"REALLY"

Another edition of "REALLY". This time it is staring the First Lady. As an African American woman, she was speaking to the NAACP. She goes on a rant about how America is unequal, and this is why black Americans are disadvantaged. Where to start…

I agree with the first lady when she states that America is unequal. I was raised unequally too (and I am as white as can be). Raised one of five by a single mother who married not one, but two scum bags (sorry mom… I love you and not blame you). These two gentlemen (cough, cough) left her to raise these children by herself. These children sometimes didn’t know where the next meal was coming from. They didn’t have electric some days, nor water on others because she had to make choices of what was most important. Feeding us won out. We lived in substandard housing at times. We wore used clothes. She had to work to provide for us, so we didn’t get the attention she would have liked to given us. This meant we went to school without the foundation we probably needed. We didn’t get the much needed kick in the butt that other kids with two parents received. She provided for us the best she could. This however made us disadvantaged and we started out life behind others. But the great thing about this country is we can start out “unequal” but with hard work, determination, and good choices, you can overcome your inequity.

Many American’s start out disadvantaged, but you stay that way because of bad choices you made. My mother (really no ill intent or condemnation here) made bad choices by falling in love with two worthless men. Again, I don’t condemn her for that, just a statement of fact. The genetic donors for me and my siblings made the choice that it was a better to go have fun rather than raise their responsibilities. This was a poor choice by both. They also didn’t see the need to financially support their offspring. These choices made my family “unequal” to others. We were looked on as not as good or “White Trash” if you may. We didn’t fit in. We started life a step (or more) behind others. Somebody give me a crying towel. I could have used this all as an excuse to get on welfare, commit violent crimes, sell drugs, beat my baby momma and kids, steal cars, and have 10 different kids by 10 different females. I; as my siblings, chose to overcome our inequity and make a better life for ourselves. Has it been easy, no? Have we fallen backwards at times, yes? Have all my siblings made bad choices at times, yes? Did we ever give up, no?

Good choices have a profound effect on where you wind up. My mother had to make very good choices too. “Do I work and set a positive example for my children, or do I sit back and collect a check from the government.” My mother chose to work and by doing so created a very strong work ethic in us. “Do I whore around and bring every Tom, Dick, and Harry home to sleep in my bed, or do I set a positive moral example for my children.” My mother chose to set a proper example for us. She also had the choice to sit back and blame her position in life on others, or admit her mistakes and move on trying to correct and live up to the responsibilities created by them. She chose the latter. And probably the greatest choice she made was to instill a strong work ethic in her children so that they could provide for themselves and no at the end of the day their fate lies in their hands.

So Ms. First Lady, please do not preach about inequity, because it is falling on death ears with me. This is especially true because I know you can overcome it.

Peace!
O-Man