Guest Writer: Taylor Isom | 3AM Thoughts

Hello valued readers!

Today we have a piece from a familiar guest writer to The Great Change Blog, Taylor Isom. She has written a fabulous piece that poses pertinent questions to our generation as we are all so tightly engaged in social media on various platforms. Her piece is below, please enjoy, share with friends and family, and leave any comments you all have at the end of the article. Thank you!

3AM Thoughts by Taylor Isom

Do we post for “likes” or do we post to be heard? Research has shown that millennials specifically thrive off of likes. But if we’re getting likes are we not being heard? Do we not click the “like” button to express a sense of support for the individual who posted? Is that not what it means? Or, do we simply click the “like” button to be nice or considerate.

Should we not remain conscience of what we post on the internet, seeing how it could very well affect the views that others have on our character if the post is interpreted incorrectly? Is this not the very reason we are told from a young age to be careful about what we post on the internet? Remember, I am speaking in consideration of millennials. We aren’t all like this, but we cannot deny that receiving “likes” feels good, because it does. The feeling I am referring to comes from a happy chemical that is released in our brains called Dopamine. It makes you feel accepted, cool, or popular in this given scenario. You begin to compare your number of “reactions” to the next person. And yet, the same people who express their support, can’t even spare an easy “hello” when you run into each other at Chili’s. By hiding behind smart gadgets, we lose the ability to socialize.

What about privacy on the internet? Just because you create restrictions to the general public, do you think your posts cannot be found? It can be found, and it will be kept. Once something is out there, that is a wrap, it is out there, forever. Have you thought about higher power? The government, does your password protect apply to them? If they want to see something, they could have direct access. The only way to guarantee that nobody sees what you post, is to NOT POST.

Sure, as millennials we are addicted to acceptance. It causes us to come up with new and inventive ways to express ourselves online so that people will see it, like it, and then we find the next best thing. Nothing is ever enough. So, we post without thinking. I challenge you to ask yourself, are you posting for “likes” or are you posting to be legitimately heard? Chances are, you are posting for “likes”. Dopamine is a crazy chemical, certainly my favorite. It is the same chemical released when you smoke a cigarette, drink alcohol, or even when you get puppy kisses, aww. It is also released when we receive "likes", or a response to a text message. This is what keeps us coming back for more. It is an addiction.

If you want likes, post a cute selfie with a puppy, I did. If you want to be heard, post with you brain, not your emotions. Quit mindlessly saying and doing things on the internet to get a “reaction” or a “like”. What you post can jeopardize everything you have or are about to work for. Instead, create a conversation with people, educate each other. Do not be mindless. CARE!

Thank you for reading!

Anonymous Essay: Must Read

Hello valued readers! We here at The Great Change received an anonymous essay in our inbox yesterday. It address problems that are clearly evident. Check it out below!

The perspective and the reality of the educational system are far from the same. As I experience and observe the education profession, I find it important to share injustices that should be addressed.

The definition of education, in common usage, is that education is the delivery of knowledge, skills and information from teachers to students. However, teachers are not able to deliver knowledge, skills, and information within their full capabilities due to a number of restrictions. Restrictions that are influenced by and include prejudices, people pleasing, preconceived notions of abilities, politics, naïve mindsets, and greed. Therefore, the educational system can be seen more as just another business. This is especially true for the public school system.

The motivation behind this statement comes after a recent popular and controversial occurrence between an African American female student and a Caucasian male campus police officer at a high school in South Carolina. Allegedly the female student was told a number of times to get off her cellphone. An officer, Senior Deputy Ben Fields, was then requested to the classroom and asked the student to stand up to leave the room. Officer Fields responds to the student refusing to stand up, by wrapping his forearm around her neck, pulling her backwards unto the floor, and then tossing her across the floor. Fields then commands that she put her hands behind her back and applies handcuffs to her.

Of course, thanks to the convenience of cellphones and ability to share anything instantly online, a recording of the event spread fast sparking another controversial story and issue.

A few days ago, as I scroll down my Facebook timeline, I notice someone share that they signed a petition for The View to cut Raven Symone from the show. They also make insulting comments about her character and intelligence.

During a conversation with other hosts on the issue, Raven states, “The girl was told multiple times to get off the phone,” She also shares that she believes, “There’s no right or reason for him to be doing this type of harm, that’s ridiculous. But at the same time, you gotta follow the rules in school. . . This shouldn’t even be a problem to begin with, and he shouldn’t have been acting like that on top of it.” Media summarizes her statement by suggesting that Raven “victim blamed” the student for the event. It seems as if the majority of African-Americans active on media were disturbed and infuriated by her comments. Though I understand the agitation of “victim blaming”, I am not a fan of it whatsoever, I do not agree with the condemning of another young minority woman. I get that she probably could have used a different choice of words when delivering her points. At the same time, our African-American community have to put themselves in her shoes for a moment. Raven is a childhood star who has continued to have a successful career over the years.

Now... let’s consider all of the Disney stars over the years who have had chaotic circumstances broadcasted for the world to see... Also, consider the fact that Raven is one of the younger co-hosts on a very popular live broadcasted show. From the look of comments and posts I have seen, many do not know the difference between their, they’re, and there... do those same people think they could go on a live show and not make misconstrued statements? Let’s state the obvious...Raven has made a few statements regarding race that can come off condescending. Although, the media suggests that “Raven is against her own race”, I am sure she knows firsthand that people are treated differently based on their appearance. She is a 29 year old woman with brown skin, not a size 3, and who dresses in a bizarre way at times....  I am positive she has felt discriminated against in her career.

Conflict is a commodity in the media industry. If the show a certain conflict and get people tuned in, (to websites, news stations, etc.), the more money they will make. The job of media is to get you tuned-in, and sometimes that conflict is created if it’s not actually present. This has occurred in Raven’s case as well as many other public minority figures who make statements that are not necessarily “people pleasing”. I applaud the actions of, The Talk co-host, Sheryl Underwood, who spoke up against the backlash that Aisha Tyler underwent for expressing her point of view of the Spring Valley High School incident.  (Please see video- http://youtu.be/w-jypMvf2il ) I respect the women such as Raven Symone, Sheryl Underwood, and Aisha Tyler. There is no doubt that they have experienced many trails to earn the positions they have. Despite their abilities to achieve so much as women of color, they are still crucified for any opinion that might become misunderstood or small mistake they might make. I just wonder if anyone ever stops to think about how they must feel... To receive such criticism from the same race of people that experience the same challenges you do and

you would think would be more supportive... Instead of focusing on what the media has promoted, I wonder if anyone has took a moment to realize a valid point that she made. The notion that Raven is “victim blaming” comes from her pointing out that there is more than one issue that should be addressed with what was going on in the classroom. Her two points include: 1) There is indeed an issue of misuse of power and procedure by the school and officer. 2) There is also an issue of inappropriate use of technology in classrooms.

Not only are those valid points, there are additional concerns that should be addressed that trickle all the way down to the superintendent of the school district. The other students present in the video watching the actions of Fields, known as “Officer Slam”, have seen this happen times before. And now the district wants to make statements suggesting that they will do an in-depth investigation. Why now? Because mass media has caught a glimpse of internal issues that the school has swept under the rug? As I continue to work in education, I witness countless occurrences similar to these. I have witnessed Caucasian teachers roughing up students with no limitation or consequence. I have witnessed students walking out of classrooms in front of principals, while taking a test, to take a phone call. I have witnessed so many discrepancies at a high ranked school in Texas....that I hope to become someone who can help to make changes.

Along with the points Raven made, issues of ignoring faults such as misuse of power, prejudice, procedures, and policies in a school all need to be addressed.

I love my culture. I love our people. On countless occasions, I have experienced and witnessed injustice that has occurred because of a person’s appearance, so I hope my points are not misconstrued into “victim blaming”.

The most accurate summery of my points would be that the reality of education has many broken pieces that need to be acknowledged and fixed.

- Just another voice

Guest Writer: Alexi Stewart

SLIDING DOORS

Two curious things happened on September 8, 2014. The first occurred after I dropped my father off at Baltimore-Washington International Airport. He had come from Dallas to visit me and my husband for the weekend, and unfortunately, the day had come for him to go home. After sending him off to his terminal, I decided to drive the scenic route home to southeast Washington D.C. Between Baltimore and the District are two highways: one with numerous lanes flanked by unforgiving, concrete walls and another with two leisurely lanes on each side of a lush median with skyscraping trees in place of a wall. The latter, which is not favored by commuters because of its tendency to quickly gridlock in rush hour, is the scenic route. I was in no hurry, and traffic would not begin for several hours, so toward my home I drove as my dad flew toward his.

With my hair tied up and all four windows of my green Escape rolled down, I cruised in the fast lane, daring to turn my speakers louder and louder until my car shook like a veritable rock concert. It was one of those gorgeous days! The crisp aroma of fall had not quite arrived, but summer’s cloying air had already passed. Instead, the entire atmosphere seemed to be on its toes in anticipation for dressed up foliage and the first bonfires of the season. The in-between, palette-cleansing air blew in and out of my windows prompting hundreds of wisps of my hair to come loose from my ponytail. 

Then everything shifted all at once.

I felt the wrongness before I saw it – a sleek minivan about twenty yards ahead of me fishtailing in the right-hand lane. It swung just enough to clip the curb of the shoulder where pavement met grass, and suddenly the car was airborne. It completed a neat roll and disappeared upside-down into the trees and brush. The sight defied all laws of nature. As I pulled to the grassy shoulder of the highway and came to a halt, my thoughts reverted to basic physics and common sense.

Cars are meant to be upright on the road, I told myself. Cars are meant to travel on a straight, paved path. Then, how did the Fast and Furious franchise make their car stunts look so real? These thoughts, inane and untimely, crowded my mind as I grappled with my pulsing adrenaline. A young man with curly, outgrown hair jumped out of a parked car in front of me and jogged toward the trees as I sat with windows still down and music still inappropriately blasting. We made eye contact, his puzzled and mine empty. After the sight we just witnessed, I felt disturbed being the subject of this young man’s perplexity. I wanted to move, and I strangely wanted to tell him that, but the swift chaos of the accident pervaded my body like a blood virus and glued me to my leather seats slick with cold sweat. 

Then, like an unbound butterfly I quickly and clumsily began to get out of my car. I slammed the power button on the radio and waited for the windows to roll up at their excruciating pace. Three more people ran into the woods where the overturned car lay in the time it took me to get out and hit the lock button. I could see only the trunk of the car upside down and suspended about five feet off the ground; it was likely held up by newly mangled saplings that now grow bent in perpetual obedience to the chrome and rubber force once subjected on it. The bumper had come clean off and rested on the ground, and a small white cloth, perhaps a t-shirt or towel, hung limply from a tree branch like a weary surrender. 

Instead of venturing into the woods, I stood halfway in between my car and the shrubbery to call 911. Only when the emergency operator realized I had no idea what mile marker was closest did I bite my lip and jog into the woods hoping for someone native to the area. There was no mangled body, crying child, or array of blood like I feared. Instead, a well-dressed, middle-aged woman supported by two Samaritans on either side hobbled around the totaled car and toward the highway. She was moaning slightly and had some scratches on her face, but no bones protruded, and no joints looked out of place. Someone managed to tell me the closest exit, Powder Mill Road, and after I relayed as best as I could our location and the condition of the woman, I hung up with the dispatcher and took my place with a group of now eight or nine people on the shoulder of the highway.

“Mijo, mijo,” mumbled the woman as she fumbled with her mangled cell phone. I hadn’t noticed before her purse slung around one shoulder. She wanted nothing more than to talk to her son in those moments, and my heart inexplicably warmed.

As I stood there watching one of the Samaritans produce his own cell phone and waiting for emergency crews, I reflected on my actions in those short minutes; it could not have been longer than five or seven. A relatively healthy woman sat in front of me, but I had been afraid of her fatality. I had been afraid of coming face-to-face with death in those trees. Though she ended up moderately fine save a possibly broken arm and a strained neck, I did see a life for the last time that day.

The last time I ever saw my dad was when he walked inside the sliding glass doors of the airport terminal on September 8. Though I did not realize it until a week later when he unexpectedly passed away, that was the second curious thing to happen, and it is the reason I will never forget that day.

There is a fairly new plot device in Hollywood called sliding doors. It involves placing a character in a situation where a seemingly insignificant choice exclusively alters their fate. A 1998 Gwyneth Paltrow movie did it with a train, Frasier did it with a choice of outerwear, and Grey’s Anatomy did it with an elevator. Typically the viewer is shown two courses of events: one if the character makes the train, wears the sweater, or catches the elevator, and the other if they miss the train, wear the suit, or do not catch the elevator. Sometimes the ending leaves it up to the viewer which course of action will actually happen, and sometimes a completely different outcome occurs.

Truthfully, I have been tempted to insert myself into my own sliding doors episode. What would have happened if I had done this differently? What would have happened if I had done that instead of this? Would my outcome have changed? Nevertheless, my reality is not producer-funded, script-written Hollywood. My reality is real life. A week after that car accident, my fifty-nine year old father died of a blood clot that originated in his ankle. It was unexpected; it was not scripted; it did not derive from a sliding door. The only sliding doors that exist in my life are the ones my dad walked through at the airport, the ones that ushered him into a wholly different home than I expected.

It is likely I will never fully come to terms with the delicate intermingling of life, death, and reality that day. Closure is slippery. However, I have come to terms with one thing. No amount of hypothesizing my choices will change the outcome of that day or days afterward. The truth is if I done something differently, I might have been the unlucky passenger in a freak car accident, or even worse, I might have missed the car accident entirely. I was reminded of life’s fragility twice in September of 2014. The first reminder, the car accident, made me tell each and every family member and friend how much I love them. The second reminder, my dad’s death, made me grateful I had told him so recently how much he meant to me.

I did not face death on September 8. I witnessed life pulsing richly and stubbornly in both the woman and my dad, and I will continue to live in exactly that way. Though I might not be the first person to run straight to the origin of the chaos, I will be there to help. I will be rich and stubborn with my life. I will impact lives around me in a way uniquely my own. I will be content.

That all sounds a lot better than what if.

Guest Writer: Sessle Sarpy

The history of being black or having dark skin has always been very sensitive topic to discuss in America or just period. We all know in The United States that there has been history of slavery due to the slave trade starting in the 1400s. But there is a huge unawareness of the entirety of the routes slaves were traded along and the Black population in other locations of the world. During the slave trade 95% of African slaves were transported to Latin America. That includes South America, the Caribbean, and Central America. The other 5% of the African slaves were sent to the North, which is the present day United States of America. With that being said, their are large populations of Black Hispanics/ Latinos. Brazil has the second largest Black population outside of Africa, followed by Colombia with the third largest population of Blacks.

This information seems to be hidden in the Latino community and not spoken of often, so today I am going to speak out about my own personal experiences as a black Hispanic and the hidden secrets that many people try to cover up or hide from mainstream media.

My name is Sessle Sarpy, I am a product of a multicultural family, with African and European/Latin roots. Growing up, I knew I was Black and I knew I was also Hispanic. I am extremely proud of my heritage. My mother's family were from Cuba and the state of Louisiana. My father's family was from  France and also from the state of Louisiana. Essentially, they were Creoles that spoke French and or Spanish, which is very similar to Haitians. I like to consider us, my family, as Caribbeans that settled in the United States. Moving along.... Growing up I noticed that my family came in different colors, some were very light skinned and some were dark. My mother would tell me stories of how her family would say nasty things about her because her skin was darker than her grandmother's. They would say things to my mother such as "go sit your black ass down" and many other hateful things. But when I look at my mother, she is not the same skin tone as a person who is fresh of the boat from Africa, meaning that she is not "dark as midnight" as some people would say. This just shows that having any skin tone darker than "light skin" was considered bad or ugly. Growing up, as a little girl my mother was taught to always marry someone with lighter skin so she could have beautiful kids. This sick mentality is referred to as "Avanzar La Raza" which means to advance the race and make your family "lighter". After my mother met my father, who was half black & half French. She married and had 5 children. However, from then on she did not like to bring us around her family because of how racist they could be towards people of darker skin. My great great grandmother did not want to hold my older brother when he was a baby just because he was not "light skinned". This shows how sick and twisted people can be. So my mother took us away from her family and raised us not to spread hate nor be ashamed of having skin that is darker than "Mulatto" (black/white).

Now that I gave you all a brief history on certain parts of my family, I want to get into the topic of recent events in the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic shares an island with the country of Haiti. It is located in the Caribbean. Dominicans speak Spanish, and Haitians speak French. During the 1400's African slaves were taken to the island of Hispaniola after the Natives were dying off due to weakness and becoming ill from the diseases Europeans brought to the country. Thus, the reason for having African slaves. Over the years Spain invaded one side of the island, where as France invaded the other side. This divided the island in two parts. Rafael Trujillo, a ruler of the Dominican Republic started a racial Genocide by killing off anyone with African roots and revoking rights from anyone who looked "black." Of course, this put fear among the people of the country because the majority of the population is black. So in order to protect themselves, the history of white washing started to effect the island because being "dark" was "bad", and those who were dark would be considered dirty, ugly, and thugs who had no rights. So, in order to adapt to this new sickening law. Dominicans became brain washed, thus leading to the chemical perming of Afro hair, the bleaching of skin to appear more white and the hatred for Haitians.

In present day Dominican Republic these actions are still in full effect. It is considered unprofessional to have Afro Hair. The women who work in banks, or any other professional setting, are forced to cooperate with weekly benefits of going to the salon to keep their hair permed and straight. To Dominicans, this makes them look more European, more rich, and less "black" because they have straight hair thus giving them better opportunities. Today, in the year 2015, the genocide has returned. Right now, in the Dominican Republic anyone who has "Haitian blood" is now in the risk of being deported and having their rights revoked. Some claim this is because Haitians are bringing problems to the island such as crime. Let us not be quick to sugar coat this. This is happening because the population of Haitians are majority African descendants and the people of the Dominican Republic are tired of being a country of majority black or African people.. So in order to get rid of the blacks they are targeting anyone who is of dark skin. People are hiding their families because it is not safe. But what everyone seems to forget or pay attention to is that Dominicans and Haitians share the EXACT same African blood that has been there for centuries since the 1400s. But Dominicans were taught self hatred thus leading the culture to be tainted.

My older sister is married to a Dominican and they now have a son who is Dominican from my brother-in-law and Cuban from our bloodline. Meeting the Dominicans of my family was interesting because of course, we were discriminated against but we were all the same skin color. There is no difference. The other thing that separated us was that our ancestors and family came from Cuba, a different island in the Caribbean. For years my sister was mistreated by her in-laws because of her hair. My sister is beautiful, she has freckles all over her face with big curly reddish-brown Afro hair. She embraces our African roots because my mom taught us to love every drop of blood that runs through our veins. Now that I have a nephew who is of Dominican heritage, should we teach him the ways of Dominicans? Should we lead him down the path of self hatred and dislikes of anyone who is dark skinned? Of course not.

The issues that are going on in Latin America against people of African roots has been swept underneath the rug for far too long. Africans have contributed so much to our culture. It is just ridiculous for anyone of Caribbean Latino or African decent to deny who they are. The way we speak Spanish is because of Africans. If you listen to a Mexican speak Spanish as compared to a Cuban, Puerto Rican, or Dominican, it sounds completely different. This is because of our African roots. Salsa music originates from Africa and then to Cuba from the African slaves. My Cuban heritage is heavily influenced by not only Spain, but by Africans. This racial colorism, discrimination and ignorance has to STOP. But, the only way to fix this problem is at home. Our families must get educated on the true history behind Latin America and stop living in denial and hatred. Racism is taught, no one is born a racist. No one is born to hate their roots. This has been drilled in the heads of Dominicans since the beginning of their history. My family is not at peace with the issues over on that island, nor we will teach my nephew to hate Haitians or any other person who has African blood. It is going to take hard work to fix centuries of hatred but it can be stopped if our parents are willing to teach us about our REAL history. This is not to generalize all Black Hispanics and put them into a category and claim that they are all brain washed, because I know many Afro Latinos who embrace all of their heritage. But, the point of this is to educate and inform people on their history and how things started in our culture. This will help to erase the non sense just like my mother did with me. Knowledge is power and education is key. In order to succeed and get further in life we must first know who we are and were we come from, so that we will know where we must go!

Thank you all for stopping by The Great Change today! Make sure to check out our new book The American Alien today!

Guest Writer: Braxton Gately

The recent act of terrorism in Charleston, South Carolina, has re-ignited a national debate that has been simmering on and off for the past few decades, that is, the question of whether or not the Confederate battle flag should be flown above South Carolina’s State House. Proponents of keeping the flag argue that it symbolizes “Southern heritage,” and it should not be taken down. Their opponents argue that the flag is offensive to many, and, as such, should be removed. Some of the things I’m going to say won’t apply to the South at large - only Texas, but most of what I say will be applicable to the South as a whole.

            Many people in the South - and some in the North - remain fascinated with the Confederate General Robert E. Lee. Certainly, there were some large downsides to his legacy. He was a slaveholder who, on at least one occasion, supervised the horrendous whipping of runaway slaves. However, there is considerable evidence that he changed his mind about slavery, and, by the time of his death, he was utterly opposed to the practice. I suspect that many of the people seeking to keep the Confederate flag flying from the state capitol in South Carolina are fans of General Lee. How striking it is, then, that they fail to follow his advice regarding the usage of Confederate symbolism following the Civil War. When a woman wrote him a letter asking what she should do with her flag, his reply was short and to the point: “Fold it up and put it away.”

            Lee recognized that healing from the war and from the atrocity of slavery could only come through a swift and amicable reunification of the states. In another letter, speaking of how Southerners should treat Yankees after the war, he stated, “It should be the object of all to avoid controversy, to allay passion, give full scope to reason and to every kindly feeling. By doing this and encouraging our citizens to engage in the duties of life with all their heart and mind, with a determination not to be turned aside by thoughts of the past and fears of the future, our country will not only be restored in material prosperity, but will be advanced in science, in virtue and in religion.” Healing will not come as long as there is division. At the end of the day, given the fractured history of race relations in this nation, a piece of cloth is not worth it.

            For my fellow Texans - I understand the desire to celebrate (predominantly white) “Southern heritage.” I get it. It’s in our DNA. The ideals of honor, chivalry, politeness, friendliness, and graciousness are to be applauded, and are all part of the heritage of a proper Southerner. That being said, we do not need a divisive symbol such as the Confederate flag to symbolize these noble traits, or our “heritage.” We have our own symbols of our rich history, the most predominant being the Lone Star flag, the state flag of Texas, which, last time I checked, was not offensive to a large group of people. The single star on the flag is said to represent the unity of all Texans - regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, etc. Our heritage would be better served by choosing to use the Lone Star flag, the state flag of Texas, as a way to remind us of our roots.

            A final point before I end this post: no one is saying that private people cannot fly the Confederate flag on their own private property (I, personally, think that people ought to make a rule of avoiding that practice), and no one is suggesting we simply forget the South’s role in the Civil War. Rather, the argument is over whether or not a divisive symbol ought to be flown over a government building. The purpose of the government should never be to divide; it should be, primarily, to unify. We are reaching a dangerous tipping point in this country, a fork in the road, as it were. One fork leads to unity and equality for all; the other leads to a country that will be divided, once again, along racial lines. Given some of the recent tragedies involving the shootings/strangling/otherwise killings of African Americans in the US, the time for the removal of the flag has come, and, frankly, it should have been folded up and put away long ago. Keeping the flag up serves no purpose other than to divide the nation - that’s what the shooter in Charleston (who I will not dignify by mentioning his name) wanted. We cannot let him win. A multicolored scrap of cloth is not worth it. 

Guest Writer: Christian Briones

Our first lady Michelle Obama gave the commencement address at the historic Oberlin College this memorial day. Our first lady was introduced as “inspiring role model, an advocate for poverty awareness, access to higher education and healthy living, lawyer, civic leader.” Michelle Obama was named Doctor of Humanities by Oberlin preceding her commencement address. Oberlin college was the first institution in higher learning in America to grant bachelors degrees to women, and the first to embrace the admission of black students since its foundation in 1833. 1833. That’s 30 years before President Abraham Lincoln issued the emancipation proclamation, and 87 years before women gained the right to vote in this country. You’re encouraged to read those last two sentences again. Indeed an ineffably tremendous honor to give the commencement address at such a prestigious, revolutionary institution.

Michelle Obama’s speech was empowering and challenging to anyone with a passionate heart and mind to see the world become a better place. I will proceed to present what I perceived to be the highlights of her speech along with some commentary of my own.

Her words about the dismay that one experiences “outside these walls” resonated deeply in my being. She encouraged the graduates to run to the noise and not away from it. She proceeded to tell the story of a leading suffragist Lucy Stone who was Oberlin alum who ran right into the noise. People screamed at, spat on, and threw prayers books at her when she tried to speak. Her opponents declared allowing women to vote was “unnatural.” And would lead to child neglect and all kinds of social ills. Where have I heard those arguments before?

Her speech was not peachy and  romanticized. Indeed, the progress of humanity is incredibly messy business. My knee jerk response to some of what she had to say was distaste. Distaste, because she was honest about human progress. And I don’t have time to wait, I want to see change happen now.

Gridlock was the word that jumped out at me. Gridlock. Gridlock. Gridlock. Gridlock. Gridlock is what I experience when I’m outside of the safe haven of like-minded people at Brite Divinity. This is what I experience at my job as a youth pastor when I try and explain to a group of energetic young students. That sexism is about subverting patriarchy and androcentrism. Therefore gender discrimination is something only women experience. Heterosexism is about the marginalization of and violence towards sexual minorities therefore people who identify as straight cannot experience heterosexism. And on that same note, the conversation of racism is about subverting white supremacist consciousness that many today are unaware they have. Saying white people experience racism would be almost like saying straight people experience heterosexism. Or that people who fit into kinesthetic norms experience ableism. Those statements would be asinine, because those words do not belong in the same sentence. And then *blank stares* Gridlock.

Gridlock is what I experience after I leave the pulpit and people are angry that I condemned the unjust and corrupt “criminal justice system” where police officers can get away with murder. As long the person who they murdered was a minority and “their life was in danger.” I can’t comprehend how that upsets people. There has yet to be a time in America when white people with some kind of state sanctioned power are not taking the lives of racial minorities and not being prosecuted. When people read history books 50 years from now they will see that systemically, not much change happened between 2015 and 1960. If you think I’m wrong, ask yourself how you feel about the progress made America made for black people following the emancipation proclamation in 1863 and the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950’s and 60’s. Although, in my opinion, it was a lot of progress, it was minimal. Blacks went from slaves and property to slightly human - on a good day. Thankfully, we’re beginning to see glimpses of justice for people In the black community, but I predict things will get worse before they get better. I pray I’m wrong.

People will read everything I just wrote, and after I have run out of words, passion and intellectual capacity and they will still argue with me. Then, I will proceed to question whether anything I’m standing for is worth my being. Gridlock.

Back to Michelle Obama.

She reminded the graduates of Dr. King and his colleagues who faced fire hoses and dogs, insults and assaults and beatings for their cause, and of the 1 woman at the Seneca Falls Womens Suffrage Convention in 1848, who lived to see women cast their votes.

All of those brave women who fought for their cause, all of them but one lived to see their victory. Countless lives of people in the black community were taken during the days of Dr.King and his movement. Human progress is painfully slow. Anyone who has hopes and dreams to see the world change for the better must accept the reality that your efforts more than likely not be seen in your lifetime. Maybe not even in your children’s lifetime. Your hopes and dreams may very well go to the grave with you.

Michelle Obama claimed that change happens in increments. Little by little. How bitingly frustrated and angry this truth makes me. Another thing she said that made me uncomfortable was that the graduates would have to make some “painful compromises.” Compromise? She lost me. I’m too passionate and too committed to the causes that I’m committed to. I can’t compromise. Can we? Should we?

Lucy Stone spent most of her life advocating for partial suffrage. She had to compromise. Because she knew full suffrage for women in her context was simply too radical and too controversial. After much scrutiny FDR eventually agreed to a social security plan that only covers 60% of workers in America.

She went on to ask if they were sellouts and traitors to their cause. My answer: Absolutely. Michelle Obama: “I don’t think so.” I deeply appreciate her humility. She claimed that If those leaders could just get everyone to take that first step then folks would keep moving in the right direction. Even if was painfully slow. Week after week. Season after season. Year by year. Decade after decade. Generation by generation.

A childhood friend of mine of whom I was the best man in his wedding is a Marine and believes America is the Kingdom of God. Not literally, but pretty much. He believes in the goodness and righteousness of law enforcement and that everyone who has ever been murdered by the police has gotten what she or he deserves. He believes that probably just as passionately as I think that’s the biggest load of shit since that of the sick triceratops in Jurassic Park. I love my friend no less today than I did than when he we were in grade school. And I know he would say the same about me.

In the real world their are people believe differently than you. And Michelle Obama speaks a truth when she says “You can’t shut them out.” They’re people too. And we have to learn to share the cosmos. As much as I enjoy being around like-minded people, it’s detrimental to not get caught up in my ego and my ideologies and still have the grace to give all people their humanity.

Michelle Obama reminded us that all of our heroes compromised in some way or another. I despise that thought. But it’s true. Prophets are from another time, and they must have the wisdom to recognize the times that they wish to bring into the present are simply out of reach. They have not arrived, and probably won’t in her/his lifetime. However, they must continue to pave the way for what can and will be one day.

“…These are the revolutions of your time and you have as much responsibility and just as much power to wake up and play your part in our great American story because it is absolutely still possible to make a difference...The great moments in our history are not decades in our past, they’re happening right now, today, in our lifetime.” She says.

She begins to close her speech by encouraging the graduates to be involved in elections and be aware of who in office both locally and nationally. “Get out and vote in every election,” she says. I’m cynical about offices of power in our country, both republican and democrat, so I don’t dabble too much with voting, but as Michelle reminded that graduates, “You don’t get be cynical.” Although there is plenty to be cynical about perhaps I’ll begin to think more deeply about how offices in power can be avenue by which things are accomplished. I feel defeated, and hopeless a lot of times and therefore I can’t fully accept Michelle Obama’s statement that the “overwhelming majority of people in this country are open-minded and big hearted…”I don’t know if it is because I spent some of the most formative years of my life around fundamentalist Christians, but that just hasn’t been true in my life, nor do I feel like it’s true for this country historically. I feel like her speech only pointed out how close-minded, and uncompassionate people are and have been in this country.

Trying to change the world is messy business. There’s nothing romantic about it. And I applaud Michelle Obama for being a truth teller. Not that I like what she said, because I don’t. Because I want the freedom and equality of all human beings and the eradication of injustice to be a more romantic and flowery task, but it’s furthest from that. I and anyone else who desire to fight for a better humanity must accept this truth.

Our first lady is an impressive woman. I deeply appreciate Michelle Obama and her words to the Oberlin graduates on Memorial Day. Her truthful, honest, and authentic speech that I, for one wasn’t ready for, but needed to hear, reminded us of the dirty, messy, painstaking, excruciating, never-ending, maddening work of making the world a better place.

What she had to say reminded to the graduates and all that there is hope in the midst of hopelessness, and that although things may not seem like they’re worth fighting for they certainly are. Michelle Obama reminded us of the ugliness and gridlock we’re all getting ourselves into and probably won’t be able to get out of, but empowered us to get into it anyway. Because it is worth it. We desperately needed to hear that.

Thanks Obama. Michelle, of course.

Guest Writer: Raymon Stewart

Off the Dome

Do Better...

US Code Title 4 Chapter 1 Section 8: RESPECT the FLAG.
The United States Flag does not represent any one race, color, or social upbringing. The flag waves like a heart beats, and as it is raised to the highest peak showing broad, bold stripes and fifty stars, it represents freedom, opportunity, the right of justice, and perseverance. With the increased injustice against young minority populations, primarily African-American males, or do I dare say BLACK males, there has been an increased violation of a piece of cloth symbolizing the land we live on. The actions of the people are understood - they want justice, they want fairness, they want to believe that when their child walks out the door they will hear their voice again. The problem here is not the public gatherings or the peaceful protests; the problem here is a disgusting display of ignorance shown at these turnouts by burning the AMERICAN flag, stomping on the AMERICAN flag, DESTROYING the AMERICAN flag. The fabric showing the strength of almost 4 million square miles is abused at almost every rally after the death of a young man. Portrayed on social media as a message, they yell, “We do not care about white America!” There is no white America. America is a casserole dish served with many different condiments. The flag should be shown with pride. We are AMERICA, the country that has never lost a war, the country that gives an opportunity to everyone, the strongest country on the Earth. While we have had a major setback in the area of racism, all people must continue to remember the basis our country is built on. Reminisce on the vigor the nation has and see it has come very far for such a young establishment. The United States has reached great heights because the flag is true and the morals it represents are held very high. The AMERICAN flag does not deserve the treatment it has been receiving lately. There is no punishment for destroying the flag improperly because it would go against the 1st Amendment; however, it is disrespectful to those before us who sacrificed for justice and freedom. The slander of something the nation holds so high not only shows the ignorance of those participating but also shows the weakness of our nation.

A quote from the head of strongest country in the world...

“My fellow Americans, we are and always will be a nation of immigrants. We were strangers once too”

-Barack Obama 

Guest Writer: Taylor Isom

Hello Valued Readers!

We here at The Great Change love to provide material that has meaning to a wide variety of audiences and will provide clairty on subjects that will further reader's experiences after taking in each post. I am honored to introduce our next guest writer that has embodied the essence of The Great Change's mission, Taylor Isom. Ms. Isom, age twenty-one, grew up in a small city called Saginaw, Texas, where she graduated from Saginaw High School. Here she played varsity soccer and served as a captain. After graduation she found herself at Dallas Baptist University where she is currently a senior pursuing a Masters in Kinesiology and minor in Management. Her walk with Christ as been challenged, blessed, and strengthened. She participates in the International Soccer Ministry at DBU twice a week and works part time in a physical therapy clinic as well as soccer skills training with Global Futbol Training.

Enjoy this enlightening piece below, I sure did!

What Does Your Heart Say?

Nobody knows for sure what exactly will happen at the judgment seat of Christ. I mean, we understand that God will “judge” us individually and then of course we will either go “up” or we will go “down”. But how does He judge us? If you’re not able to catch my drift, let’s just say you definitely want to be going up!

Some time ago I was eavesdropping on a conversation, total invasion of privacy, I know. However, I heard some talk about sin, the different levels of sin and their consequences when we get to the Judgment seat of Christ. I thought to myself, there are no different levels of sin when we get to the judgment seat of Christ. God does not see “this” sin to be greater than “that” sin. They are simply tally marks on a chalkboard. One mark could be a little white lie and the next could be a murder. Crazy, I know right? So why can we not strive to see things from God’s eyes? Are we not made to be Christ-like? Regardless of the sin that takes place, you’re already forgiven. Those who repent and confess their sins before God, well, they’re solid! The Lord is no hypocrite and he would never ask us to partake in anything He has not already. Luke 17:5 says “And if he sins against you seven times saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him” Therefore, when you sin and repent to Christ, do you really think He is going to turn His back on you?

What you do or do not do as far as your actions is not what He is judging. He is listening to the consciousness of your heart. 1 Corinthians 4:5 says this, “Therefore don’t judge anything prematurely, before The Lord comes, who will both bring to light what is hidden in darkness and reveal the intentions of the hearts…” It did not say the “actions” of; it said the “intentions”. The difference between those going to heaven and those who are not, is the intentions of their hearts. So many people do not understand what a simple concept this is. The armed robber who went to jail for holding eight hostages and murdering one is going to heaven. However, the woman at work who steals her coworker’s desserts everyday may not get so lucky. That’s just it though, it has nothing to do with luck. The robber might of gone to jail for his actions here on earth, but later he ran to Christ in repentance, confessed what he did was wrong with a genuine heart and asked for forgiveness. Unlike the woman at work who is just happy everyday she still has yet to get caught red handed. Acts 3:19 says “Therefore repent and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped out, that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord”

Say whaaaaaat!?!? You mean all I have to do is tell God what I did and I’m forgiven? Just like that? 

Well, Yeah actually, provided you mean it from the heart as oppose to lip service. With repentance comes forgiveness! I mean, why else would Jesus have died on the cross, for fun? Yeah, right!

Will you go up, or will you go down?

What does your heart say?

Guest Writer: Mawen Maywin

Hello Valued Readers!

The Great Change is joyously overwhelmed to introduce its latest guest writer, Mawen Maywin. Mawen is a poetic bibliophile who loves to write about his many passions. He manages the blog God University, located at goduniversity.blogspot.com. Mawen is the Vice President of the Black Students Association and a staff reporter and photographer for The Brand at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. Also, Mr. Mawyin is a Computer Science Major with a minor in Buisness. He has an immense passion for people, music, technology and space

Enjoy his piece below!

The Human Imagination

“The best horror story is the one you make up within your own mind.”

― M. Maywin

Imagination - the faculty or action of forming new ideas, or images or concepts of external objects not present to the senses.

Have you ever had an intense day dream or vision, and felt like you were actually living out that dream or vision for a little while? What if I told you that everything you imagine is real in another dimension somewhere?

As a kid, like many other kids I had a phobia of the dark, I was afraid to death of the dark. I would always either sleep with my face under the covers, or with some sort of light source on. But after the lights come on I realize that there was never really anything there to be afraid of except for my own imagination. As I got older I began to realize that fear was only a product of my own imagination and nothing else.

I cannot stress enough the importance of optimism which is the opposite of fear, optimism is actually using your imagination in a positive and non-fearful way.

When reading a book or a piece of writing without any illustrations, I find that the image or movie that is generated by my imagination is always better than any movie or illustration that someone could of created because it is my own unique interpretation of the text.

When watching a movie based on a book that I’ve previously read I am often shocked by the drastic differences between my imaginary illustration and the production.

We have created our own images of god and the devil using our imaginations, why do you think that god has no real identity and neither does the devil. No pun intended but the way I see it, the human Imagination is like a vibrational translation or interpretation of your true desires and fears.

For further reading from Mr. Maywin visit his blog at goduniversity.blogspot.com!

Guest Writer: Anita Mercer

Hello Valued Readers!

Today, we here The Great Change, are pleased to introduce to you another guest writer Ms. Anita Grace Mercer. She is a skilled and well-rounded professional with an extensive background in Media relations. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Communications from the Dallas Baptist University, where she is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Sports Management. Over her period of training and work experience she has developed her skills of gathering content, conducting interviews, audio and video editing, producing, and script writing where she served as an Intern for the award-winning Top 5 Market Sports Department of NBC5. Other related accomplishments include Sports Intern at NBC Universal, Production Assistant at ABC, Production Intern at TLC, and Production Assistant at ESPN. Ms. Mercer currently works for Parrish & Associates LLC where she performs clerical and administrative duties and for Cumulus Media where she does promotions for ESPN Radio Dallas (KESN). But most of all Anita is a great friend of mine. Below is her piece, enjoy!

This is a challenge. Don’t dump ice water over your head, post photo collages, record a video of yourself singing, or jump in a pool. This challenge is practical, and you should see an immediate impact as a result of your actions. Be dynamic. It’s that simple.

The word dynamic is defined in Webster’s dictionary as the following:

Marked by usually continuous and productive activity or change or something that causes change or growth in something else.

We each have a sphere of influence. And by sphere of influence I’m referring to the people that you do life with. The people you interact with on a daily basis whether in person or on social media. Be dynamic within your sphere of influence.

Three simple ways you can be dynamic everyday:

1. Be Informed

Know what is going on in the world and the lives of those of those around you. You cannot be effective in your effort to be dynamic if you are not informed.

2. Be Intentional and Selfless

When figuring out what it means to be dynamic in relation to your life, take the time to figure out what you can contribute to your sphere of influence. You have unique gifts, resources and talents. Stop to evaluate what they are and how they can be used to help others. Lastly, be selfless and put others first when thinking through how you can contribute.

3. Be About It

Sometimes this means holding your family member or friend accountable when you see them on the path to doing something wrong. Church mission trips and community projects. Sometimes this means dropping off bottled water to your local fire department as a gesture of appreciation. Writing a thank you note to someone who has helped you get where you are. Volunteering and spending time with the youth in your community. These are all practical ways you can be dynamic.

Being dynamic is not difficult. We have to be good stewards of the blessings God has given us. You can make a difference.

We have to challenge each other to grow. Complacency is unacceptable. Be courageous, and do something dynamic today.

*Writers Note: This was originally going to be an Opinion Editorial about the shooting of Michael Brown. But, plenty of those have already been written. People need a plan for action. This challenge gives you step-by-step instructions for how you can change the world around you on a daily basis.*

For any contact information on Anita Grace Mercer visit her website: www.thegracemercer.com

Guest Writer: Jade Ware

Hello Valued Readers!

The Great Change is honored to introduce it's first Guest Writer, Jade Ware. Ms. Ware is an intern for PeopleFund. She majors in Exercise Science at University of Texas at Austin. Other qualifications of Ms. Ware are Student Ambassador for UT Office of Admissions, Black Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneurship Officer and CEO of The Origin Brand Clothing & Apparel. Aside from these accolades, Jade is a dear friend of mine. Below is her piece that she has given for enlightenment.

The Proof is in the Pudding

Two years ago I was sitting in my freshman college dorm room plotting with my friends a way to make a pile of cash before we graduated from college. How would we take what we learned in the classroom and translate that into currency? Being black and only four percent of the population at a PWI in the state of Texas, we are expected to succeed at every corner of opportunity. To prove that affirmative action is no hand out and that we deserve access to the same types of educational opportunities. Reflecting back on my eighteen year old self I realize every part of my existence was monetary or material with no true concept of reality. Before I received the conscious message of what it means to be black or brown in this country, it soon struck me that my efforts to change the world would require wealth outside of dollars and cents. I started to study and dig for the history of my people before we were packed on ships and sold into bondage; I wanted to understand the secrets of capitalism and why it has such a captivating hold on the economic security of people who look like me. I wanted answers. I wanted the truth. I soon began listening to the teachings of Marcus Garvey and The Black Star Line, W.E.B. Du Bois and his efforts to educate black people. From the movers and shakers who came before me I understood that I needed to know how to effectively paint with all the colors of the rainbow to create a picture clear enough for my people to see. International travel was the only answer to my findings. For myself to blaze the trails my ancestors once traveled, to experience people in other countries underneath the surface. I traveled to Europe when I was sixteen and at the time it was just a cool experience that awoke in me the desire to travel but it didn’t quite unravel the need for me to understand the history of black people before neocolonism. As a senior in college I understand how important it is for me to experience the world NOW with my head on straight. To document my experiences about the food, culture, cuisine, politics, socialism, and etc... in the countries I visit; and for me to be a walking gallery of human interaction and truth. I aspire to touch and heal lives, to be an entrepreneur of social good, and to change the international perspective of my people one photo, one story, and one country at a time.

For Contact Information Jade Ware can be reached at TheOrginBrand@gmail.com