The whole time the few on the top are trying to push the ones in the middle back to the bottom. The ones on the bottom are in constant survival mode trying to pull down those above them that are simply trying not to go back to the bottom not caring at all that then themselves are trying to get to the top as well. The ones on the bottom also do not realize that it’s not the ones in the middle that are hindering their progress because you see, the top controls everything. They could simply leave and show the middle that it is possible to get out of your situation but most would rather linger to rub in their faces where they are, never once sharing the knowledge of how they got there.
Things used to be for us by us but we are no longer investing our dollars in that sentiment. We’d rather spend a thousand dollars on someone sitting somewhere in an office plotting the next worldwide cultural ripoff, this making his even richer, than to spend a hundred dollars on a relatable face, and story that will get his family their meal that night.
What are we doing wrong?
We have the wrong mentality to make a difference. Most of our role models exist in movies, on tv, in rap songs that depict lives that most of the performers have never even lived. Everyone wants to be whatever the next hot song says we are. Right now, a love of our culture’s females proclaim that the want to be “Trap Queens”. This is what we want for ourselves?
Here’s some truth. If you’re trapped, you have no Queen in you. Everyone is the same. Rise up and be different. If you’re approached wrong, comply with the situation to diffuse it instead of agitating the situation to escalate it. After all is calm, then use your voice to amplify your concerns. We can ask for justice, for peace, etc. but we won’t find it until we find humility, faith and civility.
No one deserves to die and every life on this earth matters but for once, let’s stop running, let’s stop being aggressive... Let’s show other cultures that we can love each other because honestly, we have to. In order for anyone to truly love you, you must first have to love yourself. If you don’t love yourself or value yourself within your own culture and within your own communities, there is not another culture on this planet who will love you from the outside looking in if all they see through the glass is domestic and cultural hatred and violence administered amongst us.
Think about that the next time you decide to rob your brother or sister, of the next time you want to publicly assault or even take the life of your brother, sister, mother, father or whoever. It is all a sickness and we are in dire need of an antibiotic dose that will level us all out.
Want to do something!
Want to be somebody!
Want to change!
Want to be an example of change!
If this happens collectively, then there is something great that will erupt. If it can be shown that we are here, we are intelligent, we are patient, kind and willing; to work towards the goals we set for ourselves, we will see the plan that God has for us.
It doesn’t take a genius to realize that the way we’ve been going about things for centuries is simply not the way. It is long overdue for a moment of community communication in a forum where there is not arguing, no over talking one another or negativity towards ideas for solutions given.
The next time you pick up a gun to point it at your brother, realize that you’re killing yourself as well because if the appointed representatives of the law don’t kill you, someone on the inside that shares your same animosity towards life or towards the hand they were dealt; whatever it may be, will be sure to take you out. The change needs to start in our hearts, minds, souls, our finances, patronage, dependability, ability and willingness to work hard way past getting it done. Everybody has a dream and there is not a sane person breathing on this planet that can honestly say with an unclouded conscious that their dream is the have their life cut short in a random act of senselessness.
Our culture prides itself on respect, speaking that it has to be earned before it’s given but most haven’t, won’t and more than likely never will even have the respect for themselves that others must see before that handshake between brothers ever takes place.
Those of you who are on the top; the ones who made it. Don’t rub it in our faces, give is a claw up and show us that is can be done. Offer some sort of strategic advisory assistance that will show us the direction that we need to go and free us from the bondage of “I’m better than you and you’ll never be more than what you are”. This is a question completely build off of the back of opinion but please ask yourselves this. Which is the greater evil? The color of the skin on the man holding and pulling the trigger, or the fact that someone decided that this individual no longer deserved to live his or her life?
This applies everywhere. Police brutality, gang violence, domestic violence, random acts of violence. The saddest thing is, it’s all learned. It’s all learned and has been passed down from generation to generation. Our ancestors beat us down for not working hard enough or fast enough or for having the audacity to want to need rest from all of the work we were doing. We learned that telling on each other would give you some type of short lived reward and we watched our brother get beat while we smiled at being able to escape the same fate. We were disrespected, therefore we lost respect for ourselves and others. We watched our women get beat, raped and killed; having their babies stolen from them and sold. That taught us to disrespect our women, to discard our sons. The entire ordeal was a set up for where we are today, which in some regards, is no further away than where we are right now.
It’s time to change. It’s long overdue. Let’s start a movement of love, of honesty, or trust and respect, of civility, humility, faith and solidarity. It starts with us; our culture, our communities. Let’s build something that we can all be proud of and for once, let’s not destroy it or allow it to be destroyed.
Amen?
-Don Savant
