22 BOCNEWS.com APRIL 2018 Holding on to our African American Leaders African American leaders have become tar- get practice for persons aiming to replace them for a different shade of leadership. A syn- chronized movement, gathering momentum to remove African Americans from elected office has included other African Americans. Attacks have penetrated thresholds well beyond poli- tics, becoming personal character assaults, drudging for past sins and missteps to offer them to the court of public opinion. In people’s court the accusers become judge and jury but shy away from the defendant’s seat pretending they don’t have a past. There were no calls for resignations or #timesup from this synchronized movement when non-African American leaders could be indicted for the same disparity ills in econom- ics, housing, and education existing in previ- ous city and state cabinets. Why now? Dismantling leadership of African-Americans in City or State Government is not a solution, it is expulsion without resolution. Taking down African American leadership is not a proof test to build up African American issues. The Denver African-American Community is deeply divided and wounded. A path to healing will require forgiveness, under- standing and remov- ing outside infiltrators and their influences to ensure a recovery of ideals that belong to African American culture. The common concerns shared by all African-Americans can be used to reconnect the CommUnity. African Americans should celebrate the accomplishment to be 11.1% of the Denver population holding 28% of the job post in the City Cabinet, 17% of the appointments to the Denver Court Bench, and 14% of those appoint- ed to serve on Boards and Commissions. The number of African American owned firms par- ticipating in City Contracts has increased 34%, investments and services in African American neighborhoods, including Park Hill and Green Valley Ranch has stimulated local non-profits and small businesses in those areas through Community Development Block Grants. Electing minorities, from a sector of that is barely 11% of its population in the Denver- Metro area is no small feat. Taking them down only requires a single person screaming “fire” loud enough and long enough to convince everyone to run and scatter. All is not well, but equally all is not wrong. The problems and ills African Americans face today were not invented by African Americans, but they can be resolved with us working together, as one, un-divided, in CommUnity. African Americans for African Americans should not have to be proven right without asking why it is wrong. If you are not for African Americans, you are not for us, if you are not for us you are working against us. We are African Americans for Americans, we are for us. Dismantling leadership of African- Americans in City or State Government is not a solution, it is expulsion without resolution. Taking down African American leadership is not a proof test to build up African American issues. ADVERTISEMENT