(NNPA)—For my money the debate over immigration reform is far too narrow. Our civil rights leaders have followed the predictable dynamic created by Hispanics who have justly mobilized to normalize their status in America. We should support them because the stakes of strengthening our coalition at this moment in history will bear substantial fruit as both groups become a larger part of American society, its political system and its economy. So, it is a civil rights struggle to oppose the racist law passed by the Arizona legislature to profile Hispanics and relate any illegal acts to their immigration status.

(NNPA)—In a recent perspective on “The Black Agenda” in Jet Magazine, Michael Eric Dyson wrote that he was “the only participant in both Travis Smiley’s ‘We Count! The Black Agenda is the American Agenda’ and Rev. Al Sharpton’s ‘Measuring the Movement Black Leadership Forum.’”

As could be expected at any gathering involving these three, there was probably a plethora of resounding rhetorical flourishes about the state of Black folks in this country. Dyson noted that participants at both events “agreed that we must find ways to force the powerful to pay attention to the vulnerable….” Completely missing in Dyson’s article is an indication of any discussion of concrete actions to be taken to change things.

(NNPA)—If you ever attended a National Council of Negro Women event, you ended up singing “This Little Light of Mine” at the end of the event. It was Dr. Dorothy Irene Height’s favorite song, “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.”

The civil rights pioneer, Fannie Lou Hamer, also loved to sing “This Little Light of Mine,” and it is easy to see why. The song encompasses humility and empowerment, the recognition that each light is little, but that in choosing to allow it to shine, to amplify, it can be great.

(NNPA)—Public policy is very important to us in many ways. Our economy, health, welfare, safety and general quality of life depends on good public policy which is fortified with laws, rules and regulations. Bad public policy can lead to financial disaster, sickness, danger and insecurity. Lately, our elected officials and advocates have been using “knee jerk” responses to problems that simply require common sense and direct action. Let’s look at some examples.