We are Worthy

 Being a person of color is enough of a reason to disqualify a person from a job. Regardless of what people of color have accomplished in this lifetime, we are never good enough to simply be accepted as qualified for a position. We must endure a crucible from our white counterparts each time we endeavor to reach for a greater position outside of our own insular community, proving ourselves to be worthy of an opportunity!

Watching the Congressional hearing of Ketanji Brown Jackson is heartbreaking, vexing, and stress inducing. It brings back all the fears and anxiety I felt every time I have had to interview for a position, I knew that I was qualified for. Despite those qualifications, I faced a judge and jury I knew would see my skin first before they heard me. Every person of color understands the calculus that occurs during such interviews as the one playing out in Congress right now. From the simple backrooms of the local shoe store to the wood-laden conference rooms of the Federal government, people of color have endured the proverbial gauntlet of the interview. Despite their impeccable resume extolling years of experience, past appraisals lauding years of excellent performance, people of color are overtly interrogated about their abilities to do a job where they have the requisite qualifications to do the job well.

At issue is the intent behind the questions. Often the interviewer is incredulous that a person of color possesses such a stellar resume or can perform the duties that she/he states. This question of veracity is learned behavior and is now commonplace for many white interviewers. What’s more is that even when the person of color satisfactorily answers the question, some interviewers still question if the person can do the job or if they have simply mastered the art of answering the questions. 

Perhaps it is hard to comprehend how one could believe I or anyone else could cull this information from an interview. It could be argued that what I am stating is simply conjecture or perception, at best. Arguably, however, anecdotally any person of color can share with you their experiences collectively that have confirmed what I have stated. And though it may not be proven in the since that it can be measured, I assert that when a person of color prepares for an interview the palpable anxiety she/he gets when they are confronted with a white interviewer, especially if it is more than one (e.g. panel), there is validity to what I am saying. 

People of color face many obstacles in employment. People of color’s rise is predicated on their ability to perform at a high level constantly. Mistakes for people of color are indelible. It follows them for life. The playing field isn’t and has never been level. People of color must always prove themselves to be worthy of the next level, the next opportunity regardless of their past accomplishments. This truth would not be so caustic if it were not for the fact that their white counterparts are liberally given a pass when it comes to experience or proof of ability. History has shown all too often that many white individuals have been preordained. Without any real accomplishments, they many whites are given the position with the assumption that they can do the job. 

I know many intelligent, hardworking people of color who have been passed over for opportunities. I cannot say with certainty that they were passed over because they were a person of color. I can say, however, that if you looked at their resume alone and were asked to judge whether or not that person should be given an opportunity to work, I would venture to guess that 9 out of 10 people would unequivocally say yes. Conversely, I know white people who have also been passed over who also were very qualified for a position, so by no means do I suggest that this is simply a problem for people of color. What I do say is this: People of color, historically, have had to fight a perpetual battle to be recognized as quality employees in the workplace. They are passed over consistently for promotions and undervalued for a myriad of meritless reasons. This salient point is uncontested in the Black community and should be in the white community. People of color have and continue to contribute at a high level of facets of American society. It is time that people of color no longer must fight with indignation for every opportunity.

"You are worthy!” Cory Booker, US Senator

One of the most powerful things in the world can be obtained and used liberally by anyone who chooses to use it.  "If" can be the beginning of something great or the acquiescence to defeat. How will you use your "if"?

Can You Hear Us Now

January 6, 2021 was the culmination of many things, one of which is the truth many people of color have been speaking for a long time. And though there are many White allies that have been there all along, there are many White people who have chosen to willfully ignore the signs or who have blissfully joined the cult of hatred. What happened on the 6th of January was no accident, no abberation and no surprise. It was the first shot from a faction that has been waiting on the bench to get in the game. The coach (Trump) gave them their fourth quarter, 2 minutes left, one for the Gipper speech. The message: by any means necessary; and they heard the message loud and clear!

As a Black man what astonishes me the most is not that this insurrection happened or that Trump happened, it is that "good" White people in general apparently didn't see this coming. For as long as I can remember - and I am 51 - Black folk have been raising our proverbial hands and voices pointing out the injustices we've been facing at work, in our communities, and in our personal lives only to be called alarmist or over-reactors. People of color have been demonized for playing the race card and admonished for reading too much into an action of a White person, not giving them the benefit of the doubt. Time and time again we have been the ones to acquiesce, to forgive, to bend our perception to meet what White society wants/needs to be reality. All so White people could be comfortable, placated.

Just as the Confederate statues have been standing in plain sight, so have the racist, bigoted cultist who continue to empower Trump to desecrate and destroy America and the democracy it is supposed to be. These symbols, rhetoric and actions have permeated American society unabated for decades only to find a solid footing when a narcissistic demagogue was elected and emboldened to speak freely with impunity. Then and only then was it apparent to the disillusioned that there was perhaps a problem in America, something nefarious afoot, something sleeping next door, or perhaps, even in the bed next to them.

White America is Dr. Frankenstein and Trump is their monster. They have assembled him piece by piece. He is their white privilege, their hatred, their misogyny, their xenophobia, their antisemitism and their narcissism all stitched together into a living, breathing monstrosity of spewing vitriol. And no, I cannot apologize for generalizing by saying all White America because although I know that all are not responsible, I know that many are. As has often been stated: silence and inaction is complicit, and if you are complicit you are guilty.

Admittedly I am angry as I am writing this. I, too, am hurt. I have many White friends that I love and know love me. I know that they were not and are not complicit, and I do not mean for my words to hurt them. I am, however, tired of apologizing for the truth. We owe it to ourselves to be better to each other, to our children and to our country. 

What I witnessed on January 6, 2021 was an abomination. For those who voted for Trump and fiercely support him and still continue to do so, I repudiate you and can only see you for what you are, a traitor and a cultist. There are moments in history that define who and what we are, and January 6, 2021 is an epoch, an indelible stain on America that will forever leave a scarlet letter on those who waved the Trump flag. For those who proudly did so, shame on you! And for those "good" White folks who didn't see the signs, didn't hear the cries, and refused to feel the palpable tension in the air building up to Trump ... well, I hope things are a little clearer now.

_________________

Good White People - In Black vernacular this term connotes those White people who are not racists and although they may not have sided with or paid much attention to Black folk in the past, they now understand the historical, contemporaneous, and projected plight of POC and care and even perhaps feel compelled to act. Of course, this is a subjective definition and is not based on any scientific fact

S. McGill

One of the most powerful things in the world can be obtained and used liberally by anyone who chooses to use it.  "If" can be the beginning of something great or the acquiescence to defeat. How will you use your "if"?

What Makes A Man?

Recently I lost one of the most influential persons in my contemporary life (I lost the first -- my father -- 20 years ago): my father-in-law. A modest man with a fifth-grade education yet a man who had a tremendous impact on everyone he came in contact with. The profundity of his wisdom and spirituality was not notable because he overwhelmed you with it. No, in fact, he need not say a word for you to be aware of it. Once he engaged you – and trust that he was usually the initiator in most meetings – it was not hard to discern the essence of the man in front of you. So, as I said goodbye to a soul I truly thought personified the moniker of a man, I began to think what I would tell a son a man was if I had one today. 

Here are my thoughts:

On the surface one could argue that “manhood” is achieved once a male reaches a certain age: 21. And to some this is the only criteria that they use to deem themselves a man. Though they may lack the ability to lead and they tend to blame others for their problems, they still believe that because they have a penis and a pair of testicles and can get a woman pregnant that they are a man. They aren’t. They are a liability to themselves and their community. They are a victim who believes that challenging others, being mean to others (bullying), and taking advantage of those they perceive are weaker than them is the way to prove themselves a man. That’s false. 

A “man” in the cultural sense is one who is responsible and accountable for what is his -- good or bad. To be a man is to understand that there are certain things that are inherent in the title. Characteristics such as humility, integrity, and respect are absolutes for a man. Also, a man understands and practices sacrifice to ensure those he is charged to love and care for get what they need. And though strength is another characteristic that defines a real man, it is not physical strength but strength in character that is paramount. 

A real man does not have to prove to another that he is strong; it is evident in what he says and does. A male who thinks he has to puff out his chest, yell and intimidate others is a coward and a bully and doesn’t understand that he is only proving himself an insecure, hapless burden as opposed to a pillar of strength and dependability. A man who uses his strengths to build others up and help them achieve heights greater than they thought they ever could is the personification of the title. 

The interesting thing is there is little you can do in a moment to prove yourself a man. A man ascends from his deeds. A man is such because he is trustworthy and accountable. He lives by a standard that is palpable to those who know him and easily seen by those who don’t. If you have to prove yourself a man, then it is likely that your deeds have yet to define you as such. When you can point to your accomplishments – big or small, good or bad – and own them, learn from them, and teach from them; then you have become a man. 

Struggle through adversity with humility to understand that conceding a battle does not mean you have lost the war. Resolve to ensure that those who are counting on you – even if it is only you – know no matter what the crucible, all will rise with you and be better than they were before the storm. A true man understands these words are implicit in everything he does. 

--

As I listened to the words of the many who shared in the experience of knowing and loving my father-in-law, I realized that they too understood as I that they had lived in the midst of a true man. Though he was 5 foot 9 inches, he was taller than most. Though he was as strong as the average man, he was one of the strongest men I knew. Though he was of a modest educational background, his wisdom was greater than many of the world’s best scholars. And though there are men who have books and stories written about them, to those who knew him, he was one of the greatest men they will have ever known. 

Work hard to be the best to those around you and let history determine your caliber. Stand firm in your convictions and take care of your charges. Be unwavering in your promises and accountable for your actions and when all is said and done the narrative will be that one indelible mark that we all hope to hear one day: He was a good man!

S. McGill

One of the most powerful things in the world can be obtained and used liberally by anyone who chooses to use it.  "If" can be the beginning of something great or the acquiescence to defeat. How will you use your "if"?

A Lesson Learned...

In this waning time of intellect, courage and empathy I find myself trying to understand others. I want to see what they see and broaden my perspective so that I am not ignorant in my arguments, positions and or rhetoric. Time and again, however, I find myself perplexed, vexed even, at the absence of cogent thought many put into their diatribes, choosing instead to spew some trite trope they plucked from the internet (comment sections are the best/worst) or heard on the television. And even then, I try to read between the lines to see if the author has a relevant position that she/he cannot simply articulate using their own words. Yet after many attempts it is clear they don’t. They are blithely extolling some hyperbolic sentiment that resonated with their person but lack any greater understanding of the issue. This behavior plays out day after day in our society with little evidence of halting. And while some are beginning to question this cavalcade of feckless banter, many continue to hitch their wagons to it, waving their trifle flags of support.

But why?

A good friend recently shared with me a piece of literature that changed my life: The Pedagogy of the Oppressed, by Paulo Freire. After reading this book I realized that I was the personification of Pavlov’s dog. From a very early age I have been conditioned to respond to things in my environment a certain way. My thoughts, reactions, moral judgements and all those things that constitute my person have been a product of learned behavior. My insight has been predicated on what others have told me is true and reasonable. In fact, I have been so conditioned that I often choose to eschew happiness and contentment to pursue things that bring stress, resentment and pain. I have been resolutely quixotic in chasing after things that have little value to me but because others see them as important; I am dogged in my pursuit of them.

I know I am not alone. When I read and listen to others it is readily apparent to me that the masses have been infected by the endemic disease of apathy. Ostensibly it is not our fault. We were taught from a very young age many of the things we hold steadfastly true today. From how we make and spend our money to how our justice is meted out. We champion those who tell us what we should think and what we should want to hear. We are enraptured by the smooth talkers, the anointed (I know this is going to get me in trouble) and the inspired. We are infatuated with those who have much and disgusted by those who have nothing. We see the tragedy of others, but shrink from action if it is not at our doorstep because we believe as only one person we have no agency.

The truth is ugly. We are sheep. We drank the Kool Aid a long time ago and are now complacent. We are afraid of what we will lose if we educate ourselves and understand what using our agency really means. If we were to stand with Kaepernick and stop patronizing a billion dollar industry that reaps the benefits of its greatest commodity but sees no responsibility to stand with them – yet can wear pink for breast cancer (I’ll just leave that right there), what do we stand to lose. If we were to stop patronizing those companies that pour billions of dollars into a president’s bid for reelection, one who with unabashed hate and vitriol has shown his disdain for people of color or anyone who does not look like him, what do we stand to lose. If we choose to confront our neighbors, family and friends who champion hate in their deeds and action, forcing them to understand that hate is a cancer to all of society, what do we stand to lose.

Perhaps the question is not what we would lose but what would we gain. If we chose to embrace our agency and underwrite our own pedagogy, what differences could we imagine in our own communities.

I like so many can’t wait to vote on November 6, 2020 to exercise my right to plant a seed of change in this country, one that embraces differences, allows for compromise, while respecting life and liberty. Yet I know that as long as we look to others to be the catalyst for change, for others to define our success and for others to be our courage, we will never break free of the proverbial shackles of what we’ve been taught to believe and live.

And though this may seem to be a “black thing” it is not. We all have new things to relearn. The history of our pedagogy is a shared history. We all have been conditioned and we all are apathetic. If this blog strikes a nerve perhaps it is time for you to find your own truth. After all, that’s where our own agency begins.

S. McGill

One of the most powerful things in the world can be obtained and used liberally by anyone who chooses to use it.  "If" can be the beginning of something great or the acquiescence to defeat. How will you use your "if"?

The Stench of Hypocrisy!

It has been a while since I last jumped on the QWERTY keys to express my paltry opinion about anything. In fact, so much has happened since I last pecked out a meandering rant about something, doing so now feels … well … off. I have been disappointed, disenchanted, disenfranchised, discombobulated and just simply dissed over the past few years. Watching as the country embarks on a journey of such absurdity that Rod Serling himself might clear his throat preparing his iconic welcome to introduce the story unfolding in these United States. And while I have had plenty of opinions that I could have shared and opined on, I erred on the side of restraint and caution, choosing to allow the countless pundits eschew wisdom in some cases and vomit stupidity in others. I felt there was enough discord in America, and one more voice extolling the iniquities of a broken society would just add salt to the open, pus-filled wounds of our great sovereign nation. But just as with the never-ending 24-hour news cycle perpetually promulgated by our phones, TVs and other digital devices, the tomfoolery has just reached a point that even the most disciplined pessimist can’t idly sit by and let the incessant stench continue to waft into the air, permeating the minds of the meandering public. So I must do this. I must invoke the universal, ubiquitous act that stops everything dead in its tracks, allowing for all injustices to be reviewed if not overturned …

TIMEOUT! BLOW THE WHISTLE! MAKE A "T" WITH YOUR HANDS!

What the … sorry, I meant, who the … ok, I think I’ve got it together now … Michael Jackson, dead now these last 10 years, is now the supervillain we all once thought only inhabited our worst nightmares or the most intriguing cinema thrillers -- or Harvey Weinstein if you want to be exacting. He is on trial – again! This time in the court of public opinion for sexual crimes against young boys. And though I empathize with the victims and even believe there is likely some truth to their stories, I cannot help but scoff at the indignation that is seemingly surrounding a documentary detailing his alleged sexual abuse of children. If this story was the only one of its kind in the news cycle, then the heinous nature of the allegations could most certainly be the catalyst to prompt many to judge and denounce a once prolific American idol as the poster child for such a despicable act. Yet one need only look to the next article to see that Mr. Jackson is part of a phalanx of alleged offenders being outed by underage, traumatized victims of sexual abuse.

One such predator that comes immediately to mind is Jeffery Epstein. Who, though is not as famous as Michael, is filthy rich and has many friends in high places; and it seems has the proclivity to engage in inappropriate sexual activities with young girls … a lot of young girls … hundreds! Yet the story of Mr. Epstein seems to be secondhand news despite the fact that the varied supporting players in the Epstein story are high profile members of the elite, self-appointed ruling class of America. Not to mention that this gentleman was tried and convicted in a court of law for his offenses, affirming only his guilt as a connoisseur of prostitutes and not his real crimes of pedophilia and sex trafficking. And to top it all off, Mr. Epstein because of some egregious, illicit kindness of the judiciary in Florida (a story for another day), was able to spend a leisurely 13 months in and out of a county jail for his purported crimes.

All this and still the allegations of a dead black(?) pop star who was also tried but acquitted dwarfs the story of a – at last check – still living rich white man who gamed the system to get a slap on the wrist. Not only is the chatter about Michael Jackson more fervent on people’s tongues, but I’ve also heard some talk about how this latest exposition should be a referendum on the sexual abuse of children. That the acts of Mr. Jackson should be the catalyst for us to step up and address the problem.

You have got to be kidding me! It is confounding that folks don’t or won’t see the hypocrisy and the ridiculousness of this moment. You simply cannot in a contemporaneous fashion repudiate Michael Jackson and his alleged actions without acknowledging and equating those of Jeffrey Epstein. To do so is abhorrent, demonstrating ignorance or blatant discrimination of the sort to fit one’s own convenient narrative. You either wholly and unequivocally disdain pedophilia and those who practice and or participate in it, or you make exceptions choosing preposterous mitigating factors; which, again, classifies you, your prejudices and your intellect as something less than favorable.

I don’t begrudge anyone for being horrified by the alleged actions of Michael Jackson. As I stated earlier, I believe there is some truth to what the two men reported. What is confounding and aggravating to me is the sense of indignation by some to repudiate a decade-old dead man while choosing to ignore or dismiss a living, breathing, convicted monster of the same vile predation.

If you didn’t know who Jeffrey Epstein was and used that as an excuse as to why you failed to draw a parallel or denounce the actions of both as equally disgusting, that is your fault. To allow the media to shape your opinions to such an extent that it and only it is your source for personal edification and or social justice interpretations, convictions and opinions is inane. Information is a vital part of a functioning society. Yet bad information can be disruptive, divisive, destructive and debilitating. We have an obligation to ourselves to gather and process information using discernment and reasoning with the intent to get as much as the whole story as we can. To do less than this and then to opine openly using flimsy details and one-sided, myopic information, simply becomes an indictment of our person, our judgment, our intellect. Being informed is not a passive activity. Be diligent in your pursuit of information and commit to finding out as much of the truth as possible. It is important for each of us to point out inequities to ensure everyone is accountable. We all have agency and must use it to hold accountable those resources and people that portend to provide us with the facts. Fair is fair! Or, as my momma used to say, “what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.”   

S. McGill

2019

One of the most powerful things in the world can be obtained and used liberally by anyone who chooses to use it.  "If" can be the beginning of something great or the acquiescence to defeat. How will you use your "if"?

The Un-United States

It has been nearly a year since I last blogged, and the reality is I have struggled to make sense of what the world has become and moreover what our nation has become. I am beholden to an oath to my country as a public servant to serve with unyielding allegiance. And though I have the right to express my opinion on my own time, doing so can put me and my family at great peril -- so really I don't have that liberty! I therefore must temper my words with the fact that I can and will be held accountable regardless the guise by which I author my thoughts. I cannot acquiesce to the pangs of my spirit and decry the iniquities perforating my country, my community. And though I have tendered some of my posits via the ever watching social media machine, I mostly remain silent, vexed and disheartened at what has become of America.

In the aftermath of the shooting at a baseball practice in Alexandria that occurred on June 14, 2017, I find myself in an apoplectic stupor, listening and reading about how people are surprised that a person's political leanings can lead one to such heinous actions. And yet one only need to peruse the internet to see the alleged leader of the free world telling folks in an unambiguous manner to remove folks by force who disagree with his leanings, offering to pay the legal bills of those groupies who carry out his orders. Moreover, the man charged with leading the greatest democracy in history has shown the proclivity to act aggressively towards people, mocking their disability, dehumanizing them by leveling egregious accusations and admitting to violating their rights for his own satisfaction. These actions coupled with policies that defy human decency and the promise to weaken the sovereignty of the nation he represents, stoke the fires of fear and desperation of many who try to exist within the parameters skewed towards the Have's and privileged white America.

Many want to choose to live in oblivion, feigning ignorance, electing to believe many of the tragedies of late happened in isolation. They didn't! And we know this. The breadcrumbs are so obvious, even Big Bird couldn't eat them all to obfuscate the truth. The eight hundred pound gorilla in the room is jumping on the table, eating our lunch and pulling our hair. The hate, prejudice and vitriol is inextricably tied to the violence and discord we are seeing throughout our nation. As we as a nation try and move beyond an ugly past into a place of reckoning and accord, there are some who despise the thought of a country unified as one, determined to celebrate a shameful past and refuse to move towards a future that is inclusive and prosperous for all. 

Let me be explicit here. This is not about Democrats and Republicans. This is not about abortion and the right-to-life. This is not about the right to love who you want. This is a fundamental divide in ideology regarding the constitution of our country. No, not the document, the people. The Black American, the White American, the Latin American, the LGBTQ American, the Asian American, the Disabled American, the Muslim American etc. The fear of some that extolling and exercising the true tenets of freedom by allowing everyone to exist without fear of persecution, ridicule and/or prejudice somehow lessens their own existence is the TRUE problem.

No, I will not rehash the history of this nation by reiterating how this country was inhabited long before European settlers ever laid foot on this soil and therefore is and always will be the land of its native people. I will not recount the horrors of slavery by White America to satisfy their narcissism and blatant disregard for human decency. No, I will not reignite the flames that illuminated the hate and terrorism proliferated throughout this nation via contrived practices such as Jim Crow, Sundown Towns, Black Codes and Red Lining. Moreover, I will restrain from cataloging the contemporary actions of some to preserve the symbols and statues of national traitors an audacious hate. These things speak for themselves if only people choose to open their eyes and see them for what they are. 

What I will say is this, we can only truly be United once we collectively choose to accept the past with the promise to usher in a better future. We must take account of our own insecurities, prejudices and fallacies, reconcile them within ourselves and then embrace the willingness to unequivocally accept those of others. Human is the only race. We are our own greatest threat, choosing ignorance over knowledge, hate over love, and greed over solidarity. And though there is no magic elixir to right the ship and get us moving as one towards a more perfect nation, we have the greatest commodity at our fingertips to get things moving in the right direction -- US! (And yes the pun is intended)

S. McGill

One of the most powerful things in the world can be obtained and used liberally by anyone who chooses to use it.  "If" can be the beginning of something great or the acquiescence to defeat. How will you use your "if"?

Because I Have The Right

As a blogger, I challenge myself to find the words to articulate how I feel. My writing is therapeutic, cathartic for me and intended to be entertaining to anyone who chooses to read them. And as my thoughts are my own, I don’t expect or want others to agree with me as much as I ask others to understand my position. The diversity in our thoughts and convictions is the kindling that stokes the fires of innovation, negotiation and fidelity. And through this negotiation, we can foster compromise and coalesce in our likeness while learning to catalyze the power of our differences.

I offer this preamble because I am troubled by recent events (Alton Sterling, Castile in Minnesota) and am struggling to parse my words. I am angry, hurt, vexed, and tired. I have obligations in my life that don’t afford me the liberty to say all that I want. But to be clear, I am not interested in leveling indictments against anyone, any agency or party. And although there is salient evidence to support systemic indiscretion, the precipitous use of propaganda, misdirection, and miseducation allows the truth to be obscured and manipulated.

Hence my opinion:

The narrative of American history is neat and concise, packaging the stories it encapsulates in pithy anecdotes that tend to forget or ignore the ancillary issues that shaped the outcome or the people/communities impacted by the actions that made up the larger story. Modern technology is mitigating this issue, providing us with records of the story as it happened. And though some of the videos provided do not show the whole story, many offer enough evidence to support the claim of egregious, deliberate actions. Perception indeed plays a role in how we see things and thus allows for nuances in interpretations, the simple facts of these videos are indefatigable in their exposition of the reality.

The agency that is the Black community has a charge to its history, present and its future. Inherent in this charge is the courage to be accountable. That is, we must understand and accept that our actions are our own and the consequences that accompany them are ours as well. Conversely, this truth applies to those agencies, communities, and individuals that coexist with us. We must be in countenance with this edict in our everyday lives if our expectation is that others too will comply. So yes, we have a clearly defined role in stopping the heinous attacks against our community and in particular our men, my brothers.

Undoubtedly our society has successfully labeled the black man the enemy, and examples of this are not hard to find.  For instance, black people in general have historically been considered the minority in America yet have the ubiquitous identity of a Number One male/female in law enforcement. Legislation and policy crafted to disenfranchise and perpetuate the hegemony of the Black community with the Justice system widely accepting the unequal application of the law to purposefully diminish the presence and effectiveness of the black community in American society. This is not conjecture. This is not hyperbole. This is fact.

The assault on our community is endemic. The assent of Donald Trump and the brazen nature of his constituents is emblematic of a pervasive consciousness percolating in America today. It is incumbent upon us to educate ourselves so that we can mobilize and mitigate the overt attacks against our community. I believe that every man, woman and child has the right to exist in this country as a productive citizen with the liberty to be who they are, express their opinions, and exercise the right to oppose that which they feel is an affront to them; and they should feel free to do this respectfully despite the authority or agency confronting them. As such, I am not disillusioned and understand that the constitution that governs the laws that I live by was not written for me. I know that the color of my skin is still a precondition for my acceptance in many places. I understand that I am a liability to some because the perception is I do not possess the intellectual capacity. And I know that there are those who will willfully take my life because they understand me to be the threat or simply less than.

The thing that bothers me the most though is that the faction that now considers themselves the victim, the one who is under attack and is threatened, is the one who unapologetically through history is responsible for many of the most heinous acts against man on record. I, on the other hand, have done my best to live in peace and harmony with my fellow man, loving each as an individual, accepting them for who they say they are until I learn different. And, I choose this approach because it is how I want to be treated. The fact, though, is my history, our history is unrelenting in its evidence that me and my community are still considered the problem … the enemy. And despite our contributions, sacrifices, and capitulations, we still are condemned when we highlight and rail against the insidious acts that exist in the margins of the narrative in an effort to get justice for ourselves and our community so that we may one day live in peace, free of fear in our country.

So hear me when I tell you that I share this not for you to agree but to understand. For this is not my perception, this is my reality.

S. McGill

Black, Father, Husband, Son, Veteran, and American 

One of the most powerful things in the world can be obtained and used liberally by anyone who chooses to use it.  "If" can be the beginning of something great or the acquiescence to defeat. How will you use your "if"?

Which Black Lives Matter!?

I have come to a realization that there is a word missing in the ubiquitous mantra Black Lives Matter, and that word is “SOME”!  And it is with intrepid indignation that I write this blog. It is absolutely vexing to me that a community can so blatantly and boisterously march to such a hypocritical drum.

 

Do black lives matter? Yes! But all lives matter. Moreover, all black lives matter. This is a point that seems to have escaped the faux-crusaders who want to decry injustice when a white police officer kills a black man.  How these same protesters are conspicuously absent from the inner city streets where countless black lives are extinguished by other black lives in senseless violence is confounding to me. If indeed black lives matter, shouldn’t the black community itself lead by example and demonstrate this as the rule and not the exception?

Black lives matter, but black lives must matter to the black community first before the community implores others to do the same. Instead of having one Toya Graham, the Baltimore mother who beat her son for rioting, and a thousand apathetic who-ha’s proclaiming their child’s incapacity for anything violent or illegal, we should see just the opposite. The black community should be able to identify the guilty, inform their parents, and hold all parties accountable.

If you think I am crazy, think again!

Growing up, any adult in my community was given tacit approval to correct me and/or take me to my parents. From a very early age my parents articulated to me my responsibility to represent myself and by extension the family well in the community. Even as a child I understood the embarrassment and shame I was capable of inflicting should I do anything to besmirch our reputation in our surrounding community. I was accountable not only to my family but also to those countless families that lived in our immediate area. There were no signs, posters, or public service announcements to remind me of this, it was understood by me and every other adolescent that populated our neighborhood; and that is where it started … and ended, for that matter!

The black community should be angry, and not with the police or the government. The black community should be angry with itself. The community should be apoplectic at its apathetic indifference to its own responsibility. The onus is on the community itself to right the ship. The majority of guns aimed at the community come from within the community, not the police. The death and destruction inflicted on our sons and daughters, mothers and fathers finds its origin many times in our own backyards. Our willful disregard of these facts is no longer acceptable. In fact, it is criminal and detestable. It is not until we stand accountable for our own failures, our own tolerances, and our own indiscretion that we can proudly stand united and thwart injustice emanating from outside of our community. For as long as we perpetuate and perpetrate egregious hate, murder, misogyny, and countless other immoralities within our own ranks, we will never rise above a milieu rife with death, destruction, and interminable failure and shame.

If the black community needs a rallying point let it be their neighborhood streets where they can once again perpetuate strong values and morals that permeate the fabric of the community and every family in it. Once again hold parents accountable and charge them with the responsibility to lead the way by example. And if the parent fails to meet that charge, hold them responsible and culpable. Indifference and loyalty to an absurd code of silence is unacceptable and inane. All lives matter. And if you portend to others that black lives matter but don’t demonstrate that in your own community, then you are a liar and a hypocrite by definition. You want to hold up a sign that says black lives matter? Do it in the inner city streets where black teenagers are being gunned down by black teenagers. Do it in the shadows where teenage boys and teenage girls have unprotected sex spreading disease and creating babies with a greater promise of a single parent and failure rather than one of family and success. Do it on the corners and in the flop houses where drug dealers peddle meth, crack, and weed to our community all under the guise of a hustle. Do it in the homes where the mothers and fathers are more absorbed in their own indiscretions, forgoing discipline and love for their kids, failing to ensure strong values and appropriate choices. If you want someone indicted for abuse and neglect, violence and indifference towards the black community, we need to indict ourselves. And I am positive with this indictment will come an unequivocal guilty verdict. And the sentence, of course, should be a lifetime of community service.

I suggest instead of holding up signs that say black lives matter we should start using the hashtag #ACCOUNTABILITY. If we don’t care, who will!?

S. McGill

One of the most powerful things in the world can be obtained and used liberally by anyone who chooses to use it.  "If" can be the beginning of something great or the acquiescence to defeat. How will you use your "if"?

Time Will Tell

It seems not too long ago that I was the youngest one in the room. At work I was the hungry go-getter who wanted to prove that I could handle the toughest jobs, that I could save the world. I was eager to accept the most difficult challenges, using my professional prowess to win the day. Personally it was my desire to right every wrong and raise my flag on every hill, gaining justice for all. I was indefatigable in my efforts, uninhibited by any obstacle, impervious to defeat.

And then …

I had an epiphany.

Something has changed.

I am now one of the old-heads. The Millennials are now the future and I am the old guy in the corner with the sour coffee breath grunting at every whisper of optimism. I shrug my shoulders in ambivalence when faced with change and sneer in delight when an up-and-comer evinces grandiose ideas of change and improvement.  And though I cannot put my finger on the exact time or place when I crossed the threshold from young and vibrant to old and crotchety, I am cognizant of the fact that indeed this epoch has passed.

The interesting thing is I am alright with being this guy. It may sound strange, but I see myself as taking the torch from my elders continuing the legacy perpetuated by those who came before me. I am part of that history we don’t want to repeat. My cynicism is not so much destructive as it is cautionary.  My aim is not to quell the fires of optimism and enthusiasm as much as it is to temper the spirit and harden the resolve; because I know that victory is not the all or nothing we seek when we are young and spry but the compromise between failure and success. And this is not a concession that total victory is unobtainable, yet the acknowledgement that the energy expended and casualties amassed from such efforts can sometimes be pyrrhic.

The truth is we all have this old person in us from day one. When we are young we don’t listen to the inner-old because it is safe, boring, predictable, skeptical, and cynical. The inner-old is no fun, a Debbie Downer. But what we find as we get older is that the inner-old is right most of the time. And at that moment we begin to recognize and listen to the inner-old is when youthful naivety slips away and seasoned experience takes the wheel.

Take Bill Cosby – ok, I couldn’t resist – he is the personification of what I am trying to say here. I grew up with the Coz as my moral conscious. I loved Fat Albert. Moreover, I was enamored of Mudfoot and his wisdom – if you are asking yourself who is Mudfoot, now is the time to skip to the next paragraph, for this will be lost on you. Mudfoot’s moral integrity and salient wisdom always came at the right time to help guide the Gang in the right direction. And although they still encountered troubles, life lessons were always imparted to the Gang and me when Mudfoot spoke. What’s ironic is that this wisdom, presumably, was coming from a young Bill Cosby. Who, while imparting this knowledge, was allegedly sexually violating scores of women in his real life.   It is the epitome of contradictions. Cosby, an icon and moralist who clearly grasped the vileness of moral turpitude juxtaposed with the importance of personal humility and integrity himself failed to heed the cautions of his inner-old.

The point is not to deride the young and ambitious, making them capitulate to the notion that there is no hope -- quite the contrary. I want the young to be dubious of their heroes. I want their enthusiasm to be measured and their resolve calculated. And though I want to be heard and my cautions heeded, I also want to be proven wrong. I want to see the person heralded for being good and righteous live up to that moniker. I want to see societal change that embraces tolerance, freedom, and unity. I want to believe that our Constitution is predicated on the premise that all men are created equal. I want to believe our judicial system adheres to the edict that every man is innocent until proven guilty. I want to believe that those charged with leading the way do so with humility, integrity, and compassion; ensuring that those who follow are afforded equal opportunity to enjoy the inalienable rights to live, work and thrive in their community without the fear of persecution or prejudice. The truth is, though, I can no longer hush my inner-old. I am relegated to the park bench where I am left to impart my knowledge, wave the proverbial yellow flag of caution, and extol the lessons of my experience to ensure the young go-getters are prepared for what lies before them. And though my inner-old now reconciles that though much has changed much has stayed the same, my now subdued inner-youth whispers in defiance, still believing and routing for the Good to prevail and the happily ever after is achieved. 

S. McGill
One of the most powerful things in the world can be obtained and used liberally by anyone who chooses to use it.  "If" can be the beginning of something great or the acquiescence to defeat. How will you use your "if"?  

The Policing of Freedom

The notion that we are free in America is arguable. I am not asserting that America has reverted to Marxism or any other oppressive style of government; however, it is clear that freedom in America is an ideal predicated on individual perception. That is, each of us sees the precept of freedom differently and, therefore, shapes our actions and/or reactions accordingly. This is neither a right nor wrong scenario as much as it is a salient fact about which intelligent creatures must coexist.

Man is a complex animal who has the ability to reason and the intellect to discern the meaning and purpose of his/her environment. This discernment allows man to not only understand but in many instances manipulate his environment to allow him/her to exist peacefully and safely in even the most questionable places. And though man has demonstrated the ability to adapt and assimilate to a plethora of environments and challenges, his ability to adapt and assimilate to the idea of civility and coexistence perpetually escapes him/her. In fact, the audacity of someone to be different is not only ridiculed in society, it is used as a weapon against another to debase, dehumanize, and destroy a person; thus making it easy for the assailant to objectify the person, seeing them only as the thing they abhor and not simply the diverse human being they are.

I am purposefully being broad with my opening because my statements are intended to apply to such a wide swath of society and the ilk of the hordes of perverse who judge, that applying it to one situation is inane and myopic. My intent in this blog, however, is to address the killing of Michael Brown from a perspective that does not dismiss racism, classism, or the indignation of perceived power yet explores a more visceral, intrinsic symptom that we fail to acknowledge and explore during our moments of incredulity.

A truth that is inherently missed, diminished, or ignored in many instances of perceived injustice, where an authority uses force to assail an individual, is the perception of each party. This perception is not only a precipitating factor in the concluding events but, arguably, the blinding catalyst to all that happens next.  Regardless what the officer saw when approaching Michael Brown, he did not objectively assess the situation and act on the fact that the circumstance was no more than two people in the street. Presumptively, he fashioned that the two people in the street were somehow disruptive or threatening to the environment and he sought to remove them forcefully, using inflammatory language and tone he knew would insight action – subsequently shaping Michael Brown’s perception of the situation. Thus he began the pendulum swinging towards confrontation. And though only the officer knows what was going through his mind just prior to escalation, it is not preposterous to think the officer concluded that his disposition was going to provoke a negative reaction from the teens. Moreover, he acted knowing that he held multiple advantages over those he was directing, possessing access to a host of weapons and manpower literally and figuratively at his fingertips.  

Why would a person charged to protect the freedoms of those he serves antagonize and assault them to such a point that the confronted felt it necessary to defend themselves? I can only find two reasons: provocation and confrontation.

We’ve seen this far too many times. The inanely self-appointed and those officially charged with the duties to protect are often the aggressors, providing the incendiaries and invectives needed to catalyze confrontation. Just as in the case with George Zimmerman, in Michael Brown’s case you have a man interpreting the freedoms of another, confronting and indicting an innocent person because of an irrational perception, one fueled by fear, prejudice, media bias, and ignorance.  So blinded by their indignation and emboldened by their perceived power, the faux-protectors press the situation until peace is untenable and freedom is compromised, falsely placing the innocent on trial, trying the innocent before a contrived, malevolent judge and jury that only exists in the mind of the brazen instigator, with fatal faux-justice exacted by a purveyor of distorted truths and despicable motivations. The sentence: execution!

Can it be that if my actions are such that I am doing nothing wrong when confronted by another who possesses unfounded perceptions and suspicions, the only reasonable consequence is my death? Ostensibly, precedent has been set in America that supports the precept that a person, without cause, can instigate and agitate a situation to such the point that another is threatened and faced with a decision of fight or flight. And should the accosted person decide to fight in an effort to protect his or her own freedom, the instigator or agitator then has the right to kill that person because he or she had the audacity to vigorously defend his or her right to coexist peacefully and lawfully in a mutual environment. This sounds stupid when I write it and foolish when I read it, but somehow it has become an unwritten addendum to our Constitution. Indeed Justice is blind, for if she cannot see the fallacy and idiocy of allowing the defense of one’s own freedoms to be a legal argument for their execution, then her truths are based on a warped perception of equality, giving the discretion to all people the right to define, tolerate, and revoke another’s freedom when and where it is convenient to them.


S. McGill
One of the most powerful things in the world can be obtained and used liberally by anyone who chooses to use it.  "If" can be the beginning of something great or the acquiescence to defeat. How will you use your "if"?