Black Lives Matter: We are the black community

A newly installed street sign bears the new name of Black Lives Matter Plaza NW. The two-block stretch of 16th Street NW in front of the White House in Washington, D.C. is also painted with “Black Lives Matter” in giant yellow lettering. Saturday, June 6, 2020.

Legend has it, during the French Revolution, Maximilien Robespierre overthrew the monarchy and beheaded the king for the benefit of “the people”. After the execution, the actual people agreed to institute a new government administered by the people, but Robespierre disagreed and announced, “I am the people.” Then Robespierre beheaded every person who opposed “the people’s” will.

That’s a cautionary tale. Some believe it captures the warning in the phrase: The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Others believe it demonstrates how power corrupts. I believe it warns the people that those speaking on their behalf don’t necessarily share their interest.

In 2016 the NAACP, the nation’s oldest civil rights organization, called for a temporary ban on charter school expansion. The NAACP believed no public money should be diverted to charter schools at the expense of public schools. Hundreds of black parents went to the NAACP board meeting in Cincinnati, Ohio to protest against the NAACP’s position on charter schools. The protests weren’t surprising, public opinion polls revealed the majority of black parents supported charter schools. Obviously, the NAACP only spoke for the members of their organization and not for these membersonly for its membership and not on behalf of the black community. One protester asked, “Where was the NAACP when…