Fifty Years, Little Progress

On April 4 the social media world lit up with quotes from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. On the 50th anniversary of his death it seemed like everyone was pulling for a society of justice and equality. Less than two weeks later there is a blatant reminder that there has been little progress made in those 50 years. In the 1960s Black people were regularly denied service at restaurants across the country. In 2018- this week, in fact- the Philadelphia police were called because two Black men were waiting for their friend in a Starbucks. Read that again.

Two Black men walked into a Starbucks. It sounds like the beginning of a tasteless joke. It wasn't a joke, but the behavior that was exhibited by the staff of this establishment was definitely tasteless. So, two guys walk into a Starbucks, tell a staff member that they are waiting for a friend and ask to use the restroom. They were denied access to the restroom and told that since they had yet to order anything, they should leave. Now listen: at this point in the story, I am already pissed off. To add insult to injury, the young men asked why they were being told to leave and a Starbucks employee CALLED THE POLICE. The police came- first two, then four, then six. The men were arrested-- even after their friend showed up-- held for hours and released without being charged. Because why? They didn't want to order overpriced coffee before their family friend got there? Oh, ok.  

A million times over, minorities tell folks that our experiences are not like anyone else's-- and time after time, y'all ask for proof that we don't just fly off the handle, or demand too much. This exchange was captured on video and posted to Twitter. The White woman that was sitting next to these men posted that they were doing absolutely nothing wrong and the police were called for no reason. She has taken Starbucks to task, stating publicly that the men were doing exactly what she has done before-- waiting for a friend. Uh, we have ALL done that before. I have had job interviews at Starbucks for goodness sake. Starbucks is THE meeting place. At the mall, in school, before study group, after a challenging meeting, or just someplace to talk shit about your crazy ass co-workers. So if you are known for being the meet up place, what exactly is the problem? Are you only allowed to meet up at Starbucks if you have your white friend in tow? Do those assholes have a quota for how many Black people can be waiting at a time? Why call the police? There was no scene, no raised voices. Why were six police officers necessary?  

We pretend like society as a whole is super evolved. Some of y'all have the audacity to tell us that we live in a post racial society or that minorities don't have it hard... we are just too sensitive. You tell us that race relations is bad because of us-- because we want too much. You are the fulfillment of the delusional dreams of your grandparents, who 50 years ago were probably spouting the same bullshit. Fifty years have passed and I can't tell-- every day we lose men, women and children at the hands of the same muthafuckas who tried to be enlightened online on April 4th. I call bullshit. This is happening in broad daylight and the reason it continues is: not enough of y'all care because it isn't happening to you.

Dream Deferred?

Yesterday was the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, as I am sure that everyone knows. Pictures of Martin Luther King, Jr. along with quotes from his I Have A Dream speech made the rounds on every social media outlet that I subscribe to. Media aided in the hype (as usual). People changed their profile pictures to black and white photos from the day in question. Activists linking arms, raising their voices in one unified tone, declaring that the status quo wasn't good enough. Using one voice to say that the bare minimum was no longer acceptable. I saw those pictures and my heart jumped and fell- all in the same moment. The history nerd in me rejoiced and the realist in me looked on with sad eyes and a sorrow filled heart. Being able to look at those pictures made me so incredibly happy to see what kind of stock American people come from, yet so ridiculously upset at the static state of our society today.

I think that I have typed these words before, so the following should come as no shock: We are NOT living the dream that MLK was talking about. I am not part of the group of people who think that JUST because our President is Black we have overcome. We, as a society, are further behind than we were 50 years ago, in some aspects. Women and minorities still get paid less than white men on a regular basis. Minority children still get a substandard education when compared to the education received in primarily white neighborhoods. Racial injustices still happen daily. Gender discrimination is an every day occurrence. Rape is an EVERY day occurrence. Disenfranchisement happens in polling places AND in state legislatures in 2013. War is happening. The American public is paying with tax dollars AND the lives of our beloved soldiers EVERY day and it is not being reported in our 24 hour news streams. Our leaders are corrupt and WE are not holding them accountable for their actions. Our troops and the elderly are being bilked out of their hard earned money and being left to suffer alone- by the government and their families- in assisted living facilities. Worst of all, we do not have a promising field of minority leaders who are battle tested and ready to take their place on the front lines to fight against inequality.

That last sentence is what I believe will kill the dream altogether. People have been lulled into a false sense of security. They sign an online petition and figure that they have done their job. There is no sense of unity- everyone is too obsessed with the next new thing, new group, new iPhone. They are way too willing to talk about rap verses and not willing enough to defeat their neighborhood thugs. They are way too concerned with fast ass musicians at an awards show than helping the family down the street put food on their table. People are willing to wait in line for some limited release sneakers, but won't wait in line to register to vote. Some think that BECAUSE we have a Black President that the fight is over. It isn't. Your oppressed brothers and sisters are out there- and they need your help.

Don't let the 60s be repeated. Don't let the work and the deaths of the people who sacrificed everything be in vain. Get out and make your dream, and the dream of your neighbor, come true. We are all fighting for the same thing, right? The ability to live our lives, take care of ourselves and our families. Don't quote the I Have A Dream speech to me. Live it daily... and you will get my attention.


 

Has Black History Month Made Us Lazy?

Today is February 1st, which means it is the first day of Black History Month. People have said several things about Black History Month being the shortest month of the year, etc. In fact, one of my Twitter buddies said that his February wish was that Black History Month took place during the longest month of the year, not the shortest. I responded, of course, with "Why? We only teach about the same top five Black people." He agreed, and said that it was sad that our kids don't get to know about more people. So here is my question- has having a month where we are supposed to celebrate African American history made us lazy? Have we started to see it as a burden, and therefore started to teach the same stuff about the same people every year? Are we even using the few days we have to teach ANYONE about the dramatic effect that African Americans have had on this country? If not, who is to blame?

So, I get easily annoyed, right?! (LOL) Well, nothing really "toast my buns" as much as holier than thou people (in ANY situation- any topic). In this situation, I am thoroughly turned off by Blacker than Black people who judge me (or anyone else) because I don't want to move back to Africa and live in a village. Or because I date outside my race; or have the audacity to correct Black men, women and children if they get out of line. Man, please. Where are the Blacker than Blacks during February? Why aren't they loading up their facebook news feeds with a different Black trendsetter, every day in February? Why aren't they out in their communities making a difference? Why aren't they mentoring? Could it be because they don't know 28 Black trendsetters, innovators, scholars? Could it be they are running from their communities? Don't know how to be an effective mentor? *crickets* I know more than 28 Black innovators, but damn me for calling your ass out and bringing home white boys, right?! Sickening!!

Where would the United States be without the inventions of Black people? Have you ever thought about that? Do you teach your children about the extraordinary things that Blacks overcame- some not even 50 years ago (truthfully some feats were overcome last week, yesterday even!)- in order to make the life that they have more comfortable? When they ask you for help with a school project on African American history, do YOU do research on someone out of the "safe box" and help them find out about someone new... or do you ram MLK down their throats for another year? Don't get me wrong- MLK was fabulous. He was a voice when many didn't have one. He made a stand, and sacrificed his life for the betterment of ALL of us... but he wasn't at those rallies alone! He wasn't the only Black man thrown in jail! He wasn't the only man who lost his life during the Civil Rights Movement. Right?!

Do we deserve 28 days, if we are only using 5... OK, maybe we are using 10. WTF are you doing the other 18? Should you even be complaining if you don't fully use the month you have been given? Can you name more than 10 Black educators, innovators, politicians, etc.?? And don't come at me with Barack Obama, Cornel West, MLK, Malcolm X, Farrakhan, Rosa Parks, Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, Fredrick Douglas, Marcus Garvey, Stokely Carmichael, Huey Newton, Angela Davis, Maya Angelou, Eldridge Cleaver, or anyone like that- the people that EVERY one knows about (or should). For all you lovelies in Greek organizations-- I am not talking about people that are your brothers and sisters, either-- because while those people were surely revolutionaries, our culture has had WAY more revolutionaries than that, right?

My point is this: until we are willing to fully USE all the days that are allotted to us to celebrate the culture, beauty and astounding richness of African American history in this country and beyond, we really shouldn't complain about having the shortest month of the year. Because really- without any doubt- it is OUR responsibility to make Black History Month happen, every month, every week, EVERY day. So, get on your job... do better.

One Nation, Unity, One Day

Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. day. Some of our fellow Americans have the day off and have dedicated the day to service to their community and neighbors. Some of us are sleeping our hangovers away. Some of us are working. Whatever you find yourself doing today, it is important that you take a couple of minutes and reflect.

I am not too big on reflecting on people, per se- because people have their own little flaws, quips and crazy tendencies. Right? No one is perfect and most people don't deserve the pedestals that we assign to them. With that said- I am really big on movements. Times and places where people come together for the betterment of each other. Times when people from different backgrounds see an injustice being done to someone in a different group, class or station in life and find a way to fix it. Times where, during a morale vacuum, someone stands up and says "we aren't where we need to be, but I am committed to helping everyone get to the place that we are envisioning." That, I love. I love to see people working together.

I love to see barriers coming down, and people being honest. Before MLK was killed, our country wasn't being honest with itself. The truth was hurtful. People were being discriminated against and dying because they were seen as insignificant... non-essential, even. And now, almost 43 years after his death, the dream that he told us about in 1963 still has not come to fruition. How will it? Ah, a movement of our own. Putting aside our own selfish needs and working towards equality. Making sure that the basic needs of our community members are being met. It may not be that we are seeing dogs attacking Blacks in the streets of Chicago, marches in major cities, or people being killed for trying to vote. But what we are seeing is: people still being disenfranchised, being failed by our educational system, homelessness and hunger in the wealthiest nation in the world.  Let's be honest with ourselves. It will hurt, and we will not like the mess that we see... But if we never open our eyes and see the ills of our society, we can never hope to fix what ails us.

Reflection on the past, faith in each other and work- that is what we need... What will you provide?