We enter the first half of the 21st century worst off than we were in the last half of the 20th century.

I hate to bring this bad news, but Black leaders and politicians will not acknowledge this fact. They cannot, and will not, because to do so would mean that they, themselves, have failed their commitment to the Black masses. The main pitfall of the Black Liberation movement is a lack of comprehensive purpose. The most devastating aspect of the 20th century was the failure of the integrationist movement lead by the Civil Rights leaders. This movement's leadership was sucked up into mainstream America through money and power, while the masses of Black people were suffering from poverty, racism, and political as well as legal injustices.

The historical strength of the Black churches was silenced through governmental grants and poverty programs. Black elected officials became victims of political redistricting within majority African American areas. Many Black leaders found it hard to say "no" as corporate lobbies paraded day-in-and-day out of governmental councils waving brown money-laced envelops.

It was stated once by a corporate boss, that he could hire half of the working class to kill off the other half. This reality is not too far from the principles of capitalism and corporate America. They has definitely "purchased" many Blacks to contain and control the masses of our people.

However, not even the ever-powerful Black mass, the working class, is immune to criticism. The most powerful force within the Black community has not used it political of economical power in terms of its own liberation, or freedom. The Black mass spends billions of dollars of feel good consumer items. In essence, making every nationality on the face of the globe economically independent, but themselves. The Black masses shop, invest, and spend as thrill seekers. It is as if spending money with others is a form of pseudo-psychotherapy. However, even as I am being critical, I do realize that the totality of our freedom lies in the political education of our people. It is when the masses of Black people withdraw their economic buying power, or call for a general work stoppage; it is then, and only then, that our children will get a decent education, our youth will attend colleges instead of prisons, and our neighborhoods will be safe and prosperous.

We must also call into account WHAT type of spirituality that the Black preachers are feeding the people. A spiritual message must transform reality. A spiritual message must have as its foundation a revolutionary vision, a vision that pushes society into the future, not into the graveyard.

And to my friends, the Black radicals, shame on you. To stoop so low as to believe that sending intellectual e-mails to a few selected radicals will transform society. As if a progressive web-site can replace strikes, boycotts, and revolutionary theory. Shame on you.

And to all the bigots, who will e-mail me asking what do I propose as a solution to our crisis. Well, my answer is a simple one. Get involved with the transformation of the lives of Black people. It's simple, do something that will advance our condition as a people.