Beyond the slave mindset

Continuing Black History

By relegating the month of February to be a month where Black history is prevalent, we are making the topic skewered. Our heritage, history and culture should be taught and celebrated every day.
It has become blatantly apparent that Black people need to be built up, encouraged, motivated and given a strong sense of identity and greatness. The need can be seen in so many single parent households where there is no example for our young men, and our daughters are not learning how they should be treated, gender and sexual preference are confused, our incarceration rates are high, our abortion rates are high, our divorce rates are high, our domestic violence rates are high, our addiction rates are high, the negative and degrading music is programming our youth, school drop-out rates are awful, and not to mention “Black on Black” crime.
Why are these things staying in place? No need to utilize a Holmesian strategy in seeking an answer, because the slave mindset is still in place.
The slave mindset, is the mindset of being suspicious of each other. Tearing each other down and defending those things and ways that are detrimental to us is exactly what is keeping our people down. Parental participation is almost non-existent in our schools, not striving beyond the status quo, adopting the “anything goes” mentality, hustling and low paying jobs are considered the acceptable norm, while financial problems take center stage.
We can do better, we have to do better.
Lack of identity is a major issue and there is a lot we can do about it, but before I share the solutions, let us together take a look at how lack of identity manifests itself.
There are no longer any excuses for not finding out who you are, what your potential is and why you are here.
But you have to want to know whom you are, to do more, be more and rise higher… When you do not know who you are, sad to say several key things happen.
Firstly, you act like who you are not or who someone else tells you that you are. That is evident in the fact that so many of our people act like the N-words.
However, and sadly, many of our people plug into the stereotypes that the racist mainstreamers have set, painted and promoted: mistreating our own and allowing ourselves to be mistreated.
Of course, we are not the only ethnic group that does these things, but this article is about lifting our people up, not theirs.
Secondly, our people with an identity crisis always seek to look like someone else – the long hair weaves, the wigs, the flashy cars, the loud music – all, for us, are a part of being seen and trying to convince people we are “ok.” Does this mean driving a nice car or wearing a weave is a sign of lack of identity for everybody?
No, but for many of our people, these behaviors are a sign of emulation and lack of identity, especially when the people driving the cars and wearing the weaves are doing so in order to impact how others will perceive them.
Remember ladies you cannot be Queens and wear someone else’s crown on your heads. The hair that you wear must match the face and the race.
How can you enter the struggle and be appreciated as a natural black when you don’t even dare to show your natural hair?
Thirdly, our people who have identity problems are much more receptive to negative influences and quick to emulate such influences by adopting them as role models.
So what can we do to wake up the greatness and excellence within?
Firstly, you must choose to be a proactive part of the solution, or you are already part of the problem. Secondly, stop blaming or scapegoating everyone else for your failures and be honest.
The only person who can hold you down is the person you believe can hold you down. Thirdly, set higher goals, standards and expectations for yourself in your relationships, in your finances, and with your children.
Fourthly, we must stop tearing each other down. Be honest, be factual then offer solutions and lift others up.
Anyone who thinks they can use our people, especially if you are one of us, and get away with it, or come out ahead is a fool who does not understand Karma: reaping and sowing, or what comes around goes around.
Fifth, find and follow the right kind of role models based on your new standards, goals and expectations. Take care of your children, know where they are, be there for them, listen to them and expect excellence from them. Do not chase everything in a skirt, and be selective, not desperate.
If you are a woman, be a woman who believes there are good Black men out there because there are. Avoid pettiness and immature gossip.
Boys and girls, gentlemen and ladies join some organization. Be productive, speak up, write something, give something, do something.
Ironically, I see so many of our women walking around saying they are looking for their “king.” But upon close examination, are they queens? A queen has the mind of a queen and her behavior, character and identity all line up with that mindset.
Proof of the right mindset is not simply found in how much you make or what you drive. It is found in who you are on the inside. Stop waiting on men to pay your bills and handle your business, stop waiting on men to pay for your hair, nails, cell phone, etc. Handle your business.
Likewise with African-American men: I see more of you guys bowing down to women, failing to take the lead, running from the court system, making babies just because you can, and thinking only about yourself with no knowledge that we are all connected in one way or another.
You should be setting the tone for yourself and the example for those around you instead of following those who are going nowhere fast. You have greatness within you and you cannot let it be clouded or choked by foolishness, ignorance, poor examples or those who do not care about you.
Once you know who you are, act like you know. The legal system cannot stop you. A lack of money cannot stop you. Coming from low-income homes or a single parent home cannot stop you. Having been a victim of any type of abuse cannot stop you.
Let this statement be forever etched in the annals of your mind: the only one who can stop you from reaching greatness is you! Anybody else has to have your help and permission to do so.