Running from your truth

It is no secret that 2016 has been a beast. Not only did we just recently elect a fascist, and remember just how racist America is, but the number of deaths this year have been multiplying since January 1st. It appears as if everything is going to hell in a hand basket and it feels as if the entire world is spiraling out of control. This is the time that we all need to to take stock of the life that we are living. Are we living in our truth? Or are we living a half-life filled with fear and doubt? 

Despite the crazy, this year has actually been much better than the previous one. And each year, since I started living in my own truth, my pathway has become less filled with obstacles, and more light continues to fall on my journey. Is it perfect? Hell no. Perfection is not the truth that I seek. My truth is found in the mess, my relationships, my struggles, and most of all my ability to be a fully realized human being. Many of us are afraid to live in our truth because that means we have to hold the mirror up and take stock of the good, bad, and ugly. We have to be willing to shed some bad habits that we truly believed were always good ones. We have to be willing to take a risk and believe in the love that God has granted all of us. As artists, we have to find our way in an industry that does not always allow us to live and breathe in our truth. And as a country, we have to continue to live in our truth by making great steps to work towards the world that we all deserve to live in even if change makes the majority uneasy or uncomfortable.

Truth is an intrinsic part of feeling uneasy. The unease lets us know that something needs our immediate attention. And the work that we put in to repair it cannot simply benefit those who are closest to us, it must benefit the very strangers that live among us to. In fact it is only then that, the truth becomes far reaching and leads to a greater healing that helps us all. 

So as life and death continue, do not forget to run as if your life depended on it towards your truth. Stop making excuses about how life never works out, or everything I touch fails, or I am all alone in the world. Perception is a game changer. If you perceive the negative in everything, then it shall be, If you perceive beauty and hope, then it can be. Take your power back. Reach out for help. Remember that anything good starts with you. We can move the needle with one positive action at a time. Run to your truth and never forget to grab a few on the way and fling them towards theirs. Never stop living by never giving up. 

Keep your damn safety pins

Dear White People, please do not and I repeat do not wear a safety pin to identify yourself as an ally to the Black, Brown, LGBT, or in other words, the rest of America. 70% of the voters in the 2016 election were white and both the popular vote and the electoral college were mere votes apart, It was not a landslide. It was a message. And important message for ALL of us. NO ONE WILL SAVE US FROM THIS DEBACLE! WE MUST AND SHOULD BE PLANNING TO HELP OURSELVES. In fact, I believe this truth that was revealed on November 8th, is exactly what we needed to cease being complacent.

Now I am all for marches, rallies, and folks speaking out. But, today, this month, and for the next year, I am looking for ACTION PLANS, And I will be the first to admit that I am unsure of what it should look like. I do know that it cannot continue to start with any savior or missionary mentality because those are by products of a colonizing mindset. It must start with a stream of truth. Dear White people stand up and say this aloud, "The United States is a racist, misogynist, homophobic, and Islamaphobic country that was built on the tenets of slavery, free enterprise, and war. And it benefits me and people who look like me." Then repeat it 50 times to make sure that you never forget it. It is deep in the DNA. And like most bad traits, change is usually difficult but it is not impossible. But, change of this magnitude requires that you rip the band aid off and throw alcohol at the wound. Because the more that it burns and hurts, the more important the change. And just maybe it will happen. Maybe.

Each time a child or an adult is being victimized with hate language or actions, speak out and say something. It does not count if you can only have "woke" conversations in your comfortable liberal circles. It strikes a mighty blow when you can be the only voice of reason. That is a start.

So excuse me as I refuse to have a conversation about the obvious. I already know how fucked up this country can be, first hand. But, I am willing to wait for the folks who have always had prime seats to the show to catch up and figure out the not so obvious, SAFETY PINS ARE NOT THE ANSWER!!

The Election of 2016

This morning, I was awakened by my daughter wailing at the top of her lungs that Donald Trump is the 45th President of the United States. This was followed by a slurry of words that I could barely make out in between her tears and gasping. Things like, concentration camps, civil wars, where are we going to go, what are we going to do, and the last thing hit me to my core as I held her, HE IS GOING TO KILL US ALL!! Yes, my daughter yelled between tears, He is going to kill us all!!

Then I finally looked at the results that I had been avoiding for the last 12 hours and realized just how close this damn election was. It was close enough to see that Trump did not win by a landslide, but he won by a mere thousands of votes.The red throughout the South, Midwest (Kudos IL) and North was blinding. Then I took to social media and quickly realized who had voted for who and why.

The crazy thing is that I have not shed a tear nor am I in shock. I am just angry and numb. Angry because EVERYONE knows how racist, homophobic, and sexist this country actually is. EVERYONE realizes how white privilege and racism has determined every law and current of the United States of these fucking Americas. Regardless of the rhetoric and disappointment that you feel towards the Democratic Party for nominating Hilary Clinton, each of you need to peel away the BS and say out loud the following: WE WOULD RATHER HAVE AN ACCUSED RAPIST, A RACIST, A HOMOPHOBE, A SEXIST, A KING MISOGYNIST, A KKK SUPPORTER, A TAX EVADER, A WALL BUILDER, A HATER OF IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES, AND SOMEONE WHO DESTROYS JOBS AS QUICKLY AS HE MAKES THEM be President over someone with a vagina any day of the week. Because let us be clear, if another woman who was more popular had run, the results would have been the same because Amerikkka was nursed on slavery, came of age with wars, and continues into adulthood with unabashed class-ism and exceptionalism. And in the midst of that men have been attempting to rule and govern women since time began.

As my daughter continued to weep and wail, I asked her one simple question. What can we do today? Do we pack and get ready to leave? What?!

She looked at me with the most soberest of looks and said, "We come from Sara and Hiram who were slaves and they survived. We come from Lugenia who moved to Chicago from the south with nothing more than an ability to work and found a means to survive and raise a daughter. Her daughter married Levi and they raised two strong girls who became women. And Anderson's don't lay down when a fight is coming."

So this is a call to arms. If you believe in anything, you must believe that this is a sign of the first of the actual reckoning. America is long overdue to face a judge and jury of her peers for her sins and transgressions. There have been many revolutions and causes that have resulted in small changes and death for some. But, the entire government has been rendered futile in this election and if WE want to survive whatever is heading our way WE better get prepared. This is beyond reading and having a few conversations. This is about equipping our spirits, minds, and bodies to actually fight for what is right. We have to follow the steps of the archangels and soldier on. We have to imbue our hearts with love and our soul with the spirits of all of our ancestors who fought and were willing to sacrifice everything for what is right and just. And WE must do the impossible. WE must do it together. Because Black and Brown people have been fighting since ever and we understand from birth what it means to live in a country that is constantly trying to get rid of you. And now all of our lives have been placed on a public auction block to kill at will.

And for all of you that support Trump and believe in your heart and soul that he is exactly what America needs, then you must know that this is not over. You have given unlimited power to someone where checks and balances have been nearly rendered null and void. The natives have been restless and seeking permission to take this fight to the streets. And the results of this election have thrown the gauntlet down. WE have elected our very own terrorist to lead the free world. Well done America! Well done!