No race is an island, entire of itself By Roy Douglas Malonson

It would be presumptuous for us to assume that everyone, who’re reading this editorial, are familiar with the 15th century English poet John Donne’s classic religious poetry that declares, “No man is an island, entire of itself.” However, be assured, that the verse speaks to each individual on this planet, no matter how diverse he, or she, may be racially, politically, geographically, or even spiritually. Do you agree with our interpretation of Donne’s profundity? If so, you’re probably among the satisfied Black Houstonians who’re happy that an African American Museum & Cultural Center is considered a done did.
On the other hand, if you’re on the opposing side that argued that if the City of Houston starts spending money on special things (for African Americans), what’s to stop every other ethnicity--in this widely diverse city-- from demanding “special” consideration for their culture and heritage? We know it’s redundant to keep using the, “That’s a good question” cliché. But isn’t it? From a totally objective perspective, one should question why an ethnicity needs special consideration. After all, aren’t we living in the world’s greatest democracy, i.e., the cultural melting pot that ideally blends the tired, huddled masses of the world into a united nation of equals who have an ineligible right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness? Tongue in cheek aside, doesn’t America’s history include every ethnicity that pledge alliance to one flag, under God?
We Must Understand, when good questions are answered, by asking another good question only compounds, rather than answers complex questions. Therefore, African American News & Issues would be lying if we didn’t admit that we’re glad when good questions are asked, because answering complex questions (from an uncompromised Black perspective) is what we do best. Consequently, as we watched a Channel 2 TV editorial on the morning of Sept. 25, 2004, that was praising Mayor Bill White’s plan to build a Black museum, we found ourselves wondering whether, or not, those opposed (to spending a paltry $2 million to recognize slave’s ancestors whose back breaking labor literally built the nation’s fourth largest city), were simply history illiterate, or mean spirited racist.
As far as we’re concerned, a $2 million dollar project isn’t worth mentioning, but as Black American’s editorial watchers on the wall, we are obligated to expose political games to let Houston’s leaders and policy makers know that Black newspapers aren’t monolithic, therefore we all don’t go for the okey doke. Translation: If our city government isn’t going to walk the “diversity” talk, they should stop lying to multi-racial corporations and convention committees that are looking for the best work environments and/or venues to relocate, or hold their events. Race card notwithstanding, but we’re fortunate enough to have political astute journalist on our staff, who also are living historians that still can read between the lines. Therefore, “WE” understand the political ramifications behind White’s effort to get something done that his predecessor was unable to do for his own people.
We Must Understand (and that’s we, as in every citizens of good conscience, rather than “WE” as cited earlier), stupid is as stupid does. If you need an example, let’s consider where the Houston Chronicle was coming from in their Sept. 9, 2004 article (“Black museum funding passed/Council specifies $2 million for project can’t come from money slated for repairs”), which revealed: “The Houston City Council agreed Wednesday to eventually spend $2 million on a proposed privately owned black history museum, but only after specifying that the money would not come from property taxes slated for infrastructure repair. The project was approved as part of Mayor Bill White's five-year, $4.04 billion capital improvement plan. The source of potential funding was not determined.
“This should not be viewed as a museum for one community, but a museum for all our communities,’ White, who supports the project, said after the council vote. The $2 million would be used to buy land in the city's expensive museum district for the proposed Houston Museum of African American Culture, which would highlight the contribution of blacks to Houston's history and memorialize the discrimination and violence they suffered at the hands of whites.” Sorry Bill, but game knows game. However, what really turned us off was when the article explained, “U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston, sent a letter urging council members to approve the project, saying organizers plan to raise $40 million in private donations,” but after Sheila’s letter detailed slaves contributions, the article concluded, “Wrote Jackson Lee, who is black.”
Stop right there. Now ask yourself: who doesn’t know Sheila’s Black? Okay, now connect the dots: “Last year, then-Mayor Lee Brown, the city's only black mayor, placed the project on his capital improvement plan and said the $2 million would come from general obligation bonds, which are typically used to pay for infrastructure repair.” We are not a monolithic people aside, but the article lauded White, although he didn’t reveal where the money for the museum was coming from. At the same time, Lee explains were the money would come from, but the final dig was the inference that Brown couldn’t get a council vote because he didn’t know what he was doing. Even so, that still doesn’t answer the question: Why a special museum for Black people? But that answer can easily be found in former TV anchor Ray Miller’s 1982 book on Houston’s history.
We Must Understand, the book praises Houston’s great White founders, but made only vague references about Black citizen’s contributions and nothing at all about other minorities. Nevertheless, it’s no different from other American history books and any public official who doesn’t know that isn’t qualified for office. In essence, this editorial is for White voters who have a problem judging people by the content of their character. It’s time out for racial division. The world around our little island (America) is collapsing on all sides and it is time we get our divided house in order. Black America has always shown a propensity to support other races. Even when we have to vote for the lesser of two evils. And evil is certainly generic.

We hope voters (of diverse races) will consider that salient fact when they vote on Nov. 2, 2004. Because... No race is an island, entire of itself.