YOU! HAVE THE POWER | Dr. Ellen Brown

New dawn. New day. Feeling good?

BY DR. ELLEN BROWN

Nina Simone. Remember her music? Google her. Simone was a class act — a singing, playing, acting, civil rights activist with experiences that made her rage. She used her classical music training to tell the world the truth about life and liberty. Her recording of “Feeling Good” in 1965 (one of many civil rights-focused recordings) came at a time when the civil rights movement in the U.S. was cresting, but Nina was not feeling good or optimistic. In fact, when Martin Luther King Jr. was murdered in 1968, she expressed anger and often said nothing had changed.

For people who experience the effects of a marginalization in the United States, it is not uncommon to feel as Ms. Simone felt. Music is one of those mediums that interprets the pulse of the people. Perhaps her choice to release this song with these lyrics was one more attempt at optimism.

The 2018 midterm elections are over. Our next hurdle is the big one. Is there time to rest? According the Washington Post, 2020 presidential hopefuls are already jockeying for access to the millions of dollars required to get into the game. So, though some of us may not be feeling good about this new day-new dawn, is there time to shrink back and lick our wounds for a while?

Those who enter or reenter office in January are about to go to work. My previous columns encouraged accountability; let them know that whether or not you voted for them, the fact is they are our representatives. Here is a link to elected officials in all categories who represent the Las Vegas region: https://www.clarkcountynv.gov/election/Pages/CEOIndex.aspx. It was not updated at the time of my writing, but I am sure it will be soon.

Start here. Make it a point to call or email the incoming officials and let them know how you are feeling. Tell them where you live and what is important to you and your neighborhoods, schools, parks, businesses, streets.

Whether we are feeling good or otherwise, it is a new day and a new dawn. And we are already moving forward.

Ellen Brown writes on political topics that encourage interest, discussion and action. Have a comment, question or idea? Contact Dr. Brown at ebrown.nci@gmail.com.