Mobilize
The last call to action Killer Mike mention was to mobilize. After all the unification and organization, there must be a call to action. Wars are won by strategy. It isn’t always about the size of the army. Sometimes, it's about the skill of the army. When Public Enemy said, “Fight the Power!” It's a call to action. The attack must come from all fronts. It must be social, political, judicial, and financial. To truly mobilize, there must be active service. Everyday is a deliberate attempt to change the system. We must spend strategically. We must speak strategically. We must vote strategically. We must protest strategically. We must mobilize.
Organize
When I think about organizing, I think lists. I am an organizer. I keep multicolored sticky notes on deck. I think Tupperware. I think storage bins. Mostly, I think order. When Killer Mike said, “we need to organize.” He was saying we need to get our affairs in order. What is our goal? Is it specific? Is it measurable? Is it attainable? Is it realistic? What time frame will this occur? Who is going to lead us? What’s the plan? Who is financing our goals? We need to organize, but first we need a clear mission on all fronts.
Strategize
I’ve said it before and I will say it again, “we can’t progress until we are unified and we need allies.” The reason South Africa was able to eradicate an apartheid was because they had a collective agenda that included a financial impact. Corporations began to divest in South Africa. The reason certain boycotts were effective was because it was a collective effort that affected a financial institution. In order for real change to occur, it has to affect our economy. It has to hurt financially. Most wealthy Americans, Black or otherwise are not trying to lose their wealth. They are willing to protect their pockets not matter the collateral damage. We aren’t unified. Yes, there are historical reasons for this, but we don’t all have the same goals. We don’t all want the same things. I've seen divisive posts about the Black LGBTQ community as if they aren’t Black first. I’ve seen disparaging posts about the disconnect between Black men and women…and yes there is a reason for that as well, but we have to strategize. We have to have an agenda. We have to get on the same page. We have to truly want the same thing. We can’t protest. We can’t boycott. We can’t be effective until we unify and strategize collectively.
Plot
verb
secretly make plans to carry out something.
devise the sequence of events in (a play, novel, movie, or similar work).
I think the biggest issue we have as a people is organization. We typically find ourselves divided on most issues. We can't agree. We don’t properly plan. We always find ourselves on opposite sides of the fence. How do we find common ground? How do we find a place where we can agree to disagree and still move forward? We can’t overcome in a perpetual state of solitude. We need each other. We need to plan. We need to scheme. We need to prepare. We need to plot. What’s our next move?
Enough
When is enough, enough? The signs have always been there lurking in the background. Fuel has been added. The country is on fire. The writing is on the wall. The bodies are adding up. The hate is real. The cheek has been turned. Not again. Not another name. What else needs to happen? Killer Mike said it best..."plot, plan, strategize, organize, and mobilize." If you don't know what that means, no worries. I got you. I will be breaking those down over the next few weeks. We got to be strategic. This is not the time to be in our feelings. Enough already!