submitted by Ablaze-

People are willing, ready, and able to point out the problems in anything and anyone but are not as efficient at voicing an opinion of even a single possible solution to the problem at hand. I recently had a conversation with someone who debated with me that black people do not do anything positive or supportive for the betterment of our people.

I think we do, in many ways, but I believe it could be much greater.

First off, we have to stop cursing ourselves by refraining from making these past and present factual statements, because these negative truths do not encourage positive change in our people. All it does is promote the same unfruitful patterns to continue on, which in turn contributes to us not prospering. As easy as saying uplifting things seems, It’s really a great challenge I have noticed for our people. I believe this is because we have been taught to speak poorly about ourselves, and have been doing so for centuries.

I suggest abstaining from any kind of negative implications of our people and  encouraging others to do the same.  We are surrounded by negativity, and so it benefits no one, especially ourselves,to state the obvious. Wether in casual conversation, disciplining the youth, or merely in jest, we need to just stop.

Anyone at anytime could witness us doing any of these acts and be affected. Words, the feeling behind them, and the way they are expressed is a powerful combination. They can edify someone to the utmost, and motivate them to achieve great success, and they can dismantle someones self esteem, and make them feel like their life is meaningless.

I believe words affect us black people the most because we can harness the power of them easier than non blacks. This is because we are more of an emotional people. THAT WOULD MEAN THAT WE ARE OUR BIGGEST HINDERANCE.

We should manifest encouragement tangibly. The individual I conversed with, I believe, realized what he was saying, and inverted it, and did something positive by challenging me to do something positive. He challenged me to compose this article and sweetened the pot by adding a little something extra that I would enjoy once I turned it in to him by his deadline.

I, being the revolutionary that I am, was ready for the challenge, and look forward to the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. We receive “bribes” for being negative and doing harmful things, so why not try offering rewards for being uplifting and hopeful. I haven’t written anything, besides poetry, in a while, but I Iove to write, and I love to express my thougts and feelings. More than that, I love to uplift my people.

We are a beautiful black people comprised of many cultures, colors, and crafts which attribute to the power that we yield, that I believe we are not fully aware of. I feel that a lot of non black people know this, and therefore intentionally add to the state of confusion that black people have been in since our most prominent ancestors, the africans, were first brought to this country.

CHAPTER 2

We should, and this might seem radical for us, follow suit of some of the methods that other races, ethnicities, and cultures use. Since we are all trying to get ahead we need to work together and stop acting like crabs in a barrel by pulling each other down on our journey to the top. We should consider having several income earners dwell under the same roof and make it happen.

It could work if we group up with people who seriously want to achieve success like ourselves, and are willing to compromise their learned values and behavior to do so. It would be a bit more challenging for us to accomplish, than it is for non blacks, because most other races that practice this type of living situation have the same upbringing and culture, but the greater the challenge the more awesome and fulfilling the compensation.

Soon others would follow suit because of our example. LEADERS SET THE STANDARD BY EXAMPLE.

 For one, we need to start saving more and spending less. Every other race, ethnicity, and culture is getting rich off of our spending habits!

We need to write out budgets for ourselves, and adhere to them!

 

It would also help if we had other non blacks to hold us accountable on our budgets. This is because it would subdue any mishaps in spending.

 

We should also have a reward in place for ourselves for adhering to our guidelines.

 

However, we would need to constantly be held accountable, because there are numerous forces in our society that entice us to be frivolous spenders. Especially some of our own black celebrities who are currently financially successful, and consistently earn their wealth by being unfruitful to their own people.

We need not look up to those who do not truly reflect who we are and what we really should become. We would need this until we achieved our ultimate desired financial objective in life and hopefully  we would have learned how to maintain it by that point.

We would eliminate our debt this way because we would not be trying to borrow from Peter to pay Paul or keep up with the “Joneses.”

Just imagine the possibilities. We would, all together, change us. WE SHOULD STOP WAITING TO BE LED and TAKE THE LEAD. It is in us and probably in someone close to us that we look up to. Will you be complacent with where you are until your spirit no longer occupies it’s body? IS THAT GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU?

ARE YOU TRYING TO HAVE WHAT OTHERS HAVE FOR THE SAKE OF FITTING IN?

IS THAT REALISTIC TO YOU?

Start a book study group and begin unlocking the mysteries of your being. Organize weekly or monthly outings and go and speak to the youth. Take them out for icecream while implanting positive ideas into their soul. We all need it. I challenge you. You WILL get the same in return I promise!

ABLAZE-