It seems as though The Washington Post continues to contribute to the body of works asessing the plight of the Black man in America. Since the last shout-out, some more provocative pieces have come to fruition. One is a very promising tale of two young cats, who made a pact upon finishing middle school to do their part to represent to the fullest. If the daring boldness of the refusal of the scholarship they were offered were nto enough, then it should come as no suprise the passion with which the pledged their souls to make their school what it should be; a place of higher learning. And in a sense of twisted humor, another piece paints a candid portrait of a brother who has rose up the ranks of the Republican party. To be or not to be a sellout is not the question. But it does beg of a greater, more over-arching sense of purpse and its origins. It could be simplistically argued that he took that scholarship that the Ballou boys turned down. But whatever the greater meaning and lessons that are learned, maybe it really is God trying to tell you something. Maybe we should listen up and pay closer attention.
Speaking of which, I was in Uphams Corner and I had to take this photo. It is only right to include it as an accompaniment to this post. It fits in so well.
2 comments:
i read that story. found it quite interesting.
the older i get, the more the lines blur when it comes to the definition of sellout.
I have no qualms with people who bust their asses, become successful, and encourage others to take that same personal responsibility. What I do hold issue with is someone who denies that institutional factors play a role in suffocating opportunities for the masses -- the same types that get those affirmative action scholarships or government contracts based on their minority status, yet contribute to the Republican party and rep Bush like he's their uncle.
Post a Comment