Sit Yo Old Ass Down

When I was younger, older ladies would encourage me in other ways...like taking me to revivals, showing me how to apply foundation and even praised me for wearing a slip. Nowadays older women aren't doing those things.

Rose colored glasses. The hustle is to believe that in the Black experience, the past is far greater than the present. Everything that came before us must be revered and carried forward. Where would we be if it wasn't for the honorable people that came before us? All of your elders deserve nothing but the utmost respect and praise for being so brave. Even in our own lifetime, our youth is far greater than that of those that came after us.

Let's see....

From the inception of this great country, Blacks have been considered nothing more than property. Only when it was figured that it could help increase representation in government was the idea of counting my people as people even considered. Let's not forget that this also meant that the Black family was less than a joke in the minds of American culture.

So while white America was out running the race of life, Blacks were cleaning the restrooms and working the concession stands. Never mind the fact that we may have been the best equipped to run within 50 sq. miles of the track.

Blacks are freed, but are they really free? "Here, Nigga, you can get out there and run too. We're not going to restart the race for you. Haha. Oh and you have to get down to the track through this crowd of spectators who don't care that you are not the working staff anymore. Before you go, get me some more iced tea."

After some time has passed, we're on the track. The race has started so long ago that it's virtually impossible to catch up with the leaders without cutting some corners. A few determined individuals jump out the block trying to catch the front runner. One thing, it's a hurdling event when they've been training for a long distance sprint. Others decide that it's too futile to even try to win the race and create their own event that only they win.

That analogy is only for those who cannot relate to the reason why it's hard for Blacks, as a whole, to compete with the Jones's.

Now for you Blacks who know this:

How are you going to act like broken families are new? How dare you act like niggas coonin' it up is new? Over the course of time, you have forgotten about the scum of Black society only to remember the golden images. So you don't remember that not all of your aunts and uncles share the same mother and father? Oh it doesn't matter because Big Mama always found a way to feed her kids. Ya'll niggas acting like you all came from the greatest of beginnings when the fact is that you came from the most modest of roots. You made it out, but how many of your peers can say the same? 25%? 50%?

Just because you have grown up and shed the immature nature of being young doesn't mean that all young people need to do the same. Let the youngsters listen to their music, wear their fashion, and make their way in this world that already will not respect them just because they are Black. You did the same damn thing when you were their age. Guess what, our elders did too. Blaxploitation (Blacks seem to cherish this genre) is not a suggestion of Black culture in the 70's as much as it is a parody of the culture; it also was not a favorite of the Black progressive movement.

Not every Black was marching with Martin, sitting with Rosa, and following Malcolm. Some of those niggas were sitting home talking shit and being content with life they had, and yes some of them are still alive. They will tell you all the good stories about how they overcame the oppression dealt to Blacks.

Open your damn eyes and take of them damn rose colored glasses. Shit's been fucked up.

Doctor AbrACEive Show Episode 48: You Might Be Lame, Sir

Doc, Cam, Ms. Asha, and Nick Nak address the topics of the week. From work to play, get some insight.

"You got a haircut"
Best friend mom
Mom & me porn
@AskCheyB quote
The Wire
Where was In The Heat of the Night located?
RATUW: @Chuck_Deez2
Work checklist
Being laid off from work
Not free from that slander
Old heads talking all that shit
Reckless talk
Shopping parents
Shout outs
@AskCheyB quotes


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Child to Father

I remember my first thoughts when I realized that I was about to be a father. There was that anxiety from feeling unprepared to handle the new responsibility. This mixed with a joy of being able to shape the life of a person and watch them grow to become whomever they were meant to be. Fear was somewhere in the mix because I didn't know what the hell I was about to do.

Through the ups and downs of waiting on the birth, I was introduced to the fact that I would have a son. I don't know what my first thought was, but somewhere a sense of pride overcame me. This was my opportunity to help raise a boy into a man. Not only that, I began to reflect on my own childhood and what my father taught me. What other males had influenced me to be person that I had become? How well would I perform as a teacher.

Every little prideful moment was locked away in memory. From walking to learning to read, I would swell inside each time I saw my son accomplishing something that society determined to be a prerequisite for being "normal". Normal? What is normal?

My son is now attending public school, and ever since he was in day care, I have been advised on how important it is to make sure that he have respect, have manners, and exercise his knowledge. I've been encouraged to be a positive role model and yada yada yada. I understand all of that, which I will continue to do, but it takes my mind to another train of thought.

I recall my childhood years. One of the many struggles I dealt with was the fact that no matter how intelligent I may be, my behavior would precede me more so than academic achievement. It was easier for people to classify me as the bad black boy than the smart black child if I had "behavior" issues. I noticed this was not particularly the case for my white counterparts. It seemed to be easier to accept a white child that challenged adult authority even if that same child's performance was significantly less than my own. The hole gets deeper. On average the bar was set low for black males in the classroom; simply put not failing was good enough.

Relationships were also a point of displeasure. It may be frowned upon for teens to be sexually active, but as high school students, my friends and I were always reminded of the statutory rape law that could ruin a life if parents felt the need to file charges against a boy for having sex with their daughter even though the two children could have been equally responsible. There were few if any cases of the reverse being true for girls. Besides sex is seen as a celebration for boys and shame for girls. Whom are boys to have sex with then because gay sex is supposed to be greatest evil right?

I cannot dwell on my childhood much in relation to my son's because times have changed. There are new dangers in the world that were not as prevalent when I was young. I still cannot forget the undertones that southern society, and sometimes American society, have put in place to alter the views of a youngster. One that will have to grow up knowing and understanding that there is a glass ceiling but he does not have to respect it. Some children will learn that the world is full of double standards around the same time they are learning to multiply and divide while others may never get to attend that class.