“Convey to the world a vastly different picture of the Black male” words spoken by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan. When he was speaking of the Million man March that took place in 1995 in Washington, D.C. This march wasn't just to show the unity of brotherhood but to educate the world of the issues that plagues black America. This march was in one word inspirational and gave hope to those who didn't know that the power of change comes from those who are wiling to challenge, fight, and strive beyond its struggle. This march wasn't about placing blame on the government for our struggles but placing the responsibilities in our hands and taking back control. This movement proved that we can come together and stand for something, and it proved that we as a people do want better and strive to be better them the limitations placed on us. This movement inspired change in those who were there, watched and heard this powerful man speak about the world we live in. The conditions we live and challenge us to change the way we do things. Many men looking for guidance found it that day have strived to do better ever since then.
I looked around yesterday and it seemed like the first in years that I noticed the diverse world we live. How we are all striving for better and looking for guidance anywhere we can find it. I have been curious about a lot of things in my youth and the power we as people have over not only our lives but those around us. I can't stand television most days anymore everywhere you look there is another stereotyped and judgmental show that portrays the black community as less then. How we have fallen to rise to fall to rise. We have become use to saying our President is black but what does that mean? That we have someone who looks like us now? That we have raised the bar and expectations on the races and no more excuses?
"I am America. I am the part you won't recognize. But get used to me. Black, confident, cocky; my name, not yours; my religion, not yours; my goals, my own; get used to me." (Muhammad Ali) I didn't really understand that quote at first but now I do and I think we should all live by these words. We need to take back our own and start owning up to our potential as a people and community. We should take pride in that our President is Black, but he wasn't given the White Hose it took hard work and dedication to the cause he was fighting for. The vision provided that set his path he didn't stray from or hide from because of his race or the limitations set before him.
You know James Baldwin once said "People pay for what they do and still more for what they have allowed themselves to become. And they pay for it very simply; by the lives they lead." We have not because we strive not to have. We rather claim that we are victims of slavery and that our minds are still shackled. I don't have any chains on me and my thinking it's free as the day. So why are you bound even now after history has been made and we have the rights so many never got the chance to see?
Change comes when your tired of the same and when your ready for it. Change doesn't happen over night but with work and Patience it will come. It's not just important that we live as examples but we provide wisdom for those coming up. We must give them more hope then what we had so they can provide more hope for those to come. "The question is not whether we can afford to invest in every child; it is whether we can afford not to.” (Marian Wright Edelman) The truth is no we can't afford to let the youth of America continue on the path they are on. The answers we don't have the drug dealer has, and the pimp and world we don't want to lose them in. Now more then ever we should be striving to do better and be better then before.
By: Geneva Relf
No comments:
Post a Comment