“She is America”

With youthful spirit, she and her siblings allowed the caress of waters and shift of the seas to separate them from their ancient mother.

She was “discovered”. She watched as her innocent native people opened their hearts and homes to strangers from across the sea who brought them deceit and disease. She felt the stakes of the foreign flags planted and foreign armies land at her shores with greed. She stood helplessly by as she watched the rape of her land and the slaughter of her nations at the hands of the strangers who did all in the name of “taming the savage for God”. She felt the burning agony of betrayal and avarice and knew the pain of her ancient mother, Africa. She was America…

The distant beat of the drum brought war with the Spanish and French, but when America heard the herald’s righteous and oppressed cry of “The British are coming! The British are coming, she knew that she would never be the same. War, blood, fear, hate, greed, and death were her companions. Her land became riddled with holes dug for oil, coal, gold, and more, more, more, more to feed the greed and need of the new “Americans”…

America flinched as her beloved oaks, maples, and ancient redwoods were severed from their roots just as Africa’s children were ripped from their homes and families to suffer on her shores, the supposed land of the free and home of the brave… America tried, oh, yes, she tried to hold her native nation to her breast only to watch their lands stolen in her name. In her name? Well, well. America waited and watched what else would be done in her “name”.

America cried out at the dilution of royal bloodlines and enslavement of generations torn from mother Africa’s breast. A song was written, a flag was made in her “name”, but it could never replace the true spirit of America…the Beautiful. America did not feel beautiful as she watched her fledgling nation suckled on the same breast of slavery but refused to let all her people be equal. When war came again to pit brother against brother and almost tear America apart, she raged against the inhumanity of the bind-torture-kill doctrine that gripped Southern slave owners. Forests, marshes, and fields that once held life and beauty sat littered with death and destruction. The war ended and her mother’s children were now hers…African-Americans.

Numb from war and hopeful in Reconstruction, America sat and watched her people turn away from goodness and justice. She sat in silent tears as her trees swayed with the burnt bodies of men, women, and children who only wanted to be Americans…equal and free. With tears flooding the banks of the Mississippi, America watched again helplessly as her native children were herded as cattle, treaties broken, lives stolen, and for what…more.

Still driven to see her people as one, America dragged herself through decades of discrimination, oppression, and suppression to find hope in the leadership of her nation’s first Black citizen only to find the sting of the refusal of her people to embrace change. America watched in painful silence as her black and brown children’s bodies riddled with civil duty bullets… Trayvon, Michael, Tamir, Philando, Magdiel. America shut her eyes and covered her ears against the gales of grief, injustice, and suppression pummeling her lands… She cowered from the angry voices raised in division of stereotypes as bias shook her foundations….Then, in the eye of the storm of discord, America heard it… a knee hit the ground…a hopeful heart at the growing sound of unity in the awareness of her profiled children with targets on their backs.

Bang! Bang! Bang! America opens horrified eyes to find the bloodied and bullet-riddled bodies of children lying in schools while politicians’ pockets overflow with stacks of money from “Come and Take it” gun owner associations.

Murder! Destruction! Obesity! Envy! Hate! Fear! Abuse! Rage! Suicide! Drugs! It’s America!

The outcry of her intentionally categorized children deepen America’s wound and she looks to the foundations of the government only to see her original cause lost in fear, racism, and greed. The thick blanket of malevolence and corruption slowly begins to smother America and her people. The tears of thousands of immigrant children ripped from their parents by malicious and inept leadership rips the scab from America’s not too distant history as slave owners ripped children from their mothers. Her siblings across the ocean slowly begin to turn their saddened eyes away from who her people have allowed her to become. She is no longer a beacon of hope and land of the free. No! Please! Help me! Help my children! Nothing met America’s cry but the raucous and frenzied yells of “Make America Great Again! Make America Great Again!” Like a whiplash the cries echoed across America ALMOST TEARING HER APART!!!

Until…she heard it…the distant beat of a drum…the righteous cries for freedom…America knew those sounds and rejoiced. Yes, she would be great again. After all, she was awakened to the distant beat of a drum and the righteous cries of the oppressed herald…Revolution is coming! Revolution is coming!

 

 

To My Son

My dearest son Andrew,

First, let me say that I am so proud of the young man that you have become. I have watched you grow from a small precocious boy into a charismatic “tech junkie”. Even in a house full of women, you have remained true to yourself as a distinct manly individual. You fought against bullying and won, you conquered an illness that most adults never have and won. I stood in amazement and inspiration at your resilience. As we stand on the edge of the new 2016 year, I felt a deep urge to tell you why I cried this week.

When you were born, I turned from you when the nurse brought you to me. It wasn’t rejection of the long-awaited son that seem to replace the one that I’d lost years previous. It was the rejection of the world’s perception of you. You see, you didn’t look “Black or Hispanic enough” and I cursed myself for listening to my mother’s teachings of “a colorblind world”. I wanted to rail at the future injustices because you would have a hard time because of your fair skin color. It wasn’t until I held you and cried a mother’s tears of joy that I knew that God placed such a unique child in my life. Your father stuck his chest out in pride to have his Mexican heritage show so clearly while I shook my head in thought of the stereotypes that you would have to live down in both the Black and Hispanic cultures. I couldn’t help my thoughts because I was raised in a small town where people saw color first and acted according to those perceptions.

When I took you home, I tried so hard to make sure that you weren’t spoiled and that you were around your father, uncles, and male cousins. I almost breathed a sigh of relief when your skin started to darken and your hair began to curl. I felt that your body was changing so that you would fit in one world instead of being caught between two. Guilt flushed through my body at my own perceptions of “colorblindness”. When your Grandmother Alice died, her last words and thoughts were of you, Andrew, because she worried that you would be taken from me either in prison or death. She taught me to see the world as colorblind, but deep down, she knew that it wouldn’t see you that way. I promised her that I would take care of you and teach you and your sisters all of the wisdom that she taught me. It was a moment of profound reflection because she’d lived through the Civil Rights era and saw how far Black people had come only to be pushed back by a government that was not built by and for Black people.

Knowledge of being a Black woman and mother were not the same as acknowledging the stereotypes that came with it. I’d grown up with the sympathetic, rude, and disgruntled stares from being put in a “typical black kid” box and trying to break out of it daily. I decided then that I would foster you and your sisters’ independence and intelligence. I didn’t care nor did I know that it would make my children more of a target for an unforgiving system against Black children who stood out from their White peers.

This week, I mourned for a child that was not mine. Again. When I heard that no charges would be brought against the officer that killed Tamir Rice, I cried. I cried for a life cut short, I cried for the pain of his mother, and I cried for you, son. You turned fourteen this year, and I watched through newly aware eyes of how policeman and White society looked at you, not as a young boy, but as a grown man. I cried because how can I explain the brutality of a system that views Black children as adults before they are. I cried for a society that blamed a child for his death. You asked me why and all I could do was shake my head. I could form no words that would soothe my soul at the Black lives lost to stereotypes and prejudice. I could form no words to explain why I’ve never allowed you to play with guns outside or purchased them for you. I could form no words to caution you to try to be invisible to the perception of others when I raised you stand out. My voice was silent with oppression like I’ve never known because that child could have been you.

Knowing

“I have tilled the earth and because of it, flowers grew,
So I know the Beauty of Life
I have had trials, troubles, and triumphs,
So I know the Faith of Life.
I have traveled down highways and byways, and walked with people of all races,
So I know the Companionship of Life.
I have sat in quiet meadows and fields in bloom,
So I know the Peace of Life.
I have seen things grow, wither and die as seasons change,
So I know the Circle of Life.
And because of all these wonders, I know the God of Life.

~Adapted from the dedication of Alice Rosemond-Gibbons

Wisdom

The Purpose Chronicles

If everyone shared the lessons and knowledge of their lives, we could learn so much from each other, and there would be more empathy and less strife. Here is the wisdom that I’ve gained in my thirty-seven years:

• The color of someone’s skin or their financial status shouldn’t define how they’re treated.
• Someone else’s religious beliefs shouldn’t offend you if your own faith is strong.
• It’s easy to let drama into your life but it’s harder to get rid of it.
• Don’t stress out if no one else has faith in you, just have faith in your God and that’s all you need.
• Never be afraid to remove negative baggage from your life; you’ll find a missing piece of yourself when you do.
• Always start how you want to finish.
• Find joy in the journey of your life, because you only get one.
• Sometimes, you have to love family from…

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My Reflection of Diversity

Wisdom

If everyone shared the lessons and knowledge of their lives, we could learn so much from each other, and there would be more empathy and less strife. Here is the wisdom that I’ve gained in my thirty-seven years:

• The color of someone’s skin or their financial status shouldn’t define how they’re treated.
• Someone else’s religious beliefs shouldn’t offend you if your own faith is strong.
• It’s easy to let drama into your life but it’s harder to get rid of it.
• Don’t stress out if no one else has faith in you, just have faith in your God and that’s all you need.
• Never be afraid to remove negative baggage from your life; you’ll find a missing piece of yourself when you do.
• Always start how you want to finish.
• Find joy in the journey of your life, because you only get one.
• Sometimes, you have to love family from a distance to live your life to the fullest.
• Your self-worth should only be measured by how you see yourself – not how others see you.
• Take a moment every day to enjoy the blessing of this earth and your loved ones because tomorrow isn’t promised to anyone.
• If you’re wrong, admit it, so that when you’re right, people will trust what you have to say.
• Take care of your children and treat them well; after all, they are a reflection of your character.
• You have to follow before you can lead. Your leadership will reflect how well you followed.
• Failure is always an option, but what you learn from it to succeed is a choice.
• The power of patience can conquer obstacles.
• Be diligent in the pursuit of success and don’t allow negativity to misdirect you along the way.
• Sometimes a few seeds of hope and faith tossed in the wind will yield a harvest unimaginable.
• Never look down your nose at anyone. That person may be your blessing in disguise.
• You have to find confidence in yourself before you can expect anyone else to be confident in you.
• Motivate others – don’t break them down to build yourself up.
• Blessings rain down when you have hope, faith, and love.
• Everything happens for a reason, so don’t ask questions, just go with it.
• How you react to someone else’s actions is always your choice, so choose wisely.
• Don’t be discouraged if you don’t reach your goal when you want to because God – or whoever your higher power is – will make sure that you reach it when you need to.
• Remember if it’s bad when it goes around, it will be ten times worse when it comes around, so treat everyone well.
• You have to lose the game sometimes so that you can learn how to win.
• Don’t go looking for your own blessings because you may miss the ones that are already on the way.

Feel free to use and share this wisdom because if it doesn’t apply to you, it might be helpful to those that do need it. Be Blessed!

Inspirational Luminary!

As members of the human race, we all have one thing in common, and that is the desire to better our situation and improve our lives. For many, it’s far too easy to get sucked into the belief that we are limited, that our dreams are impossible and that the ‘good life’ wasn’t really meant for us in the first place.

Sometimes in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, we get caught up in the drama around us and forget who we are on a deeper level. We forget that we are part of God’s Divine Plan and having a human experience.

However, all it takes is one little spark of inspiration, and we can leave all of those fearful thoughts behind. Inspiration reminds us that we are not our problems, nor are we bound by our limiting beliefs.

When we are inspired, our spark inside turns into a flame and our lives and those around us are changed. We have the courage to step into the unknown and follow our dreams. We set aside our fears and move forward confidently to play bigger in the world and live the life of our dreams.

But how do we find such inspiration? It can be found almost anywhere, if we’re open to finding it. Perhaps it’s a walk in the woods, watching a child at play, enjoying the scent of a flower or gazing into the eyes of your beloved. Perhaps it’s as easy as reading something that reminds you how powerful you are and helps you step away from the story you’ve been telling yourself for so long.

Sometimes inspiration can hit us like a bolt of lightning, electrifying our ideas into action, and other times it’s the voice on a gentle breeze, nudging us to take the next baby step.

Regardless of how we find it, inspiration has the power to change the world. For with inspiration, whatever we can imagine becomes possible. Inspiration has the power to change a boring life into one of “What if…?”. It opens the floodgates to possibility, brings a smile to our face and adds a bounce to our step.

Want to improve your world? Make inspiration a daily part of your life and things will change. For this reason, I’d like to invite you to introduce you to a website that makes finding inspiration so easy for all of us. Each day, http://www.InspireMeToday.com features one Inspirational Luminary who answers the question, If today were your last day and you had only 500 words to leave to humanity, what have you learned that matters?

Imagine how different your world would be if you started each day with the wisdom learned from household names like Sir Richard Branson (Virgin) and Guy Laliberte (Cirque du Soleil) to thought leaders like Jack Canfield (Chicken Soup for the Soul) and Marci Shimoff (The Secret). So far more than 1000 Luminaries have been featured, including me. That’s a lot of inspiration and I’m proud to be named a 2014 Inspirational Luminary to share my wisdom with the world!

This daily wisdom takes but a minute to read, yet acts as a conscious reminder to that spark within each of us, rekindling our fire within. I invite you to read my inspiration on http://www.InspireMeToday.com and browse through the wisdom of more than 1000 other Inspirational Luminaries, and watch the difference it makes in your life.

Remember, when we get caught up in our own stories and start to forget God’s Design of us, it is inspiration that turns the ordinary into extraordinary, fear into hope and the darkness into light. Inspiration reminds us that we are greater than we seem, and more resilient and powerful than we think.

Stepping out on Faith

There have been so many times that I have struggled and stressed in a full-time job that wasn’t what I wanted to be doing or around the people that would inspire or motivate me as a Christian or as a woman. I told myself that the only reason that I stayed was because I had no choice, the benefits were good, it’s too hard to find another job, or some other mundane reason. I know now that the real reason that I stayed locked in a dead end job that almost drove me to insanity and serious health issues wasn’t trusting in the Lord. Let’s break it down…

When my beloved mother passed away, I found myself lost for a little while. I had an Associate’s Degree and leadership skills, and four small children. Since some of my older siblings had a history of wanting to see me fall down and not get back up, I decided I wouldn’t let my mother or my children down by giving in to my siblings’ spite. Ironically with one of my sister’s help, I started my own dessert catering business. The business started to take off faster than my sister’s salon as more people loved the taste of my homemade desserts. Soon, I was getting requests for high end tea and garden parties. I was ecstatic and stupid. My prices were too low and my profit was too. I made a bad decision to get a part time job and leave a jobless family member in charge of some catering jobs. It didn’t take long before I had to dissolve the business due to bad customer service and tasteless product going to repeat customers. The family member had helped me in my greed and naivety to ruin a growing business. I swallowed my pride and disappointment and stayed on at the part-time retail job.

After awhile, I used my fast learning and leadership skills to promote to the low commission shoe department at the retailer. I was relieved because now, I had a more set schedule, but the majority of the staff were women who immediately felt intimidated by me. The drama began and ended finally when I was upgraded to the high commission of appliances. Older people, less drama, and more money; at least that is what I thought. The older people were sharks with sharp tongues and equally intimidated because I was Black and spoke Spanish. I persevered and lasted long enough to become a manager with stable hours and stable income. Little did I know that the demands of that position would lead me to want more for me and my children. I wanted more time with them and more time to really find myself, but I kept coming up with more excuses to not leave. Finally, I got a side job as a business consultant for a established business that needed exposure. I jumped at the chance even though I made up most of what I needed to do and it was largely successful. I helped them and they helped me. They took me and my children under their wing with more business knowledge and a generous salary with benefits. My life began to settle into a pattern, and I felt less like I was lost without my Mama.

It wasn’t long before a friend of mine reminded me that I had promised my mother that I would get my four-year degree and proceed to law or graduate school. I shrugged off the reminder until God gently nudged me until I stopped in to Dallas Baptist University one day and found out that I could finish my degree faster than I had thought because of my Associate Degree credits. I enrolled and proceeded to take classes with my demanding retail schedule. I kept this up until God opened up a door for me to leave the retail world behind and concentrate on just my studies. I still felt lost because I was an older college student without a job and trying to care for my four children. God laid His Mighty Hand on the situation again and sent me my wonderful and supportive husband who began shouldering my burdens and sharing my triumphs. I obtained a job as a home health administrator and lost it six months later to internal conflict and jealousy. Again, I felt lost, but God provided me with income, and I was able to walk with my head held high and tears flowing to receive my B.A.S in Criminal Justice and Business Administration. I felt so complete that it took me a week to come down from that natural high.

The problem began when I came down from the high to accept a job with the State of Texas that gave me the fulfillment of client service but didn’t value my skills and intellect. So many of my coworkers would be baffled as to why I stayed in the job when I was so smart and commanding. Some of them ridiculed me severely when I finished my first two books (www.breakingthelinebooks.com) and still remained employed. I got several puzzled looks from them when I founded the anti-bullying nonprofit (www.stoppingthemadness.org) because they couldn’t understand why I was about to kill myself with a nervous breakdown and heavy stress filled workloads as I remained employed as a caseworker. I would just shake my head because all those excuses were running through my head. Yes, the job was stressful to the point that I would sit in my car breathing heavily everyday because I just didn’t want to log into the system and see the workload. Panic attacks and stress pills filled my day until I knew that I couldn’t take it anymore. It was just too much for any human to try to do, so I prayed for peace. Well, that didn’t happen because I just got more cases, so I prayed for understanding. Yep, didn’t get that either. I was at a loss and started to feel myself drifting, so I prayed for guidance and wisdom. It was then that I felt the not-so-gentle nudge to trust and believe that My Father God had a different path for me. It was time for me to step out on faith. I talked to my husband, and we prayed that it was time. When I handed in my resignation, the weight that I had been feeling lifted, and the path that God had for me opened in so many ways.

Stepping out on faith is what drives me to be the best self-employed minority business owner and nonprofit founder this side of the Mississippi. Breaking the Line Books will publish several books in the next year including the last two of my Victoria’s Journey series. Stopping the Madness Antibullying Foundation will be a nonprofit that will bring an end to bullying and provide resources and tools for families that need it. I realize that now I have truly found my faith because all I had to do was trust in God.