This week I was compelled to write something different- based on a headline and Kanye West who made a controversial statement about 400 years of slavery sounding like a choice.

I will contribute to this dialogue.

Choices have always been there.

 Proof-

Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglas, Gaspar Yanga, Nat Turner, The Gloucester Rebellion 1663 (It has been noted that racial tension was instigated by landowners after this particular rebellion, to avoid another rebellion involving black and white servants coming together), The Amistad Ship Revolt, Spartacus, The English Peasants Revolt 1381, The Zanj Rebellion, Marcos Xiorro.  There are more examples.

We all have choices. Many slaves, from the past, knew it.  Can you imagine, if none of them felt empowered? We could learn from them, not mourn them, nah…they wouldn’t want that…

Rebelling for freedom, IS in our blood.

However, history has taught us that rebelling isn’t always enough.  We need to look at more, maybe our lives. The way we make choices. I can’t speak for yesterday, I wasn’t there. Today, I see that modern-day slavery (in many forms) is alive and well.  It’s less obvious, but insidious. I am making the comparison, because I’m tired of hindsight being 20/20.

It’s about seeing things, NOW.

It’s time to start talking.

Most of us know limitations not freedom.  This is not exclusive to any race in particular.  This has become a part of the human condition.

Then there is fear. Fear of death, fear of pain, fear of loss, fear of being isolated.  Or worse, we choose to be indifferent because, “That’s life.”  We keep slaving away for endless reasons…

We feel we need other people to take the lead, then, we criticize what we don’t like but stay compliant…this is especially obvious during the elections. We could forget those “leaders” or anyone who is false or has yet another price for us to pay.

Everyday people also have the most to gain. This has always been true, but we need to learn to do things different.

Let’s make it ok to talk, no more dysfunctional family. We are one family.

This is not forgetting, it’s about healing.

If we don’t like something, let’s stop looking at each other as though one of us made the rules.

We should unite, not divide.  There are BILLIONS of us with skills, heart, and ability.

Standing up with each other is in our blood.