Brandelyn: Lyrical Contradiction

So I was walking around today thinking about moving and starting my new life when a completely random thought occurred to me. Now you all know that I have ADD, so this might be a little random. Okay, so as I was walking I saw a picture of Martin Luther King Jr. which immediately sent my mind to the MLK episode of the boondocks, which immediately sent my mind to the Uncle Rukus version of that episode on the DVD. Now if you aren’t familiar with Uncle Rukus from the Boondocks, he is a character who is suffers from a severe racial identity crisis, and I mean severe. Uncle Rukus is extremely controversial because of statements about how inept Black people are in regards to Whites. His statements are extremely harsh and he has no connection with the fact that he is a black man. So anyway, as I was walking a thought hit me, every day, we are just like Uncle Rukus. I know that I am quick to shut down black men and talk about their flaws and how they need to get it together. I used to be just as terrible when it came to sisters, but in my ripe old age, I have really learned to appreciate and admire their strength, but I digress. As I walked along I realized that each negative word I say about a brother, not only tears them down, but tears me down as well. How many good days are missed because I am spending my time rolling my eyes and throwing bad attitudes toward my brothers? How many times have negative comments about Black men flown off of my lips without a bat of my eyelashes? I wonder how productive and pleasant of a person I would be if everywhere I went someone was constantly pointing out my flaws. We are extremely rough on each other and it wasn’t until this moment that I realized that that very concept was the point of Uncle Rukus’ character. To point out how terrible we are to each other, how quick we are to tear each other down and talk down about another black woman because she does not think the way you do or do the things you do. There are so many dividing lines within our community and it honestly amazes me how quick we are to jump on opposite sides of that line and point fingers at each other. Come to think of it, I guess Willie Lynch’s plan worked out. We have turned young against old, woman against woman, man against man and man against woman. I don’t know. Maybe it’s just something to think about.

Peace Y’all

B