On Music, Culture, Economics and Faith!
These are uncertain, challenging times. Despite the Juneteenth holiday, Black Music Month, and America’s 250th anniversary—a cold wind of change is blowing. Never in the history of mankind has a single generation witnessed such an accelerated velocity of scientific discovery and technological innovation. It seems like education, morals, and ethics are struggling to keep pace in this rapidly evolving society.
When Jesus of Nazareth walked the earth more than 2,000 years ago, traditions and customs remained largely unchanged from generation to generation. Today, we grapple with everything this new age entails. Unlike ever before, the art of living must be reinterpreted and re-mastered in just a single generation if civilization is to move forward. For African Americans, it is absolutely necessary to address essential questions: 1) Who are we, and where do we go from here? 2) What is our collective claim on the American Dream?
Since The Positive Community began publishing in 2000, we have remained steadfast in our media company’s founding ideal: The progress of our children, and the integrity of our African American culture, values, and traditions mean everything! This statement speaks to the truth of the times.
We must address the current crisis in culture and spirituality—now. The fate of future generations greatly depends upon the quality of our thinking today.
Do not despair! In the words of Harlem legend Adam Clayton Powell Jr., “Keep the faith, baby.” Let’s do something positive—together, and have some fun too. Our community media institution, The Positive Community, recommends the following:
TPC Radio is a 24/7, free music streaming service. This ministry offers great and good sounds. We don’t play old school or new school music; we play the classics—yesterday’s, today’s, and tomorrow’s classics. We’re rocking to America’s best “In Classic Black.” Visit thepositivecommunity.com and press the radio tab to download the app.
Play TPC Radio at home, in the car, or at the office. It’s a life-affirming soundtrack of love, progress, freedom, good-will, wholesome fun, and positive change. Pay it forward. Young people must be taught that they are the inheritors of an enormous, awesome musical legacy dating back to before this country’s founding. Teach music appreciation—Positive Music Matters!
Learn, teach, and discuss the “African American Cultural Narrative.” It should be taught to children starting at the age of six. By their thirteenth birthday, a young person should understand and think proficiently about this narrative—our American story in 281 words. The “Cultural Narrative” is about the origins, history, and destiny of our people in this land.
Support our community’s own media institutions. We must tell our own stories on our own terms. Founded in 1827, with the mandate, “We wish to plead our own cause,” The Freedom Journal, America’s first Black newspaper, was born in New York City. For 199 years, the Black Press (Black-owned media) has been a thriving American institution. If the people are to move forward, then we must have sovereignty over our collective voice and image.
Subscribe to TPC’s “Great Roll Call to Progress” (pg. 7) for bulk distribution direct to your house of worship, school, business, or community organization. For as little as $75.00 a month, stay connected to what matters most from a community perspective. And share the positive, community-building activities of your ministries in our network.
At the beginning of the year, Pilgrim BC in Newark, Delaware, under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Lonnie Rector, joined our “Roll Call,” purchasing 100 magazines each month. The church decided to allow the youth ministry to sell the magazines to the congregation as a fundraiser. Teaching and encouraging entrepreneurial skills in young people will help insure a prosperous future for all. Perhaps this experience will inspire future business leaders and captains of industry!
We are most appreciative of smart, forward-thinking corporate advertisers that value quality relationships—a positive consumer marketing experience. We are learning how to augment the profit motive with a loving service motive. After all, it’s good for business—everybody wins!
Special shout-out to TPC’s “Great Roll Call to Progress” members, many of whom have maintained their bulk-delivery subscriptions for over 20 years! Thank you for your loving support and encouragement.
The solutions to the issues we are confronted with in contemporary times must ultimately come from within. Each of the above recommendations suggests that we involve the participation of young people. Let us rally in support of our children to secure our future and prosper! We have our own collective assets, talents, and gifts; let’s celebrate them. It is the people’s God-given right and our patriotic duty to preserve, protect, and promote our very best—America’s best!
Tune-in to TPC Radio today; learn the “Cultural Narrative”; check out The Positive Community in print and our digital newsletter. Allow the Spirit of Truth to speak to your soul! We need each other. Instruct the children about who we truly are: Mighty descendants of the Great American Emancipation—1863; liberated sons and daughters of the Most High God!
