Manifesting Open Doors

I am happy to report that I have arrived safely in Rochester (as most of you already know) and am feeling adjusted and acclimated post transition. As I await the decision from the Peace Corps, I am filling my time catching up with loved ones, visiting Agape, catching up on a stack of books I longed to read during the four years of my Bachelor's Degree, Writing and organizing new thought, and involving myself in my community.

I am participating in a play, written by Grace Flores, "The Waiting Room" and feeling spiritually amazed at her talent for pulling currents out of the ether and putting them on paper. My first week and a half has certainly not been uneventful. I have had many spiritual revelations during this time and am cautiously walking forward in light and love with the intentions of manifesting the highest resolution my life is capable of.

Tomorrow I will be working with Sharon Turner and participating in a poetry workshop for Rochester Youth. I am excited and looking forward to this event. Agape is urging me in many amazing directions with the hopes that I do not return to waiting tables but instead answer my calling full time in a manner that will help pay the bills.

I am working with Judith Brink, of Prison Action Network, and my community here in the Roc to put together a networking event where those of us greatly concerned with reforming current prison system legislation can come together and amplify. I am really looking forward to manifesting this event.

I am asking those of you who have offered me constant love and support to pray with me that the Universe will manifest the doors I should walk through and show me the way. I love waiting tables. I am good at it and it paid my bills for many years. However, I would much rather spend my time working in my community, speaking my truth, sharing my music and helping build a brighter tomorrow. That being said, if anyone in the Rochester community needs my energy and talent, please let me know. I have done a lot of keynote speaking and charity events where I perform my poetry and/or my music. I am ready, willing and able.

I believe in the power of my destiny. I know that my path is opening in front of me. I believe I will look back on this six months and be amazed at how much I was able to accomplish; amazed by how many good things came my way. That is not to say it will be without challenges and obstacles meant for me to overcome. Stronger I am daily. This is my beautiful life. Thank you for sharing it with me.

~RAin Christi.

Scratching in the Wall

I half expected to wake up this morning to a family of possums snuggled up in my living room. The scratching began underneath the bathtub and has remained there for months. I told my landlord, and when he didn't seem concerned, I tried to take the same stance. Unfortunately, the creature that lives underneath my house and now inside the walls is not quiet! A couple native Floridians have told me that it is most likely fruit rats seeking warmth. I think it is a bigger animal,  but maybe this fruit rat just has really big claws and is really clumsy. Whatever it is, it is nocturnal and loves nothing more than to keep me awake. C'est La vie.

Yesterday, was a day riddled with obstacles. Monday afternoon I spent quality hours of my life completing my Experimental Design and Analysis (for IBM SPSS Statistics) final project. This class has certainly been my nemesis and has kept me frustrated all semester. I put a lot of effort into this project and was very satisfied with it as I sent it off to my professor via Turn-it-in. I went to Sawgrass Lake Park with Tommy and afterward to work, feeling light and free. Monday night I come home from work to find an email waiting from my Professor. He did not receive my word file, only my SPSS output file. !!!!!!!!

For the first time EVER! I had not saved my work or sent myself a copy. There was some kind of glitch with Turn-it-in and now I am shaking with panic. Ander, my friend who tutors in the Student Success Center where I had completed my work said not to worry, the file would be there in the morning. Unfortunately, Ander was wrong. The computers in the lab go in to deep freeze overnight and most files are erased to save space on public computers. Curtis (one of our Tech wizzes on campus) did all he could to thaw the deep freeze but was unable to recover my file. So I did it all over again. I don't think it was as spectacular as it was the first time, but it was the best I had...

Furthermore, my thesis documentary fought me as I tried to copy it from my hard drive. It first wanted to take six hours to render. It is One hour and ten minutes long! I bought two hour dvd's. Somehow it wasn't long enough. It got to the very end of the documentary (after almost two hours of rendering). I am talking the last thirty two seconds and told me the DVD wasn't large enough. AGGHHHHHH! So after redoing my Statistics final project I went to five stores trying to find the right DVD's. Finally I found them at Office Depot.

Then, Stacey calls and says the city (after we have received inspection and approval by the fire marshall) said that we cannot have anything outside in the parking lot the night of my show. We were wanting to put the food and vendor tents outside to make room for our guests inside the intimate venue.

That was my day yesterday. The good news is, I turned in my thesis (DVD's and all), Stacey and I are meeting today to put our creative heads together and find a way to make Saturday night smooth and beautiful, and I have one more final left to take.

I swear, someone should teach me how to do cartwheels so I can cartwheel my way across the stage at graduation!

Thank you all for the continued love and support.

~Rain.

Her Last Stand

            America the great has stood as a hegemonic power since the 1890’s (Flint & Taylor, 2007: p. 55). Large portions of this semester we have discussed how long we envision America remaining in the seat of hegemony. The world has become more connected thanks to the digital age. The world has begun to see America for who she truly is. The world has begun to contest much of what we stand for. In a brilliant article, Socialization and Hegemonic Power (Ikenberry & Kupchan, 1990), the authors state how imperative it is for the elite (as opposed to the masses) to emulate the hegemonic culture that has been articulated. Socialization of the hegemon simply cannot take place without this emulation by the elite. This is America’s greatest threat.

            Already the world is juxta-positioned on the precipice of a catalyst. We are hovering between the way the world once worked and the new global digital society being forged daily. The new hegemon may be a corporation or perhaps this newly forged world will need not hegemonic power at all. Of course there are still international theorists who use American exceptionalism to argue that she will not fall to the same fate as past hegemons (Layne, 2006). Only time may tell what shall truly come to pass.

            What is obvious at this moment is that America is no longer this great mystery miracle melting pot to most of the globe. Most of the globe now has access to the same internet we do and those who do not most likely soon will. Our façade of “justice and liberty for all” is now recognized as a mask and much of what we do is being questioned by countries which are beginning to think for themselves. What will America mean to the world of tomorrow? How long can America stand strong in the face of truth? How long can America convince the world she always cared? How long can America make this new digital world believe her way is the best?    

            The greatest opportunity lying dormant for America would be to roll with the changing times. If America were to become more global; if America were to become involved in other cultures around the globe; if America were to be as passionate about learning as she was about funding wars; if America was willing to evolve, America may show the world why she became a leader in the first place. This generation of up and coming American leaders are studying hard, they are getting involved in global politics, they are travelling the world and reading incredible books, and they are ready for the world of tomorrow. America’s greatest opportunity can be realized through her youth.

            The only way we can make a sound tomorrow for this undulating world, is to recognize how we impact one another not merely economically but culturally, intellectually and spiritually. This generation of graduates is looking at things without the rose colored glasses of American exceptionalism. This generation of graduates is willing to debate for what they believe in. This generation of graduates is well versed on the wars and politics that drive them around the world. What the United Nations began, a true global council could finish. The best thing America could do to solidify her status in the upcoming global shift would be to lead the way into the dawning of a new age. Of course, it is most certain there will always be wars, and there will probably also always be greed and manipulation; however, the countries of the world stand to learn much from one another and America should lead the way. The articulation of the American culture did not honor the original statements made in the declaration of Independence. This is the day and the time for America the Great to redeem herself. Should she choose to refuse this great opportunity, she will instead witness her Last Stand.

References:

Flint, C., & Taylor, P. J. (2007). Political geography: world-economy, nation-state, and locality. Pearson Education.

Ikenberry, G. J., & Kupchan, C. A. (1990). Socialization and hegemonic power. International organization, 44(03), 283-315.

Layne, C. (2006). The unipolar illusion revisited: The coming end of the United States' unipolar moment. International security, 31(2), 7-41.

Dragonfly Life!

Yesterday morning, I woke up physically exhausted from the thirteen hour day I put in on Sunday. But there was something extra. There was a spiritual pressure, and a beyond physical exhaustion that felt heavy as I tried to orchestrate my day. I tried to give myself a pep talk: "This is it young lady, the final five weeks of semester. You have your third album to release, your fourth to record, your thesis to finish and defend, your stats grade to pull up to an A, your house to give away/sell/pack, your family and friends to say see ya later to...a drive up the coast, a lot to be rendered in Rochester, the Peace Corps, Pacifica, WOW!" None of that seemed to help.

I have been living alone for four years this December. I am proud of the distance my soul has travelled in that time. There are those of you I could not have done it without. I am utterly grateful for my friends. I have adjusted rather well to living by myself. I rather like it. But there are definitely times I could use an extra pair of hands for laundry, cleaning, recycling, grocery shopping, washing the truck, or any of the other sundry things that must be done to keep a household running smoothly. I miss love. I miss kisses in the morning. I miss kisses before bed. I miss making and sharing meals. I miss sharing the story of our days. I miss love.

My mother believes that my destiny requires this of me. She believes that while there are plenty suitors who would take good care of me and make a beautiful daughter with me, that my destiny is better served with me as an Army of One. There are some moments when that is nothing more than a burden. The thought alone is a weight that bogs me down. Most of the time, I can see why she might be right. Most of the time, I align myself to the realization that I know there is a calling on my life and no matter what I am willing to serve my purpose.

Yesterday however, all I wanted to do was be held on a strong chest, look into eyes that loved me, and maybe cry a little.

I called one of my dear friends. I asked if he had a little time for me. We met up after class and the bear hug I received was certainly of great aid to my soft soul. I thanked him. I told him I just wanted to reflect in his strength to remind myself how strong we truly are. I felt up against the wall, and after the hug, I was still drained but I knew what I had to do. I had to wake up this morning ready to conquer the world. So I did.

At work last night, there was a woman who sat in my section outside. She had a dragonfly charm around her neck. "I have a dragonfly tattoo on my back," I told her. They are very sacred to me. She smiled and told me her husband had gotten the necklace for her and she loved it. The next table that was seated was inside, and I greeted the couple surprised to see the lady had a dragonfly tattoo on her arm. I told my friend Diana there was a message to be had and I intended to figure it out.

I asked each woman, one outside/one inside remember, what the dragonfly meant to her. They each said one word. Strength. Honestly, I have never connected the dragonfly to the word strength. Yet, each of these women had. Earlier that day, I had told my friend I needed to reflect in his strength to remember mine. It seemed the Divine was telling me that all the strength I needed was at my disposal. I felt loved.

That was my Monday, and it was good.
I Love my Life!!!!!

SuperHero: 2015

Enter stage left, Miss Esmerelda Towns, ready to address the press conference with their multiplicity of questions. Her quick wit and poetic tongue allow her to answer anyone regarding anything. Her golden brown skin and her hazel green eyes make her stunning to look at and this is part of her charm. Her curvy athletic frame makes it impossible to ignore her clad in the classic tight-fitting world saving uniform of a superhero. From a very young age her Latina mother and African-American father prepared her for the life she was destined to lead. They never spared her from the truth and the injustices of the world never went unnoticed within the walls of her struggling household.

            Esmerelda went to an inner city school just like most other minorities in the great United States. The real education came on the streets of her neighborhood, inside the walls of her home, and in the dojo with the mixed martial arts master she studied with all her life. He agreed to barter with her father. Harper Towns was a hard-working and intelligent man. He was a carpenter and agreed to work on the dojo any time it needed work in exchange for his gifted daughter studying with the master. The building was old and it worked out over the years to be a reciprocal situation that satisfied both men. Esmerelda was beyond gifted in her studies. No matter what she applied herself to, she excelled. The master knew a very special destiny stretched out before this talented young woman.

            Esmerelda really excelled when it came to interpersonal relationships. From a very young age, she could talk to anyone about anything and really connect with the person she was speaking with. She was excellent at solving problems and with her quick wit she was fast on her feet as well. As a young child she tended animals and those weaker than her making sure things were as fair as she could make them. It really mattered to her that everyone received an equal chance in this world. As she began getting into her martial arts training around six or seven, she realized she had special abilities that other little girls did not have. When she practiced, especially when she was alone, she realized she could jump higher, stay suspended longer and move in a way that was unlike even the movements of the master. She kept it to herself for a couple years until one day the master saw her in the mirror and confirmed what he had always suspected.

            From that day, she worked even harder to honor her destiny. She knew she had to be stronger than all the rest. She knew that she had to work harder than everyone else. She knew she had an obligation to the rest of the world. This is why she was here. This is who she was. The more she focused her abilities she realized not only did her body move differently than others, she also had the ability to move objects around her. At first it was a shaky process but with the help of the master, she began practicing meditation. She learned how to focus her mind. She worked hard after school every day on her profound abilities. The master had her also begin yoga and Pilates. He also taught her the art of Reiki. She was able to control her qui (or inner life force) and she advanced rapidly. By eleven years old, she had won the national conference for mixed martial arts twice! Her parents were thrilled with her progress. They knew their daughter was special. Little did they know how very special she would become.

Hello From Space

From the nursery to international government, the mechanism that runs the world could well be described as a search for power. It can be broken down effectively to those who have the power and those who do not. Power, when viewed as a resource harnesses the capacity to mobilize certain ends such as military strength, diplomatic relations, and economic stability. Power viewed as knowledge ascribes validity to people who then get to create what will be the normative behavior for a culture or cultures. Even ideas such as the lifestyles of such idolized families as the Kardashians can create symbols that later become the norm for a given culture. Power can be viewed from many angles including many we have not mentioned. Inscribed power is possessed by institutions depending on their relative position to other institutions (Flint & Taylor, 2011: p. 28-32). Using the nursery as an example, power is simply one infant taking a toy from another infant and being powerful enough to keep it.

From the foundation of how power is approached and defined we arrive at the notion of hegemonic power. According to our text (Flint & Taylor, 2011: p. 310) hegemony is defined as “a position held by a state or a class when it so dominates its sphere of operation that other states or classes are forced to comply with its wishes voluntarily. States are defined as hegemonic at the scale of the world-system, classes at the scale of the state.” A state becomes a hegemonic power when it achieves primacy in production over rivals, commercial advantage, and financial dominance in the world economy (Flint & Taylor, 2011: p. 50-51). A state as a hegemonic power must lead the world in production, profit, and cultural expressions. It is widely accepted that the United States is the most recent hegemonic power. However it is also widely speculated that the United States is in the B2 phase of Kondratieff’s cycles, otherwise known as declining hegemony (Flint & Taylor, 2011: p. 55: table 2.1). Wallerstein (2003) points out that a large portion of the world now harbors negative views toward the United States and that is largely affecting the US as a hegemonic power.

The question then arises if the United States is in fact a declining hegemonic state, who will the next hegemonic state be? There is however a far more intriguing question in the realm of political geography. Will there be another hegemonic state or will hegemonic power come from another source altogether? Perhaps, it will be a corporation and not a territorial state (Beer, 2009; Cox, 1992; Krasner, 1976; & Nye, 1990). This conversation has been entertained for decades within the scholarly discourse of political geography. The answer still has not made itself clear. Will the United States find its way back to the top of the world? Will it continue to decline and watch another state gain hegemonic power? Will we see a corporation or a multi-national individual with large funds and public sway become the next hegemon? Are we perhaps witnessing the end of hegemonic power all together (Callahan, 2008)?

The Pilgrims left Great Britain in search of many things. The tyranny of King George had to come to an end. They demanded space to be themselves, freedom to make their own laws and the right to worship as they saw fit (Fliegelman, 1985: p. 5-6). Perhaps, young America was truly sincere when the forefathers spoke of justice, freedom, and liberty for all. However, the exploration of the West, the thousands of acres of land stolen from the Native American and the gold rush of California (Paul, 1965) changed everything. It was not long before gold became currency and with the advent of this new currency, capitalism took off like a bird released from a cage.

A little more than a century after her birth, America began rising to her power as hegemonic state (Flint & Taylor, 2011: p. 55). She had come to be a rival with Germany and had become a master at mass-production. In the early 1900’s the world witnessed the collapse of Great Britain’s free trade and the decisive defeat of the German military. At the time, Lady Liberty was known to have open arms for the tired and hungry masses and thousands of immigrants flocked to American shores in waves. The United States rose to hegemonic maturity in the 1940’s and New York became the world’s center for financial trade.

Like a bully gone unchecked, the United States took what they wanted from the countries which held the resources they needed to collect the greatest profit. Between 1945 and 1960, the world shifted yet again and Big Oil became a large global focus challenging the United States in her hegemonic power and causing both public and private warfare all in the name of oil (Jezer, 1982). The fight for oil continues on. The fight for resources continues to lead one country or a group of countries to holding global power and leading the rest of the world as they see fit.

Wallerstein (1974) defines three structural geographic political positions: the core, the semi-periphery and the periphery. The core is defined as “one of three major zones of the world-economy…in world-systems analysis. It is characterized by core processes involving relatively high-wage and high-tech production (Flint & Taylor, 2011: p. 308).” The core is not always known for being friendly or supporting the periphery or the semi-periphery. The core is however known to take what it wants and thrive. Core countries are often known to take from the resources of the periphery and semi-periphery and bloodshed is often associated with this procurement of resources.

The semi-periphery is defined as “the middle category of the three-zone division of the world in world-systems analysis. It is characterized by a mix of both peripheral and core production processes (Flint & Taylor, 2011: p. 314).” The semi-periphery countries are middlemen. Some are known to take of the resources of the periphery to their own benefit. However, they are always forced to remain mindful of the core countries and the political and monetary dues they are constantly owed. The semi-periphery does not stand without the core; however, it does have some power and authority over the periphery.

The periphery is defined as “one of three major zones in world-economy…characterized by peripheral processes consisting of relatively low-wage and low-tech production (Flint & Taylor, 2011: p. 312).” Many periphery countries might stand on their own were they left alone. The constant involvement of the semi-periphery and especially core countries make the periphery living off their own natural resources problematic at best and often completely impossible. Periphery countries are often lands rich in natural resources that are stolen by the core countries especially and with no means of defending themselves must live at lower than subsistence levels while struggling to survive.

Capitalism is a very Westernized idea. It is a money-monger. It is selfish and obscene. Capitalism looks out for the wealth of the elite and cares not what pain and suffering it causes to those who struggle to survive. Capitalism is a beast that must be destroyed. It is vile and murderous. It is fueled by hatred and greed. It seeks only to satisfy its own momentum and worries not for the lives lost in its wake. There are plenty of resources on this planet for all her people and the only reason some suffer without nutrition and die is due to greed.

The core countries are strong in military power. The core countries are strong in production. The core countries are good at taking resources from the semi-periphery and periphery countries in order to sustain their high income lifestyles. Core countries do not always manage to get along. Each core country has the capitalistic ideal at being the best in the world, the richest in the globe, and the most unstoppable in warfare. However, sometimes core countries form alliances for political and/or financial reasons. These alliances only make the core countries that much more formidable.

The semi-periphery countries are forced into buying into the capitalistic model. They work hard to please the core and stay in good graces and just like the middle child, they turn toward the periphery and exact what they believe they deserve from those less fortunate. This is the largest problem with this model. Meanwhile, the periphery does what it can to survive. It does what it can to thrive. It may just be the periphery that truly has an idea of what life is meant to be.

Follow me to Guatemala. Four college students were determined to live at the subsistence level of poverty which is one dollar per day (Wagstaff, 2003). These college students travelled to Guatemala and set up an intense algorithm for randomization of the amount of money they were allowed to have each day (Huffington Post, 2012). They faced the same problems that the locals faced: days without money, worms and intestinal diseases, and poverty level standards of living that would shock an American-born citizen. The most amazing part of the documentary created around this story, was the vibrant nature of the lives of the citizens of Guatemala. Their lives focus on laughter. Their lives focus on joy. Their lives focus on family activities such as work, exercise, and meals.

Perhaps the greatest weapon the citizens of the world have against capitalism is to put down our material possessions, to stop buying into their model and to truly remember what it is like to enjoy life. Capitalism has no power without the wealth of the citizens. Capitalism has no power without the resources she sells. Capitalism has no power without the existence of greed. We feed the belly of the beast and it grows infinitesimally.

In his powerful story, The Story of B (Quinn, 2010), Daniel Quinn talks about those who take and those who give. He goes into great detail about the advent of agriculture and the departure of the hunter-gatherer lifestyle. He discusses how it affected humanity and how a new culture arose around this new way of life. He challenges each reader to privately admit whether he is a taker or a giver. He challenges the culture based on a greed and accumulation of wealth. He speaks deep into each listening soul and asks them to see what this way will eventually do to our planet.

Flint and Radil (2009) make an astute observation regarding the connection between terrorist activity and the status of a country as a core, semi-periphery or periphery country (Flint & Taylor, 2011: p. 69). Those that suffer the most are the most powerless to defend themselves against the machine.

(www.tandfonline.com)

If the accumulation of wealth is the be-all, end-all of the capitalist model, and those that have the wealth, have the power, what do we see to be the outcome of this culture? If terrorism is connected to the stability of the core, where does the cycle end? If the nature of hegemonic power is changing, is it possible that the nature of power is changing as well?

The core has been fighting for resources for so long that they did not take the time to listen to the cries of the periphery. The semi-periphery has been stuck in the middle confused as to which way to align but knowing that they must take in order to gain status in this capitalistic world. As long as money is power and power is revered as the top of the world systems structure, we are raping a planet that has no method of defending herself against this parasitic species called Human.

What comes next? Since World War II, we have boomed in population. We have boomed in our use of resources. We have a continued and growing problem. We are depleting the Earth’s resources (Chichilnisky, 1996). While the core is busy stealing from the rest of the world; while core countries are at war with one another; while the periphery struggles to survive, we are ignoring a progressing problem of the depletion of our planet’s resources. Would it not be nice if the next hegemonic power was a multi-billion dollar corporation funded by an honestly global representation of her countries in order to come up with ideas for allowing the earth to thrive for many millennia to come? Would it not be nice if we formed a global council that actually met together to facilitate all of the earth’s residents the right to resources they need to survive? Would it not be nice if the current hegemonic power led the way in creating a sustainable future for all of Earth’s inhabitants? Go ahead! Call me a dreamer. “I’m not the only one (John Lennon).” The real question is: what will the next chapter on power be?

References:

Beer, D. (2009). Power through the algorithm? Participatory web cultures and the technological unconscious. New Media & Society, 11(6), 985-1002.

Callahan, W. A. (2008). Chinese visions of world order: post‐hegemonic or a new hegemony? International Studies Review, 10(4), 749-761.

Chichilnisky, G. (1996). The economic value of the Earth's resources. Trends in ecology & evolution, 11(3), 135-140.

Cox, R. W. (1992). Towards a post-hegemonic conceptualization of world order: reflections on the relevancy of Ibn Khaldun. Governance without government: Order and change in world politics, 132.

Fliegelman, J. (1985). Prodigals and pilgrims: The American Revolution against patriarchal authority 1750-1800. Cambridge University Press.

Flint, C. & Taylor, P. (2011). Political geography: world-economy, nation-state and locality. Taylor & Francis, 2011.

Huffington Post, 2012: Living on a dollar: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/28/living-on-one-college-students-one-dollar-a-day_n_2034537.html.

Jezer, M. (1982). The dark ages, life in the United States, 1945-1960. South End Press.

Krasner, S. D. (1976). State power and the structure of international trade.World Politics, 28(03), 317-347.

Nye, J. S. (1990). The changing nature of world power. Political Science Quarterly, 177-192.

Paul, R. W. (1965). California gold: The beginning of mining in the Far West. University of Nebraska Press.

Wagstaff, A. (2003). Child health on a dollar a day: some tentative cross-country comparisons. Social Science & Medicine, 57(9), 1529-1538.

Wallerstein, I. (2003). The decline of American power: The US in a chaotic world. New Press, The.

Wallerstein, I. (1974). 3.3 The rise and future demise of the world capitalist system: concepts for comparative analysis. Comparative Studies in Society and History, 16(4), 387-41.

Quinn, D. (2010). The story of B. Bantam.

Subdivisions

It really bothers me that so many in my ethnic subdivision (caucasian american) do not recognize the depth of pain in the African history. I suppose some "white" people fail to recognize what is actually going on in this country and some honestly do not realize the history we were never taught. Some see the picture and fail to claim responsibility. Whatever the angle of the perspective, ignorance is NOT bliss!

I have heard countless heart wrenching phrases from the "white" population such as, "They need to get over it." "No one alive has been a slave anyway". "I never owned a slave". "They get more welfare then we do". Some have even believed themselves when they stated that there are equal rights in this country. This is exactly why we cannot "all just get along".

There are many subdivisions of this massive imbalance in our country's equilibrium. It is not sane to simplify it. However, if we continue to ignore it and brush it under the rug and tell "black" people to "get over it" all we will end up with is a race war. There is no harmony in denial.

Please take time to realize that people were stolen from their country, and put on ships where thousands of them after being brutally abused arrived harshly at their own demise. Death for so many Africans who were stolen to become slave labor. Those that did arrive on this foreign shore were forced into labor, void of human rights, treated as animals in young America's chattel style slavery. Women were raped, families divided, human rights removed, dignity denied. For anyone that thinks abolition was the end of slavery, you really need to hit the books and catch up on inherent knowledge!

Slavery "ended" yes, but segregation became "separate but not equal" and "black" people were treated as sub-human. Do those of you who assume that there is actually equality in this grand facade of a country know that in our own constitution slaves were considered as three fifths a person?! Post abolition, "black" people were denied so many rights and lynchings were still rampant and "colored" folk were still beaten, arrested, and even murdered for LOOKING at a white woman!

The Civil Rights movement was an incredible chapter in this horrendously sad story; however, Martin Luther King's dream has NOT been realized! "They get more welfare!" "More money for college!" Really? Walk into any business in America and tell me it is not segregated. Tell me please that there is an equal number from the African population as there is from the Caucasian. Walk into any restaurant, any store, any neighborhood and report your findings to me scientifically! I implore you! And while you are at it, please explain to me how the "black" population of America is about 12% and yet the percentage of "blacks" in our American prisons is about 85! Please present an algorithm to me that allows that to make sense!

Once, I was with a group of lyricists in a small town in upstate New York. One of my fellow performing artists and I decided to get breakfast on the way home together the morning after the show. As we walked in, he "black" and I "white", the din of forks dropping to plates was worthy of a well orchestrated movie set as people dropped their jaws and stared demonstratively in our direction! I took his hand in mine and asked him gently, "Do you wish to leave?" He responded "No", and so we stayed. Our entire breakfast was laced with eyeballs popping out of sockets in our direction. He remains a loyal friend and is one of the most intelligent men I have ever known. Who knew such a scholar could be born to us wearing "black" skin?

We all know enough about Ferguson. Boston. But who knows a word of the devastating story of the murder of Lennon Lee Lacey? Small North Carolina town. KKK, still alive and well. Seventeen with promises of football scholarships. He was found hung from a surface too far about his head for him to have reached on his own with a belt that did not belong to him, at one of the highest points in his beautiful young life. The local police called it suicide. Even worse, the people who murdered him stole his sneakers and replaced them with shoes too small for his feet. He was "black" and his girlfriend "white". Was that enough to take his life? And how does the KKK still thrive?

Any African scholar reading this blog or a well-versed "white" person knows I am merely scratching the very surface. This is the tip of a very deep iceberg. It cannot be fixed if "whites" won't even confront it.

Sure, if you like to justify your foul doings, then continue to believe that just because slavery ended that everything is equalized in this country. Pretend that "blacks" have the same chance of getting the jobs and the houses and the degrees and the neighborhoods and the schools that "whites" do. Brush under the rug your passive aggressive commentaries, and tell them to "get over it". That will certainly solve the problem.

And I wouldn't be intelligent at all if I did not recognize that there are extremists in every category. It is just like hating all Muslims because an extremist terrorist group bombed our country. However, not for one second should any "white" think that "black" people do not have a right to be angry, to not trust our system, to fight for change and liberation of oppressed peoples.

We speak of reparations. Extra welfare or minority job placement or scholarships. I hope no one really believes themselves when they suggest that generic Band-aid actually healed the wound.

"Liberty and Justice for ALL!" I will not stop. I too have a dream. Love me or hate me; at least I stand for what I believe.