On Tuesday’s broadcast of The Tom Joyner MorningShow, Tavis Smiley pointed out something rather thought provoking: We as apeople should strive for success as a whole, not just separately. Interesting.
This invoked thoughts of “helping a sister or brotherout” and being happy that they made it “there.”
I cannot count the times I’ve shaken my head indisgust when people of our race tear each other down. We as African Americansshould be the strongest group of people on the face of this planet. Ourancestors were stripped of their identity and made to be slaves over 400 yearsago, yet sufficed. After the shackles were taken off, they worked hard to makelives for themselves. In later years, black people were still being struck downby white people, just for proving they were human beings. Even after knowingall this, we still insist on being the ones who hold the whip to strike eachother down. Do we ever take a look at the “leaders” of finance and business? DoWhites, Hispanics, Koreans or others have this soul-draining problem?
Some of us still suffer from the slave mentality andshuffle and grin in corporate America and in even domestic situations, to gain”our spot.” We work so hard to climb the success ladder separately, we end upwith shortness of breath and calloused hands — too calloused to reach down andhelp someone out. Some of us who are not “there” yet, suck our teeth and rollour eyes when someone makes it there before us.
During my summer internship, I had to wonder if afellow co-worker felt that she wasn’t “there” yet. I held the position of acopy editor while she was a typist for the Classifieds department. When she hadto submit copy to the white editors, she would present them with a 100-wattgrin and warm greetings. When she had to hand over copy to me, she would bebeyond dry in greeting. I couldn’t help but wonder if she was merely notfriendly to me (who got along with everyone perfectly well), or if was she’jealous’. While I hope that both insinuations are not true, I sincerely hopethe latter is a fallacy of my mind.
Maybe I have some rose-colored glasses or visions ofUtopia dancing around in my head, but I would like to think that we as a peoplewould be happy to see a sister or a brother “there.” I know I have beams ofhappiness warming my heart and inspiring my mind when I read about theaccomplishments of our people. Works by Langston Hughes, the triumphs ofHarriet Tubman, the advancements our black scientists have made, the successOprah Winfrey has accomplished continue to inspire me. Heck, even Colin Powelland Condoleeza Rice bring a smile to my face in their positions.
Don’t you think, if just for a minute in thishourglass of life, that if we as African Americans could just help each otherout and be happy that someone who looks just like us have made it to theirdestination or just trying to get there? I have a feeling that if we all wouldjust start at that point, we could all be “there.” Wouldn’t “there” be nicerwith some company?
Just a thought.
