Forecast: Greatness
In the wake of the Zimmerman not guilty verdict there has been a lot of talk on race. Personally I endeavor to take the intellectual route on the subject (although I don't always succeed). I will not discuss the case but I want to delve into some of the complexities behind existing and successfully thriving in America today. What options do we have moving forward. We're aware of the problems, now let's throw in some solutions.
There is a culture of instant gratification within our communities that is detrimental to the concept of hard work, patience, perseverance and an overall sense of reality. A person does not get anything, material or otherwise simply by wanting it. I had a conversation with my significant other a few nights ago, about how to incentivize young people in today's society. I got to thinking that incentive alone is not the right course of action to take because it plays right into the idea of instant gratification. The idea of "if I do this then I'll get money" or "if I do this I'll get accolades." I think a good balance would be to incentivize as well as encourage the spirit of integrity, and stress the importance of hard work, discipline and purpose.
I believe that there must be a sense of togetherness, responsibility and accountability within the black community. I don't think the problem is that we're not infiltrating "the system" at a high enough rate, I actually think that we have no real understanding of the power in ownership. It's one thing to have an idea or to work hard at everything you do but ultimately power lies in the ownership of that idea and what it represents. Understanding that you as an individual are a brand and we as a people are a brand. It takes that consciousness of self and community to advance and put ourselves as a whole in a better position to prosper, succeed and then pay it forward to the next generation of dreamers.
We need to help our young people figure out where they belong, where they fit in society. We must teach them the importance of having a plan, a purpose. We need to expose ourselves to different world views. Exposure to different forms of expression, different cultures, different places, bringing the fun back into learning. We MUST stress the importance of literature. And believe it or not that will not come from an inner city public school (shocker). This new revolution must start at home and within our communities. What I've learned in my own personal life is that having your hands out does not mean that you are on the road to receive, but in fact that in order to guarantee the preferred outcome you have to be engaged and take matters into your own very capable hands. Do your best. Change starts by one person doing their personal best and passing those good habits and a helping hand and a listening ear to someone else.
Mentors need to step up now. I think it is absolutely vile to see successful black men and women looking down on young black men and women. The youth of any "race" potential game changers on a grand scale. Therefore the level of ignorance and carelessness on the part of anyone looking down on anyone else is nothing short of an abomination. My proposed solution to this problem is for every black man or woman to first look in the mirror every single morning, look at your blackness, look into your soul, for those that can't see, get past the facade that you put on for friends and cohort, recognize who you are. The fact that there is only one you is something extraordinary that we all seem to look over. Why do we do that? (I have a theory and I'll get to that another day in another post). But take a moment to ask yourself and to reflect on what reason is good enough to deny who you are to yourself and most importantly to the world. I don't believe for a second that we are put on this earth for our own agenda. In order for me to personally be of this world, I have to believe that my purpose in it is to affect it in someway.
Moving beyond being exclusive you, we each also belong in one way or another to many cultures and hundreds of subcultures. What's unfortunate is that sometimes those cultures and subcultures are not of our own choosing but nonetheless we each have to be conscious of what we do and do not choose to accept and support. For instance if you are of African decent in anyway and you have the identifiable qualities that depict as much, you have to decide whether you're going to embrace your blackness and then make the more important decision...(factoring the history of the culture that you belong to). Knowing your history are you going to further your cause our cause or are you going to be part of the problem and perpetuate negativity, hate and all unfathomable levels of ignorance.
For me personally, I am a woman, a black woman in America. I accept my blackness and I am committed to use my talents to create the change that I want to see and I am aware that that change starts with me. I have a very powerful voice (God given) and I fully, thoroughly and thoughtfully plan to use it. Beyond being a black woman in America (I will post a blog about the woman bit... And how I feel our power could be better harnessed very soon, as I have a lot to say on the matter). Beyond that though, I am human. I do not have the capacity to hate. I feel that we should move away from hate and that includes the debilitating self-loathing.
Successful black men and women, when you look in that mirror or into your soul please find your humanity and your sense of integrity. Remember your ancestors, remember that as you move forward there should always be one hand reaching back to pull the next generation forward behind you. This is an imperfect world and an imperfect society, full of things we don't like hear and things we'd rather not see but what held true in past revolutions and what holds true today is that we are the catalyst for the change we want to see. I am a woman who prays and therefore I pray for an increase in mentorship (responsibility) and a decrease in victimization, complacency, and complaining. You are the change you want to see. Be brave and help others. Whenever an opportunity presents itself to help another human being always, always, always say yes.
This image is speaks to my final point. I came across it on my Facebook page and although I was aware that these are a group actors photographed here, I was inspired to not only write this post but to reinforce within myself what I already deeply believe that we are not fulfilling our duties as human beings if we do not always answer the call to respect and help one another. Your life has not one thing to do with you. Think about that.
Namaste & Godspeed to you all,
A.
Wonderful, One person can make a difference!
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