A friend sent me the video above that used the sport of track to metaphorically explain the plight of black people in America. After I watched the animation, I looked at the comments underneath. Up to my post, everyone wholeheartedly agreed that the animation is on point.
I couldn't agree. That video, coupled with recent protests just sent me over the edge. Why are we are competing? This is our lives, not a race! When I see examples like this one, I have to ask myself, "What is it really saying?" My answer came as this:
In the video, "they" were building; so why don't we? Apparently, even as a culture, some people simply run from what they don't or can't understand instead of confronting it. In the 40s, blacks were prosperous because we had and held our own.
Yet in 2014, although we are way more advanced, we behave mentally like we are still slaves. We can have, be and do the same things as "them." So, why does it feel like we are sitting around waiting on the proverbial "white man" to give us what we can obtain for ourselves?
In fact, they did give us something. Freedom! But what have we done with our freedom, and what are we going to do with it moving forward? So far, we have mentally re-enslaved ourselves by blaming everything that is wrong within our communities on "them." Everything! Alternatively, we should be exercising and/or taking advantage of our unity, voting rights, educational and political opportunities and entrepreneurship.
And speaking of entrepreneurship, when we do own businesses, we offer very little support. We would rather go outside our communities to shop, eat, be entertained and worship, then talk negatively about the customer service and unfair prices instead of rallying together to teach each other business savvy.
Recently, we have been protesting and complaining about how black people are treated by the police and the government in this country. It is definitely time for some justice, power and diversity training, but not just for the police and the government. It is also time for some accountability training within the black community for our roles in some of this madness.
In the streets, we are protesting for the police to stop killing our black men and boys. And we should! But we also need to lift our voices in unison and encourage our black men to obey the law and take responsibility for their actions. Be leaders. It is time to reteach and reveal the importance of getting an education. And not just academically, but real-world education as well that comes through networking, relationship building and connections that can be made on college campuses.
Furthermore, it is time for us to quit complaining about police officers and the injustice they impose, and become police officers within our own communities so that there is representation for the culture policing our streets. But many of us cannot do that because we cannot pass the drug and aptitude tests required to gain employment. We expect better grocery stores, healthcare, schools and streets in our neighborhoods, but will not vote during mid-terms or primaries to make it happen. In this day and age, voting and coming together to change laws is the best chance we have at real change.
So yes, the video says a lot. All the variables that flash (genocide, wealth disparities, discrimination, poor schooling, underemployment, standardized testing, racial profiling, etc.) still hold true today. But they are true because we accept them as our truth. But we unequivocally do not have to.
In the animation, the black runner accepts defeat when she comes up against a brick wall. It is apparent that she is waiting on something or someone else to knock it down for her, much like it feels that we, as a culture, are doing today. When in fact, like our ancestors before us, what we should do is pick up sticks and rocks, make our own hammers, bust that bitch down and create our own opportunities.
Finally, to be clear, none of the racism and murders and injustice being imposed upon us is acceptable. It is just unclear to me why we are being bystanders, just watching another race design our destiny, hoping they will show some consideration and compassion when, in fact, we are the authors of our own stories. And only until we pick up our metaphoric pens and begin to write will we find peace.
Until next time,
Live What You Love! I Do!™
delmetria l. millener
writer | educator | available
i write for the very reason i breathe...
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