tradition.Tradition.TRADITION

tradition.Tradition.TRADITION.

Most often, we, as Black Americans, try so hard to be different. Yet, we follow in the same footsteps as our ancestors but we get dressed to the 9s in our designer duds and try calling our attempts different in nature and intent.

We paint the faces of our underaged daughters, put them on the slave block in the skimpiest and tightest outfit and call it fashion. When someone lusts or make shrewd comments then we are offended and shocked. 

We put a ball in the hands of our boys, blow hot air to make them think they ARE the next James or Bryant.  So,when that dream does not come to fruition, a false sense reality will set in and life becomes all about survival. When the penal system stake claim to their freedom, we call in the prayer warriors and call on God for mercy.

 

tradition.Tradition.TRADITION. 

We cannot continue to paint pictures of the same situations and think we are a part of the solution.

We cannot wear blinders and pretend not to see that we are a part of the problem. 

We cannot have deliberate inconsistency and expect different results by not owning our flaws. 

Tupac was a wise man in his own right for he said, and I quote:

“when brothas make babies, and leave a young mother to be a pappy

And since we all came from a woman

Got our name from a woman and our game from a woman

I wonder why we take from our women

Why we rape our women, do we hate our women?

I think it’s time to kill for our women

Time to heal our women, be real to our women

And if we don’t we’ll have a race of babies 

That will hate the ladies, that make the babies.” 

Put it in a song and people will sing it word for word– but not take heed to the meaning. Put it in a book and they will ride the wave of the person quoting it.

 

tradition.Tradition.TRADITION

When we raise our children to follow toxic cultural traditions, we set them up for the same entrapment of generations past. We allow reality television to teach our girls how to be women and sports commentators attempt to teach our boys how to be men.

When we raise our children to conform to the ways of the world, they will spend the rest of their lives doing as the Romans when in Rome. Hardly will they ever transform into something or someone plausible because they have been aimlessly meandering through life.

When we raise our children to be pretentious then we have to rest in knowing that we did them a disservice and life will NEVER be as it seems because we are living a lie.

 

tradition.Tradition.TRADITION 

When our children are judged based upon the color of their skin or the meaning of their names, we become angry and appalled. Yet, we have taught the very same children to see color and not character.

When we stick to what tradition has taught us, we will always be stuck with what we get.

When we did as we were instructed - we were labeled slaves of this nation. 

When we did as we wanted – we were labeled rebels of the times. 

Why not break the tradition – and love – because in the end, LOVE CONQUERS ALL.

 

I am not saying to be ignorant to circumstances; however, I am suggesting doing something different. Educate people on how to treat you but that is only valid if you know how to treat yourself. This is not just people of one specific race but people in general.  Be open to doing something that removes animosity from the hearts of your fellow human being.

Color and class will always create a division amongst the masses. Racism is not exclusive to the white man –oriental man – black man – or native man. Racism and hate will ALWAYS be here because it has ALWAYS been here. The question is – how can you live a healthy, non-toxic and productive life with it hanging in the balance? US Accreditation originated from the standard set by of Ivy League schools, even if you go to a HBCU, who okayed the curriculum and funding? If you have recently bought a house in suburbia, to whose standard did you measure it against? If you have recently picked up a book or surfed the internet or even bought a phone, who fought for that very “right” to take things for granted in this country? Somebody of the opposing team had to see that discrimination was not fair and take a stand to change it. 

If you are looking for answers via a text book or through researching literature, you will always be at the mercy of historians. An innate connection should prompt you to do the right thing, even if it is not received or returned. When you know, what you know; then you know all that you know. If you read it, that means someone else had the ability to manipulate it. #thinkaboutit

 

#TP2L