No more excuses...

"Excuses are the tools of the incompetent, which build monuments out of nothingness. Those indulge in excuses are seldom capable of anything else but excuses."

On November 4, 2008, 64 million Americans joined together to elect Senator Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States of America. Nationwide, people of all colors cast their ballots and entrusted the future of our country to the brain and heart of a black man.

While I believe that the vast majority of African Americans realize the pivotal moment that we all experienced that night, I question whether we all understand the responsibility that comes with it. After all, if a black man with an absentee father (raised by his GRANDparents) is headed to the White House with his beautiful black family in tow, what excuses do we have?

In other words, gone are the days for blaming "the man" for your decisions. Gone is the reasoning for the lazy spirit that has lingered in many of our communities for generations. At least, they should be gone.

Many of the issues our communities face are not going to disappear. That will not change just because the president is black. What I hope will change is that these problems will no longer be looked at as an excuse NOT to succeed.

Your race should no longer be your crutch, regardless of whether you are black, white, purple or green. Race is quickly fading and the content of your character is carrying the weight. Indeed, Martin's dream is coming to fruition.

So with that said, who are you?

Are you the woman who blames the government for your cell phone getting cut off because they reduced your monthly welfare check (and you are pregnant with number five)?

Are you the man that blames our "fucked up" court system for your federal stint when you got caught with 8 kilos?

Or are you the (wo)man that recognizes you might have been born with a set of cards stacked against you and you actively find ways to transcend those obstacles? Not simply adding to them with foolish choices.

I ask this because quite frankly I am tired of the bullshit and the world has proven it is ready for Barack. The question is if our community ready for the REAL change?

Are we ready to take responsibility for ourselves? Ready to claim what was always ours for the taking- our futures? We have been waiting for the opportunity for centuries and now it is upon us. Barack Obama is a symbol of what is possible but is up to us to create our own destiny. He has simply broken through the pad-locked door. We helped him with every vote and every prayer. Now we must continue with the momentum and better the community that he represents to the world.

So I will ask you again- When no one is watching, who are you? Now, what about when the world is your audience?

TRC- Imitation is suicide...

Sidenote: I cannot end without taking the time to thank each and every white person who voted for Obama on Tuesday. I don't want to exclude all other nationalities but it is especially moving for me to see so many white people stand by this man. There was a time that he would have been lynched for looking at a white woman, and now they are voting for him to lead the free world. I think that blacks never thought they would see this day because we thought so many white people would never actually vote for a black man. We thought racism outweighed intellect. We were wrong. Our country is filled with people who could careless about the color of your skin as long as your actions are righteous and your intent is pure. I personally apologize for thinking otherwise.