Harriet Tubman wrote a book, and in that book she made one of the most profound statements that an African American should hear or read. She said “I’ve freed thousands of slaves, and would have freed thousands more, had they known they were slaves”. There is a preponderance of evidence that this generation of young African Americans are not connected to our legacy or traditions and consequently they are behaving in ways that are uncharacteristic of our culture. The degree of disrespect shown for chidren, elders and of course our women, is a symptom that cannot be ignored. This has rarely been a part of black culture. We must teach African American girls not to answer to misogynistic mislabels and not support those who degrade and denigrate them in exchange for money.
Carter G. Woodson first started the negro History week in the early 1900’s which was later expanded to “Black History” month in 1960. In the days of Dr. Martin L. King Jr., black americans served the lord, the children were in Sunday school, and most negroes attended church and sought to obey God. They had seen and understood how God had worked miracles on their behalf by delivering them through changing oppressive laws that had been used to keep them down. In absence of the values, traditions and beliefs of black heritage which once shaped our culture, there is no longer ground for embarrasment or shame. This is why this new generation can commit the most heinous crimes, do the most insidious and disgusting things, participate in the most filthy conduct and never feel the need to apologize, repent or change. In essence it seems as if the spirit of unity has jumped ships.
We’ve went from a battleship of conquering wisdom, knowledge, understanding and creativity to a cruise ship of ignorance, foolishness, contentment and destructivity. A battleship of striving and thriving to a cruise ship of just merely surviving. Dr. Marin L. King Jr. said “intellegence plus character, that is the true goal of education.” Today, there’s a need for not only the younger generation, but we as a people to be trained, challenged and motivated to be vigilant about education, political involvement and other self-enabling activities. We who are African Americans have been given the opportunity to prove our capacity to matriculate alongside others and vie for jobs. Today we are living in a generation that has the potential to restore our people to the place of honor, dignity and respect which is their destiny. We must begin as soon as possible to instill the principles associated with power and authority in our children. Each new generation has to know there is a godly and honorable way to live securely.
Ladies and gentlmen, the best example our younger generation should see of dignity, integrity, human decency and moral fiber is “YOU”! Their future depends on good leadership. Without good leadership they’ll spend all their money on things they don’t need, buying things they can’t afford to impress people they do not like. They’ll invest heavily in there feet but hardly anything in their head. Name brands can’t get you into college, Brains do! Education is the passport to prosperity. We need to become more industrious. Parents, teach your sons the voice of work, someone’s daughter will thank you. Teach your daughters also, because some day she may have to contribute to the household income just to make ends meet. If we as a people do not wake up from this state of mental lethargy, we will find ourselves without a voice to speak for us, a vehicle to deliver us, and victories to celebrate. This has to be dealt with, not ignored because you cannot cure what you do not confront and you can’t change what you’re afraid to challenge.
President Obama said “we’re a generation that has the potential to start small and still do big things”. Let’s cut the unneccessary excess weight such as participating in nefarious activities, degrading ourselves by calling one another names that dehumanizes our character and using profanity in our daily conversations, in fact, it has been said that profanity is the tool of the weak people attempting to sound strong. Let’s build, network and add to the empire that’s being reconstructed today. I know that no one can do everything, but everyone can do something. In this day and time, we’re going where we have never gone, to do what we have never done, to have what we have never had and to become who we are purposed to be. Remember, together as a nation we’ll stand because there is tremendous strength in unity, but if we’re divided, we’ll also fall.
“Big Red”
Tyrone Smith
DOC #488370
Welding Tutor/R.L.C.C.
