We are approaching the time of the year for African Americans when we devote an entire month to a reflection and celebration of our history. There are "daily profiles" sent throughout the Internet; Tavis Smiley will host "The State of Black America"; we will attend African American Heritage celebrations; we will quote W.E.B. Du Bois, Frederick Douglass, Carter G. Woodson, and many other historical Black thought leaders; some will extol the virtues of making every month Black History Month, while others want to do away with it (they may be saying the same thing).

As we swell with pride about our history, the reflections seem to bear a common pattern, and evoke the same questions:
With all our inventions, entrepreneurs, scholars, religious and political leaders, athletes, entertainers, teachers, and the inspiration of our rich African heritage -- why aren't we making more progress? Why are our schools declining? Why is the economic gap growing and not closing? Why are our communities in decline -- ravaged by crime, unemployment and despair? How is it that our "spending power" exceeds many nations, but is not directed at solving our problems? How is that we have failed to realize the vision of Douglass, Garvey, Malcolm, and King?

I have the answer. We are afraid of success!
Yes, we have Oprah, and Bob Johnson, and a half dozen CEO's of Fortune 500 companies. We have Black Mayors, the Congressional Black Caucus, a Black Secretary of State, and a Supreme Court judge. We have Kobe, and Magic, and Barry, and Shack. We have Morgan Freeman, Denzell, Halle, Jamie Foxx. But more than 50% of the population of Federal and State prisons are Black men. Nearly 70% of Black children are going to school from single- parent homes. More of our Black children are living in poverty than any other ethnic group. We marched to be "free" from the oppressive discrimination that held us back. Why haven't we used that freedom to improve conditions for more of us?

Now we have this medium of the Internet that can erase communications barriers, provide access to resources within and outside our community, facilitate economic collaboration that has the potential to leapfrog many of our challenges, and galvanize our efforts into cohesive units. When we speak about "No child left behind," it is our children who are being left behind in the rapidly accelerating Information Age. What are we going to do about it? Celebrate while Black society crumbles at our feet?

A few years ago, a widely circulated writing was inappropriately attributed to Nelson Mandela, but it very appropriately describes our condition and the inspiration for a solution. I offer it as my challenge to each of you. The iZania Online Community is our small contribution to the many solutions needed. There are many others. Don't let this Black History Month pass and return to the shadows of our deepest fear.

Thuso