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| Activist and Educator Brittney Packett Strategizing With President Obama |
Declining President Obama's invitation to the White House by Chicago's Black Lives Matter activist Aislinn Pulley was a major missed opportunity and a most regrettable decision. How she rationalized snubbing a chance to meet, chat, network, share, learn and plan with others of like concerns in order to preserve her integrity, Ms. Pulley stated the following:
"I was under the impression that a meeting was being organized to facilitate a genuine exchange on the matters facing millions of Black and Brown people in the United States. Instead, what was arranged was basically a photo opportunity and a 90-second sound bite for the president. I could not, with any integrity, participate in such a sham that would only serve to legitimize the false narrative that the government is working to end police brutality and the institutional racism that fuels it. For the increasing number of families fighting for justice and dignity for their kin slain by police, I refuse to give its perpetrators and enablers political cover by making an appearance among them."
Perhaps Ms. Pulley misread the invitation, because those who did chance compromising their "integrity" by attending the event, reported just the opposite. According to 31 year old activist and educator Brittany Packnett, who gained national attention during the racial firestorms in Ferguson, the gathering was quite productive. Ms. Packnett stated the following:
“We had a conversation that lasted over 90 minutes,” Packnett said. “The president actually extended himself because he wanted to continue the conversation. We had a lot of opportunity to elevate various strategies that are happening on the ground as far as criminal justice reform, working on police violence, and systemic educational inequities.”
From this observer's perspective, this was a conversation Black Lives Matter needed to be apart of and contribute to. Whether one agrees with President Obama's approach to confronting issues confounding Black Lives or not, to dismiss it out of hand without having one's own proven strategy for success, is making the perfect the enemy of the good.
Thankfully, all was not lost because among those representing was DeRay McKesson, Black Lives Matter movement member, civil rights activist and Baltimore mayoral candidate. Also being the co-founder of Campaign Zero , McKesson saw the immense value of showing up. After all, this was a historic inter-generational civil rights meeting of the minds, being hosted by the White House's first Black president, during Black history month. Of all people, Chicago's voices should've been heard.
The President has but a few short and extremely contentious months left in office. There's a sense of urgency to get as many ideas on the table and proposals in the pipeline before the clock runs out. Chicago's Black Lives Matter chapter would have benefitted greatly from accepting its 15 minutes of fame.
Bottom line: The Chicago Chapter of Black Lives Matter threw away a golden opportunity to highlight its message, discuss its differences, offer alternatives and strategize for the future in the friendliest White House Black people are going to see for a very long time. Opportunities like this don't knock often, so one must seize the moment when they do. While integrity is a most honorable trait, if you don't show up, few will notice and even less will care. Podcast below
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