Viola Plummer
On the 50th anniversary of the assassination of revolutionary Black nationalist, El Hajj Malik El Shabazz, Malcolm X, the December 12th Movement launched the Campaign for a Plebiscite for African people in the USA.
The House of the Lord Church in Brooklyn was filled despite the raging snow storm.
In the spirit of Malcolm X, the forum examined African peoples’ resistance in the US since the trans-Atlantic slave trade and centuries of forced systemic political and economic exploitation, the Black codes, Jim Crow segregation, and the persistent racism Black people face today. The burning question “How do we get free?”
Viola Plummer, chair of the December 12th Movement led the discussion, “Black people in the US have never been asked what we want. So we want to discuss the plebiscite “What is a plebiscite? Why do we need a plebiscite? Let’s put it on the table and have a dialogue amongst ourselves. We have a right to raise the question.”
A plebiscite is an internationally recognized means to allow a people to decide by ballot how and by whom they should be governed. Black people have a right to self-determination.
“Here we are, 50 years after the assassination of Malcolm X, Plummer continued. “He taught us that we must decide the method of our struggle for liberation for ourselves. Our struggle is for human rights, self determination, and self-defense. Those of us here in the United States, have never made a choice for ourselves as to how or by whom we should be governed. Not my mother, grandmother, nor my great grandmother. This campaign for a plebiscite for Black people will put forward a national referendum for the 2016 election. We have a right to a choice.”
“Heretofore, we were told we were slaves, three fifths of a human being; second class citizens, underclass, underprivileged, criminal, etcetera. At any point in time, any or all our rights are subject to arbitrary denial by this or that racist toeing the US policy of White supremacy. Every social indicator puts us at the bottom – education, health, employment, housing, judicial, infant mortality, and overall death rates”, Plummer explained.
“During Reconstruction after the Civil War Blacks obtained some modicum of political and economic power. These gains were quickly systematically destroyed by both the Klu Klux Klan, and government policy and armed forces. The lynching, massacres and destruction of independent Black towns in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Rosewood, Florida, and Slocum, Texas are a few examples. Black peoples’ right to vote was undermined by Jim Crow laws which imposed exorbitant poll taxes, grandfather clauses and trick tests; effectively denying Blacks a voice. The political gains made during the Civil Rights and Black Nationalist Power Movement of the 1960’s and 70’s have proven to be ineffective,” she continued.
“Today we have more Black politicians than ever, including the presidency, but the quality of our lives continues to deteriorate. We are fighting a system of racist political and economic exploitation. As we struggle to deal with the current national and international economic crisis we must begin to work in our own interest. To get a referendum on the ballot in November 2016 we need thousands of Black people to join the Plebiscite Campaign. Let’s begin the discussion with our families and in our communities today,” Plummer concluded as she opened the floor for discussion.
Audience responses focused on clarity of the definition of a plebiscite, if they agreed or disagreed, and why.
A woman immediately stood and said, “Well I agree, nothing’s changed. We are still having to same fight we had in the sixties. I’m 56 years old now. So we have to do something different or our children will go through the same things.”
“I’m glad I came out today. I am going to challenge the young people here to bring more young people to take part in this very serious to struggle,” said Quran, a 25 year old young man.”
Two African women from Senegal voiced their interest and support. One said, “We as African people need to have these conversations. To educate our children and ourselves we must first have the conversation and decide together why and how.
Jazz vocalist Lil Phillips said, “Our culture and our music must be integrated in this struggle. I am going to begin a discussion with other musicians so we can compose music for the plebiscite. We all should do our part.”
For more information on “The Plebiscite Campaign contact the December 12th Movement, 718-398-1766, [email protected]
