Civil

The Civil War was prompted because of the enslavement of Black people. The Civil Rights movement was prompted because of legalized racial discrimination, segregation and disenfranchisement of Black people. Neither of these events were civil and the next historical event of our time will not be either. We are at a precipice of change in America. Things are shifting. Race relations are being called out on a global scale during a pandemic. The death of a Black man in America is having a worldwide ripple effect. We are being forced to address our deep rooted history of racism towards Black people. Racism is America's original sin. Racism is the real classism. Racism must be eradicated for us to truly be Civil.

Neutral

Revelation 3:15-16 "I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth."

I've only put my car in neutral when I needed my car to be towed. I've only used that gear when I wanted to relinquish control of my vehicle to another party. Many of us live our lives in neutral. We don't pass go. We don't stay parked. We just exist. We give others the reins. We give others permission to say and do as they wish concerning our lives. We give away our power when we remain in neutral. We are lukewarm when we are undecided. We are lukewarm when we are not passionate. We are lukewarm when we feel defeated. We are lukewarm when we watch injustice in silence. We are lukewarm when we are neutral. 

New Normal

New Normal is a term in business and economics that refers to financial conditions following the financial crisis of 2007-2008 and the aftermath of the 2008–2012 global recession. The term has since been used in a variety of other contexts to imply that something which was previously abnormal has become commonplace.

What's your new normal? What is America's new normal? I remember when profanity was not a commonplace for primetime tv. I remember when songs had clean versions not just radio edits. I remember when games were criticized for excessive violence. I remember when rap music was the subject of congressional hearings. I remember when social meant human interaction. I remember when "live entertainment" did not include being a witness to murder and police brutality. Our new normal has desensitized us. Our new normal doesn't value life. Our new normal doesn't value family. Our new normal doesn't celebrate our differences. Our new normal is fear. Our new normal has created no expectation of justice. Our new normal is depression. Our new normal is violence. Our new normal is distraction. Our new normal is self destruction.

Mass Incarceration

• 1921 -Black Wall Street Internment Camps
• 1934- Holocaust Jewish Internment Camps
• 1942 -World War II-Japanese Internment Camps
• 2018- Immigrant Child Detention Facilities

There is nothing new under the sun. The world has an ugly history of hate. This hate has been directed at minorities for years. Fear what's different. Rape. Pillage. Colonize. We've always stolen each other's resources. We've always been afraid of change. We've always enslaved. We've always murdered and lynched under the guise of medical experiments or government sanctions. We have a history of oppression and privilege masked as tradition and laws. This is America. This is the world we live in. What are we gonna do about it?

Family

The definition of family is rapidly changing. Nuclear families have transitioned into single-parent, blended, same-sex, childless, foster, grandparents as parents , never-married families. As the list grows for individuals to identify, it seems we have so many options that some simply refuse to choose. I wonder what the next generation will have to lose because we refuse to make family a priority. We don't take care of home because our homes are broken. Family isn't always about blood, but every family should be rooted in unconditional love. We need to be examples of what true love looks like for our children. We need to show our children that no matter who comprises your family, it should be cherished and valued. Family should be the foundation of our value system and society. We should always make family our first priority.

Fruitful

"But life at its best is a creative synthesis of opposites in fruitful harmony."-MLK

What does fruitful harmony among opposites look like? Is it the "American Dream" of a melting pot? Is it religious and political freedoms? Is it gun control? Is it stricter immigration laws? Is it police reform? Is it bridging the wealth gap?

MLK was assassinated 50 years ago, and I can't help but think that his America mirrors mine with very little progress. Yes, we have had some significant historical accomplishments, but we've suffered major setbacks. What does America's fruit look like? Have strange fruit on Southern trees become bullet-riddled bodies in backyards? Have we been fruitful or are we like cursed fig trees that bear no fruit? Have we been fruitful with our passions and dreams or have we buried our time, our tenth, and our talent? Have we been fruitful or are we barren?

Noble

When I was a child, I couldn't wait to grow up. I wanted to be in charge. I didn't want anyone to tell me what to do. I was just like Simba, in the Lion King, singing, "I just can't wait to be king." I just knew that being an adult was going to be awesome. I did not see all the responsibility that came along with being an adult, only the benefits. I did not see the long hours or the overtime. I didn't see the budgeting and the planning. I didn't get it. The same can be said for most of us. We see things we want and are completely oblivious to what it takes to attain them. We see people's success and are clueless about their struggle. It's easy to admire someone's crown when you don't know their journey to it. 

"Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown"- Shakespeare