Stand Up

I dont believe that this is the first post for September, the damn month is almost over! I guess time flies when you are having fun (or getting your ass handed to you...which ever applies). I reached the 36 plateau a little over a week ago, time for introspection and thankfulness. Introspection about where I have been, what I have seen and experienced. It hasnt been a bad ride, I just know that it keeps getting better even when it seems like things arent. Thankfullness because there are so many of us who arent here and in reality they should be. As the saying goes: Do not regret getting old, many are denied the priviledge.

I had a chance to get home to see my folks, my brother and family. When I get home, I so miss the familiarity of place. Living in Charlottesville for almost 2.5 years, I know where some stuff is, but Hampton Roads is tattooed (figuratively) in my mind and on my heart and soul. Believe in the power of the 7!!! (757..STAND UP!!!). Ok, had to get that out..thank you for indulging even if you didnt have a clue what the hell I was talking about. Just go look it up on Wikipedia or something!! LOL! Things have changed so much, but they still have the same feel. Maybe I might not get back there anytime soon, but when (and if I get back) it is on like Donkey Kong!!! Believe that!

I went to church at my home parish and when I left, I saw folks in the neighborhood with Obama signs in their yards. This election, when you look at it has generated so much emotion, good and bad. So many African-Americans are excited about electing one of their own to the White House and will be at the polls to cast their vote on Nov. 4th. But what about those who just arent excited about this in any way, shape or form? You know what I am talking about, that friend or family member who says..."I dont vote, the government is going to do what it wants to do. My vote doesn't mean anything." I think it would be hard pressed for me to feel that way, being a student of history and the signifcance of what a vote means to me as a black man in America.

My parents were young adults during the Civil Rights Movement. Even before the change in law in this country began occuring, they told me first hand accounts of experiencing going downtown and not being able to use the restroom. Think about that, apply it to today's standard. You go to your favorite mall or shopping center and you cant use the facilities? Your money is good here, but our bathrooms are off-limits to you, denial of the simplest of amenities. Hearing that and knowing the history that occured made me so aware of what sacrifices people made and what others had to endure so I can go to the poll on Nov 4th and cast a vote. It really boggles my mind that our young people are so apolitical, their thoughts are that since we have "won" the civil right movement that everything is good and they dont have to keep fighting. Nothing could be further from the truth as we well know.

I am not saying that all of our young people feel this way. Remember the massive turnout in support of the Jena 6? I bet those rednecks never thought that they would have seen so many young black folks ever in life! But that is the point I am trying to make, why dont they show up in mass like that on election day? If we (unfortunately) subtract from the population the high numbers of our young who have been or are incarcerated, we have a voice that could potentially be one that could shake the political establishment.

Things are so much more open nowadays, but that does not mean that racism does not exist. Growing up when I did, about 20+ years after the Civil Rights Movement there was progress but I experienced overt and covert racism. Overt is of course obvious, covert is so hard to see and even harder to understand especially when you are young and believe that things are equal. Since that time, we have seen unprecendented events where African-Americans have risen to the heights of politics, business and other fields of endeavour. These accomplishments give us hope in the promise of America. However, when we refuse as a society (especially those in control of our society) to acknowledge that there are forces which still resist change, we remain stagnant and false hope is the message that is sent to our minority youth.

I dont have all the answers, I just know what I see. Hip-hop has declined into a quagmire of violence and mysogony which is seen by some as normal. I have never been one to blame any problem on music of any type, but it is not helping to motivate this generation politically or uplifting them. Music is an outlet, if someone has a tough life then what they expose themselves to should be inspiring them to something better and not inspriring them to engage in what seems to be "the good life"(being gangster, not wanting to advance oneself). Who do they turn to in order to see that positivity is beneficial, especially in a society where no matter what good may come, many will still believe that blackness is negative? I pray that on Nov 4th we decide that enough is enough and Obama's presence as a positive force will inspire us to elect him and inspire us to strive higher...onward and upward. Make like autumn and be cool!