadequate Governance, when we can do something about it?
Why give up when you have not even commenced your journey?
Realise your power and demand an equal playing field.
In order to motivate our communities, we must join forces will all of our talents and gifts and use these as tools of engagement, to reach those that appear to be unreachable. Remember we all are reachable.
Rev. Jackson made reference to the fact that to stop Dr. King from saying the same thing they used artists at rallies that would sing and deliver the message. This was clearly demonstrated during the lobbying for Martin Luther King Day, when after the song “Happy Birthday” by Stevie Wonder went world wide, “it highlighted the campaign globally”.
The key point is we have to fight for our rights and we have to get involved if we want that level playing field, fair and reflective governance; representation that speaks for us and understand our needs.
We are all contributors and its time to wake up to the reality that if we do not speak up through the ballot box then we are silent and will remain silent, but, politically we will be endorsing Politicians that either their doing the right thing or we just don’t care.
We must care as we have families; we are all leaders in our own homes. We have a responsibility to lay a solid foundation for our young people and take them on the Journey.
Rev, Jackson’s alter call for Voter registration was powerful and several forms were completed.
We must now take responsibility and not accept that were on the road but slowly, as the largest barrier is us.
We must engage in the system and appoint representatives to be at the decision making tables in order to have an effective voice for our communities.
I welcomed the comments from Rev. Jackson as we are doing our Concerts already, working with the Churches, we have a Youth Forum talking to Colleges and will be talking to Schools, Universities and other Communities Groups in order to develop partnership programmes such as our partnership with OBV nationally.
Look at for my next blog tomorrow, Register to Vote or be left out in the cold.
Desmond Jaddoo
In this country we did not have the issues of social, economic, educational and political exclusions than Black Americans faced during the height of the civil rights movement.
Instead of this we have a situation where people find their comfort zones in the height of oppression that only celebrates diversity and talks of inclusiveness but does not practice it. The unfortunate thing is they accept this.
They key comment from Rev. Jackson for me was a simple one, “you do not pray for God to part the Red sea and don’t turn up” or “you don’t ask God to deliver and give you strength to fight the lion in the lion’s den and you keep the lion waiting by not turning up”.
The pray is the preparation being registered to vote and turning up is voting. If you do not register to vote why complain? If you do not turn up to vote why complain? “You deserve your predicament.
Why allow injustice when we can do something about it?
Why settle for inadequate Governance, when we can do something about it?
Why give up when you have not even commenced your journey?
Realise your power and demand an equal playing field.
In order to motivate our communities, we must join forces will all of our talents and gifts and use these as tools of engagement, to reach those that appear to be unreachable. Remember we all are reachable.
Rev. Jackson made reference to the fact that to stop Dr. King from saying the same thing they used artists at rallies that would sing and deliver the message. This was clearly demonstrated during the lobbying for Martin Luther King Day, when after the song “Happy Birthday” by Stevie Wonder went world wide, “it highlighted the campaign globally”.
The key point is we have to fight for our rights and we have to get involved if we want that level playing field, fair and reflective governance; representation that speaks for us and understand our needs.
We are all contributors and its time to wake up to the reality that if we do not speak up through the ballot box then we are silent and will remain silent, but, politically we will be endorsing Politicians that either their doing the right thing or we just don’t care.
We must care as we have families; we are all leaders in our own homes. We have a responsibility to lay a solid foundation for our young people and take them on the Journey.
Rev, Jackson’s alter call for Voter registration was powerful and several forms were completed.
We must now take responsibility and not accept that were on the road but slowly, as the largest barrier is us.
We must engage in the system and appoint representatives to be at the decision making tables in order to have an effective voice for our communities.
I welcomed the comments from Rev. Jackson as we are doing our Concerts already, working with the Churches, we have a Youth Forum talking to Colleges and will be talking to Schools, Universities and other Communities Groups in order to develop partnership programmes such as our partnership with OBV nationally.
Look at for my next blog tomorrow, Register to Vote or be left out in the cold.
Desmond Jaddoo