Race in America

Over the past few months, in the news and on the radio, we've heard about racist remarks and symbols left on buildings, in bathrooms, in schools and churches... what does this mean for us today? Is this some type of prank or is it an attempt to revert back to early 20th century race relations? The days of physical slavery in America are gone yet so many of us (Black, White, Latino, Hispanic and others) are locked in the grips of mental slavery... How so?

1) Our grandparents and great grandparents worked so hard to over come the "N-word" and yet many of us today revert back to its use. Many people do it, of all races, using something so derogatory as a "term of endearment". I admit, I myself am guilty of using it... and I am going to cause a change, starting with me first. I won't use that word in any of my writings or in my communications with other individuals... and I will purposely and pointedly redirect anyone that uses that word with me.

2) We continue to commit crimes against ourselves... killing one another, destroying our own communities... there is no need for racist groups today like the KKK because Blacks and Latinos kill their own, an internal hatred for one another based on the color of an individual's clothes or bandanna. No wonder media and journalists are referring to some as the Black KKK. That's ridiculous!!! How about joining together to uplift a community... instead of ganging up to beat down and kill one. Differences make us individuals, why not celebrate our differences?

3) The number of Blacks and Latinos graduating high school and going on to college pale in comparison to those of Whites, Asians and others. Choosing a life on the streets is choosing no life at all. Selling drugs, playing thug on the street corner will only get you six feet under. Yet, this is the life many of our young men make every single day. And what legacy do we leave our children when we show them this is the only way?

4) We continue to degrade our most valuable treasure... our women... our mothers, our sisters, grandmothers, aunts, cousins. Calling them bitches and whores and treating females as such. Beating them, slapping them down to the ground... depreciating one of earth's most natural beauties. How is that any different than they were treated during the time of slavery? Using them as a piece of ass and throwing them to the side when a nicer piece of ass comes along. And based on how we treat the Black woman, how do we expect others to treat them any better?

We all are affected by mental slavery in our everyday life, on our jobs, at the grocery store... in our own homes... discrimination and intolerance because of differences, based on the color of our skin... but it's up to each one of us to change starting with ourselves. I know I just seemed to ramble in this blog, but I had a lot of thoughts and just wanted to get it all out.