LAST Sunday I presented a talk to the Dentists Professionals Association on the topic: "Black professionals or professionals who happen to be black."

I tried to highlight the importance of professionals' service to the broader community instead of working towards narrow ends that are particular to each profession.

At the height of Black Consciousness in the country there was an idea that one is black before one is a student, lawyer, doctor and so on. Basically, the black professional had a responsibility to serve the community they came from.

Tsietsi Mashinini's group in exile adopted the slogan, "the people first then only the individual" to highlight this commitment to the community.

Frantz Fanon said: "Each generation must discover its mission, fulfil it or betray it". The question to be asked today is this: what is the mission of the black professional organisations?

Also, what is it that makes them black or are they using their blackness as a bargaining chip to gain "empowerment" and access to resources that the black majority is deprived of?

We must ask, for instance, how come organisations of teachers and doctors are not calling out the whole nation to protest the state of education and healthcare. Why do we only see protests when it's about salaries? I'm not saying these professions must not struggle to improve their working conditions but would it not be more ethical to raise their interests within the broader agenda that seeks to improve the quality of life for the majority?

Similarly, the silence of black lawyers on human rights violations is embarrassing to say the least. Difficult cases where communities are evicted from their land to make way for mining houses wanting platinum are often taken on by white lawyers.

Why are black lawyers not defending these communities against the harassment and violence of these companies and comrades in business?

Two sterling examples of individuals who chose the people before their own narrow interests are Steve Biko and Che Guevara who, incidentally, both come from a medical background.

While Biko didn't finish his medical studies, Che eventually became a doctor but the important point to make is that they both realised that one can't solve the health problems of the people within oppressed societies, so they become revolutionaries to help bring about societies that cared for the majorities instead of the elite.

It's interesting to think of Che as a medical doctor who chose the AK-47 to shoot into power a government that would provide quality healthcare for all. Today Cuba, a poor country, is among the top 10 countries in the world when it comes to healthcare for the community.

I reminded my audience of the words of Abram Tiro who in 1972 said: "We black graduates, by virtue of our age and academic standing, are being called on to bear greater responsibilities in the liberation of our people. Of what use will be your education if you can't help your country in her hour of need?"

Right now our country needs professionals to lead because the politicians are failing us big time!