WHATS REALLY GOOD!
What happened ya'll...? Is it our fault... or failure in our parents and their parents to properly pass the baton on to us? There was never a time in the history of our people in this country where the opportunity for us to change things has been so great.
Well, i do hear u. What i often hear from my peers is not that they have lost the desire to see change, they just don't think they need to go about demanding it the same way our ancestors did. Many believe that marches, sit ins, and protests are no longer the way to make an impact. Many believe that acheiving financial success and status is the best way to attain power. I agree and disagree. I think one reason why whites have so much power is because they own so much. So is money important? Of course it is. But i think as we started receiving money along the way, some folkz got caught up in themselves and lost their since of community. As a result, we have grown into a selfish people.
Where did we go wrong? Who's to say. I think as time progressed, we slowly began to embrace and adapt to European imperialistic mindset. And saying that we "went wrong" is even debatable. Becuz although we as a people are in the midst of alot of negative statistics, we also have achieved alot within recent generations. I guess it depends on what u choose to focus on.
SoundCheck 1898 wrote:
How are YOU gonna make things RIGHT?
Well, i haven't exactly set out a map plan or drafted a drawing board or anything . I could use the excuse "I'm only one person", but we all know that it only takes one person to make a difference. I just plan to be me. To let me actions, words, and deeds be a reflection of my beliefs. To live knowing that i not only represent myself, but the thousands of ancestors who came before me and sacrificed so that i may have a better life. Taking advantage of the opportunities given to me, and reaching out so someone behind me may experience the same. That's what it's all about to me. To not just think about myself, and realize that i am accountable for others in all that i do: those that came before me, and those that will come after.
Hmm.............I think that black people have settled for something less than equality, (if that makes sense) maybe it's because the process is just too slow, and there just isn't enough time to do anything about it. When our grandparents and great grandparents and so on were fighting, they were fighting for the right to be able to become something, go to good schools and get good jobs. Now that a lot of people have that they are afraid to risk it, and just settle for less.
What am I going to do about it?
I don't know, I guess a part of me thinks I cant do anything about it.
Those are hard questions, I have to come back to this
I think that as a race we've lost the unity that we used to have. Back in the day, majority was on one accord allowing us to achieve more. Now most people are out for there own and we've lost the unity we once had. One big reason for troubles within our race is the fact that we have no knowledge about the problems that exist and even when we are taught we reject and deny the fact that we do have a lot of problems. I grew up and have seen a lot of my community and family become statistics. I seen people drop out to sell and get shot. The worst thing about us is that we are TALENTED. Intelligent, athletic, full of potential. I believe if people in certain environments get the motivation, encouragement, and support on realizing their potential things can make a change for the better. Not that progress is terrible now, but it can be a lot better. If a group of people who were probly even lesser in population than us now, can change a generation from slaves to prosperous people in a matter of half a century then we should be able to do something. I'm aiming towards the youth. I'm going to be a social worker, hopefully in a high school, and be everything that God calls me to be in that position.
The lack of unityin West Africa prior to slavery is what made the area so vulnerable. Thus, the reason it was easy for the Europeans to use Africans.
Africans were selling Africans into slavery.
Also there were so many languages amongst the African people, that they could not formulate successful escape plans and uprisings against the Europeans.
The aforementioned lack of unity has been the issue from the start. :-(
K.. now i can make my statement.. disregard my spelling mistakes and grammer i am rushin' right now.
Honestly i think its desegreagation, I think Martin's dream was unfinished.desegreagation caused the unity we once had as a black people to fall apart. prior to segregation many blacks were thriving in their own black communites, the black dollar would stay in the black community not being spent in other communities.. prime example Tulsa, Oklahoma (sp) prior to the Tulsa Masacre, a BLACK community that was thriving economicaly, politicially, and even in the sector of educatioin. Black Colleges and Universities, not saying that they aren't thriving today, but way back when they were more adoment about helping black people, they reached out into the community a lot more then what they do now, and i am not saying that they dont. Another problem that we as black people have, is we got our **** on our backs. once one of us goes out and buys a benz, a nice house in white surburbia, college degree, he/she doesn't want to come back to the black community and be reminded that poverty still exists. The idea of the Black university was to provide blacks with education so they can go out and serve their people, help and aid their people to bring them up in position with them, but its the crab in the barrel effect. Another problem is, black people need to stop blaming white folk.. it aint the "white man's" fault your a drug addict, although the "white man" did position the drug dealer in your neighboorhood, but he did not make you bow and take this drug. Don't call him the "white man" either because your giving him authority over you. Hell don't call him anything, just say "the power." I have a lot to say but i don't think i have time to say it all, another thing that i find is a problem, is that we need to stop supporting the chinesse man who is fresh off the boat and opens up a chicken joint or a hair place in YOUR community, don't protest him, don't buy from him, let his company fail so that he will have to send his kids to a community college, stop making him rich. His kid goes to Yale and you are in CCBC, not saying community college is bad, my mother went to a community college. I think that we need to support ourselves, and i disagree with Cafe about the lack of unity in west africa, that is modern day west africa. Africa gave up its strongest, its brightest to America, and what was left was the weak, Africa is in the state it is because she let herself get **** by her own people.
That is all..
Well, I will say I completely agree with all of you. You guys have some really valid points. This leaves me with two questions though. One, how can we spread this knowledge and enlighten the ones who are left in darkness? Two, how can we protest against obvious forms of racism and classism shown in our city, state, and national government? It's so easy to get caught up in fulfilling the AmeriKKKlan dream, but there is no greater feeling than giving to others and being active in our communities.
Food for thought: What would you think would happen if we become self-sufficient again?
. I could use the excuse "I'm only one person", but we all know that it only takes one person to make a difference. I just plan to be me. To let me actions, words, and deeds be a reflection of my beliefs. To live knowing that i not only represent myself, but the thousands of ancestors who came before me and sacrificed so that i may have a better life. Taking advantage of the opportunities given to me, and reaching out so someone behind me may experience the same. That's what it's all about to me. To not just think about myself, and realize that i am accountable for others in all that i do: those that came before me, and those that will come after.
