Couple: Change starts with self

Blacks must never forget their history, the couple said.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Economic and political independence combined with a renewed understanding of what being "black" really means are the key to a more prosperous future for black Americans, say a married couple who have contended with race matters for decades.
Atty. W. Ron Miller was the director of the Youngstown Area Urban League from 1993 until the local branch closed its doors in 2005. Lynnette Miller has been an educator in the Youngstown city schools since 1974.
The husband-and-wife team was instrumental in starting local Kwanzaa celebrations more than 35 years ago and continue to organize yearly Kwanzaa events. They also head the Harambee Youth Organization.
Kwanzaa is the holiday that gives black Americans an opportunity to reunite with family and friends and pay tribute to their cultural heritage. The holiday, founded in 1966 by Dr. Maulena Karenga, a professor in Los Angeles, runs from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1.
Keys to independence
"I really believe that economic independence and political independence are important so as to be in a position to form coalitions with other groups from a position of strength and not as a junior partner," said Ron Miller.
To achieve economic independence, the black community collectively, he said, must begin to view itself differently. Where there was once blight, he said, visionaries must see a chance.
"We have to look at the devastation of our communities, the long rows of vacant buildings where there used to be thriving businesses and see that as an opportunity," Miller said. "Let's take this cheap land and build it up."
He said achieving any level of economic independence will take a collective effort and pooling of resources by the entire community. He said pressure must be put on lending agencies to work with black businessmen.
Change in thinking
Miller said if the community can create businesses run by blacks for the benefit of those in the black community, there will be a gradual change in the mind-set of blacks in general.
"The biggest part of economic development is a changing of the mind, getting African-American people to think in terms of self-sufficiency and becoming producers rather than consumers," he said.
In terms of political independence, Miller said it is imperative that more blacks make their way to the voting booth. He said voter registration drives have gotten more blacks registered, but that means little if they do not actually vote.
He said the black community continually must develop candidates for office who come from the community -- people who can get members of the community excited. He also said blacks cannot be totally devoted to one party when casting votes.
Mindful of past
Lynette Miller said blacks, in achieving economic and political independence, must not lose site of who they are and where they come from. She said each black person, no matter how successful, must remember upon whose shoulders he or she stands and that he or she owes the black community a debt of gratitude.
"The reason we celebrate African-American History Month is to remind our children who we are, where we have come from, and what we are supposed to be doing," she said.
jgoodwin@vindy.com