Where are the leaders of this movement? Who is going to help guide all that righteous and important anger at the state of our racist world into viable action? Because right now it’s a lot of energy being spent in grief and rage, and the government is responding by starting riots and cracking heads. This movement won’t sustain itself on raw emotion alone.
The only person I know of who might be able to rally people is Obama, and he’s not leading. He’s supporting from the wings, but he’s not out there in the marches, leading folks. That’s what this needs. A figurehead who can speak eloquently about the issues that are being protested. Someone to rally around. We can argue about whether or not he’s the right choice, but this moment needs someone of his caliber of leadership, and his calming presence.
Movements die from lack of leadership. If this movement is going to evolve into real, necessary change, it needs some. Otherwise, it’ll be co-opted and mutated like Occupy did and become much ado about a lot of things, and will eventually evaporate.
