Real Change

Just left the Rally @ the State Capitol for Trayvon Martin. And I weep. I weep for him and for his innocence lost. A speaker a the Rally said something prophetic, it spoke to me. We should not have to still give our children the talk about inequality in the world, about racism in the US.

Marches don't make change, politcal action does. Even withing the Civil Rights Movement the marches, the demonstrations were a catyllyst for politcal change. The national attention of overt racism in the South caught the ear of the president who pushed bills through Congress the Civil Rights Act was a result of political action stirred by grassroots momemtum. Keep the dream alive. Get involved! Don't just march, vote! Don't just rally at the Capitol, oppose unfair legislation with your legislators! They are at your beck and whim, but only if you show them who's boss.

Late night strolls

Walking to the gas stations in the predominantly White city of Sandy Springs, I actually get goosebumps, my hearts a beat, I feel a moment of terro realizing what happened in Sanford, Florida could very well happen again. I've been pulled over twice in this area, once while walking down the street I had the search light shined in my face as the officers drive away with no explanation. I find myself walking to the gas station because its so nice outside, and I hope my headache will dissapate before I take the medicine I plan to buy. Should I live in fear of being scrutinized or worse assaulted and killed for the color of my skin. My family taught us about the Civil Rights Movement, about those who fought and died to end injustice and racial discrimintation. But in 2012, how far have we really gotten. We have a Black president, but racism still very cleary still exists. I am ashamed to live in a country that clings to the past to forcefully, it subjects people to live as 2nd class citizens. How can we be the land of the free when we still enslave our own citizens? How can we preach equality to other nations when we have not learned it ourselves?
I should not ever have to be fearful of walking down the street in the city I live in, the country I was born in. No one should ever have to feel inferior based on the color of their skin. When will the madness cease?

Jealously

Have you ever watched someone enviously eye someone, their belongings, or just envy something about them. I have been contemplating this theory that if we instead of coveting another's belongings actually complemented them on their success ( however small because obviously its something you want from them). Then perhaps we can learn from each other instead of hating. This hate filled atmosphere of wanting and envying each other is poisonous and gets our society no where.

The bus

Late for work trying to catch the bus. To the young lady already standing there I ask, actually I hesitate to ask so I can remember which bus comes down this street. Oh that's right the bus is called "The Bus."

Peeking into stranger's cars

On the bus raised above the cars on the highway, its often a habit to glance in the cars passing by. Busy working people scrambling to get to work. The soccer mom darting in ttraffic to pick up her kids. The old man blasting oldies in his new car trying to look cool.

This morning I felt it was worth noting the dark blue car full of kids. Four little ones jammed in the backseat of a compact, one sitting up front. Awww maybe she had twins I think, realizing I had already written this mom off to be another 5-kids-having black welfare mama. I admit it was stereotypical and I resented myself for coming to that conclusion. Then as she rolled her car forward I saw a growing bump emerging from her yellow shirt.

Hmmm hope she was car pooling

Confused

Why are these white people looking at me like they've never seen a Black person in a bookstore before...

DMV

And so I asked, " Where do you work?"
My cousin replied " In the DMV."
"Oh cool, where in the DMV area?"
"No I work at the actual DMV."
"Oh...."

So much for using the area lingo...