Branford Marsalis has a question. YAHOO! Answers...

EDITED: 04/04/2021 @ 10:40 PM (Original post: 11/25/2006)

On November 22, 2006, accomplished, award-winning musician and record executive, Branford Marsalis took to Yahoo and asked the following question:

Q. What issue-nutrition, housing, health care, education-should get the highest priority to fight poverty & why?

“In both personal efforts and public policy, we could focus on several issues contributing to poverty (nutrition, housing, healthcare, education). Which of these should get the highest priority in the fight against poverty and why?”

On November 25, 2006, at 12:26 am, I responded with the following answer:

A.  There is no SIMPLE answer to this question. I believe the answer is NONE of them; that is, ALL of them. To address all these concerns, we must recognize that the political process will govern who gets what, when they get it and why and how it is distributed. After all, we live in a country, the "Free World", whose combined material, economic and industrial resources outweigh most countries. Yet our own citizens do without and look on while we take from them to do for others.

History continues to repeat itself as we find ourselves once again asking, "Is it more humane to concern our legislature with equality for ALL citizens?" and "Should everyone be entitled to citizenship?" versus maintaining a globally economic, yet tyrannical, stronghold on other countries to secure the abundance in which we are both blessed with and that we've 'bullied' to gain. It is obvious that the policies we employ are not providing checks and balances for the neglect of the social and cultural health of our nation.

As I break from preparing my research paper, "The Evolution of Political Socialization among African Americans" (Muhammad), I have a better understanding and appreciation of American government and politics. That is not to say that I agree with the entire process, as there are enormous holes, but I find that much has been taken for granted, much has been abused, and much is still available for the taking.

A cohesive community that benefits from sincere public policies is one in which citizens exercise their right to establish the laws which should govern their society and express their voice, in public, without fear of repercussion. In such a community, families are equipped with proper housing which secures a healthy mindset to work to produce nutritious meals for ones' family. Maintaining healthy and balanced nutrition equally ensures adequate physical and mental health which, in turn, provides a clear path to learning and educating oneself and family to aspire for more and remind one another of the gratitude towards life's abundance.

The purpose of the US Constitution is primarily for societal governance through the power of THE PEOPLE. In retrospect, POWER affects people socially and culturally. It is high time that THE PEOPLE demand a proactive and productive government that is "constitutionally conducive" to nurturing society. The United States' "political handicaps" and antiquated, segregated points of view have proven to have global crippling effects and fatal consequences. As the country weighs the pros and cons of entitlement of political and cultural apparatus in the US, legislators must equally be cautious of the benefits and pitfalls when executing a system of equal access to services and provisions for the people. That is, evaluating solutions will eradicate competitive claims for Federal monies between varied social organizations and cultural groups, as well as the ongoing conflict between municipality and state (Lineberry).

The level of universal segregation and separation in the US, today, is detrimental to the attainment of the power that was initially stolen centuries ago, by which colonists fought their mother country to keep. Yet race and separatism continue to be erected as false concepts of differentiating humanity. In the book "The Race Myth", Joseph L. Graves clearly determined that the world was originally defined by tribes. Individuals had classified groups of people by the different regions of the world from which they lived, their traditional or cultural practices, and the languages they spoke. In fact, the founding fathers' original "Policy of Exclusion" (Kamil) promoted Affirmative Action in America and was a proclamation of White colonial privilege and entitlement within the United States, based upon the alleged oppressive socio-political structures of Great Britain.

The structure of today's United States government is undoubtedly contingent upon the influences of political accountability, yet absent of individual and collective "Principals of Attainment" (Khalfani) that may prove to be reminiscent of the country's core principles towards the universality of human rights.

Reclassification of tribes occurred through the assimilation of varied groups upon established relationships, trade agreements, etc., which produced new tribes that generated new physical characteristics, new languages, and new communal politics and cultural practices. Should not the religious doctrines of a person's book, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights be considered the framework to establish a viable government?

Perhaps US legislators from the administrative, judicial, and executive branches of government should appreciate that religious practices and doctrines are not necessarily autonomous of political practices. If one considers that a person who is more spiritually grounded than most, not necessarily religious, proves to be a better citizen, we may see a future platform that would work towards the American people finally receiving human considerations.

So where do we begin? We begin at the beginning by ratifying outdated policies that are idealistic and superficial, at best, and enact laws and policies that will be sufficiently enforced to obtain accountability for the people, by the people. Democracy works if we work hard enough for it.

In closing, I reciprocate the question, "How can any single condition supersede another?" I find that each issue is, in essence, an antecedent for the success of the other. Society continues to resonate with the age-old adage, "It takes a village to raise a child". I believe that "It takes a VILLAGE to ELEVATE a TRIBE" (Safiyyah Amina Muhammad), not one race, not one denomination, not one age group or gender.

"If you are a true follower of your faith, then who YOU ARE should determine how you deal with who I AM!" Copyright © 2004 Safiyyah Amina Muhammad/Amina1389. All Rights Reserved.

I attribute my response, my reflections, and my reverence of freedom, restorative justice, and equity to the influences of the following educators at Essex County College of Newark, New Jersey.

• ·       Dr. Linda McDonald Carter, Director, Legal Studies
• ·       Dr. Akil K. Khalfani, Director, Africana Studies Institute
• ·       Dr. Patrice Davis, Director, Criminal Justice Studies
• ·       The Honorable Bahir Kamil, J.D. (Professor, Criminal Justice)
• ·       Professor Michael Nash (Professor, African American History)
• ·       Professor Edgar Jordan III (Professor, Jazz & Music Appreciation)
• ·       Professor Kobena K. Arthur (Professor, Psychology & Sociology)

Citations:

·       Safiyyah A. Muhammad. Essay, "The Evolution of Political Socialization among African Americans"
·       Joseph L. Graves, Jr. "The Race Myth" 
·       Lineberry & Sharkansky. "Urban Politics and Public Policy"
·       The Honorable Bahir Kamil, J.D. "From Slavery to Prison: A Comprehensive Look at the Similarities of Slavery and Prison" 
·       Dr. Akil Kokayi Khalfani. "The Hidden Debate: The Truth Revealed about the Battle Over Affirmative Action in South Africa and the United States".