God is so amazing...when you are in harmony with your purpose, there is truly a silver lining beneath ever person you meet, and every experience you encounter in your journey! They are all lessons that can drive and propel you forward when you focus. My path was revealed to me some 30+years ago... to devote myself to the empowerment and elevation of all marginalized people, but Black people in particular. My heart is tied to CHILDREN - I love 'em all to pieces; and my passion lies in making ties to our history, building on those threads and telling the stories through poem, prose, story and images.
So today I had a real epiphany. As I look at the hidden agendas in certain aspects of education, I realize the political aspect of the structure throughout this country is going to be what it is. It is far deeper than I realized and I am still amazed by new political realizations. Yes, we should continue to try and effect meaningful change by strategizing, organizing, speaking up in masse, having our voices heard, etc. There is also a greater need for community development, community tutoring programs, enrichment opportunities for children - giving them exposure to diverse, relevant experiences (African American Museum, Black in Wax Museum, Schomburg, National African American Museum, Plays, other cultural events...etc).
But, we also have to shift this situation at hand and flip this thing around- QUICKLY!. We are loosing too many of our children and young adults to drugs - STILL - and to the streets, to jail (earlier and earlier with longer sentences) and to getting killed on the streets . Some of the kids nationwide are now grown and "out there drifting" and at that stage, sometimes all we can do as parents/elders is cover them in prayer - to find their path and stay out of harms way. But, there are many others ...from babies - on up to teenagers/young adults that need us to step up to the plate "old skool style" and mother/father the children of the neighborhoods. Set an example for them, talk to them, check them when needed. We need to do this from a young age, so by the time that baby is 15 and ready to talk junk, he will already be calling you Ms. or Mr So & So. We have to turn this thing around. God did not bring Black folks this far, through all these trials and tribulations for us to fizzle out like this....Oh No!
"Each on reach one, each one teach one" Queen Mother Moore
(RIP & God bless this sister soldier!)
So today I had a real epiphany. As I look at the hidden agendas in certain aspects of education, I realize the political aspect of the structure throughout this country is going to be what it is. It is far deeper than I realized and I am still amazed by new political realizations. Yes, we should continue to try and effect meaningful change by strategizing, organizing, speaking up in masse, having our voices heard, etc. There is also a greater need for community development, community tutoring programs, enrichment opportunities for children - giving them exposure to diverse, relevant experiences (African American Museum, Black in Wax Museum, Schomburg, National African American Museum, Plays, other cultural events...etc).
But, we also have to shift this situation at hand and flip this thing around- QUICKLY!. We are loosing too many of our children and young adults to drugs - STILL - and to the streets, to jail (earlier and earlier with longer sentences) and to getting killed on the streets . Some of the kids nationwide are now grown and "out there drifting" and at that stage, sometimes all we can do as parents/elders is cover them in prayer - to find their path and stay out of harms way. But, there are many others ...from babies - on up to teenagers/young adults that need us to step up to the plate "old skool style" and mother/father the children of the neighborhoods. Set an example for them, talk to them, check them when needed. We need to do this from a young age, so by the time that baby is 15 and ready to talk junk, he will already be calling you Ms. or Mr So & So. We have to turn this thing around. God did not bring Black folks this far, through all these trials and tribulations for us to fizzle out like this....Oh No!
"Each on reach one, each one teach one" Queen Mother Moore
(RIP & God bless this sister soldier!)
Helen,
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting these comments. I totally agree with what you're saying. I would encourage everyone to simply "do their part," in creating a solution, even if you feel you can only touch one person. If you look around you and see how you can improve your world - your home, your block, the problems won't seem as overwhelming. Thanks again, and I look forward to reading more of your thoughts.