Fear of Stable and United Africa

Question: What do you know about Africa, and what have you been taught or told about it? What images have you seen on TV? Have you visited? Do you know any Africans? Think about the impressions that you have of the continent, its people, and of the countries that comprise it…now let’s flip the script… 

Imagine for a moment that all 54 sovereign nations in Africa were 1) at peace, 2) politically stable, 3) economically independent/viable, and 4) united in official economic and political partnership through an African Union. Imagine an Africa that controls 100% of its own natural resources which are responsible for everything from the diamonds in your jewelery, to the cocoa in your chocolate, to the chips in your cell phone. Imagine an Africa free of rampant disease and poverty. Imagine 1 billion+ Africans (almost 15% of the world’s population) with a united voice and purpose working toward peace, and prosperity, with the aim of rectifying past wrongs and striving toward a brighter future – controlling their own collective destiny. In the same way that the rise of China is making the rest of the world sit up and pay attention, the rise of strong and united African nations will upend the Euro-American hegemony that currently pulls the strings of world events. 

We currently operate in a world driven by globalization and capitalism or perhaps more accurately, the globalization of capitalism, as spread by Western nations throughout the world for both economic and political purposes. It is a system that claims to benefit all, yet mysteriously only advantages the fortunate minority who already control the majority of the world's capital. We seem to live in a world operating with Orwellian, "Animal Farm" logic in which, "all humans/nations are equal, but some humans/nations are more equal than others." Apparently Africa falls into the "less equal" category as evidenced by its history. No other continent has been invaded, conquered, enslaved, raped, pillaged, exploited, subjugated, and impoverished for as long or in as systematic a fashion as Africa. I am careful not to play the "who suffered more" game, nor am I ignorant of the role that Africans themselves play (in recent history) in perpetuating the status quo. What I am trying to draw attention to is the fact that it is in the direct and best interests of the "powers that be" (A.k.a. the permanent members of the UN Security Council and most industrialized Western nations) to keep Africa poor, uneducated, fearful, and as destabilized as possible in order to maintain the current balance of world economic and political power.

Two simple observations: people who are more concerned with their daily survival do not have the time, energy, or even presence of mind to concern themselves with issues beyond meeting their basic necessities. People who are poor and hungry are easily controlled – a fact most effectively exploited under feudalism.

On the other hand, people with resources, education, courage, and stability are not easily controlled – in fact, they are very DANGEROUS! 

There are few things more dangerous than unrealized potential, so it benefits the “powers-that-be” for Africa to remain stuck in the purgatory of “what could be.” 

Borrowing from a spoken word poet named Shadokat, this is the first of many “mind-rocks” I will be slingin’ at the establishment in an effort to call attention to and dismantle a long broken system…

Pick up your mind-rocks, this is a call to arms…

The revolution will not be televised…

Peace,

A-i-T

PS. This is the Africa they never show you on TV – if the world continues to think of us as perpetually poor and struggling, it then becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy…

"Ten Things I Want To Say To A Black Woman" (Uplifting My Sistahs and Women in General)

I saw this video on a friend's Facebook page (thanks Cece!) the other day and just had to share it. Black women (and women in general) are too often the unsung heroes in life and society. As I grow together with my wife, another strong and beautiful black woman, I do my best celebrate and appreciate her in every way that I can. The gentleman in the video below, boiled down the essence of the love, respect, and admiration I have for all the women in my life, and poured it into words I could never quite so eloquently and lyrically manifest even on my best day.

So a dedication to my A-i-T sistahs of all hues and women of all races...enjoy this celebration of you!

Peace,

A-i-T

Does Upgrading Your Wardrobe Make You A Poser?

Recently I got an email from one of my boys and just had to turn it into a post -- a slightly edited version appears below:

"Alright, so to my knowledge we all come from middle class families and did not grow up rich. And we are all black males growing up in America, attempting to be successful. So, I studied and went to college. I worked hard to find a good job so that I could buy the things I like. Now a lot of my clothes come from Brooks Brothers, JCrew, Johnston and Murphy etc., things I couldn't afford in college. I dress different now than I did in college; some would classify me as preppy. Yesterday, I went to a polo match in Greenwich, CT.  I mainly went for the tailgating and company of my friends, but I was criticized by another friend. I was told that I am being a poser, dressing a certain way and going to certain events to indicate that I come from money. I really didn't see it that way. I saw it as doing something different and being with my friends. I guess my point is that none of us dress how we used to dress, and we buy things that come with certain labels or indications of wealth, but does that make us posers?  Does that mean we have forgotten where we came from originally? Because I am from Queens, NY should I be anti experiencing a polo match? If I wear a seersucker jacket am I trying to be something I'm not?"

To me, his various friends' criticisms reek of "hater," but the issue goes much deeper than that. To me, it speaks to an extremely myopic vision/definition of what it means to be Black -- both within the black community and society at large. We are not (nor is any other race/ethnicity) one monolithic culture represented by one form of dress, one style of music, or a central brain directing our collective thoughts. Which authority said that buying JCrew, wearing a seersucker suit, or attending a polo match definitively falls outside the "Black experience," and makes my friend or anyone "less Black" or less whatever identity they are?

As a young, black, male, A-i-T, I am extremely aware of the fact that how I and my fellow men of color (MOC) dress, seems to define us more so than many other groups.Why should being Black (or any race) place boundaries on one's experience -- isn't it each individual's job to define his/her own experience as s/he sees fit? Why should it be that clothes define it for us?

Society would have you believe that the official young black male (YBM) uniform is Timberlands/Nikes, baggy/saggy jeans, a tilted baseball cap and a shirt from hip-hop fashion label X. I had my days wearing nothing but Ecko, but now I'm a little older, a little married, and a little working, and my tastes have changed. There is no judgment being passed on my part on anyone who still wears hip-hop fashions -- but herein lies the issue -- The clothing an MOC chooses to outfit himself with seems to speak volumes louder than for your average White (and maybe Asian) guy, and comes pre-loaded with a set of value judgments that he must disrobe himself of in order to be seen for who he truly is.

(Please feel free to comment/debate with me on these opinions/observations, because A-i-T is not a dictatorship -- it is OUR forum)

Think about it, is there any such thing as a typical young White male uniform (YWM)? Does one, or several possibilities come to mind? In contrast to the YBM uniform, which the average person can conjure up in seconds, the YWM uniform is very eclectic, hard to pigeon-hole, and does not necessarily define the wearer's entire identity. How a YBM dresses seems to sharply define his character and separate his identities. There is the presumed, "hood brotha," identifiable at 500 yards by the "YBM uniform" and living a struggling/hustling existence. There is also the "wall street brotha," who "made it" out the hood, as distinguished by his suit. For some strange reason, society says that these two individuals cannot occupy the same body - yet ignorance would dictate that my friend should show up to his finance job wearing Timbs and a do-rag because he's Black...how ridiculous is that?

Buried within this maze also lies class issues, which could fill an entire post. At the end of the day, however, my friend wears Brooks Brothers because that is the uniform at his job, which gives him the means to afford the label. His style of dress may have changed but it has not intrinsically changed his character, in the same way your fashion journey has not altered who you fundamentally are. I will freely admit to having issues with hipsters (the whole trend seems kinda forced), but in general, the notion that upgrading/changing one's wardrobe and having a few experiences outside their norm should make someone a poser, is dubious on its best day...

Adults-in-Training, have  you ever received criticism because your style or extracurricular activities have changed and/or differ from an old set of friends?

Peace,
A-i-T

The Gift & The Curse

We all know the saying, "With power comes great responsibility," but what is the companion to awareness? Grassroots movements, political campaigns, and corporations all rely on the concept of awareness/awareness raising, in order to advance their agendas. This is a logical and sometimes noble aim, but often, awareness without action is fundamentally useless. It's like standing at an ATM trying to take out money when you have $19.95 in your account -- ain't nuthin' gonna happen! (credit to a forgotten comedian for this image). Awareness is supposed to be empowering whether it's in mental health, education, or public policy. It should be the spark before the flame, or the realization that causes revolution. Awareness needs something backing it up, otherwise it is rendered life-less rather than life-giving. Now, let's have some fun with a tautology: 

Premise: Knowledge = Power = Responsibility

IF: knowledge is power

AND: awareness is tantamount to knowledge 

THEN: awareness is power 

THEREFORE: Awareness = Responsibility 

If you are aware of something and do nothing, you might as well be oblivious because your awareness has done nothing to affect your actions. In this age of information overload, there is too much going on in the world that we are aware of, to sit by idly doing nothing. I am now finding that I can no longer exist like this. Through my experiences thus far as a counselor-in-training (C-i-T) and just generally becoming a more conscious A-i-T, my awareness of the world around me, my own thoughts/feelings/reactions to it, and even a heightened sensitivity to what is going on with others is really opening my eyes to how myopic my vision was before. Though I am an African man who has spent the majority of his life on foreign soil, through my classes and readings I am now more aware of the impact of race/racism, heterosexism, and even the invisible male privilege I carry around. I am more aware of the many "marginal" identity badges that people wear in this society and the plethora of "isms" that ride alongside. I am also becoming more aware of how critical social justice is within this and any society. As a result, I now see how many cracks there are in the image of what could be an immaculate society if we only took action to make it so. 

"All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men/women to do nothing"   

This awareness is a gift...I can see, understand, and experience more than I ever could before. It's like Neo in The Matrix proclaiming, "I know Kung-fu!" At the same time, I feel cursed...because I can't turn it off! Everywhere I go, and with everything I see and do, there is now a heightened level of awareness. I find myself, asking myself what is the deeper meaning, and how does it affect me/others? It's like having a computer program running in my mind's recesses 24/7, but with constant pop-ups when it detects something. What in the world do I do with this?!?! Do I rage against the machine, or simply was poetic on my blog and call it a day? 

Why not both? My future profession calls me to advocate for my clients, and on a higher level, for social justice. My faith and my humanity compel me on an even deeper level to do the same. In the past, I have shied away from being vocal when I encountered certain situations in public and even from approaching certain topics on my blog. Today is a new day, and the difference I can make is a large or as small as my sphere of influence. This blog falls within those bounds. From now on, I hope this blog can support those hard but necessary conversations, because they are part and parcel of what it means for us to be A-i-T's trying to get our grown folk on. I hope to use the power of this blog (whatever that might be) to responsibly turn awareness into action through the sharing of knowledge and diverse perspectives. 

The gift and the curse...well, that all depends on what we do with it... 

Fellow A-i-T's, what are you doing or going to do with your gifts? 

Peace,

A-i-T

Why is Television Art Not Reflecting Life?

Demographers predict that between the years 2030 and 2050, people of color (POC) will become the numerical majority of the US population. We are in the midst of radical demographic changes, and I'm sure the 2010 census will go a long way to support this prediction. Social scientists and academics refer to this ongoing phenomenon as the "diversification of America," or more literally, the "changing complexion of society." My simple question is, why is today's major network television not yet hip to the game? Why is television art, not yet reflecting life? 

This observation is not new, nor would I pass it off as such, but it's just been smacking me in the face of late as I have witnessed most recent roll-out of new and upcoming network TV shows. Back in the day (as in late '90s/early 2000s), Chris Rock, in one of his many brilliant social critiques summarized and renamed the major network television stations as follows:

-ABC = Anything But Color

-NBC = Nothing But Caucasians

-WB  = Where the Brothas At? 

In 2010, Rock's observations still ring true...and perhaps even more so. It seems no matter the theme of the show, or what state, city, or town the shows are set in, one factor remains constant, there apparently exists a magical America where POC just don't exist. If they do exist, thanks solely to the benevolence of the writers and network executives, POC simply serve to provide a colorful backdrop (literally and figuratively) for the White main characters to interact with. Frankly, it's just getting on my nerves...

I recently started watching this ABC show called "The Deep End," about five young, brilliant, first-year associates at an elite LA law firm. It's an entertaining show if you can look past how glamorous they make the job look -- I'm sure all my lawyer A-i-T's can attest to that. What irks is me is how four of the five young lawyers are White, plus the obligatory token Black male. Are you honestly telling me ABC could not cast even one Asian, Latina/o, Native American in one or two of the other roles? If we wanted to get technical, looking at educational trends related to sex, it would be more accurate to have three women and two men versus the current balance. One of the White male characters is Australian, fresh from down under, which adds national diversity but does nothing for the complexion of the show.

In cities like New York and LA where approximately 1 in 3 people are foreign born, how is this show or any other show supposed to relate to current life in the US?

And let's be clear, this is not just a Black and White thing. Aside from B.D. Wong on Law & Order SVU, and Lucy Liu's brief stint on the small screen, how many other Asian characters of any significance can you name? George Lopez is no doubt doing his thing, but if Latinos are the largest minority group, why aren't there more representing on shows not found on Telemundo or Univision? Native Americans? The forgotten aboriginal people of this land...can they get a cameo please? And these are just the check boxes we are all forced to fit ourselves in on the census form -- what about all those who don't identify with one of the five major racial categories recognized in the US?

Granted, strides have been made in diversifying the look of television. There are definitely more POC in leading or main character roles across networks but it still feels like token efforts. Commercials are the one place where diversity is truly taking hold, but to me, it's dollars driving advertisers' diversity sense. If you want everyone to by your product, you had better feature EVERYONE in your commercial. I doubt it's more complicated than that.

I am definitely waiting for this generation's Cosby show, and no, I don't mean Tyler Perry's, "Meet the Browns" or "House of Payne." I just want to see on TV the diversity I see everyday when I walk out my door. The United States is the most diverse nation in the world...I think it's about time its TV shows began to FULLY represent that fact... 

Fellow Adults-in-Training, I know TV is meant for entertainment...but do you feel like TV art is reflecting your life? 

Peace,

A-i-T

Exposing the Hilarious Hypocrisy of Stereotypes...

Let's just openly acknowledge that we all know of and use stereotypes. It's no one's fault, because socialization is an inevitable process, unless you have successfully sequestered yourself in a culture-proof bubble (congratulations...how are you reading this blog?). At best, stereotypes are an efficient way for our brains to process and organize the multitude of information we encounter each day about people, places, and things. At worst, they are incredibly offensive, truth obscuring mechanisms that serve to keep certain people/groups in their "place," whatever that place might be. The scariest thing about stereotypes, however, is their ability to creep and settle unchallenged into society's collective consciousness, and their resistance to logic in the face of truth. I feel that as A-i-T's trying to become grown-folk, we should make the conscious effort to counter stereotypes beginning with ourselves and those around us...

I could wax poetic and write an entire dissertation about stereotypes their genesis and effects, but sometimes the most effective weapon in the fight against the "isms" of society  is humor. Combating racism is not an intellectual exercise, but is rather an active lived experience. I recognize that racism is as serious as cancer, and not because it is a nice sounding written analogy, but rather because it is a literal description. There is nothing funny about it until you realize how stupid and senseless the whole enterprise really  is. Stereotypes just serve to prove the point. Think of them as four contradictory walls erected by mainstream society to box an individual/group in. Once the "oxy-moronic" nature is exposed however, the walls Berlin down...CRASH!!!

The other night on John Oliver's New York Stand-Up Show, I came across a great young comedian named, Hari Kondabolu, who is a man after my own heart. Much of his comedy has a social justice orientation, where he intelligently points out the hypocrisy in past and present race relations. He is someone I will definitely keep an eye on. Check out this clip talking about the ludicrous nature of stereotypes about Mexicans...

Live at Gotham
Hari Kondabolu - Mexican Stereotypes
www.comedycentral.com
Joke of the Day Stand-Up Comedy Free Online Games

Adults-in-Training let's expose stereotypes for what they are...absolutely ridiculous...

Peace,

A-i-T

Avatar -- A 3-Hour Summary of Racial Politics and History -- Who Knew?

DISCLAIMER: If you have not yet seen Avatar and do not want the movie ruined for you, please stop reading. Otherwise, if you have already seen it or don't care, continue and enjoy... 

I watched Avatar the other day and it was visually one of the most amazing movies I have ever seen. The imagination behind the landscapes, inhabitants, and creatures of this alien world was truly breathtaking. Though almost three hours long, the characters and plot are engaging and well played out, all combining to completely capture one's imagination -- or mine at least. The technical wizardry that seamlessly blends live-action with CGI is light-years ahead of anything we've seen. In an interview I saw with the director, James Cameron, he spoke about how this movie was written more than ten years ago and had to be shelved until they invented the technology to tell this story...How ironic that the storyline is as old as the first European ship that ever set sale to discover distant lands...

 Summary: Sometime in the future, we have depleted the Earth's energy resources (shout out to the green movement), and we must rely on distant planets to provide our energy needs (what up OPEC!). We find ourselves on Pandora, a beautiful and pristine planet, reminiscent of the Amazon that is being clear cut and mined to obtain an energy rich and extremely profitable precious metal very appropriately/humorously named "Unobtanium." On Pandora dwell an indigenous people called the Na'vi, who live in harmony with this beautiful world and respect and protect its natural wonders. Through the eyes of a wheelchair bound ex-marine, Jake Sully, we witness a greedy corporation (read: "the West") destroying this beautiful land to obtain the Unobtanium, and of course the Na'vi's village sits atop the richest deposit on the planet. Through his Na'vi avatar, Jake is supposed to infiltrate and become part of the Na'vi people and either convince them to move, or pass on his learned intelligence for a military strike...as expected, conflict ensues... 

Despite its futuristic/intergalactic setting, Avatar is the story of imperialism, colonialism, and capitalism in its historical and modern forms. It is the classic tale of the powerful using, abusing, and exploiting those less mighty and usually darker-skinned. Avatar is the history of Africa and parts of Asia. It is the forgotten narrative of the aboriginal peoples of Australia, New Zealand, and the Americas. It hints strongly at being a sharp critique of the war in Iraq and other wars fought over precious natural resources. Avatar is a historical account of race politics, and every war of invasion and conquest ever fought for capital gains, except this time, the natives actually win -- but not without the help of a courageous conqueror turned defender of the good and noble people of the land. It is parts Pocahontas, The Last Samurai, and every cowboy and Indian movie ever made (Dances With Wolves much?). Avatar is a highly entertaining movie, but I wonder if it's creators fully intended it as a wake-up call for a modern world with a short memory of how current circumstances came to be? With all the eye-popping visuals, will moviegoers catch the critical messages? 

The racial issues in this movie are blatantly evident. The corporation though somewhat diverse, is a mostly White enterprise, especially reflected in the main characters. In contrast, the Na'vi are tall, blue-skinned, golden-eyed and beautifully exotic (a loaded adjective purposely used). Aside from their other-worldly features, 'other' being the operative word, the Na'vi from visual appearance to their their way of life  appear as a blend of Native American and African features, cultures and customs (think Apache meets Masai/Zulu warrior). They are a noble people who are connected to their surroundings in a way that is lost to our modern world. Nature and life in general are treated with the utmost respect and as supremely precious. Whatever energy or resource is taken from the earth must ultimately be returned in order to maintain balance. Their way of life may be looked upon as "simple" or "primitive," but by whose standards? 

The corporation, boasting machines, guns, and technology, represent the height of human advancement. They view the Na'vi as "savages" and seek to "civilize" them with the same "benevolent," eternally paternalistic mindset as the European explorers/colonizers of yore that landed on foreign shores with the aim of "teaching" the natives their ways with one hand while taking their natural resources and destroying their culture with the other. The corporation employs the familiar tactics of building schools and sharing technical know-how while pursuing ulterior motives. We must ask ourselves this question, who is the true savage? The one that rapes and pillages the land and destroys the native people, or the one who lives in harmony with their surroundings and respects all forms of life? 

"We are going to blast a hole in their racial memory that they will never forget!" 

This line from the movie made an indelible impression on me. I had to ask my wife if I had heard correctly because I was shocked when I heard it, even though it came from the mouth of the war-mongering, trigger-happy, marine mercenary leader. This line truly highlights the "us" versus "them" storyline in this film. As seen throughout history until today, when indigenous groups refuse to give up their land and resources after being "asked nicely," they must be taken by force. The corporation in Avatar is clearly representative of today's Western governments and multinational corporations, who often work in veiled collusion to exploit the resources and people of the "developing world" (another loaded term). If you don't believe me, please read Confessions of an Economic HitMan, by John Perkins, for an insider's account of how international politics and business play  out (Click here for Amazon.com page). 

The turning point of the story comes when Jake falls in love with the beautiful Naytiri, the Na'vi chief's daughter and his reluctant tutor. As she teaches him the ways of her people, Sully finally realizes that the corporation he has been playing the good soldier for is inherently evil and wrong in their actions. He courageously switches sides, confesses his sins, loses the trust and faith of his exotic love interest and her people, and yet somehow manages to regroup and return to become the chief of the Na'vi by accomplishing the one nearly impossible traditional right of passage worthy of chieftaincy. He returns triumphantly as the White knight riding the proverbial white horse, which in this case happens to be the most vicious aerial predator on Pandora, appropriately nicknamed "Last Shadow." Jake then unites all the Na'vi tribes from the four corners of the planet and successfully defeats the corporation. Hooray!  

This incredibly clichéd ending serves to highlight/perpetuate the  notion that indigenous peoples can never save themselves without the help of the oppressor, turned justice seeking crusader. Or is it pointing out a major truth?  

As some of you may know, A-i-T is Ghanaian and very proud of that fact. As a Ghanaian/African, I was perhaps more deeply affected by this movie because its themes resonate with my inherited and lived experiences. I realize that the solutions to the current issues must come from Ghanaians themselves, but I also recognize that Western governments and corporations still hold the reins of power -- that's just reality. Until they are willing to share those reins, and help uplift as partners rather than exploit the "developing" nations in this world, the status quo will remain unchanged. 

The Native Americans originated the saying: "never criticize a man until you walk a mile in his moccasins [shoes]." Aside from the visual feast that is Avatar, perhaps the most amazing part of the movie, at least to this A-i-T, is that it took Jake Sully literally putting on the blue skin of the Na'vi to understand their experiences and worldview and realize the errors/injustices of the corporation. To me, this is a powerful metaphor, whether intended or not, for what needs to take place on this planet for the betterment of race relations and ultimately for the benefit of our shared collective, as the human race... 

To me, Avatar was kinda deep...who knew? 

Adults-in-Training, this is what I saw when I watched Avatar...what did you get from this film...? 

Peace,

A-i-T

I Mean to Burst Your Bubble...

Please Click Here to read the article that inspired this post:

“Westchester Agrees to Add Housing in a Desegregation Pact.”

What?!?! Is this 2009 or 1959? After reading this headline on the front page of today's (August 10th) NYTimes website, I had to check my calendar just to be sure. Desegregation + 2009 = That does not compute…Or does it?

As human beings, we have a natural tendency to settle into living in a bubble – whether externally or self-imposed. This bubble includes our neighborhood, our workplace, our friends/family and the places we go to shop & unwind. It’s a discrete little world that is for the most part, familiar, predictable, and above all, comfortable.

Due to their nature, bubbles (real and social): can float; are transparent; permeable; elastic; reflective; they also at once, include and exclude. I argue, however, that they are most fun when they POP! And that’s what needs to happen, socially speaking, FOR ALL OF US…

The thing about dialogue, especially on race, is that it takes at least two to play the game, but if your bubble and my bubble never bump into each other how can that conversation ever start?

“Residential segregation underlies virtually every racial disparity in America, from education to jobs to the delivery of health care” ~Craig Gurian (Exec. Director, Anti-Discrimination Center)

Keeping it true, race, class, and to some extent, gender, directly impact a person’s ability to create and shape their bubble. To be blunt, the more money and education you have, the better your ability to customize your bubble and the antithesis also holds true. This article reflects Westchester as an exclusive, impermeable, and inelastic bubble, created by the individuals that live there (both actively and passively), and their local government (please do not interpret this as an indictment on Westchester):

“…between 2000 and 2006 the county had misrepresented its efforts to desegregate overwhelmingly white communities when it applied for federal housing funds.” ~Referenced NYTimes Article

As mentioned above, by their very nature, bubbles can include or exclude because they have a membrane (sometimes selectively permeable). When that social bubble is reinforced by active will and/or passive circumstance, it not only keeps foreign bodies out, it also restricts the bubble from expanding beyond its artificial and self-imposed borders. To be fair, similar arguments could be directed at predominantly minority areas like Harlem. However, the critical difference between communities like Harlem and Westchester is that the former, is arguably an externally imposed bubble dictated by socio-economics, politics, etc, while the latter is largely self-imposed.

How do we move forward? Simply put, our bubbles need to come together. The beauty and mystery of bubbles is that when they come close enough to one another, there is a force of attraction that causes them to snap together. I guess they recognize each other as being one of their own. If enough time and/or pressure are exerted, two bubbles eventually become one or they POP! Either result can be beautiful to watch…

Ultimately, our utopian vision should be a world without bubbles – which means there are no barriers to cross or walls to merge and/or break down. I have been blessed in the short 26 years I’ve been on this planet to have lived in London; NYC; Accra, Ghana during high school; Clinton, NY for college, Paris studying abroad; and Boston. The greatest byproduct of all my travels is that my bubble burst, and the rest of the world came rushing in…

Let’s think about NYC briefly from a Manhattan-centric P.O.V.: Some people eat sleep, and breathe below 14th street; for others, all you need is mid-town; still others won’t venture past 96th in either direction, and to most, the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens might as well be in another country! Let’s also not forget the cross-town beef between the Upper East and Upper West sides…need I say more?

I know there are still a few miles to go on this issue and a lot of hard work and conversations need to be had, but in the mean time, I hope this post can serve as a polite finger that will rudely burst our collective bubble…

Adults-in-Training, what was your reaction to even reading the word “desegregation” in 2009? What is our role as the next generation stepping up in bursting the bubbles that have prevented progress? Am I making too big a deal out of this? Are bubbles sometimes necessary?

Peace,
A-i-T