See America In Color

What We Learn from the Founding Fathers that Might Help us Deal with Cancel Culture and the Cultural Divide

Doc Cunningham
Sounding Off Social

Well, Perseverance has landed! That’s one way to describe the news when the mars rover made it to the far-out planet. We saw a collective sigh of relief and at the same time exhilaration of accomplishment in the reaction of the mission control team. Ever wondered what that feeling must be like? Their work involves building a bridge to research and advances in life.

We had a taste of that with the recent launch of SAICs Friday Night Flights and the community panel. For that initial rollout it could also be said that perseverance has landed too. There’re other events planned in the series including a Business Panel, Education Panel, International Panel, Women in Public Service Panel, Hometown Best Panel and Super Citizens Panel. One way we’re hoping people see the strategy is like building a bridge to the future. That’s probably how the Founding Fathers approached the post Revolution period as they put in place some key documents for the republic.

The Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights served as that bridge. We know that some people didn’t get equal access to the privileges of that bridge. How else do you explain the fact that it was ok for some to be born free and others born to be sold? How do you explain the fact that some were treated as second-class while others seen as an afterthought? We have an opportunity to revisit lessons from the past to build a better bridge to the future. But we have to decide on whether it’s a bridge to “…life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” or a bridge to “…life, liberty and the pursuit of conspiracy theories.”

It’s why SAIC includes the Declaration of Emergence (DOE) as an added improvement to the original bridge. The DOE says, “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all are created equal and are endowed by the Creator with certain basic rights, civic values and hidden assets to live your best life.” These improvements to the original bridge are like what you find with construction work on physical bridges today. They’re improvements in street signs, road surface and guard rails. The DOE brings improvements in how we reach a higher level of citizenship through a better picture of civic/social issues.

The Founding Fathers might not have had a full view for how technology, partisanship and media proliferation would collide in the modern age. But they themselves took some cues about the underpinnings of the nation from the Greeks and Romans as well as the Enlightenment period of the 17^th and 18^th centuries. We might be in a different kind of period today that goes back and forth between enlightenment and entertainment. But there’re timeless civic values from the early Greco-Roman times that show the importance of:

1. Virtue

The familiar use of this word is often associated with how we treat and esteem women. That’s something that wasn’t necessarily at the forefront in America back then. However, the more lasting view of the word relates to having a sense of public-spiritedness and concern for the common good. Nowadays that can seem to be in short supply. How else do you explain when public officials approach their service as if it’s supposed to be like an R-rated movie with certain extremes as opposed to being AAA rated like a financial investment that has strong value over time?

2. Temperance

This speaks to the importance of self-restraint in the public space and especially among public officials. We raise our children to avoid bullying which shows a lack of restraint and meanness. While there’re times for spirited discussions on a subject as happened among the founding fathers, temperance is needed to get past sticking points and roadblocks to serving the common good. In terms of a lack of temperance, how else do you explain when an official says another official needs to be removed from office before they’re even in office?

3. Fortitude

It took a lot of fortitude to prevail during the Revolution. Yes, there was military strategy as well but the grievance with the British throne was turned into a sense of purpose. Back then it took fortitude to defeat a power greater than themselves and most other countries. Today it takes fortitude (courage) to confront inequity, injustice and insecurity. The difference between then and now is in how some folks only want to pursue having a sense of grievance but not a sense of purpose. How else do you explain when people would rather pursue the spreading of conspiracy theories than the spreading of happiness?

4. Justice

There’s a cloud of falsehood that has hung over America throughout history. It might have started with the three-fifths clause then, but it has grown into something even worst and contributes to the post-election drama. The cloud has grown to the point of blocking the light and enlightenment. This helps to explain the cultural divide in one sense and today’s battle cries for justice in another. Someone once said, “justice will not be served until the unaffected are just as outraged as those who are.” Plus, as Dr King once said, “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

So a response to the ‘cancel culture’ and cultural divide fervor these days might be found in civics education. Civics is to culture as truth is to the Declaration of Independence. Without ‘these truths’ things can go haywire which is where we find ourselves in some circles today. SAIC is here to switch it up by how we reboot civics education, refresh civic engagement, reset cultural messaging and revive social spirit. Civic/social virtues tend to feed off of truisms not ‘what-about-isms’. This way after the pandemic, protests and elections (PPE) we can not only be survivors, but we can also be deep-divers in civics education towards our future success individually and as a nation.

You can join the conversation and support our efforts with SAICs “Dear America 2021” Impact Statement at the Facebook ‘Hometown Chat’ Page here http://www.Facebook.com/seeamericaincolor.

Tracks: Protoje Ft Koffee – Switch it Up – https://youtu.be/Z04PEg2QwNY

Skip Marley Ft Various Artists – Survival 76 Cypher – https://youtu.be/zTOYqfnSyuU

Getting to the Heart & Soul of Roots & Culture as a Nation

Doc Cunningham
Sounding Off Social

Ever heard music on the radio or in a TV commercial that you wanted to know, “what’s that song?” You heard the song a time or two before but didn’t know the name of the artist. Well, ask any college student, high school teen or middle school tween and they might say “you gotta Shazam the song.” That’s social media talk for having an app that listens to the music and then names the song, artist and other details.

Sometimes as citizen we find ourselves in a similar situation when listening to public figures. We hear them say something and wished we knew whether the message was true or filled with disinformation. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to ‘Shazam their words’ to see if the message was on point? Well, in a sense that’s how we got to creating See America In Color (SAIC) as a social-edge campaign/platform. It’s like being able to ‘Shazam in civics’ by getting to the heart & soul of roots & culture as a classroom, company, community and country.

So you might wonder, how does this work? SAIC came about from a deep dive in American history, the ‘Black to America’ story and Hometown Strong comebacks. It was realized that part of the problem these days with separating ‘fact from fake’ is that mainstream news comes in different forms: reporting, analysis, opinion and what’s called “brand editorial.” It’s as if sometimes we have to parse and decipher by separating truth from fluff, wheat from chaff, ads from journalism.

One way to think about how this has played-out in our history is to go back to the Declaration of Independence. When you break it down the way a master preacher like Dr King would, you might get something like this: (1) We; (2) hold these truths; (3) to be self-evident; (4) that all men are created equal. Over the years we see how this has been interpreted by people differently:

We – What/who is your ‘We’? Are you on the side of white supremacy or the side of ‘one indivisible nation under God?’ Your ‘We’ says something about your ‘I’… Identity, Importance, Inspiration, Impact.
Hold these truths – the universal truths including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. There’re those who ‘hold these lies’ and don’t think these truths should apply to everyone.
To be self-evident – those obvious truths. For some people, truths may or may not be self-evident but they’re certainly not self-embraced. Folks build media ‘smoke screens’ around truth.
That all men are created equal – in some corners this was taken literally to mean only (white) men. So blacks and women were initially left off the equality/equity train.

When you break things down that way, it gives us a better way to ‘Shazam in civics’ from what we see, hear and learn. But SAIC doesn’t stop there. Since we were getting into the business of spreading the ‘see in color’ message, it made sense to appreciate what it’s like to ‘see in black & white.’ In other words, if this were a new business specializing in building/selling color TVs, it would make sense to know about the workings of black & white TVs, the shift to color and then ‘smart TV’. In so doing, we get a better picture for a higher level of citizenship as people who understand the:

Value Gap

According to Dr Eddie Glaude Jr, a Black Historian and Princeton University Chair of African-American Studies, the ‘value gap’ is where discrimination, dehumanization, and demonization all started. SAIC sees the ‘value gap’ like a spinoff from the Declaration of Independence, but as a ‘social issues flava’ to justify slavery. This flava went through updates which led to an ‘Imposter Syndrome’ dilemma in America, where some people are made to feel as if they don’t belong. Proclaiming ‘Black Lives Matter’ as a statement of truth then during the Three-fifths Clause debate and now during social protest marches, is a response to the value gap.

Policy Gap

As the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights came about, America showed it was taking next steps beyond the Declaration of Independence. But what also happened in the law was an increasing policy gap. For example, the Fugitive Slave Act allowed those who were ‘plantation security’ to send out slave patrols to capture runaway slaves. After capture, some were tortured, like having toes cutoff as punishment. This second-class status was sealed into law with the 1857 Supreme Court ruling in the Dred Scott case which basically said black people didn’t have the rights of citizenship. It seems the Declaration of Independence took a backseat until we got to the 13^th, 14^th and 15^th Amendments.

Equity Gap

Jump forward almost 100 years and we see how the policy gap evolved into the equity gap. When soldiers returned from World War II, the federal government passed a new law called the G.I. Bill. It gave veterans the chance to get new skills, access to capital, housing and job opportunities. But that wasn’t the case for returning black veterans. Then to add insult to injury later, there was the banking practice of ‘Redlining’ to intentionally suppress property values in black neighborhoods. Owning a home is a big way to build equity. But if it’s harder for some people to get a fair shot or increased property value then you get a widening equity gap.

Civics Gap

Today we find ourselves dealing with the civics gap. When history gets told, the truth sometimes depends on who’s doing the telling. The distortion or disinformation affects how we connect the dots between roots & culture. It’s why SAIC is focused on 4Rs for how we reboot civics education, refresh civic engagement, reset cultural messaging and revive social spirit. As we work on moving past the pandemic, social protests and post-elections drama, we have to find ways to make civics count if we want to return back to life better. Plus, if we can train ‘smart dogs’ to sniff-out Covid, don’t see why we can’t train the next generation by how we add ‘smarts’ to civics, to ‘sniff-out’ issues that feed the cultural divide.

So who’s ready to ‘Shazam in civics’? Here’s a take-home assignment. Think about how geology helps with knowing the earth’s physical landscape, natural resources and hidden fault lines. Well, maybe SAICs approach to civics might be useful in how we nail down the social landscape, human resources/assets and ‘false lines’ in news, roots & culture. We make progress with equality and equity by how we operate in our greatness and treat one another with fairness. We must turn cultural despair built around 3Rs (racism, resentment, rage) into multi-cultural synergy built around universal truths of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Tracks: K Ci & JoJo – Life – https://youtu.be/JMGgLgmfg2w 

Kid Cudi ft MGMT – Pursuit of Happiness – https://youtu.be/7xzU9Qqdqww

A Shot of Hope for Change to Get Past the Pandemic, Social Protests and Post-Election Drama!

Doc Cunningham
Sounding Off Social

Who’s ready to talk playoffs? Or maybe it’s the buzz around new TV shows that’s on some people’s minds? In college football the national championship game is set to be a kinda north vs south. In pro football, there’re a couple teams in the mix that hadn’t made the playoffs in years. Even with almost empty stadiums, die-hard fans will be cheering as players bring passion and mojo to the field.

But there’s something else more pressing beyond first down and 10. It’s the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccines. As the new year unfolds folks from rural towns to big cities are waiting to get their doses. After all we’ve gone through as a nation these past months, the rollout is being described as a shot of hope for many.

Covid-19 isn’t the only issue to have caused public alarm. We’ve basically had the triple-challenge of pandemic, social protests and the presidential elections. The overlap of these social/civic issues has tested our system of government, justice and healthcare. It’s why See America In Color (SAIC) represents a shot of hope for change to get past the pandemic, social protests and the post-election drama.

As our public health officials ramp up messaging on the vaccines, we learn that it was made possible by years of research after the H1/N1 virus outbreak. The science behind the vaccines might not make sense to everybody, which is one reason people could hold doubts. Similarly, SAIC as a social-edge campaign/platform came out of a deep dive in American history, the ‘Black to America’ story and Hometown Strong comebacks. One way to make sense of it all is in SAICs snapshot of history.

It was James Madison who, in describing the difference between the north and south said “the institution of slavery and its consequences formed the line of discrimination.” That was America’s original ‘fault line’ so to speak. As with the trauma of earthquakes and Tsunamis, our fault lines are where social grievances and political drama play out. So, with SAICs 2021 rollout and impact statement we say, “Dear America, it’s year 21 and century 21, which should mean a coming-of-age in how we respond to this triple-challenge.” It’ll take a model of civic excellence around equality, access, justice and unity:

1. Equality

College football players have been wearing impact statements on their helmets. The ‘equality’ message connects with them when you consider the different types of surfaces they play on. Some stadiums have natural turf while others have artificial. In the case of artificial, those fields seem to come in different shades of green, grey, red and blue. But no matter the type of surface, the rules still provide for a ‘level playing field.’ In the same way, when it comes to the civic/social issues of our time, no matter what shades of color we are, equality should ensure a level playing field.

2. Access

This year NJ changed its county office titles from Freeholder to County Commissioner. The old name was a holdover from when only the wealthy, those who owned property or those who were free got access to resources. Imagine if the nature gods decided to only allow some people access to oxygen (O₂) based on wealth and the rest of us only got leftover oxygen as in one-part ‘O’ or none at all? In a sense that’s what happens when we limit access to resources based on a ‘grinch leader’ mentality. It’s been said that the most basic part of a democracy is access to voting. The ballot box is something to watch since in America’s history there’ve been repeated efforts at suppression and intimidation.

3. Justice

Dr King once said, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” James Baldwin is quoted as saying “Ignorance allied with power is the most ferocious enemy of justice.” These quotes remind us that justice should be fair-minded and ‘smarts’-building. A simple way to think of justice is in the ‘targeting’ call in football. To play smart and avoid injury, a player cannot use the crown of the head to make a tackle. If ‘targeting’ is confirmed after video review, then there’s a penalty. So, in terms of social injustices or wrongful loss of life whether with law enforcement or other entity, if ‘biased targeting’ is confirmed there should be a penalty.

4. Unity

The first principle in the Kwanzaa tradition is unity. The first part of USA is tied to unity. With SAIC we can achieve unity through features built around content for smart curriculum, a campaign for change, a platform for closing the ‘civics gap’ and a bridge to crossover the cultural divide. Plus, we can achieve unity like what happens in a holiday light display. We string-together a series of wires and flip the switch to get a beautiful array of bright lights. Well, with a model of civic excellence we can produce #CitizenShining moments from coast to coast in the biz world and throughout communities.

So the TV networks or streaming channels aren’t the only ones doing a rollout of new shows or new season of current shows. We’re also doing a 2021 rollout of SAICs Essay Contest and Friday Night Flights to meet the triple-challenge of the day. These past months have been tough in many respects. We’ve had to adjust to a different kind of normal. But with our rollout rooted in reality and focused on returning back to life better we hope that this year brings not just a turnaround but also a feeling like we belong as you hold SAIC close.

Tracks: Ciara Ft Ester Dean – Rooted – https://youtu.be/bUAxPG3GYi8

X Ambassadors – Belong – https://youtu.be/KH6MwwKdTqY

(Part 2) After We Vote: How We Move on From the Elections and Bring Change Whether Win, Lose or Flaws.

Doc Cunningham
Sounding Off Social

The holiday season is here! It’s usually a time of fun moments and festive cheer. But as the Covid-19 pandemic rages on, there’re shifts and changes we’ve had to make when compared to past years. This is also a time that the ‘Year-in-Review’ news programs get rolled out. Some of us will do our best to handle the mental/emotional stressors while trying to make sense of the 2020 blur.

In the workplace some might use this time for a job performance recap, while with students it might call for a school-wide virtual conversation. But in the interest of civic ‘team spirit’ for the See America In Color (SAIC) social-edge campaign/platform, we’ll use this moment as an ‘After We Vote’ review and reality check. Whether win, lose or flaws in the system, we can move on from the elections and bring change based on lessons of the past in American history, the ‘Black to America’ story and ‘Hometown Strong’ comebacks.

It’s been a few weeks since the presidential elections and what’s been happening can be summed-up from our history by actions of winners and losers. For example, the winners of the American Revolution spent time crafting an organizing document that begins with the words “We the people in order to form a more perfect union.” But history shows that with past losers in America’s unfolding story, they spent time doing three things: (1) Attacking democracy (2) Suppressing citizens’ rights and (3) Gaslighting social ills and the culture wars.

As a quick flashback following the Revolution, women and some blacks in New Jersey were allowed the right to vote. That was reversed in 1807 because one party felt it was losing the support of those groups and decided to disenfranchise them. They came up with a new push and then laws under the guise of “Fighting Fraud.” Another example is how after the Civil War the KKK was formed by six confederate war veterans who were college educated. They were supporters of the losing side who would intimidate, harass and then attack democracy which led to the Jim Crow era of culture wars. Sound familiar?

A better view of civic/social issues that is “powered by SAIC” might help to explain the following ideal: Celebrate a civic spirit in culture and community like a winning spirit in sports & biz. Think about the end of a football game when the coaches or the players meet in the middle of the field to shake hands. It’s not something they do as an executive order, but as a goodwill gesture after the game. Whether win, lose or draw, they move on and/or regroup for the next game or season. Moreover, when a player graduates from school or retires as a pro, they don’t try to hold their former teammates or the game hostage. So, taking a page from sports, we can do better as elected officials, public figures, media personalities, biz leaders and regular folks in ways that serve the country well by how we affect:

1. Civics

Between first and eight grades, students learn in science the difference between water as H₂O and hydrogen peroxide as H₂O₂. Imagine during that time if little by little they’re led to believe that H₂O₂ is the same as H₂O but is better for you because it has more oxygen? That would soon become a disaster in their health. Well, what we sometimes find in our public space can be similarly bad for issues beyond race. When people get fed a ‘drip drip drip’ of disinformation, over time they’re led to believe the wrong things. This might cause an addiction to disinformation, and as with most addictions, someone gets hurt. Plus, by the time they get to college and the real world, they’re likely to suffer with bouts of grievance, confusion and pain because they “lack information and are constantly liable to being misled.”

2. Citizens

From middle school through college, students can participate in the organized sport of their choosing. As they advance from the early stages maybe even through to the Olympics or pro ranks, practice sessions become harder and the goals steeper. As they grow in abilities and personal strengths the rewards are also greater. Well, that’s the mindset of SAICs Essay Contest and Friday Night Flights programs, in an effort to reboot civics education, refresh civic engagement, reset cultural messaging and revive social spirit. By the time we become voters or serve in other ways with a deeper sense of duty, we’ll all be working with a better picture of civic/social issues for a higher level of citizenship.

3. Culture

Some of what we see today as ‘culture wars’ might be tied to a back-and-forth between White America and Black Culture. There’s even a spillover to other areas but it’s often experienced as ‘social humidity.’ It’s like those days when humidity in the air is heavy. The higher the humidity, the greater amount of water vapor is in the atmosphere. Things feel sticky, uncomfortable, maybe even unbearable as people try to find a ‘cool zone.’ Well when it comes to civic/social issues in America, we’ve always had to deal with social humidity due to ‘white supremacy vapors’ in the air making things uncomfortable. Plus, part of the culture wars might also be about whose ‘cool zone’ attracts more followers.

4. Community

Some might remember the TV show from the 60s/70s called the ‘Mod Squad’ (Mod for modern). The theme was based around a group of young people who wanted to make a difference in the community. Their backgrounds could have caused them to be overlooked, but they came together to affect the social issues of their time. Maybe today across America we need a kind of ‘Pod Squad’ to help ‘protect our democracy’ or a ‘Civics Brigade’ to ‘put out disinformation’ hotspots that spread like wildfire. We kinda need parents, teachers, students and community members locked-in on a stronger, more secure future.

If we want to “Make Team America an Awesome 10” we can look to sports as a guide. The players in the game learn to think ‘team’ before their own highlight ream. When you write the word aWEsoME, you gotta spell WE before ME. In the same way this might serve us well as we consider country, community and duty before political party, celebrity or cash money. It takes patriotic realism over selfish ambitions to achieve a greater good, higher purpose and bigger love that will have us all feeling good in the neighborhood throughout the holiday season and beyond. Then no one can top or stop us as a nation!

You can join the conversation and support our efforts to “See America In Color: With 2020 Vision” at the Facebook ‘Hometown Chat’ Page here http://www.Facebook.com/seeamericaincolor.

Tracks: Surfaces – Sunday Best – https://youtu.be/_83KqwEEGw4

John Legend – Bigger Love – https://youtu.be/rAxdO1j6oQI

After We Vote: Where is History, Civics & Culture Gonna Take us As the U.S.A.?

Doc Cunningham
Sounding Off Social

How do you know if someone represents you or your issues? That’s the sort of question citizens face every time they vote. We’re trying to make a decision based on a combination of factors of person, party, platform and policy proposals. Sometimes a candidate might get support from celebs or other public figures to help attract voters.

In some cases, you hear certain words used to criticize that support: sellout, hypocrite, traitor, opportunist. The 2020 Presidential election season was no different. A few unexpected folks came out publicly in support of their candidate. While the answer to the question of who people vote for isn’t always logical or scientific, there’re those who probably have some strong feelings.

Well, on the days after we vote we should at least be asking ourselves, “Where is history, civics and culture gonna take us as the U.S.A. – United States of America?” Think about what happens when a student attends graduation, whether from middle school, high school or college. As they walk on that stage to receive the diploma, there is a collective consensus around them going to the next level. Family members gather to support the graduate and to celebrate what life has in-store for them going forward.

Similarly, after we vote we should want to have a collective consensus about the ideals that can take us to the next level as a nation. This consensus, if viewed as the United Stage of America (USA), is one way to appreciate why the See America In Color (SAIC) social-edge campaign/platform believes civics education is the next social frontier in America. It’s why we deliver content for ‘smart curriculum and smart programming’. If you quiz people to choose between “dumb, dumber, smart or smart-arse” they’d likely want to have ‘smarts’ in civics the way biz/tech leaders do with gadgets and students do with academics.

Throughout America’s history we’ve seen evolution and revolution. We’ve also seen people overcome struggles, hardships and pain. In the 80s and 90s we had the period of crack cocaine addiction. In the 90s and early 2000s we dealt with opioid addiction. Over the years when our national identity or personal security was at stake, we responded with a “war on poverty” or “war on drugs” or “war on terror.” These days it seems we’re dealing with a growing “addiction to disinformation” that is consumed as hope. It’s as if we need a “War on D.A.H. – Disinformation as Hope.” So, to watch out for this rising danger of WMDs (weapons of mass disinformation) we need to go from:

1. Talking points to takeoff points – because culture needs context

You often hear ‘talking points’ used to explain support for a political candidate. The problem is the message can get missed or muffled especially when used out of context. As an example, in the context of living with passion, some have heard the phrase “Do what you love and the money will follow.” Without the proper context, someone could hear that and believe “love money to live fully.” But with context, it really means “when you love what you do, money/reward will flow through you.” In the same way, culture needs history to provide context to make sure that the message doesn’t get missed or muffled.

2. Voter education to civics education – because civics brings content

The Covid-19 pandemic threw the campaign season into a frustrating loop. There was confusion about absentee ballots versus vote-by-mail. There was concern among seniors about voting in person or working the polls. As such, there was even greater need for voter education through media and printed materials. Well after we vote, we should embrace the need for civics education to help get us past the ‘isms and schisms’, biases and prejudices, divisions and suppressions to meet and conquer that next frontier.

3. Transaction to transformation – because citizens get conscious

In watching the campaign ads, it can sometimes feel like the process is more of a political transaction. The candidate asks for our vote in exchange for promises to make certain options/services available to the public. There’s often cynicism about the political process because voters feel some candidates forget about the people once they’re in office. With civics education, the process can be transformational as citizens get conscious about the ‘ins & outs’ of who’s serving the people and who’s serving their pockets.

4. Candidate endorsement to civic empowerment – because better means change

Over the summer, pro athletes and other public figures showed us what can happen when citizens become conscious. There were civic engagement projects that weren’t focused on candidate endorsement. No matter which campaign ad was most convincing for folks, after we vote we can reach new heights with civic empowerment in the next frontier because better means change, whether personally, professionally or socially.

So after we vote, will we see a nation as good as its promise or as bad as its worst instincts? That’s a question we might ponder in the weeks and months ahead. These days we see slogans like “Stop Hate! or End Racism!” Maybe one day we can celebrate civics education as the United Stage of America in a National Civics Day. But in the meantime, from Miami to Minnesota, let’s meet the future with the words of President Lincoln, by living-out the “better angels” of our nature.

You can join the conversation and support our efforts to “See America In Color: With 2020 Vision” at the Facebook ‘Hometown Chat’ Page here http://www.Facebook.com/seeamericaincolor.

Tracks: John Legend & The Roots – Wake Up Everybody – https://youtu.be/iJgxJ6JrPkc

Will Smith – Miami – https://youtu.be/IwBS6QGsH_4

The Ultimate Breakthrough in Next Gen Civics: When You’re Ready for Change and Realize America Can More Fully Live Up to Its Ideals

Doc Cunningham
Sounding Off Social

The countdown clock is off and running! Every four years the nation gets to vote for the highest office in the land. This time, it’s being billed as the most important decision in a generation, maybe even in our history. The conventions are done, the debates are ramping up along with the campaign ads to get out the vote.

There’s also another countdown clock that’s being watched by those who follow consumer technology. In a few months there’ll be an annual convention where the newest bells & whistles in tech gear & wear is showcased. It’s an event where major innovations over the past fifty years first got the light of day in the marketplace.

What if we were to merge the two clocks and reveal the ultimate breakthrough in next gen civics? It would feature new content and social innovations in how you add ‘smarts’ to civics the way biz/tech leaders do for gadgets. That’s what continues to inspire the See America In Color (SAIC) social-edge campaign & platform, in bringing a better picture of civic/social issues for a higher level of citizenship. It’s also what guides the expanded categories of Art & Science in the Essay Contest as well as the empowering insights with Friday Night Flights for taking civic engagement and career dreams to new heights.

The SAIC content came out of a deep dive in American history, the ‘Black to America’ story and #HometownStrong comebacks. It’s built on 7 phases, 3 communities and 2 questions which together create this ‘new & improved’ look at what it means to perfect the Union. It also brings a new awareness to social impact and civic empowerment. In Hollywood we have superstars and superhero characters. In politics we have super pacs and super delegates. At the gas station we have ‘plus’ and super-unleaded. So in civics why can’t we have ‘super citizens’?

In developing the SAIC concept, we couldn’t rely on theology to ‘raise the civics game’ because religion has been used with bad intentions in our history. We couldn’t rely on ideology since it can sometimes cause ‘mindless actions’ in certain cases. But we realized that technology would work, considering how society has embraced changes in consumer products over the years. So, to understand how SAIC adds ‘smarts’ to making history fun, civics fresh and culture feel-good, think about:

1. TV picture & video projection

With TVs we’ve gone from black & white to color to 4K-smart. The improvements have come about because of how you ‘project light’ and combine three basic colors: red, green and blue. Well, in the case of SAIC, it’s about projecting light through those 7 phases, 3 communities and 2 questions as well as combining the three color-strands of American history, ‘Black to America’ story and Hometown Strong comebacks. This reveals how we can achieve greater promise over power struggle in the next phase of America’s story. As the land of ‘milk & money’, part of that power struggle is between enriching the brand and expanding the tent, between what gets politicized versus humanized.

2. Car safety & driving perception

Over the past 50 years we’ve seen major advances in car safety and driving perception. Two fav features are blind spot alerts and backup cameras. When changing lanes, you get a beep and flashing light if there’s a vehicle in your blind spot. When reversing you get a wide-angle view of what’s behind you, with guide-markers that show if you’re about to hit an object. With SAICs look-back, you get a wide-angle view of history, in a way that offers guide-markers of truth, blind spot alerts of reality and patriotism that regards humanity. Unfortunately, there’s no perception tech-remedy for hypocrisy and lies right before our eyes.

3. Pop culture & news selection

There’re lots of ways to get your pop culture fix and different places to get news of the day. Sometimes it’s hard to separate substance from the sensational or to see clearly ahead as citizens in making decisions for the future. Imagine driving in a rainstorm and not being able to see through your windscreen? You’d turn-up the speed selection on your wipers to clear the glass more quickly. Well SAIC helps to more quickly make things clearer on civic/social messaging, especially when the political rainstorm has our ‘wiper blades’ going from left to right and back.

4. Handheld device & personal direction

These days we have more power in handheld devices than in many products when they first came to market. A TV remote makes ‘flashback’ between channels a breeze. A smart phone’s app takes us to first-time places with ‘GPS Go.’ Well with SAICs Declaration of Emergence in hand, folks can experience ‘SAIC Flow’ by moving from where they are to first-time civics places. In addition, it will take them where their hopes, dreams and desires intend for them to be, to live their best life as engaged citizens and exceptional workers.

The news has been tough for the biz sector with word of closings like that of a major movie chain. In some areas there has been a rebirth of outdoor theaters. Not only from the impact of Covid-19 but also from the improvement in ‘screen gain.’ That’s a term for how much better a screen can reflect the light that’s projected onto it. Well, SAIC brings an improvement in ‘citizen gain’ by how we project history and civics onto the big screen called culture. This way folks will have more courage to change with a ‘holy commitment’ towards our future success as a nation.

You can join the conversation and support our efforts to “See America In Color: With 2020 Vision” at the Facebook ‘Hometown Chat’ Page here http://www.Facebook.com/seeamericaincolor.

Tracks: Sia – Courage to Change – https://youtu.be/2E5SF06SZuc

Justin Bieber Ft Chance The Rapper – Holy – https://youtu.be/pvPsJFRGleA

From the Office of ‘Citizen America’: To Bring Change in Each Classroom, Company, Community and County/Parish Along the Way for a Better Nation

Doc Cunningham
Sounding Off Social

Is the new school year gonna be cancelled? “Betta not” were the words from parents who’ve been dealing with the upheaval since Covid-19. “It needs to” were the words from those who feel 2020 gotta be cancelled. There’s been so much ups and downs, sad news and painful situations that they’ve had enough.

Those who’re just ‘sick & tired’ about the social reckoning, have taken to the streets with energized protests. Some are sick & tired of getting unequal treatment as citizens. Others are sick & tired of their businesses fighting to survive. And many others are sick & tired of being on lockdown due to Coronavirus.

But there’s an even deeper concern that you hear that’s been around for decades. People are just fed-up with fighting those dehumanizing aspects of discrimination and racism. They’d like to think that since we were able to move past slavery, that we need to figure-out as a nation how to have racism be “cancelled.”

How we achieve change depends on the concern at hand. In the context of ‘hometown rebound’ and returning “back to life better” we might take a page from events like the American Revolution and Civil Rights Movement. That’s the approach the See America In Color (SAIC) social-edge campaign/platform has developed in Project “Strong 2 Strong”. It includes, the Declaration of Emergence, the ‘ARISE’ public policy initiative/legislation and a new way for individuals to forge their American Dream.

What we’ve learned from American History, the ‘Black to America’ story and Hometown Strong comebacks informs the SAIC Essay Contest and Friday Night Flights programs. Maybe you’re among those who’re sick & tired of marketing buzzwords or hashtag branding. You’re looking for social shifts or structural change the way tech companies went from black & white to color TV, DOS to Windows or flip phones to smart phones. We can apply those change lessons to social/civic issues to achieve:

Smart Blocks

Think about how traffic signals have improved over the years. They now can sense when a line of a cars is waiting, or you can squeeze a ‘button for change’ when waiting in the crosswalk. We can have smart blocks when protesters don’t get sucked into skirmishes and clashes that lead to violence. We can have smart blocks when residents consider whether they want a community fueled by crisis, cruelty and chaos or one served with calm, compassion and competence.

2. Conscious Brands

With growing social awareness some companies are becoming more conscious brands. These days we may need a kind of double-consciousness that takes us back to W.E.B. Dubois. For blacks, double-consciousness means an awareness for how you see yourself as citizen and how the world sees you as black. For whites, they’ve never had to wrestle with a double-consciousness. They’ve been ‘privileged’ with seeing themselves as citizens, and as white by default. Whether you’re black or white, with SAIC folks get to develop the double-consciousness of social impact and civic empowerment.

3. Strong Brass

The metal brass is a combination of copper and zinc. The term ‘brass’ is used to describe the leadership ranks of a police force. It also provides a fine touch in homes and music. Well, to bring change as a nation, we need to have strong brass as a winning combination. In police departments we need to have strong leaders and good patrol officers. In sports that means strong starters and bench players. For biz that means strong executives and mainline workers. For schools that means strong teachers/staff and student body. For communities that means strong elected leaders and citizens. Add to this a fine touch and the combination makes us #HometownStrong.

4. Great Beauty

A black & white TV works by projecting a stream of white light and varying the intensity of the light to get shades of black, white & gray. A color TV works by projecting three streams of colored light (red, green, blue) and combining those streams into the beautiful picture we see on the screen. Similarly, with SAIC we’re combining American History, the ‘Black to America’ story and Hometown Strong comebacks into a better picture of civic/social issues for a higher level of citizenship. That’s how SAIC helps to advance social change in making a difference to bring great beauty!

As schools reopen, they’ll offer the usual 3Rs of Reading wRiting and aRithmetic. We learn at an early age about multiplication and division. SAIC brings the 4Rs (reboot, refresh, reset, revive) for social change. Plus, when applied in a social/civic context with a little ‘smarts’ we’ll see that some folks want to divide and reverse change while others prefer to multiple and advance change. Whether it’s in the classroom, company or community we strive for a higher grade, higher earnings or higher service. While we’re only human (not machines), as citizens we should strive for a higher place towards a better nation.

You can join the conversation and support our efforts to “See America In Color: With 2020 Vision” at the Facebook ‘Hometown Chat’ Page here http://www.Facebook.com/seeamericaincolor.

Tracks: Jonas Brothers – Only Human – https://youtu.be/kBNt8hYvn8A 

Skip Marley Ft Bob Marley – Higher Place – https://youtu.be/EdkzJ9HBcyM

The Next Big Hometown Push from the Ground Up After Street Protests Fade

Doc Cunningham
Sounding Off Social

How would you describe the road to recovery after Covid-19, economic shutdown and civil unrest? Well, it depends if you’re giving the short answer, expert advice or political speak. For starters, it looks like pro sports is back (for now), while the debate about reopening schools stirs-up mixed feelings. This situation is new for all of us which means we should have great interest in how we return “Back to Life Better.”

As different parts of society work to rebound, we’re looking to our leaders for answers on the path forward. Over the past few months, the reports of Covid-related deaths, economic pain and social disparities are well documented. Moreover, a growing number of ‘Black-at-School’ social media sites have popped-up, with students sharing frustrations around ‘isms and schisms’ on campus and around town.

In response to the range of community concerns, we’ve seen street protests, social petitions and city council resolutions. Some might be wondering what’s the next big hometown push from the ground up. Are students, families and communities ready to make change happen through social impact and civic empowerment? In a sense, that’s part of the See America In Color (SAIC) social-edge campaign through Project “Strong 2 Strong.” It includes the Friday Night Flights feature for taking civic engagement and career dreams to new heights.

Every so often we learn that a product has been ‘manufacturer discontinued.’ It’s no longer available and has likely been dropped from the catalog or replaced for a ‘new & improved’ consumer rating. What if we could arrive at a point in the unfolding of America’s story where we get to ‘struggle discontinued?’ That might depend on our approach to closing the ‘civics gap’ and bridging cultural divides. It’s what inspires SAIC to present a better picture of civic & social issues for a higher level of citizenship.

Recently, we lost the beloved civil rights icon John Lewis who left us with marching orders. In his departing words he said each of us has a moral obligation to stand up, speak up and speak out. He urged us to answer the highest calling of our heart for what we truly believe. Some people are impressed by companies making socially-conscious changes to their product line. Many others might feel motivated to move beyond the phrase Black Lives Matter, and have it become ‘manufacturer discontinued’ by how:

1. Review becomes shifts

Throughout history we’ve seen product shifts in various industries. In transportation we went from chariots to cars, but it isn’t always that dramatic. Whether in sports with coaches/players reviewing the video of past games or companies reviewing their production steps, this process can create shifts towards ‘new & improved.’ Similarly, SAIC took steps in reviewing American history, the ‘Black to America’ story and Hometown Strong comebacks to help forge new shifts as a nation.

2. Talk becomes teamwork

When it comes to human development, change is made possible by pulling together folks with different talents and titles such that teamwork makes the dream work. Sometimes there may be bumps along the way, due to a testing of a team’s chemistry and commitment. However, the history of change movements reveals a similar value of teamwork where it’s not just about talking the talk but also walking the walk.

3. Truth becomes journey

It’s interesting that one of the founding documents begins with the words “We hold these truths.” At that point in our nation’s new journey there were some truths that were understood while others kept underground. The understood truths set us on a path to freedom from British rule. But Lewis’ journey as a Civil Rights ‘founding father’ was about elevating the underground truths to set us on a freeway to somewhere more just and inclusive that would make us an even better nation.

4. Striving becomes shining

Think about the grievances that led to the Declaration of Independence. They were turned into steps for creating the United States of America as a shining light. Think about a child who is always whining about things. That child can grow up either full of grievances or full of light. It depends on whether they spend their time whining or striving. So, to See America In Color for creating change and living our best life, it makes sense to spend less time whining and more time striving for a bigger better you.

There’s lots of discussion on whether the return of sports is more successful by having players in a bubble. This limits their real-world interactions. It’s something school administrators would love to have as an option for students. But in reopening the economy and returning back to life better, Lewis would want us to move beyond the bubble of civic ignorance, cultural indifference and social injustices. His example leaves a model for how we might do something bigger together and take things higher.

You can join the conversation and support our efforts to “See America In Color: With 2020 Vision” at the Facebook ‘Hometown Chat’ Page here http://www.Facebook.com/seeamericaincolor.

Tracks: Beyoncé – Bigger – https://youtu.be/2C05YhMgOUM 

Sia – Together – https://youtu.be/vnfGni4_RlI

Back to Life Better: Writing a New Chapter in History, Civics & Culture that Sets the Stage for America’s Rebirth in Social Enterprise

Doc Cunningham
Sounding Off Social

It was the announcement that shocked the sports world! The NFL Commissioner owned-up to the fact that the league wasn’t listening to its black players. Then came word not long after, that week one season opener games will feature the ‘Black National Anthem.’ It looks like the NFL wants to return “back to life better!” Maybe folks in the community too wanna have a Hometown Strong comeback on the block, boulevard, borough or boardroom? Well, gotta get through the hometown rebound pre-season.

In business circles this 180-degree flip by the NFL would be described as a paradigm shift. In social commentary you might hear terms like “watershed moment” or “tipping point.” Whatever folks might be comfortable calling it, many say we’re at an inflection point. We’re poised to write a new chapter in history, civics, sports and culture that sets the stage for America’s rebirth in social enterprise.

The story could jump off with words from the rapper Drake saying “started from the bottom, now we here. Started from the bottom now the whole team here.” If that wasn’t enough, a social scientist might take us back to the Declaration of Independence written by Thomas Jefferson. These ideals reveal that we’re endowed by the Creator with certain basic rights, simple values and human assets. Using these factors as catalysts for change can move us towards becoming a more perfect Union and living our best life.

As we combine American history, the ‘Black to America’ story and #HometownStrong comebacks the way we combine the lyrics of Drake with the timeless words of Jefferson, it might give us a model to live our See America In Color (SAIC) Story, being mindful of how we emerged as a nation. It would also give us a roadmap to go from an old-school view of history and community to a new-school take on roots & culture. In making that shift, we’ll begin to close the ‘civics gap’ and better manage the culture clash in America.

Take for example how freedoms, rights and privileges have been handled over the years. Separate from the Colonial period, it took from Independence in 1776 to Juneteenth in 1865 for blacks to get their ‘free card,’ in other words the freedom gap. It took from the 15^th Amendment in 1870 to the Voting Rights Act in 1965 for blacks to have their vote respected, in other words the ‘rights gap.’ Of-course Covid-19 has shown us the health gap and there’s the wealth gap from 1619 to present.

These are some examples of what it means to See In Color the story of America. It’s about having a better picture of civic/social issues for a higher level of citizenship. It’s like the traffic intersection where the sign says ‘delayed green.’ This means the traffic on the opposite end gets the green before you do. When we ‘See In Color’ we’ll realize that for African Americans, it’s in part a story of ‘delayed green’ where folks on the opposite racial end get the green first.

The Broadway musical Hamilton reminds us first there was revolution, then revelation. Well SAICs Project “Strong 2 Strong” shows us first there was Independence, then Emergence. Back then, the country was emerging from battles with the British because of grievances with the throne. Today and in the months ahead, we’ll be emerging from Covid-19, economic shutdown and racial unrest with grievances as well. But since we’re endowed by the Creator with some simple values, no matter our race we can emerge by how we Love In Color.

The TV ad with those two boys (one black, one white) running towards each other is a good example for how we fulfill this as part of SAICs Declaration of Emergence. It’s also in how we work with those human assets, beyond the talents, abilities and gifts we show up with. When we handle dreams, calling, purpose and lifelong passions, it leads us to our destiny the way GPS leads us to our destination (no matter the color car). Dr King must have known no matter your race we can Lead In Color and reach a higher level of citizenship.

So back to the traffic light intersection and your signal change. The light went from red to green. That’s not only a change of color but also a Change In Color. The internal wiring and electronic smarts make that change possible. SAICs Project “Strong 2 Strong” believes if families, communities and the nation are ready to get moving with change or change what’s not moving there has to be a ‘Change In Color’ on the inside of regular citizens, political & civic leaders as well as systems. Changing a team name or a State’s flag is good but a ‘Change In Color’ allows us to squash biases, reform systems and live our best life which is a ‘go’ for the nation.

The full return of organized sports is still uncertain. Some pro players are opting out and some colleges are cancelling their fall sports season. But this is not the time to opt-out as citizens if we want to return “back to life better.” The SAIC campaign/platform positions us to strive towards a bigger love in embracing those wake-up moments and moving beyond obstacles, challenges and hassles by blazing a trail for a better America.

You can join the conversation and support our efforts to “See America In Color: With 2020 Vision” at the Facebook ‘Hometown Chat’ Page here www.facebook.com/seeamericaincolor.

Tracks: Brandy, Wyclef, Mary J Blige & Friends – Wake-up Everybody – https://youtu.be/3ZPusIeehQo 

Chalice Ft Wayne Armond – It’s Alright – https://youtu.be/BNCwdcKmaUw

The Chance to ‘See America In Color’ or ‘See America In Conflict’: Which Will Folks Choose for a Higher Level of Citizenship?

Doc Cunningham
Sounding Off Social

It’s midnight in America! What will folks see when the dust clears or at sunrise? That’s a question many are asking after events of the past few days and weeks. All this has been happening while dealing with the global Coronavirus pandemic. It’s also happening as the nation prepares to celebrate another Independence Day.

People at home and abroad are trying to understand the trauma experienced by black men in America. Meantime, others are turning the peaceful protests into property damage and extreme agendas. Some aspects of these events might take us back to the Boston Tea Party protest, which led to the American Revolution. Back then many were unhappy with being treated as second-class citizens by the British Empire. This dissatisfaction included a list of grievances that led to the Declaration of Independence.

To bring a See America In Color view to the broader story, those fighting for the colonies saw this as a moment to establish a ‘new & improved’ country, aka the United States of America. However, many African-Americans have had mixed feelings about Independence Day because it celebrated fireworks before achieving their freedoms. Remember, Emancipation didn’t come until long after Independence. Fast-forward to what’s happening today, and it might shed light on whether we choose to ‘See America In Color’ or ‘See America In Conflict.’

To ‘See America In Color’ is to merge American history, the ‘Black to America’ story and Hometown Strong comebacks into a better picture of civic/social issues for a higher level of citizenship. In one sense, the upside of the Revolution was in creating a vision for America through the founding documents. But to ‘See America In Conflict’ is to not address legitimate issues and basically keep the ‘grievance train’ running from coast to coast. This might be what those with extreme ideologies want to see happen as a different kind of fireworks.

Why were the founding documents an important part of America’s beginnings? Well it spoke to aspirational ideals and timeless principles. But the recurring theme is whether those ideals keep falling short for African-Americans. They fell short right out the gate because Blacks were treated as second-class and of three-fifths human value. So, what can we learn from America’s upside and downside in going forward after the recent events of protest and unrest?

Well it’s been said “where there’s no vision the people perish.” It might also be said that “where there’s no vision, something else will move in and take its place.” Unfortunately, in the current political climate, less time is spent on providing us a vision. This has left a vacuum for disinformation to move in. It’s almost as if we’re not only dealing with Covid-19. We’re also dealing with a virus called ‘Disinfo-20’ that’s infecting citizens and institutions. We need a vision for America, communities, families and citizens to null the effects of the ‘Disinfo-20’ virus. If the founding documents are a guide, that vision needs to reflect the:

Rights of people

The Declaration of Independence reminds us, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men (women) are created equal and are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” George Floyd had a right to be treated as a human being, not as a ‘catch of prey.’ Hunting prey is often seen as sport. But if we say we’ve abolished slavery and slave catchers, then this can’t be the way we view human life in the 21^st century.

Role of government

The U.S. Constitution begins with the words “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity….” The role of government isn’t to divide us as a nation but to ensure the fulfillment of personhood, protection, promise and prosperity. The U.S. motto E Pluribus Unum (out of many, one) should be a kind of self-check done by public officials running for and serving in office towards advancing the greater good.

Responsibility of citizens

In TV ads we’re reminded to complete the census, register to vote and actually go out and vote. These steps are important because rights without responsibility make a mockery of democracy. That’s what some people miss when emphasizing the ‘Bill of Rights’ Amendments. There should also be a sense of responsibility. Even Thomas Jefferson once said “I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion by education. This is the true corrective of abuses of constitutional power.”

Results for humanity

Just think about how far we’ve come since the ‘60s in advancing color TV. We went from No-K to 4K picture quality. But with civic/social issues are we still stuck in the 60s and the idea of ‘no justice, no peace?’ That’s why if we choose to ‘See America In Color’ as opposed to ‘See America In Conflict’ it will help to advance results for humanity. This means turning grievances into goals for a higher level of citizenship.

Even with Coronavirus still a concern, we had protests in the east, protests in the west, protests up north and protests down south. The main outcry has been about justice for George Floyd and freedom from despair. It’s like the perfect storm of Covid-19 anxiety, ‘Disinfo-20’ distrust, unresolved tensions around social injustices and boiled-over rage/destruction. So, to move forward beyond these issues we can build-on SAIC’s Project “Strong 2 Strong” with a vision for better days as families, communities and citizens.

You can join the conversation and support our efforts to “See America In Color: With 2020 Vision” at the Facebook ‘Hometown Chat’ Page here www.facebook.com/seeamericaincolor.

Tracks: Beyoncé – Freedom – https://youtu.be/yh91lO-PU0o

One Republic – Better Days – https://youtu.be/fnHlRQZZbbY