Anybody can become angry – that is easy, but to be angry with the right person and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose, and in the right way – that is not within everybody’s power and is not easy.
Aristotle
Cheryl Smith has always been good to me, especially as a writer. She grants me license to say, what I want, when I want, without regard to how it could affect her business. As a result, we often agree, and when we disagree, it stays in the house.
Cheryl and I agree that journalistic integrity and independence are the crux and foundation of writing to and for any audience, but especially one that is African American. From the picket lines to press time, we have been in lockstep.
However, the time for endings comes with every season. This is most likely my last column. I have accepted an editorial position with the New York Times. Quit Playin’! You know them white folks ain’t crazy enough to give me a spot. The retirement is actual, the new job, Nah!
Over the years, or since January 1, 2003, I have dedicated myself to speaking about current events from our perspective. As a people, we see differently because public policy addresses us differently.
Back door entrances gave way to back door political deals.
They moved the “No Niggers, No Jews, No Dogs” sign. But the Negro at their front doors now are more apt to side with the oppressor than the oppressed.
I am confident that many of his readers have complained to him that I was too angry or overly opinionated. Early on, one of my best friends admitted that he liked my style, but it was just a collection of ranting and raving.
We aren’t friends anymore. He was handpicked and accepted his place as a stuttering, servile, submissive steward in the establishment. He talks Black, but that’s about it. He went from a political science major to the science of self-survival.
Aristotle is known as the father of political science because he elaborated on the topics and thinking of the Ideal State, slavery, revolution, education, citizenship, forms of government, the theory of golden mean, theory of constitution. Aristotle’s quotes are as simple as they are profound.
“It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.”
“At his best, man is the noblest of all animals; separated from law and justice, he is the worst .”
“Democracy is when the indigent, and not the men of property, are the rulers.”
“Courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees the others.”
“The greatest virtues are those which are most useful to other persons.
“Dignity does not consist in possessing honors, but in deserving them.”
Every one of the 1200-plus weeks that I have committed to this industry has been dedicated to creating nuggets of wisdom, warning, or wonderment. I understand how stressful preaching to Black people must be week in and week out. How
do you repackage the same damn thing you said last week and make it resound?
I have tried to be angry with the right person and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose, and in the right way. I intended to get you to see that not all White men are as virtue-robbed as Donald Trump. My goal was to make you understand that balancing your personal need with what this community need is an incredible task.
For many reasons, Dallas is socially dressed but functionally a mess. Rich people still call the shots. The White business community continues to stand at the taxpayers’ trough and drink in every ounce of opportunity. Jim Schutze’s Accommodation is as accurate now as when he penned it. Blacks and Hispanics fight over the spoils, and even that won’t be much of a fight in a couple of decades.
I pray that I was angry with the right person and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose, and in the right way. Perfecting the art was never entirely in my power, and the effort was never easy.
Thanks to Cheryl and to all of you! I’m still angry but it’s been a pleasure!
Vincent L. Hall is an author, activist, and an award-winning columnist.
