Black History Month Passes

As Black History month passes without a sound I choose to raise my voice in frustration. Sadly, it seems that the contributions of black people to the American landscape has been relegated to the sidelines while symbolic progress pacifies the masses. It seems that we have become addicted to the post-racial syringe that America continually injects in us. This addiction is detrimental to the continual shaping of our collective identity. As we are unable to see the ways in which post-racial has it roots in white supremacy and thus the journey towards the absence of color leaves us continually in the midst of whiteness. We remain lost. So I REJECT the notion that my history does not need to be celebrated and recognized by a country that convenietly seeks to deny the impact of blackness on the collective soul of America. My pen is the basis for my opposition, my life is a testament to my history. Let's Get Free!

Prisoner Blackness

Is our blackness to be worn as a badge of honor or is it a chain-linked fence that curtails aspirations and makes failure acceptable? This is the question that I believe must be individually and collectively examined in the black community. For many of us, we have adopted a communal approach that forces black to toe an invisible line of black authenticity. Where style of talk, aspirations and who one chooses to date must be measured against the choices of a silent majority that seems to dictate one's level of blackness. The question is whether or not this is a mentality is liberated or simply of a transformed mentality that originated in the confines of slavery where whites set the limits on black action and created the norms of the black community. Were the struggles of the past fought for blacks to be seen as individuals and to break from the shackles of monolithic identification? Or was it simply to break from white control to a more "acceptable" black elite that shapes the opinion of our people. In reality, our blackness should be worn as a badge of pride, but we must allow for individuals to be shaped by blackness in whatever way they choose. We cannot allow for to conformity to alienate those whose idea of blackness does not coincide with our system of beliefs. We must allow for blacks to be free to allow for their identity and understanding of blackness to be shaped by their experiences. If we cannot do this, then the desire for liberation will continue to be an illusion that lies outside the realm of the masses of our people.

Dreams Deferred

Dreams deferred create bitterness in the hearts of those idealistic dreamers. So, many in my community have forgotten the beauty of dreaming because limited possibilities has created a stifling cynicism that permeates the hollow streets our own communities. So the question is how do we begin to dream again when the reality for most seems so dark? This is the question that I pose to my people. Will we dream again? Will we allow for our talents and gifts to be the fuel to restore our community back to its rightful place as beacon of hope and nurturer for our young people? Or will we allow for hopelessness to continually pervade every corner of our communities, allowing innocent dreams to die violent deaths. Our freedom is inextricably linked to our dreams. Let's start dreaming again.