i recently had a birthday so I’ve been very introspective. a lot has passed through my mind that i thought would be good to share but i couldn't quite put words to it all.
so, days passed.
there have been several situations/certain black folks in the media lately, that folks have suggested would make good blog fodder for me to write about… and please believe i had my outraged responses at the ready. but I didn’t want to focus any more attention on disappointing public figures than is already out there.
so, a couple more days passed.
then today, i find out that ozzie davis passed away last night and it floored me. i still really don’t really believe it and part of me feels like "what now." and the entire rest of me knows the answer to that question.
it feels like the recent passing of a number of prominent elders - ozzie davis, nina simone, shirley chisholm, ray charles and others - is a call to arms. there need to be people to carry on what these ancestors have set into motion. they have done their part… and it’s been our turn.
a revolution is not one person saying lets change shit. it’s not even 2 people; or ten, or a hundred. its a critical mass of people with a similar mindset. in generations past, there was an infrastructure and common goal amongst people of color working fearlessly towards change. even if they used different methods, there was a connection that we had to not only each other but with others around the world who shared in the struggle for justice.
I feel as though we have lost that connection and we have lot of mending to do – both here and abroad. we must be more sophisticated for a more sophisticated struggle. we are living in the last of the so called super powers of the world - this country polices the globe right now... and a lot of the world perceives us as “house niggas.” As we live in the big house and benefit from the scraps. But when was the last time we collectively reached out and shared what we have towards a common objective - liberation and justice of all folks? or even liberation and justice for each other?
some of us act as if this county solved all its race issues when MLK’s birthday was recognized as a holiday. but historically speaking, slavery happened last week and its 6:00 monday morning. unfortunately, some of us still find it more comforting to sleep in.
I digress…let me just say this
i love Ozzie Davis. i love Ruby Dee. and my prayers go out to their family. he passed away at a ripe old age doing what he does ART! and considering most black men aren’t expected to live nearly half his life, it’s a beautiful end to a glorious life spent giving.
may we all live as long and make as much of an impact.
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