Know Thyself

Since the year of our Lord 1619, when people from Africa were first dragged onto the shores of this place they called “merica”. These people would come to be chastised, criticized, punished, beaten, robbed, and murdered all in the name of freedom. All while the culprits have enjoyed wealth and prosperity as a result of our never ending-allegiance and patriotism, often blindly. Even today when we have ascended to the White House there are those who castigate much vial abuse upon this uniquely qualified man of African heritage.

We are a unique people, a forgiving people, a steadfast people, and a brave people unlike any known to the world. It was our labor that built this country and is responsible for the great wealth America enjoys to this very today. When you look upon America’s enormous wealth and the power derived from its tremendous control of resources. Think about the sacrifices our ancestors made to make all of this possible. We have looked out for this country for hundreds of years and still doing today, which is simply amazing.

Upon our backs, laden with the stripes of punishment for what they believed was for discipline and in spite of our loyalty, diligence and tenacity - we loved America. Even when America refused to allow us to even walk in the shadows, we followed, believing that someday we would come to accepted and be treated like human beings. Our strength in the face of adversity is vastly understated.

Our history is one of unbelievable struggle. We’ve been brave on the battlefield, despite being classified as three-fifths of a man. This was, and is, outstanding and frankly beyond the call of duty considering that we have lived through slavery and under an Apartheid like system. We have raised America’s children, attended to its sick, and prepared their meals while those forefathers were occupied with the trappings of the good life.

Even during the times when they found pleasure in our women and enjoyment in seeing our men lynched, maimed and burned - we continued to watch over America’s soul. We labored in the hot sun from “can’t see to can’t see” to assist in realizing the dream of wealth, good fortune, and made America a great world power. We have guarded her and continue today.

We are grateful for those who temerity to speak out against America’s past transgressions. Yet, it was us who warned about Denmark-Vessey, signaled the plans of Gabriel Prosser, and called attention to Nat Turner, Malcolm, and yes Martin too. It was us who sounded the alarm when old John Brown came calling on Harper's Ferry and there are still some sounding warnings today. Black Nationalism has died and as result our community giving 95 percent of what it earns to other businesses and keeps little for themselves. In spite of the fact that other people controlled at least 90 percent of all the resources and wealth of this nation.

In today's business environment, we do not support each other and just keep doing business with the larger community or in fact any other community. Some say we were very successful supporting our own after slavery ended and even as recently as 1960, but you know what happens when you began to build a communities and do business with one another – you’re pitted against one another and destroy ourselves. 

This includes our acquiescence to political agendas, abdicating our own economic self-sufficiency, and working so diligently for the economic well-being of other people. Even though the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments were written and many died for the rights described therein; we did not even resist when they changed Black Rights to Civil Rights and allowed virtually every other group to take advantage of them for their progress. This goes beyond the imagination, irrespective of the many promises that have been made and broken. A lass, don’t worry, when you die you will find a place where there is a mansion waiting for you and streets paved with gold somewhere in the sky.

We resisted the messages of trouble-making Blacks like Washington, Delaney, Garvey, Bethune, Tubman, and Truth for fighting and dying for us. Yet, most have forgotten their names and take no reverence in their sacrifice due to a lack of reciprocity and equity. When you continue to do what you’ve always done; you will get what you always got and that’s my Thought Provoking Perspective...