It is time for Americas Black community to get up off the mat and act like the enormously gifted, talented and cultured people that we are; the people that our ancestors and elders modeled for us to be and would be proud of. We are a strong, vibrant, capable, courageous, purpose driven and hard working people who through faith, perseverance, sacrifice and hard work, have overcome incredible odds to secure our freedom and opportunities in our United States of America. This country is the only home that our native bloodlines have ever known. Our people paid for our right to claim this Red, White and Blue flag as our own with their blood, sweat, tears and extraordinary sacrifice. This country belongs to us as much as anyone else. Im tired of marching to no finish line. Im tired of protesting whats wrong, while projecting no vision and no action plan for how to make things right. Im tired of placating people who dont operate to our benefit, or make decisions with our best interest in mind. Im tired of lime-light leaders and fly-in preachers who chase Black tragedies like crack addicts chasing a fix, leaving behind nothing but a few news articles that remind us they were there. Im tired of going back to the future every time something goes wrong, and singing that important but played out We Shall Overcome, an anthem that defined the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 60s. We are in a New Century but are still singing that same old song. Whats the song that defines our generations vision and plans for the future? We have overcome a lot; what next? I am too hopeful, too talented, too smart, too accomplished and too thankful to get duped or depressed by our struggle. The narrative of our struggle is my oxygen; it reminds me of how alive we really are and how important I really am. How important I am to those who came before and those who will come after. If our ancestors were standing in front of us right now, with those deep whip-marks on their backs, those infected cracks in their hands, those scrapes and scars on their knees, and those itching sores on their feet from their years of back-breaking work and giving it their all, and could see up-close how poorly our last two generations have maintained the momentum towards freedom, liberty and equal opportunity that many of them hoped for and generated, a wide river of their tears would wash across the floor boards of Black households all across this country, and would not stop. Black America has too much to be proud of; too many great achievements to celebrate; and too many opportunities to make a difference in our own households and neighborhoods for us to be living in the deplorable and regressive conditions that were in. We dont have to be rich to be relevant. We can be poor and still have purpose. Its important that we ensure our children know this so they arent chasing Lil Waynes dream over Dr. Kings. Its time for us to step up and stop pontificating on our latest tragedies. Lets honor our dead by changing the conditions that contributed to their senseless and premature loss of life in the first place. Brother got shot. Whatcha gonna do? What lawmakers can we elect with OUR VOTE that will pass and protect laws that benefit and build upon the economic viability of our communities, families and children? What types of schools and educational institutions should we demand and work to build ourselves that will truly prepare our children for the future? What employers, financial institutions and entrepreneurs can we work with to re-deploy jobs and resources in inner cities and poor rural areas across America? How can we rid our communities of the violence thats killing another generation of our kids - our future leaders? What partnerships can we establish with those who desire to help us in our efforts, and how can we assist them as well? We can create the future that we want, and we dont have to bend over to beg for it. This flag is ours. Even the homeless wear boostraps. Onward.
Posted on: Wed, 26 Nov 2014 05:38:35 +0000