Central Florida Freedom Fighters: You’ve Been Had

In 1963 Malcolm X, the great American Human Rights advocate addressed an audience in Harlem, New York, the Black cultural capital of the world at the time, about voting and African-American empowerment. He told the crowd that every four years white politicians and Black supporters of the electoral process run to Black America advocating change if only they supported their candidacy. Malcolm brilliantly illustrated the bold and hard cold truth that Black Americans are being used and exploited by the power elite. That is, the promises of change are never realized. Malcolm said it magnificently in the following manner: “[Black America] I say it again, you’ve been had. You’ve been took. You’ve been hoodwinked. Bamboozled. Led astray. Run amok!”

Well, in review of the Martin-Zimmerman saga Black Sanford and Black Central Florida have been bamboozed. Let’s look at the trail of tears in this despicable incident. First, when the national media finally became interested in the Martin lynching, activist such as Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson ran to Sanford leading marches and promising boycotts. Well, Black and White Sanford got excited for completely different reasons.  African-Americans felt reassured that the heavy hitters would bring about the change or the arrest of George Zimmerman; while White Sanford whined that Black outside activists would corrupt their normally contented and passive “negroes.” The truth of the manner was that both groups were taken.

Sadly, the movement was led, directed and dictated by the Department of Justice. The federal government reactionary policies toward underclass activism was garnered, engineered and learned during the social uprising of the 1960s. The government found a way to negate group dissent by giving the oppressed a false sense of empowerment. In the Sanford so-called “movement” the Department of Justice sent out a group of respondents called Peace Keepers. The objective of the group was to work silently within the fabric of the Black community to direct their activities and to solidify a “government” dictated movement that would tell the Black community how to protest, what to say, and how to act. Thus, the message echoing in the Black community was to vote, pray, and conduct passive white-Black dialogue called roundtable discussions with government appointed local leaders. Therefore, the cry by Sharpton and Jackson of civil disobedience never came.

Secondly, comes the arrest of George Zimmerman—a typical white judicial scam. The arrest was done primarily to quiet the Black community. Throughout Central Florida Black pastors on the following Sunday morning in unison cried in joy “Amen, the Lord has answered our prayers.” Well, the arrest of Zimmerman was merely the beginning of a monkey trial. How? The first two judges gave us the clue. Now remember judges at the local level are elected. They are moved—not by truth; but by the vote. The judges before the current presiding judge, Mr. Lester—found a way to excuse themselves from the case. Like Daniel in the Bible they saw the handwriting on the wall. The message was very clear; “if you don’t follow the dictates of white conservative Sanford, don’t expect to be reelected.” Now enter Judge Kenneth Lester, Jr.

Judge Lester’s dictates was to play it cool. That is, give the impression of fairness while following the orders of white Sanford. Lester, presiding over the bond hearing presents a $150,000 get out of jail card to Zimmerman. Under Florida state law it meant that the killer would be released for only $15,000. Now, some of our reactionary critics would say, “that’s a lot of money.” The truth of the matter is that the average White family in the United States has a wealth of over $80,000 compared to $5,000 of the typical Black American clan. Now, don’t get twisted and say, “Zimmerman is Hispanic.” The last time that I read and travelled, and note I have visited ¾ of the nations in Central America, South America and the Caribbean and my father is a Black Costa Rican, racism exist in those areas. Here is a quick history lesson for you—more Africans were enslaved in those areas than in the United States and racism is an ongoing problem in the region. So yes—he may be a Hispanic; but his race which is clearly white allows him privileges, like killing a Black kid, and walking away. Final point on this issue—Hispanic or Latino society is a culture and not a race.

The final straw in the hoodwinking of the Black community is the Sanford City Council rejecting the resignation of Chief of Police Bill Lee. The inactive and reactionary lack of leadership of Bill Lee created an environment of renewed tension. He was sworn in to uphold the law—not to play politics. So yes—he should resign or be fired. However, racist flame throwers such as Commissioner Patty Mahany screamed that the “chief is a good man and should stay in office. Let’s don’t rush to judgment.” Well Mahany, he may be a good person. But we are not judging his good; but his bad decisions. In the quiet zone of this horror story is Black City Manager Norton Bonaparte. Bonaparte has the power to fire Lee. Now, will he accept the responsibility of doing the right thing or will he crumble to the pressure of the power elite?

Let us, not forget that Governor Rick Scott has just created a taskforce to review the “Stand Your Ground” law. Well the panel is comprised of individuals who drafted the law and voted for it in the state’s assembly. Lieutenant Governor Jennifer Carol, whom I have a great amount of respect for, is heading the group. I hope that she is willing to raise the hard questions and grant the right answers. Nonetheless, in all of this it is easy to say that the Black community and Central Florida freedom fighters have been “token, hoodwinked. Led astray and run amok.”

The Truth Teller
Dr. Vibert White