Over the last couple of weeks, I have been exposed to something that we as a people (meaning black people) are doing to hurt our progression as a race and of the nation in general. For years, I have listened to people talking about the “man” and everything that holds us back as a people. Fine with me, because for the most part there are concrete events and legislation that has handcuffed (literally and figuratively) the majority of the race. But there is a developing problem that I am looking to address right now.
I know that everyone is familiar with the story of the “boy who cried wolf.” If you don’t know what I am talking about I’m going to need you to get your childhood story game up. But not to digress, it is becoming more apparent that as a people we have turned into that little boy who cried out for help so much that eventually no one would listen to his stories, no matter how legitimate his claims were.
When I heard about the Oscar Grant judgement (yes, I was paying attention to that and LeBron) I was shocked because of the lack of concerned by people and the media. But more importantly, I was shocked to find that even the people that we irate about the situation were not being taken with the same sense of urgency from not only people outside of their circles, but their own people also. People were tweeting, posting statuses, and blogging to no avail because people were more concerned with the other things.
I was again struck to find out that the NAACP has had a two week media war going on with the Tea Party because of some racist statements that were made by a known racist from a racist organization (the Tea Party). But I’m still waiting for a march or even a press release about the Grant trial and the judgment (maybe I’m unaware of it, if I missed it shoot it over). How much weight could we put on the importance of the NAACP if they are arguing with the Tea Party?
What’s the cause of this? Is it because people are always talking about things that are holding us back but aren’t doing anything tangible to keep everyone’s attention on moving forward? Or is the NAACP making money and staying relevant by continuing to be our complaint box. One question: Have you ever seen anybody ever check one of those? Anyway.
I say all this to say. While the NAACP was fighting against the Tea Party and Faux News, real people with real issue are being taken advantage of. The people that they are supposed to be helping are suffering from NAACP school yard fight for the more racially charge organization of the year.
I don’t know personally how to attack this, so I wanted to get everyone’s opinion on this. I am not saying that we should sit back and let things continue to happen to us as a people, but I am saying that to be taken seriously we need to choose our battles better.
Oscar Grant = Good battle.
LeBron, Nicki Minaj, KFC Double Down, Tea Party, etc = Bad Battle.
Stay Gifted.
cody
Comments (3)
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by The Gifted Life, The Gifted Life. The Gifted Life said: New Gifted Post: The People Who Cried Wolf… Part 1 http://thegiftedlife.com/2010/07/21/the-people-who-cried-wolf/ [...]
Great post. I’m about to let my inner history nerd out but the NAACP reminds me of how armies fought during WWI. They constantly use out of date tactics to fight a very modern fight. This only results in wasted talent, time, and resources being depleted trying to overcome pointless objectives.
Just my two cents!
@Wu That’s my point exactly. Nothing can be accomplished for the future when you are constantly working from the past. thanks for the read! and Stay Gifted.