#MNR: THE BLACK POOL OF GENIUS

#MNR: THE BLACK POOL OF GENIUS
 
“I’m Black – which means I like to sing, laugh, and tell jokes. Eat good food and be around Black folk.”
Styles P.
 
“It’s the things that you do, that makes me keep running to you. Keep on loving me the way you love me, ‘cause in love is where I ought to be.”
Gina Thompson
 
Say it loud, I’m Black and I’m proud.
 
I have never at any moment in life regretted or been ashamed of being Black. Five-fifths Black (IYKYK). Black on both sides. Unapologetically Black. That doesn’t mean that I’m a bigot; I am not. It does mean that I wear my Blackness on my sleeve and promote Blackness whenever possible. It also means that I speak, teach, and stress contextual American history, in all its ugliness. Every part, from 1619 until the moment your eyes read this blog. It does not entail anger; it entails hubris-free pride. At times I’m temporarily overwhelmed when I ponder how far we’ve made it, from those shackles, slave ships, auction blocks, and cotton fields to the top of the world: world championships, Pulitzers, Emmys/Grammys/Tonys/Academy Awards, Nobel Prizes, and even the White House. We ain’t invincible. But Lord knows we are beautiful and blessed. Check the affirmative...We’re fabulous, brilliantly blessed in every way. Y’all can’t touch we.
 
You’re my beginning, my end. You’re my sister, lover, and friend.
 
I wish you all knew exactly how beautiful you are. Every shade. You don’t need collagen, silicone, saline, or anything artificial to enhance your beauty. I love you just the way you are. God made you perfect in every way. I’m so proud of you. You balance the weight of the world on your shoulders every second of every day, yet make it seem effortless. You are the epitome of a queen. I literally think the world of you, for you are queen mother earth. I love every little thing about you. I cherish every breath you breathe. You mean that much to me. You birthed me. You cultivated me. You encourage me. You care for me. You educate me. You motivate me. You inspire me. You love me. Without you there is no me. I thank the Lord for you every single day.
 
Black man with the permanent tan...
 
My god-body brothers and sisters proclaim that we are gods, as we were made in the image of our God. We are given free will to make our own decisions and choose the path to righteousness. A man either builds or destroys. We are brothers. We are not enemies. There’s plenty of money out here for all of us. Your brother’s success should never be a reason for contention. It should be motivation if nothing else. You too can have it all. You have to work for it. Hating on your brother and/or plotting on his demise is just a temperature check. It innately means that you feel in your heart that you don’t possess what it takes to be great. But that’s just a trick of the enemy. He initially comes to sow the seed of doubt. Sadly, these days, this is usually enough to lead to calamity. But like I said, it is only a trick. You have everything it takes to be amazing and great. It is in your genetic code. You built the pyramids. You taught the Greeks the great knowledge that his-story books proclaim originated from them. You, through blood and sweat, built the American economy and ALL of lower Manhattan. You have everything it takes to be great. You are a king. Be great.
 
I’d give anything to be that innocent again.
 
Let me have your ear for a minute, baby boy. There are a few thoughts that I’d like to share with you. I will never do anything other than encourage you to be the best human you can be. Trust me when I tell you that I know exactly how you feel. It’s not easy trying to find your balance in this world. It’s ok to be you. You don’t have to be anything you don’t want to be. Remain comfortable in your own skin and in your own lane. You don’t have to be a follower. You were born a prince and will one day be a king. The only point you ever have to prove to anyone in this life is to yourself. Be you. Everything ain’t for everybody. It’s cool to take the road less traveled. It’s going to pay off in the long run. Trust.
 
Baby girl, you are so amazing. You’re beautiful, intelligent, motivated, and worthy of everything you’re willing to work for in this life. It’s ok to be a kid. You don’t have to participate in anything that will compromise your integrity. As you progress toward adulthood, be mindful that the women who spend tons of money having their faces and bodies sculpted spend all that paper trying to emulate you. You don’t need a tanning bed. Your melanin is more than enough. Your natural, curly, locks, and even nappy hair is beautiful because it’s yours. You don’t need to put anything in it to straighten it or put a wig over it to look like someone other than you. But if you do, I respect your right to do so. You are your own free-thinking work of art. You are a rose. Protect your petals.
 
Until the day that you are me and I am you...always.
 
All I ever wanted to do with #MNR was show you all the pieces of a man. This man. This Black man. Every layer. I’ve never had a problem with being candid about my fears. I’ve been forthright in taking accountabilities for all my shortcomings and disappointments. I share my personal stories and display vulnerability to show that we all endure struggle. You and I are one in the same. We are beautifully human. I want all my brothers to know that it’s ok to speak candidly and openly about your trepidations and feelings. That doesn’t make you less of a man, my brother. It makes you a king of discernment. I want my sisters to know that not every Black man sees you simply as a physical object made for his sexual gratification. Plenty of us see you as the amazing being that you are. You are my equal. You are my rock. I make Black pride and unity motifs in my writing because this era has taken a sharp turn away from all the efforts of the Movement. It seems like [finally] being granted our civil rights came at the heavy cost of slowly eroding our unity. I live with the spirit of Fred Hampton flowing through my veins. It’s ALWAYS we. I don’t care what happens; I will always feel this way. Too many of us died for us. We owe them. We owe ourselves. I don’t care what the UCR says about our violent crime rate against ourselves; I still have faith in us. I always will.
 
Black is beautiful.
 
Blood of a slave, heart of a king. I don’t believe in reincarnation (and would not want to experience it if it were reality), but if I were born a thousand times, I would want to be born Black 1 + 999 times. We are amazing. We came Up From Slavery, and The Souls of Black Folk have laid the foundation for all popular culture. We set almost every trend. Don’t ever let the enemy tell you differently. You are brilliant. You are amazing. You are beautiful. I love us infinitely.
 
Catch us in the streets. If not, y’all know where the fuck to @ us.

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