in a materialistic state...

As today is listed as 'black friday' we have seen the plum tom foolery of people lining up outside of department stores, electronic stores, clothing boutiques, etc., all to save a buck or spend more because we're 'saving' in the process. However it seems to me that this day is complete and pure insanity for it pushes material items on us during the time that we should be spending with our family(-ies). Why is it that we save up all year just to be pushed back in a corner of debt and the broke stage, all for a tv that will die in a few years, or for a shirt that will soon be out of style? Have we not noticed this trend that continues to plague our community? For example, how many of us will sit outside of class 2-3 hours early to make sure that we are prepared for the discussion that will take place on that day? How many of us take that extra time to speak with our distant relatives, or our elders whom we rarely communicate with because we don't have enough ime in the day? We as a community have fallen into this materialistic mindset and will do anything to get what has been sold to us as a bargain or a must have. It is sad that we will trample over children to get to the back of the store before everyone else, yet we won't lend out a helping hand to that same child when they are struggling in school. It is called priorities people, when will we get our priorities together? When will we wake up and understand that we have been brainwashed to believe that materialism is the way of life, for we were not like this before we were shipped across the seas to this country of individuality and materialistic growth? My people i ask that we take on what is worth more than what money can buy and invest in ourselves and our families by bringing forth knowledge, learning, and then sharing the wisdom that our ancestors have. Spend time with your family during the holiday instead of shopping for shoes, clothes and television sets that seem remarkably cheap. Time is priceless and can never be gained back.

peace&blessings

the corner

Life....

I have been blessed to see a many good days, and i have been blessed to see the worst days. Throughout life's journey we stumble upon hardships, tests, trials, and tribulations. I have lost more than a fair share of friends, and family members at a young age; however God has seen me through. knowing that his love, grace, and mercy protects me on a day to day basis I have overcame life's toughest obstacle. As we continue on our path down the road of life, understand that we are going to hit more than a bump or two in the road; however we must continue to pray that we will make it to see another day. When we come upon a fork in the road, we must call on him to figure out which route to take. There will always be an alluring shortcut but life has no shortcuts. These shortcuts are our mistakes, but throughout the journey we are inclined to take them for they seem easier. All i ask is that as you read this you reflect on the good and bad in life, and I pray that you notice the good will always outweigh the bad. Troubles do not last always, for glory is just around the corner. In times when our darkest moments seem to be insurmountable, understand that the light we are yearning for is soon coming. Acknowledge that the darkest hour of the night is right before the sunrises, there is no need to give up on your journey or yourself.

peace&blessings,

the corner

Troubling Waters in the Black Community

My people, people of color, people of culture, people of life, have become constricted and content with our state of being. It baffles me how we can vote for change across the nation, yet we cannot take the same interest in changing our community. As we continue to disrespect each other with our words and actions, WE as a people need to recognize that we are still fighting a battle, after winning the war. The time to sit on the sideline, drinking Gatorade, and recovering from the last few plays is over! We cannot continue to sit back and watch the world go by as we continue to down the path of destruction. Looking back on the history of our people, it has been quite easy to bamboozle us into believing what we see, hear, and read without any prior knowledge; nor do we investigate/question the information that has been provided. We are in a mindset that will continue to send us in a deleterious downward spiral unless WE do something about it! My people we must cease with this lack of encouragement and pull ourselves out of the rut that we are in, we must continue to fight for ourselves in order for our children's children to be able to survive in this world. We must understand that just because we can walk into restaurants, grocery stores, and bathrooms without being hassled does not mean we have made it as a people. The western culture has us brain washed from the day we are born until the day we decide that we can no longer go off of surmise-able information! For instance most of our parents told us that Christmas presents come from a jolly fat white man (Saint Nick) and that he, along with Jesus, are the reason for the season. We were fooled by thinking that the man in the mall dressed up in a red suit and seemingly factious beard was the man bringing us everything we wanted, when in actuality it was our relatives. We are conditioned to believe what is told to us is law and instead of questioning what is being told, we would rather sit back and act as children would. When will we as a people grow up into adulthood? When will we realize that our nation is still divided, our schools are still segregated, and the BLACK community has been turned into a permanent under class?? We are blinded by the bling and all types of material things such as rims, flashy cars, and money, yet we cannot afford a quality education, quality housing, nor do we take pride in ownership. The black community was built to uplift the people that thrived within it, not to sell drugs, beat our women, promote violence, and tear it down with our own foolish shenanigans. It's remarkable that other cultures that thrive in America have quaint names like 'Little Italy', 'Chinatown', 'Little Havana' etc. but our communities are perceived as slums and ghettos. When are we going to take pride in ourselves, our culture, our heritage?! The founders of the America built this country off of our ideologies, our works, and our FEAR. Our ignorance and lack of passion to find out the truth is the reason why whites are going to the Egyptian pyramids and painting the black faces that were carved into the walls white. This is how they are able to say that white's were prevalent in history before a black person even came into play, they control us with their religion and shun us against our own. Our niggerish mindset is why we walk around calling each other niggas, dogs (dawg), and desecrating ourselves just because one has on blue and the other red. See white people don't have to hold us down, we do that for them. They promote these actions on tv and we are like mindless puppets who sit back and reinforce the behaviors. My people it is time that we take our community back, enough is enough! We can not progress as a people if we fail to realize that we are not in trouble. Who is our modern day MLK, Malcom X, Jessie Jackson, Rosa Parks???? WE would rather watch someone who throws a football or dribble a basketball every Sunday than go vote once every year on a Tuesday. Our community is facing troubled waters and our boat is beginning to sink a rapid rate, the time to save ourselves is NOW! Let us not wait until the ship has sunk to devise a plan of action.

peace&blessings,

The Corner