I’m rather uncomfortable with how brown folk are often quick to congratulate each other on “making it” when one moves out of their city or gets involved in something commercial, political or corporate – as if committing yourself to home means you’ve accomplished little to nothing. As if doing work that gets no media spotlight isn’t worth folk speaking your name. I know plenty of community leaders in Camden, NJ (and other cities, as well, but I’m shouting out home) who were born there and still put in work their each day. Leaders who I will tip my hat for, who may never get more than a few 100 likes on a status or televised recognition… who have inspired or influenced hundreds or thousands of people like me.(Shout out to BrotherDa-Da Bey. You’ve always been an inspiration. You’re in my continued prayers.) Me, on the other hand – all I did was fall in love, work hard in poetry and move my behind to LA, by circumstance. Granted, this place has been treating me great; but I know exactly why some people, especially family, claim that I’ve “made it.” – Often, when we tell folk that we’ve moved “out,” it implies that we’ve escaped the struggle. Look, my apartment is small (lol), I observe gang activity and poverty here nearly just as much as home, and I hear countless stories of the same ol’ obstacles. We allow these twisted perceptions of ‘success’ and ‘celebrity’ and ‘spotlight’ and so on to taint our views. It also attacks the ideas of community and giving back. No wonder so many of our youth feel trapped. Too many of them aren’t being told that they are born amazing and worthy. They feel the world has to know their name in order for this to be true. And I get it, there are people who want nothing more than to NOT see their son or daughter or mentee or student within the same atmosphere that has steered them/peers wrong. But how about we tell them that “making it” starts from within first? That you can move or run as fast as you want to. You can gain all of the fans or following that you’ve dreamed of. But if you haven’t built yourself internally and/or spiritually, then who are you? Where are you, really? And Yes, *TRAVEL IS AN IMPORTANT THING.* I may even say a necessity. I recommend it to everyone, especially brown folk. But let’s not equate “making it” with escaping home, with having your name surrounded by numbers instead of purpose. Let’s equate “making it” with knowing this world, physically/spiritually – knowing self. THAT’S when the congratulations should be in order – When you’ve gotten the opportunity to see or do more, outside of home… while never dismissing who you are and where you come from.
Posted on: Tue, 03 Jun 2014 00:39:02 +0000
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