There is something to be said about loving one's self and people. There is a burden that goes deep down to affirm and preserve legacy and life of one's self. There is this thought in the Black community that speaks to the idea that we hate ourselves. Unfortunately, that is exactly what we do in various ways.
When I look at the accomplishments of our people, I am inspired to no end. Our people suffered the worst form of servitude known to the civilized world and produced greatness inspite of the conditions and circumstances. From the bottom of the totem pole to the highest office in the world. Truly nothing to sneeze at.
Here is when this things comes off the tracks. Some think that President Obama is the antichrist. Go figure. If a Black man is going to be president, then the whole totality of evil must be behind it. As a Black man I have been called nigger by whites and nigga by my own people. Nigger, Nigga, Nicca, whatever, tomato, tomato. Same thing. Does one make me more sore than the other? Absolutely. While I hate prejudice and the pain that comes with it, I am more injured and hurt when it comes directly from my own people.
Recently, I recived an envelope in the mail from an address of a relative. The address was the address of an aunt. I sent her a copy of my book Visions of Heaven. Her son who lives with her, decides to send me a care package. Basically, it was pictures of Black people doing demonic and worldly things. There was a depiction of Uncle Sam as Satan. The whole crux of this nonsense was to "teach" me the errors of my ways. It was crazy because somebody took something so pure in my eyes and made it to be the bane of my existence. He was basically calling me out for being a Christian. Now that makes my blood boil. Dont insult my believe system because in turn you are insulting my mind. It left a bad taste in my mouth, needless to say.
I dont debate scriptures with people whose job seems to be to tear them down. I prove the scriptures through my life. If the scriptures are contridicting, it is because we are contridicting in applying them or understanding them. I respect other people's beliefs. Believe in a goat, a bottle of beer, or a football team. Its your life. However, people can cross the line. It is here when Black people make me cry.
I was talking with a friend and we were talking about this viral video of people dancing in Walmart and acting a fool. What might be considered as fun and humorous is based upon a person's perspective. Im not going to break down that foolishness other than to say that our people bled, sweated and died for freedom, the right to vote, civil rights, and human rights. Not for our youth to dance around in stores who drain our pockets day after day while we own nothing but goods from China. Sometimes funny just isn't funny.
We just lost a great poet and musician. Gil Scott Heron. The things spoke on in his day mirror what is going on today. It is what it is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9woebI-td4
