“The issues are now geared toward economics”

As one who was reared in the South, I have noticed some changes that have been very critical and crucial to the dynamics of the South that we live in,” says Hollis Watkins. “There are now a large number of blacks who are registered to vote. In light of that, there are a large number of blacks who hold political offices. You also have a large number of blacks who are attorneys and are business professionals. Plus, there is now a substantial number of blacks who are able to go to predominantly white universities.”

Hollis, who was part of the Freedom Rides, has been a community organizer since he was involved with the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) in the 1960s. I, Hollis Watkins Jr., a youth facilitator, would also like to add to my father’s comments that the racial ties within America are a lot better than they used to be.

My father and I can both agree that there are still challenges that face the South. One is the fact that most blacks elected to office are not accountable, whether by the people or by self-blame, to the needs and interests of the black community. They still have this fear deep down within themselves of whites and the power which whites hold so dominantly. Another challenge is the educational system, where you would have a white student operating (on average) at a 12th grade level and be compared to a black student of the same age operating (again, on average) at levels two to four years behind their white counterpart.

Plus, the criminalization of black youth in our schools leads to several problems. One is that they are unable to have the opportunities to learn as white students do. Secondly, police officers are brought to the school to act upon black students, not teen crime at that school. Third, black males, followed by black females, are mainly placed on the wrong side of a school tracking system that leads towards a life of poverty, prison, and/or miseducated minds that are incapable of doing well in college or in the job market.

Another challenge is around agricultural discrimination, where the government and lending institutions are biased as to who should get loans to raise crops. And black people are losing land and property in large amounts. We as Southerners must also take care of those we live with. Older people need to allow the fear that is buried in them of young people to go, so that younger folks can equally and adequately participate in the development and implementation of organizations.

In the land of Dixie, the issues are now geared towards economics. Immigrants are the new minority in the South, yet they are where blacks used to be. And unfortunately, whites have not changed their minds on running this country.