Never Again

I searched high and low looking for a poem I wrote long ago, entitled, Never Again.  If I find it, I will post it later.  What it said is basically, that never again, would we allow some of the things we allowed in the past to happen again.  Some of us still believe in that promise.  In light of so many things that have been happening, I think it's time for us to revisit what we, as American's stand for.  I appreciate our freedoms, I like the idea that we are entitled to our own point of views.  I would like to think that we can agree and disagree without feeling that our lives will be in danger simply on the basis of our beliefs.   Clearly, the atmosphere here in this country is shifting.  It's a sad day in America when people cannot seek sanctuary in their chosen place of worship without fear of losing their life.  It is not just a sad day, it is a day that should cause us all to question where we are going as a nation.  We continually confront terrorism everywhere else in the world but we refuse to confront it here in our own country?

In honor of those who we have lost their lives in this way, we grieve with you and your family and we pray that one day, soon, we will not only get it right, we will put an end to the hatred and bloodshed.

Tribute to Nipsey Hussle

I didn’t know Nipsey Hussle, and I must admit, I never heard his name before last year when I heard a story about his on my favorite radio morning show.  The story was one that impressed me      because it was a positive story about a young man who grew up in the hood.  What made me notice him more was that in spite of his success, he chose to open his store in the neighborhood where he grew up.      He was endeavoring to give back to a community that he knew was in desperate need of positive male role models.  Instead of putting his money into building an empire outside of the hood, he was building it right where he lived. 

    I didn’t know that the next thing I would hear about him would be the story about his shooting.

I don’t know the details of what happened.  All I know is that the young man’s life was taken needlessly and far too soon, which is too often the case with young black men.  It doesn’t matter the circumstances.   Hearing about the death of any young black man is hard for me to swallow.  It is even harder when we lose one who was on the right path.  Nipsey was a young man who was        living daily what he believed in.  He was not only living his dreams, but he was also encouraging      others to believe that they could live their dreams too. 

  So, to all those who are left to grieve, I make this appeal.  Please don’t let this young man’s life be      in vain.  He was proof that you can turn your life around, that it doesn’t matter where you are from    or what your past may be, you can make something of your life.    Thank you Nipsey Hussle.             Even in death, you are influencing lives and changing them for the good.    The greatest tribute you  can give him is to make sure your lives count for something.  He doesn’t have another chance, but you do.   As long as you are here, you can learn something new, you can start again, there will always be a second chance.   As long as there is a new day dawning sunny and bright, you can make things right.

To Nipsey's family, I wish you peace in the midst of this storm.