The Stacey Dash controversy is buzzing around the nation like a wild fire. The controversy is about statements she’s made on Fox News regarding, BET NETWORK, BET AWARDS and BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

BET Network has given Black Americans a since of pride since first launching in 1980 on Nickelodeon for two hours a week. In 1983 BET Network became a full-fledge channel which consisted of music videos and reruns of popular BLACK sitcoms. Black Americans were not being seen on most major networks. When you turn on the television and not see people of color represented on any major network that bothers the SOUL of an individual.

BET Awards were established in 2001 by the network to celebrate BLACK Americans and other minorities in music, acting, sports and other fields of entertainment over the past years. Once again, when watching other award shows on major networks and to not see BLACKS be awarded for the hard work they’ve put in is disappointing to say the least.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH is AMAZING. The precursor to Black History Month was created in 1926 with the second week of February to be “Negro History Week.” In 1976 Black History Month was officially recognized by the U.S. government.

Many people think black history should be integrated with US history. I agree, it should be integrated if the TRUTH is to be told. We know from growing up in school, unfortunately the only Black History that was shared in school was SLAVERY.  As we grow older and have more access to resources, we know that blacks were not only slaves. We were KINGS and QUEENS, PRINCE AND PRINCESS.  We were landowners, we were entrpreneurs AND WE STILL ARE.

To sum this up in a nut shell, I believe every race should have their own month to be celebrated in the way they choose. These celebrations bring pride to communities that would other wise be overlooked by our society. These celebrations bring pride to individuals who would other wise not feel valued. When a person feels valued they are more likely to have a profound effect on becoming successful.

KNOWING, MINDFUL AND INFORMED IS THE PATH WE CHOOSE.

Martin Luther King Jr. gave his “I Have a Dream” speech on August 28, 1963.  A few of his dreams were: “his little 4 children will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the  content of their character; sons of former slaves and sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down at the table of brotherhood; little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers. Some of his dreams have partially come to fruition and others are still progressing.

Martin Luther King Jr’s. “I’ve been to the Mountaintop” speech was delivered on April 3, 1968 and he was assassinated on April 4, 1968. In his speech, I see the current state of AMERICA. The WORLD is all messed up. Our NATION is sick. Trouble is in the LAND. CONFUSION is all around us.

When we see injustice, we have to speak up against injustice. We have to have the courage to change the systems that are against us. Some doors will not be opened to you because of your blackness but, we have to kick those doors down to get in and make changes. We are determined to be a people who demand their right place in AMERICA. The days of rhetoric and lip service is over.

Are we committed to change? Are we committed to political change? Are we committed to economical change? We need more VOICELESS people engaged in the political policies.

The Old Negro Spiritual lyrics: “Free at last, Free at last, thank God Almighty were free at last. We can only be free when we have ECONOMICAL FREEDOM AND POLITICAL FREEDOM. We must continue to work together. Things get better when we get involved in our COMMUNITIES.

Honor Martin Luther King’s dream by honoring your dream.

When I think of the color of black folks it’s “BROWN SKIN.” India Arie’s lyrics come to mind: “Brown skin, you know I love your brown skin, I can’t tell where yours begin, I can’t tell where mine ends…etc.

LisaRaye McCoy, co-directecd her first feature film “SKINNED”, which deals with colorism within our black communities. Dark Skin vs Light Skin. The Brown Paper Bag Test. Dividing our race leads us to developing racism within our own communities and truthfully we can’t afford the separation.

Our views on the way we see “BLACK FOLKS” “BROWN SKIN” people goes further back than what we can imagine. The William Lynn speech ( a discussion for another time) is an address purportedly delivered by a certain William Lynch (or Willie Lynch) to an audience on the bank of the James River in Virginia in 1712 regarding control of slaves within the colony. Some say the letter is a hoax, but you be the judge of that. I know most of us have friends of all SHADES OF BROWN and we treat them all the same. Let us not let SOCIETY dictate to us how we should treat one another because of the color of our SKIN….IF HAVING BROWN SKIN IS DAMN DEGRADING THAN WHY IN THE HELL DO WE HAVE ALL OF THESE TANNING SALONS AND PRODUCTS.

OH, BY THE WAY, FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA LOOKED STUNNING TONIGHT IN HER YELLOW DRESS AND BROWN SKIN.

Wake up everybody no more sleeping in bed…when these words run through your mind what do you think?

As I look at our society today and the issues that plagues our communities it seems we’ve rolled back the hands of times to the 1940’s/1950’s. Here we are in the 21st century and we have so much racial tension. Never would I have believed that a white police officer would not be arrested, indicted, or procecuted for killing an unarmed black man…..Tamir Rice, Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Freddie Gray, Oscar Grant and many more. We’ve marched, we’ve protested, we’ve boycotted and we’ve had sit ins. Well, now it’s time to get in and fit in. We can no longer stand by idled and watch our communities be unrepresented in our cities and counties. It’s time for each of us to participate in our city, county and state politics. Get up off your ASSETS and get involved. Someone reading this just said, “I don’t know where to start.” You can start by participating in your local city council meetings. Start going to your local school district meetings. Volunteer at your childs or grandchilds school. Change comes when we demand change. Change comes in your community when you let your local government know the needs of your community. When they don’t hear from your they overlook you. Believe me when I say, if your not interested in your community, there are not interested in your community…..GET INVOLVED I SAY, GET INVOLVED!!!