Ripples ©

It's been a while.

A lot has happened since the last time I sat down to write. 

A whole hell of a lot...

On both a personal and societal basis. Nevertheless, change is good. 

Ummm... but it would be a little disingenuous of me if I didn't also say that not all change feels good. As a matter of fact, some of it can be downright disheartening and depressing if you don't view it from the proper perspective.

However, for now I'll just stick with Societal Change. 

The personal changes I've experienced since my last entry are an entry in and of themselves.

In my humble opinion the age old tactics of sit-ins and boycotts alone don't work in the 21st century. This is a digital age. This is a consumer driven era. Only economic empowerment and an evening of the economic landscape will inspire change. Wu-Tang said it best......C.R.E.A.M (For the uninitiated: Cash Rules Everything Around Me). Sadly, in today's society he who has the money makes the rules. We no longer live in a world where resources are reasonably distributed. Notice I said reasonably and not equally. As long as individuals have a Caste-like mindset and structure to their society, resources will never be equally distributed:

Caste: noun, (kast) - each of the hereditary classes of Hindu society, distinguished by relative degrees of ritual purity or pollution and of Social Status.

Your Contemporary Caste System:

The more you know.

The sit-ins of the sixties were to bring awareness to the plight of blacks being denied their civil rights. We no longer need that. Everyone knows that racism exists, some just choose to ignore it because it does not directly affect them or the ones that they love.

Bringing attention to and promoting awareness of civil rights violations and white nationalist atrocities while necessary is still not enough. A plan of action and the proper leadership in our communities is the only way to make effective and lasting societal change. Otherwise we're just gonna be doing what we've been doing since the U.S. was first colonized. I mean let some folks tell it, we chose this way of life anyway though so...... 

Where's my Starbucks? Oh hell?! We're boycotting? Again?! What's the hashtag?

That's cool. 

I don't drink that ish anyway. 

But I digress.....

Ripples.

Got it.

You drop a pebble in a pond and what happens? The area around where the pebble was dropped is immediately disrupted. A shift occurs. A ripple is created. Nevertheless, after a while everything returns to normal. Like nothing ever happened. After a while, you may even forget where the pebble was dropped in the pond. Hell, at some point, you may even forget you dropped a pebble in said pond in the first place. You drop a rock in the pond. Same result. Bigger splash but in the end... same result. Drop a boulder in the pond .... same result.

Now......

What happens when it rains on the same pond. There's a greater effect on the pond. More ripples. More water. A greater disturbance. The structure of the pond has changed and has improved the ecosystem that draws from it.

Organization and structured movement is needed to effect lasting change. A sit-in here and a march there is not going to accomplish that. Unfortunately, the generation following Dr. King and all the countless other Civil Rights activists of his era straight dropped ball. Too busy worrying about making their hair appointments and keeping their side chicks happy I guess. Coordinated actions, properly structured organizations and the proper alliances are the ways to promote and obtain the sort of Societal change that is long overdue for People of Color in this country.

I'm a Contextualist meaning that I believe that everything has a place in the world as long as it remains in its proper context. The Circle of Life or a geographical area's ecosystem for example. However, first and foremost I am a man of God and Servant of the Most High. In His word it states that there is a time and place for everything under the sun. Now, I understand that one may think I lead a contradictory lifestyle in the sense based on their belief that you can't believe that everything is permitted as long as it's in the right context because context is a matter of perspective. However, I disagree.

Simply because I believe the following:

Context is a necessary component of structure. Structure promotes and leads to order (The God I serve is a God of Order). Order is the basis of Stability. Stability is the basis for Consistency. Consistency is the major component of Trust. Trust is the foundation of Love.

As one my heroes so eloquently said:

"Hate begets hate; violence begets violence; toughness begets a greater toughness. ... Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."  - The Late Great Reverend Martin Luther King Jr

Look at it this way.... You can't build a house with only a blueprint but without having laid a solid foundation. Well....I mean you can but don't invite me over because I'm not putting myself in a compromising situation like that. Over there drinking tea with you and a damn wall falls or the roof caves in. Nope....I'll pass. Sorry (not sorry).

Yes, please understand that only organized resistance brings about lasting change. All other resistance is merely temporary and easily dispelled.

For instance, take the Parkland Shooting Survivors. Theirs’s is the first movement against the senseless gun violence that has been occurring in this country for decades that I have seen in my lifetime that I believe has an actual chance to affect lasting change. Why? Because they are organized, structured, determined, focused, disciplined, motivated, well-funded, young and predominately white or non-black. Theirs’s is the ultimate example of when differences are set aside for acquisition of a common goal. One that makes everyone better, not just their particular group or organization.

Black folks still trying to climb out of the barrel.

……And yet as I write this, another “misunderstood” white boy carries out another mass shooting in my hometown of Nashville, TN. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and the families of said victims. Sadly, we are having far too many instances of these lone wolf domestic terrorist attacks (Let’s just call a spade a spade, shall we.) with little to no genuine effort to corral or even stop them. Possibly because the demographic that seems most responsible for these acts has turned a blind eye to them. Wonder how long it’s going to take for the media and law enforcement officials to label him mentally unstable and good kid who has lost his way (Let me answer that one for you…. as I type this). I mean come on, let’s be honest the media narrative and borderline bias for Caucasian perpetrators of some pretty heinous acts is pretty “soft” to say the least. Had the shooter been non-black they would have contributed it to some form of extreme terrorism and heaven forbid the guy had been of Muslim decent.

My bad…. examples. *stay focused*.

The #MeTooMovement. Initially started by an African-American woman but seemed to only gain traction after individuals that came from a totally different demographic joined the fight. Not throwing shade…just stating facts. This movement is serving notice to people that the old antiquated ways in which women have been viewed and treated for as far back as anyone can remember will not be tolerated any longer by the fairer sex. A movement that is seriously overdue not only in this country but the world over and I’m here for it. Why? Yet again because they are organized, structured, determined, focused, disciplined, motivated, well-funded, young and predominately white or non-black. I just hope that we can stay focused on actual victims of Sexual Harassment and Abuse and exclude those that just are upset because the thirst trap landed them a cat with weak cunnilingus game.

Not throwing shade…. just stating facts.

The “War” on “Opioid Crisis” in America. Notice the quotes. Now granted, it is a problem. A serious one. However, it’s not a new one. Hell, just ask anyone that resided of South Central Los Angeles oh say between 1980 and 1990. The so-called War on Drugs had a completely different narrative than the one that exists today…. but then again, those suffering collateral damage from the newest War look a little different too.

Not throwing shade…just stating facts.

There’s that word again …Facts.

Actual Facts though…. not alternative ones.

Folks are so sensitive and in their feeling these days that just stating obvious facts upsets some people’s brittle spirits and may even get you branded as anti-social or something considerably worse (ex. Google: Black Identity Extremist).

Unfortunately, society is experiencing a seriously rapid decline in people’s Emotional IQ. I mean the standard IQ of the average America was already questionable anyway. Folks tend to think to they are a lot smarter than they actually are and have little to no common sense these days. Yet with the explosion of Social Media Platforms like Facebook and Twitter, folks of marginal intelligence now have a platform to put their ignorance on full display. Discretion is a term that does not seem to apply to anymore. Gone are the days of “if you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all” or “Better to let people think you’re dumb as hell than to open your mouth and remove all doubt (Something like that). People are perfectly content in their ignorance and that to this writer is some concerning sh*t. People nowadays act like if they don’t acknowledge how bogus and disrespectful something they do is, that that exempts them from reaping what they’ve sewn. Just because you don’t acknowledge that you took a swing at me doesn’t mean you can’t and/ or won’t get your ass kicked. You will….. Just in case you needed confirmation. 

The current resident of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue has a certain segment of the population in the Matrix. Creating their own reality. The Wachowski Brothers were ahead of their time. Those of you that remember when that movie first dropped how radical a concept “Augmented Reality” was. Now we’re living it….every single day. Been living it actually. Only difference between then and now is that we now have daily reminders via Social Media. Your timeline is a daily reminder of just how detached people have become from humanity and reality. People’s lack of discretion and need for constant affirmation and attention from people they do not know has caused a shift in people’s perspective on what is or is not acceptable social behavior. Thanks, Mark Zuckerberg. No seriously….I appreciate that dude. He gave people the outlet to be themselves ..... for better or worse. Some folks call Facebook, "Fakebook". I actually disagree with that. People’s true nature is on full display when they can’t suffer any immediate consequences for their actions. For example…. How many people on the Book would actually spew some of the hateful and vitriolic stuff they say if they knew it would be followed by a backhand or a roundhouse kick to the face. If I had to venture a guess…not very many. SO…..guess what they do? Become Facebook Gangsters ….. And I know quite a few Facebook OGs. Ahh yes!  Those folks that talk cash sh*t on the Interwebs but are quiet as Church Mice when a real OG run up on ‘em in their apartment complex parking lot. You can occasionally peep that on your timeline too (…..and I ain’t gonna lie folks, that stuff is highly entertaining). All of the aforementioned factors and behaviors can distinctly be traced to one’s Emotional IQ. Simply put, when you know better you tend to do better. Now ….. There are those individuals out there that are straight assholes. 

Act accordingly.

Society is experiencing a shift in consciousness. The Old Guard is being served notice that the way things have been done in the past is played and “Time’s Up”. The Universe reacts according to energy transfer. What you put out you typically get back in some form or fashion. With that being said you have to understand that the Universe will always hold you accountable for your actions. Karma is debt that never goes unpaid. You reap what you sow in this life. Which is why you must try to remain on its good side. Why? 

Simply because Karma is not a respecter of persons.

Everybody and anybody can get it.

Karma doesn’t care about your schedule. Karma does not need an invitation. Karma is persistent…..very persistent. Nerve wrackingly so. Karma will wait in the cut right up until you think you got away with it. Then that mofo shows up with receipts, dates, times and dares you to act like you don’t remember what you did.   “Yeah, mofo that was you”….with a smirk. You have no choice but to own that sh*t. Otherwise, Karma is gonna pitch a tent and forward their mail to your address until you do.  Trust me….Karma has been my houseguest a few times. I try to keep her visits short though. Which is why I suggest that you go ahead and own your Karma. Hell, you know you got it coming anyway. May as well be proactive. I can tell you from experience that being proactive and getting in front of what’s coming is a lot better than having to do damage control. Unless your Karma resembles a Bus or a Train. Umm yeah….you may want to just go ahead wait for the aftermath then put your big boy/ girl pants on. Karma’s arrival isn’t all bad though. We just tend to let the guilt that comes along with our indiscretions give Bad Karma more power than it actually has. Sometimes all of the good you put out in the universe comes back to you too. Maybe not directly from where you’ve sown good seed but from another source. Just accept it and remain humble. For the uninitiated, Humility will open the doors that arrogance gets slammed in your face.

Ripples…...

Societal Change. 

What type of impact are you making in your environment? Are you a Change Agent trying to make the world around you better? Or are you that individual trying to sow divisiveness by building walls between your fellow man/ woman both figuratively and literally. Your answer to that question determines your Karma. Everyone that has EVER sought to divide people and cause chaos or disorder ends up broken, regretful and remorseful. It may take a while for those that you’ve hurt to see you reap what you’ve sown (HOWEVER as of late, Karma has been out here straight serving cats instantly….on sight!) but that bill always comes due and those that you have cause any sort of pain of discomfort will get to watch your demise. Especially those servants of the Most High. He promised it to those that follow and serve Him:

“Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” says the Lord – Romans 12:19

I mean not that we would take any pleasure in that.

Ok…... maybe just a little.

Sadly, it has been my experience that people are a lot faster to take something or accept something from someone than they are to give anything to anyone. In today’s society, there is unfortunately less interest in being benevolent.  The reasons vary….

 Maybe you have been burned one too many times trying to help the next man. Maybe you have taken time out of your schedule to assist someone yet when it comes time to reciprocate, the person you provided aide to comes up with one hundred and one reasons why they can’t. Maybe you gave someone your last because they said they truly needed your help with a solemn promise to pay you back with interest, only for you to still be waiting on them to pay you back (Meanwhile, you see ‘em poppin’ bottles on The Gram). Maybe …. just maybe you stood up and defended someone’s honor only to have that very person talk behind you back……while stabbing you in it. There are any number of reasons why individuals may have trust issues and have basically decided fixing the ills of society is the next man’s/ woman’s problem because of how the world has treated them. Trust me I struggle with that daily. To see people of less than moral character on the “come up”, while my kindness is taken for weakness can be maddening at times. Nevertheless, it’s not my job to judge anyone. In the grand scheme of things, people are only going to do what’s best for them. After all, the first rule of survival is self-preservation. If you don’t look out for yourself, no one else will. The key is ensuring that you “doing you” doesn’t complicate or deteriorates anyone else’s quality of life. Make sure that your ripple – the impact you have on the world around you – is one that transmits positive vibes. Unless you’ve been under a rock for the last twenty-four months, I’m sure you’ll agree that we could use a lot more of that. Spread love, not hate. Sow good seed, reap a bountiful harvest.

The moral of the story, make sure you remain on the good side of Karma. Always strive to make a positive impact on the environment you inhabit. Make sure that the energy that you expend not only furthers your own individual agenda, but it also serves the greater good of those impacted by said agenda…...a.k.a the rest of us. I leave you with some of the last words of wisdom bestowed upon me by my father:

The mark of a mature and truly grounded individual is that they tend to leave any environment or any situation better for them having been a part of it.

If you’re going to be a part of someone’s life, make sure that you add value to it. If you want to make the world a better place, fully commit to becoming a better man.

One person alone can’t change the world. They can only provide the spark. However, with the collective effort of likeminded individuals positively influenced to make the world around them better…. there is no limit to the amount of good they can do in this world.

Like rain drop ripples in a pond.

Moving Target ©

Obey the principles without being bound by them - Bruce Lee

I am absolutely a staunch advocate of an American being able to exercise their First Amendment right of the Freedom of Speech (Covered in greater detail later in this entry). I respect and vehemently agree with what Colin Kaepernick is doing. His protests in my opinion have done more to bring attention to the problem of Racism in America (because it’s not just about the murder/ summary execution of unarmed people of color – seemingly in larger proportions amongst African American men/ women), than any other “movement” or Civil Rights Organization has since the sixties. 

Now before you close your browser, hear me out for a second. I am the son of a US Army veteran that served his country in both the Korean and Vietnam conflicts. If he were alive today he would be standing by Colin’s decision to protest as well. The very nature of Military Service is to defend that right - that so many Americans take for granted - from dangers Foreign ……and Domestic. So many brave and selfless individuals have put their lives on the line (some even making the ultimate sacrifice) so that Colin can kneel in protest and also so that others can malign or vilify him for it.

The unfortunate thing about the level of hypocrisy on full display in America these days is that it’s really not a new phenomenon. The only difference now is that Bigots and Racists are now choosing to not hide behind their sheets and positions of authority. However, due to the emergence, popularity and transparency of Social Media; voices are finally being given to the voiceless. Now, of course there are Pros and Cons to anything in this universe. I wish we lived in a country where individuals understood how to express their dissatisfaction with something without being antagonistic, distasteful, marginalistic or vitriolic. Sadly…. That is just not the type of country (or world for that matter) that we live in.

Optics are more important than truth or justice in this country. There is a dangerous mindset of entitlement, duplicity and/or naivety held by those in positions of authority and influence in today’s America. Now don’t color me unpatriotic. I have a great respect for what America is supposed to be as laid out in the Constitution of the United States of America – Particularly in the first ten 10 Amendments commonly known as the Bill of Rights. 

To save you some time I’ll list them here for you (‘Cause I’m just nice like that):

• Amendment 1 (Five Freedoms)
• Amendment 2 Right to Bear Arms
• Amendment 3 Quartering Soldiers
• Amendment 4 Unreasonable Searches and Seizures
• Amendment 5 Protection for a Person Accused of a Crime
• Amendment 6 Rights of a Person Accused of a Crime
• Amendment 7 Civil Law
• Amendment 8 Bails, Fines; Cruel or Unusual Punishment
• Amendment 9 Rights not listed
• Amendment 10 Powers of the States and People

You’re welcome….

Now let me preface what I’m about to write with the following statement:

I never studied Constitutional Law in a scholastic or collegiate setting (Although, I have read and studied the US Constitution in its entirety). I am not here to debate the merits of the US Constitution in relation to the law itself. I am merely expressing a layman’s interpretation of how those who claim to be “Patriots” are violating the very principles that the Founding Fathers of this nation of ours intended.

As Author and History Teacher Floyd G. Cullop so eloquently put it:

The answer is simple enough…. because this Constitution is the most important thing in the lives of every person living in the United States. Your way of life is built around it, your government is based upon it, and your rights and privileges as a United States Citizen are protected by it.

To be ignorant of the Constitution is to be ignorant of all the things your country is….and of the truths its people have believed to be above all others in the relationship between human beings and government.

Now….

I just want to review a couple things about the preceding statement by Mr. Cullop.

While I agree with the statement in principle, anyone that has watched the news oh let’s see in the last 15 minutes and or at least anytime within the last 15 months know that there is a pretty sizable segment of the US Population that don’t share his sentiments.

Nevertheless, it doesn’t make his statement any less true. 

The prevailing theme being spouted by self- proclaimed patriots, the far right, Alt-Right, or the American Identitarian movement is they want to “Make America Great Again”. I find this to be a pretty interesting ideology. Now I’m not from the school of thought that America has never been great. It has. However, I am from the school of thought and of the mindset that you give credit where credit is due. 

Whatever do you mean, JT?

Why I’m so glad you asked.

Let’s examine the aforementioned statement for a second shall we.

“Make America Great Again”.

Your opinion about the statement depends on your experience or the experience of your ancestors in relation to this great country of ours.

For example, if your ancestors came over on the Nina, the Pinta, the Santa Maria or the Mayflower…. You may have a slightly different opinion of said statement as opposed to those individuals whose ancestors came over in the cargo area of a slave ship or were displaced by immigrants from Europe that decided hundreds of years ago to make this continent their home.
Those individual’s ancestors who were around for one history’s greatest land grabs (The Louisiana Purchase  - 1803 - was a land deal between the United States and France, in which the U.S. acquired approximately 827,000 square miles of land west of the Mississippi River for $15 million) or for one of  - there were numerous - the most hideous examples of the total displacement of an entire nation of people (In 1838 and 1839, as part of Andrew Jackson's Indian removal policy, the Cherokee nation was forced to give up its lands east of the Mississippi River and to migrate to an area in present-day Oklahoma. The Cherokee people called this journey the "Trail of Tears," because of its devastating effects) in the history of this nation may certainly have a different perspective on the aforementioned statement than those who share DNA with ancestors that were on the other end of those transactions. Oh…there are other examples, but there is honestly no sense in belaboring the point. You get it. Even Stevie Wonder could (Just don’t ask him to drive…. Oh…wait a minute…We did. On November 8th 2016) If you don’t, then that’s by choice…and that too is your right guaranteed by the United States Constitution. No matter how counterproductive and senseless that school of thought or mindset may be.

This country was discovered, colonized, built, expanded and enhanced by immigrants of different colors, cultures, religions, demographics and ancestry. Keyword: Immigrants. So when I hear certain segments of the US Population tell another group to go back to (insert country here) that sort of perplexes me. I mean if we’re going to be 100% honest about who’s really supposed to be here – I mean because “immigration is a such a horrible and toxic thing for this country”, hell the only folks that would be here would basically be people of color. Have you seen a Native or Latino American Lately? Not to mention that they weren’t the only people of color here prior to the arrival of European Colonists. I’m just saying …. And while we’re keepin’ it 100… I don’t recall a certain segment of the nation’s ancestors asking for a lift to this continent. Like Europeans visited Africa in the 18th century and were like, “Yo, we’re running this special on a cruise to America. You down?” That Transatlantic Slave Trade Vacation package wasn’t from what I hear all that appealing, but let some folks tell it though it was all the rage……

But I digress.

My bad……

Moving Target.

Right.

Amendment 1 of the United States Constitution (Five Freedoms)

“Congress cannot pass any law making any religion the religion of the United States, or take away the freedom to worship as one pleases. Congress cannot take away or restrict freedom of speech or freedom of the press. Citizens may protect themselves against damaging insults spoken or written about them by civil lawsuits, and no one may advocate (call for) the overthrow of the government by way. Congress may not take away the right of peaceful assembly (gathering of people). Riots or mobs may be broken up, since they are not peaceful. The right of petitioning the government for any redress (correction) wanted made by it, or any grievance (Complaint) made against it, may not be suspended.”

Simple enough right.

Now as you read that I’m sure a great many of you were like…. Wait a minute… there seems to an awful lot of that stuff being done today. I would have to say that I’m inclined to agree with you. I mean for example; I recall a certain US Congressman from Texas declaring war on the sitting President of the United States of America in light of citizens exercising their guaranteed 1st Amendment right in his state. 

Now again, I’m no Constitutional Lawyer or anything…. but I would say that’s a violation of a few different Amendments of the US Constitution. Pretty ballsy though right? I mean the dude gets points for brashness and audacity. The unfortunate thing about this kind of gross display of disregard for the tenants that truly make this country great is that it is all too common from a certain sector of the US Population who seem to be unsympathetic to the plight of those who suffer at the hands of their lack of accountability for their actions. A luxury that while affordable and amenable for some is a price that is unreasonably expensive for others.

Privilege and duplicity

Privilege by definition is a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group of people. Do I really need to elaborate any further on this definition and how it relates to our current climate of racial divisiveness in America?

Eh, probably.

So here goes…..

A domestic terrorist bombs two cities and is apprehended to stand trial. A man draws down on police in a park in San Francisco is shot in the leg and apprehended to stand trial. A college student sexually assaults an unconscious woman and spends a total of three months in jail (while consequently a person of color gets the maximum penalty for the same offense). Meanwhile, a man simply in need of a battery boost, a man reading a book while waiting on his child, a caretaker for an Autistic man, a man that drops his wallet, a man selling cigarettes on street corner, a woman pulled over for an illegal lane change, a man with a concealed carry permit, a teenager with a BB gun (My bad two teenagers with BB guns), a teenager walking home from the store, a man playing his music too loud, a teenager attending a house party, a man shopping at Walmart…….sigh…… all unarmed and all either severely wounded or summarily executed by Law Enforcement officials, racists and a couple of rent-a-cops. 

Yet the punishment for all these instances of excessive force for the latter individuals (if any) never quite seems to fit the offense. 

Let’s just call it what it is. 

Living While Black (LWB) is more than a notion and at times can be hazardous to your health. I’ll leave it to your imagination to decide which of the aforementioned experiences relates to the LWB designation.

Oh we’re just getting started……

President Obama is ridiculed for his intelligence but the 45th President of the United States (He who shall not be named) is praised for his ignorance (Which is of staggering and unimaginable – at least for me anyway - proportions).

The same orange complected dude can literally alienate and verbally assault people during his bid for the Presidency, but a football player is called a terrorist (among other things) for taking a knee.

The KKK (aka the Laundry Mob) can lynch, assault, bomb, harass and outright disrespect the tenets of a document and a country that they swear allegiance to; while a Civil Rights organization attempting to obtain justice for the oppressed is labeled a terrorist organization (Pick one .... it’s a pretty lengthy list).

For those keeping score at home, those are clear examples of the conditions US Citizens exist under today and have existed under for a few generations now. Conditions not shared by the population as a whole. Unfortunately, a segment of the population is unfairly and unjustly considered exempt to these conditions by default based on their lineage and the color of their skin. 

I have one word for how this sort of mindset and duplicity can exist squarely next to sound logic:

Ignorance.

However, we are entering a season of enlightenment and increased consciousness. All is not lost. There has been a shift in people's consciousness. It's evident in people's responses to injustice now. I just pray that this movement doesn't fall victim to our traditionally short attention spans.

You want to become an effective Change Agent? Learn how to properly articulate YOUR experience. My parents and family members taught me that in both word and deed.

I’ve heard their stories and accounts of the past…..

Living in homes equivalent to Shanties, picking cotton until their hands bled (Both sets of my Grandparents were sharecroppers), walking miles to school only to be ridiculed along the way and to arrive to substandard facilities and supplies. Yet in spite of all that they persevered. My dad joined the army at 16 and courageously served his country in light of fervent discrimination in both the Korean and Vietnamese Conflicts, doing crowd control as Governor George Wallace stood on the stairs of Foster Auditorium at the University of Alabama as well as traveling the world (He was afforded the privilege of representing his country in 13 countries and while visiting 32 states during his years of service) only to return home to a country that sought to oppress him and everyone that looked like him. 

Nonetheless, their experiences taught them discipline which they thankfully instilled in me. It is perfectly ok to get angry and feel passionately about a cause, purpose or state of consciousness. The key is to make sure that you channel those emotions into something functional and productive. Anger and rage for the sake of anger and rage accomplishes nothing if it is not channeled or directed towards righting a wrong or eradicating injustice. I know MY history and stay in continuous study of the history of my people. I make it a point to seek it out and understand it simply because as the old adage says….Those who don’t know their history are destined to repeat it. I unapologetically love my people. I want so much for us. Unfortunately, I see every day how generations of oppression has taken its toll on the psyche of our people (If you haven’t guessed by now I’m African American).   In my humble opinion, that's where a lot of the individuals from my previous generation failed us. They became content. They thought their job was done. They somehow believed that we as a people had finally overcome....and unfortunately today we are reaping the harvest of their seeds of "contentment" and "complacency". 

My two cents

Understand that until there is a change in consciousness in the minds of the some of the citizens of this great nation of ours, there will never be a change in the state of things in this country. Also understand that there are some that are benefiting from the chaos and that they will do whatever is necessary to make sure that chaos and strife remains the status quo.

Honor the past and the sacrifices of those that came before, but realize that there comes a time when new solutions have to be explored for unresolved issues. Einstein’s definition of insanity and Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 speak to being insightful and adaptable. In order to effect change, you have to be willing embrace the prospect of opposition. Sometimes the only way to obtain the change you seek is to exit your comfort zone and be willing push forward when everything around you is attempting to keep you locked in the box they created for you. Now let’s be clear….. I am definitely all for civil disobedience for the sake of the greater good. Nonetheless, the Civil Rights Movement needs a reboot. A systems upgrade with a touch of Process Development. What worked in 1965 is probably not going to be all that effective in 2016. There has to be a plan for your protest in order for it to truly serve a purpose:

No more Marches without a plan. The Montgomery Bus Boycott worked because there were true leaders involved in and committed to ensuring that everyone that participated in the boycott stayed focused on the objective and that the goal was reached. 

No more Economic Boycotts without a clearly defined and reasonable timeline. Alliances, Money and Resources = true power in this country. Don’t be deceived, he/she who has any or all of the three aforementioned things makes the rules.

No more casting pearl before swine (Putting your hard earned dollar in the hands of people who despise you or seek your demise).

No more spreading info among your own without fact checking. There’s this thing called counter-intelligence and it is designed to confuse and distract. First homework assignment: Counter Intel. Look it up.

No more reactionary outbursts about things we aren’t willing to commit to ending not just in lip service but in action. 

No more destroying or slandering businesses in your own community. The only ones that suffer from a loss of community resources are the ones that live in that community. Channel your rage and frustration into something productive. 

Stop being predictable and easily distracted. Those who seek to keep you uninformed and impoverished are depending on your short attention span.

If you just have to have a slogan or #movement, pick one slogan and stick with it until justice is served. Then move on to the next one. What good is it to have multiple movements if you never accomplish the objective? Focused efforts yield effective and actionable results. Nevertheless, this also requires discipline and vigilance. It’s easier to hit a stationary target.

Stay unified. Those who seek to keep you uniformed and impoverished are depending on the infighting. It might sound cliche but it’s no less true: United we stand, divided we will surely fall. Take a page from other cultures (Standing Rock, the increased Latino Voter Turnout for the 2016 Presidential Election, the solidarity shown by our Muslim Brothers and sisters for those in need regardless of race, creed or religious affiliation). Sure they may dislike one another, but they will come to a challenge what they deem to be an indignity or injustice. 

It’s high time that we as a people learn how to agree without becoming disagreeable. It’s a fine line between a spirited debate and flat out argument. The difference between the two beginning with a willingness to listen and ending with the ability to properly articulate your position without resorting to disrespectful behavior or belittling someone. People now feel like winning the battle is more important than winning the war. Meaning they will go all out to “slay” this moment in time by any means necessary, not even considering the far reaching effects of their actions. A word spoken or action taken today can impact an individual’s or group’s life for generations. Is being “right” (Which is most of the time relative and a matter of opinion) truly worth altering destinies and destroying livelihoods? As I witness the aftermath of the 2016 Presidential Election, it appears so. We all have been witnessing the divisiveness and have heard the vitriolic rhetoric firsthand. Yet it was still not enough to allow reason and rationality have its day on November 8th. People were shot, pepper sprayed, verbally abused and intimidated simply for exercising their rights guaranteed by the US Constitution. This election was the perfect example of the status quo agenda taking priority over the needs of the people. The status quo being the privilege referenced earlier in this entry and not “Big Government” as the victorious party would have you believe.

The economically empowered and well-to-do have the ability and the resources to inspire as well as influence change. They have been blessed with the ability to bless others. Kudos to the ones that do what they can. Shame on the ones that sit idly by while death and destruction occurs. However, don’t be deceived. Your money and your “influence” doesn’t make you immune, it just makes you a larger target. As stated earlier, it’s better to be a moving/ active target than a stationary or inactive one. It definitely makes you much harder to lock onto or hit.

The word of God tells us that people (Believers and nonbelievers alike) are destroyed for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6). I try to educate and enlighten all who I come into contact with (Regardless of race, creed or color), but there is only so much one man can do.We all have a duty as citizens of humanity to spread love and do away with hate and those who would see us divided and living in fear. 

We all share this planet. Black, White, Brown, Yellow, Red, Orange and Rainbow. 

It’s about time that we started acting like it. 

Dignity - Shannon L. Alder

1. The moment you realize that the person you cared for has nothing intellectually or spiritually to offer you, but a headache. 

2. The moment you realize God had greater plans for you that don’t involve crying at night or sad Pinterest quotes.

3. The moment you stop comparing yourself to others because it undermines your worth, education and your parent’s wisdom.

4. The moment you live your dreams, not because of what it will prove or get you, but because that is all you want to do. People’s opinions don’t matter. 

5. The moment you realize that no one is your enemy, except yourself.

6. The moment you realize that you can have everything you want in life. However, it takes timing, the right heart, the right actions, the right passion and a willingness to risk it all. If it is not yours, it is because you really didn’t want it, need it or God prevented it. 

7. The moment you realize the ghost of your ancestors stood between you and the person you loved. They really don't want you mucking up the family line with someone that acts anything less than honorable.

8. The moment you realize that happiness was never about getting a person. They are only a helpmate towards achieving your life mission.

9. The moment you believe that love is not about losing or winning. It is just a few moments in time, followed by an eternity of situations to grow from.

10. The moment you realize that you were always the right person. Only ignorant people walk away from greatness.