#MNR: The Sit-down

Foreword:
Greetings all!
We know it's been a while, and the world has been crazy, but we wanted to bless you with the blog from Ty @tymonday Thompson from back on June 29,2020. Enjoy his unique perspective on the current climate of our country/world. We've also changed our site name: www.crewunb.com is the new domain, so lock us in and stay tuned for new blogs and clothing. 
Be sure to check out 100 Blocks Stories II from @tymonday, available at amazon.com or good ole fashioned hand-to-hand.
C.E.O

#MNR: The Sit-down

It’s been a good minute since the last MNR, but I’ve been too overwhelmed to properly speak on much the past few months. I’ve instead chosen to watch and listen. I feel that words can at times actually take away from the aesthetics of an indelible moment in time. I truly believe, with all respect to Jackie, MLK, Rosa, and the rest of the Civil Rights Movement, that we have as a people accomplished more in the past couple months than we have in 400 plus years amidst the American experience. You can argue in dissent. You have every right to. I’m not alone in my assessment. Since the assassination of Mr. George Floyd we have, through protest and riot, dismantled (physically and figuratively) both animate and inanimate objects which have been symbols and standards for Black oppression for centuries. Flags, statues, verbiage, whatever. It’s all coming down. Bigot celebrities have been instantly canceled. Pro sports leagues and college coaches have begun to atone for decades of negligence with relation to race and culture. Politicians are finally being held accountable. It’s a “glorious” revolution of sorts, if you ignore all the bloodshed. The bloodshed of slavery with the Middle Passage enhancement. The bloodshed of Jim Crowe and institutionalized segregation through lynching and the firebombing of churches. The bloodshed of our brothers in wars dating back to the American Civil War amidst slavery and/or segregation, all for the stars and stripes. The bloodshed of my brothers and sisters by the hands of crooked ass PIGS. It is glorious. I know Archie Warren (my maternal grandfather, a southerner who fought in a segregated World War II army) is smiling down from heaven. He and countless others sacrificed so we could get to this point. And now that we’ve gotten to this point…what’s next? How do we proceed in a manner that allows for us to get all the way where we need to be? I’ll tell you the way…

The key to continuing this momentum continues to lie within us. Yes, we have accomplished more in the last 100 days than the past four centuries. But we have to understand that the cumulative effect will not take place overnight. It’s going to take time for the playing field to even. Contrary to my militant and woke folk out in the macabre world of social media, I do believe in voting. If you feel like voting doesn’t make a difference because the elected don’t address our needs at the local, state, or federal level, align with candidates who will. Especially when it comes to local voting. Vote for your mayor, city council, and school board. They decide how much money your child’s school district has to properly educate him/her (along with federal allocation). They decide on your property taxes and whether or not construction can begin in your neighborhood on a noise and traffic polluting, vermin infested shopping center. And if you didn’t know before about the impact of voting at the state level, I’m sure you do now. Especially if you live in a state with a governor who couldn’t wait to get on his knees, blow #45 off under the desk in the Oval Office Billy Clint/Lewinsky style, and then hastily re-open or never properly shut down your state in COVID response. Houston is on fire right now. Miami-Dade County is on fire right now. Jacksonville is on fire right now. Arizona is on fire right now. I’m a go ahead and hit below the belt on this one. All you sons of bitches in Kentucky need to take a good look in the mirror. You elected State Attorney Daniel Cameron to office. He’s the reason we have yet to see any type of justice for Ms. Breonna Taylor. As pertaining to the federal level…if you honestly believe that another four years of #45 beats four years of Biden you are the worst. Absolutely. And I know you favor what you hear over what you know because I can name at least fifteen atrocious acts from the incumbent, things Biden would NEVER do. I’m not saying Biden is our savior. Our God and we ourselves are our saviors. But four more years of #45 could result in things this country may never recover from. I don’t even have the time to properly address the Kavanaugh Supreme Court nomination and appointment as well as the 200+ judicial appointments at the federal level courtesy of #45. And for those don’t give a fuck types…I’m certain you give a fuck about your children’s future. The future of your nieces and nephews. I hope you do.

The final piece of this puzzle lies within being able to sit down and have uncomfortable academic discussions with friends AND foes of other races. So much of the disconnect lies within ignorance and lack of knowledge. People don’t know history. People settle for believing what they’re told and not what they can learn for themselves. I just read about how the Chinese were walking up to Blacks and touching their skin at the Beijing Olympics in ’08. That was, for many, their first time ever seeing Black folk in the flesh. Imagine that. It leads me to thinking about some of the wicked things many immigrants are told about us before they make their way to America. It’s all in the same line of reasoning. We either assume on our own or listen to the words of others pertaining to things we don’t know when we don’t seek the truth. What begins as innocent naivete can end in bigotry and prejudice. Now, strictly addressing my Black folk. You may feel a way about what I’m about to speak on, but chances are you can’t whoop my ass and I’d rather burn a L and discuss it with you than get my clean Lo tee dirty. So, I’m just going to speak on it. It’s imperative that we don’t get delusional with our fight. Please don’t forget that there are plenty of good and great white folk in this world. Some I call my folk because they are. Also remember that everything isn’t prejudicial, and not every opposing view is racist. White folk are entitled to their opinion, the same as you, whether moderate or extreme. They have absolutely every right to wear their MAGAt hats with all the pride in the world. They have every right to tweet as they please and oppose what you oppose. That doesn’t make them the enemy. That makes them American, the same as you, civil rights intact. What makes them the enemy is their thoughts and beliefs. The only way to change that is through education, on both sides. We can’t argue what we don’t know ourselves. Knowledge equips us with the cool to end that dumb ass noise with ease. The hope is that in that moment there will be room for understanding and advancement as one. If not, bring out the road roller. They’re the tar. That’s how I see it. If you know me, you know I’m always up for discussion and debate. I’ll provide the party favors. Just don’t bring that dumb shit my way. That’s my time y’all. 

P.S. I hope my History majors caught the Glorious Revolution double entendre. 

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