Closing The Divide During Black History Month
{A Somewhat Long Post…You’ve been warned…} “Either America will destroy ignorance or ignorance will destroy the United States.” ― W.E.B. Du Bois To some, Black History Month always talks about the same thing—great heroes, adversity that people overcame, challenges that changed a nation, and a standing up for what you believe in. People even have argued that there is no need for a Black History Month, as we are past all these things, and slavery is in the past…. You know what I’m going to say: Black History Month IS Important! It’s not just the stories that are shared during month that has us think, and thank those who walked before us, it is important because it’s the story of America. Here’s the [sad] truth, the creation of Black History Month was supposed to highlight the importance of African-American contribution to this country, and to eventually have those stories included in the story of America. This is where we (as a nation) failed. Black History Month was not supposed to be here for a month to just give importance to people of color (like October is Hispanic Heritage Month, and April is Asian Appreciation Month), but the creation of Black History Month came about because our stories are not being told in history classes. America is a great country, that I do no doubt, but just like you can’t put duct tape on a broken fender and call it fixed, we can’t say that things are okay, just because there is a Black History Month. What we should be doing is fighting for the inclusion of all people’s stories in history...
Martin Luther King Jr. — A Game Changer
Just like that, we are so close to mid-January, and celebrating Martin Luther King’s Birthday. Even though we, as a nation, celebrate it next Monday (and actually falls on a Wednesday), I think that it’s so fitting that his birthday is in January. We talk about change, and making resolutions, but through his example we saw that change for him was not only just talk, he was a doer. He got things done. How many of us can still keep marching forward knowing that we will be marching away from our family and everything that we love for something that will be benefit them? We question ourselves, and at times we are filled with doubt. I know I did when I started planning my blog posts schedule this year on top of homeschooling, and my family duties! I wonder if I can sustain and keep posting five times a week. But Martin Luther King, Jr. says: So that is what I’m going to do. I’m going to take his example and step out on faith. My changes are not as drastic as leading a whole nation to change, but it is a change for me. We can’t keep waiting for the right time to do something. We can’t always say only if…. Now is the time and now is the moment. I’ve mentioned before not to be led by fear, and doubt. Dr. King saw the mountain top, and felt he would not get there with us, but he saw light at the end of the tunnel. It doesn’t matter if you promised to just be a better...Independence Day
This Thursday, we will be celebrating American’s Independence Day. 4th of July. While it is a great day for celebration, it is also a day of remembrance for me. I’ve written about the War On Drugs, and Stop and Frisk, but on Independence Day, topic like these lets me know that the job is not complete. There are many things that threaten our livelihood and freedom, that we are so used to we don’t bat an eyelash. Reminds me of the movie, V for Vendetta. Its easy to talk about the American revolution, and how that meant freedom for some. It’s simple to talk about the Civil War and how that meant freedom for the enslaved. We can easily talk about the Civil Rights Movement and how that defined the different classes of freedom and why it needed to be changed. But even though this day is a reminder of the hard work that is to come, let us celebrate the hard work that made a difference. Let’s celebrate the accomplishments of so many people that came before us, and let us position ourselves to celebrate the future. No one said that freedom was cheap–that it didn’t cost anything. Compared to what’s going on in the news today (Edward Snowden–to name one), and all the events that has happened in the past, it seems like freedom is the most expensive thing that we have–paid for in blood. On behalf of my family, I’m wishing everyone a Happy Independence...Best Foot Forward
When we try out for something, or go on an interview, our first goal is to make sure that we are doing everything right. In essence–we put our best foot forward. But I am wondering here–Shouldn’t we put our best foot forward everyday? I recently had a conversations with a friend, and she asked me, “If you are on an interview and they give you a scenario, should you answer the way they want to hear or the way you really would handle it?” My reply was–“Which answer would be you at your best?” Sometimes we are all caught up on the “first impressions,” but little do we know that our actions daily can make or break that first impression. Every day we should be putting our best foot forward. Every day we should be at our best. When we interact with someone and they have [what we feel] is the wrong impressions about us, then we have to ask ourselves: What am I projecting? How am I coming off to other people? Because at the end of the day, our actions, and words are shaping other people’s opinion. Let’s hope we are shaping the right one. I get that everyday is not possible, but we can at least...A Heavy Burden to Carry
A man during difficult times stepped out of line and said, things has to change. He didn’t wait for someone to do it for him, but saw himself as a leader to lead the pack.
He knew the risks of stepping out of line, and speaking out of turn, but yet he did it. […]