As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, a South Side Chicago pastor, Corey Brooks, has offered a reflection on the nation's history, particularly focusing on the persistent role of government in racial division. Brooks, founder of Project H.O.O.D., argues that while historical practices like redlining and blockbusting were detrimental, the impact of well-intentioned government programs from the 1960s onward has also contributed to dividing the nation by race.
Brooks contends that these programs, often designed by individuals detached from the communities they affected, have resulted in "white virtue and precious little opportunity" for residents. He observed that many initiatives, while appearing progressive, have inadvertently centered on race rather than fostering individual growth and opportunity.
"We do not find our minds in our skin," Brooks stated, emphasizing that individuals are more than their racial identity. He believes that focusing on race as the primary lens through which people see each other is a form of racism itself, particularly for children who are "human beings before they are a race." The pastor asserts that true progress lies in nurturing individual potential and providing the freedom for each person to develop their God-given talents.
Brooks suggested that certain groups benefit from keeping race at the center of public discourse, as it maintains their influence. He called for a resistance to this dynamic, advocating for the reclamation of the "American birthright of the individual."
"Invest in opportunity the way we invest in crisis," Brooks proposed. He drew a parallel between the swift mobilization of resources and attention when crises occur in struggling neighborhoods, such as violence or property damage, and the lack of similar urgency for preventative investments in a child's future. Brooks highlighted the nearly completed community center on Chicago's South Side, funded through years of investment, as an example of prioritizing opportunity before a crisis occurs.
He believes that a portion of the resources spent celebrating the nation's past 250 years could significantly transform the next 250 years if directed towards investing in individuals, one at a time. Brooks expressed his desire for children in communities like his to have the same "shot at the pursuit of happiness" promised by the country's founding, earned through talent, will, and perseverance, rather than being defined by their race or social category. He concluded by affirming, "We are Americans, first and only."