The time to act is now.
Several Black Women's Empowerment blogs are providing you with excellent opportunities to brainstorm things that many of you can't discuss anywhere else. And to have these discussions in a supportive, encouraging environment that doesn't exist in many other places.
The people who've taken the time and energy to provide these services won't do so forever.
The people who've been warning you about the Rwanda-style meltdowns that are coming soon to an all-Black residential area near you won't do so forever. You've been warned to build your own ark, or find a seat on somebody else's ark, if you want to survive and thrive.
Throughout history, no matter what the event, there have always been the smaller group of people who were relatively safe and comfortable while the masses of their group suffered. Preparation versus a lack of preparation is what usually separates the two groups. If you choose not to prepare, and choose not to respond to the warning, rest assured that there WON'T be any particular mercy or concern for you once the flood waters rise above your heads. Think quick: When was the last time YOU thought about the still-suffering people of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast? Yeah, that's what I thought.
Part of the reason why I'm doing my part to sound the alarm now is so that my conscience will be totally clear when the final demise of the African-American collective arrives. Because once I finish my part of sounding the alarm, I'm NOT going to give any further thought to any of these avoidable tragedies.
Years ago, I stopped listening to the local news for this reason. And I rarely read the news clippings that people send me of the latest atrocities that are happening in Black residential areas. The pace and number of these atrocities will only increase until the final Rwanda-style meltdowns begin.
As far as I'm concerned, it's not productive to read or talk about any of that anymore---not unless somebody intends to do something concrete like organize fundraisers and other support for the victims. But doing something tangible is not our usual style. Most of us prefer to wring our hands and look for somebody else to address the problem. There's no more time for that. The only thing that matters is to get as far removed from striking distance of the Black underclass as possible.
I'm currently upgrading MY "ark" into a luxury cruise ark---"Sovereign of the Seas--LOL! I plan to sip sparkling apple cider on the deck of my cruise-ark while the hardheaded African-American masses (who failed to take heed of various warnings) drown in the flood waters. I will calmly sip my sparkling apple cider in the knowledge that I did my part to warn and assist them before the flood waters rose over their heads. That's all that anybody can do. As various ships pass each other, I hope to wave to you while you're relaxing on the deck of your ark as the Sojourners sail the seas in style!
***Addendum*** To help get your creative ideas flowing, now is a good time to revisit a couple of posts from January. "Wildest Dreams Checklikst: Start Asking Yourself EMPOWERING Questions" http://muslimbushido.blogspot.com/2009/01/wildest-dreams-checklist-start-asking.html and "Beverly is Living Out Her Wildest Dreams in Paris. What Are YOU Waiting For?" http://muslimbushido.blogspot.com/2009/01/beverly-is-living-out-her-wildest.html
Hi Khadijah. Well Ive been working on my ark in the form of pursuing higher education, saving money, working on myself and moving to a safe location. Our ships may cross paths one day.
ReplyDeleteI think about New Orleans all the time. I live here. And, yes I agree with you. Some of the people you are talking about are my neighbors.
ReplyDeleteI live up town and it is a mixed residental area. However, there is a double house adjacent to my house and the two women who live there do not work (one woman's adult son receives SSI and she may also receive a check-nut case
(50ish) and the other woman I think maybe disable-she is in her 30s) and they love gossip about what someone else is doing. The 30 something woman went out and bought a car that look similiar to my car; but, she cannot work. There is absolutely too much unnecessary envy and jealousy. Stop the madness!
a.
Hello there, Mekare!
ReplyDeleteGood for you! See you on the seas!
____________________
Anonymous,
Even though I thought I was cynical, I'm still shocked by the absolute silence that continues about New Orleans. Especially the ongoing silence from most AAs, most AA politicians and the Revs. Jackson and Sharpton.
Our ongoing, collective silence has set an extremely dangerous precedent. We have let the powers that be know that we will quietly allow them to literally ignore us to death. We'll whine a bit at the beginning, but if they ignore us long enough, we'll eventually shut up and move on to other, "more important" issues---like Michael Vick's football career.
Peace, blessings and solidarity.
Thanks for the last post. I missed the comment deadline but wanted to be sure to convey my appreciation. I've had to deal with a major ITT situation today and needed to be offline for a few hours. I'm glad to know you decided to upgrade yourself! I'm working on three different career paths/incomes streams right now and like the fact you're keeping us on our toes.
ReplyDeleteI am not the least bit shocked at the silence of the so-called black leadership about New Orleans or frankly any issue that will not benefit them (meaning themselves and bm in general). If only bm were victims in New Orleans they would still talk about it. Let another bm get arrested for something heinous and they will be screaming bloody murder regardless if they are guilty or not.
ReplyDeleteI built my ark many years ago. When I saw my parents and many others of their generation be able to build something good (as best as they could) under Jim Crow and the severe persecution they suffered THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSE for us and the younger folk. When I was around these type of people more I would suggest a few things they could do to begin the process of improving their lives. If after a few times they continued to make excuses I refused to respond to their comments. After a while they left me alone since they knew I was not sympathetic.
I don't blame anyone, no matter the context, that decides to live their lives and not fool long with people that do not want to do anything but bark about their miserable lives. Let them bark until their dying day. They will have no one to blame but themselves. Not everyone like this is mentally ill. Too many people are just lazy. Just look at what many people will put forth effort to do. That will tell you if they are lazy or not.
Faith,
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome!
I find it distressing to see just how FAR out of step with HUMAN norms the AA collective is. The mass confusion about VERY BASIC ideas for vetting men is yet another indicator of that. It's shocking.
Anyhoo, yep--I decided to upgrade the ark---why not sail in style! LOL!
Good for you about the multiple income streams. See you on the seas!
____________________
Pamela,
You said, "When I saw my parents and many others of their generation be able to build something good (as best as they could) under Jim Crow and the severe persecution they suffered THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSE for us and the younger folk."
Exactly!
You said, "I don't blame anyone, no matter the context, that decides to live their lives and not fool long with people that do not want to do anything but bark about their miserable lives. Let them bark until their dying day. They will have no one to blame but themselves. Not everyone like this is mentally ill. Too many people are just lazy. Just look at what many people will put forth effort to do. That will tell you if they are lazy or not."
I co-sign. See you and your fiance on the seas!
Peace, blessings and solidarity.
I had just a few teensy points to add to the "vetting a man" discussion, if I may: (I would have yesterday but something was screwy with our internet and I could only get on for a few seconds)
ReplyDeleteNot only is a normal man not looking for you to be able to bring as much as he does financially (though he will likely check to see if you are responsible with what you have)
He will be PROUD and HAPPY to be able to provide you MORE than what you had previously, in every way!
--financially
--in being able to be a great father to your children together, even if you never had a father
--in any way he can
In other words, if you are appealing and feminine, etc. in the ways previously discussed, he is more than happy to play Prince Charming to your Cinderella.
My husband is very handy, and it has saved us alot of money. It has also increased my admiration for him. There's just something about seeing a guy turn some lumber and screws into something functional. It's also a good "quality time" activity for him and my sons especially, since they want to be just like their daddy.
As-salaamu-alaikum,
ReplyDeleteAll too true, and may Allah reward you for your efforts.
Ladies, the only ones that can save you are yourselves. Others can advise you, point you in the direction of helpful information, tell you about their own successes as inspiration.
But much like reading Shape magazine or watching P90x informericals is not going to trim you down, just reading these blogs is not going to get you where you need to be.
Reading is not action.
Take some action (however small) today.
@Foreverloyal,
ReplyDeleteI 100% co-sign to your additional points and no they are not "teensy".
They are excellent points that I can also validate with my experience with my spouse.
ForeverLoyal,
ReplyDeleteI let it go this time, but I'm not going to continue the Do You Really Want a Fatherless Man to be the Father of YOUR Children? discussion in this post.
The screening out of fatherless men is a VERY BASIC, common-sense technique that women across this planet have used since time immemorial to protect the future of their unborn children.
This is very similar to how all SANE women across ALL times and ALL cultures screen out idle men.
AA women will either learn how to apply BASIC, NORMAL HUMAN STANDARDS for screening men, OR they (and their children) will continue to suffer the consequences of making all these "exceptions."
The Abundant Life Bus is leaving the station (to drop passengers off at the port where various arks are boarding--and wait for those arks that are still under construction).
No more going back and forth with with stragglers who don't want to pay the price for admission to the bus (said price being the discomfort of having to do things differently than what they've been doing up to this point).
Peace, blessings and solidarity.
Khadija,
ReplyDeleteEXACTLY.
You can find me on my luxury Liner (it left port ages ago) drinking a nice Italian wine. I am waving at you now!
Karen,
ReplyDelete{excited waving}
There's nothing like enjoying a sunny day and a gentle ocean breeze.
Peace, blessings and solidarity.
From 5 Time Grammy and Oscar Award winning recording artist Christopher Cross...
ReplyDeleteIt's not far down to paradise
At least it's not for me
And if the wind is right you can sail away
And find tranquility
The canvas can do miracles
Just you wait and see
Believe me
It's not far to never never land
No reason to pretend
And if the wind is right you can find the joy
Of innocence again
The canvas can do miracles
Just you wait and see
Believe me
Sailing
Takes me away
To where I've always heard it could be
Just a dream and the wind to carry me
And soon I will be free
Fantasy
It gets the best of me
When I'm sailing
All caught up in the reverie
Every word is a symphony
Won't you believe me
It's not far back to sanity
At least it's not for me
And when the wind is right you can sail away
And find serenity
The canvas can do miracles
Just you wait and see
Believe me
I couldn't help but think of this song with all of this talk about sailing off into the sunset on these luxury arks/cruise liners.
I'm THERE.
And will be waiving at my fellow Sojourners as I kick back and sip a fine glass of Sparkling Wine while I sail the seven seas with me and mine.
Cheers!
My sojourner journey began in 1995, when I came to the realization that I would need to make certain changes in order to improve my quality of life--changes in my work environment/career and changes in the types of communities where I lived.
ReplyDeleteUsing nautical terminology, I began with a little canoe, and I rowed away. Over the years I have upgraded, for example, getting a sailboat or later, a motor boat and a small yacht.
I'm interested in upgrading even further, because the sojourner's journey is not about complacency.
So I want a bigger yacht, with more luxurious quarters....
Well, I just hope we can meet on a tropical island somewhere for a nice little reception.
ReplyDeleteI still think about Katrina and donate. But that event really brought home for me there is no longer a black community. I'm lucky that my mom is Carribean and have never had a problem being accepted by them. But I'm African-American as well and I hate that so many aas (not that Carribeans don't have there issues!)are willfully self-destructing, but I also know I can't stop them so I just better get away from the blast.
ReplyDeleteI'm already on my ark but I'm hoping to uprade to a luxury yacht via financial independence. These blogs have helped me to think more critically and break away from motivated reasoning. I'm finding I apply the scientific method a lot more in my daily life. Once again thanks for all the insightful essays.
Felicia,
ReplyDeleteI always liked that song. Thanks!
______________________
PioneerValleyWoman,
Yes, I look forward to when my own upgrades are complete!
_______________________
ForeverLoyal,
Wa Alaikum As Salaam!
Yes, a reception on a tropical island would be nice.
_________________________
Blackotome,
You're welcome!
Yes, I'm also sickened by the mass self-termination of the AA collective. But, that's the nature of free will---people are free to choose poorly and to choose suicidal things. That's their choice.
You said, "I'm already on my ark but I'm hoping to uprade to a luxury yacht via financial independence."
This is the key---to travel in style!
Peace, blessings and solidarity.
Too many of us are self-centered and find it hard to share. My grandmother used to tell me and my siblings when we used to argue, "One of our main problems is one does not want the other to have any more than the other person." A simple statement that can be applied to many of us in the "commuity", if I can't have it I do not want you to have it either.
ReplyDeleteI returned to New Orleans Nov. 2006. I used to work with a State Rep.(he is a very fair skin bm) and one day I was asking him about the rebuilding of the levee. He misunderstood what I had asked and said something to the effect of no one is stopping people from returning(New Orleans).
I was so surprised by his statement that I was not able to tell him that he misunderstood my question. Some of those people who he is not trying to stop from returning to New Orleans voted his "high-yellow" butt into office.
I am so tired of those paper cutter politicians. All of the b Mayors have been "Creole" types- fair skin, straight hair, they usually are the same religion, and belong to the same social clubs.
Yes, we need do self assessments and, stop voting for someone just because they are from the same racial group. Chances are that politian probably could careless about you being of the same racial group.
Bill Jefferson highly educated; but, his greed destroyed a great career. Gov. Bobby Jindal who the heck does he thinks he is fooling...he is doing his political mess under table also.
But, there is always HOPE.
a.
Also, I wish to write to you one day and tell you that I have completed my nursing degree.
ReplyDeleteWish me well...this is part of my escape plan to a better life.
a.
Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your escape plan! I expect to hear updates about your success. *Smile*
About "sharing": This is one of those words that has become corrupted among AAs. At this point, "sharing" in the "typical" AA context makes me want to get an offshore account.
For too many AAs, "sharing" means taking resources from those who work for a living and giving these resources to those who are too lazy to work. I DON'T want any part of that type of "sharing." It's not "sharing" when it's forced upon you---you're being mugged!
Peace, blessings and solidarity.
OK, sharing may not be the exact word I am looking to use. However, I look at other "communities" and there seems to be more of a sense of we will help each other to rebuild. I help you and you help me- sharing the work load to help rebuild our various cities.
ReplyDeletea.
Anonymous said:
ReplyDeleteOK, sharing may not be the exact word I am looking to use. However, I look at other "communities" and there seems to be more of a sense of we will help each other to rebuild. I help you and you help me- sharing the work load to help rebuild our various cities.
That is the key difference in bold. When sharing means you take from me but give nothing in return, it is not sharing. It is being a parasite.
@Khadija
ReplyDeleteYou amongst others have blown the Shofar for quite some time...The sound has been long, shrill and attention grabbing...Black women don't have much time to make a decision...And it will come down to either being on the 'Titanic' or 'The Arc'...As per previous posts on this blog, there is a clear line of separation being drawn between the permanent underclass and everyone else...The time is NOW!
I will continue helping BW...However it will only be done from the safety of my 'ARC'...Neither will I encourage anyone else to come down from safety to 'Help save the others'...The drowning MUST take the lifeline/innertube and GRAB ON~!...
@Karen
And THAT'S the BOTTOM LINE!
..."When sharing means you take from me but give nothing in return, it is not sharing. It is being a parasite."
RUN away from anyone who suggests we "Parasite Share"
CW,
ReplyDeleteYou said, "As per previous posts on this blog, there is a clear line of separation being drawn between the permanent underclass and everyone else...The time is NOW!"
Exactly.
Peace, blessings and solidarity.
Dearest Khadija,
ReplyDeleteI'll be waving to you from my own luxury liner from Canada! I'm here in the states visiting relatives in New York City before I head back home again. I don't miss my old life at all! This will be the last time I'll be traveling for a while. Me and hubby are expecting our first bundle of joy next spring! Had anyone told me this type of life was possible a little over three years ago, I would have laughed. I haven't read the blogs in a long time, but they have evolved tremendously when I use to frequent them a few years ago. I thank you, Evia, Sara, CW, Felicia, PVW, and so many other black women for the invaluable resources and insight you provide.
Sincerest blessings!