Continued from Part 2...
Perhaps I can sum it up by saying this, the culture today believes in dying like you live. I, and many that are my age, believe in living until I die. The difference is hardly subtle.
I think that the Black community shares my view. I think many want to strive for more. I think we can be more. But I think far too many are stuck on distractions. There is a desire to have bling, and other such nonsense, because someone else has it. There is a desire for a leader to arrive and make things better. There is a desire for justice to take hold. In 38 years it hasn’t happened, and I don’t see that attitude helping it get there.
A cell phone, cable tv, designer clothes and high priced sneakers will not get you a better life. It won’t make you smarter, give you healthy children, or improve your job. Waiting for someone to lead will only make you sheep. Following the trend because that’s what you see around you just makes you a lemming. Doing drugs because they are available and cool only makes you an addict.
There is no excuse for not increasing your knowledge. The computer this is on is a gateway for that. You can gain anything you want; you just have to go after it. I can attest to that fact, I am doing it now. Don’t wait for someone to lead you, lead others if they will follow. Don’t accept less than you are worth. If you would pay for better clothes, what would you pay for a better life? Why accept less? Don’t settle for what you are given. You get what you pay for and if it’s free it’s not worth much. Don’t get caught up with what the Jones’ have, it’s not yours. Everyone wants something someone else has, someone wants what you have. Accept what you do have, plan for what you don’t, and then strive to get to the level above that. Do that and you will be the Jones’. How do you think they got there?
If parts of this upset you, good. It’s not meant to be nice. It’s a wake up call. It’s a slap in the face of complacency. It’s a call to action, and only you can answer it. I’ve spent almost 39 years going for what I think I want and deserve. In ways I’ve succeeded, others not. Yet I’m pleased that I can get where I want to be. I’m hopeful I can get others to follow my lead, and if not I won’t stop going. I have knowledge and that fuels my life, but I’m not special.
The difference between me and you is perhaps that I’m going to be 39 and you are not. The difference is that I don’t care about bling, because I have lived without it with no complaint. The difference is that I made a choice, and accepted the responsibility and consequences of that choice. I am a MAN, 39, African American Puerto Rican and my own.
Maybe, just maybe, when you are my age you can say similar things. But perhaps you will say far more.
This is what I think, what do you think?
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