Wednesday, October 14, 2009

FLIPSIDE : Understanding the Struggle

We have the first black president of America. We have multi-million dollar music producers. There are black men and women in high ranking positions in the political arena as well as corporate America. More and more black students are attending and graduating from universities. There are even black entrepreneurs who have built empires from little or nothing to begin with. We have indeed accomplished some astounding and humbling feats that were seemingly unimaginable not too long ago. With this in mind, it is more than certain that the younger generations will not fully understand and appreciate the movement of black success. Will they realize that the struggle was not that long ago?

Less than sixty years ago we couldn't even dine in the same restaurants. We even had to enter the Apollo Theatre in Harlem through the rear entrance in the alley. The Apollo! Will they realize that our entire future was threatened by white supremacists who thought blacks to be less than human and didn't mind treating us as though? Will they read the Willie Lynch letter?

The intent is not to dwell on the past, but the history must be acknowledged in order to fully appreciate the strides of black people in America. Small lessons in black history should be introduced to our up and coming generation so that they do not take the grand opportunities that have been afforded to them for granted. The struggle is what makes you stronger and strength is what will be needed to make it to the highest plateau of what ever endeavour you set out to conquer. Without that you cannot truly enjoy and appreciate the movement of the black community.

Knowledge of the past will allow for the next black president to realize his or her dream and prepare him for when racism sneaks up behind him and draws monkeys and think its a joke. Catch ya' on the FLIPSIDE.

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