I know I am venturing out on a very touchy subject. Given the media hype surrounding the series Black in America on CNN and as a Black male in America, I just had to put "my side" out there.
After watching the series, I began taking a look at my background growing up in the inner city of Cleveland, Ohio. As much as I wanted to "identify" with having it "hard" as a Black man in America, I couldn't. Whenever you watch something put out by the media, you have to look at it to see if it is balanced. By balanced I mean does it show the good and the bad. Growing up I saw both the good and the bad; and I commend CNN for showing the good and the bad.
So what does that mean for the purposes of this blog post?
As a career coach and educator, it is important for me to encourage, challenge and motivate individuals that success is attainable for ANYONE - even Black people. I truly believe anyone can achieve goals they have set for themselves. Looking back on my own experiences, I am where I am because of what I determined in my own mind what I wanted to accomplish. Did I get here without struggle? No. Did I get here soley on my own merit and good looks? Certainly not. Did I experience racism and/or prejudice. Of course.
However, I did not use those obstacles to keep me from getting here nor did I allow the "values" of the streets to influence my decisions. No, I didn't grow up with a silver spoon in my mouth yet I chose not to get caught up in the drugs, gangs and other influences of the inner city. I know, you're probably saying, "but everybody was (is) as fortunate as you." Guess what, you are exactly right.
Not everyone has the same experience. So, being Black in America is not generally good nor is it inherently bad. It is more complex than just being Black. At varying times in our (Black people or African-American - you decide) lives, we will come to points where we will have decisions to make; there is a point where we can decide whether or not to allow someone to determine our future. What am I saying?
It's all about choice. Sure, life doesn't give you anything. A quote from Frederick Douglass sheds light on this: "We may not get everything we work hard for but we will work hard for everything we get." Choice. What is it?
Create good Habits Or It'll Cost Everything!
Growing up in the 'hood, I had a choice of whether or not to use/try drugs; I had a choice of whether to become a teen father or not; I had a choice of whether or not to commit a crime.
Will choice mean you won't experience all of the negatives in our society? No. Choice doesn't shield you from the ills of society but good choices can make those ills less damaging. As I have said many times, as a man thinketh, so is he. We can choose to think society doesn't want me to succeed. Once you believe what you think, your actions will soon follow.
I could go on with this discussion but I would like to begin a dialogue with you, my readers, and get some feedback about what I have stated here. I understand not all will agree with me - and that's ok - but I welcome your intellectual feedback.
So I ask, is being Black in America good or bad?
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