In light of recent events and since it seems like everyone wants to talk about race these days like they just discovered that racism exists in this country, I figured I’d share my two cents...
Trust me .... I sat back in the cut and listened to everybody's opinion for as long as I possibly could.
Well.... I have seen and heard just about enough.
Now what comes next may not resonate with everyone. Unless you have walked in my shoes, it probably won't and honestly for some.... it’s not supposed to. However, my hope is by the end of this entry you will find yourself somewhat enlightened....
My dream is slightly different than Dr. King's because my perspective of what it means to be a Black Male in America today is slightly different than what it meant to be a Black Male during the Civil Rights Movement of the Sixties or even the 400 plus years before that.
I was raised by parents and grandparents that lived during that era who never let me forget about the sacrifices that were made by those that came before us. I look at the state of race relations in America in 2016 as well as where we are as a race of people and I'm pretty sure that they as well as all of our ancestors are turning over in their graves.
Now don't get it twisted.... the report on Black America is not all gloom and doom. We have truly come a long way. We have unprecedented opportunities at our disposal. We are allowed slightly more freedoms and liberties than our ancestors but I am in no way shape or form delusional. Sadly, we still have a ways to go before we can say that the playing field is truly level.
We as a people have been perpetuated in such a negative light by the masses and mainstream media that our youth have forgotten what it truly means to be proud of who they are and what they represent. However, all of the blame doesn't rest on the shoulders of the establishment or the powers that be. No sir and no ma'am.... we as a people must shoulder some of that responsibility as well. Nevertheless, the blame must be shared equally. We slander and murder one another at an alarming rate and question why we seem to be the target of so much disrespect and hatred from the masses. Well growing up old school has taught me a lot of things. Respecting one's self in order to be deemed respectable is one of them and that people tend to treat you the way that you treat yourself. I mean after all.... if you like it then they most definitely love it (Google "unarmed teen shooting").
Yeah .... People have been trying to sell me on this whole "Perception is reality" mindset for decades now. Well I'm not buying it. Where I'm from.... reality is reality. We didn't have the luxury of living our lives based on other people's perception. Besides...... if you allow someone else to define your world, they usually make it too small. Hence the issue with "the Academy ", the character assassination of individuals who happen to be Black or Brown trying to be positive influences on society or just the outright disrespect of Black or Brown culture in this country by the ill-informed. Yeah I said it.... the ill-informed. People tend to hate, degrade or malign that which they fear or don't understand.
I'm gonna just let that marinate for a second.......
Which leads me into my next point.
I think it is well past time that we celebrated the single successful black male that has never been to jail, never sold drugs, never killed anyone, never been in a gang, respects women, children and his elders, loves his family, and respects authority. I didn't say worships authority but respects it.
I’m tired of everyone perpetuating negative stereotypes of African Americans but more specifically the African American male. I’m sick of the outright and blatant disrespect shown to my people by mainstream media and certain ethnic groups when all we as a people do is try to assimilate.
And just maybe therein lies the problem.....
I have never been one to follow the crowd. I have never been one to go where I haven't been invited. Simply because I have a life of my own to maintain and cultivate. I have no time for cliques and/or being a part of the "in crowd". I think those with the resources to uplift and enlighten our people are asleep at the wheel. Too afraid of losing what they have been given for playing "the game" so well. They squander opportunities to uplift their people for fear of "losing their seat at the table". Well as for me, I do what I can with the resources I have. Could I do more? I most certainly could. We all could. But I do more than most. I just don't broadcast what I do because that's not what I do it for. I don't do what I do for the recognition, I do it to improve the quality of life of the people around me .... now yes ... I’m black so my primary concern is for my people but I am also a human being so I am also concerned for people of this world in general (I mean let's face it, whether we want to or not we have to share this space. The world would instantly become a much better place to live the second everyone realizes and acknowledges that.... and acted accordingly).
I personally am just tired of being considered guilty until proven innocent....
Contrary to popular belief, not all black men are thugs. Not all black men abandon their children. Not all black men disrespect and abuse women. Not all black men are gang bangers or drug dealers. Not all black men are womanizers or have children outside of their marriages. Not all black men are prone to violence.There are some disciplined and responsible black men in this world. Notice I didn't say perfect. But hell.... no one is perfect. Yet if you let the mainstream media formulate your opinion, Caucasians have a sort of "perfect" image while other cultures need take note and have aspirations of becoming more like them. Some of us have taken the bait and have been handsomely rewarded. Problem is .... instead of the ones who have "made it" reaching back to uplift others, they focus solely on maintaining their position.
So instead of shows about reformed drug dealers and womanizers or stark raving ego maniacs and "Boss Bitches".... show some positive black male and female images. Show the single black father working to raise productive, respectable citizens. Show the positive single black male's plight on today's dating scene.... not the player type dude Hollywood always wants to show us. Show the black man as a true head of household and not as a wanderer who has eyes for everyone other than his wife. Start showing real men. We see enough effeminate men in mainstream media. No disrespect to the LGBT community but with all due respect .... you all (for the most part) got your shit together. The Black Community got some work to do.
I just want to see more positive images of people that look like me. That's all. No disrespect to any other race, creed, culture or lifestyle. I have love for everyone, even for those that hate and despise me without a cause.... just because of the color of my skin. All I can do is pray for you. However, don't mistake my kindness for weakness. Respect is earned not given and I will never beg for a seat at or accept the crumbs from a particular culture's table. For better or worse...I was taught to be my own man. To not ask for things that I am entitled to. To get what you give, be accountable and be respectable in order to obtain respect.
Yeah.... I know. These types of images would not be dramatic or entertaining enough for the masses. A positive spin on reality is usually rather "dull". I get it. Who wants to see people treat someone right every week? Who would want to tune in or log on every day to see good things happen to people? People now seemingly find happiness and entertainment nowadays from watching people suffer and/ or humiliate themselves. I used to be this way...I can't lie and even though I try my best to remain positive and not to buy into what mainstream media is selling... i get caught up every now and then. Primarily because it's not enough positive images out there to compete with the foolishness being peddled to the masses (And also ok... I admit it... it's slightly entertaining).
We as human beings have the responsibility to make this world better than the one our parents left us. It amazes me how people forget just how much free will they have or have surrendered. No one is born a racist. No one is born with hatred in their hearts. That's an acquired condition.
More love, less hate....
People seem to be always on the lookout for the next slogan to plaster on a t-shirt or some sort of rallying cry to get behind.
Hands up don't shoot...
I can’t breathe...
No justice no peace...
No peace no pu....
Oops! My bad...
I just finished watching Chiraq (Loved it by the way).
More love, less hate. Sounds just as good as any slogan I've seen thus far. Plus, it gets right to the root of the matter.
Here's how....
All of the ignorance you see perpetuated in our society today is rooted in hate. Self-Hate (that crazy lady who exploited black culture to become famous but now wants to eliminate Black History Month, yet shall remain nameless) and hate speech (dude with the crazy hair piece and any GOP candidate or representative that has uttered a word in the last 7 years) or the outright hatred shown towards another's race or culture (ethnic cleansing here in Flint, MI or half a world away). All of the aforementioned scenarios and incidents are based on a love deficiency in the individual or groups that harbor animosity towards their fellow man/ woman.
I can't speak for the entire world, but in this country four generations of racial division and supremacy foolishness in my opinion is long enough. Besides, true power cloaks itself in silence. The loudest one in the room is generally the weakest one in the room. It's ok to march and protest to keep it on people's radar, but there has to be some self-evaluation and corresponding action as well. There has to be an engaging conversation on the facts, not on lies and sensationalist rhetoric. Truth of the matter is.... until this happens, nothing will ever truly change. Hate is a condition of the heart as much as it is a mindset. Change the heart and what flows from it is sure to follow.
Such is the day in the life of man who spends his life evaluating the world's problems and searching for answers. Now you may say that I am a masochist or simply bat ish crazy for even caring that much about a world that seems dead set on destroying itself..... and in some ways I may be. Nevertheless, the key to life is being true to one's self at all times. Now granted, this chosen lifestyle is not for the faint of heart. Being your own person and having a mind of your own tends to make people uncomfortable with you. Mainly because they can't understand or "control" you. That's their problem, though. I have never asked anyone to stay in my life if my mindset or train of thought made them uncomfortable. The Most High gave us all free will for just that reason. If my mindset causes you regular discomfort then unfortunately all I can do is ask you to do one thing:
Repeat after me...
May the Lord watch, between you and me, when we are absent from one another...
Amen.
No hard feelings.
We're good. We just may not be good for one another.... and that's perfectly fine.
Never employ yourself in the business of keeping someone or something that does not want to be kept. That business is not really all that lucrative and the turnover associated with it is extremely high. Which is why we as a people have to understand that we no longer have to be satisfied with scraps and hand me downs (Man I tell you.... the institution of slavery did it's job well). We need to understand that there is enough out here for all of us and that there is no need to tear someone else down to get what you want. We as a people must understand that until we realize that we are leaving "a lot of money on the table" because of our distrust and disdain for one another, we are going to unfortunately always be begging for a seat at the table.
Just another day in the life?
Sadly, it appears so.
However, the wonderful thing about being blessed with another day of life (Which a great many of us take for granted I might add) is that you are afforded the opportunity to begin anew. You are given a chance to stop making the mistakes of the past. You are provided with the means to leave outdated principles exactly where they belong....in the past. It's up to you to take the first step. Yeah....sorry. This one is actually on you and only you. Honestly it simply* comes down to this....
Are you a giver or a taker?
*I say "simply" because experience has taught me that where you are in life depends solely on your answer to that question (rarely is taking the first step towards anything ever simple).
Takers only care about and only take care of themselves with little to no regard for the quality life of the world or for those around them. As for Givers, well....they take care of themselves sure, but not at the expense of the quality of life of their neighbor or the world around them. In my humble opinion, discovering which "faction" you have aligned yourself with (either voluntarily or involuntarily) is the true first step to change.
Take it from it from me....it definitely was mine.
All of us walk different paths, but eventually we all end up at the same place....
When you look back on the days of your life, will your good days outnumber your bad days? Will your legacy be one of benevolence or one of selfishness? I mean let's face it we are all mortal. Well ....I'll say this, I have yet to meet any vampires.... maybe a few zombies but that's another entry for another time. Eventually our lives will come to an end. I dare say that on that last day of your life, the last feelings or thoughts that you want to have are those of regret. Now don't misconstrue what I'm saying here. I am not here to judge anyone. If you are perfectly fine with your life and the state of it then by all means, I couldn't be happier for you. However for those of us (I include myself in this number) that seek to leave the world a better place than the way in which we found it, every single day of our life is a blessing to behold. Whatever your opinion about the state of your life, let it be yours and yours alone. For you see true leaders and free thinking individuals have no time to worry about the opinions of others. They value the advice of their peers sure, but the final decision of how they live their lives is completely and totally up to them. If you are following someone else's example of how they go though this life and are applying it to your own as the gospel truth, then you are a follower not a leader. I mean after all ..... if it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck and walks like a duck....then it's pretty safe to say that it isn't a rhinoceros.
So In closing, I typically start my entries with quotes from insightful individuals, but I decided this time around to save it until the end (I guess I'm just impatient like that).
I leave you with the following quote that seems to sum this entry up quite nicely:
Old friends pass away, new friends appear. It is just like the days. An old day passes, a new day arrives. The important thing is to make it meaningful: a meaningful friend – or a meaningful day.
Dalai Lama
Trust me .... I sat back in the cut and listened to everybody's opinion for as long as I possibly could.
Well.... I have seen and heard just about enough.
Now what comes next may not resonate with everyone. Unless you have walked in my shoes, it probably won't and honestly for some.... it’s not supposed to. However, my hope is by the end of this entry you will find yourself somewhat enlightened....
My dream is slightly different than Dr. King's because my perspective of what it means to be a Black Male in America today is slightly different than what it meant to be a Black Male during the Civil Rights Movement of the Sixties or even the 400 plus years before that.
I was raised by parents and grandparents that lived during that era who never let me forget about the sacrifices that were made by those that came before us. I look at the state of race relations in America in 2016 as well as where we are as a race of people and I'm pretty sure that they as well as all of our ancestors are turning over in their graves.
Now don't get it twisted.... the report on Black America is not all gloom and doom. We have truly come a long way. We have unprecedented opportunities at our disposal. We are allowed slightly more freedoms and liberties than our ancestors but I am in no way shape or form delusional. Sadly, we still have a ways to go before we can say that the playing field is truly level.
We as a people have been perpetuated in such a negative light by the masses and mainstream media that our youth have forgotten what it truly means to be proud of who they are and what they represent. However, all of the blame doesn't rest on the shoulders of the establishment or the powers that be. No sir and no ma'am.... we as a people must shoulder some of that responsibility as well. Nevertheless, the blame must be shared equally. We slander and murder one another at an alarming rate and question why we seem to be the target of so much disrespect and hatred from the masses. Well growing up old school has taught me a lot of things. Respecting one's self in order to be deemed respectable is one of them and that people tend to treat you the way that you treat yourself. I mean after all.... if you like it then they most definitely love it (Google "unarmed teen shooting").
Yeah .... People have been trying to sell me on this whole "Perception is reality" mindset for decades now. Well I'm not buying it. Where I'm from.... reality is reality. We didn't have the luxury of living our lives based on other people's perception. Besides...... if you allow someone else to define your world, they usually make it too small. Hence the issue with "the Academy ", the character assassination of individuals who happen to be Black or Brown trying to be positive influences on society or just the outright disrespect of Black or Brown culture in this country by the ill-informed. Yeah I said it.... the ill-informed. People tend to hate, degrade or malign that which they fear or don't understand.
I'm gonna just let that marinate for a second.......
Which leads me into my next point.
I think it is well past time that we celebrated the single successful black male that has never been to jail, never sold drugs, never killed anyone, never been in a gang, respects women, children and his elders, loves his family, and respects authority. I didn't say worships authority but respects it.
I’m tired of everyone perpetuating negative stereotypes of African Americans but more specifically the African American male. I’m sick of the outright and blatant disrespect shown to my people by mainstream media and certain ethnic groups when all we as a people do is try to assimilate.
And just maybe therein lies the problem.....
I have never been one to follow the crowd. I have never been one to go where I haven't been invited. Simply because I have a life of my own to maintain and cultivate. I have no time for cliques and/or being a part of the "in crowd". I think those with the resources to uplift and enlighten our people are asleep at the wheel. Too afraid of losing what they have been given for playing "the game" so well. They squander opportunities to uplift their people for fear of "losing their seat at the table". Well as for me, I do what I can with the resources I have. Could I do more? I most certainly could. We all could. But I do more than most. I just don't broadcast what I do because that's not what I do it for. I don't do what I do for the recognition, I do it to improve the quality of life of the people around me .... now yes ... I’m black so my primary concern is for my people but I am also a human being so I am also concerned for people of this world in general (I mean let's face it, whether we want to or not we have to share this space. The world would instantly become a much better place to live the second everyone realizes and acknowledges that.... and acted accordingly).
I personally am just tired of being considered guilty until proven innocent....
Contrary to popular belief, not all black men are thugs. Not all black men abandon their children. Not all black men disrespect and abuse women. Not all black men are gang bangers or drug dealers. Not all black men are womanizers or have children outside of their marriages. Not all black men are prone to violence.There are some disciplined and responsible black men in this world. Notice I didn't say perfect. But hell.... no one is perfect. Yet if you let the mainstream media formulate your opinion, Caucasians have a sort of "perfect" image while other cultures need take note and have aspirations of becoming more like them. Some of us have taken the bait and have been handsomely rewarded. Problem is .... instead of the ones who have "made it" reaching back to uplift others, they focus solely on maintaining their position.
So instead of shows about reformed drug dealers and womanizers or stark raving ego maniacs and "Boss Bitches".... show some positive black male and female images. Show the single black father working to raise productive, respectable citizens. Show the positive single black male's plight on today's dating scene.... not the player type dude Hollywood always wants to show us. Show the black man as a true head of household and not as a wanderer who has eyes for everyone other than his wife. Start showing real men. We see enough effeminate men in mainstream media. No disrespect to the LGBT community but with all due respect .... you all (for the most part) got your shit together. The Black Community got some work to do.
I just want to see more positive images of people that look like me. That's all. No disrespect to any other race, creed, culture or lifestyle. I have love for everyone, even for those that hate and despise me without a cause.... just because of the color of my skin. All I can do is pray for you. However, don't mistake my kindness for weakness. Respect is earned not given and I will never beg for a seat at or accept the crumbs from a particular culture's table. For better or worse...I was taught to be my own man. To not ask for things that I am entitled to. To get what you give, be accountable and be respectable in order to obtain respect.
Yeah.... I know. These types of images would not be dramatic or entertaining enough for the masses. A positive spin on reality is usually rather "dull". I get it. Who wants to see people treat someone right every week? Who would want to tune in or log on every day to see good things happen to people? People now seemingly find happiness and entertainment nowadays from watching people suffer and/ or humiliate themselves. I used to be this way...I can't lie and even though I try my best to remain positive and not to buy into what mainstream media is selling... i get caught up every now and then. Primarily because it's not enough positive images out there to compete with the foolishness being peddled to the masses (And also ok... I admit it... it's slightly entertaining).
We as human beings have the responsibility to make this world better than the one our parents left us. It amazes me how people forget just how much free will they have or have surrendered. No one is born a racist. No one is born with hatred in their hearts. That's an acquired condition.
More love, less hate....
People seem to be always on the lookout for the next slogan to plaster on a t-shirt or some sort of rallying cry to get behind.
Hands up don't shoot...
I can’t breathe...
No justice no peace...
No peace no pu....
Oops! My bad...
I just finished watching Chiraq (Loved it by the way).
More love, less hate. Sounds just as good as any slogan I've seen thus far. Plus, it gets right to the root of the matter.
Here's how....
All of the ignorance you see perpetuated in our society today is rooted in hate. Self-Hate (that crazy lady who exploited black culture to become famous but now wants to eliminate Black History Month, yet shall remain nameless) and hate speech (dude with the crazy hair piece and any GOP candidate or representative that has uttered a word in the last 7 years) or the outright hatred shown towards another's race or culture (ethnic cleansing here in Flint, MI or half a world away). All of the aforementioned scenarios and incidents are based on a love deficiency in the individual or groups that harbor animosity towards their fellow man/ woman.
I can't speak for the entire world, but in this country four generations of racial division and supremacy foolishness in my opinion is long enough. Besides, true power cloaks itself in silence. The loudest one in the room is generally the weakest one in the room. It's ok to march and protest to keep it on people's radar, but there has to be some self-evaluation and corresponding action as well. There has to be an engaging conversation on the facts, not on lies and sensationalist rhetoric. Truth of the matter is.... until this happens, nothing will ever truly change. Hate is a condition of the heart as much as it is a mindset. Change the heart and what flows from it is sure to follow.
Such is the day in the life of man who spends his life evaluating the world's problems and searching for answers. Now you may say that I am a masochist or simply bat ish crazy for even caring that much about a world that seems dead set on destroying itself..... and in some ways I may be. Nevertheless, the key to life is being true to one's self at all times. Now granted, this chosen lifestyle is not for the faint of heart. Being your own person and having a mind of your own tends to make people uncomfortable with you. Mainly because they can't understand or "control" you. That's their problem, though. I have never asked anyone to stay in my life if my mindset or train of thought made them uncomfortable. The Most High gave us all free will for just that reason. If my mindset causes you regular discomfort then unfortunately all I can do is ask you to do one thing:
Repeat after me...
May the Lord watch, between you and me, when we are absent from one another...
Amen.
No hard feelings.
We're good. We just may not be good for one another.... and that's perfectly fine.
Never employ yourself in the business of keeping someone or something that does not want to be kept. That business is not really all that lucrative and the turnover associated with it is extremely high. Which is why we as a people have to understand that we no longer have to be satisfied with scraps and hand me downs (Man I tell you.... the institution of slavery did it's job well). We need to understand that there is enough out here for all of us and that there is no need to tear someone else down to get what you want. We as a people must understand that until we realize that we are leaving "a lot of money on the table" because of our distrust and disdain for one another, we are going to unfortunately always be begging for a seat at the table.
Just another day in the life?
Sadly, it appears so.
However, the wonderful thing about being blessed with another day of life (Which a great many of us take for granted I might add) is that you are afforded the opportunity to begin anew. You are given a chance to stop making the mistakes of the past. You are provided with the means to leave outdated principles exactly where they belong....in the past. It's up to you to take the first step. Yeah....sorry. This one is actually on you and only you. Honestly it simply* comes down to this....
Are you a giver or a taker?
*I say "simply" because experience has taught me that where you are in life depends solely on your answer to that question (rarely is taking the first step towards anything ever simple).
Takers only care about and only take care of themselves with little to no regard for the quality life of the world or for those around them. As for Givers, well....they take care of themselves sure, but not at the expense of the quality of life of their neighbor or the world around them. In my humble opinion, discovering which "faction" you have aligned yourself with (either voluntarily or involuntarily) is the true first step to change.
Take it from it from me....it definitely was mine.
All of us walk different paths, but eventually we all end up at the same place....
When you look back on the days of your life, will your good days outnumber your bad days? Will your legacy be one of benevolence or one of selfishness? I mean let's face it we are all mortal. Well ....I'll say this, I have yet to meet any vampires.... maybe a few zombies but that's another entry for another time. Eventually our lives will come to an end. I dare say that on that last day of your life, the last feelings or thoughts that you want to have are those of regret. Now don't misconstrue what I'm saying here. I am not here to judge anyone. If you are perfectly fine with your life and the state of it then by all means, I couldn't be happier for you. However for those of us (I include myself in this number) that seek to leave the world a better place than the way in which we found it, every single day of our life is a blessing to behold. Whatever your opinion about the state of your life, let it be yours and yours alone. For you see true leaders and free thinking individuals have no time to worry about the opinions of others. They value the advice of their peers sure, but the final decision of how they live their lives is completely and totally up to them. If you are following someone else's example of how they go though this life and are applying it to your own as the gospel truth, then you are a follower not a leader. I mean after all ..... if it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck and walks like a duck....then it's pretty safe to say that it isn't a rhinoceros.
So In closing, I typically start my entries with quotes from insightful individuals, but I decided this time around to save it until the end (I guess I'm just impatient like that).
I leave you with the following quote that seems to sum this entry up quite nicely:
Old friends pass away, new friends appear. It is just like the days. An old day passes, a new day arrives. The important thing is to make it meaningful: a meaningful friend – or a meaningful day.
Dalai Lama
Excellent
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