Happy New Year to you all as I greet for the first time this year.
I am belated in posting my edition for January because I wanted to start this new year off with a dynamic message of hope and encouragement moving forward. I have spent a great deal of personal time thus far this year in constant reflection and consecration with God.
One of the themes that I have been left with is the understanding of Seasons. More importantly, the idea that many of us will experience a season of transition in 2011. I want to express the key importance of remaining diligent and among other things, faithful to God during this critical season. Throughout this Season of Transition, there will be some people with whom you may have had a close relationship, may subsequently fade to black. Be mindful that this is not necessarily a bad thing. God has a unique way of removing unnecessary distractions in your life, in order to assist in your development, to a point in which he can effectively use you toward the advancement of his kingdom. Some actions that may have been previously acceptable, may become unacceptable during this period of transition. People or things that may have once held your attention and interest may present themselves as roadblocks to your breakthrough, forcing you to make the decision to step away either gradually or with swift and dramatic force in order to continue this journey.
Stay encouraged by your knowledge of God and how amazing he is, but more importantly, offer love and praise to him because he is a mighty, mighty good God. Hebrews 11:1 exclaims " Now faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen." I challenge you to grow and mature in your faith in this new year, this new season. I am confident that God is preparing an awesome table for which you are to sit and partake in the wonderful things that this life and world has to offer.
In addition to growth and development in the area of faith, we must also enter this new season with a renewed understanding of obedience. God has never required perfection from us, but does require our belief in him and our obedience. Obedience is not always easy. I will honestly say that it is an area of challenge for me as well as many others. The key with obedience is being able to remain diligent, even when you fall, and understand that God operates unlike people. He has an indescribable love which is unconditional, it is Agape Love. It is because of this Agape Love that he is able to forgive our disobedience and continue to love us, in our imperfect manner. However it is also Agape Love that must challenge us to be better and do better. It is not to be used to rationalize our faults, sins and misdeeds, but to motivate us to be better and better each day to a God of grace and mercy. They used to say in the old church that "God has been better to me than I've been to myself." I would agree with that statement through and through; and I know that personally, one of my 2011 goals is to definitely be better to God.
The word of God encourages us to be "Good Stewards." I have examined this term from the biblical realm and beyond. I think that good stewardship has some collateral affects of positive change. As we manage our resources wisely and bring our sacrifices accordingly, God will add onto us in a multitude of ways. One of the key words that I want you to hold close to you is that of WISELY. Wisdom is a blessed and privileged element to life that is not granted to us all. I hope that where I am taking this will not be construed as offensive to anyone, but eye-opening to most. You see, Wisdom will allow you to take your tax refund and sow a financial seed into a young person, while investing some of it and creating another stream of income, whether through direct positive net cash or even debt reduction or elimination. Lack of obedience and subsequent wisdom will have you scattered and wasteful with that same return, wherein you may purchase items such as clothing or jewelry or even rims for your automobile.
Do not misunderstand me. The purchase of those items are fine, if you have prioritized and ordered your increase in the necessary and appropriate fashion and you are not in bondage to credit cards, other debts and poor practices. What is my point and what does all this mean? I draw all of this back to my initial purpose in even creating this blog, which is : The community. If we can begin to share God's word and promise with our young people and others within our community, our mind will begin to reshape and formulate as to provide leverage spiritually, economically, socially and more, both as individuals and in the collective body. We are at a rallying point my brothers and sisters, and our ability to endure what is not always a pleasant season of transition. Amazing results await us, should we trust the lord and allow him to work on us, through us and with us. I hope that this has been a positive message, while giving you a few additional points of interest to think about.
As Always, be real, be kind, be & Be BLESSED,
Donrich L. Young, M.A
Monday, January 31, 2011
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Makes Me Wanna Holler
I am sure that there are some that are wondering how I arrived at the title for this posting. Was it the 1990's book written by the rehabilitated Nathan McCall or the hit 1970's conscious groove hit tune written by the late great Marvin Gaye? It was neither! While the aforementioned were creative acts demonstrated by two different black men who probably had a similar plan and wish for black people, my version of Makes Me Wanna Holler came on a rainy late fall night while watching the local news in metro Atlanta, GA. On this particular night, I listened to the report of an 18-year old young black man who was shot and killed to death at a house party. I think that for a brief second I zoned out - largely based upon the report which I had received via the same news outlet seven days earlier. On the previous Sunday, there was a report of an 18 year old young black man who was beaten to death at a house party where a fight had gotten out of hand and the assailants candidly stated "I 'm gonna beat the s*%t out of the next Ni$$a that walk past." Three young men followed through on the one young man's pronouncement and beat an 18 year old high school senior to death.
At one point my thoughts were directed to the mother who naturally assumed that she would see her baby boy at the end of the night when he returned from the party and the pain and anguish which must have been felt as local law enforcement knocked on her door or called her in the wee morning hours to offer such tragic news. I normally consider myself a pretty rational and reasonable man, but for a brief second I found myself baffled, frustrated, without answers and certainly without solutions. I asked myself why are black men increasingly becoming an extinct demographic? There is a war clearly going on, yet black men seem to lack the mental and emotional fortitude necessary to fight this war in a positive and victorious way.
In trying to sum up my very mixed emotions regarding the directions and fate of black men, I could not help but revert back to this theme of VIOLENCE which has become not only a systemic way of life for young black men everywhere, but also a traumatic crutch, which further disables an already troubled and wounded group. Why are young black men angry, violent and operating with a total lack of love for their people and an even greater disregard for life?
I am of the opinion that our young brothers are bound by what might seem like some inoperable chains which cannot be broken. These are chains of an unconnected past to absent fathers, chains of poverty, chains rooted in a lack of vision and hope, chains of depression and subsequent fear, chains that romanticize lifestyles which are in direct contrast to the life which God has created for us, and chains which discourage and not encourage the development and enhancement of a comprehensive relationship with God and his son Jesus Christ. The deck appears to be stacked and the boat has sailed into a stormy see of misfortune , which just might be headed for trouble. This just might be the unfortunate plight of the contemporary black man. While I am in no way a betting man, I am wise enough to know that those odds do not look very promising. So how do we as black men create a new day, wherein those shackles and chains are being broke daily?
My remedy, while it might seem like a cliche', begins with and ends with God. I stand firm on the rock of faith and with my hopes in a God like no other. It is my prayer and hope that as we begin to know and understand Him, we enlighten other brothers and begin to build an airtight army of prayer warriors that now seeks guidance from the WORD and not the world. I believe that we must work our many hang ups and address the emotional distress caused by broken and fatherless homes. One of the things that I have never understood is when brothas who grew up without a father procreate and fail to play any role of substance in the life of the children which they produced. I believe that there must be an enhanced sense of accountability wherein black men must answer the alarm at the gate. It is time for brothas to be not just manufacturers of DNA, but the must also be the providers of that DNA.
It is time to intensify our training of young brothas wherein we begin a knowledge transfer capsulizing role responsibilities in the home, manifesting careers and businesses and setting goals individually and communally. We must no longer accept negative stereotypes as complimentary in nature, but rather place a premium value on high academic and social experiences/achievements. We must bridge the gap through mentoring efforts (i.e. youth league sports, big brothers, etc), which conceptualize the framework of black male motivation, love and leadership.
In the late 1980's famed Hollywood film director/actor and Morehouse College Graduate Spike Lee made a film called School Daze. This film was a great depiction of black college life during that particular time, and some of the inner workings such as fraternity life, relationships, student protest, etc. At the very end of the movie, we experience a scene when Laurence Fishburn (then Larry, lol) continually screams, "WAKE UP!" My brothers and sisters, we must, without fail or trepidation, WAKE UP and we must do it now. As a black man, I am heartbroken at the direction I see my demographic headed and while it is nice to want the system, law enforcement and other factions to fix this problem, it is time to get in the trenches and save our young men ourselves. Under Armour said it best "We Must Protect This House." I encourage each one of you to reflect on what you are doing to protect "this" house and how your contributions can be maximized moving forward.
At one point my thoughts were directed to the mother who naturally assumed that she would see her baby boy at the end of the night when he returned from the party and the pain and anguish which must have been felt as local law enforcement knocked on her door or called her in the wee morning hours to offer such tragic news. I normally consider myself a pretty rational and reasonable man, but for a brief second I found myself baffled, frustrated, without answers and certainly without solutions. I asked myself why are black men increasingly becoming an extinct demographic? There is a war clearly going on, yet black men seem to lack the mental and emotional fortitude necessary to fight this war in a positive and victorious way.
In trying to sum up my very mixed emotions regarding the directions and fate of black men, I could not help but revert back to this theme of VIOLENCE which has become not only a systemic way of life for young black men everywhere, but also a traumatic crutch, which further disables an already troubled and wounded group. Why are young black men angry, violent and operating with a total lack of love for their people and an even greater disregard for life?
I am of the opinion that our young brothers are bound by what might seem like some inoperable chains which cannot be broken. These are chains of an unconnected past to absent fathers, chains of poverty, chains rooted in a lack of vision and hope, chains of depression and subsequent fear, chains that romanticize lifestyles which are in direct contrast to the life which God has created for us, and chains which discourage and not encourage the development and enhancement of a comprehensive relationship with God and his son Jesus Christ. The deck appears to be stacked and the boat has sailed into a stormy see of misfortune , which just might be headed for trouble. This just might be the unfortunate plight of the contemporary black man. While I am in no way a betting man, I am wise enough to know that those odds do not look very promising. So how do we as black men create a new day, wherein those shackles and chains are being broke daily?
My remedy, while it might seem like a cliche', begins with and ends with God. I stand firm on the rock of faith and with my hopes in a God like no other. It is my prayer and hope that as we begin to know and understand Him, we enlighten other brothers and begin to build an airtight army of prayer warriors that now seeks guidance from the WORD and not the world. I believe that we must work our many hang ups and address the emotional distress caused by broken and fatherless homes. One of the things that I have never understood is when brothas who grew up without a father procreate and fail to play any role of substance in the life of the children which they produced. I believe that there must be an enhanced sense of accountability wherein black men must answer the alarm at the gate. It is time for brothas to be not just manufacturers of DNA, but the must also be the providers of that DNA.
It is time to intensify our training of young brothas wherein we begin a knowledge transfer capsulizing role responsibilities in the home, manifesting careers and businesses and setting goals individually and communally. We must no longer accept negative stereotypes as complimentary in nature, but rather place a premium value on high academic and social experiences/achievements. We must bridge the gap through mentoring efforts (i.e. youth league sports, big brothers, etc), which conceptualize the framework of black male motivation, love and leadership.
In the late 1980's famed Hollywood film director/actor and Morehouse College Graduate Spike Lee made a film called School Daze. This film was a great depiction of black college life during that particular time, and some of the inner workings such as fraternity life, relationships, student protest, etc. At the very end of the movie, we experience a scene when Laurence Fishburn (then Larry, lol) continually screams, "WAKE UP!" My brothers and sisters, we must, without fail or trepidation, WAKE UP and we must do it now. As a black man, I am heartbroken at the direction I see my demographic headed and while it is nice to want the system, law enforcement and other factions to fix this problem, it is time to get in the trenches and save our young men ourselves. Under Armour said it best "We Must Protect This House." I encourage each one of you to reflect on what you are doing to protect "this" house and how your contributions can be maximized moving forward.
I'm Back
It is with great regret that I am now just getting back to you , after some substantial delays. I am a bit embarrassed that my last post was on July 29, however I have been on a wild and crazy work/travel schedule , and really wanted to take some time to reflect over the direction of my writings and what I hope to accomplish. I have elected to now begin Bi-weekly writings which , like the past, will cover a variety of issues, both contemporary and historical. I look for your feedback , energy and support. Please feel free to email me directly at anytime at dyoung1911@yahoo.com with suggestions or feedback.
God Bless & Happy Holidays,
Donrich L. Young
God Bless & Happy Holidays,
Donrich L. Young
Thursday, July 29, 2010
The Divorce
For Many of us the Bible serves as the ultimate Global Positioning System (GPS), wherein we are guided and directed by God and his covenants. In the African American community there has for long, been a direct connection between the people and their religion. Dating back to before slavery, Black folks have been known as a people of high faith and spiritual affinity. That high faith and spiritual affinity has led people of color to adopt strict spiritual principals and comprehensive approaches and dispositions to life, relative to religion and it's place. When bringing all of these types of individuals together in the house of the lord, and under the grace and covering of God, African Americans have engaged in corporate worship, which has had a transcending affect on the local community as well. That is to say that for long, the community and the church were married. The church and community were distinctly linked as are husband and wife. This unique relationship over time has produced major social movements, historic black leaders, economic and social infrastructure, political leverage and a beaming spotlight which has captured the concerns of our people.
As an example, we need not look beyond the Civil Rights Movement and it's largest figure: Rev Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King was personified largely by his dynamic spirit, sense of compassion and peaceful message, which was manifested first in the pulpit. The Black church was where the community went to grow and further educate ourselves in a spiritual context and in subsequent life. The church was a place of peace, refuge and hope for many within the community. It is not a secret that in many cities (especially those in the deep south), you will find churches on every corner, or at least you did at one period of time. As a community, we respected the value of spiritual growth and adaptation, but which is more, we made significant work deposits into the church in an effort to touch those who had not been engaged or connected in the way that we were (spiritually). The black church used faith as a binding glue to link us all together in a unique and dynamic way. One thing about life that has not changed over time is the fact that we will all be faced with trials and tribulations. As long as we posses breath in our bodies, we will be exposed to some this world's unpleasantness . The church has served as an institution or training ground for warriors of faith and those who recognize that we can do nothing in this world with out the covering, grace and mercy of Almighty God.
In past generations, this relationship , this marriage was systemic in nature to say the least. The connection spoke to how we raised our children, our mate selection, our professional choices and the like. So what has gone wrong? One of the most daunting statistics to me is that of the Divorce rate in the United States, which currently floats around 60%. While that number is clearly intimidating to young couples or even singles who one day desire to marry and start a family, there is an even greater concern when you examine that figure in the context of this conversation. Just as husbands and wives are struggling through life's journey and are making critical determinations to live apart and not stay together, the same dynamics is impacting the relationship between our churches and the community.
Please do not misunderstand what I am saying. It is not my assertion that there is no connection between the church and the community. That would be an unfair and untrue characterization for me to make. What I am suggesting however, is that , the relationship is not what it used to be and that the binding glue is not as strong and sturdy as it once was. Clearly wear and tear will do that to anything or anyone overtime, but with situations and circumstances which have God at the Head and not the tail and at the centerpiece of what it is we do, there is a great expectation involved. There was a day and age where we looked to those in the church as good family examples, symbols of fatherhood and even finer womanhood. Many within the black community have adopted a paradigm shift and are now looking at more secular examples of success.
It would be my hope that at some juncture we would all see the need for reconciliation. I desire a reconnection and a new sense of intensity, infused by a passion and love for God, coupled with an unrelenting sense of obedience. I think by taking this approach we will begin to restore hearts and minds in so many ways. We will begin to unify the bride and groom as they once were, subsequently putting them back on track. The church is and will remain the Groom. The community is his bride. A marriage rooted in love, covenant and faith is just what the doctor ordered in this time and in this world. Please be encouraged, remain of high faith and moral character and have a blessed week.
Be Kind, Be Real , Be You
Donrich L. Young
As an example, we need not look beyond the Civil Rights Movement and it's largest figure: Rev Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King was personified largely by his dynamic spirit, sense of compassion and peaceful message, which was manifested first in the pulpit. The Black church was where the community went to grow and further educate ourselves in a spiritual context and in subsequent life. The church was a place of peace, refuge and hope for many within the community. It is not a secret that in many cities (especially those in the deep south), you will find churches on every corner, or at least you did at one period of time. As a community, we respected the value of spiritual growth and adaptation, but which is more, we made significant work deposits into the church in an effort to touch those who had not been engaged or connected in the way that we were (spiritually). The black church used faith as a binding glue to link us all together in a unique and dynamic way. One thing about life that has not changed over time is the fact that we will all be faced with trials and tribulations. As long as we posses breath in our bodies, we will be exposed to some this world's unpleasantness . The church has served as an institution or training ground for warriors of faith and those who recognize that we can do nothing in this world with out the covering, grace and mercy of Almighty God.
In past generations, this relationship , this marriage was systemic in nature to say the least. The connection spoke to how we raised our children, our mate selection, our professional choices and the like. So what has gone wrong? One of the most daunting statistics to me is that of the Divorce rate in the United States, which currently floats around 60%. While that number is clearly intimidating to young couples or even singles who one day desire to marry and start a family, there is an even greater concern when you examine that figure in the context of this conversation. Just as husbands and wives are struggling through life's journey and are making critical determinations to live apart and not stay together, the same dynamics is impacting the relationship between our churches and the community.
Please do not misunderstand what I am saying. It is not my assertion that there is no connection between the church and the community. That would be an unfair and untrue characterization for me to make. What I am suggesting however, is that , the relationship is not what it used to be and that the binding glue is not as strong and sturdy as it once was. Clearly wear and tear will do that to anything or anyone overtime, but with situations and circumstances which have God at the Head and not the tail and at the centerpiece of what it is we do, there is a great expectation involved. There was a day and age where we looked to those in the church as good family examples, symbols of fatherhood and even finer womanhood. Many within the black community have adopted a paradigm shift and are now looking at more secular examples of success.
It would be my hope that at some juncture we would all see the need for reconciliation. I desire a reconnection and a new sense of intensity, infused by a passion and love for God, coupled with an unrelenting sense of obedience. I think by taking this approach we will begin to restore hearts and minds in so many ways. We will begin to unify the bride and groom as they once were, subsequently putting them back on track. The church is and will remain the Groom. The community is his bride. A marriage rooted in love, covenant and faith is just what the doctor ordered in this time and in this world. Please be encouraged, remain of high faith and moral character and have a blessed week.
Be Kind, Be Real , Be You
Donrich L. Young
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Dollars and Sense
I recently saw the preview for a new movie coming out later this summer, entitled Lottery Ticket. The premise for the movie is that a family in the projects wins the lottery, while the entire neighborhood finds out. There are comedic points, trials and lessons along the way. I think my mind went into thinking mode as to what I would do if I hit the lottery. My thoughts began to divert to a different place and I gained a more comprehensive understanding of the impact of the question. I think that the way a person would answer this questions, invariably tells you alot about their methodology relative to money and even life. There are many people of non-African American decent who would suggests that when people of color come into significant amounts of money, they spend it frivolously and wastefully. I'll take it a step further and highlight a sketch produced by Comedian Dave Chappelle of the acclaimed Chappelle Show, when he poked fun at what Black folks would do if given reparations for slavery. While the sketches were extremely entertaining, they were concerning as well.
The sketches depicted African Americans as the ultimate consumers above all else. Throughout the years, African Americans have been more distinctly linked to being a people that desired riches over wealth. The concept of being rich has a temporary undertone, whereas those who understand wealth know that it is long term and diverse. I was left asking myself why my people have been tagged in such a light. I think that for the larger balance of the black community we have never had significant finances or resources, thus there is an inevitable desire to gain money. That desire is not necessarily connected with the distinct knowledge of how to manage and develop those resources, as to turn those riches into wealth.
I also came to the conclusion that this concept of being rich, flashy, gaudy and arrogant to an extent with respect to how we view substantial resources and money is rooted back to a lack of understanding in self. How you might ask? I would venture to say that in the black community there has been an identity crisis which has directly contributed to how we view certain things. Moreover, I believe that based on socio-economic disparities, a decline in the emergence of black leadership, and the development of blacks in the entertainment industry, our communities are now looking up to and into athletes and entertainers as the ultimate role models and figures of financial assimilation into lifestyles of the wealthy. In a day and age where education is no longer highly touted as a key component to a better life and conduit/component to be attached to wealth in the long term, the black community has become enamored with the sensationalism of celebrity. No longer do our children aspire to be lawyers, doctors, teachers, accountants, etc., but rather, when you ask black boys in impoverished areas what they hope to be when they grow up, often times you will be greeted the what is becoming a common response: a rapper or pro athlete.
While I have no problem with our young people desiring careers in athletics and entertainment, I do have concern with this paradigm in the black community which links financial affluence and Ascension with careers in music , sports and entertainment. I was once greeted by a young man in a very urban section of the city of Pittsburgh, PA who shared with me that the ONLY way out of the hood was sports, music or selling drugs. When will we have an identity makeover as a people? When will we begin to see that our greatest assets to offer this world are found in our triumphs and our resilient spirit. We must indulge and engage in the concept of manufacturing our greatness. There is a significant talent pool in the black community but until we indulge in it in the right way and utilize our resources and skill set, we continue to be misguided in our view on success. I live in the city of Atlanta, which, while it encompasses a bevy of successful and affluent African Americans from all walks of life, it is also a city which is described as "materialistic." It is a city wherein many of it's inhabitants are obsessed with designer clothes, luxury cars, big homes and the VIP lifestyle.
Based on the current lack of substantive personalities within our community, which we had 50 years ago, our young people and others in the community have latched on to lifestyles of the rich and famous. In the age of reality TV, we have been granted greater access to our athletes and entertainers with lavish lifestyles that working class people could only dream of. I believe that when we begin to truly view the ghetto as a gold mine, we will begin to amass wealth at an increasingly enormous rate. How is the ghetto a gold mine? I am not referencing the buildings, the property value, the aesthetic beauty, etc, but the riches mineral within that community: the people. African Americans are a dynamic people with a rich and wealthy spirit, which, if utilized, positioned and accessed accordingly, will in fact, reap wealth. Black folks must begin to define what we want and what we expect. We must understand the difference between driving a Bentley while living in an apartment (Subsequently owning no real property) and digging and grinding with long standing financial plans and business interest as to send our grandchildren and great grandchildren to college, while also leaving land and tangible assets for our loved one's.
My desire and hope for our community is that we would be able to manifest a greater tomorrow with the resources of today. We must do this in our own way and we must see the value in ourselves as individuals. As you move forward with your week, do so with the pride and enthusiasm of a greater tomorrow. Let us stay focused about wealth and truly understand what it means. We serve an unrelenting God who always meets our needs according to his will. We must now use the natural gifts which he gives us in order to build a community full of all of the awesome things that this world has to offer.
Be kind, Be real and Be you,
Donrich L. Young
The sketches depicted African Americans as the ultimate consumers above all else. Throughout the years, African Americans have been more distinctly linked to being a people that desired riches over wealth. The concept of being rich has a temporary undertone, whereas those who understand wealth know that it is long term and diverse. I was left asking myself why my people have been tagged in such a light. I think that for the larger balance of the black community we have never had significant finances or resources, thus there is an inevitable desire to gain money. That desire is not necessarily connected with the distinct knowledge of how to manage and develop those resources, as to turn those riches into wealth.
I also came to the conclusion that this concept of being rich, flashy, gaudy and arrogant to an extent with respect to how we view substantial resources and money is rooted back to a lack of understanding in self. How you might ask? I would venture to say that in the black community there has been an identity crisis which has directly contributed to how we view certain things. Moreover, I believe that based on socio-economic disparities, a decline in the emergence of black leadership, and the development of blacks in the entertainment industry, our communities are now looking up to and into athletes and entertainers as the ultimate role models and figures of financial assimilation into lifestyles of the wealthy. In a day and age where education is no longer highly touted as a key component to a better life and conduit/component to be attached to wealth in the long term, the black community has become enamored with the sensationalism of celebrity. No longer do our children aspire to be lawyers, doctors, teachers, accountants, etc., but rather, when you ask black boys in impoverished areas what they hope to be when they grow up, often times you will be greeted the what is becoming a common response: a rapper or pro athlete.
While I have no problem with our young people desiring careers in athletics and entertainment, I do have concern with this paradigm in the black community which links financial affluence and Ascension with careers in music , sports and entertainment. I was once greeted by a young man in a very urban section of the city of Pittsburgh, PA who shared with me that the ONLY way out of the hood was sports, music or selling drugs. When will we have an identity makeover as a people? When will we begin to see that our greatest assets to offer this world are found in our triumphs and our resilient spirit. We must indulge and engage in the concept of manufacturing our greatness. There is a significant talent pool in the black community but until we indulge in it in the right way and utilize our resources and skill set, we continue to be misguided in our view on success. I live in the city of Atlanta, which, while it encompasses a bevy of successful and affluent African Americans from all walks of life, it is also a city which is described as "materialistic." It is a city wherein many of it's inhabitants are obsessed with designer clothes, luxury cars, big homes and the VIP lifestyle.
Based on the current lack of substantive personalities within our community, which we had 50 years ago, our young people and others in the community have latched on to lifestyles of the rich and famous. In the age of reality TV, we have been granted greater access to our athletes and entertainers with lavish lifestyles that working class people could only dream of. I believe that when we begin to truly view the ghetto as a gold mine, we will begin to amass wealth at an increasingly enormous rate. How is the ghetto a gold mine? I am not referencing the buildings, the property value, the aesthetic beauty, etc, but the riches mineral within that community: the people. African Americans are a dynamic people with a rich and wealthy spirit, which, if utilized, positioned and accessed accordingly, will in fact, reap wealth. Black folks must begin to define what we want and what we expect. We must understand the difference between driving a Bentley while living in an apartment (Subsequently owning no real property) and digging and grinding with long standing financial plans and business interest as to send our grandchildren and great grandchildren to college, while also leaving land and tangible assets for our loved one's.
My desire and hope for our community is that we would be able to manifest a greater tomorrow with the resources of today. We must do this in our own way and we must see the value in ourselves as individuals. As you move forward with your week, do so with the pride and enthusiasm of a greater tomorrow. Let us stay focused about wealth and truly understand what it means. We serve an unrelenting God who always meets our needs according to his will. We must now use the natural gifts which he gives us in order to build a community full of all of the awesome things that this world has to offer.
Be kind, Be real and Be you,
Donrich L. Young
Saturday, June 26, 2010
The Black Tax
When I look back over an account of recent headline news events from last week, one of the biggest was the resignation of decorated U.S. Army General Stan McChrystal. As I became more familiar with the story, I asked myself is this a permanent life concept and element for people of color. I mean, here you have the President of the United States of America, being undercut and criticized by a subordinate. I was left asking myself whether or not, we as African Americans, will always have to do twice the work and be twice as good to receive half of the credit? It seems that at times no matter what we do as minorities there will be a sense of second guessing our talents, leadership and skill set. If you look at our own President, he is Ivy League educated, charismatic, articulate, polished, calm and prepared, yet every decision he makes seems to be second guess, more so than maybe any other U.S. President.
The concept of the Black Tax is no new dynamic. It suggest that we as African Americans pay a greater price, a premium even, above what is acceptable by industry standards. There are some that have taken this literal and others who have dissected the underlying ideologies associated. From a literal perspective, there has been this notion that African American are subject to the Black Tax with respect to interest rates for variable forms of financing and credit for items to include but not limited to Automobiles, homes, land, business lines of credit, recreational equipment, etc. From a not so literal perspective, the Black Tax refers to the closed door derogatory conversations and enhanced expectations often placed against levied against African Americans. The aforementioned occur in corporate America, public service platforms and of course, academia. We are asked to produce equal or above results with at times what appears to be less support, and reduction in resources. I equate The Black Tax to poker or another type of high visibility card game. While there will be wins at the table to build your confidence and keep you playing/spending, the bottom line is that the house will not lose. This idea is very similar to The Black Tax as in both scenarios; you are being invited to a fixed game, to an extent.
This is further capsulized even more when we examine how black boys have been isolated by the educational system in this country. Moreover, we have to be honest with ourselves and recognize the fact that black boys are one of the largest demographics of our society to be placed in alternative education programs (i.e. Special Education). All of these things bring about a sense of frustration, disenfranchisement and down right anger. It is however, our charge to make the most of a challenging situation as our ancestors have done for generations. I am a believer in the optimism for tomorrow being spring-boarded by the challenges of today. So what do we do moving forward?
I am not foolish enough to believe that because we have an African American President racism is history and that we have ascended to a place of cultural and racial peace in this nation. This is in no way, shape or form the situation, and in fact, many would say that it is the exact opposite. Notwithstanding that, there exist some golden opportunities for us as people of color. We must absolutely gain a unitary voice in some major areas of influence to our community. Additionally, we must be infused with a sense of brotherhood and sisterhood, wherein we find value in developing creative ways to pay the Black Tax, while also slashing the socio-economic gap created by the tax.
There must be a sharing of resources and information in unique and dynamic way as to strategically position ourselves for success as a community and as individuals. We must be engaging and open to one another while also reveling in a sense of pride and confidence in one another. Many of us ascend to a certain place professionally and are fearful to pull another brother or sister up with us. One of the reasons that other ethnic groups have segmented a certain amount of wealth and influence in our nation is because of their steadfast desire to help their own. It is now time for us take that dramatic stand so that our children are given the pride and promise of a greater tomorrow.
I am in no way a social extremist, nor is this about being labeled as anti-anything. I am however an African American man who desires to see my people unify in a more efficient and effective manner. I want to continue to be a people of perseverance, who, like the God we serve, begins to do things exceedingly and abundantly, regardless of a tax that has been instituted to cripple us. I challenge all of you to be more resourceful with one another this week in your knowledge, care, disposition and affinity for one another. The challenges will not be met overnight but we can take progressive steps beginning now. Let us accept both the good and the bad, but which is more, Grow from the experiences.
Be Good, Be Kind and Be You,
Donrich L. Young
Friday, June 18, 2010
Me vs. We
In keeping with a somewhat connected and relevant topic as we had last week, I felt it only appropriate to write on a larger issue that has transcended into an area of contention, particularly in our community. Me vs. We is pretty self-explanatory, but I want to dig a bit beyond the surface in our analysis of this issue and it's impact. I have been accused at times of being critical of the state and status of black folks. I believe that we are essentially doing less with more. That is to say that people of Generation X (my generation) and younger have been presented with more opportunities than our parents, grandparents, etc, yet there seems to be this theme of self-loathing, self-gratification and a sense of narcissism, which has engulfed an entire age/race demographic. We often want instant gratification and we want it with little to no suffering or work. That is what we are ordering at the drive through window or online: Success, prosperity, greatness with little effort and no obstacles. It is symbolic in some terms of our generation. Our successor, those of the generation to follow, have been tagged with a unilateral sense of entitlement.
Along those same lines, we have not adopted some of the community oriented concepts of the baby-boomers and those who blazed the trails in which we walk. I am often taken back to the summer of 1996. I was sitting in Freshman orientation at Lincoln University of PA (The Nations Oldest Historically Black College-1854) and I kept hearing this African proverb over and over: "It takes a village to raise a child." Four years later, I was sitting at graduation still hearing professors, faculty and staff utilizing that proverb. That proverb speaks to a greater sense of unification and consciousness about helping one another and truly engaging in a lifestyle proactive management approach towards our own and with particular emphasis on our young people. I miss the day where your neighbors could and would discipline you in the absence of your parents because they cared and treated you like they would their own. You were an investment to everyone, not just those who gave you life, but moreover, you were symbolic of that community. Why have we digressed to the point where my needs and my desires or so much more important than ours. Let me be real in saying that there are some of us that put our desires, wants and needs above our obedience to God (but that is another discussion in itself) lol. We won't even begin to tackle that one today. I mention that for the purpose of capsulizing the fact that a number of us won't do right by God, thus a major challenge exists in getting us to recognize and care about one another.
They say that in cooking, a good recipe has the perfect blend of spices and seasoning, just right. A good cocktail at happy hour, has the right balance of your favorite spirit and chaser. A successful marriage often has balance and equitable comprehension of all things involved. Our relationship and status with the black community needs to be just like those things in which I have just described. We need that perfect recipe, consistent of that old school methodology which said that We will rise as a people. We must also have the spice and zeal of the new school which boast a technological affinity, astuteness for education and an unbridled spirit of entrepreneurship . We must maximize on our individual opportunities for the greater and collected good of each and everyone of us.
I believe that if each and everyone of us takes a little time each week to share our passion, knowledge, love and understanding with someone else, we will begin to manifest great things. We must operate with a unified intensity and drive for communal success, in addition to our individual aspirations. Share your resources, time and life experiences with someone else and be open to your membership in that village and be about our children. We will be better for it in the end.
Be Good, Be Kind and Be You.
Donrich L. Young
Along those same lines, we have not adopted some of the community oriented concepts of the baby-boomers and those who blazed the trails in which we walk. I am often taken back to the summer of 1996. I was sitting in Freshman orientation at Lincoln University of PA (The Nations Oldest Historically Black College-1854) and I kept hearing this African proverb over and over: "It takes a village to raise a child." Four years later, I was sitting at graduation still hearing professors, faculty and staff utilizing that proverb. That proverb speaks to a greater sense of unification and consciousness about helping one another and truly engaging in a lifestyle proactive management approach towards our own and with particular emphasis on our young people. I miss the day where your neighbors could and would discipline you in the absence of your parents because they cared and treated you like they would their own. You were an investment to everyone, not just those who gave you life, but moreover, you were symbolic of that community. Why have we digressed to the point where my needs and my desires or so much more important than ours. Let me be real in saying that there are some of us that put our desires, wants and needs above our obedience to God (but that is another discussion in itself) lol. We won't even begin to tackle that one today. I mention that for the purpose of capsulizing the fact that a number of us won't do right by God, thus a major challenge exists in getting us to recognize and care about one another.
They say that in cooking, a good recipe has the perfect blend of spices and seasoning, just right. A good cocktail at happy hour, has the right balance of your favorite spirit and chaser. A successful marriage often has balance and equitable comprehension of all things involved. Our relationship and status with the black community needs to be just like those things in which I have just described. We need that perfect recipe, consistent of that old school methodology which said that We will rise as a people. We must also have the spice and zeal of the new school which boast a technological affinity, astuteness for education and an unbridled spirit of entrepreneurship . We must maximize on our individual opportunities for the greater and collected good of each and everyone of us.
I believe that if each and everyone of us takes a little time each week to share our passion, knowledge, love and understanding with someone else, we will begin to manifest great things. We must operate with a unified intensity and drive for communal success, in addition to our individual aspirations. Share your resources, time and life experiences with someone else and be open to your membership in that village and be about our children. We will be better for it in the end.
Be Good, Be Kind and Be You.
Donrich L. Young
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