Steve
Harvey’s book “Act like a Lady, Think like a Man” gave women all over the world
information on every type of man in every form. When you look at the news you
see our black men stealing, killing, fighting, etc. It does something to all of
us, especially our black women. On the honest tip I love a black man. I love
the strength, swag (confidence), features, creativity, and many more attributes.
What makes me very angry is the mentality that someone or the world owes you.
Nobody owes you ANYTHING!! We all have to get out there and work our tails off
to get what we have.
I
understand everyone isn’t dealt a good hand in life. This is where you prove
everyone around you wrong. I think about what Cicely Tyson said on Oprah’s Life
class “make it worth their while.” If anyone going is to bring a child into
this world, make it worth their stay on this earth. When she said that
something hit me in the spirit, that made me scream at almost one in the
morning.
The
Bible states that he looked down into forty-two generations to find a virgin to
bring Jesus to this earth. He sent an angel to let her know that she was chosen
to bring Jesus into this earth. The angel also informed Mary of her challenges.
The Heavenly Father will take care of her. What made it worth her while was she
got to see and feel her son again.
I want
to say to the parents who are doing your best, Thank you and keep up the good
work. Next, to those that can do better stand up to the challenge, the Bible states
much is given, much is required. If you want the best it takes doing your best.
One of those steps is getting an education or vocation, etc. It is making the
effort to be your children’s example. Making it worth their while is taking
them on the field trips of life’s path, letting them meet people who have
completed their dreams. It doesn’t happen overnight but it can happen.
I say to
our black men the stereotyping isn’t going to stop overnight but we have to
fight back with knowledge. When the elderly or someone older with wisdom and
knowledge tells you something to help you, accept it and show appreciation.
They made it through the Civil Rights, the Jim Crow Laws, etc so that we could
have what we have today. That is equality!!! I think about the history classes
I have taken. The Vietnam War was senseless but what made it worse was our
black men and women couldn’t vote. We fought in a war that wasn’t our concern.
Now we
are fighting a war that is our concern. We have to fight it with prayer, knowledge,
with reasonable expression and protesting. We have been lacking in these areas
in the Michael Brown case. In Trayvon Martin’s case all the above was done
effectively. We need our men to express their emotions. Expressing emotions doesn’t
make you weak. I have heard so many times from our men, especially black men,
that I am mad or angry because they disrespected me. They can’t articulate how?
The how is more important than you know because like I said before this is
where the knowledge kicks in.
The
Bible states that people perish for the lack of knowledge. This is so true. If
you look at our prison population it is majority black men. If you look at
Chicago, New York, Kinston, North Carolina or any other city. Black on black
crimes is a norm. Yes, a norm!! We don’t understand why we can fight, cuss,
fuss, yell and destroy other people property over Michael Brown. My best friend
asked me why our black community won’t rally or protest for black on black
crimes?
Pause. Hold on. That is a powerful statement;
I had to scream when she said that because it is so true. Where are the people? Where are the real men?
Why are you afraid of this young man or boy? You might be answering ‘he might
got a gun’. Yes, at the end of the day you’d rather save this black man child from
being another stat in the national research database. If they see you care, the
love will come. When the love come the trust and respect follow. You have to
take a stand somewhere.
Now you see a little ray of
hope in that aspect but they don’t know how to handle life challenges. The line
they use is “they keep holding me back.” Nobody is holding you back except the
person in the mirror - This is another form of slavery.
Our black people have made
people angry because it wasn’t easy but we fought to break the barriers. You
can’t expand your mind to be that Denzel Washington, Tyrese, NeYo, Beyonce`,
Tyler Perry or anyone else in your community that you admire. It is time to
take responsibility for your own actions. If you had those six or seven kids,
you feel your life is over. Don’t use the system to make a life. Make a life
and be an example. Like I said before much is given, much is required. Let’s
break the chains!
I can go on and on about the
issues of our black men and women. I touched on the issues that were near and dear
to me. I am a black woman who is in her early thirty’s. I had every different
form of a black man. Black men respect us!! Young women respect yourself, you
don’t have to have a man to validate who you are as woman. If he isn’t a real
man, then he is just another bill. Yes, another bill that don’t have to be
added to your life. Please stop having kids and not taking care of these kids.
The grandparents should be able to enjoy what they have worked for in
life. Children need love and attention.
The mentality as long as the child isn’t bothering me is not cutting it. It is embarrassing
to see your child doesn’t know how to sit down in a restaurant, doctor’s
office, or read, etc. I am a single mother of a seven year old girl. I have had
people to watch our table in amazement. After they finished their meal, they came
to the table and complimented on how well mannered she is. I know single
parents with five or more children who maintain to work, go to school, and
manage a career. Most of all, the children know how to behave. Yes, it takes
help from others who are willing to help you- not hinder you. If you have setbacks
don’t give up. The race isn’t given to the swift or the strong but to those who
endure until the end. All that matters is that you finish!
We have some races to run.
All I know is I am ready to run them to save my black men and women. If that is
through sharing my knowledge, wisdom, and understanding, then I am here. You
can not win the race if you don’t have your finish line set in your mind. I am
not talking about the quick money, like selling drugs. That is a life in prison
or death. This race comes from the reward of hard work, education, buying a
house, having your own business (legal), a great career; these are the rewards
that are waiting. You have to finish the race to receive the reward.
