Black History Month: The Future Is Always Present

The "Right of Free Will" is the equalizer for progress. There will always be laws put forth by sectors of the American power structure to limit access and control, but don't fall for the imagery meant to discourage. The term "minority" plays a subliminal role in pushing the narrative of being different -- one word used as a general catch-all for all non-White races. I'm not a conspiracy person, but somewhere along the line, the word crept into our language as code.

Less Than ...

For many years, white supremacists and numerous historians with less-than-honorable intentions have used false scientific data and other myths to justify the belief that African-Americans and other minorities are inferior. At the same time, some Millennial and Generation Z African-Americans have pointed fingers at those trying to get an education as "acting white." This term was once used by some scholars to label African-Americans who excelled in school and allegedly were shunned by some classmates. Although painful to think about, the term itself is a modern derivative of the labels, "House N####" and "Uncle Tom."

President Obama Set Things Straight ...

The whole crazy "acting white" notion was addressed at the 2004 Democratic National Convention by then-Senator Barack Obama, "Go into any inner-city neighborhood and folks will tell you that government alone can't teach kids to learn. They know that parents have to parent, that children can't achieve unless we raise their expectations and turn off the television sets and eradicate the slander that says Black youth with a book is acting White."

Divisive ...

It's demeaning for such propaganda to be spread at any level of society. Are we to believe the only reason any minority has obtained an education is because they wanted to be white? It is insulting to the current and past African-Americans and minorities who have become pillars in education, business, politics, sports, entertainment and sciences. All these areas were once deemed out of reach for people of color.

Compromise Is Not Defeat ...

I once heard someone refer to reading as traveling without moving an inch. The skill has been a constant springboard for African-Americans and minorities traveling up the social economic ladder. Discussions on how to build upon advances made will always be a source of argument. Compromise is the key, but the definition of the word has been redefined as a defeatist thing. Too many are buying into the revisionist thought process that views compromise as a bad thing. Congress and too many cultural leaders are guilty of promoting such thought. This sort of thing is counter-productive and plays right into "Divide and Conquer." It is hard to build on individual successes if minorities can't project a show of unity. Disagree privately but stand as one publicly.

Martin Luther King Jr. & Malcolm X

There is strength in unity; we see it in finance, education, portions of politics and other sectors of our society. You can disagree with someone and find enough commonality to agree on something else. Over the years, we learned more about how Dr. Martin Luther King and Malcom X set aside differences and began a process of coming together on the big picture for African-Americans. The assassinations of both stopped what could have become a think tank of new initiatives for African-Americans, minorities, the poor and all Americans.

Proof That Unity Works ...

The Montgomery bus boycott worked because of the unified effort by the African-Americans in that city. There was a lot of bickering behind the scenes, but publicly the show of economic unity by withholding the dollars moved African-Americans from the back to the front of the bus.

The bus trip is still on the road, but the GPS needs constant updating to reach the destination of a united front for the future. Don't let the haters and naysayers get inside your head and throw you off course.