Black America Wake Up! Now is not the time to be disengaged. Now is not the time to lay our problems at the feet of someone else. Now is not the time to complain that what you do won’t matter anyway. Now is not the time for excuses. Today is the day your race needs you, begs of you, beseech you to get involved. You may ask how and what could you do? I humbly submit, you can show up, you can care, you can correct others, you can hold your friends accountable for their actions, you can make a difference.
Let me explain what is happening to us. We have been literally thrown back to the back of the bus. Yes, it’s that dramatic! The Supreme Court ruling has affirmed that our voice doesn’t matter, we don’t count and the limited amount of resources that we had access to are no longer required. Now if we had received equal measure for the 500+ years of enslavement, the 100+ years of minimal support in the recent decade, perhaps we would have a fighting economic chance to ensure that we are not unfairly targeted.
But look around you. Are you satisfied with the educational system in your community? Are you okay with being stopped because you are black? Is the fact that the media has successfully “branded” us as dangerous, inept and an overall problem okay with you? Statistically white on white crime is just as much of a problem as black on black crime-do you hear it being reported that way? Currently black people are getting prison sentences that are in no way comparable to our counterparts. When a black person does commit a crime, they are a monster but when a different culture commits something more heinous, they are mentally sick. The families are broken-our fault, yes but outside forces have contributed to the breach in our communities. We had the hip hop culture as our source of pride and opportunity to overcome all odds. But now, we don’t even own it anymore. For every millionaire, there are billionaires who act as puppet masters pulling our strings. For every baller, there are decision makers allocating our dollars and we end of destitute at the end of our careers. For every successful business person, we run right out of the community the minute we get a few pennies.
What can YOU do? You can pay attention, you can get involved. Start by reconnecting with your families. What you don’t know, learn. Even if your baby momma or baby daddy hates your guts, try to establish relationships with your children because they need you. Go meet a teacher and let them know they have your support in the development of your children. Find the money to get the proper ID because you will need it to vote. Start now because EVERY election is an important election. Take another child and mentor them because we all have something of value to contribute to the welfare of others. Fill in the gap when no one else will. Take your gift and lend it to a community organization , to a church, to a charity. Learn about your heritage. Raise your standards and most importantly, respect yourselves so that when WE that are on the battlefield for YOU, demand respect from the world, we have a fighting chance.
Wake up Black America, it’s time to fight back. Metaphorically, if you don’t want to see yourself on the boat before you realized you’re back in slavery, you must be able to see that the ship is pulling in the docks.
Nicole B. Simpson 