CHANGE WITHOUT WORK IS SYMBOL WITHOUT SUBSTANCE: By: Deric Muhammad

“CHANGE” WITHOUT WORK IS SYMBOL WITHOUT SUBSTANCE

By: Deric Muhammad

Considering the historical fact that our forefathers came to this country in chains, most of us never thought that we would see the day that a Black man would be elected president of the United States. What a blessing from God, to be alive to see the biblical story of Joseph play out right in front of our faces. It was Joseph who became ruler in the land where he was once enslaved.
Dr. Martin Luther King used to say that “undeserved suffering is redemptive.” November 4th was the day when the masses of Black people in America felt that our sojourn of sufferance had not been in vain. The idea of change rang resolutely with America and President-elect Barack Obama made history. It was a moment that can never be taken away from Black people.
But, now that the votes are in and the deal is done what must we do to ensure that change becomes a reality in our lives. Dissatisfaction in America is at an all-time high. It is this dissatisfaction that brought about the desire for change. Ultimately this desire feeds the will and real change takes place. But, if Black people think that Barack Obama’s presidency will be the solution to all of our problems and the key to our salvation we are only setting ourselves up for disappointment. Change without work is symbol without substance.
We must not use our brother’s rise as a crutch. Having a Black president is no excuse to “lower the sag” on your pants and curse out white folks. We must accept Barack Obama as a catalyst. A catalyst is a person or thing that precipitates an event or change. Through our support for Barack’s campaign, we all expressed our strong desire for change. Unfortunately most of were saying that we wanted to see something or somebody else make a change. Not enough of us were looking in the mirror.
I remember hearing Obama, in a campaign speech, say “if you elect me to be your president and go home and do nothing, then nothing will change.” It was the most realistic comment that I have ever heard a presidential candidate make. He was saying that his success depends on our involvement. As it was on the campaign trail, so shall it be in the White house.
But true change must begin with self. It can’t just be political. It must also be personal. Everybody, especially me, has something that they must change about themselves to become a better person. We must use the momentum of the spirit of change that is in the air to apply it to benefit self.
If you have a drinking problem, get some help and CHANGE. If you are an absentee father, leave your house and don’t come back until you’ve seen your child. If your spending habits have ushered you into the “poe house”, discipline yourself. The Bible stresses that a wise man changes, but a fool changes not. It would be hypocritical for us to campaign for a change that we are unwilling to begin at home.
I am challenging every one of us to find something in our lives that we need to change, roll up our sleeves and go to work. We all have a long laundry list of vices and bad habits. My advice to us is to start with one. Find a gorilla in your life and tackle it. And every time you see a piece of Barack Obama campaign literature emblazoned with “CHANGE”, think about your personal life, health and well-being and use it as fuel for personal growth.
Self improvement is the basis for community development. If every one of us decided to make a small change for the better it would equal a big change for our community. Once the community is better the city becomes better. A better city makes a better state. And better “united” states will make a better country. But it all starts with a better you. Accept the challenge to CHANGE.

Deric Muhammad is a Houston-based community activist and can be reached at http://www.askbroderic.blogspot.com/.

This editorial originally appeared in last week's edition of the African-American News and Issues. Deric Muhammad writes a weekly column entitled "Deric's Debate".