Recuperating...
from a trip to the dentist...thus not much to say. Litterally. But I have been doing some reading and picked up a book off my shelf that one of my high school history teachers wrote. One NYC school teacher that had a concern with the betterment of us blackfolk as a people. He was quick to shout you out and question a students thinking, ignorance, behavior and the most common issue amongst his students, laziness. I didn't understand him much in high school. At my age, upon reading one of his books and in hindsight I understand and appreciate him a whole lot more. I wish there were more teachers out there like Mr. Hughes.
From his book
Letters to my friends and enemies
"Dear Fear:
I address you, hoping to free myself from the clutches of your powerful and tenacious grip. Sometimes I succeed only to find myself in your deadly grip, again to be turned inside out; my positive self on the other side of a veil, trying to come home but blocked by my illusions and you fear.
I had a tumultuous beginning, conceived in sin, three unsuccessful attempts to terminate my existence while being formed in a hostile, unloving womb, abandoned by my mother and father, shamed in the Bible Belt, abused, in poverty, rejected, negativisms internalized --thus began my sojourn in the madness that is America.
Devoid of love's protection, reared by substitutes, in confusion, you, fear, lurking, a predator, me, easy prey, became your feast. Love does call --fear. True manhood beckons --fear. Freedom in sight --fear. Bliss attainable --fear. God available --fear. Accepting self --fear. And because I have befriended you, fear, Satan too often is my companion. Yes fear. I see you in others: The Uncle Tom --fear. The white racist --fear. The homosexual --fear. Hate --fear. Black inaction in the face of oppression --fear. Black on Black crime --fear. Black men and women not loving and respecting each other --fear. And refusing to live --fear.
I know you, fear, sometimes serve a useful purpose, especially when you make us realize that respect must be accorded certain entities and situations. But, when you gain complete control of a person's life, he is dead."
~Ron Hughes
I'm not sure if I completely agree with his reference to homosexuals. I'm not sure I completely disagree either. But as far as lifestyles I may agree or disagree with, to each his own. Live and let live.
healing.
