See America In Color

A ‘Stroke of Genius’ in Civic Life: What America’s Story says About the ‘Movement of a People’ in Advancing our Nation’s Standing

Doc Cunningham
“Da Island Guy”
Sounding Off Social

If you’ve been watching the March Madness championships, there’ve been a bunch of exciting games. The finals results are in, not just in overall winners, but also in TV viewership. Outside of politics, it’s clear that sports events get lots of attention in the grand scheme of things as a nation. We all like to feel like winners in some aspect of daily life.

While that’s been a Spring Break activity feeding our fun, we reached the six-month mark since the start of the Israeli-Hamas conflict. Efforts at tamping down violence and freeing hostages have been ongoing. Folks are frustrated about the recent loss of life with food workers, and how things are playing out. On the homeland, it’s been just about two months since the tragedy at the Chiefs’ Superbowl Parade. Equally so are those who’re saddened by how a fun post-Superbowl event ended with loss of life too.

In an interview with USA Today, Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid says the organization and the nation gotta do better, “Which has nothing to do with chasing a threepeat, but so much to do with a deeper purpose: the children”. In a sense, it’s as if our nation needs to experience a ‘Stroke of Genius in Civic Life’. We might start with a lookback in history for some clues on what America’s story says about the ‘movement of a people’ in advancing our nation’s standing. Think on how America’s founding got its footing and later free enterprise goodness. The nation came to be through movements of:

Merchants seeking expanded profit in commerce (quantity of life).
Pilgrims seeking greater purpose in community (quality of life).
Citizens seeking deeper patriotism in country (solidarity of life).

These aspects continue to influence, inspire and sometimes inflame the issues of our time. What we see from March Madness is there’re more folks riding on the fun of sports. But it seems the recent World Happiness Report suggests that even with high numbers in sports viewership, more younger generation folks aren’t quite feeling America’s life situations. Clearly, there’s a difference between fun and happiness.

Closer to home, many residents made plans to view the solar eclipse. Some folks travelled long distances by air and highway to get the best view. Retail and restaurant venues offered ‘Eclipse Day’ specials to attract customers who’d be looking to the sky. Not to rain on anyone’s parade, but what if we could put a similar level of energy and dollars into civic life as we did with the eclipse? If we consider that America’s story is the combination of quantity of life, quality of life as well as solidarity of life, the common thread across all three is getting to the point of taking a stand for:

1. Self

An age-old question in human interest terms is ‘WIIFM – what’s in it for me’. With any effort for profit, purpose or patriotism, it’s an underlying question, oftentimes silently kept. There’s usually a ‘self’ aspect that gets our attention and motivates participation. In the case of the Chiefs, their ‘WIIFM’ focus is gonna be on a possible threepeat. But what coach Reid was also saying is the importance of a higher purpose as an organization. In other words, not only to ‘party with a purpose’ with a parade in the community, but also ‘live with higher purpose’ as a collective. That’s when self gets to tag-team with solidarity.

2. Education

Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement tapped into something that folks hung-up on grievances seem to miss. The movement was focused on opening the doors of commerce, strengthening community and advancing country through policies that respect the value of all people. What we have nowadays are some who’re focused on devaluing people. Moreover, one way the movement got its boost was built around education. The Brown vs Board of Education ruling was a landmark decision and bookmark to the movement. Civics education can play a similar role today for taking a stand.

3. American Dream

The American Dream is sometimes seen as turning opportunity into capability, a good job into a good life. There’s also the part of invention through innovation. Either way, things might lead to greater market value and social capital. One way we see this play-out in sports is where players/teams turn energy into chemistry and build marketability through synergy. Similarly, America is at its best when it builds its standing around creating synergy across quantity of life, quality of life and solidarity of life. Maybe that’s what the effort in E Pluribus Unum was about during the early days, as well as civil rights in later years.

4. Country/Family

The challenge these days is of double-speak from those who push policies in division but offer rhetoric in patriotism. This feeds the culture wars and a toxic kind of synergy. SAIC brings a different approach, like back in the day when music was released as a ’45’ vinyl record. There was the main track as well as what was known as the B-side. One side was the lead single, the other was an instrumental or different song. A good ‘45’ was one where it was a ‘double hit’, lead single and B-side. Well, we can do the same by bringing new energy to our civic life and human spirit. It’ll make for a double hit in country and family.

America looked to the sky in unity for one reason, the eclipse. So to coach Reid and those who wanna forge a ‘Stroke of Genius’ in civic life, let’s take a stand in unity for the culture. This will help impact self, education, American Dream and country/family. Our ‘Civic Mondays’ program to triumph in social spirit is like planting a seed and watching it sprout roots, then branches and leaves in civic engagement. The program and SAIC are for all ages, like water for a potted plant. As civics gets poured in, April showers bring May flowers. So ‘JAM With Us’ on the method to our madness, turn up big for fun and happiness.

Chime-in on impacting Democracy & Public Good, Education & Community or Entrepreneurship & American Dream, ‘Civic Mondays’ events or Civics & Community forums. Plus, you can “J.A.M. With Us” (join a movement) in civic engagement, social change and community life. Checkout the Signup Center below.

Tracks: Chris Brown – Turn Up the Music – https://youtu.be/eQWG8BVeryU?si=JKn9fNnIoKlqPoIK

Nupah – Self Love – https://youtu.be/uveBMpCfgAU?si=2S2GqCNk8EXKGIkL

**Civic Mondays**: Pre-register using link below
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwoc-ipqzksGdZLMpmg9aMQ8W-bpzRvoeI4

Brainstorming for America: Turning Lows to Highs, Step-back to Comeback and Downtime to Primetime in Civic Engagement

Doc Cunningham
“Da Island Guy”
Sounding Off Social

It was the scrolling alert on the TV screen and smart phone. Lebron James crossed the 40,000 points scoring mark. It’s a first for a pro basketball athlete. But even before that hit the wire, there was the NFL scouting combine with a new record in the 40-yard dash. While the NFL season is in its downtime, the next crop of players gear-up for primetime.

But that’s often easier said than done when it comes to the issues of our time. From Supreme Court rulings to surges in border crossings to shrinkflation pricing, it sometimes feels like too much to handle. That’s why SAIC’s efforts involve helping us with brainstorming for America. Our Civics & Community forum series is focused on making our voices heard from the block to the Capitol.

Take for example how there’s a growing effort to deny DEI as a biz/social value program. There’re those who want to play the ‘reverse race card’ to suggest that they’re being disadvantaged. Then, when you add-in the furor around immigration issues, you realize it’s all connected to the Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1965 (INA). During the civil rights movement, much of the focus was around equality. This period saw some major legislation passed to solidify those efforts.

The INA included provisions for boosting immigration from predominantly non-white regions. So, countries in the Caribbean and Africa received an increase in numbers of immigration slots. This shift was an example of valuing diversity in public policy. Now, imagine if that chance wasn’t possible. There wouldn’t be an SAIC that came out of a deep dive in American history, the ‘Black to America’ story and #HometownStrong comebacks. There wouldn’t be an SAIC that invites folks to “JAM With Us” in community empowerment. That would have been my loss, and maybe even America’s loss too?

With the 250^th anniversary of America’s independence in a couple years, we have the chance to explore local resolutions and state/federal legislation that writes the next chapter of America’s story. Plus, as the presidential campaign season ramps-up, folks are looking to be informed and involved. There are moments when it feels overwhelming from poll results and media reports. While not always top-of-mind for some millennials and Gen Zers, the issues are a way for us to come together and inspire the next generation of Super Citizens around:

1. Democracy – New Light

The American experiment of a democratic constitutional republic came out of the Enlightenment period. Folks were tired of being tied to a King or tied down by colonial strings. Democracy was ‘new light’ in public affairs and civic engagement. SAIC brings a social-edge campaign/platform that sheds new light on the hot button issues of our time. In a sense, it’s like knowing the difference between a bird feeder and a scarecrow. One attracts birds with food, the other scares birds from destroying food. SAIC helps us see the issues in a similar way. Some folks wanna destroy our ideals, others wanna feed those ideals.

2. Diversity – New Lane

Imagine road construction, with one lane closed on a three-lane highway. Traffic continues (but slowed) in the remaining lanes, with merging cars from the closed lane. If cars in the open lanes never allowed cars in the closed lane to merge, then that would cause a jam-up. Sometimes they’ll open a lane on the shoulder as an alternate path. Similarly, what DEI allows is for channels of opportunity to be open for those who’ve historically been ‘closed-out’ or might continue to be overlooked. It’s an alternate way to have representation. Then, everybody can merge or ramp-up with the traffic flow of the American Dream.

3. Synergy/Unity – New Leap

Most folks know about the courage of Rosa Parks in not giving up her seat on the bus. We also learned about Claudette Colvin who nine months before had a similar experience of being asked to give up her seat and was arrested. But most don’t know that Dr. King had a similar moment when riding home on a bus at age 14. He was returning from an oratory contest in Dublin Georgia. At first, he thought not to give up his seat when asked by the bus driver. But his teacher/chaperone advised him to do so for their safety. So King had a synergy/unity connection with Parks which led to a new leap in the civil rights movement.

4. #CitizenStrong – New Life

With a spring feeling in the air, it’s time for seeing new life. Trees get to bud new leaves and yards sprout new grass. The Easter season also represents new life in faith and form. What would it mean to have a sense for new life with civic/social issues? It means being aware of those who’re bent on “branding ignorance and marketing distraction”. That’s what the immigration debate has come down to. Working on being #CitizenStrong gives us a chance to not fall prey to the scarecrow. That’s why we’re about advocating roots & culture, not being ignorant in civics and demographics.

So, if you’re feeling a level of burnout from the campaign season or election updates or other hometown disappointment around the issues, maybe March Madness will be an outlet. But in the meantime, to go from lows to highs, step-back to comeback, downtime to primetime means finding new light, new lane, new leap and new life in the grand scheme of things. Sometimes it might seem as if an attack on diversity feels like folks see you as a threat instead of an asset. But as iron sharpens iron, so does civics sharpen civic engagement to help us stand-up and even step-up. Be part of the solution, not part of the problem.

Tracks: Stephen Marley ft Buju Banton – Solution – https://youtu.be/nf_v6CORMNs?si=rVWWcOTGYPTYE7Dm

Jasmin Sullivan – Stand Up – https://youtu.be/X-6g7My_j14?si=KWkjmhK_fUDJpLXe

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Breaking Down America’s Score in 2024: An Up-Close Look at What Makes Us Tick, As Others Abuse ‘False Hope’ or Shady Trick

Doc Cunningham
“Da Island Guy”
Sounding Off Social

It’s official, the ‘big game’ is coming to New Jersey. FIFA officials announced that the 2026 World Cup Soccer final will be played at MetLife Stadium in Secaucus. With soccer as the most popular global sport, according to the World Atlas, the rounds of matches leading to the finals are sure to draw major media buzz and fan-demonium. The countries and cultures represented by visiting teams and local communities might easily be found in hometowns in the NY/NJ area.

There’s another big game that gets our attention every February. The NFL Superbowl is seen as the ultimate sporting event in the U.S., with a growing fanbase in many parts of the world. The event also falls during Black History Month, and it seems every year there’s always a cultural issue that’s got folks bothered or hot under the collar. This year it’s those who think there’s too much attention being given to Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift. They’re even pushing conspiracy theories. Then, add-in issues from the presidential campaign trail, and you’ve got folks pondering whether America is a racist country.

All the brew-ha-ha shines a light on America’s divides throughout history. By looking back we’ll see that America was founded with elements of racism in its DNA (e.g. three-fifths clause, etc). In one sense, there were times when the racism was intentional and other times an oversight. Plus, there’re those who look at racism like seeing a glass as being half-full or half-empty. It’s the same glass but viewed differently because of lived experience. But there’s something else about America’s roots. It’s that we’ve got a ‘breakaway gene’ in our DNA. Over 200+ years of trying to live-up to our ideals, we’ve either been trying to break-away from the aspirational or break-away from the detrimental/dysfunctional. We see this playing out with DEI and immigration issues as a battle between the public good vs political tool.

That’s the crux of America’s divides that seem to get reborn or re-imagined for the good or for the bad as a nation. Maybe the release of the Bob Marley movie might help make sense for how we handle the divides. Marley and his music reached worldwide status because he:

Connected with ‘the people’ in songs about the liberation struggle.
Watched ethnic battles and civil wars in African countries after their Independence in the 50’s and 60’s, so he didn’t want the same to happen in Jamaica.
Was loved by folks across the world and especially in Africa, as a Reggae Ambassador “of service” to people, and admired leader “of value” to gov/biz decision makers.

The popular track ‘Jamming’ was released during the 70s when Jamaica went through a period of social unrest, political division and election tension (sound familiar?). Marley headlined a major concert to help bring the political factions and everyday people under the banner of “One Love” and the idea of “unity of respect and purpose”. It’s from this lived experience that SAIC’s “JAM With Us” (join a movement) initiative is about how we experience more #MojoInAmerica (make our journeys one).

Now, going back to sports, when we watch the pre-game coverage of the Superbowl, the commentators share various stats and video clips to help breakdown what we might expect from the players. Similarly, as the presidential campaign season rolls-on, there’re political analysts doing the same for what’s at stake. Well, if we had to breakdown America’s score in 2024 on what makes us tick or fall for the shady trick as a nation, we’ll see that folks get sold false hope. So, to avoid getting caught-up in the conspiracy, disinformation or wild ideas from celebrity newsmakers, it helps to be:

1. ‘Smart’ on Issues

We can break down whether America is a racist country based on if we ‘see America in black & white’ or ‘see America in color.’ In other words, based on how a black & white TV works, it beams a stream of white light with varying intensity. But a color TV beams three streams of colored light (red, green, blue) for the beautiful picture on the screen. There’re those who’d like America to be defined by ‘whiteness’ as the narrative (beam of light). But others want it defined by its history as well as a multi-cultural narrative (streams of colored light). So, if we were able to ‘get smart’ with TV technology, why not on the issues?

2. ‘Juiced’ on Culture

People get ‘juiced’ on culture for different reasons. It could be the music, food, spirits, lingo, social vibe or some combination. But what seems to be happening more often these days is folks getting ‘juiced’ on junk culture. It’s like in the financial world we gotta be careful about junk bonds, or with our health we gotta minimize junk food. In terms of culture, we gotta minimize getting ‘juiced’ by those who’re selling us a junk ‘bill of goods’. Sometimes we gotta know if that celebrity newsmaker or political candidate is talking out of ‘profit or prophet’ reasons when rallying folks in roots & culture. We can minimize getting ‘junked or punked’.

3. ‘Pumped’ on Movement

There’re many ways to get involved with a social cause or civic engagement. Oftentimes there’s the idea of being part of a movement. When seen in a physical sense, movement gets the juices flowing. It raises blood flow and heart rate which are good reasons to get ‘pumped’. But in a social sense, getting ‘pumped’ on movement relates to having a certain mindset. Throughout history we’ve seen different ‘movements’ of folks wanting to break-away from slavery, segregation, etc. The concern these days is about those who want to break-away from the aspirational to the detrimental, from democracy towards autocracy.

4. ‘Inked’ on Union

There’s excitement on Signing Day as athletes announce where they’re headed for college. During our nation’s founding there was another signing day when the Declaration of Independence became official. It announced where our country would be headed. Plus, in another founding document you’ll find that our nation was ‘inked’ on Union with the words “in order to form a more perfect Union”. Whether it’s signing day in sports where athletes from different backgrounds and hometowns plan for a team or signing day in the life of a multi-cultural nation, being ‘inked on union’ has us locked-in on the betterment of the whole.

So, when the initial round of play in World Cup Soccer begins in a couple years, teams will go through qualifying games in the championship. Interestingly, when the finals happen in July 2026, America will also be celebrating its 250^th birthday. The question we gotta ask today…what if we approach the next two years to get ‘smart’ on issues, ‘juiced’ on culture, ‘pumped’ on movement and ‘inked’ on union? Maybe we’ll have a better handle on America’s divides. Maybe we’ll have more #MojoInAmerica. Or maybe we’ll better understand the ‘breakaway gene’ in our DNA towards the greater public good as a nation.

For more on impacting Democracy & Public Good, Education & Community or Entrepreneurship & American Dream, chime-in at the ‘Civic Mondays’ events or Civics & Community forums. Plus, you can “J.A.M. With Us” (join a movement) in civic engagement, social change and community life. Checkout the Signup Center below.

Tracks: Bob Marley & The Wailers – Jamming – https://youtu.be/oqVy6eRXc7Q?si=kgIuPRusJqg4U6nb

India Arie – What If – https://youtu.be/GCKFFitNxy4?si=5aUtrr9ARPDyfIkq

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A Promise to ‘We the People’ and Our America: New Year, New Wake-up Call on Working Shoulder-to-Shoulder for Social Impact

Doc Cunningham
“Da Island Guy”
Sounding Off Social

Well, the Top 10 list of best concerts in 2023 is out. Did your favorite artist make the cut? The obvious ones on the list come as no surprise, Pitbull, P!nk, Beyoncé Taylor Swift, and so on. But according to USA Today, U2 was the big winner. Their shows are seen less as a concert and more as an experience.

So what if we could come up with the Top 10 list of hometowns for civic engagement in America? Would your community make the cut? Here we are in a leap year with the chance to turn a new leaf in 2024. As folks make plans for better health, more travel and higher earnings, we might also see the new year as a wake-up call on working shoulder-to-shoulder for social impact. It starts out by making a promise to ‘We the People’ and our America.

If Dr. King were at the mic he might direct us to scripture for a metaphor that translates in life. It’s like the story of the fishermen being recruited to join the movement of the Son. They were gonna be taught what it takes to be “fishers of men”. In modern day terms, they’d cast their nets to reach those who would consider civics over politics. When you study America’s history, you’ll find moments of progress in the nation were tied to civics, while moments of pain and social strife were driven by politics. The Son used the movement for sharing spiritual insight and a social impact message. As a Baptist preacher, Dr. King might have also applied this and other metaphors to the civil rights movement.

With civics, the focus is on ‘power in the people’. With politics, the focus is on ‘power in the powerful’. The Son would later impress upon decision makers and the people that ‘power in the system’ and those who’re powerful should not overwhelm or disregard or discredit the ‘power in the people’. By going back in time, America was founded on the notion of power in ‘We the People’, with those word appearing at the top of the U.S. Constitution. It’s just that there was a limited view to those who were property owners. They didn’t fully see the nation as ‘our America’. That mindset seems to resurface and gets in the way from time to time.

Since the new year presents the chance of a do-over, how would we go about fulfilling the promise to ‘We the People’ and our America? Maybe we’d consider that a focus on civics means a new dawning in Democracy, Public Good and American Dream, while a focus on politics might mean more divisiveness, extremism and misinformation. Plus, when it comes to growth & change as individuals or as a nation, there are some things to guard against that could short-circuit our potential: ignorance, immaturity, insecurity, indecision. So, taking a page from the process used by the founders, and updating it for the 21^st century, we can chart a course for “our America” and our personal goals by how we:

1. Write it into Existence

There’s a scripture that says to “write it down, make it plain”. In a sense, that’s what happened during America’s startup. They penned three key documents, Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights. Those serve as the linchpin for our constitutional, democratic republic form of government. Personal development coaches suggest a similar strategy for goal setting. Write it down, make it plain across your mental, physical, spiritual, financial and emotional well-being, spanning a few years. In other words, growing personally or as nation takes some forethought, not just afterthought.

2. Speak it into Relevance

If you don’t write it down, then at least you gotta speak it into existence/relevance. Those of a certain religious faith believe that God spoke the world into existence with the words, “Let there be..”. What the founders did after the Constitutional Convention was to write/speak America into relevance. They’d write the Federalists Papers and then went on the road telling the colonies what was agreed upon for the new nation. The colonies would later adopt the Constitution as a binding document to govern their affairs as the United States of America. You can just feel the relevance that name holds at home and worldwide.

3. Lead it into Prominence

A startup nation wasn’t enough, there had to be some action that went along with the message. They’d have to lead the nation into prominence. SAIC is embarking on such an effort through the ‘Civic Mondays’ effort to triumph in social spirit as well as the Civics & Community Forum series across government, education and community. This way you can “JAM With Us” to grow organizationally and organically. The Son went with a similar approach with His rollout. Furthermore, by combining the spiritual and the social is what led to the prominence of the Son’s movement as well as the acclaim of the civil rights movement.

4. Release it into Brilliance

Sometimes we’ll see time-lapse pictures of changing weather conditions as a storm moves in and rolls out. We go from sunshine to clouds back to sunshine. What if we could see time-lapse pictures of a flower in bloom? It has access to the natural resources of air, sunlight and water. The flower slowly opens up into its full radiance. What if we could see time-lapse pictures of America as a new dawning in Democracy, Public Good and American Dream? Well, as you “JAM With Us” we’ll bring more civics, more roots & culture into the mix of available resources and watch the nation release into its brilliance.

These days it seems like mass communication is often less about informing and empowering, more about click-baiting and entertaining. We need a bit more click-thread journalism. In addition, there’s an overload of politics focused on ‘power in the powerful’ that overwhelms civics focused on ‘power in the people’. We have some who complain and monetize around the problem, but disappear around the solution. The Top 10 list of hometowns for civic engagement will thrive as we write it into existence, speak it into relevance, lead it into prominence and release the brilliance of our best selves as individuals and a nation.

Tracks: Nailah Blackman Ft Lyrikal – Best Self – https://youtu.be/3OGeRodfJ50?si=LPsmWiFeR5HrFwgk

Stevie Wonder – Higher Ground – https://youtu.be/33ZsLGWj1H4?si=vKIc2xyCQPjfQ-N5

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Get Smart on the Issues Thru Media and Civic Events: A Deeper Dive for America’s Best Days or Worst Nightmare

Doc Cunningham
“Da Island Guy”
Sounding Off Social

It’s the holiday season and word on the street is that Santa Claus is coming to town! As the ‘bearded one’ makes his way from yonder, many get into the cheer of the season. Meanwhile, others are excited ‘bout the College Football Playoff line-up, Beyoncé’s Renaissance movie release, Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour film or the remake of the Color Purple movie. Those might keep you cuddled-up by the fireplace or big screen.

But during the Hollywood ‘60s, folks were watching the TV sitcom “Get Smart” featuring Maxwell Smart, aka Agent 86. The theme of the show was built around a secret agent who was often making ‘bumbling moves’ in his undercover work. He had gadgets he didn’t handle well, like the phone in his shoes. The technology on the show then seemed far-fetched, but here we are today dealing with ChatGPT and other high touch devices. What if we could make advancements in civics the way we’ve seen happen in tech?

Well, that was a question that helped give birth to SAIC. Yea, there were my own times of ‘bumbling confusion and frustration’ around a series of national news stories which required getting a better handle of the issues. This experience led to a deep dive to extract moments from America’s best days or worst nightmare. The framework that was developed is based on America’s journey of 7 phases (Settlement, Slavery, Independence, Civil War, Reconstruction, Segregation, Civil Rights); 3 communities (Community 1.0, 2.0, 3.0); and 2 questions: (i) how did they overcome the struggle to get their breakthrough, (ii) how did they build excellence to live their best life.

You may be wondering, does that help us get smart on the issues of our time? How might we go from ‘Best-Life 1.0’ to 2.0 to 3.0? Well, think about how we went from black & white TV to color TV to smart TV. We went from a picture based on the streaming of white light, to a picture with three streams of colored light, to a picture with cutting-edge apps and features. Similarly, SAIC’s model is about doing the same with civics, by looking at history and today’s issues not based on just a stream of ‘white light’ but by combining three streams that involve American history, the ‘Black to America’ story and #HometownStrong comebacks. Sadly, some folks don’t want to move beyond the streaming of ‘white light’ as their preferred way for seeing or handling the issues. Moreover, what we see in some circles of public service is more about attention-seeking and chaos, than honor and civic duty.

So in America and even beyond, we gotta decide whether we want to have the best days or worst nightmare moving forward. That’s what Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement had to contend with as well here at home. He’s often remembered for saying “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice”. These days, it seems we also gotta bend that arc towards Democracy, Public Good and the American Dream. This might require a gameplan for ‘civics in action’ for the next chapter of America’s story. Plus, if we take a page from Dr. King and the movement, apply it to SAIC’s ‘JAM With Us’ (join a movement) initiative, we’ll need to pack:

1. Vision for the Assignment/Journey

Ambassador Andrew Young once shared that Dr. King wasn’t initially gung-ho about being a figure-head for the cause. He saw it as an enormous responsibility. But after self-reflection and divine intervention, he came onboard based on a vision for the assignment/journey. It’s like taking a road trip and punching the destination into your GPS. It gives routes based on traffic patterns and congestion. The direct route is often the way to go but it may also show the by-pass around the city. Civics is a direct route for how we get smart on the issues, but a vision can provide a bypass around roadblocks, power-trips and doubts.

2. Leadership for the Movement

It’s amazing how far we’ve come with computing technology. When computers had Windows and macOS added to the box, it was revolutionary in function and user-friendly in application. This was due in part to tech leaders who heard the frustration cries of consumers for how clunky it was to use the early devices. It took leadership in going from black & white TV to color TV, DOS to Windows and flip phones to smart phones. It took leadership to go from British colony to Independence. And it’ll take a shift in leadership and citizenship by listening to the frustration cries of citizens, to make good on America’s full potential.

3. Message for the Culture

Not only was there leadership with tech advancement, but there was also a message for the culture in the civil rights movement. To hold strong on our freedoms and expand the circle of equity & inclusion we have to be engaged at the ballot box. We gotta turnout for the vote in the same way we wanna ‘turn-up’ at the club or in the stands at an event. Moreover, there’re different lanes we can choose from to level-up our civic engagement game. The civil rights movement was a kinda 4-lane highway where folks would advocate, agitate, negotiate or motivate. SAIC does some of that by weaving through roots & culture.

4. Teamwork for the Players

Any organization that pulls off a major feat is often a model in teamwork. As the saying goes…there’s no ‘I’ in T.E.A.M. because ‘together everyone achieves more’. The added-value isn’t simply linear but moreso monumental. In football, teamwork is built around offense, defense and special team. But there’s also a rhythm/chemistry and team history that get weaved into the organization’s culture. SAIC’s approach to civic engagement and teamwork brings 3Rs: roots to the culture, rhythm to the civic action and realness to the message. This way we can win big for campus, company, community and country.

In the recently released biopic film “Maxine’s Baby”, Tyler Perry shared how he was a loner as a young boy. He’d hide in his house cellar to avoid the emotional abuse he experienced. But then he had an ‘aha’ moment from watching the Oprah Winfrey Show about keeping a journal. This opened up his mind to bigger goals and larger dreams. Sometimes this website reads like a journal too. It’s really a snapshot of SAIC’s vision for the assignment/journey, leadership for the movement, message for the culture and teamwork for the players. And when different colors and cultures come together, beautiful people say yes!

For more on impacting Democracy & Public Good, Education & Community or Entrepreneurship & American Dream, chime-in at the ‘Civic Mondays’ events or “J.A.M. With Us” (join a movement) in civic engagement, social change and community life. Checkout the Signup Center below.

Tracks: Sia – Together – https://youtu.be/vnfGni4_RlI?si=PsbQn-YEl3Vrt_x_

Rihanna – Say Yes – https://youtu.be/XZBk7LZGpJk?si=jjJvMtj6x_Woad2c

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Moving Towards Our Civic Destiny: 4 Ways to Take Action on the Block or Make a Difference in Your Hometown

Doc Cunningham
“Da Island Guy”
Sounding Off Social

Is this a good time for some holiday trivia as we move into the festive season? First question, after Halloween comes…Thanksgiving or Christmas? Well, the answer might depend on where you shop. Back in the day there was a sense that Christmas could wait until after Thanksgiving. These days, holiday decorations are on display long before Halloween, while Black Friday media ads were running right after.

This marketplace dilemma could be viewed as a cultural snapshot of the unfolding of America’s story. Consider that the first group of settlers who were British merchants arrived in 1607. They were looking for new markets to trade goods. The first group of pilgrims/puritans landed in New England around 1620. They were yearning for reform and belonging. Thanksgiving took a page from Native Americans’ celebration of harvest that the pilgrims adopted as a celebration of safe passage across the Atlantic. Then, Enlightenment Age sentiments spread across Europe and the New World as America charted its Independence, going from merchants to puritans to patriots. Of-course, while all this was happening, in 1619 the first group of Africans were brought to Virginia, which later led to the transatlantic slave trade.

Over those first three phases in American history (Settlement, Slavery, Independence), America has seen its tug-of-war in ideology around different forms of governing. This includes monarchy, theocracy and democracy. But it’s the latter that’s seemingly under assault from different factions of the other two, which presents a heightened level of concern. Democracy has so far been able to prevail because there were those among the Founding Fathers along with citizens and public officials who were focused on moving towards our civic destiny. Interestingly, the Middle East tension we see is a reflection of the battle between similar forces of monarchy, theocracy and democracy.

If SAIC had to chime-in on the matter, there’d be 4 points of notes for a viable solution:

History:- things didn’t start overnight but have been brewing over many decades of distrust.
Hate-sight:- while insight might bring self-awareness, hate-sight can lead to group awareness.
Humanity:- the idea of ‘inalienable rights’ is made real in basic human needs for survival.
Hope:- with hope there’s a sense for tomorrow. Without hope there’s little feeling for tomorrow.

These reference points might be useful for resolving ongoing conflict there or elsewhere. They might also be a catalyst for change in the next phase of America’s unfolding story. We’ve got some issues too that if allowed to fester, could become the kinda incessant stalemate or social imprint we see with overseas instability. Think about how large bills in American currency have a watermark to distinguish the real from the fake. The internal image is superimposed within the bill. Similarly, America (or for that matter other countries too) have a social imprint based on its history and legacy, that’s superimposed into the culture.

It’s why SAIC’s efforts with civics is about delivering content and programming that help shed light on roots & culture. In addition, we’re engaging with those who wanna make a difference in Education and Community, Democracy and Public Good, maybe even Entrepreneurship and American Dream. This collaborative approach spans Government, Business, Education and Community with those who’re onboard with moving towards our civic destiny. So while election activities are tied to civic participation, our overall civic engagement should involve:

1. Voting

An important way of having our voices heard happens at the ballot box. We choose from candidates running for office at various levels of government. Voting as a civic right represents the most basic form of service as citizens. It’s a way to show-up in the process. Moreover, voting as a franchise is a collective stand on who we think best represents our values and wishes. Throughout history, the chance to vote has been used as a wedge issue against certain groups. This is a problem even in modern day America where fear and false narratives are used to deceive, distract or disenfranchise those groups.

2. Crafting

Imagine if before a game, a team’s coach presents a narrative that if they lose it’s because there was point-shaving happening in the game. We wouldn’t think highly of that coach. Well, since the last presidential election, that’s basically what we’ve seen. There are those pushing a narrative that has become its own conspiracy. Instead, what we should be doing as citizens is crafting a vision or a set of options such that whether our candidate wins or loses, we’re still in a position to win as ‘we the people’. SAIC has such a strategy built around the ‘MVP Club – Many Valuable Parents for the Win’.

3. Vibing

As holiday celebrations ramp-up around Diwali, Thanksgiving or Christmas, there’s something about the parades or football games that we enjoy. Maybe it’s watching the battle of the bands at halftime, or the pageantry of the bands at the Thanksgiving Parade. They get to vibing on the field or up the block while strutting their stuff. The different groups of horns, drums and percussions bring a ‘common sound’ that puts us in a groove or the holiday spirit. What’s it gonna take as citizens on vibing across government, education, business and community? It’s strutting our stuff in a direction that builds on common ground.

4. Impacting

There’re athletes who are drafted and others who’re walk-ons. Drafted athletes get much of the mainstream attention for their track record of performance, whether on offense, defense or special team. Walk-on athletes aren’t initially seen as a ‘prime choice’ but after a while they find ways to impact the game. SAIC might be understood in a similar way. We’re not necessarily viewed as coming from the stock of celebrity, corporate exec, cable media personality or industry official. But as founder, the approach of yours truly has been about impacting the civics game with offense or defense like a special team player.

So how do we get past ideological tug-of-war brewing in America? Well, SAIC came out of a deep dive in American history, the ‘Black to America’ story and #HometownStrong comebacks. This allows us to build civics content and programming for a new & improved version of America’s social imprint. Moreover, we affirm the idea that voting isn’t the only form of civic engagement. It’s also gonna require crafting, vibing and impacting efforts that take action on the block to make a difference in your hometown. We can move past any stalemate, building on common ground and shared purpose that flows like water.
For more on impacting Education & Community, Democracy & Public Good or Entrepreneurship & American Dream, chime-in at the Civics & Community Forum Series or “J.A.M. With Us” (join a movement) in civic engagement, social change and community life. Checkout the Signup Center below.

Tracks: Alicia Keys – Like Water – https://youtu.be/wSLtwTzlMGs?si=k0VH_n4-dJrkc5cS

Skip Marley – Life – https://youtu.be/0h_VHiQmnR4?si=yVUSX_8qPSk8IT9-

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This is How You Do ‘Public Good’: To Prevent the Sinking of Democracy, Spreading of Demagoguery and Killing the Soul of the Nation

Doc Cunningham
“Da Island Guy”
Sounding Off Social

Well, word on the street and in sports media is that the NFL’s got a problem. The season’s primetime schedule includes many games featuring the NY Jets. But the injury to Aaron Rodgers has put the league in a bind. While that story got big media coverage earlier, it’s now eclipsed in pop culture by the Taylor Swift Travis Kelce buzz. However, NFL honchos wanna keep their focus on pro football as a brand.

Brand Satisfaction Guarantee

How ‘bout some other issues on the front burner? With local races and the Presidential election’s pre-season of debates and campaign events getting ramped-up, there’s simmering anxiety across hometown America. As a country, it feels like we’re in a daze. The ‘fog of war’ overseas in Ukraine, ‘fog of culture war’ here at home and fog of government shutdown drama. While that stuff’s been getting all the media coverage, we wanna keep our focus on America the Republic as the brand.

From surveying the landscape, it seems there’s a decreasing sense of ‘public good’ that’s hurting us as a society. We see it affecting businesses closing locations due to concerns in safety and theft. We see it with public officials who’re more interested in being social media stars than serving the public good. Clearly, if we lose sight of America the brand and move away from ‘democracy & public good’, it could be to our peril or demise as a nation, and here’s why.

After the events of 9/11/01, a commission laid out recommendations along two tracks:

Criminal accountability for those responsible.
A National Response Operation to address air travel safety & security.

Many involved in the World Trade Center (WTC) attack ended up in confinement or incarceration. What we know today as the TSA was a national response. Officials determined that safety and security in air travel was beneficial to all. The TSA now functions as a standard ‘public good’ for airports at home and abroad. Fast forward 20 years to 1/6/21 and we’ve got a similar dilemma. But is there a National Response Operation to support democracy and public good as a standard at home and abroad?

For some perspective, those of us who’re immigrants left our country for opportunity and the American Dream. We didn’t leave to then watch the sinking of democracy, spreading of demagoguery or killing the soul of the nation. If it was important to have a national response around safety & security after 9/11, it’s equally important after 1/6 to have a similar push in Democracy & Public Good. Can’t just leave it to a Presidential speech. It’ll take all of us across government, education and community by how we make a difference as ‘we the people’ towards:

1. Country

Throughout our history, there’ve been moments of challenge due to wars, tragedies, natural disasters and political strife. But we live in a time now where there’s an undercurrent of grievance that, like a software bug, can get in the way of functioning properly as a family, organization, community or country. Are we gonna fix problems or just patch edges? Recently, 13 Presidential Foundations took a stand for country with a heads-up warning. They span decades of political leadership across party affiliations. They’ve called on citizens and elected officials to stand-down on divisiveness and stand-up on democracy.

2. Constitution

The first order of business as a nation was the Constitution. It serves as a linchpin keeping things together as the world turns. It helps us manage the interrelatedness of different parts of government function. This would make sense to Benjamin Banneker, a noted player from black history who published almanacs and was on the survey team that founded Washington DC. According to his family member, he felt “the interrelatedness of things in life is the world’s greatest truth”. In terms of government, that speaks to the Constitution. It’s also why a key to SAIC is connecting the dots across history, civics and culture.

3. Citizenship

There’s an expression which says, “you live life forward and understand it backward.” In a sense, culture helps us live life forward, history helps us live life backward. So how about civics? Well, it helps us raise our game as residents and citizens. In other words, civics is the practice by which we live life forward and understand it backward as a nation. But these days, some just want to have power, not bring solutions. They look past public good and do things that give the illusion of public service or citizenship. It just looks and smells bad which reflects poor ‘social hygiene’. A higher level of citizenship is best for social hygiene.

4. Common Purpose

Die-hard fans know sports bring out the happiness in us. Oprah learned something similar from chats with her Talk Show audience over 25 years. They said that happiness was their #1 pursuit. Maybe the founders were on to something when they coined ‘Life, Liberty & Happiness’ as an important national ideal and pursuit. So, what if we did a reset in how we approached happiness as a common purpose in America? We may gain new appreciation for being “land of the free and home of the brave.” Add-in how SAIC’s work tied to a common purpose also means being ‘voice of the times and model of the dream.”

So, is it settled news that Kelce and Swift are an item? Maybe they wanna keep folks guessing. Similarly, is it settled whether we have democracy on lock? If we’re still guessing, then maybe we gotta deliver more public good and make a difference as ‘we the people’. These days there’re folks in some circles who operate more out of sabotage than collaboration. While politics is sometimes based on how you play the game as a power grab, civics is how you raise your game as a public good. If you’re wondering “What Now America”, let’s have public good on deck, to live-up to our ideals of greatness and American Dream.

“What Now America!” To find out more about ‘Democracy & Public Good’ or the Civics & Community Forum Series or how you can “J.A.M. With Us” (join a movement) in civic engagement, social change and community life, checkout the Signup Center below.

Tracks: Babyface and Trisha Yearwood – Change the World – https://youtu.be/SjUFRhARAHs?si=Eqi8cPkK9B95FWk_

Libianca – People – https://youtu.be/rJWdfDPZ9Ck?si=LTajS0wN_fokg8di

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The Road Less Traveled in Social Impact: A ‘Retail Civics’ Guide to Tamp-Down the Miseducation in America

Doc Cunningham
“Da Island Guy”
Sounding-Off Social

It’s back-to-school season! Many already begun taking notes and prepping for their first skills test in the classroom or on the field. Parents, teachers and admins might have fresh ways to make sure students are ready for the school year. There could even be a catchy phrase that’s kinda back-of-mind motivation, like one made popular this summer by a U.S. Track & Field athlete who said: “I’m not back, I’m better”! After some time off the radar due to a suspension, she has stormed back to live up to those words. That’s the energy of someone making their own personal discovery.

What if we approached the school year, sports season and life’s work calendar in a similar way? It might help by looking at where there’s room for improvement. For starters, according to the Nation’s Report Card, Eighth Grade U.S. History scores hit its lowest point since 1994. Furthermore, civics scores have declined as well. Interestingly, a polling company found that the idea of ‘a civics comeback’ in America has bipartisan support. Many of those polled think civics is more important now than it was five years ago.

From a social issues standpoint, we’ve already had horrific news in Jacksonville of hate driven by racist ideology. According to a previous Dept of Homeland Security assessment, the #1 threat facing our country is white nationalism and domestic terrorism. But what we sometimes overlook as a nation is the #1 challenge we face: the miseducation of ‘we the people’. We see it in some candidates for public office who offer slick talking-points that are high on buzzwords and low on substance. They’re using ‘retail politics’ to impress the public for their vote, not necessarily to advance the public good. Plus, symptoms of a deeper ‘sickness’ as a nation are in not preventing resentment/grievance from becoming unhinged.

History reveals where there’s miseducation it allows for hiding the cruelty of the past to then justify the cruelty/hypocrisy of the present. This connects with a segment of ‘we the people’ that’s often unprepared on how to handle grievance. Thus, miseducation is used as a strategy for mobilizing or monetizing around a victim mentality. Such a mindset leads to missed opportunities at best and madness at worst. We saw it with the civil war then and ongoing culture war battles now. It’s even playing out today where rallying a group of citizens to attack the tenets of democracy and institutions of a republic is naively viewed the same as protesting around social justice and getting arrested. Now, if you’ve been watching across the globe, a similar pattern exists in countries dealing with tribe/ethnic grievance and anti-democratic forces.

With those observations made, SAIC’s deep dive in American history, the ‘Black to America’ story and #HometownStrong comebacks is focused on ‘Retail Civics’. Whether through the Civics and Community Forum series or other exciting civics-based programs, we’re taking the road less traveled in social impact to help tamp-down the miseducation in America. We see miseducation occurring through omission (distorting black history), intimidation (hate, bias, threats), disinformation (spreading false narratives) and exploitation (turning facts into foolery and foolery into ‘facts’). So SAIC’s efforts to forge synergy around democracy & public good, entrepreneurship & American dream are guided by our:

1. True Colors

There’s a whole setup process for streaming TV vs cable TV. Similarly, there’s a whole setup for how to ‘See America In Color’. You’ve gotta make the switch from a stream of ‘white light’ where the picture might be a grainy mix of black/white/gray, to three streams of colored light for a new & improved picture. With some social adjustments, you’ll have ‘true colors’ combining American history, the ‘Black to America’ story and #HometownStrong comebacks. By connecting the dots across history, civics and culture, you’ll have a crisper picture of the issues. SAIC’s ‘streaming model’ helps to show our true colors as a nation.

2. Engagement

Before getting married, couples often go through an engagement period. This signals their intentions on taking a big step in commitment. It can also be a time for working out the ‘kinks’ before tying the knot. With SAIC, we’ve been working out the kinks on our intentions for taking a big step of commitment to democracy & public good, entrepreneurship & American dream. Our Civic engagement is inspired by ‘vows’ in SAIC’s Declaration of Emergence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all are created equal, and are endowed with basic values, civic ideals and inner assets to live our best life”.

3. Mobilization

What would cause a bunch of folks to storm a store to ‘smash and grab?’ Is it a different kind of grievance, misplaced purpose or another example of miseducation? Moreover, what would cause someone you grew up with, to become a ‘lone wolf’ neo-Nazi killer of black people? What’s the mobilizing thrust behind these actions? It’s likely a matter of what’s feeding their minds. Well, those who’re willing to take the road less traveled will be mobilized around a common bond, shared identity and larger purpose. As a nation our mobilization can be one of choosing public good over ‘power play’ to see better days.

4. Story

America’s story is simple yet wrapped in struggle. Folks left European lands for a better life. They arrived in Jamestown or on Plymouth Rock after viewing it from afar as a shining ‘city on a hill’. Generations followed a similar path to freedom while others brought here forcefully had to fight for theirs. From these journeys are stories of grace, guts and glory. Even with isms & schisms that rear their ugly head, there’s often a silver lining or light at the end of the tunnel. SAIC’s intentions around democracy & public good, entrepreneurship & American dream will have its own story across the miles and down to the last mile.

Founding founder James Madison said, “Knowledge will forever govern ignorance: And a people who mean to be their own Governors, must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.” In other words, knowledge is power, not ignorance. So America, wanna fix problems through civics, or exploit them through politics? We can’t look the other way of easier access to bullets and harder access to ballots or books. A civics comeback is showing our true colors, being mobilized by public good and turning grievance into a better story. Let’s squash miseducation and feel like a million-dollar success!

To find out more about ‘America from 0 to 250’ and the Civics & Community Forum Series or how you can “J.A.M. With Us” (join a movement) in civic engagement, social change and community life, checkout the Signup Center below.

Tracks: Lil Durk Ft J. Cole – All My Life – https://youtu.be/8DP9T2piyJ8?si=A6HGzLN8ZYUvwEQm

Whitney Houston – Million Dollar Bill – https://youtu.be/wNIcVTmUSOU?si=-eEK3tJPhKMCi7He

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A History-Making Reason for Being a Better Nation: Why Dr. King Had a Dream Rooted in the American Dream

Checked your calendar lately? As civil rights organizations and professional service groups wrap-up their national conventions, women’s World Cup soccer squads ramp-up their play. Teams from all over the world are competing for the grand championship of women’s sports. The US women who’ve already made history, have set their sights on making even more. But a hot topic of discussion at the conventions might have been around Black History curriculum.

With media attention on Florida these days, many remember past events including the ‘Groveland Boys’ case back in 1949, where four black boys were falsely accused of raping a white woman and beating-down her husband. There was a time the state was like the lynching capital of the deep south, which also included Mississippi and the death of Emmett Till on August 28, 1955. That event further enraged folks which led to Rosa Parks and the Montgomery bus boycott in Alabama on December 5, 1955. A few years later saw the March on Washington and Dr. King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech on August 28, 1963.

While the US women’s national team hopes to make history, other folks want to re-write or ‘sugarcoat’ history. There’s a difference in how we experience history. What we’re watching in soccer is lived history. We’re able to see events and celebrate moments of guts and glory. Then there’s learned history where we look back on the past and work to not repeat the same mistakes. Plus, we reflect on moments of valor and vision around American history, the ‘Black to America’ story and #HometownStrong comebacks as examples of service, commitment and excellence. That’s one aspect of the value of SAIC as a social-edge campaign/platform, to bring a better picture of civic/social issues for a high level of citizenship.

Furthermore, SAIC offers a game-changing reason for being a better citizen in the same way that Dr. King and the civil rights movement gave us a history-making reason for being a better nation. Ever wondered why America has always been a magnet for citizens from the world over? In short, folks wanna be part of a legacy story, to have a real engaging story of their own. So, what’s it gonna take to ‘crack the code’ for a movement in public good, entrepreneurship and the American Dream? Maybe we can pull-in ‘lived history’ from a Gen Zer who’s good at solving the Rubik’s cube by having colors in formation.

Or maybe we can pull-in some ‘learned history’ taken from Dr. King’s ‘mountaintop speech’ where he said, “The nation is sick. There is trouble in the land, confusion all around”. These days we’re dealing with culture wars around history & books. Tragedies around fentanyl & mental health. Trafficking of disinformation & hate. Concerns with democracy & divisions. By re-imagining Dr. King’s words, SAIC believes “America’s got a fever because it’s fighting something”. This ‘new & improved’ view of things is gonna help us ‘crack the code’ for a new level of civic engagement in America as:

1. An Idea (Freedom & Equality)

The country was born during a period of enlightenment in the world. The founders saw the chance for a new beginning in the idea of freedom and equality. We can all relate to having an idea that takes root in our psyche. The founders planted that idea like a seed in the soil. The hope was for the seed to take root and bear fruit in civic ideals, simple values and inner assets. But a ‘disease’ (as seen with crops) infected the hearts, minds and souls of the those who turned slavery into a people-as-property enterprise. That original distortion re-infects us at times like an infestation attacking the ‘stalk of America’.

2. A Dream (Self-Determination)

Not only did the founders have an idea they also had a dream of self-determination, of maybe even going from ‘rags to riches’. We saw a recent example of that in the story of Michael Jeffery of D.C. who lost his jobs at a Waffle House and a clothing company during the pandemic. He ended up living in a tent under a bridge for two years. Fast-forward the story, we learn Jeffery went back to get his high school diploma and became valedictorian of his graduating class. He’s now enrolled in college for legal studies. He has a dream of self-determination in saying “Who thought I’d be studying legal studies, right? There was no hope in this tent, but I found it, so you can see how far I’ve came and how far I will get.”

3. An Experiment (Democratic Republic)

America wanted to move away from the control strings of a monarchy. Folks no longer wanted to be beholden to a King. The founders launched an experiment as a democratic republic. That was confirmed by Benjamin Franklin at the end of the Constitutional Convention when he was asked by a bystander, “what do we have, a monarchy or republic?” His response, “A republic, if you can keep it”. With a milestone anniversary of our Declaration of Independence on the horizon in a few years, let’s hope we can report back to Franklin on how “America from 0 to 250 has kept our republic intact”.

4. An Alliance (Original States)

The revolutionary war had many battles. We came out of that period with a ‘startup’ effort in advocacy and synergy. Folks worked on building ‘A New America’ in going from colonies to states. Even with the initial ‘civic battles’ among the founders that saw rifts between the federalists and anti-federalists, they still put some cornerstone things in place, like founding documents, federalist papers, ‘E Pluribus Unum’ mantra, movement of a people. The new alliance has had its black-eye moments of slavery, trail of tears, Jim Crow, Japanese internment camps. So, let’s ensure lived history benefits from learned history.

With the 60^th anniversary of Dr King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech upon us, we can apply learned history. King’s words from another time remind us “there’s no greater danger in all the world than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity”. If we were to re-imagine those words, he might say, “America, where is your soul? Show me your soul”. What’s the answer that might best describe who we are as a nation? Well, from hometown to hometown, let’s kickstart a new phase around advocacy/synergy in public good and democracy, entrepreneurship and American Dream. Should we wait for you?

Tracks: Lalah Hathaway ft Robert Glasper – Show Me Your Soul – https://youtu.be/CCrtk3z_CrM

Tems – Wait for You – https://youtu.be/Qa1IaUywiO8

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(Part 3) The Hometown Effect of ‘Field Work’ to Impact a New Season of America: Making Waves from Coast to Coast that Move Us to the Next Level

Doc Cunningham
Da Island Guy
“Sounding Off Social”

In the blink of an eye, America went from a moment of cheering to one of jeering. First it was with news of a perfect game in major league baseball by Yankees pitcher Domingo Germán. Such a feat happens few and far between. Then came word that the Supreme Court struck down Affirmative Action with a 6-3 vote. The pendulum swing in emotions was like going from elation to frustration in one swoop.

Not much time or editorial room here to get into the weeds on the rise and fall of Affirmative Action. Just know that there’s lots of personal experience from yours truly with the matter. Those who’ve been following the rise of SAIC know it was born out of a series of national news stories that led to a deep dive in American history, the ‘Black to America’ story and #HometownStrong comebacks. Add to that my own immigrant life story and I’d summarize things as follows:

The fact it took 232 years for Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson as a black female to be on the Supreme Court proves the ‘why’ for Affirmative Action. Unfortunately, it took so long because America sees black women first by race, then by gender. BTW, did you read her powerful dissent?
Affirmative Action should be understood as a remedy for disadvantages of past history, and as a guardrail with ‘checks & balances’ that ensure present and future balancing of advantages.
A broad view of 14^th Amendment clauses is: “those who’ve historically been disenfranchised should have equal protection so their rights aren’t denied or dreams deferred.”
If we get rid of race as a colorblind factor, does that mean we’ve gotten rid of ‘race supremacy’ or ‘white signaling’ as a color-complex dilemma that’s existed throughout America’s history?

Some folks tend to say race is not a factor in socio-economic disparities. They use that mindset as an excuse to then say there’s no need to have race be a factor in the remedy. But even beyond those key points, Affirmative Action is to black history as Immigration is to American history. In other words, in the same way that the Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1965 made it possible for many like me to come to America (my first visit in 1979), Affirmative Action made it possible for more of us to have the chance to make bigger contributions to America. What’s wrong with that?

Just think, without those two policies you’d probably not be hearing about See America In Color, a social-edge campaign/platform that connects the dots across hot-button issues. So what does it all mean? How does this affect the college campus, job openings, promotion chances or a new season of America? Well funny you should ask. We can take a page from history to help chart the next phase in America’s story. With folks popping bottles as fireworks light-up the skies on Independence Day, let’s zoom-in on some of the ‘field work’ that it’s gonna take to make waves from coast to coast.

By highlighting certain lessons from the past, we know there were those whose focus was on expanding “Life, Liberty and Happiness” ideals. In some respects, they exemplified the ‘movement of a people’. In addition, as time went by some understood that “when America tries to forge more inclusion by extending rights to new groups, others tend to have anxiety and there’s a kinda ‘backlash response’ to reverse progress.” So SAIC’s “J.A.M With Us” rollout (join a movement), like the abolitionist and civil rights periods before, or similar movements of the past, is about how we:

1. Instruct the Times

Two phrases infused the civil rights movement: (1) We Shall Overcome (2) I Have a Dream. The first was a rallying cry to keep fighting for job opportunities, voting rights, social justice, better housing. The second taken from Dr. King’s March on Washington speech which focused on economic evangelism, social activism and hope over skepticism. The slogans helped to instruct the times such that we’d meet the moment and not miss the mark as a nation. SAIC’s ‘Mojo in America’ slogan (make our journeys one) serves a similar purpose. It connects Independence Day on-paper to our better days in practice.

2. Disrupt the Game

America is indebted to the ‘Black to America’ story, not in an arrogant way, but historical way. That’s what Dr. King might have meant about a ‘promissory note’ returned as insufficient funds. Plus, the Affirmative Action ruling could be seen as trying to balance sibling squabbles or rivalry. One (white) child feels the other (black) child gets the attention. Parents try to give children equal opportunity, not necessarily same route. Sometimes, they’ll have to put their foot down or recognize if a child’s dealing with issues of self-love, self-identity, self-image. So America, sometimes a movement is a way to put our foot down and disrupt the game (while calling out issues of hate & bias, etc).

3. Inform the People

Just like there’re dueling sides to sibling squabbles, there’re dueling sides to the culture wars we’re currently seeing. One side seems to want to confuse or inflame the people. The other side wants to inform and inspire the people. One side is about ‘government of the people, by the people and for the people’. The other side is about government of the ego, by the ego and for the ego. Some say education is the dividing line between race and class issues. Well, SAIC believes civics is the dividing line between conspiracy and democracy, between ‘Old America’ and ‘Mojo in America’.

4. Empower the Nation & World

Affirmative Action was ruled as unconstitutional. What gets overlooked is it was designed as a constitutional remedy to America’s past of slavery, sharecropping, segregation, etc. Furthermore, a few years ago the Court struck down parts of the Voting Rights Act by removing sections that required federal government pre-clearance before making changes to state voting laws. We saw what happened in many state legislatures adding more restrictive laws. From the time of our founding, we learn that the movement of a people is often about empowering the nation through better governance and perfecting the Union.

So, did the Court’s ruling instruct the times or miss the moment? Their decision is gonna be studied for years to come. Meantime, what we can do is disrupt the game where some use race as a wedge-issue in political campaigns but object to the use of race as an edge-issue to level the playing field. Bob Marley once sang about the ‘movement of a people.’ Well, how ‘bout focusing on how we inform the people in ways that hone knowledge and boost self-love, not distort the truth? They say success is a journey, not a destination. Let’s get moving in the ‘hood, ‘burbs & countryside on ‘field work’ for a new season of America!

Tracks: Nupah – Self Love – https://youtu.be/uveBMpCfgAU

H.E.R. – Journey – https://youtu.be/bTWftRNdU3w