Help a Brotha Out!

I was randomly thinking about the current state of black people and this is what I have concluded (this should apply to all minority groups despite race).

If you know me then you know I'd be the first person to point out that social injustices exist to this day despite all the movements, civil rights leaders and laws and policies put into place in our country. However, sometimes enough is enough. Yes "the man" is alive and kicking...yes it is hard for any minority to succeed in American society. Specifically racial groups that exist in the United States due to the fact this country was founded and built upon racism. To go even further it is particularly difficult for African Americans because of the distinct Black-White relations and the brutal past Blacks have had in this country. I say all of this to show you I understand the plights of our people however it is time to stop pointing the finger at the White man. Yes we have had a very unfortunate past but it is time to make the best of our present opportunities to ensure a fruitful future not only for ourselves but our children. I will be highly upset in my old age if my people grow content because they see Obama as "making it" and the peak of our achievement. Yes electing Obama to the highest office in this land is remarkable but can our entire race not long to achieve success such as this.

We have ensured that one of our own has attained his dream by becoming the 44th President of the United States but now is the time to aid our general population in achieving their goals even if it doesn't pale in comparison to Commander in Chief. Once upon a time in American history our people were self-sufficient- this was a time after Emancipation and before integration. They were self-employed, they conducted business amongst each other and there were multiple black cities and towns that flourished throughout this country. Blacks made sure that others that looked like them succeeded by supporting each other in all facets of life. However, shortly after the Civil Rights Movement ended so did this progressive behavior. (One may say this was caused by the end of segregation but that's an entire blog post within itself.) One thing is for sure...we don't support each other like we need to. One person's success is meaningless if he/she isn't willing to share it with others. We'd rather steal, kill and degrade each instead of uplifting one another. And if you look back fifty or so years, this kind of behavior isn't getting us anywhere. We are still suffering from poverty, poor education and crime. So I challenge you to lend a helping hand to your brother or sister because what's the point of "making it" if you don't have others around you to enjoy it with.

"Yes, societal issues exist within our country but placing the blame on others will only get us so far. It is time for us to invest in our culture, our people, and ourselves if we intend to progress."

The Black Man

I just got finished watching a video clip of some teens eluding the police while driving recklessly, endangering lives on their joy ride. What got me thinking and upset was the response of the cops after the teens were finally caught. From what I could tell from the video they were not handcuffed, even if they were it doesn't matter. The police offers were actually calmly standing next to the perpetrator(s) having a conversation with them. They inquired were they hurt, why they did this and other foolywang. Not to my surprise these teenagers belonged to the privileged class in this society...meaning they were White.

From all the videos I've seen in the news where Blacks were being pursued by cops, never have I ever seen a police officer have a normal and sincere conversation with them. I am by no means saying the Blacks didn't break the law but I'm simply making it aware that the law works differently depending on the color of your skin. When Blacks and Hispanics are engaged in criminal acts they are automatically seen as dangerous and cops shoot first ask questions later. It's no secret that minorities have been injured and killed for less than eluding the police and reckless driving like these White teens from Howell.

What comes to mind are stories where a Black man was killed for just reaching in his pocket because the cops thought his wallet/ID/whatever was a gun or pulling a Black man out of his car and holding him to the ground with a knee in his neck because he fits "the description" of a wanted criminal. In a society that is based on racism and racial discrimination it is evident that the law does not work in my or any Black man's favor.

The sad thing is that many of us really do try to do well and dispel the stereotypes set upon us but when you are constantly told that you are worthless then is it any wonder that the Black man is in his current situation?Is it any wonder they are more likely to be sitting in a prison or grave because it is easier to find shelter in a jail cell than in the real world or find a gun and drugs than to obtain a job?

And even when the Black man has "made it" people have preconceived notions of his past, present and future. I've seen the visage change on a person when I tell them I attend UofM on the Ann Arbor campus because behind their pupils they quietly (sometimes not so quietly) assume I'm only there because of affirmative action or some sports scholarship. Or in the corporate world they assume you are only there to fill some quota because it could never be a possibility that you are actually qualified for the job.

Don't get me wrong there are good people out there who don't place these stigmas on Black men nor do they exercise discriminatory practices against them but unfortunately it doesn't take an individual or two but a movement to excite change.

I have a love-hate relationship with America...however most of the time I feel myself despising her. :)

The D

Hmmm let's see what I can rant about today. Well the weather as of late sucks. It's kinda like a reflection of Detroit lol. Don't get me wrong I love my city, born and raised here but things are looking pretty dim for the Motorcity/Motown. I don't know if either nickname is appropriate for the city. I haven't seen the true Motown except for in history and the building (which I believe is on Grand Blvd). Outside of that Detroit is no longer the epicenter of music like it once was. It is a thing of the past which can be recalled through listening to old albums of the number one hits. And Motorcity. The only positive thing about that name nowadays is the casino on Grand River. The Big Three are no longer so big, all trying to survive this recession and the end of the Industrial Age. These car companies employed thousands of people and seemed to hold the very fabric of Michigan's economy together and with its absence we can see how well things are turning out.

In addition to white flight, the brain drain and an absence of retailers and quality education Detroit is looking pretty glum. The only thing it seems to be doing well in is unemployment, violence and terrible schooling. BUT even with its flaws I must point out the positive because the city and the people are honestly great. If you've made a trip to Downtown lately you'll notice how things have changed within the last 5 years. It is actually looking like a downtown rather than a bunch of abandoned buildings. The museums seems to be flourishing and the schools in the area seem to be doing well (Wayne State, Creative Studies school, of course Cass Tech [lol] and a new school for the arts is being built down there). I love driving around downtown. You see the Fox and the sports arenas . Then you go down a little further and you're passing the People Mover and on both sides there a new stores surrounding you. And on top of those are lofts and condos for people who have faith in the city and want to be in the midst of it. You pass more clubs, stores and restaurants until you hit a dead end. Cobo is to your right and if you make a left you'll be riding alongside the river with the newly renovated riverfront. You can see the Windsor skyline in the distance and Belle Isle is a few miles down.

The city has potential and lots of it. There is beauty in Detroit, you just have to know where to look.

D9

So this blog originated from a conversation me and a Greek friend of mine had. The topic of our discussion was Black Greek life and what would our founders think of us today. Sad to say that we concluded that our founders wouldn't be very proud of us at all. Don't get me wrong our organizations still do a lot of good thing but we also participate in a lot of....well let's say a lot of non proactive behavior. The underlying purpose of each of these Black Greek Letter Organizations were to serve the community and to be role models for our people so they can strive for achievement as well. Unfortunately, we are not upholding these ideals. We can't even get along to the point where it affects the way our fraternities and sororities work together. We love to argue and diss each other but when it comes to unifying for a cause then BGLOs can't be found. It's really sad when you think about it because we show so much pride in our three letters but what are we really doing with them. By no means I am suggesting that once you become Greek you have to be a different person but through your process you should have grown into a better person who understands the needs of the Black community. We are in a position where we can do so much good and be effective however we don't take advantage of these opportunities. Instead we are focused on stepping or hoeing our Greek brothers and sisters. I know everyone doesn't fit into this category (we dobut a lot of our D9 brothers and sisters...TO BE CONTINUED WHEN I HAVE FREE TIME

The Good and the Bad of the Inauguration: A First Hand Account

Everyone saw the Inauguration. Everyone saw Obama get sworn in as the 44th President of the United States. Everyone saw a historical event. However I wonder how many witnessed the contradiction that took place during this momentous time. America preaches freedom and equality for all but how can this hold true when religion is constantly woven into the very fabric of its existence. Political figures and documentation preach the separation of church and state but it was evident to anyone who watched the Inauguration that this is a blatant lie. From the prayer that took place before the ceremony to Obama's very speech, religious values could be seen taking place side-by-side this political event. Once again the U.S. has contridicted itself with the lie of separating its political actions from religious beliefs.

On a lighter note: the Inauguration was great lol. I had the opportunity to go to Washington, D.C and witness histroy being made. It was a beautiful moment in time that was definitely worth the struggle. I struggled with sleep deprivation, lack of shelter from the brisk cold and hunger pains but when Obama was sworn in and spoke the words of change none of that mattered.

I arrived around 4am in D.C. the day of the ceremony from about a 10/11-hour bus ride. The excitement on the bus grand, eveyone was ecstatic that we finally arrived and that history would be made in less than 24 hours. After miles of walking and temporary relief from shuttles I made it to the National Mall. It was soooooo cold and the ceremony was hours away before it commenced. So a friend and I snuck off into the Smithsonian for relief from the cold, exhaustion and hunger. As my limbs unthawed I perused the exhibits that the museum had to offer such as the The First Ladies exhibit, the African American and Jewish exhibit among various others.

The Smithsonian pratically robbed me by charging $15 for a chicken tender meal but the satisfaction of having a full stomach eased my woes. I walked through the museum again looking for a place to sit but it seemed like everyone decided to come here to seek refuge from standing and the cold. People were scatered everywhere on the four floors that made up the Smithsonian. Every seat was taken and people were lying all over the lobby and exhibit floors attempting to get a moment of sleep. As soon as I found a place to sit and get a quick nap in the meseum made an announcememt that there was no sleeping in the building and guards came by propmtyl to wake me up. I was so sad.

I finally ventured back into the cold...still exhausted but fed and as I pushed through the crowds of the Mall I watched history take place. I clapped, yelled and shouted "Obama!" The feeling of being there, on the National Mall, with millions of people, all supporters of the first African American president of the United States and his plan of change is indescribable. All I can say is that, as I along with millions of others watched President Obama get sworn in and speak, a feeling of hope overcame me and I now look forward to the next four years.