Black & Powerful

I have always thought of myself as a bold man who speaks the truth whether people are ready to hear it or not. Those who find my comfort ability with being in my own skin a bit brash can say that I speak my own version of the truth, or my truth. But the fact of the matter is that not acknowledging our own truth's is what holds a lot of us back because we insist on living in a comfort zone that is merely a fantasy. With that being said, part of my "thinking outside of the box" means that I choose to delve into subjects that no one else wants to. 

It has been my experience that some African-Americans in positions of authority, or power allow their stations in life to go to their heads.

This reminds me of a 4 foot 11, 195 lb African-American woman whom I met when I worked for the water department in New York City. While working on a huge water main break in the middle of the busiest intersection in Brooklyn, I was approached by this little woman with a huge personality in a tight NYC Traffic Enforcement uniform, wearing heavy make up, with 17 gold bracelets on each wrist, with almost as many earrings in each ear, and her officers cap perched high atop a pile of blond weave. With all of the attitude in the world she told me that we had to move and stop holding up traffic, despite the fact that a river of water was flowing down the street, and there was a huge truck parked next to us that said, NYC Dept of........on both doors.

When I told her that we were with the Water Dept she said that she had never heard of us, as if she was the utmost authority of hearing about everything. To make a long story short, she called the Police who arrived dumb founded in reference to the fact that they had to explain the obvious to her because she wouldn't listen to me. She was Black and  powerful, at least in her own mind.

That was just one experience, and I pride myself on not painting everybody with a broad brush. I am a strong believer in objectivity, and I give everyone the benefit of the doubt. But this wasn't the last time I experienced this. At first I thought it was my magnetic, and charming personality, but it couldn't be.

Before you accuse me of going on a rant and criticizing African-American women, let me be clear. African-American men are just as guilty. If you give some of them the slightest inclination of control, whether it be "working the fries" or running an organization it goes to their heads. Many believe that they are at the pinnacle of African-American exceptional ism because they are in a position that is not that not many, if any of their peers at can achieve. That is if their narcissistic tendencies actually allows them to believe that they have any peers.

Don't get me wrong. Congratulations to anyone who has overcome obstacles, and triumphed over adversities to arrive at their desired station in life, and I fully understand what power can do to and for the powerless. But we must remember.........

Luke 12:48

⁴⁸ But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. 

I don't believe that this just applies to ones ability to do the job. But the ability to handle the job.

If you feel that was is given to you requires that you be anything less than a kind, civil, or empathetic individual, then you must question whether your ultimate dedication is to your position, or your ego.

PR

           SOME PEOPLE CAN'T HANDLE