Celebrate Amazing Strength, Celebrate Black History

"just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had"


I think about this line from The Great Gatsby a lot. If I were more aware of all the lil things I've propped up here and there over my life to keep the crazies in, I would probably know it's some sort of zen centering chakra unpucker or something. 

I wish more people above me on the advantage ladder had read that line and given it some weight, A banana for scale as it were.

In the context of the history of Africa, this line makes me sad to the core of my soul. 

The way that African-Americans stand up to systemic, entrenched racism in so many facets of life that I can't even begin to comprehend, it is, and always has been, a source of awe for me. 


Stronger

Day in, day out, year after year, decade after decade, the machine grinding you down and you get right back up.

I would love to be facile and quote something deep now like Depeche Mode, because honestly, this pretty much sums it all up for me; AND YOU CAN DANCE TO IT, kinda.

People are people, so why should it be,
You and I should get along so awfully?

Really I could have saved a ton on education because that gem came straight from the radio for free. How did everyone else not get this vibe? 

But really, here's the vibe: American Jazz


Black people, white people, musical traditions, technologies, and scales and rhythms from all over the world blending together brilliantly to make us all dance.

I would LOVE to live in a world where everything Dr. King said is true, content of your character not the color of your skin, I would love to live in a world where every month is a celebration of all people so that designations like Black History Month are unnecessary, but we are so far from that I'm going to have to assume I'll miss that party as I'm already pretty old.

So let me use this vehicle, this month of history and celebration to add this white voice and say that I'll stand up for what's right, and racism and bigotry are never right. People are people, Depeche Mode even got that memo.

Go check out the Virtual Black History Museum in Second Life, it's where I took the picture above, as an homage to Angela Davis, who has fought and fought and fought the machine as it tried to grind her down not just because of her race but also for her ideas and politics. Hers is certainly a brave voice to celebrate this month, and all months.