During the Presidential campaign some African American said unspeakable and false things about Obama's character and his past. They also used under-handed tactics to try to destroy his campaign. I have to ask myself: why African Americans are one of the most divided ethnic groups in the country? It appears that not only is there division and separation by other races against African Americans, but also within the African American community.
My observation of other races has been that they stick by each other, even if they do not totally agree with one another. Unfortunately, I do not see much of this going on within the African American community. It appears to me that at anytime anyone can disrupt whatever bond African Americans may have with one another. Some say that the division and separation goes as far back as slavery. Rather or not it started from slavery, some blacks still exhibit a slavery mentality. This behavior not only occurs in those African Americans who are of a lower class, but also from prominent African American men and women.
With Barack Obama being the first African American to be elected President, encouraging unity for all walks of life, isn’t it time that African Americans bury the slavery mentality and finally show unity amongst them.
To begin the healing process and work toward a better community, it first has to begin with oneself.
1. Start living out your dreams and building a better life for yourself. Working toward fulfilling your dreams helps to end resentment towards others.
2. Have self-respect. If you are not able to respect yourself, you will not be able to respect others.
3. Help others. Helping others does not take anything away from you, instead it uplifts you.
I encourage every African American to take the steps to overcome the diversity within our own community. Teach your children the importance of being a good brother, sister, son, daughter, and friend. With unity, all things can be achieved.
As stated by our new President-elect: YES WE CAN!
Tonia Boyd, CEO/Owner of Beauty From Within LLC, a beauty and fashion business. For more information log onto www.beautyfromwithn.com.
You hit the nail right on the head. Why as a people do we feel the need to attack each other? We have to start rebuilding the great community we once had. Barack Obama getting elected was a start. Now we must come together in unity to establish ourselves as the great people we are.
Posted by: Anthony Dale | December 03, 2008 at 08:35 AM
AMEN! Love it! Love it!
You summed it up short and sweet!
Us as individuals have to hold ourselves accountable for makin our families, communities and the world a better place for African Americans. There is no hangin on the coat tail of Barack. He has given us hope and now its time for us to do our part! Put the negative energy to something positive and witness it flourish.
GREAT topic! You will have to come on Splash Radio Show one Fri 2p-4p on www.im4radiodc.com and discuss this with Neeta & I!
~Tamiko T~
Posted by: Tamiko Thomas | December 21, 2008 at 01:24 AM