Leadership for a new era

Black clergy were prominent in the leadership of the Civil Rights Movement. In fact, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the most prominent leader, was a Baptist minister. His advocacy of nonviolent civil disobedience actually set the tone for the movement.

The very nature of the civil rights effort was well suited for the clergy. It was an appeal to the higher nature of those in power. Politicians were ultimately forced to acknowledge their abusive and unconstitutional treatment of racial minorities.

Times have changed. While it is inaccurate to assert that racial harmony prevails, there are laws to provide victims of racial discrimination with a lawsuit against bigots. The objective of black leadership now has changed. The goal is to build political power and wealth.

However, these new goals do not disqualify black clergy from assuming leadership positions. Adam Clayton Powell Jr., the former pastor of Abyssinian Baptist Church, represented Harlem in Congress from 1945 until 1970. Named chairman of the powerful Education and Labor Committee in 1961, he promoted numerous programs to aid his constituents.

Rev. Floyd Flake served in Congress from 1987 to 1998 where he learned how to gain access to government grants to enable members of his church, Allen A.M.E. in Jamaica, Queens, to prosper and build their communities. He also serves as president of his alma mater, Wilberforce University in Ohio.

Clearly, a divinity degree is no barrier to success in the secular world. Rev. Adam Clayton Powell was the first African American to walk independently and fearlessly in the halls of Congress. Few ministers have surpassed Rev. Floyd Flake’s ability to organize his parishioners to build wealth. Nonetheless, with these new goals, a clerical collar does not automatically qualify ministers to lead blacks in the lay community.

There is a growing belief by many residents of Boston’s black community that the clergy have been co-opted by white politicians. Whether or not this is true, the people’s belief that it is true will eventually erode the legitimacy of clerical leadership. It is time for the ministers to mend their fences.

Pilot schools are
one road to success

There is a great disadvantage in being persistently negative about the quality of Boston Public Schools. First of all, a disproving attitude will obscure an understanding of the constructive programs. Secondly, a continually hostile assessment of the schools must be discouraging to the students who are required to go there.

One program of the Boston Public Schools which definitely works is the Pilot Schools. A recent survey by the Center for Collaborative Education has established the success of the program.

Currently, 19 Pilot Schools enroll 5,900 students, about 10 percent of the total student body. The 10th grade MCAS results were superior for Pilot School students. Proficiency in English was twice the rate for non-Pilot students. In math, 80 percent of Pilot students passed compared with only 59 percent for other students.

The Pilot Schools are open to everyone. They are not exam schools so their MCAS results were not compared with those of exam school students. Nonetheless, the results are encouraging. Superintendent Thomas Payzant is to be applauded for devising an important strategy to improve the quality of education for all of Boston’s public school students.

Melvin B. Miller

Editor & Publisher
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