Me and my brother had a brief differing of opinions about a statement I posted on Facebook. Unfortunately the premise of this blog is targeted at the black community. Not judge but to open eyes and shed light on what I view as a problem. As a community nationwide we pride ourselves on the work of blacks before us and currently striving in America and rightfully so. The impact MLK, Harry Belafonte, Malcom X, Zora Neale Hurston, Madame CJ Walker and Ida B. Wells to name a few. We say it loud, "I'm black and I'm proud." Recently, President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama have caused morale of the black community to spike. Just the thought of what he has done puts a smile on the faces of blacks throughout America. The strides we have made in the last 50 years is amazing to say the least, and all glory be to God! But there is one significant problem that is overlooked and we are oblivious to it. At the height of the civil rights movement blacks looked out for each other. There was a sense of family and they always reached back to help pull others out of the fray.
1 John 3:17 (KJV amp) But if anyone has this world’s goods (resources for sustaining life) and sees his brother and [a]fellow believer in need, yet closes his heart of compassion against him, how can the love of God live and remain in him?
True there are increasing numbers of blacks who are pursuing and attaining higher education. But let's put this into perspective, there were so few at one point that numbers that indicate a significant increase are extremely skewed. So we lower the standards, disregard the obvious and claim victory. Leaving behind the majority. My views may be seen as negative and cynical but I'm not here to appease this is the bare naked truth. Also we complain that the black youth is severely undereducated. Which is a true statement through and through. History isn't the Gospel and everything taught in school unfortunately isn't true. For example, evolution of man but thats neither here nor there. So why do we complain and leave all the responsibly on the school system to educate our own? Blacks as a whole do a horrendous job at educating our own youth and many loathe the thought of being around the less privileged or uneducated. We can have an adverse affect if we are aberrant in the way our black youth are educated. But as I have grown older and slowly matured, ignorance and misinformation are no excuse. We are fortunate to live in a day and age where we have accessibility to the information only if we choose to seek it. Lastly, once out of a dire life situation contributing knowledge and steps to success are essential to the growth of the black community.
Philippians 2:3 Do nothing from factional motives [through contentiousness, strife, selfishness, or for unworthy ends] or prompted by conceit and empty arrogance. Instead, in the true spirit of humility (lowliness of mind) let each regard the others as better than and superior to himself [thinking more highly of one another than you do of yourselves].
Everyday I see and hear blacks act as if they are above what is going on in the inner cities, also they are reluctant associate with the less privileged and poverty stricken. What a shame! Those same poverty stricken people will have a home more beautiful than the home the nice 3000 square feet you reside in on this earth (Matthew 5:3). It's shocking how so many blacks are blessed to prosper and "get out"; and then suddenly forget their family. The bible tells us that those people are worse than unbelievers and we know unbelievers will perish (1 Timothy 5:8). As I stated previously this isn't an attack on blacks. I just abhor the contradictory that takes place. Celebrating Black History Month but not mirroring those for whom it is celebrated is a futile action. I always like to end on a positive note, so with that being said get out of your comfort zone and engage in the dirty work. Our community is faced with many challenges, contention and erroneous disputes. Lets become similar to Jesus and MLK; be seen as a religious zealot. Nonetheless, what makes it so beautiful is that with empathy for others and hard work supplemented with God, faith and prayer we can and will grow as a black community.
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
― Martin Luther King
Galatians 6: 2 Bear (endure, carry) one another’s burdens and [a]troublesome moral faults, and in this way fulfill and observe perfectly the law of Christ (the Messiah) and complete [b]what is lacking [in your obedience to it].
3 For if any person thinks himself to be somebody [too important to condescend to shoulder another’s load] when he is nobody [of superiority except in his own estimation], he deceives and deludes and cheats himself.
- Chaz Gerard Tyler
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