Harry Belafonte Comes to Peoria, IL - an open letter to Mr. Belafonte upon his arrival to Peoria, IL (Jan. 19, 2015)





1965 Selma to Montgomery March, Dr. King, Coretta King, and Harry Belafonte

Dear Mr. Belafonte,
I think it is appropriate to borrow words from Lyndon B. Johnson's 1965 speech, "We Shall Overcome", "At times, history and fate meet at a single time in a single place to shape a turning point in man's unending search for freedom."

Not to be too dramatic, but that moment is now. 

History and fate are intersecting right now, in this place, the All-American city of Peoria, IL.  On January 19th, 2015 for the 23th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Luncheon, you will be the keynote speaker.  I learned of this divine intervention on my drive into Peoria from New England to return home to live with my parents.

I had only a few years prior learned more about you, Mr.Belafonte, through the HBO documentary, Sing Your Song (2011), http://singyoursongthemovie.com/watch/.  To see the passion, the fire, the beauty of one man who used his angelic voice not to just serenade the world, but to challenge it to be its best self was magnificent.  Mr. Belafonte, you have been either at the forefront or behind the scenes of the national and global social movements of the last 60 years.  Your endurance and love is unmatched amongst world leaders today.  Fate and history has conspired to bring this great man to Peoria.

And what will Mr. Belafonte find when he arrives to Peoria?  For starters a community gasping on their last breaths of hope.  Peoria is best described, as so many All-American Cities, as a tale of two cities.  The predominate areas of underdevelopment and high poverty are overwhelming populated by black and brown bodies. The 61605 zip code, sixty percent black population, has the highest unemployment in the city and the lowest household income.  One pastor commented during the Nov. 25th forum on Ferguson hosted by the Peoria Police Community Relations Advisory Committee, that in fact, the conditions of black people in Peoria are worst than those in Ferguson; Peoria is potentially a Ferguson waiting to happen.  The geographic location of Peoria to St. Louis (Ferguson) and Chicago - three hour drive either direction - position it as a tinder box, ready to explode. 

And yet, it has not.  This too is divine.  These deep intentional breaths stabilizing the optimism of Peoria residents has been supported by veterans of the Civil Rights and Black Power movements.  There are many black and brown people here in Peoria that leverage their capital -social, financial, and human - to create a little more breathing room for the masses to sustain themselves, and yet the air is thinning.

Here, then emerges a contingent of young, community-minded, and inspired people. Inspired by Ferguson, inspired by New York, Oakland, and Chicago, inspired by you Mr. Belafonte.  Infused with a faith that we are at the right moment, and most importantly on the right side of history.  Out of their activism has sprouted, the Peoria Freedom Fighters.

The Peoria Freedom Fighters is a hodge-podge of concerned citizens, that are seeking to use their voice and body to demand systemic changes. These young people embody the spirit of Mark Clark - native son of Peoria, who was assassinated along with Fred Hampton in the Dec. 4, 1969 police raid in Chicago, IL.  Mark Clark represented the power, intelligence, and humanity of the people in his community.  He started the Black Panther Party in Peoria, and in 1969 began one of the first feeding program for children and youth at Ward Chapel AMC.  The legacy and spirit of Mark Clark still lives in these young people dedicated to fighting against injustice.

It is divine will that you were invited to speak at the MLK Luncheon this upcoming Monday, Jan. 19th, just ten days after the film Selma was released and screened in Peoria.  The young leaders of Peoria Freedom Fighters, recognized the value of that film to this movement, and actively encouraged their friends, family, co-workers, church and community members to go and support the film.  Other young motivated people are working in the communities organizing teach-ins around economic justice, focused on creating an economy that is equitable and just for all people. They are empowering residents of Peoria to participate not just in civic engagement through registering and casting their vote, but through participatory democracy, holding these elected officials accountable for their words and deeds.

Mr. Belafonte on Monday Jan. 19th when you stand to address the residents of Peoria, IL at this luncheon, know that Peoria Freedom Fighters will be there in the audience absorbing every word you say.  Being present in the gift of this moment that has been bestowed upon us by your presence.  We will take heed to your direction, and continue to study and apply your example.

We are organizing, we are building movements, we are emboldened by the presence and leadership of individuals like you who do not shirk away from opposition or hatred, but instead mount up with wings like an eagle to stare evil thoughts, ideas, and actions down with a smile and determination for good.  We will be victorious; we have been in the past and will continue to do so, because we are motivated by a love supreme.

Thank you for being a loyal and loving servant leader to humanity.  Your being is not in vain.

With humble appreciation and awe,

Peoria Freedom Fighters