The root of the word community is unity. It’s a given that no trust equals no unity. It’s also a given that many in the African American community don’t trust each other, so why do we refer to ourselves as a community?
Based on input from our first ‘Think Tank’, it’s because we want to be part of something that’s why; we want to be connected, safe, valued, and respected. We want our entire group to benefit from each other and yet we don’t or won’t reach out, why?
Maybe its because we don’t know how to develop trust or know the answer to the question of how to attain unity.
So to get a dialogue started, I’m offering nine ideas to help figure out the answers; nine ideas, one a day starting 2-12 through 2-20, the date of our next ‘Think Tank’ at the Shrine of the Black Madonna bookstore. This is idea number three; just navigate to the previous day’s entry to pick up any you miss.
Excerpt from chapter six of: ‘Up From the Under, What We Should Do Next’
3) Without trust there is no chance of developing the exponential force unity can create. Unity is all about bringing people-disparate people-together as a committed group and keeping them together to achieve a specific set of objectives.
Unity is the ‘hoist’ which provides the uplift and support, the boost, and to a certain degree the protection for the community members. Then it uses that support to further bond the community together.
Without trust there is no boost. Eliminate trust and there is no uplift, no support. Discard trust and all that remains is individual strength, which will fail soon after encountering a greater power.
No trust equals no unity, no unity equals no strength, which ultimately equals no protection.
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