The Moment Of A Lifetime!

The date, October 16,2005. This will be a momentous moment in time. For better or for worse , this is the TIME. It is the proper time and it is a fulfillment of time. It is time for unity, we will unite or we will die-period. This will be a test and it will not be easy. The "powers that be" will oppose this gathering and celebration of the tenth anniversary of the Million Man March. Even yourself will oppose this march, but it will happen and it will be successful. This will not simply be a march, this will be a new program and call to government to address our needs as they are documented on paper. It will also be a call to unity for all of our disparate lives and beliefs. This will be the ultimate test of the Black community.

We are of the type that when our back is against the wall, we do what it takes to overcome and survive. Our backs are being steadily pushed up against that wall- it ain't gonna stop! WE WILL wake up, but it will be the very last minute as usual. Even then, it wont be everybody, just those with the spirit of truth and faith in what is real. Where do you fall? Unity is the missing link, it is the key, it is something that we have never tried before and it will free us.

Although we may not yet realize it, there is a movement welling up in the streets and communities. It is a call for change. I don't mean talk or programs or committees or research or more non-profits- I mean change for real RIGHT NOW TODAY! October 2005 will be a culmination of world events for the past decade. It will be a climax of all that we have been striving towards for years. It will be a critical time. Where will you be as history is being made once again?

The Sheep-dog: The sheep-dog is a dog raised amongst sheep. He believes he is a sheep, although he is clearly not. The dog is raised to protect the sheep and the interests of the sheep. He will attack other dogs who threaten the sheep. The sheep-dog is a metaphor for the raised American Negro- the Ex-Slave, the Nigga. The cause of the problem of non-unity is that we do not trust one another and we have been trained to look after the interests of the slave master instead of ourselves as a family. Oh yeah, the psychological effects of this training are extremely deep-rooted and have not been eradicated from our collective psyche. My dear brothers and sisters, the time for this silliness is OVER! For those of you who only have the backbone to beg for crumbs from the table, I feel for you. You only need to look at what happens to those of us who speak up and act for the real freedom of the Ex-slave children. Look at how you can be built-up in the American culture, then when you step outside the box too far or take a controversial stand, they crucify you in public. America has never really accepted you, even when you play your role as a sheep-dog faithfully. "They" refers to "it". "It" is a mindset and social system motivated by pure greed and profiteering. "It" is a methodology and a paradigm.

Our progress up from slavery has always been hindered by those forces who capitalize off of weakness, chaos, confusion, poverty, and ignorance. No it is not all of America that codifies "They", but still the machine rolls on. Every other community forms bonds and links to better themselves in this counrty except Blacks. We are taught not to unify. We are told to "join in" and take part in the system, but can't seem to amass enough resources and power to change the conditions of the vast majority of our family. The Hatians have banks, the Latinos have construction locked-down, the Arabs and Pakistanis have clothing locked-down, the Africans have CD's and clothes locked-down, the Koreans and Chinese have convenient stores and beauty products locked-down.... What do we have with all of our civil-rights victories? NOTHING! Don't believe the hype, those few Blacks with a little are Window Dressing.

You think $10,000 is money. You think that big rims and gold teeth are signs of affluence, you are a foolish and lost people, it will take a miracle of God to save you. It is a miracle that is needed and a miracle that I pray for. We all strive to do what we can to get what we can for ourselves and to hell with everybody else. But you don't have %!#%! So how can you help others? We have to unite and pool our wealth. We must get over egos and mistrust. We don't individually have assets so we need to pool. Unity will require sacrifice. Sacrifice of money, time, labor, ego, notoriety, fame, glorification... We must be willing to give a little to get a lot.

The thing I feel most excited about is the Covenant with Black America. This will serve as a Constitution and business plan on a large-collective scale. If we face the situation head-on and look inward instead of outward for the answers, we will be successful. We already have the will, the knowledge, and the resources to do this damn thing, all we need to do is do it. Where will you be when the clock strikes twelve? Where will you be when history is written? Be part of the solution, not part of the problem!

What lies before us is a miraculous moment and gift from the Creator to change our current trends and fulfill our destiny. We will capitalize on this moment in spite of opposition. Unity will not be subverted, not this time. As for the sheep-dogs, I will be watching you.

Peace
Ill Ridgely Shawn