What We Need to Do Now

This was originally posted to MySpace
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
What We Need to Do Now

We've completed Step 1, but we still have work to do. We have to:

-Read more, listen more & be aware of our surroundings. I remember hearing, "If you want to keep information from Black people, put it in a book." I know that sometimes the information on the news can be a bit dry, redundant and even difficult to understand. But, the more you watch it or read about it, the more you understand. We have to do a better job educating ourselves. If you don't know something…ASK!

-Take back our communities. Talk to your neighbors and start by just saying hello and introducing yourself! Have a sunshine committee to welcome new neighbors. Create a phone chain with your neighbors—if someone needs a dog sitter, is going away on vacation and needs someone to collect mail, check on something, take the kids somewhere, whatever…now you have some more options. Have block parties and create instances where you and your neighbors have to interact. Become more active in our schools & communities. Volunteer your time and services. When you put yourself out there in your community, you make it easier to interject in potentially bad situations. If people in your community know and like you, if you see children acting you, you can correct them and they'll be more likely to respect you. Everyone can't keep an eye on their child at all times, but it's comforting to know that if you can't, you're neighbors have your back. And finally, this stop snitchin' thing is ridiculous. If you see something wrong, it is your duty as a human being to report it. If you're scared, do it anonymously. You wouldn't want someone to witness something bad happening to you and not say anything on your behalf. Return the favor.

-Empower our children to let them know they can do whatever they want but it's not enough to just pay them lip service. We have to equip them with the tools to adequately accomplish their goals. Part of equipping them with the necessary tools is being an example yourself. You can't tell a child, "be the best you can be" while you're throwin' back handles of Henny and sparkin' blunts all damn day long. You can't tell a kid to go to school, but you can't talk yourself, can't read, never speak with their teachers, never check their bookbags, didn't finish high school, etc. Why would they listen to you? Do your best to be what you verbally and physically promote otherwise no one will take you seriously. Let children know not to be afraid of trying hard. That doesn't mean you're acting white. You try hard to do your best because you owe it to yourself to always give it your best shot. Don't be afraid to fail. Every great success was precedented by at least one failure.

-While we need to empower our children, we also need to regain order. The teachers are afraid of the principles, the principles are afraid of the superintendents, the superintendents are afraid of the parents, the parents are afraid of the children and the children ain't afraid of anyone! If young children do not respect their elders when they are physically smaller, what will happen as they begin to physically grow bigger than their elders. Who will they listen to? We need to stop all of this, "I don't need to listen to nobody cuz I'm grown" business.

-Work harder to take care of our vulnerable—young, old & disabled. Perhaps programs can be set up so that communities have interaction between organizations…let the high school and college students work in early childhood, geriatric and mental health settings. Provide incentives for volunteer work within the community. Create provisions where employees must complete a designated amount of community service within a prescribed amount of time.

-Be responsible to our families. Ladies, stop sexin' everyone that pays you attention. If you stop havin' sex with these dudes irresponsibly, then you'll stop havin' these kids for whom you can't provide. Then we won't be complainin' about these dead beat dads. If we spent more time getting to know these men, we'd learn quickly that some are not ready to be the fathers our children need. And fellas, have some discretion. Sex is good. We get that. But, you don't need to hit off every chick that throws it on you or who you think is bangin'. Sometimes they will run game to trap you. Next thing you know, you're stuck in a relationship with some ungrateful kids and a woman you can't stand. Before you know it...you bounce and they're talking about how much of a deadbeat father you are…Stop havin' kids you can't take care of!

-Become more financially literate. Perhaps this needs to start in the schools but at the very least, parents become financially literate yourselves and teach your children what you know. "Kids"...go to the library, Yahoo!, Google or even Barnes and Noble and read up on what to do with that chump change you're making at your part-time job..