Our youth

Recently I've been thinking about the lack of positive role models for our African American youth. Then I thought about the people in my life and the strong black men and women who have influenced me. What I noticed is that many of my role models are women and men who are still growing in themselves and still facing adversity everyday. Many times we get caught in our own sadness and tragedies of life, thinking that no one will ever "understand" or they are not facing issues just as difficult as the issues we are facing! But it is that mind set that causes us to shut people out. It causes us to feel as though we are experiencing this great slighted life. Almost in a sense of feeling as though we are the victim. When really everyone is experiencing some type of pain or happiness, and they are dealing with it in their way.

She spoke to me of tactfulness
She expressed her pains
the speed bumps of her expressway to life
Her everyday struggle and constant fight....
She told stories of her Lansing projects and
the hunger pains haunting her nights
But it was her anecdotes of glory that motivated me
her perseverance that drove me...
I hesitated to express my common woes
because I thought to myself she could never know
Know the story of my war wounds
my battle with insecurities and nutritional disabilities
I thought to myself how could she ever relate
to my daddy leaving me and my hunt to fill the void
with the love of useless boys
Whats the point of telling her about my mommy
and how much my family depends on me?
But her wisdom you see her wisdom touched me....
she was a broke little black girl just like me
and her family was crazy too
Her support and motivation to push through school came from
within
her deep desire to prove all the doubters wrong
She stood strong and pushed on and on until
she reached her place of peace
and even though she is still suited for war
her life has grew to so much more
And only Lord knows what else is in store.....
This beautiful black women...
She took time to guide me....
and greatness was the only thing she was accepting
A Smoove Operator...
She read through my silence and cut through my empty words
And when my knees were weak she attempted to carry me
Oh how sisterly... now I'm charged with the same duty
The duty to guide, to motivate, to seek and find
the little black girl hiding
hiding behind pain, name brand jeans, freaky dances,
and angered filled arguments.....