"NO STRUGGLE...NO PROGRESS"

I now have a clear understanding as to how the world turns…and now…I am a firm believer that people will not help people unless it truly benefits them in the process. I am a believer in helping others that truly want to be helped and don’t look for a “handout or pass” if that person was to “skyrocket” to cloud nine, but the problem is…where is the love and support shown in return? I have encountered many poets, musicians, and friends…who say…”pass the word about me”…”do this for me”…”can I borrow”…”I promise”…etc, etc….until you wouldn’t believe how tiresome it gets.
Most of these people tend to be lame, but I gamble on what they are…to what they may well one day become…you never know…the skinniest knock-kneed guy at the end of a lineup on a high school basketball team, could be the NBA’s #1 draft pick years later…so my reference is this...watch how you treat people, because that person could be the same person to pass you by in the blink of an eye, while you’re still soul searching for stardom.
So where does the table turn if you are in the category of asking yourself… when will it be my turn? Why will no-one notice me? Should I buy someone else’s CD, book, or set up shows…if they don’t understand what my method of madness may be in the long run? Am I being used to help others that don’t respect my work ethics…the answer is easy…keep grinding and never stop grinding…life doesn’t stop, because you feel no one is watching…the truth is…there is someone watching…you just haven’t found the right connection yet, but one day…you will…keep grinding…without struggle…there’s no progress...the more progress equals success!!!

FOOD FOR THOUGHT!!!! NOT A POEM...BUT REALITY...

I wasn't taught black history in school and pretty much read to seek the knowledge I wanted to gain about Marcus Garvey, Claudette Colven/Rosa Parks, George Washington Carver, The Black Wall Street, Birmingham Church Bombings, etc.....it's interesting when you read Black Studies...it puts your mind on different levels like never before and makes you proud of who you are.

Sooooooooooo....I was watching X-Men the other day and its funny you don't really discover a lot of things until you watch something like 50 Billion times and something came to me; something that really stood out in the movie. Me, being a poet I find different inspiration in different things that may pass me by....but this right here...can be used as a learning tool...if you don't know already...see...telling our children something and having them sit in class or at home and watch a video or explain to them what happened during those years is not going to captivate their young little minds...the only question you'll probably be faced with is..."Can I go outside now?"

So here's a suggestion....If you want your children to know the difference between the beliefs of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X...have them watch X-Men and compare the roles of Xavier (MLK) and Magneto (Malcolm X). The way those two had different beliefs about "their kind" is similar to what MLK & Malcolm X believed in their minds...and us black folks...we were the mutants...different from all "others" even though unique in our own way...trying to live day to day among society to fit in.

Our special powers...we are unique and have our way of thinking that may be better than what was set before us by those who treated us different...we remained quiet (like the mutants), so that we will not be killed for our thoughts and ideas...since being "different" was portrayed as bad enough already...and those "mutants" that took the opportunity to stand out....Marcus Garvey, Claudette Colven/Rosa Parks, George Washington Carver, Harriet Tubman, MLK,Malcolm X, etc. have become heroes in the eyes of us all...but we remain uneducated Negroes not wanting to understand the truth about who we are...believe me...its not located on rap CD's, BET, & MTv...and those before us...never were made famous for drug dealing. 22 inch rims, or hoes???

So what we need to do is wake up...and understand who were are as a people...stick together and be better than what we are...the choice is ours...we can have success together or continue to fail and ride the coat tails of ignorance...like I said...the choice is ours!!!!

My own people have been the closest thing to Harvey Dent and the Joker than anything I have ever know...but you know what...I still love my people...but I feel that we can do better...so what are we waiting for????