Do we have the power to fight anymore?

The song Fight the Power by Public Enemy came out in the year 1989 (The year I was born) where the culture of Hip Hop was so rich and and vibrant. Our culture was not taking no crap from anyone as they say it and we were willing to stand for what we believe in and who we are. This has me thinking, where did all of that stamina go within my people and why have "we" as in black people have settled to be the laughing stock of the country? Let me start by saying that I am not, by no means trying to down any culture or race, but I only speak from the only view I know and that is of being a black woman. I was taught growing up that I will always have people not like me and sometimes they will not like me simply because of my color. As I've grown older I am starting to understand that concept more than ever. The same social frustrations that were happening back in 1989 is happening today at this very moment. There are politicians that are in the race to be the presidential candidate giving false hope and dreams to our community. As Dick Gregory stated "Political promises are much like marriage vows. They are made at the beginning of the relationship between candidate and voter, but are quickly forgotten." We tend to get even more frustrated as the race starts to look like a circus with much confusion, but these candidates are still wanting our vote whether they do anything for our community or not.
Being a black woman in America is very tough these days. We seem to be fighting a reputation that has been based off of opinions, lies, and a handful that has been able to make it to a national platform that isn't always the best. Don't get me wrong there are A LOT of black women who are great role models and doing things for their communities. It does not mean that I can fall back and say to myself that they can make an imprint for me. I choose to also make an imprint on this earth as well no matter how many good role models their are for black women. I still do not believe that the age group that I'm within or any age in general gets enough credit for what we bring to America. We have style that is taken from others, grace that is tested on a daily basis, and an aura that cannot be replaced by anyone else. We are cut from a strong clothe that is priceless. Now some people have an issue with me saying that some of the people that represent my culture and heritage on television are not as good and they pretty much suck! I only say this because I care about how my people are represented EVERYWHERE!
Our people should get back to business and find that fire to light within themselves to get to work! There is no excitement anymore because life seems to get in the way and once you watch the news you pretty much become depressed. There is so much work to be done within the world and it is out there waiting. The concept of working together and looking out for each other needs to come back into play because people are for themselves only. There needs to be more HEALTHY marriages that take place within the black community, more parents that take control of how their kids operate within the school system, and take back full control of our broken communities to start building them back up to what they can and will be.
Do we even have the power to fight anymore? Or is the power within others hands? These are questions that ask myself on a daily basis. Our human nature is to look out for ourselves, but God teaches us that we are to give without expecting anything in return. This concept can be so hard to go by because you and I may have had so many things taken away from us that we are trying to hold on to the little bit that we have left. In order to get recognized in a positive light there needs to be more giving that takes place. More giving that comes from our hearts, and removing the selfishness. Hopefully this a dream that I can start turning more into a reality, but I can't do it without your help.

But if God got us, we gon' be ALRIGHT!! *Kendrick Lamar voice*

Don't settle

I have recently started to really embrace who I am and what I stand for. Now for many people they might have thought that I was already there, but I definitely was not. In the past I was always scared to really be myself because of what people may have thought about me. I was afraid to put myself out there because I was too busy comparing myself to other people and what they were doing. Let me give you a piece of advice, do not and I repeat DO NOT compare yourself to others in no way possible. It does not matter if someone is already doing what your doing or what your trying to do, please save yourself from drowning in the sea of comparing.

For instance I was looking into a particular field to maybe go back to school for because I thought that it was something meant for me. I mean I really tried to convince myself that I can do this particular job just because I had seen a couple other people doing it and loving it. Then one night I had a dream that I was driving and I went from being on a paved road to a dirt road where my car started to lose control. I ended up turning my car around and getting back on the paved road that I was originally on. That dream to me was a sign and warning to myself to not go in that direction. I had received revaluation from God that I was trying to put myself in a box and do something just because someone thought it would be a good fit for me. The key word is someone! Just because someone tell you to do something does not mean that God created you to do so. 

The moral of this story is that when someone suggest you to do something think about it first instead of diving head first into it. Ask God if you were created to do this. When you ask you 100% get the answer back even if it is not right away. There is much more to this life than trying to place yourself in something that you will be limited in. When you follow God there is no limit to what he has for you. As I am growing, I am starting to realize that the opportunities are endless. I have trained myself to think that I have to limit myself to what may be easy for me. Through challenges there will be accomplishments that you may not even recognize. The accomplishments comes when you start to believe in who you are and not settle for what people want you to do, but what God wants you to do. Don't ever t settle, there is much more out there to achieve!  

Be Honest

Last week I had the opportunity to see Queen Latifah interviewed at a local University where I stay. She was down to earth and humble, she also had some very good life tips she shared with the audience. The three tips were perseverance, be honest with yourself, and find the people that are most honest with you and stick with them. Out of those three tips the first one that stuck out to me was to be honest with yourself. Sometimes you have to have that pep talk with yourself on various decisions you make within your life. There will be times when many things will also influence your decisions like television, social media, or what your friend might be doing. You have to remember that you are your own person and you were fearfully and wonderfully made by God to be something that nobody else can be. Isn't that just lovely to think about and to let soak in. To really embrace that you are your own person is a process and it is a journey, but that is the beauty of it all. While in the mirror you can speak affirmations over yourself that can make your self-esteem go up. Being honest with yourself does not always have to be painful, but it can be an epiphany moment to where you start believing in yourself much more than you did before.

The second one was to have honest people in your corner. When I want to ask an opinion on something that I may be going through or maybe a choice I am considering making I call the people that are going to shoot it to me straight and not play games. Everyone should have at least one person in their corner that will be able to let you know about yourself in a way that will not always hurt your feelings, but you know it is coming from a genuine place. If there is nobody that you can think of that could be honest with you then there may be some rearranging you need to do. I believe it is also the key to Queen Latifah's successful path. She stated she always had people that would be honest with her within her circle and it helped a lot with the strategic decisions she made to become who she is today.

There is also an ugly side to being honest with someone. Sometimes people don't want to hear what you have to say even if they asked you your opinion. It can turn people from wanting to hear what you have to say, to them downing the honesty that's coming from you and you alone. Don't allow this to keep your mouth shut. There has to be a thick skin formed within the world today because there are many platforms that allow people to comment on what you do and sometimes not be so nice about it. Just because someone may not like what you do or say, does not mean that they are not paying attention to what you do or say. Be honest with yourself even when nobody else is.