(ThySistas.com) The current state of the United States of America is embarrassing, angering, and frightening. The news is no longer relegated to television and newspapers. To be honest, via our cellphones we know Breaking News real time. Our news outlets are attached to social media so there is no need to wait for the 5pm or 10pm news report. While this may sound efficient, the notifications at this point might feel like triggers. We never know what we are going to see and most of the time it’s not bad news…its terrible news. This feeling has led some to live in a bubble they design. This means they are detached, for the most part, from the world around them. They don’t know if the things happening in the world, their country, state, or city will affect them directly. Everyone has the right to protect their peace, but at what point are we setting ourselves up to have a false peace shattered? As hard as it may be, we cannot ignore the world around us and expect to survive it.
One thing Black Americans have always had to do was keep watch. Even if we decided not to speak to matters immediately, we saw them; at the very least we began preparing mentally. What some may see as our ingenious brand of comedy is usually a way to begin vetting how we feel about things happening, or what we see is about to happen. Because of this we can begin to face what could be serious issues while maintaining some level of peace because we are not caught off guard. There is not a storm that just shows up that we are absolutely unprepared to address. Due to this, many might say we are prophetic…maybe, but its more so our people have been through enough to anticipate what those around us will do should hell break loose. Unfortunately, this means protecting ourselves from others, and each those of us within our “community” that don’t move like us. This quiet laidback observation with stealth movement has kept us through every major issue this country has faced, and that our people have faced. The important thing is we always saw the storm coming.
Today we are possibly at a disadvantage. Too many of us may be misunderstanding the concept of “protecting peace” and wanting a “soft life”. As stated, these are not bad, with that in mind one must understand it doesn’t look the same for our people as it may for other groups. We can’t shut out the world around us under the guise of peace. We can not misunderstand the true meaning of strength and surrender our greatest personal advantage for a “soft” that will betray us in the future. One of our greatest strengths was seeing hell and being absolutely unbothered because as a people we have seen worse. Our peace was not dictated by the world around us; it was a decision made in spite of the world. This allows us to maintain joy, thrive in various endeavors, build family and community, and move our people forward. Access can be a tool, but not one that should be internalized. None of what we see around us is new…it’s repackaged hatred, confusion, evil, and chaos. We can’t afford to ignore all of it, or to simply pretend the madness in the world is either not happening or won’t affect us.
When ICE began its rampage of violating human rights by pulling immigrants off the streets our people, for the most part, felt this is not our fight. We had every right to be angry and feel betrayed after the election. We knew people in this country voted for their own demise…we warned them, but no one listened. We said it was not our fight, but we didn’t say we wouldn’t observe the situation. Black America had to know they could not afford to go into a bubble whereby they did not pay attention. Sisters we had to know we could not just ignore what was about to happen…and did happen. Some of us tried to say it’s not my business; turn the TV off, turn the phone off, and disengage completely because it is not our fight and we are tired. The sentiment was understandable, but we should also know that is not the America WE live in. It is unsafe for us to completely disengage. The reason we were able to give the warning is because we currently live in the reality that was coming for others. Knowing that, we should also know we would be in the line of fire. We can disengage from the discussion while actively paying attention so that we move in a manner that protects our safety and peace. To ignore everything completely is to get blind-sided. This is not new…it’s always been our reality. Protect your peace by being aware and prepared. Ignorance is not bliss…it’s deadly.
Staff Writer; Chelle’ St James
May also connect with this sister via Twitter; ChelleStJames.