Silly me. I’d always been under the impression that there was but one pledge of allegiance in the US, the one we’ve all recited since we were in elementary school. Apparently, I was wrong.
Last week, Channel 5 in Oklahoma City reported that a black pledge of allegiance is posted on the Millwood Public Schools web site.
It states, “We pledge allegiance to the red, black and green, our flag, the symbol of our eternal struggle, and to the land we must obtain, one nation of black people with one God for us all, totally united in the struggle for black love, black freedom and black determination.”
I don’t know the exact origins of this pledge, but it is one of the most bizarre and separatist things I’ve ever seen. Breaking it down line-by-line provides a clearer picture of its meaning and probable origins.
“We pledge allegiance to the red, black, and green, our flag …”
I don’t know what they’re pledging allegiance to, but the last time I checked, we all lived in the United States and were represented by a flag that is red, white and blue.
However, if people really feel the need to pledge allegiance to a flag that’s red, black and green, there are nine African countries whose flags have those three colors as their principle colors.
But know that seven of them are experiencing civil unrest or civil war. The other two have been ravaged by floods for several years. All of them are mired in poverty, and many have been ravaged by AIDS.
In spite of all of this, should people decide that’s where they really want to go, I’m sure any of these countries would welcome them with open arms.
“… the symbol of our eternal struggle …”
And what eternal struggle would that be? Human nature? Stand in line. The desire to be accepted? If that’s the case, I’ve got news for you. Stuff like this only makes it harder on yourselves.
“… and to the land we must obtain …”
And what land would that be exactly? If you want 10 acres west of town, I’m sure any realtor in Stillwater would be happy to show you some fine plots of land.
However, if this is the Nation of Islam rhetoric I think it is, that is a call for land for a black state, one already exists. It’s called Liberia, located on the African west coast, and just as an interesting side note, its flag is also red, white and blue.
“… one nation of black people …”
Been there, done that, and they call the land Liberia.
“… with one God for us all …”
Working under the assumption that “us” refers to black people, this baffles me somewhat. Does this mean that whoever wrote this is so separatist that they don’t even want to share God with anyone? Where does that leave the rest of us? Are we pagans? Devil worshippers?
“… totally united …”
So that’s why a lawsuit has been filed against Jesse Jackson, his son and members of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, by a black man who says he was assaulted and his civil rights were violated at a coalition meeting because he asked a question they found offensive. That’s one interesting view of total unity.
“… black freedom …”
Which has been around since slavery was abolished 140 years ago. Or, since the civil rights movement happened 40 years ago.
“… and black determination.”
The determination to what? Speak out of both sides of their mouths? How can some people possibly decry discrimination in one breath, and advocate separatism in the next? It is this attitude that helps perpetuate abysmal race relations in this country.
Are whites blameless? Certainly not. But as long as some say a black pledge of allegiance and crying for reparations for slavery, a policy that is widely considered reprehensible and that none of us living now were involved with in any manner, they won’t help their cause.
Ending discrimination isn’t a one-way street, and waiting for whites to come just means people will be waiting for a long time.
Unless everyone accepts that we all have to play our part in ending discrimination and accept each other, differences and all, things will only get worse.
The black pledge of allegiance is part of the problem, not part of the solution. Instead of one nation of any racial group, trying to distance itself from everyone else, I prefer “one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
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