Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Meeting Jesse Jackson and US Congressman John Lewis

This weekend I had the pleasure of meeting two Civil Rights pioneers in the course of my duties at work, The Reverend Jesse Jackson and US Congressman John Lewis. Both of these men were attending the US Congressional Delegation Civil Right Pilgrimage in the area (Birmingham, Montgomery, and Selma).

Other notable people where in attendance this past weekend but these two stuck out due to all the history I had read and seen over the years on the struggle that allowed me to be where I am today. I will not concede that I was given anything because I worked hard to be in the position I am today. But I will thank them for the door that they help push open so I would have the opportunities to show people (who might not think a Black man could excel) that I can do the job and probably even better.



To put it in my own words from what I gathered from the speeches and conversations that I heard over the weekend, we must take responsibility for what we say and do in the raising of our next generation. We must make sure that they are educated and possess the characteristics that will have them move forward in life and continue to progress of not being seen as the second class citizen before the struggle to achieve equality. We must do what we can to inspire those who feel that there is no future or hope and open their eyes to see that there are better things in life. Not necessarily material things, but the fulfilment of dreams. If we do not take that task wholeheartedly, we fail them and we fail ourselves. Your heroes and mentors should be those who give something back to society to make a difference and not because they have a great jump shot, fastest 40, or most RBIs. (I am not hating on professional athletes but like I have always said, they are overpaid for kid's games).

I will admit that I have lived a "sheltered" life where I never saw much out right blatant racism so I hold those words to be not necessarily for Black people but for ALL people. Oppression in any form is an ugly blistering infected sore of humanity. We do have a cure for it though. Are you up to it?

1 comment:

  1. I am up to it!!! I am on the mission to raise my boys to be the best men they can be!

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