EPIPHANY

Did everyone watch the first part of the documentary on CNN last night?  I was very pleased with the content and look forward to watching part two!  For those that missed part one, it focused on women and families.  A lot of the information was stuff we’ve heard a million times before, but the stories used to shape the statistics were more touching than the normal sound bites and editorial columns.

Eric Kennedy Jr., a fourth grade boy featured on the program, is saving money for college.  Despite the fact that he’s been homeless before, and might possibly be living in a shelter in Brooklyn as you read this blog, he’s decided college is his ultimate goal.  Can you even imagine??? (–Hold that thought, I’ll come back to that point later.)

Many would argue that America is the richest country in the world, yet one third of all Black children live below the poverty line and Black children consistently score below any other developing country when given standardized tests.  The amount of money we’ve invested into rebuilding Iraq is insane, especially when you look at the number of poor Black people that must depend on the Emergency Room for primary medical care.   

I am reminded of Kanye’s remarks after Hurricane Katrina….. “George Bush doesn’t care about Black people.”  While it may be easy to dismiss the problems that plague Black American’s solely on the government, at some point we have to decide to be successful and rise above the stereotypes that constrict us.  While two parent households in the best neighborhoods might contribute to a child being successful, some of those kids with the million dollar sweet sixteen parties and convertible BMW’s in the high school parking lot end up as profiles on Meth addict documentaries.  At the same time, some teen mothers go on to get advanced degrees and put their children through college.  Studies show that people born into poverty tend to stay poor BUT there are exceptions.  Little Eric Kennedy, and many of his classmates, have convinced me they are the exceptions!

Black people don’t own the patent on being poor in America, and contrary to what the media might say most of us have never been to jail, most of us aren’t on drugs, and most of us strive to provide better lives for our children. You can’t control your race.  We were born Black, and we live in America.  Is rising above the negative statistics an option for those that want it?  Can we agree success is a decision, and those that are determined to rise above the stereotypes eventually will?  

JerzeeChick