Most African American men will argue that racism still exists, and it has and is infecting the American psyche. Duly noted, but not the point is which this selection is aimed to prove. Throughout history, man in general, or in this case men of color, have always faced opposition. Adversity has always been meant to be overcome by the determination and perseverance of those willing to face it head on. Growing up as a child in an urban neighborhood can be very challenging. Trying to transition from the superficial understanding of those impertinent to one’s success is another challenge within itself. But the opposition and tribulations that racism can and has presented, is not an excuse for a black man’s failure.
First of all, the motivation to overcome all obstacles should be a black man’s first instinct seeing that throughtout history he has been against all odds, in an American country not of his origin. He has been whipped, embarrassed, shamed and mistreated the majority of his time spent in this land he calls home. But despite the efforts to hold him back in all ways possible, he now stands in position to take hold of great and wonderful opportunities. Contrary to belief, even in his underachievement lies the potential for greatness. It rings true that all things begin with a thought, and with the tongue we speak things into existence; for example, Dr. Martin Luther King’s I have a dream speech, and I quote ” I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of excessive trials and tribulation. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive. . . I still have a dream. It is a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed- we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal”.
Martin Luther King Jr. understood that the opposition he faced on a daily basis was no excuse for him to be slack in his affairs. That adversity would not excuse his failure to pursue the justice and equal rights he sought. He stayed motivated to remain on course to the movement erected from his will power to attain equality for people of color. He was determined to persevere against all odds. So inevitably he became a prime example of how one should pursue his own goals.
A black man should not allow the preconceived notions of racism to knock him off course in his prusuit to success. Most black men give up before they even attempt to pursue the goals that they have in mind. The fear of opposition from a racially prejudiced society has poisoned the black youth’s mind in such a drastic way that any attempt to educate himself and to transcend past the environment of his upbringing is ridiculed and looked down upon by his peers. Sell out, Uncle Tom, and school boy are just some of the slanders aimed towards those who wish to progress themselves. That cannot be acceptable. A black man must embrace his struggles in order to understand them; consequently, he learns how to overcome that which is created to destroy his aspirations. the deep-rooted mentality of contentment for America’s scraps must be upheaved from the black man’s mind and replaced with acknowledgement of greater purpose. A black man must be dauntless in his quest for success. His journey towards economic stability and a higher social status must be solidified in his actions. He must be perceptive and receptive in order to equip himself with the tools necessary to acheive the goals he sets. The black man must pursue his goals whole-heartedly with the belief that his hard work will pay off. On May 17, 1954 the case of Brown v. Board of Education, the Supreme Court required that 21 states and the District of Columbia lift the segregation laws in public schools. In the book AMERICA IN BLACK AND WHITE authors Stephan Thernstrom and Abigal Thernstrom state; ” The court’s decision was the fruit of two decades of effort on the part of lawyers working for the NAACP. Since the early 1930s they had focused their energies on proving that Jim Crow schools did not meet the legal test set forth in Plessy v. Ferguson- that they were separate but far from “equal”(1997, p98)”.
This is one example of how perseverance can help one to achieve goals. The potential to overcome is in all of us, but few possess the correct motivation to push forward to achieve something greater than their current circumstances. Lack of maturity and selfishiness play a major role in the delayed development. Many people can relate to this train of thought given that most people experience situations that address the moral and mental soundness of one’s mind. In life, people are growing on a consistent basis, some into something more positive, negative, or just unproductive. In the book, WAGES OF REBELLION, author Chris hedges states:
There is nothing rational about rebellion. To rebel against insurmountable odds is an act of faith, without which the rebel is doomed. This faith is intrinsic to the rebel the way caution and prudence are intrinsic to those who seek to fit into existing power structures. The rebel, possessed by inner demons and angels, is driven by a vision. I do not know if the new revolutionary wave and the rebels produced by it will succeed. But I do know that without these rebels, we are doomed (2015, p45).
A black man should always pray for the best but prepare for the worst, he should always allow himself to grow and learn from every circumstance and situation he encounters. A black man can argue the point of racism for his lack of success, but opposition will always be in the way of those who want to move towards better things in life.
Maurice Williams
DOC #636892
