The Black Community’s Best Friend

I’m sure our friends remember Wally, our Huntaway Dog. He has been gone three years now. He was named after Walter E. Williams, because he was black. He also was a dedicated friend, as Dr. Williams was to the black community.

Now we’ve lost Walter Williams as well. Sometimes a friend is taken for granted. A real friend is there for you no matter what.

I’m speaking as a white guy who has lived in diverse neighborhoods. As such, my viewpoint can be objective and judgmental. Being in rural Iowa for the last forty years makes me distant from those diverse neighborhoods but also not swayed by group-think and propaganda.

In everyday life we deal with others as individuals. Those of us who see others as mere members of a class or race are depriving themselves of many joys as social beings.

As a black man who was born to a single mother in the projects of Philadelphia, Walter Williams was a neighbor to Bill Cosby, Weird Harold, and Fat Albert. In the service he was an activist for racial equality. He was even court martialed for speaking up with fellow soldiers. He defended himself and was found not guilty.

Walter Williams constantly harped on government constraints as defined by the Constitution. It grew tiresome. But let’s examine his intent.

Walter Williams focused on this because of his roots and his realization that it is violations of the Constitution that are responsible for problems in black and low income communities. He never looked at the Constitution as some ancient scrap of paper. It was a set of rules to him and wound up as the answer that settled uncounted debates.

I find it interesting the role models that are promoted by community leaders. It is almost like they are promoting failure to ensure power for people who don’t deserve it. Achieving stardom in the world of entertainment or sports is extremely rare, requiring exceptional skills or connections. Aiming this high guarantees failure if the learning of useful skills are ignored in the process.

Anyone who plays sports would be appalled if rules were routinely broken or compromised. Why bother to play if a touchdown were achieved by a run to the five-yard line or you were called safe when the throw beat you to first base?

Dr. Williams called out the same thing in his focus on the Constitution. Article One, Section Eight spelled out Congress’ duties and Amendment Ten declared all other actions by Congress to be unconstitutional. Breaking these rules has corrupted the purpose of government.

In his later years Walter Williams focused more on education, as that was his path to success. He exposed the failure of inner city schools to prepare students for a successful life in the article he wrote the day he died.

In two Milwaukee high schools only one student tested proficient in math and none were proficient in English. Yet an entire week was spent learning about “systemic racism” and “Black Lives Matter activism.” What kind of a cruel school administration and teachers would do this to their students?

Reading a letter in the Cedar Rapids Gazette a few months ago criticizing Dr. Williams’ column, I was so disheartened that such a gift to the black community as he, would have his help rejected with such hatred.

I will miss the loving kindness of both Walters forever.