What is the call of the times? What are our roles as historians and culture-keepers in the current crisis in our nation? What lessons from the past can inform the ongoing debate over police abuse, mass incarceration, and the lack of accountability within the American criminal justice system?

These were some of the questions posed at the last meeting of the South Florida Organizing Branch of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). In recent months, the murders of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, the failure to convict officers in the death of Freddie Gray, along with the shootings of police officers in Dallas, Texas, have inflamed racial tensions in  communities across the nation. Students of the past and of the systemic nature of racism can easily recognize the links between the current debates over police brutality and lack of accountability to the realities of black life under slavery and Jim Crow centuries ago. Likewise, the response to the Black Lives Matter movement and other activists echo the clamorings of activists from previous centuries like Ida B. Wells-Barnett, the famous investigative journalist and antilynching activist; W. E. B. DuBois, the scholar-activist, and Harry T. Moore, Florida's foremost civil rights activist, who each decried violations of black bodies and black civil rights during their times.

This time, the reaction to the violence has centered around the need to control black wealth. It has resulted in a massive shift of resources in the African American community to black banks like Citizens United and OneUnited, located in South Florida. This recent activity hearkens back to a time when blacks in America had no choice but to be economically independent. There are valuable historical examples of successful black entrepreneurs that demonstrate the power of consolidated black wealth, such as real estate investor Dana Albert Dorsey of Overtown and Abraham Lincoln Lewis, founder of the Afro-American Life Insurance Company of Jacksonville. It seems that our fight for economic self-determination has come full circle.

The political rhetoric of the day also hearkens back to dark times in U.S. and world history, when charismatic leaders (have) inspired masses to exclusionary and destructive behaviors. The racialized and divisive campaign of Republican presidential candidate Donald J. Trump has emboldened white supremacists of every stripe. As the presidential election approaches, there is a desire to seek political solutions for critical issues facing the black community.

What does history tell us about the success and failures of such attempts in the past?

Master-teacher Dr. John Henrik Clarke famously said that "history is the compass that people use to locate themselves on the map of human geography.  A people’s history tells a people where they have been, where they are, and what they are. More importantly, a proper understanding of history tells a people what they still must be and where they still must go."

I would like to encourage ASALH South Florida members, both as a group and individually, to think about ways in which we can get involved to bring about​​ a positive end to this current crisis. Look out for organizations and meetings that are working towards a positive dialogue in the community and bring that information back to our members so that we can support by attending and, if the opportunity is available, by co-sponsoring such events. We can use our social media pages to help promote the availability of meetings among our membership and other supporters.

Additionally, let's think of activities and programs, as well as group conversations, that ASALH South Florida can host to help further understanding through a historical lens. Please forward your ideas to any member of the ASALH executive committee by email or via social media. We will do our best to share those with the group. For the next several months we will also set aside time during our monthly meetings to discuss this topic. So, feel  free to join us for those conversations in person.

One such conversation will take place this Friday, September 9th, when we host our first public event in observation of ASALH's Founder's Day. The planned panel discussion,

"Black History Matters," will bring together some of the most preeminent cultural preservationists in the region for a discussion of the successes and the work that remains on the front of black historical preservation. ​

Friday, September 9, 2016 - 12-30 p.m. – 2-00 p.m.

​I also extend an invitation to you to become a member of national organization and the South Florida branch of ASALH. Your membership dues help both organization to continue our mission of promoting and preserving black history.

National (general/$80, associate/$65, student/$45, senior/$55): https://netforum.avectra.com/eweb/shopping/shopping.aspx?site=asalh&webcode=shopping&cart=0&shopsearchCat=Membership  

Local ($15): http://wijsf.com/asalhsouthflorida.htm

Thank you in advance for your support.

A luta continua,

Tameka Bradley Hobbs, Ph.D., President Association for the Study of African American Life and History, South Florida Organizing Branch  ASALH South Florida, Inc.1009 NW 4th St Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33311 

email:[email protected]