Community Economics

2018-02-28T19:17:00.002-08:00

I was reading an article not long ago that stated that integration has had a negative affect on African American communities partly because of our lack of support for one another. As you know before integration, our communities were filled with professionals – entrepreneurs, small business owners, teachers, etc - and we flourished as a people and a community because we patronized our own.

Unfortunately, we have the same problem today that Eve had in the Garden of Eden – we want what we’ve been told we cannot have. Too many of us are under the misconception that what we have to offer is sub-par – of lower standard or value, less than worthy, inferior. I have heard many of our brothers and sisters say things like, “such and such is NiggaRigged “ when referring to things thrown together; or “that’s Whitefolks Stuff” when referring to things that look nice or expensive. Our terminology deminishes our own self-worth. We do not have to wait or worry about outside forces tearing us down; we do enough of that on our own.

The mentality of our people has to change. I am talking about that “Crab Mentality”. Crabs fight, scratch, crawl and step on each other in an effort to escape their surroundings. If they see one that is about to reach the top, they will reach up, pull it back down and the fight starts all over again. The same is true for many in the African American community. Oftentimes, when one of our own manages to defy the odds and establish a business or obtain some form of professional status, too many of us are ready to tear him/her down or wait expectantly for him/her to fail. We refuse to support the business at all or we expect them to “cut us a deal” and have the nerve to act offended when we have to pay full price; however, we will go right down the street to Mr. Charlie’s Mercantile and pay full price for the same thing.

As believers in Christ, we need to recognize our self-worth and stop devaluing one another. We need to believe in our hearts and teach our children to believe what Paul said in Ephesians 1:3, “I am blessed with every spiritual blessing” and in Ephesians 2:10 “I am God’s workmanship”. We are made in the image of our creator, a perfect and holy God; and because Jesus died on the cross for our sins, we are now acceptable to Him – we are the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Also, we should reinvest in our own communities by encouraging entrepreneurship and patronizing black owned businesses; by supporting our schools and community organizations, and by teaching our children to respect themselves, others and their community. Hebrews 10:24 tell us, “Think about how to motivate each other to show love and to do good works.” Those who have found their way up should not forget those who paved the way for them. Instead, they should reach back and help another entrepreneur or business minded person by becoming a mentor or coach, investing in community organizations and churches, and educate others in the community about civic and political matters. It becomes a chain – united we stand, divided we fall.

Gun Control: Constitutional Right vs Unalienable Right

2018-02-28T18:47:00.000-08:00

Another school shooting.... and the blame game begins. The Left screams, MORE GUN CONTROL. The Right, MENTAL HEALTH REFORM. Both are serious issues that need to be addressed in order to stop this senseless gun violence; however, putting a gun in the hands of the people who are responsible for educating our children is simply NOT the answer.

Mass shootings do not happen ONLY in schools. It is true that we have had 18 school shooting already this year (2018); however, according to Gun Violence Archive, there have been 35 mass shootings in America since the beginning of the year and a total of 345 mass shootings in the United States in 2017, alone. The perpetrators were primarily white males with connections to extremist groups, and little to no history of mental illness. In fact, the majority of people diagnosed with a mental illness are nonviolent. It is plausible that some of these people may have had an undiagnosed mental illness or suffered from some form of psychiatric break; but the majority of these attaches were fueled by hatred, pure and simple.

Teachers are in schools to educate students, not police them. They have enough to contend with without adding the responsibility of policing our schools. Teachers are charged with handling the educational wellness of our children - children from diverse backgrounds, differing instructional levels, and various behavioral challenges. This daunting task rises to a new level of insanity and fear and stress when coupled with the new role of security officer. It does not matter how well trained a teacher is in handling a gun; nor does it matter whether he/she is a veteran, when faced with the mission of possibly shooting an armed gunman (or possibly even a student), there are just too many scenarios where things could go really wrong, really fast. Only highly trained police officers should be charged with that responsibility. We would not expect police officers to go into a classroom and teach students at a moments notice. Why would we expect a teacher to assume the role of a police officer?

In almost all cases, individuals who have committed these egregious acts against humanity (in schools and elsewhere) obtained their weapons of choice - usually an AR-15 or some other semi-automatic weapon - legally, either from an individual sale, weapons retailer, gun show or family member. Most passed their state or local minimally required background checks which allowed them to obtain these weapons without question. Today, there is no mental health check required to purchase a weapon and there is no limit to the number of weapons an individuals can own. In my opinion, things like passing a federal background check, submitting to a mental health screening and limiting the number and types of weapons an individual can own should be the minimum requirement for obtaining a weapon meant to inflict bodily harm.

As the political and social chasm widens on this issue, the most prevailing theme seems to be unalienable rights vs constitutional rights. How can one exercise his constitutional right to keep and bear arms without infringing on another's unalienable right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. There has to be a middle ground. Other countries have figured it out. Why can't we?

PUSH:Praying Until Something Happens

Community Economics

Gun Control: Constitutional Right vs Unalienable Right