I Represent Them

"I didn’t have to fear my own community. I represent them. I’m their ambassador to the world. They would never harm me, they would never rob me, they would never do me wrong."

- Tupac Shakur

This Pac interview speaks volumes about the African American community. It’s like he’s saying we are ALL the outcast, the scorned, the shunned… how can any one OF US be AGAINST US? How can we behave as crabs in a barrel? And I believe the only source of this type of “betrayal” is jealousy and greed.

Pac represented the thugs, the n*ggas, the ghetto, the underdog. He had power that stretched through the sound waves of his music and swooped up his audience and embraced them. This man was more than a musician, he was a movement. And you didn’t have to be a fan of his music to be touched. Just like you don't have to be a fan of him as a person to understand the symbolism behind his words.
Our parents reminisce on the times where there was only one barber shop in the neighborhood, one corner store, one laundry mat. When the Black dollar stayed within the Black community and everyone broke bread from that single buck. Then somewhere along the way the next man, our brother, got hungry… maybe even greedy. Yes, we live in a dog eat dog world but at some point the next man’s progression has to be somewhat as important as our own.  We joke around with the greeting, "Hi hater."  And we look at it as if someone is simply jealous of who we are.  But it's so much deeper than someone wanting to be us or wanting what we have.  It's a matter of what the ruthless will do to take it away from us.  "Hating" is a disease rooted with HATE, one of the most dangerous emotions grounded in destruction.  And I'm not insisting we light a bon fire, hold hands and sing Kumbaya.  I'm just trying to bring light to the fire that holds respect and love for humanity... especially within OUR community.

Not much more needs to be said on this point because in that 26 second clip, Pac said it all. I REPRESENT THEM. Very powerful three words!  Try to live by them.  EYEListen.

SB: That daggone strike of midnight keeps forcing my daily post to the next calendar day.  Let's pretend 12am didn't happen yet and today is still Feb 3!! =)

As a matter of Fact!!
February 3:
1903 - Jack Johnson became the first Negro Heavyweight Champion
1981 - The Air Force Academy drops its ban on applicants with sickle cell trait.
1989 - Six time All-Star Bill White was named president of National League.
1999 - Cyber-Youth Network Launch
2007 - Jashan Ali Decosta was born... he's my godson and an important fact to me
2010 - I blogged about my favorite rapper, Tupac Shakur
Who knows this stuff: BlackFacts.com