My first thought is CHANGE OUR MINDSET OF SELFISHNESS. We need to be our brother's keeper. Period. If you don't know what I am talking about ask anyone who is 40 years + what it was like when they grew up in a neighborhood when neighbors were "family". I am more than sure there was a difference in self-image, there was a sense of responsibility/accountability, a sense of unity and support. As I heard today, it is necessary to "bring neighbor back to the 'hood" because such change takes more than just you alone.
My second thought is LOOK TO THE PAST. Learn it. We can learn a lot from it. Seriously. We have been successful before. Once upon a time we successfully had our own productive communities. We can do the same. I just ask that we not limit ourselves to building a community with those that look like you. Yes, black pride is necessary. It is necessary for us to increase and improve our self-image, however keep in mind that there are communities that are stricken with the same mental and societal factors as you and yours. Be willing to welcome all. Trust me, we can because for so many years we have had to embrace ALL that had ONE drop of black blood running through them as our own REGARDLESS of how black they looked.
My third thought is BEING WILLING TO CONTRIBUTE with our actions AND our character. Character may be more powerful than actions because often times people first notice WHO we are before they notice WHAT we are or do. Also, (and this relates to selfishness) in your contribution know that EVERYONE cannot be a leader. Everyone cannot lead because it is necessary for some to follow. So be willing to FOLLOW. And if for whatever reason you do not see the leader that you believe is necessary for change, BECOME that leader. Be mindful, be in tune with yourself enough though to know whether your decision to lead is one of personal benefit (recognition & power) or that of the benefit of others and the need to sacrifice yourself. SACRIFICE because leading is not pretty. Most times, as a leader, you are alone until others DECIDE to get on board (and one thing we do know is that the MIND is difficult to change), and there is no telling when they will. Maintain faith, hope, perseverance, and knowledge of yourself when you decide to let the blockade stall you. Deep down inside you KNOW who you are. Just accept it. Claim it and don't let LIES (past, present, and future) deter you, get you off track, lead you to destruction instead of construction of change. Necessary change.
I may add on to this. *smile* This was a rushed attempt of me trying to get all my thoughts expressed.
Also, (See? *LOL*) I don't know (I will never know) what the Obamas mean to you. I do ask though that we do not make them into immortals, remember they are not God Himself. (HOWEVER, they indeed embody God (as we ALL do--some just aren't knowledgeable of it, so they act accordingly)). When you see Barack Obama don't stop at the fact that he is a man of color and he is President. PLEASE take note of his CHARACTER (there goes that word again) and be influenced. When you see Michelle Obama take note of her character. Take note of her role in relation to her husband and her children, ladies. Aspire to be like that.
They are proof that there was NEVER a limit--only the limit we formed in our mind. I am not minimizing societal factors, but indeed we are sometimes our best hindrance. At times no one have to hold us back because we do it so well for them, the enemy. Open your minds and your soul to the FACT that there is no limit. There's no such thing. We CAN accomplish everything. Just keep in mind that they don't happen instantaneously. Sometimes it takes 200, 400, 2008 years. It may not happen in YOUR lifetime. Yes, I said it. YOU MAY NOT SEE THE FRUITS OF THE SEEDS YOU SOW. Period. Malcolm, Truth, Martin, Parks, Garvey did not see it happen, but it DID! So don't EVER let the fact that you can't see it manifest SOON stop you from being a catalyst for change.
Don't doubt yourself. Do you really think that Michelle's mother thought that her daughter would be the leading female of the First Family? Do you think that Barack's father knew that his son would be President of AMERICA? Do you think Michelle knew when she decided to "spend the day" with Barack 19 years ago? Do you think Barack as a young man knew that he was going to be President? So don't ever doubt the wonders that may manifest from some of your peers. Try not to cast them out. Don't ever doubt the wonders that may manifest from YOU. Don't allow others to cast you out and most important, don' cast YOURSELF out.
With love and with much budding growth and wisdom,
Sa'Toya S. Truss
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