 I strongly believe that America is the Land of Opportunity. There are more millionaires per capita here than anywhere else in the world. 8,008,000 to be exact. Only 35,000 of those are Black. Colin Kaepernick is one of those few. And he risked it all to make an unpopular political statement criticizing "America, the Great". He chose not to stand during the playing of the National Anthem because he felt it would have been selfish of him to look the other way while this country continues to oppress Black people and people of color. I can relate to and respect Colin Kaepernick and others who use one of the biggest platforms in the world and risk their entire professional careers to remind privileged Americans that people of color are treated like step-children in a family where Patriotism and White Nationalism are kissing cousins.
I'm not offended when professional ball players exercise their constitutional rights and draw attention to the fact that while they are privileged enough to make millions of dollars in a country which affords them that opportunity - the general playing field in America isn't even for everyone. The fact of the matter, those athletes are a miniscule fraction of those who make it out of the economic disenfranchisement that is sustained by the racist infrastructure which built America.  I am very appreciative that celebrities like Kaepernick and others have brought to light the maddening hypocrisy which many privileged Americans demonstrate and call Patriotism when I, as a Black man in America, know that same country which we celebrate with the Star Spangled Banner, was built on the backs and with the blood sweat and tears of slaves, my ancestors. At one time, the Constitution which proclaims "All men were created equal...with liberty and justice for all" also declared that slaves were only 3/5 of a person. (Google "three fifths compromise"). And while I, personally, am grateful to live in America, I find it extremely presumptive that some people who are privileged enough to have never experienced racism believe I and other Black Americans should feel an innate sense of patriotism for a county that kidnapped my ancestors, abused, raped and killed them and continues to systematically oppress us educationally, geographically, economically and socially.  I still find it amazingly ironic that the last sentence of the National Anthem reads "...land of the free and the home of the brave." when at the time it was adopted as the anthem, it would have been more appropriate to say "where the black man's not free and the home of the slaves." And while those aren't real lyrics, the anthem, which was written by a self-admitted and confirmed slave holder has a third verse clearly mentions slavery specifically.
"No refuge could save the hireling and slave From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave," For many years I chose not to stand during the singing of the National Anthem, for all of the reasons I mentioned. It wasn't until post-911, in my late 20s that I changed my mind. I remember realizing then, that no matter how messed up things were in this country for Black people, there were people who would kill us indiscriminately, just for being born American, in a land of opportunity, rights, and privileges. One of those privileges is being able to choose to stand, or not at the for the National Anthem. That privilege becomes an inalienable right of free speech when that action is a political statement. And that's what makes this country great.  The Christian bible says in Isaiah 55:11 - "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper [in the thing] whereto I sent it." In other words, you get what you ask for. There is even a belief that the magical" word "Abracadabra" may derive from an Aramaic phrase meaning "I create as I speak" Again, in other words, you speak things into existence. I say all this because, on this date 20 years ago hip-hop legend Tupac A. Shakur died. He was gunned down at age 25. During his short life he spoke, wrote and sang prolifically about dying young. Just a few examples of the titles or lines of his extensive catalog of songs and poems are:
"In my mind, I've always been an A-list Hollywood superstar. Y'all just didn't know yet." I regularly speak about dangers of telling young black men that they are part of an endangered species and suggesting to them that they are undervalued in society's eyes because it creates a hopeless paradigm which leads to underachievement and recklessness. Last school year I facilitated an after-school goal setting workshop with 4th and 5th grade boys of color. At the rite-of-passage ceremony, each young man stated his name and declared "I am better than average! I am destined for success!" because I empowered them with success skills like goal setting techniques and personal development training. Each one was awarded with a certificate of accomplishment recognizing them as being "Better Than Average" A couple of school years ago I facilitated an after-school goal setting workshop with 4th and 5th grade boys of color. At the rite-of-passage ceremony, each young man stated his name and declared "I am better than average! I am destined for success!" and was awarded a certificate of accomplishment recognizing them as being "Better Than Average" I have continued that affirmation ritual at every single workshop and seminar which I have facilitated since.
Each time the young men emphatically announce "I am better than average" they are empowered with a strengthening and resolve of their identity . That is the first step in changing how they perceive themselves, what they believe they can and deserve to accomplish, what motivates them to achieve and how willing they are to do what is necessary to be successful. We as parents, teachers, pastors, mentors, community leaders and as a society in general must teach our young people to think and speak about themselves with their ideal success at the front of their minds so that they breathe life into those futures -- not death. We must teach them to think of themselves as capable architects of the lives they want to live because when it comes down to it; they are what they think, say and do.
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AuthorI am a simple man who has lived a complicated life. The lessons I've learned from the experiences I've been through and the challenges I've conquered have helped me develop a philosophy that life is meant to be lived at a level better than average. Archives
September 2019
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