A MURDERER SET FREE... My Fathers'

*This will probably be THE most private thing I could share with ppl I dont even KNOW but u know what, its a reality so im finally talking*

I know many dont even know that I grew up without a father. No he was NOT a deadbeat... unfortunately, he's dead. He was killed in 1989 when I was a yr old. The killer is my uncle. Thats right, MY uncle. The brother of my mother. I can't go too into detail with the story cuz I dun kno the whole story myself.

No daddy and 17 years later the killer is released. Yup... he out. This month. September 2006. For the first time yesterday I spoke my first words to him. Surprisingly I was considerably cordial. I said hello, my how are you's and that was that. There were two things going on in mind. Do I hate him for taking away a father I never knew or do I forgive him because its what is right?



-C. Henry

A change is long overdue

Why is that when you see a caucasian succeed its the "norm" but when someone of African decent is on the road to success its something that is supposed to be "rare" and some are even "wowed" by it. "She can speak 2 languages?!? That's amazing!" Better yet, why isnt it praised amongst the Black community? Rather, it is condemed to a certain extent.

"SELL OUT." Is that what we like to call them? I'd like to know when being ingnorant became a good thing? Since when was it okay to accept the foul conditions some of us could not avoid and remain dormant and do nothing about it? Im specifically speaking of those of you stuck in the "GHETTO" in particular.

Some people were dealt a horrible hand in life, thats a given. Its messed up, yes, but why accept those conditions and stay there? Sometimes I feel as if black people are almost afraid to succeed. Like its our greatest fear. We are so afraid to shoot for the stars and miss. Some poeple act is if life just cant get any better than it is so why try? Do you really think Dr. King died for nothing?? Alot of people may think I dont understand how it is because I wasn't raised in a project and I didnt live that hard knock life. I've heard it all before . To culture myself in the eyes of certain people is to "act white." This has to be THE MOST IGNORANT statement I hear so often. Say it to me, Its a great way to piss me off. (By the way, if someone could explain to me how being educated correlates to 'acting white' please do so. Im very eager to know).


So what if i never lived in the projects. Maybe I didnt have to work AS hard as some but I personally feel as though many young black people in the ghettos of America use the ghetto as an excuse for them to act out and continue to avoid making something of themselves. Newsflash! It isn't! I know what goes on in the real world and as difficult as it is for a black man (woman) to be like cream and rise to the top, it is POSSIBLE! With hard work and determination you are bound to recieve prosperous results. Most of the time, people just dont want to work. They are plain old LAZY!They want everything to somehow magically happen overnight. Everyone is stuck on that "qet money quick" scheme and if you want the honest to God truth, its a dead end road. Let it die. Other's just sit around waiting for something great to fall into their laps. Oprah didnt get rich sitting on her couch watching the tv collect dust. Apparently sitting on your butts all this time hasn't made life any better for you either yet you still have your hand out looking for handouts. It doesnt work that way! I say, If you want something bad enough and you want to see change YOU have to get up and MAKE IT happen. Yes, it may be an arduous and lengthy process but good things come to those who wait. These things take time and patience is a virtue. People pleassssse stop settling for the minimum you can get. There is sooo much more out there for us to get.

At the end of the day, I can run my mouth 1000mph about how we can be successful minorities in America yet my message won't penetrate. I know I can't force anyone to better themselves but I damn sure will try. If we won't help uplift each other, who will? As God as my witness, If I can help one of my people (just ONE) along the way, then my living is not in vain.


p.s. Knowledge is power!

xpeacex