Your Race Is Your Enemy

Social media of course is the delivery service demonstrating how people really think and feel. Unfortunately what people really communicate is not completely rational or balanced. Mankind consists mostly of individuals whose brain works on one side of the spectrum or the other. You could even reference it as a color spectrum. This is the problem in our social media culture when we try to be heard; the only way to be heard is to be one sided so we can harness a group of like-minded individuals who agree with us.

The problem with race in this country isn't racism. You can live your life blaming the economy but yet you aren't going out there to find a job. That's pretty much how the focus is on racism. Human nature doesn't work on color, it works on reflection, on projection, on how we make others feel not just about us, but mostly about themselves. Color is never an issue only an excuse.

Frankly I'm tired of sports and entertainment celebs touting their tweets as if their tweet is supposed to be some MLK message. They don't even come close to Ghandi or MLK and let's throw in Abe Lincoln. Frankly, these people probably wouldn't bet caught dead tweeting, even if they could.

Everyone knows there is racism in this country. We know the old school Mississippi white man we can create a caricature, not only because it’s a stereotype, but because its true! Look at the old man Edgar Ray Killen. He killed fifty plus years ago but he's nothing but a walking stereotype of these modern day Neanderthals. But have we really evolved?

One thing is for sure and gives me hope, are the Millennials.  They have absolutely no interest in race discrimination or hatred, other than smearing a politician or two because they are a part of group think, but this topic is about race.

Let's face the real truth. Racists are an enemy, a competitor, an adversary in life. Whether out in the park trying to relax or in the work place, racists need to be dealt with strategically. Instead what we seem to have are zero solution providers for those who rather harness a monk's howl of how life is so unfair. A baboon can do that. Life isn't about evolving backwards. We need to find solutions. What really amazes me are those who choose not to provide solutions, but instead perpetuate the problem. This has gone on long enough. We need personalities who provide solutions, not bark out the problems. Someone needs to make Corey Booker into their social bitch example of what not to do when in the media!

This lies somewhere back in 1968, when the riots were occurring. The black community had had enough and rightfully so. White oppression is a ghastly terrible hateful disease that the devil himself wishes he could patent, but the white man invented it. We will leave it at that just for argument's sake. But in 1968 a really small incident occurred that breaks open a thoughtful understanding of how to deal with those who don't like you simply because of what they see on the outside.

A young boy from San Francisco was invited at that time to visit southern California and be a part of its culture. It was an opportunity, almost a free ride, but what they were asking in return is to just be good at what he did. He accepted without much effort and the deal was made.

He came to Southern California before he was even allowed to drink or even vote. His experience was positive though. People welcomed him even though he was not of their social standing or groups. He had nothing really in common with these people, he just did something that they really liked, he was open to the idea of these people liking him at least because of what he was able to do, and not many others could. He was chosen. Almost a chosen one. As this was occurring and he was settling in and being liked by everyone, he was asked to be a part of a group who frowned upon such people. In fact, they rebelled, they wanted to create a media frenzy on this rebellion, and this idea of why others were treated with such ill contempt. The boy's answer - No. Why? they asked. Don't you want to be a part of the rebellion? "I don't have a reason to rebel, everyone treats me real nice."

I want to stop for a moment and consider the contrast. What we have is a basic dialogue between two people who seem to be of a similar group, yet they are opposed in how they approach the world all based on what? There is a difference in a young man's purity of experience from those who are different from him compared to a man who is older and has experienced behaviors against him because of his race or skin color. But what is important here? What is on the table that America just can't see? What is so special about this kid who doesn't have all the adult rights as one would being over twenty one years of age? Is there anything to learn from this scenario? I believe it lies in the fact that color is not on his mind in his everyday life, where his elder friend is focused on that very fact.

You commit a crime against yourself when you use color or race as your weapon against those who mistreat you. Color is not a weapon. It really dehumanizes you. It weakens you. It makes you into a radical or as one might call a troublemaker. Troublemaker is actually a good word. You see, I'm not writing from the perspective of race relations. That's an overused and frankly under-performing angle to the issue of how we treat one another. Because people by nature don't really treat one another differently because of color, they treat one another differently because they act like a color and have attitude like a color. This is a type of communication that doesn't even require words, it could be the way you dress, the car you drive, the haircut you have or the tattoos or t-shirt you wear. Listen, I didn't make the rules, I'm simply pointing out the truth of why we still have these issues of race. The real weapon against those who may disrespect you, is to demonstrate a behavior, an essence of someone they didn't expect. The way you dress, your smile (this is a key to any social scenario), having something to say that is a compliment, and last but certainly not least, offer something that they might want. This brings us to our mystery man who I have described. People treat people with respect when you have something to offer, but if all you offer is defiance, throwing race in their face, and show that you are angry, you will go nowhere with anyone. That is not white, that is LIFE. Human nature is your enemy, but human nature is not to blame. You play the game that is dealt you and what is dealt you is the game of Life. Life says, you must offer the world something if you want the respect and gratitude for your efforts. If you offer nothing but negative inferences to some negative part of society, you will get a cold shoulder. In the workplace you understand that your boss doesn't want to hear problems, he wants to hear solutions. The same is for life. Complaining does nothing and only makes you part of the problem.

So, to all the Lebron James' of the world who think it’s cool to hate someone who is actually doing something productive, let me tell you O. J. Simpson in 1968 told his brothers he wasn't interested in their hate filled speech of defiance because he was liked on the USC campus and was treated with respect. The man could run. But the lesson doesn't stop there, because O.J. learned from his first brilliant decision and compounded the interest on that decision and went into the NFL with a smile on his face. He smiled and ran, his first two years were tough, but once they changed coaches, they gave him the ball and he ran, and ran, and ran some more, and never even had to deal with anyone acknowledging his differences with them. By doing this advertisers saw a great image, not just of black people, but all people. He ran through that airport jumping over chairs to celebrate his ability to just give everyone a chance and not be a troublemaker. Then there's Colin Kaepernick, a troublemaker. That's it.

You see, it's not your race that is the cause of your problem. Being in the middle of this scenario, I can honestly say people could perceive me to be a troublemaker based on my skin color, but I don't dress like a stereotype, I don't walk like a stereotype, I try to smile more, but I also try to offer something even if it’s to make someone smile. Because once you do that, you disarm people and all is good. It's not about race. Race is your enemy because you don't understand the weapon, nor do you understand you perpetuate the problem you say you fight against.

Race is truly your enemy, and you go to bed at night thinking of ways to nurture that relationship.

That's on you and MLK would be very disappointed.