I had a conversation with a lifelong friend the other day while visiting my city of childhood. I was wearing my Forrest City Mustang hoodie, as I was by default due to the fact that I left a small covering for cool weather in Greensboro when I spent the night with my daughter. He mentioned he didnt wear Forrest City gear after he was educated about the history of the founding father, Nathan Bedford Forrest, also one of the founders of the KKK. And in total agreement, I hate the origin, as I hated ALL of the injustices, unequalities, I hate the fact that we had to be treated as second class citizens, I hate that we had to fight for everything, I hate the fact that the stupid airplane would fly low to drop pesticides over us while we were playing, I hate that the historic gym Lincoln High School was blown and burned up, and we couldnt do anything as a community but stand there and cry...and believe me, I could wear you out and down with the ugly side of this city, like we couldnt go to the North Side Swimming Pool or better known in da day as da white pool, and then when we finally did, people had so much hatred in their heart that they filled it up smooth it out and it became as if it werent not there, but I have chosen not to. Since last Monday, when I allowed you, my Facebook family, to inadvertently live vicariously with me, from surprising my mother to visiting some of the remaining icons, to picture taking and stemming conversations of some of our favorites like Joes Roach Burgers and Bug Deli...why? Because what the negative couldnt and obviously by our conversations, didnt take away from us was the greatest of all variables.....US!!! We my brothers and sisters are the beautiful blossoms from the evil seeds of hate and racism. Trees of success, intelligence and brilliance as tall and strong as the deepest roots that tried to choke us out. As I think about living on Haven Street and remembering those vines that would crawl up old Salem Baptist Church, so did academic, social, emotional and even spiritual vines try to hold us down, to no avail. Educators, Engineers, Doctors, Attorneys, Dentist, Pastors, Motivators, Factory Workers, Entrepreneurs, etc.... And now we, those trees, have planted our own seeds, nuts that didnt and havent fallen far from the trees, our children, who drink from the well that we finished digging which out forefathers started. And so we end this trip as our lives, on a wonderful note. We stick it to Nathan Bedford Forrest and the KKK, but we also thank you for a foundation that caused us to be forced out of the nest and reach for our Divine Destiny and live out our Purpose, which a lot of us have been fortunate of living. He must be turning in his grave..... I dedicate this last week of post, pictures, family, friendship, fellowship and last but certainly not last, food to the nappy and kanky, pig tails until the 6th grade wearing, sulphur 8 smelling, big full lips, afro with your pick with the fist sporting, high water pants cause you didnt have any more, Fred Dollar Store White tennis shoes wearing, straightening comb using, flat wide nose, brown bean and corn bread eating, changing you dress into your pants and back in your dress before you got home, walking from FCHS to the SouthEnd, TopHat, East End, SunRise, Haven Street and Broadway, Village Street, Crow Creek, Happy Hollow, bus riding to Caldwell and all out there so far in the country that it went from concrete to rocks to dirt to mud Shelah Hancock and dem.... Widner Junction, Madison etc.etc.etc... Beautiful, Black, Bold, Bodacious KINGS AND QUEENS of Gods Great Universe. I Love yall !!!!
Posted on: Mon, 01 Dec 2014 02:05:01 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015