Yesterday my word was authentic, I kept hearing this word all day. I knew it was because I have been struggling with my writings. Not really a writers block, as I wrote on LoveTichelle.com but there was sooo many things I wanted to talk about and no way to get my thoughts together.
See, I am a perfectionist, but only about certain things, and especially about my writing. As an activist and advocate for all, I feel so stuck sometimes. Here lately there has been more things than I can keep up with that need discussing. There seems to be more issues than good news, more negative than positive and as someone on a spiritual journey I try to stay as far as I can from so much negativity.
There’s been over 200 school shootings this year alone, with the most recent in Texas and Georgia. Unnecessary 911 callings have been on a rise, with the old Jim Crow laws as the reasonings behind the calls in the first place. Like the Air BNB neighbor saying that the black women didn’t wave to her… Ummm did you speak? Why did they have to?
Police brutality and killings are back on the rise, with age, race and sex not being a determining factor, although black women have been a lot of the victims. The worst was a 65 year old Grandmother. I was more than angry as the video played on my FB feed. I refused share, because I respect my mother and grandmother too much and it only angered me.
45, yals President (I am still NOT claiming him), is still at war with the FBI, the CIA, the media, and anyone who’s truth is different from his. His whole administration I feel lives on a different planet than the rest of us. I promise this 4 years needs to hurry pass. I do NOT want to see this man do another 4 years. If he is reelected I am planning my departure from this country because I am afraid of whats next.
Seriously, between him and Fox News they have people confused on what racism is, confused on what privileged is, and confused on what is wrong. Its seems like now a days standing up for yourself is being racist, especially black people. Its gotten to the point where my daughter is getting accused by friends parents for being racist for being proud of her brown skin.
When did Melanin become such a problem? When did being different and standing out and up for what you believe in become an issue? Its like we are becoming robots and marching to the beat of everyone else drums but our own. This world is losing its authenticity, and shutting out those who are less than perfect.
But what is perfection? Cause I don’t have it and no one else I know does either. Those who say they do, are liars, which makes them imperfect as well. There is NOTHING wrong with being proud of who you are, no matter what race, gender, sexual orientation you are. Be proud to be you, cause no one else can be a better you than you. But being proud has nothing to do with talking down on anyone else.
Being in touch also means accepting the privileges that you have. I am a black, and I am a woman, but I have been privileged with knowledge, with family who lives long because I have my mother, my grandmother and I knew my great grandmother before she passed. I have pictures and history, mostly lies, but I am uncovering the truth of who and where my family came from.
There should be nothing greater than authenticity, because without, there is nothing but lies. And not the lies that 45 claims to be “fake news”, but the lies that make you feel like you are inferior to anyone. That anyone can tell you who and how to be. Being true to you is imperative, because if you are true to you, then how will you make your mark on the world.
Be authentic, be you!
But I thought about it, so many times we have amazing ideas, and we don’t do it because we think things have to be done a certain way, or like everyone else has done. I look at Chance the Rapper and I know thats not true. Here is a guy who loves hip hop and made it, several awards and he has NEVER been signed. He did it the way he chose to and not the way everyone has and he also has reached back and helped others.
So I say to all those out there with a dream to do something, DO IT! Write that book, direct that film, run that marathon… you can do anything and as so many greats have said the greatest things are on the other side of fear. So why let an emotion or the unknown block you. Because why should we all be one paycheck away from homelessness with a job we hate when we can create what jobs we want and reach back and give a hand to someone and lift them up along the way. Imagine if we all had the job we wanted and we were all happy. Imagine a world with no chaos. I dream of it…. I think it can happen.
in 2001 and even before. So my review is probably biased. Not really, cause if Jay would’ve come out with something whack I would’ve called him out.
any artist. If its something in the media, he will address it. If he thinks your album is whack, no matter who you are, he will tell you. He has no problem speaking his mind and going after what he wants and I needed his words to interrupt my mind. To tell me the magic that made him who he is.
Tiffany M. Arnold 