I Wonder…

This viewpoint which is strictly my own was inspired by the Kanye West track I Wonder off of his latest album Graduation. Here it goes…

Have you ever wondered what all this (life) really means? In the wake of Jena 6, a noose being hung on the University of Maryland’s campus and the gruesome incident that occurred in West Virginia where allegedy six individuals (White) and I’m only stating that fact because this was a racially based incident brutally tortured Megan Williams (20) through a horrific week of tumultous suffering, the War in Iraq, the constant suffering in Darfur and the aftershock of Katrina. I guess I’m frustrated and scared at the same time and I feel like the answer is so simple to me. It all comes down to what people are willing to sacrifice.

People are headed to down to Jena to support the first of many sentence hearings that occurs on September 20th. I feel like we are caught in a cycle, getting back to the idea of sacrifice. For some reason when I think of Jena, Louisiana I think of Emmett Till who was unrecognizably beaten for looking at a White woman and you would think that, that incident in itself would cause a riot or uprising, but did it? No, I believe that was more because his mother took a very faithful approach and did not retaliate or lash out against the culprits. Some people are fear that if the outcomes in Jena do not turn out in anyway equal (which is oxymoronic in itself) the rage, frustration and sentiment of the L.A. Riots could possible resurface. This is momentum that started with Katrina and everything that has happened to the African-American Community and people of color.

My beef with Jena 6 is that however many people travel down or across to show physical support for the Jena 6 the reality is there are ultimately two outcomes: 1) The sentence is distributed equal amongst both parties (races) and the news talks about it for the next three days and people go back to their regularly scheduled programs; Or, 2) The outcome is completely unequal and a riot ensues in which many people are injured, the news talks about it for the next week and then people go back to their regularly scheduled programs. The reality about a march, a gathering or rally is the fact that it’s just that and however many people participate it still won’t be enough to evoke change but it will evoke much chaos either way. Please understand I’m not disreagarding what people are doing to support the efforts of the Jena 6 but the reality is unless every African-American or person of color in the United States of America comes to the aid of the Jena 6 things will stay status quo and the cycle of horrific incident happens to an African-American will ensue, people rally for a while and then it fades off will continue, meaning whatever the outcome is the news will give it two weeks MAYBE and then it’s on to another issue.

This to me is frustrating and the reason I’m writing this and relating it to the idea of sacrifrice is because I wonder how many people are willing to do more than go down to Jena for the sentence hearing but would be willing to stay in front of the court room or prison where these future inmates will reside until some type of political implementation occurs. In other words are people willing to sacrifice jobs, families, friends, vacations to St. Maarten, Sportscenter, barbeques to give their all to a worthy cause? The answer is no, nobody is. Yes, Mos Def is going down to Jena and I applaud him along with the many other college students and blue collar workers who will support, my question is how far are we willing to go? If it came to picking up a gun would we?

I even ask myself, think about the things in my life that I love, my wife, my job which puts food on the table, our apartment, dope ass music collection, my kicks, could I sacrifice all that for truly bigger cause? The answer is no, and that is the ugly truth. Ask Mos Def is he willing to give up his music and acting career, is Oprah willing to give up her show, book club, school in Africa, billion plus dollars for a greater cause that if we all were committed could change the face of a nation? Ask yourself another question, think about all the parents who have children, could you put your children in the face of fire for a cause? I know if I had children my first thought is their safety so naturally any parent would never put their children in the face of danger.

Again I thank Malcolm X, Fannie Lou Hamer, Denmark Vesey, Sonia Sanchez, Amiri Baraka, Common, Lauyrn Hill, Curtis Mayfield, the Roots, who do what they do with a purpose that represents something that is grander than a check but ask them, those alive, and those that passed would they be willing to give it all up? This is by no means to say that this is only obligated to the “well to do” wealthy tax bracket individuals but for the blue collar family man or woman who has the house, car and child headed to college on scholarship, would we want our children to give that up?

The government was so damn smart when they set this system up. There are contracts for some government workers which prohibits them from protesting against the governement they work for!!! Does anyone find this convenient for the government and why do people obey? Think about what they would lose…a check, and the ability to take care of their families.

Malcolm said their was the field negro and the house negro and the house negro stayed by his master’s side but the field negro wanted to roll out and revolt, but when the house negro had the so-called master supposedly appearing to take care of him i.e. (healthcare, paycheck, vacation) why would they want to leave? By no means am I calling us house negroes but think about it, what would you be willing to sacrifice for the greater good and the things that give you the most joy in life could you at the drop of a dime leave them behind? Imagine if every single Black person i America went and sat right in front of the White House and didn’t move until they freed the San Francisco 8 or the Jena 6, the question is would we all be down to come to Washington, DC and risk lives, becasue trust it would get ugly. So in a nation where we appear to be more concerned about who is going to sell more records Kanye or 50 Cent, Britney Spears or Lindsay Lohan’s drug problem put that shit in perspective! Why do we care, is it that important and why does the news consume us with this unnecessary information?

Which brings me to why do Scheme Magazine? I guess because to keep me sane in a sick and beautiful world. I have a woman that lives across the street from me in a small apartment and everyday she sweeps the alley that she lives next to which is rat and trash infested but like Scheme it keeps her sane and allows her to live another day. Hopefully Scheme gives our readers some sense of what I feel…sanity. That’s why we push so hard to get this information out to ya’ll because we want to let people know they’re not alone in this fight and admist all the ugliness beauty still exists and to always pursue what makes you happy because tomorrow is not promised to anyone. I pray for the individuals involved in Jena 6, Mumia, Darfur, the soldiers on both sides in Iraq and Megan Williams, so if it’s that Dilla track, that Heineken, bottle of water, workout plan, Oreo McFlurry, son, daughter, husband or wife that gets you to push to the next day then enjoy and appreciate them and those things because one day a sacrifice may have to be made because the current cycle that we go through when something tragic happens we give it some love and attention but we need the love and support from EVERYONE, the irony is I’m no better for writing all this shit because all I’m doing is writing…so what did I really just do?

Stay Up!