I have always been an avid reader. And because I love to read, I developed a fine love for words… for when they are put together well enough, I am drawn to the emotion of the sentence. A few simple words can make an individual laugh, cry, or get downright mad. A couple of nights ago, instead of reading, I had the pleasure of hearing some great words from what will become our great nation’s next great President. President-elect Obama’s victory speech seared with a passion that could only come from his heart. From the soul of this man, I heard a true desire to not only be equal on our great land, but united. To end the bitterness that has driven through the very fibers of our beings due to the torturous and segregated and tumultuous plights of our ancestors. I heard on that day that I can feel free to release the anger, distrust, and distaste borne from the happenings of our ancestors. On this day, it is okay to encourage my neighbor, to praise my sister, to lift up my brother, and love my fellow American. On this day, I am no longer fighting to be equal. On this day, I truly feel American. So now, as we begin this transition we must unite. Stand together not as a White American or a Black American, but just be. American. I am so proud of the people that chose to select this man as President. But I am also proud of those who voted for his opponent. We all have a voice, and we all have the right to be heard. Now it is time to realize that the competition is over, unity is necessary, and the work will be hard but required. We grew up hearing that United we Stand, but DIVIDED WE FALL. So stand up, stand tall, and stand proud! Because together we are the USA. Obama, himself, said that there is no White America, and no Black America. There is no Jewish America or Christian America. No Latino America or Asian America. We are the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. There is a lot of pain in our past, but my plea to you is to let it go so there will be much joy in our future. Fundamental differences may always exist. But a familial plight can keep us moving to secure our nation so that we may prove once again that we are the best and strongest nation in the world. Not agreeing is fine. We can agree to disagree. But once decisions have been made, it is time to stand together, and make the best thing happen.
The Declaration of Independence states that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness... Americans together should all recognize this right. No longer must we struggle or fight. No longer must we bow down or turn away. No longer do we have excuses for not being able to succeed. No longer do we lie down and bear no faith because of our history. No longer must we feel shunned because of the color of our skin, or the texture of our hair, or the hue of our eyes, or the sound of our voice.
We are still climbing upward… but from this point forward, we must climb upward… and do it together. No longer must we fear dreaming big, thinking big, becoming big. We are Big!
Today is the day that we declare our independence—together! God Bless our great nation! God Bless the United States of America!
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Friday, October 3, 2008
I Am Not a Crayon!
During a time when we FINALLY have a BLACK man as the frontrunner for one of the two most important political parties in America, we are still living in a period where we have to be excited that we FINALLY have a BLACK man as the frontrunner for one of the two most important political parties in America. I wonder how long it will really take for Americans to just be excited because we finally have someone who is excited about us. Angry enough to make change for us. Search for equality for us. Lower gas prices for us. Strengthen educational goals for us. Decrease poverty for us. Increase jobs and lower the rates of foreclosures for us. And hopefully, while he is at it, he will do something about those taxes!
I was reading in the news the other day where they were saying that because we had a BLACK man running for President, that White supremacist groups were standing up and taking notice… saying that if he won that would supposedly mean that they had to take action to TAKE BACK THEIR COUNTRY!! How profoundly sad is it that we have to compete for the very soil that we were born on. OMG… well, if it helps… Obama is BLACK and White. Oh yes, he's a Brother to us all. Good reason to not look at the color of his SKIN… but the content of his Character. Because this man is about equality and change for everyone—not just BLACKS. His intent is not to stand up just for BLACK people but for AMERICANS!
Don't we feel insulted because we are referred to as beautiful BLACK Americans – as opposed to beautiful Americans? I am a Queen. Not because I am BLACK. But because I am a WOMAN. I am Nubile (uh yeah, look that word up). Not because I am BLACK. But because I have descended from the soils and wombs of women before me that have moved through a path that has me destined for GREATNESS. I remember I had a friend who told me that I wasn't BLACK enough. A part of me wanted to pull out that little "BLACKness" that she claimed I was lacking, and show her just how BLACK I was. Instead, I chose not to react with such negativity and to show her my more dignified BLACK side. My insult back to her was just as insulting as the insidious comment that she made to me. Not only was it probable—it was definitely—the least intelligent thing anyone has ever said to me. I am not defined by the color of my skin. Thanks to me, BLACK people aren't looked at solely as hood rats. BLACK people can be viewed as intelligent human beings that actually have something to offer—not only the local community, but also the country and the world. BLACK people can be viewed to have dignity and class, humility and grace. Who are you to judge me by the color of my skin? Aren't we running this same race? I watched a video this morning of two young BLACK children that could be no more than 6 or 7 and they were dancing as if they were getting paid for their eroticism. The outrage over this proves that not everyone behaves this way or finds this behavior tolerable. However, the fact that this video was even made shows that there are some individuals out there that find racial degradation something to be proud of.
I am angry. I am BLACK. I am a woman. I am an ANGRY BLACK WOMAN. But it's not because I am BLACK. It's because when you look at me, that's all you see. You want to see how I represent my race. You want to see how ethnic I am. You want to see how my personality "matches" my kinky hair. And because I am light-skinned, obviously I am multi-ethnic. You don't ask how am I representing my family's other cultures. Just the one that causes my pigment to have a little more color. As a matter of fact, it's not even the cultures that you are observing but it's the color of my skin. But get to know me. Maya Angelou said that I am a phenomenal WOMAN… Not because I am BLACK… but because I am a woman who just so happens to be BLACK.
I was reading in the news the other day where they were saying that because we had a BLACK man running for President, that White supremacist groups were standing up and taking notice… saying that if he won that would supposedly mean that they had to take action to TAKE BACK THEIR COUNTRY!! How profoundly sad is it that we have to compete for the very soil that we were born on. OMG… well, if it helps… Obama is BLACK and White. Oh yes, he's a Brother to us all. Good reason to not look at the color of his SKIN… but the content of his Character. Because this man is about equality and change for everyone—not just BLACKS. His intent is not to stand up just for BLACK people but for AMERICANS!
Don't we feel insulted because we are referred to as beautiful BLACK Americans – as opposed to beautiful Americans? I am a Queen. Not because I am BLACK. But because I am a WOMAN. I am Nubile (uh yeah, look that word up). Not because I am BLACK. But because I have descended from the soils and wombs of women before me that have moved through a path that has me destined for GREATNESS. I remember I had a friend who told me that I wasn't BLACK enough. A part of me wanted to pull out that little "BLACKness" that she claimed I was lacking, and show her just how BLACK I was. Instead, I chose not to react with such negativity and to show her my more dignified BLACK side. My insult back to her was just as insulting as the insidious comment that she made to me. Not only was it probable—it was definitely—the least intelligent thing anyone has ever said to me. I am not defined by the color of my skin. Thanks to me, BLACK people aren't looked at solely as hood rats. BLACK people can be viewed as intelligent human beings that actually have something to offer—not only the local community, but also the country and the world. BLACK people can be viewed to have dignity and class, humility and grace. Who are you to judge me by the color of my skin? Aren't we running this same race? I watched a video this morning of two young BLACK children that could be no more than 6 or 7 and they were dancing as if they were getting paid for their eroticism. The outrage over this proves that not everyone behaves this way or finds this behavior tolerable. However, the fact that this video was even made shows that there are some individuals out there that find racial degradation something to be proud of.
I am angry. I am BLACK. I am a woman. I am an ANGRY BLACK WOMAN. But it's not because I am BLACK. It's because when you look at me, that's all you see. You want to see how I represent my race. You want to see how ethnic I am. You want to see how my personality "matches" my kinky hair. And because I am light-skinned, obviously I am multi-ethnic. You don't ask how am I representing my family's other cultures. Just the one that causes my pigment to have a little more color. As a matter of fact, it's not even the cultures that you are observing but it's the color of my skin. But get to know me. Maya Angelou said that I am a phenomenal WOMAN… Not because I am BLACK… but because I am a woman who just so happens to be BLACK.
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