What do we call ourselves these days?

Are we 'African American?' How about Negro(e) or Colored people or people of color or just plain Black? Afro-American and then African American? Should immigrants from Caribbean countries call themselves 'Caribbean Americans?' What's in a name anyway? In a recent meeting with Julian Bond I suggested that the name NAACP is more relevant than it has ever been. Remember when those of us who attended college in the 60's felt the NAACP name was 'uncle Tom' like and raised our black power salute in protest of National Association for the Advancement of 'colored people?' So call yourself whatever you want others to call you.

Haiti

After four weeks the world seems to have forgotten about the people of Haiti. With the exception of Anderson Cooper and CNN the news organizations no longer even mention Haiti except for a comment in passing. It's as if everyone believes the moment has passed, the crisis has been averted and life goes on. What's wrong with the world? Haiti lacked any real infrastructure and was the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere BEFORE the devastating earthquake destroyed the country. The suffering is enormous as people are still living on the street, in tents if they're lucky, outside in the open otherwise.
They are still wanting for the very basic necessities of life. Their hospitals are makeshift and people continue to die each and every day because there aren't enough drugs to go around, not enough basic medical equipment to assist the many doctors who continue to give of themselves to help others. There is no place to care for the large number of new amputees and to help rehabilitate them. The people of Haiti need help from the world now more than ever before. It will take decades before the country is rebuilt but we must keep Haiti top of mind in our conversations. Recovery will otherwise be impossible.

"Yes We Can"

What happened to that refrain that was all too familiar during the Presidential campaign last year? It was a rallying cry that came from the millions of people who sparked to the vision and hope Obama then represented. There was a renewed sense of energy and a fresh vision that provided hope and encouragement to so many people for the first time in years. We were all caught up in the moment and could only chant "yes we can." We need to be caught up in the moment again, challenge the traditional politics of Washington and demand that 'business as usual' is dead. Only then will President Obama have an opportunity to realize his agenda, which really is ours as well. And "yes we can."