>there is a significant advantage to delayed development &
>that is choice. the important next step is to spread the
>word that there are choices, what those choices are &
>why/how they pay off, which includes both finding fault with
>current systems despite a no-fault-finding ethic and finding
>strengths in sustainability that has a crossover appeal

I agree with you, but is there not still a "catching up" dynamic that we have to deal with? I am thinking of the example of something like fuel - Europe is installing hydrogen filling stations and BMW is going ahead w/ production on hydro cars - less than 6 months. The west in this case is going to have to deal with following instead of leading unless as you say - they self-destruct first (We have to wait 5 years after all to get the level of arsenic reduced in NYC water)

>so it seems to me that the goal is to nurture and develop
>values that africans & african americans hold, such as
>orientations toward community, family & religion.

The only thing I would add is to nurture and develop an actual relationship - nurture not necessarily an identity but identifiability (i.e. "I can relate") that we currently don't share on either side.

You do however, have the lock on the most comprehensive "answer" I've heard in a minute. I thank you for restating it :)

Peace