United We Stand

Another son taken. Another shooting in Missouri. Several weeks ago, a dear friend and comrade of mine posted that every 28 hours, a black person is murdered by the police and the vast majority of those who die are black men. Now yet another victim, an 18 year old father was killed by an off-duty police officer. The officers of course claim he had a gun but witnesses to the shooting said he only had a sandwich. A sandwich. So, not only will a pack of Skittles, hoodie, tea, and being in “the wrong neighborhood” even though your father resided in the area, but a sandwich can be mistaken for a gun, a “loosey” cigarette is deemed resisting arrest, you can be tasered for not identifying yourself, even though you are a passenger in a vehicle, and also shot for walking in the street. You have to question yourself as to what you as a black person can do. Must we become hostage in our homes and choose not to venture out because we may be shoot under the cloak of ridiculous suspicion and absolute and total hatred for your skin color.

What a difficult life it is to be black! To live in a world that sees you as ugly, inconvenient, ignorant, threatening, and most of all –unworthy. Yet, the world desires to be us and often steal our culture through cultural appropriation. And then there are those of us who choose to remain passive, who are either totally blind to the reality of life or have chosen “not to get involved” because fear holds them captive. It is sad that so many of our brothers and sisters seem not to “get it” and do not think that we need change.

Then there is me and my “family”. We are fighters. We are set to act and we do not and will not stop. Even as I type this, my adrenaline runs high because I know the stuff we are made of. We march, we boycott, we protest, we educate, we stimulate, we are united and it is scaring people. We have joined together and we are solidly standing and looking the face of our oppressors in the eye. We never tire when it comes to the liberation of our people. Join us in the fight! Everyone has a role to play and each of you are very important to this struggle.

Unite. Organize. Deploy.

Peace & Blessings,

Andre’a

Acts of Defeat

They burned down Michael Brown's memorial today and before I became enraged, I felt myself become tickled. Why you ask? Because one thing I know from experience is when someone is defeated, they will seek to do anything to gain attention or some footing. Black people are becoming more and more organized and unified and with that comes change but also a threat to the powers that be. Oppressive forces that have worked in this country for many years are feeling the shift of impending change and with that they throw a tantrum. It is like a child who is told no. They fall to the floor, kicking and screaming, wanting to get their way. This is the action of the oppressors is one of a coward. They do not want to confront the truth, they desire for us to forget the fallen youth, but we will not. We are fighting and organizing every day. We are progressing. We are about to change the face of Black America and they see it! We are coming! And we are growing larger everyday!

Thoughts of a Lioness: Where in the World?

Thoughts of a Lioness: Where in the World?: I have been thinking a lot lately about what my place is in this world. I have always that we who are here, are here for a purpose. No life...

Where in the World?

I have been thinking a lot lately about what my place is in this world. I have always that we who are here, are here for a purpose. No life is created and brought forth in the world in vain. I also believe that each of us has a specific purpose in the world and we owe it to the world to bring forth our gift. So, what is my contribution to the world? What am I here to accomplish? I believe that it is not one single thing but rather a succession of gifts I am to give. I know the person I am today is not who I was last year as I have grown more and I am sure I will continue to change as I allow and accept things and continue to have experiences. I am often victim of my own stubbornness to succeed and to do many different things at once. I am admittedly slightly OCD and certainly a multi-tasker by default, finding solace in work, whether things I enjoy, such as writing, and also at my place of employment.  I have determined though that at this point in time, I need to focus on my passions only. The struggle of those with “sun-kissed skin” as Mama Taye so eloquently describes us of darker complexion and also being the best writer/poetess I can possibly be. These two areas of my life bring me the greatest level of satisfaction. So, as the beloved Maya Angelou once said ““You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead pursue the things you love doing and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off of you.”

One Love,

Andre’a “The Lioness”

RIP to the Young Brothers & Sisters

The violence that exists within the community is sickening to me. We live in a time in which money is hard to come by, where “that’s not my business” is the mentality, and  peace is even harder to find. The people that should be working together to improve things are the perpetrators. You are brothers and sisters, bonded by time and blood. I feel nothing but sorrow at the news of another young one being killed but, I am never going to give up hope that we can be and do better. I know it may be nearly impossible, but we can make things better by holding each other accountable. I personally can’t support anyone that sees wrong and won’t do anything about it. No, I am not your sister if you don’t love your people. We have time and attention for everything but when these things happen, everyone is sad but you see wrong going on every day and it’s always ok until it affects you. It’s not. We need to destroy and rebuild!

Make public servants work, if you see someone breaking in a house, call the cops, if you hear a gun go off, call them. Go to meetings. Do something other than shake your head and saying it’s a shame. I am sick and tired of being sick and tired.

Talk to our young people. Let them know they are loved. Let them know they are needed. Let them know you care. Stop trying to be their friends. You need to maintain a level of respect with them and stop turning a blind eye to what they do or have done wrong. No the mentality that exists is not totally on our shoulders but we are the only ones that can change our condition. Wake up! RIP to the lost lives in the streets! Stop the violence!

I am a Fighter!

As I sit and think about all the events that have gone on this past week, I cannot help but to feel a sense of despair and pain. Our men are being murdered by those who have been hired and trained to protect and serve our communities. It grieves me deeply while watching the images of our people crying, yelling, marching, protesting, and at the end of the day—searching for help in a country that has not been of any assistance to them. It grieves me that our people have not come any further than in the days of old, in which Jim Crow reigned and we were terrorized by the deep melanin tones of our skin.

But, to add insult to injury, we have become desensitized to these types of tragedies. The term “black on black crime” seeps out of the pores of the very individuals that have been disenfranchised and oppressed for the greater part of 400 years , here in the assumed “land of the free, home of the brave”. Meanwhile, the perpetrators continue to live freely and the killings continue. From Ferguson, to Detroit, to Florida, New York, to California—our men continue to perish. The value placed on the life of our sisters and brothers is extremely undervalued. Some people in this country place more importance in the abuse of animals than their black neighbor. And to add to it, the mentality of “well we kill each other so we shouldn’t be upset”, continues to permeate the atmosphere and we have taken a backseat to eh issue at hand. People actually think that because there are crimes in our communities that  surely we should not feel any remorse at the deaths of Michael Brown, Ezell Ford, and the countless others . This ideal is the most atrocious thing I have heard during this entire ordeal.

It is my belief that each life, no matter how insignificant to those who murder and maim , was ordained and intended to be lived. The Most High has no respect of persons and if he had not intended for that individual to live, He would not have breathed life into that person. So, what are we to do in a world in which the police or your brother decides to murder?

We are to fight. Not with guns, not with words, but with love, patience, and most of all, solidarity and intelligence. The fight we are fighting never ended. The Golden Age of the Civil Rights movement, the conscious awakening in the 80’s and 92’s was replaced by complacency. Instead of us continuing to ensure that our people had a chance, we began to become gossipers and observers instead of doers. We are losing the fight. It is time for us to stand united and speak our against injustice and oppressive tactics that have plaqued us for so long.

I am fighting . I am fighting every day. It is my deepest desire to leave this world in a better condition than when I entered. There are many of us who feel as deeply and as passionately as I do. There are more than the world realizes. We are fighting, we are protesting, we are marching, we are boycotting. We will be heard! We will not stop! We are growing and organizing more and more every day so watch out. We are coming!!

“It takes consistent resistance to effect substantial change!”

 -Andre’a “The Lioness”

Life of a Lioness

I have begun studying the life of lions, in particular the she-lion or the lioness. It seems that the more I carry the name “The Lioness”, I am understanding why this name seems to follow and grow on me. Here are a few fun but important facts about the lioness and her life:

1.       They live longer than their male counterparts

2.       The pride or group of lions have a dozen or so lionesses in the pride and they hunt together and help raise their cubs together

3.       The lionesses are successful hunters and use an approach of teamwork to stalk and capture prey

4.       They are very protective of the family and are wary of outside “non-familial” lionesses.

 

In reading about the lionesses, I identified many of these attributes within myself. I truly believe in sisterhood and working together towards a common goal. I often tell people that I don’t have friends; I have family members. I definitely am protective of my family as well as my bonus family members and their children. I view them as my own children and love them all.

My study of lions has helped me identify three key characteristics that we all need to survive in the world today—courage, strength, and unity. Courage grows and develops your strength and unity multiplies it. If we unify for a common goal, we can strike a mighty blow. It is my hope that you will join me in my #weareconquerors movement. More things to come for my Lions & Lionesses!! We are taking over!

 

One Love,

Andre’a