In this enlightening clip from the Black Out with Ian & Rashad podcast, host Rashad Bilal engages in a profound conversation with guest Roland Martin, a seasoned journalist and political analyst. Together, they explore the efficacy and challenges of black political leadership in major cities and the larger importance of sustained community engagement.

**Discussion Highlights:**

- **Black Leadership in Major Cities:** Rashad and Roland delve into the influence and impact of black mayors in cities like Atlanta and Houston. Roland emphasizes the significant contributions of leaders such as Sylvester Turner in Houston and the historical political continuity in Atlanta. (00:00:00 - 00:01:09)

- **The Necessity of Organization:** Roland stresses the importance of ongoing political participation and the dangers of voter apathy. He argues that black communities need to be consistently involved in the political process, not just during crises. (00:01:10 - 00:03:12)

- **Community Engagement:** Highlighting his personal experiences, Roland recounts how his parents were deeply involved in local politics and underscores the need for black communities to show up to meetings and be proactive rather than reactive. (00:02:37 - 00:02:57)

- **Collective Action:** The discussion pivots to the power of mobilizing existing black institutions. Martin suggests practical steps for groups like the Divine Nine and other organizations to apply pressure on political systems effectively. (00:03:28 - 00:04:00)

- **Dr. King’s Vision:** Roland references Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s last book, "Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?" to illustrate the potential of structured black organizations in advancing societal change. (00:04:31 - 00:05:31)

- **Taking Action:** The conversation concludes with a call to action for black communities to move beyond complaints and actively engage in political advocacy. Roland challenges listeners to shift from passive observers to active participants in shaping their futures. (00:05:57 - 00:07:23)

This episode is a rallying cry for the audience to harness the power of organization, maintain political momentum beyond elections, and engage more deeply in local governance. Rashad Bilal and Roland Martin provide actionable insights and historical context to inspire a new wave of civic involvement.

Don't miss this powerful dialogue—watch, share, and start mobilizing your community today!

**Hashtags:**

#BlackOutPodcast #BlackLeadership #PoliticalMobilization #CommunityEngagement #RolandMartin #RashadBilal #DivineNine #BlackPolitics #MLK #CivicDuty #VoterApathy #LocalGovernance #SocialChange #BlackEmpowerment #Houston #Atlanta #SylvesterTurner #MaynardJackson #AndrewYoung #ShirleyFranklin #PodcastClip

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