[TUCKER]

Occasionally I am invited to address a gathering of unlikeminded individuals to present my point of view on the state of Black progress, as I know it. Some seek to learn. Some seek to teach me. Some seek to ridicule. I am open to them all and relish each and every comment as a stepping stone to a preconceived destination of my choosing. The following is an excerpt from one such recent exchange.

Once upon a time I selfishly and naievly thought every slave wanted to be free. That was history as it was taught to me in the educational environment of various levels of schools. As I progressed through the journey that was to become my life, I learned that this, tragically, was not the case at all. I thought of KUNTA KINTE in ROOTS who innocently said "FIDDLER, that freedom must be a wonderful thing!" For some I suppose it is, but for just as many others the relevant question was "Now that we's free, what we gwine do?" Sadly, that question has just as much relevance today as it did then! That is the shame of the whole thing.

The sacrifices of Black people who dared to dream generations ahead of this one, have been bought, sold and otherwise squandered by the generation that was supposed to be so bright, so smart, so intelligent. The generation that carried the hopes and dreams of a people long gone. The same generation that wasted the opportunites given to them in order for them to have a boost up in the world. Perhaps that is where the problem lies. The importance of just what has/is taking place would be more evident to those who reap the benefits, had they been compelled to do more than hold out an empty hand with expectations that it would be filled by someone else.

To try to answer the question "FREE TO DO WHAT?," with any semblance of common sense, is as futile as trying to answer the question "WHY VOTE?" Those who don't know the answer deserve both and neither!

These are some of the abreviated ramblings of a nonconforming, EVERmilitant, struggling to continue to care!

WHY DON'T YOU?!

to be continued..........

weR1