Until we address the root causes of joblessness and unemployment, poverty and hunger, affordable housing, and educational disparity, the discussion of racial healing is premature. Yes, maybe the window frames do need repainting, but, if you sit around talking, pretty soon its not going to make any difference. If we do not do that, Mr. Speaker, any conversation we hope to have on racial healing will fall upon deaf ears. Our fathers, chained in prisons dark, were still in heart and conscience free. The solution to these problems lies in creating and maintaining a vibrant economic base that will help our cities and families.
Economic development is crucial to the survival of the African-American community.
One way of doing this is by mobilizing cooperative efforts between government, business and the community. Federal Empowerment Zones pair the federal government with economically distressed areas to provide incentives for entrepreneurs, established firms, and employees to invest and work in areas that they would otherwise find unattractive. Empowerment Zones challenge communities to develop and submit strategic visions for creating jobs and opportunities. But, we have to focus inwards as well. Those of us who have been blessed must acknowledge the obligation to return to our communities and give something back.