RF23 - Black Pride?

RF23\J.Lewis
Black Pride?

This month was set aside for Black History Month and for blacks to reflect from whence they came. This month is supposed to be a time of pride to look at the progress of Black Americans from slavery to present. And honestly, when I reflect on this year's Black History month, I have mixed feelings. I'm proud to be an American, and I am proud to have come from a race of people that overcame the betrayal of being sold into slavery, held in bondage, freed, denied basic civil liberties and lynchings. One has to be proud of all the shit our Black American ancestors overcame for us to live the lives we have. Well, some of us are proud and thankful. Others have somehow forgotten the beatings, false accusations and lynchings that our Black American ancestors received just for raising their voice to be heard in a country that didn't want them.

You know at times, when I try to think about what was going through Dr. King's mind, when he laid there dying. I wonder if he knew what we become of us. I wonder if he knew that a man in his camp would lead Black Americans down a wrong path with probable good intentions. I wonder if he knew that once he made peace with another murdered civil rights leader, that the same group that he helped elevate would continue to spew hate speech in the name of black people. I just wonder.

In 1968 in Mexico City, two olympic black athletes donned black gloves and raised their arms to protest for basic civil liberties. They exhibited a type of black pride that blacks chanted in the 60's and 70's. Today I wonder, what is black pride?

Is black pride, the murder of a black male by another black male? Is black pride, the feeling of entitlement for past wrongs? Is black pride the continuation of black victimization? Is black pride the insulting of young inspired minds of black youths, by calling them "sell outs" or "acting white"? Is black pride the impregnating of our black women and leaving them to raise your young? Is black pride having sex with our black women and giving them HIV/AIDs? Is black pride the using of the word "nigga"(er) ?

All of the above is not black pride...Black pride is remembering the victories of overcoming obstacles. Black pride is preserving life and not taking it. Black pride is taking responsibility and doing the right thing with our women and children. Black pride is education. Black pride does not consist of violence against our fellow man.

Which brings me to this...

Black prides was not present nor had it been learned when a group of blacks attacked with racial ephitants three white girls in Long Beach, CA. And this saddens me, because of regardless of whose in our prisons and why, these group of youth deserved to be sitting in a Youth Camp and when they turn 18, transfered to a California Penal Institution. And for a judge to take the position he did, was insulting not only to the victims, but did not serve the interest of the community as a whole to release these embarrasments to Black Americans.

Funny thing is that since I vote republican and I don't share the same views as some blacks...I'm the embarrassment, the sell out and Tom.

So why celebrate a month, when todays generation don't give a damn?

'Cause I do...and I have black pride.




"Money is life now, It used to be a time that freedom was" - A Raisin In The Sun