Kwanzaa! Kwanzaa! Kwanzaa!!

We are in our third day of Kwanzaa celebrations. This was something that Kirby; my little brother; decided all on his own that he wanted to try and celebrate this year and so we as a cluster of family and friends come together and celebrate.

It's been really fun, I have to say!! I enjoy this little quasi-holiday!!! I feel this connection and togetherness when we all gather together around the Quinora (sp?) and give thanks to our ancestors and share thoughts on the night's theme. It doesn't seem so contrived and organized... and it's a nice little pick me up after the mad rush we have created for Christmas. Unfortunately we have turned that holiday into one of fear and dread. There is no Christmas spirit anymore!! We have placed a bar code on the holiday and it's up for sale. Kwanzaa... not so much!! No stress on where to purchase the hottest toy of the season or what size show your nephew wears now. This holiday is simply about togetherness and reflection on our past. LOVE IT!!!! If you haven't experienced Kwanzaa yet, you should give it a whirl!! It's very rewarding!! A nice end to the holiday season!!

The Time Is Now

Barack Obama is leading Iowa. Wow! Barack Obama has a good solid chance at the Democratic Nomination for the Presidency. Wowsers! I was listening to the "I Have A Dream" speech on the plane the other day. The day that Dr. King dreamed about is here. Our time is now!! The time to bulldoze this country over with equality is now, today and tomorrow. What makes us too good to pick up the fight our mothers and fathers and grandparents walked the streets for in the 1950's and 1960's? Why are we not suppose to shout and be heard through fire hoses and dogs barking? There is a black man running for the democratic nomination for the American Presidency... and he has a damn good chance of recieving it. Yet, his major opponents are not the southern conservative racist white democrats, or the New England traditionalist or the bible belt christians. Obama's major opponent are the black people of this nation!! Our enemy's face, shape or color has never changed. It's always been black!! Somehow we have allowed ourselves to become self destructive, killing our community from the inside out. "Nigga's Ain't Shit" "F*ck That Nigga"... we don't trust or believe in one another, so we are at a stand still. When are we going to figure out that "The Man" isn't keeping us down, we are keeping us down!! Everything that our ancestors endured from masters and keepers, we are doing on a daily in our inner cities. Staying true to the streets of your hood doesn't mean that you should encourage and condone the violence that goes on. Babies and young brothas and sistas dying every 6 minutes in some innercity somewhere in this country. We don't have to worry about some white guy doing it... we've beaten him to the punch. Now is our time to grab our young generation of future leaders and hold them close. Encourage them, tell them you love them, show them who they are suppose to be, bring them into society. This is our time... this is the time for every black and brown person to stand up and take control of their destiny. Seize the opportunity. It wasn't too long ago that black people weren't allowed to vote in this country;in fact our voting Amendment is coming up again to Congress next term; and now there is a black man running to be President of the United States. And is in good standing to receive the democratic nomination. This is our time my brothers and sisters. This is our march on Washington! This is our Watts Riots!! This is our Little Rock 9!! No it shouldn't be that big of a deal to have a man of color sitting at the helm... it should just be the natural order of things... but it isn't!! That isn't the world we have created for ourselves. Maybe this is our yellow brick road into TRUE equality!! We have the tools in order to be seen and heard... let our voices ring over the mountain tops and through all the valleys... voices shouting freedom. This is freedom!! Not Operation Iraqi freedom or yellow ribbons tied on trees. This, standing up for the right to be counted in this country... that is freedom. That is the freedom Dr. King shouted about! That is the freedom our grandparents fought waterhoses for. This is our time to get that freedom!!! I pray you are not thinking this is an endorsement for Obama. Though I am a Obama supporter, I am not saying, "vote for the brotha, he's black". What I am is surprised and saddened by the lack of excitement by our community for Obama. White people are more excited about him than we are. We were not put on this earth to simply exist. There is so much more expected out of us, otherwise we wouldn't have been given these brains to create governments and do all the other things we have evolved into creating. And I think that we have been given an opportunity to show unity within our community. Not just in votes but supporting black contributions to mankind PERIOD!!! Let's begin to really celebrate one another and show a gratitude for life and not having to live in this world ALL alone without another one of our kind.

Be the change!

Peace, Love and Blessings!
BK