The Audacity To Hope

What I have learned as a Black woman is that you can do your job to the best of your ability, outshine others, but still struggle more than others to reach the top? Why is that? Is it because I am seen as a threat to management? Am I too direct and honest? Or is it because black intelligent and hard working women that are direct and honest are viewed as a threat? What happens if you don’t excel and overachieve? What happens if you hide your intelligence and just do enough to get by? Why then is a black woman viewed as lazy and inefficient? Where is the middle ground? Both examples will lead to the underutilization of my talents, both examples will prevent me from being promoted, so what to do?  Also, what about the race card? Why play it when ultimately it is impossible to prove unless there is a neuse hanging up in the office, or racist words written on the bathroom wall.  Does prejudice and racism still exist? Why is it viewed as minorities making up excuses for their own shortfalls? Why is the societal view that everyone has the same opportunities, but some don’t choose to take advantage of those opportunities? In my case I have the opportunity to advance in my career and have prepared to take advantage of this opportunity. But, management is shaking their head, they do not understand why I would want to advance, they just don’t care that I want to take advantage of every opportunity that this society offers me. Because I work hard, excelled in school, and give 100% everyday, management does not understand why I feel that I should be promoted? They are disgusted that I could have a sense of entitlement. How can a black woman have a sense of entitlement? How could a black person have the audacity to want more for herself and her family? How could people of darker skin have the Audacity to Hope?

Protesters in Ferguson, MO raise their arms in the streets and will not be moved. Photo by AP

I do not want to go on writing without an update on the protest events in Ferguson, MO after the over-killing murder of Michael Brown. I continue to follow this town and speak on the horrific injustice that occurred on that day as the host of Raleigh Live ( a television news show that airs on Raleigh Television Network every Tuesday at 5pm) https://www.facebook.com/toomuchtvinc.

And on live internet radio this Tuesday, September 23, 2014 the entire nation is invited to join the discussion on effective education as a solution to social ills at 6:30pm EST. LET YOUR VOICE HEARD AND DIAL (347) 637-3889 OR ON THE INTERNET @ http://www.blogtalkradio.com/candidcandice/2014/09/23/effective-education-as-a-solution-for-healthier-communities

What happened to #Mike Brown?

“But the common theme was that both his hands were up and he was unarmed,” Reed said. “There are a number of troubling questions that need to be asked.” This was the report from BET’s Jonathan Haskins on the slaying of Mike Brown, a young black male in St. Louis by a police officer. And you ask why would I get my news from BET? Apparently, I am unable to locate any reports from mainstream media outlets like the Post(s) that can tell me what in the heck happened to Mike Brown.

Mark Berman from the Washington Post poorly executes an investigative report to a brilliant title “What you need to know about the death of an unarmed teenager in Missouri.” Berman intentionally fails to relay any information from the onlookers that witnessed the shooting. What kind of investigative reporting only allows for this statement to speak for a victim “Benjamin Crump, an attorney hired by Brown’s family, said at a news conference on Monday evening that witnesses have disputed the account offered by police, but he did not elaborate on what these witnesses said occurred. (Crump also represented Trayvon Martin’s family.)” This is all I get for that specific title that tricks me into believing that I will find out what I need to know about the slaying of Mike Brown.

Berman! –you found it best to include that Crump also represented Trayvon Martin’s family, but not include what social media retweets, posts, and grams “say” happen to Mike Brown. Did you and the New York Times journalists miss the statement from Mike’s friend mentioned in BET’s report? Did BET out scoop the NYTimes?

In the 500 words or less you chose to include that “…Brown was supposed to start college at Vatterott College, a trade school.” Why did you say that? What made you include that Vatterott College was a trade school? I welcome your reasoning to keep the little hope I have left for race relations in this country.

Of course attacking the media is pointless, and it isn’t going to bring Mike Brown back. But what happened to him? Why was he shot? There has to be more than he was a black boy, it has to be more than he fit the description of, there has to be more than he was unarmed with both hands up. 

 Now Missourians are looting and rioting in the streets and everyone is throwing up white flags for peace.  But where oh where was the peace for Mike Brown, for Oscar Grant, Wendell Allen, Eric Gardner, or for Sean Bell the morning before his wedding?

Where was the precious peace when Mike was shot multiple times and left on the street dead for the whole neighborhood to see. Why is peace so vehemently sought after horrible acts of violence?

My brothers’ blood shed in a pain that perpetuates such psychological trauma for my people, Comfort them Jesus. I pray that they “let love be without hypocrisy and abhor what is evil to cling to what is good. May all people be devoted to one another in brotherly love; giving preference to one another in honor not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving you Lord” (Romans 12:9-11).

In Jesus name,

Amen

Washington Post Report- Mark Berman

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2014/08/11/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-death-of-an-unarmed-black-teenager-in-missouri/

BET Report- Jonathan Haskins

http://www.bet.com/news/national/2014/08/11/in-st-louis-police-shooting-of-michael-brown-leads-to-rioting.html