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3/25/96:		 Which person do you believe is best suited to be the voice of the nation's African-American community and why?



Name: Tejuana
Email: whitebear@hotmail.com
Response: I just want to warn you not to get to hyped up and start bickering over who is a better leader. I am a native-american and we have no unity whatsoever. If we could agree on something and work together toward some goal we could do some damage. From what I know of Farrakhan is that he is a good leader. I feel it would not be right to criticize others as long as their intentions are honorable and sincere. I believe the motivation of such men who wish to lead should be the determining factor of who you should follow. Thank-you.


Name: DJ
Email: Not available
Response: The government always tries to destroy the person that could unify the black masses. There is only one person in the day and age that the government it trying to destroy at every turn and that is the Honorable Minister Farrakhan. Any black man that the government is against, I'm for. Especially a black man that has the black masses in his everythought.


Name: afro-brazilian
Email: fercon@usp.br
Response: Congratulations to afro-americans for discussion. Brazil's the major black country in America: 60 millions in all brazilian population (140 million). But who now? The afro-brazilians have the similar problem that your. The white racism and other more. Leadership? Several, several... This is a beautifull problem.
Sorry my English. I speak portuguese lenguage. Espanish more or less. For more informattion about brazilian racism,please, look The Wall Street Journal, issue August 6, 1996.
Fernando Conceicao.


Name: James Miller
Email: nativerol@aol.com
Response:
My opinon is that Louis Farrakan is nothing but a racist, like Al Sharpton. I am amazed that the black community is stupid enough to follow him. As a politically incorrect black, those idiots do not speak for me.
The black community needs to pull there heads out of there rear end and get there act toghter. Quit blamming whitey for there problems and using racisim as a excuse.
I am ashamed when the black community calls people like Clarence Thomas an uncle tom and that he sold out. He is a good roll model for our youth, but unfortunately the black community wants there kids to look to sports figures instead.

Name: Andre'
Email: Sorry Don't Have One
Response:
Brothers and Sisters, if 2.2million brothers responded to the call of The Honorable Louis Farrakahn to come to D.C., and each man that responded by being there represents at least 15 other people he can influence, then the majority of Black America is tell you who we're willing to listen to. That action speaks louder than all of our words.
The Man has the best credibility among black leaders. We need A Representative to speak for us thats backed by unyielding black leaders(not yes men/women) and an enlightened black America. Sounds like a Gov./Nation to me. If you can listen to, obey, and follow this Slave Master of a government , surely we can do this WITH a Man who's proven to be for GOD and US.

Name: walter strawther
Email: westraw@univscvm.com
Response:
It is difficult to identify one person to voice the concerns of black people or any group of people for that matter. Large groups include so many different personalities and have so many diverse concerns and needs that one person, group, or organization cannot address them all.
What the black community needs is cooperation between groups and individuals.
If these leaders are truly interested in solving problems that hinder our progress, then they should be willing to put pride aside and work together.

Name: Welton Dufor
Email: tony1z
Response:
Leadership in america starts with the parent. national leadership begins with me. I am a father. I go no further than there. My dad and mom helps me, (or has). I am leary of any big government answers. Eventually we will find one. But it is through a pool of thought and consesus. For now i lead.

Name: Andrew
Email: none
Response:
Black people must realize that the only way for us to ever truly be free is for us to be independant. without independance we shall always be slaves. Farrakhan is the only one of our prominent Black leaders who's program goes in this direction.

Name: Patricia Cox
Email: pmaycox@mills.edu
Response:
Why must we as a nationality must limit our voice to one representative when we are the most versatile group in the world? Because of our diversity and varied opinions, we should be able to have as many speakers/representatives as our voices reflect.

Name: Eldon
Email: ELDIDA@AOL.COM
Response:
I feel that we do not need a single voice to present our views. Let each person speak for themselves. To accept the thtory that a leader is needed is to admit that you are lost. We are a diverse people with many different views. No one person can represent those views. Dr, King admonished us to excell in all we do; we have NOT heeded his call!

Name: Richard
Email: None
Response:
I do'nt think that That Mr. F is a racist because what he says is steeped in historical fact. If anyone cared to research Mr. F. statementsyou would find proof that conditions that he speaks of did or still do exist. A true racist is someone who believes that he is superior to other people of another color, race or belief most if not all of what this type of person thinks/or believes cannot be prooved in any historical, scientific or sociological context.

Name: Nikki
Email:
Response:
Rita, you go girl ! But I don't understand why we have to have balls? Do you mean a soccer ball or a ballball? Sike just joking with you girllll! Wouldn't it be funny if you could call me on the phone? My phonenumber is : (410) 381-8254. I live in Howard County,Maryland. Watch your back my sister. PEACE OUT!!!

Name: Michelle
Email: SORRY, DON'T HAVE ONE
Response:
Response to R.E.S.P.E.C.T. WHY do you call yourself respect when you don't respect Nikki-enemy's opinion.Now when I fisrt looked at America I ALSO SAW "FREEDOM OF SPEECH".Now honeychild if you are going to use it,use it correctly.If it seems I am being disrespectful to you,sorry. This is my definition of"FREEDOM OF SPEECH".

Name: John
Email: JMORRIS706@AOL.COM
Response:
Might we be putting the cart before the horse. Before we consider the qualifications of the person best suited to serve as the voice nationally for African Americans, shouldn't first resolve what that voice has to say? Probably, if we consider what needs saying further, we may find that there are many messages that need to be heard from us about us. Then, perhaps, we reach the conclusion that what we have to say is so rich, and the need to be heard so critical, our need is not for one voice, but many. For me, the mor important question is what vision for us do these voices portray? Then, it may become more apparent that the most important voice each of us needs to hear and have heard is our own.

Name: Linda
Email:
Response:
I do not think that the N.A.A.C.P. has the leadership capabilities that we need today. Their past history shows that they have historical sold us out. I have no problems having leadership that white America is afraid of. Power is not about being nice and being accepted. It is about us creating our own reality. I do not belong to NOI but I think that their program in regards to economics is the best and we should all be thinking about creating jobs for ourselves. Farrahkhan is not a racist and blacks that run around and call him a racist are very naive. We are a people that have been subjected to violence and we have a perpetual enemy. If we did not have a perpetual enemy we would not be in the economic condition that we are in to today. I also think that the leadership of the NAACP in regards to Marcus Garvey is an issue that we must address. If we would have followed Marcus Garvey rather than the NAACP believe me our reality would be a not better in terms of economics and education. The NAACP was responsible for the demise of the Marcus Garvey movement. The NAACP still has a negro mentality. I do not care what white people think and I am not impressed by them. We are suffering today from all the bull shit liberalism that took place in the 60's. Farahkhan is an extremely intelligent man and very well educated.

Name: R. E. S. P. E. C. T.
Email:
Response:
This is my comment to the sender regarding Nikki. Her response is what she feels may it be correct or not. The last time I looked this was America. REMEMBER FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
Let us have respect for each others opinon.

Name: Rita
Email: RitaFP@aol.com
Response:
I, too, have a problem with this kind of "flaming" but I really resent the anonymous posting. Anonymous flaming is dishonorable and cowardly. While I respect his/her right to free speech, this kind of anonymity is damaging. It deprives others of their right to free speech by not allowing a response. If you have the balls to say something so rude and nasty, you should have the balls to identify yourself.
I also find it interesting that this person who supposedly knows so much and cares so much about black people fell into the oldest racist/sexist behavior in the world - assaulting the sexuality and sexual ethics of a black woman in a disagreement. Apparently, he/she needs a little better understanding of his/her history. I think Farrakhan himself would find that behavior repulsive.
Perhaps it should be the policy of this group not to accept anonymous postings?

[Editor's Note: Even though we do not appreciate this kind of flaming on the Web, it is part of the discussion and should incite us to think about the ways in which we construct our political and social dialogues.]

Name: Nikki-enemy
Email: nikki-$00.01 prostitute
Response:
NIKKI, look, first of all, you don't know what you are talking about.Second of all, if it wasn't for Farakhan, your so called black ass wouldn't even be able to even touch a computer. You FOOL !!! You don't even know what it means to be racist. A black racist person, now think for once and respond back to me in this program. You bald BITCH from hell.

Name: Rita
Email: RitaFP@aol.com
Response:
We should never be in a position where one person speaks for the black community. We are too diverse a community to allow that. We are not monolithic and we ought to be developing a range of leaders, and we ought to speak for ourselves, with our voices, our feet and our dollars.
Farrakhan, although respected in our community for good reasons, has his downside (not the least of which is that he comes out of a religious tradition that is very different from the masses of black people). But there are lots of others out there and we ought to share the limelight and the responsibility. Black people cannot be contained in one spokesperson. Unity comes from taking those diverse perspectives and bringing them to bear on the issues that affect us.

Name: Kip Carr
Email: kipcar@pulsar.cs.wku.edu
Response:
If there is one person who I believe, has the greatest potential of unifying the AA community, it would have to be Kweisi Mfume. As a young adult who has spent virtually most of my life in the NAACP, I think by his leadership will permanently answer the question as to the NAACP being relavant.
Mfume is a proven consensus-builder, and I think that when he was selected for the largest civil-rights organization, that the AA community as a whole got a much needed shot in the arm. I'd challenge anyone who has been critical of the NAACP to join today, and help Mfume make a positive difference.

Name: Chester Hamilton
Email: da023@po.CWRU.Edu
Response:
Colin Powell is a great man, a Black man that has achieved a lot in his lifetime and there's probably more to come. However, Colin does not really seek to reach out to the whole Black community, he is more in tune with upper class and middle class blacks. Whereas Farrakhan to me reaches far and wide into the many sections of the Black community. Farrakhan is more in touch with the pain of the Black community and he does not talk from two sides of his mouth. I'm no NOI muslim nor anything but to be honest, you sense the deep love he has for us as a people. I once heard him say that the biggest thing for him being a leader is to see Black people who were at the bottom of society and in deplorable states of mind turn around their lives and start making right angles with the ground, begin leading productive lives, finding God and fulfilling their true purpose and destiny in life. Now that's love, real love for your neighbour type of vibes; the very thing that Jesus said was the greatest of the commandments. For me that makes Farrakhan a great Black leader.
The biggest point about all this however is that its time we stop looking for one voice to speak for all of us. We have matured as a people to where their is a rich set of leaders to follow and this is very important. There are many voices now that speak up for us and they all want to see Black people become strong and prosper. In closing, I'd say Farrakhan's integrity with respect to working for the betterment of oppressed Black people is what separates him from the rest. No matter how you feel about him or his ideas or his religion you never doubt his integrity or sincerity.

Name:
Email:
Response:
Kweisi Mfume has the experience, wisdom, and forethought to speak on behalf of African-Americans. Given his experience in Congress and the challenges that he has faced he is in the best position to serve in this capacity.

Name: Brother Messiah Akindele
Email: akinyemi@emuvax.emich.edu
Response:
The best voice for Nubian Americans in the United States of America is our youth and children. Now, let me explain what I mean by this. The next generation of leaders and mentors are the children. This will happen only if we, as adults, teach them the truth about life and death, love and hate, responsibilties, spirituality, and how to be a real man and woman. These leaders that we have are either crooked, ego-centered, or just out to get some props. I am a mentor for young Nubian men and women here in the Detroit, Mich-Ypsilanti area. I have told these young poeple that the next group of leaders will take us into the 21st century. The youth who graduated out of high school between the years of 1987-1992 are the real leaders. This group were bombarded by positive rap and R&B messages. Yes, I am a class of 1992 and we're geared up to take our people to the promised land. Support my writing group entitled MAD Writer Productions. Hotep!!!

Name: Cynthia O. Smith
Email: cosmith@pop.erols.com
Response:
We are to large a group with a multitude of idealogies, too many for one person to have the responsibility to bear. Our leader(s) should consist of a coalition of our best and brightest, young and old, rich and poor, participants from all works of life to insure the group not any hold belief of elitism. Town meetings should be held at community churches to get participation from the community, in terms of issues which should be addressed, to come to a consensus. This is how things were done during the civil rights movement. It worked then, it can work today.

Name: G.P. Williams
Email: gwillia1@tx.ncsu.edu
Response:
There is no one person who is suited to be the the voice of the Black community. Certainly there are many common concerns but African-Americans are a diverse group and one person can speak for us all. Nor should we desire to have one person speak for us all.
Certainly we need to have people in political office and at the head of civic organizations that have moral standards, are intelligent and have the best interest of the community at heart. But we need to stop looking for one great leader that will solve all the problems of the Black community.

Name: John D. Harry
Email: john.hary@gsfc.nasa.gov
Response:
Minister Farrakhan, without a doubt, should be the leader or spokesman for the black community.
He has demonstrated a unique awareness and understanding of the current events, combined with a willingness to futher the cause of black people in this country and around the world.
Nathan McCall, for those of you who know who he is, is another "stand-up" individual who someday might be at the forefront of goings on in the black community.

Name: Nikki
Email:
Response:
Farrakahn, although he speaks for the black community is racist. He's teaching our children hate. I'm black and I wouldn't want him to speak for me.

Name: K.M.K. (Kicking Much Knowledge)
Email: sunset.kgary@olemiss.edu
Response:
Farrakhan should be our voice because of his vision on independence. We have been in this country for 440 years, being the backbone of a country inwhich has never really given us any respect.Since we have been in this country our hard work has made every one else rich except ourselfs. We have been so busy tring to intergrate into a society in which has rejected us as being equal from the start, instead of building for ourself. I feel that now is the time for black people to stop tring to follow White America(which has been destorying us) and start unifying the black people of America and all over the world. Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam has almost always been moving in that direction, I think it is time for all of us to move in that direction together. Peace.

Name: Randolph Bettis
Email: Iceman@neca.com
Response:
Farrakhan is more in tund whit the needs of the black comunity than any of the so called black leaders.

Name:
Email: zip