Unrealistic Expectations

I think, at times, that there is unnecessary criticisms levied at President Obama. Critique is necessary for the growth of democracy and the application of it's principals. However, we must not view the presidency through the lens of religious imagery. It seems that, at times, anger resonates from certain segments of the American population because they were expecting to be saved. The policies would suddenly lift them from the despair that characterized their years under President Bush. This is simply not true and is damaging to the psyche of the masses. It creates a sentiment of helplessness that is difficult to break, allowing people to wait for change as opposed to be the change they would like to see. We must reshape expectations for President Obama, unless he will be confined to a space where everything that he does will be viewed through the prism of our disappointment.

To my Pops

Dad, I get it now. I see that you tried and that your feelings of inadequacy made it difficult for you to be what I needed. I get that you were trapped in your own pain, unable to transcend your disappointment. So for those times when I stood on the steps waiting for you and you never came, I forgive you. I could not be the man that I am if it had not been for the pain that I experienced. So, all that I am is a reflection of you and mom. As I try to change the world, I do it with your imprint still on my soul. I carry every lesson given in your presence as well as in your absence. My life will be a testament to you and I will seek to jump the hurdles that tripped you up. You are my imperfect example and I love you for it.

A New Way

To maintain sanity in an insane world where contradictions are the norm and pimping yourself is the only option, it is difficult to live by convictions or true beliefs. Every thing is for sale and to become a consumer of injustice is the norm. We seek escape through frivolous pursuits and get lost in our selfishness. That is the only way that evil triumphs. It survives by our willingness to ignore its presence and rationalize its persistence. We are so consumed looking inward that we have lost sight of the ways in which we have become complicit with the proliferation of evil. In ways, it is not our fault-we are simply drunk on the wine of our own vanity. However, as always, there is hope and its beauty lies in its simplicity. We can begin to think and live in a way that acknowledges others. The tragedy of one can become the tragedy of us all. We can try to move with a collective heartbeat, sidestep the pitfalls of present day individualism, and embrace a new vision for humanity;one where the idea of one humanity is not devoid of the sacrifice necessary to make it happen.

Chauvinistic America

I think it is important to challenge all conventions. With that being said, I find it disheartening that, at times, people refuse to recognize the limited confines that define manhood. What it means to be a man is never challenged or examined. The belief that, to provide or create material stability for others is the sole role of men. We seem to ignore the societal constraints placed on men. We have accepted that there are certain things that a man must do to be considered a man, but when definitions are placed on women, then the cries of oppression are rampant.I don't say these things ignoring the plight of women and their struggles to exist in a patriarchal society. What I am saying is that, at times, that model of patriarchy is stifling for men too-men who may be denied the opportunities to reach that plateau, or who may not agree with its ideas either. Rigid definitions for humans must be challenged on all sides. We cannot let our oppression blind us to what others are going through. I raise the question, "when women think of manhood, are there certain things that come to mind that are essential for a man to have?" If so, is it okay for a man to have certain ideas about womanhood and for what a woman must have? I am just wondering.

Lebron or Lil Wayne

What examples are we setting for young black boys? It seems that the limited models that guide black boys on their roadtrip to manhood are disturbing. Making certain black men deities in our communities is dangerous to young black boys. In a society that marginalizes and ignores blackness on a mass scale to only praise certain figures whether consciously or sub-consciously, is problematic. It sends the message that, if our boys don't aspire or reach these heights, then they have failed. It creates an environment where there is no support if they fall short. We must move away from the idolization of stars for the sake of our youth.

Thirst for Revolution

Many of us romanticize revolution. We desire to become a part of something that we have never tried to understand. Revolution requires more than most are willing to give. We embrace revolution as a theory only applicable in certain environments. This thinking dilutes the revolution. The revolution is a daily struggle; it consumes the individual. It is a process that links to death. You must be willing to struggle until the existing conditions are eradicated. This is what most don't understand. Revolution is never complete until the desired conditions are accomplished. This is why the process of revolution is one that can only be embraced by the children who embrace sacrifice. To become revolutionary, in essence, is to become a being who has grappled with and surrendered to the thought of one's own demise. The death of the individual is vital to all revolutions because the desires of the individual succumb to the needs of the masses.

Huey P Newton "Revolutionary Suicide"

"To understand revolutionary suicide, it is first necessary to have an idea of reactionary suicide, for the two are very different. Reactionary suicide: the reaction of a man who takes his own life in response to social conditions that overwhelm him and condemn him to helplessness"

"I do not think that life will change for the better without an assault on the establishment, which goes on exploiting the wretched of the earth. This belief lies at the heart of the concept of revolutionary suicide. Thus, it is better to oppose the forces that would drive me to self-murder than to endure them. Although, I risk the likelihood of death, there is at least the possibility, if not the probability, of changing intolerable conditions."

"But before we die, how shall we live? I say with hope and dignity; and if premature death is the result, that death has meaning that reactionary suicide can never have. It is the price of self-respect"

Huey P. Newton

True Value

It seems that, at times, we must ask ourselves what we are trying to prove? More importantly, what is the aim behind the feeling that proving something is neccesary? Is it the belief that, through the acceptance, we will have release from the feelings of unworthiness that haunt so many? How did we become convinced that value is solely connected to our ability to produce? Gaining value by what we can accumulate, deriving fleeting worth from disintegrating materials; materials that seek to silence the invisible whispers that eat away at shaky confidence. There can be no freedom in this social context where invisibility is the punishment for those who don't subscribe to these values. Is this a recipe for unhappiness? This feeling of worth is something to be gained as opposed to something inherently present, is deeply problematic. Those who cannot grasp the warm clutches of affirmation, will be sent on a journey looking for validation only to be confronted with the reality that true validation comes from within.

Freedom and Love

What does it mean to love? Is love, by nature, something selfish? Is it an idea predicated on the fulfillment of self through someone else. Are we content to love if it forces others to lose themselves in the midst of our joy? This is a simple questions from a complicated man who is seeking to move from normalcy. Normal is restricting and does not lead to true happiness ,but instead, it is an acceptance of an idea that says that this is as good as it gets. I am seeking to move as close to my definition of freedom as possible. What is my definition of freedom? It is the ability to exist in time and space, unchained by the conventions that force me to be anything other than what I want to be. Freedom is the ability to be true to myself. I am not bashing love. I'm simply saying that love, for me, must be free of the entanglements that will allow for me to not be happy. So this means that it must be free of jealousy, control and disappointment based on the actions of others who do not soothe the unspoken longings that emanate from my soul. If love can exist in this space, then I will embrace it with reckless abandon and get lost in the idea of love because it will bring me closer to the freedom that I long for.

Freedom

Freedom begins when we recognize that we have the right to an existence based on our own ideas. This is freedom: when we begin to elevate ourselves above the ideas and beliefs of others. If we are unable to do this, we will continue to wear social masks that are neccesary for acceptance. Freedom can only be achieved when we are honest and no longer seek conformity over indviduality or deception over truth.

Socially Constructed Prisons

Sometimes expectations can become prisons. Feeling the need to sacrifice my Independence to the god of conformity is damaging to my soul; the feeling that expectations force me to lose myself, and dedicate my life to fulfilling the dreams of what others feel I should be; thinking that the elusive approval of others will be the symbolic key to my liberation. Sadly, when my dreams and aspirations are predicated on the of whim other, I become a slave to their thoughts. So I seek release from all expectations that don't originate from my soul and to live my life unapologetically on my own terms. I seek to challenge every convention that seeks to confine my life within the parameters of socially constructed normalcy. This is the vision that I seek to orchestrate for my life,as I realize that freedom is unattainable when I have not defined what freedom means. I cannot live my life not challenging the ideas that I believe stifle potential and suffocate dreams. My life must simply be a testament to my belief that this system is severely screwed up. I will live my life on my own terms and accept the consequences.

Style over Substance

How many times do we value style over substance? How many times are we convinced of importance by the presence of the package? The reality of this thinking becomes deeply challenging when you begin to work with young people. Right now, I am working with young people at a local highschool and it is very difficult to provide them with messages that have no weight in the real world. Whether it is the notion of being a good person, or simply the notion that hard work pays off. In the real world, these messages conflict with the adverse messages that society teaches. It seems that in the real world, the unjust get ahead and that some will work all of their lives only to survive, but never thrive. The contraditions are enough to cause extreme disappointment. When virtuous ideas are crushed under the weight of structural cynicism, you begin to wonder, are young people tuning us out because we are not feeding them the truth? More importantly, are we simply feeding them the same lines that we were fed in the process of American socialization? And if so, how well did these messages work out for us?

This Can't Be Life

The question: is there more to life than the rat race? Is it simply about living by the standards and notion of others. It can't be because that is the epitome of enslavement. The idea that society is a prison for the individual as it forces us to live in a way that deters us from ever discovering who we truly are. No wonder people seek forms of escape whether through excessive partying or drug use. If the measures of escape are not this extreme, we still must acknowledge that the masses are relatively detached from reality. This is what desperate people resort to when they are denied freedom. Sadly,the things that are defined as freedom simply become another vice that entangles the souls and minds of the masses. The idea of the party becomes the point of life. Then our next question is: how do we get free from a way of life that breeds discontent and relative unhappiness? It would seem that, at some point, we must stand and highlight an alternate way. We must challenge what has always existed if we expect to usher in something new. I desperately desire to see the masses living a life that produces happiness. We all deserve to not only live, but to thrive. Humans are built for more than just survival, and when life become nothing more than something to be survived, then we have a problem.

Post-Racial

The desire to believe that we now live in a post-racial society is extremely problematic. Believing we have arrived at the doorstep of a post-racial society and that the suffocating reach of racism no longer infiltrates the lives of the masses is desirable albeit untrue. It seems that, collectively, we are suffering from race fatigue, tired of the difficult conversations, and issues we must deal with when our biases and true feelings are uncovered. However,fatigue is not an excuse to ignore the impact of racism and its far reaching impact. Also, asking those who have been historically categorized as different to ignore the impact that history has had on the formation of identity is troublesome. Also, if in this post-racial utopia we are still ignoring the way that whiteness is normalized as the dominant mode of thinking, then we are simply lying to ourselves about moving towards real change. I am all for moving in the direction where one humanity can be uplifted. However, the goal is to not expect those who may be different to ignore that difference for the comfort of acceptance.

King's Dream

Would Dr. King be disappointed? Would he be saddened by the ways in which we have allowed material riches to be the measuring stick to success? Would his eyes fill with tears at the way that violence has become the tool of choice in the African American community? Would he be horrified at the numbers of young blacks who have met an early demise due to internalized racism and hatred of self that has engulfed certain segments of the African American community? Would he question the overemphasis of personal responsibility that has become the mantra for conservatives? Would he challenge them to examine the structural inequalities that keep certain populations struggling to gain access to the avenues that make the American dream a possibility? Would he feel that all his work was in vain? Or would he still be filled with optimism that the African American community will turn from the path of destruction and return to an ethic of love that can give birth to a new picture of blackness?

Hip-Hop

At times, I believe that Hip-Hop is an easy target for critics who easily ignore the ways that Hip-Hop is simply re-interpreting larger American themes.With that being said, I wonder, what is Hip-Hop's responsibility to all of us? Those who recognize the immense influence that artists could have in shifting the consciousness of younger generations away from materialism and individualism, need to hold the artists accountable. It is difficult to watch the ways in which artists highlight a destructive lifestyle that leads the masses down a path of ignorance and foolishness. Truthfully, if they are not leading the masses down a destructive path, they are complicit in the proliferation of the message that is mesmerizing young people. In many ways, Hip-Hop shapes young people's ideas of beauty, coolness and values. It is too easy to say that Hip-Hop should not have such a pivotal role in the lives of young people. It does, and we must deal with what is, as opposed to what we wish it would be. With that being said, I feel that Hip-Hop can still be a vital instrument for change. It has the ear of the young people and can choose to inspire young people to greater heights. Or it can simply continue to encourage the intense selfishness that characterizes so much of American life. Hip-Hop has a choice to make.

What is the Truth?

Is America moving past the divisions of race and embracing a new vision of humanity? Or are the victories of the present simply a smokescreen that clouds the true picture? One where black people are still viewed through the prism of difference, and are never allowed to be considered truly American? Where their views must be tested to see if they fit the ideals of what America truly stands for? This question must be answered because when I see the national debate over health care, I am concerned. When I see tea party protesters screaming words of hate and yelling out racial epithets towards congress members, I am concerned. I began to wonder if the seeds of American racism planted centuries ago are still yielding profitable fruit? Where does the truth lie? Is the venom of racism as potent today as it was in the past? Or have we transcended past the pit of racial bigotry and landed on a higher plain of shared humanity? I wonder when I see the ways in which the President of the United States is constantly referred to as Mr. Obama by the mainstream media. I wonder? Is the idea of power something that will constantly be preferred to exist in the hand of whites? Will blacks continue to gain access into a system that, when pushed, will continue to remind them that they will always be outsiders? I wonder what the real truth is?

Amercian Life

As a descendant of slaves, is it problematic for me to accept the American life? How can I aspire to the American dream? How is not my conformity silent allegiance to an oppressive system that classified my ancestors as meaningless cargo? It seems that the struggle to reconcile oneself to life in America is deeply troubling for black people. What to do with the anger? How do you adhere to the principals and ideas of a hypocritical country? At times, I find myself wrestling with the idea. Is my acceptance of the system a mockery to my ancestors? How can I seek approval from a system that sought to destroy my people? Honestly, I dont think that I can. I feel that my life should be spent attacking the American way of life that was built on the backs of my ancestors.

Beck, Limbaugh, Hannity

As an African American, I want desperately to believe in the idea of one humanity, to try to look past the bloodied past of my people, to not allow for hate to corrode my heart and dampen my outlook, to struggle to believe that one humanity is not simply a lie. When I choose to embrace, it simply allows me to overlook the hell that my people continue to face.However, when I hear the voices of Beck, Limbaugh,and Hannity I wonder what portion of white America they speak for and how is their hate speech applauded and rewarded with radio shows and television programs? It is difficult to believe in one humanity when there are voices and ideas that seek to deny the plight and continued struggle of African American people. To me, one humanity is not possible until outrage is collective. When the denigration of a people is rebuked by all. Also, when voices that placate to white fears and ignorance are not rewarded but isolated and challenged for what they are: detriments to the ideas of one humanity.

When?

Is it wrong to blame the disenfranchised for their alienation in regards to this American system? Their unwillingness to conform to the contradictory themes that hold this broken republic together. Their resistance to ideas and lifestyles are pre-determined by social institutions. Their fight simply illuminates the ways in which the masses have been silent? When have we had enough? These are the questions we must ask ourselves: "at what point do the contradictions become too much?" "When do we challenge the system and seek a struggle to create a new path? One that allows for humanity to be restored and justice to be claimed by all?"

Control

At times, it seems that every inclination we have is to control. To try and control every aspect of our lives and the lives of others. We seem to think this will keep us away from hurt or dissappointment. We think that if we could confine the freedom of others that we will somehow be more free. I feel that freedom is only possible when we begin to let go. When we abandon the idea that we know best or that we hold a monopoly on the way things should operate. I wonder how much of our time is spent controlling things that we truly can not control? Maybe, we should examine all aspects of our lives and see the ways our control has damaged those things that we sought to control? More importantly, how much damage have we done to ourselves by thinking that control is the way? We must break from the idea that we can truly control anything. When we do that, I believe that we will be one step closer to freedom.

Time for Action

There comes a time for action. When words will no longer suffice and beautiful rhetoric must turn into visible action. It seems that it is the time for the oppressed masses of America. We must move from the shackles of individualism and embrace a collective ideology. The American system holds it's allegiance to profits and the vulnerabilities of the masses are simply ignored. We must face the reality that the American dream, like Malcolm X articulated, is nothing more than an American nightmare. We are all living in the midst of a nightmare and have become accustomed to seeing hypocrisy. Cynicism has become the outlook of most unable to envision a better day. However, the time is now for action to organize and bring an end to the status quo. The status quo is the enemy of the masses because it convinces us that change will occur through accepted means at some later day. That is a lie. Change will only occur when we make it occur-when we stop allowing for America to operate business as usual. We all must remember that peace is overrated if it only occurs with our willingness to submit to evil. The time for action is now!