We Wear The Mask!

Home of the Afraid! Land of the Enslaved! This is AMERICA! At least that's how it is for US.

It is Monday, June 15, 2020 and we are still screaming #blacklivesmatter! To answer your question: is racism still alive? Open your Eyes and STOP IGNORING US! Yes it is! Newsflash... Racism will NEVER DIE! Why you say? Because racism is taught and you will always have those who just will never accept change! But what we can do is place our focus on those who do want and who are searching for actionable change! Not just talk! Just like a racist was taught to hate, we can teach him/her to learn to love themselves again.

My name is Harold McIntyre and I'm an entrepreneur, writer, a self-published author, and a poet but more importantly, I'm also a lightworker and an empath but not just any empath. I'm an Heyoka Empath, which means 'Sacred Clown' and I care about YOU! And it gives me utter joy to help in any way inspire, motivate and help educate all souls to be their true-authentic self and to be more empathetic with others and with themselves. Because that is exactly what the world needs today!

As you can already tell by the title it's way overdue to have those very uncomfortable yet empowering conversations about racism not just here in the United States but worldwide. For the past three weeks now the world has been shaken to its core! And it feels like some of us are numb or just "going through the motions." Or maybe that's just me! I hate "beating a dead horse" as we say in the South but it is what it is! And if you are tired of us talking about how another black boy/girl, man/woman was brutally murdered at the hands of the ones whom are suppose to protect us then think about how we must feel! And if you can do that then you are a very empathetic person. But there lies the problem. Most people are not empathetic and frankly don't give a shit if another black person is hung or killed in the public's eyes or not! And that is the harsh truth and it fuckin' hurts! But it is what it is!

So why do I believe or feel that racists are nothing but bullies? Because I've dealt with racists and bullies all of my life. So let's first define what a racist and a bully are. By definition, a racist is defined as a person who FEELS discrimination or prejudice against people of other races, or who believes that a particular race is superior to another. So are you a racist? But I believe a racist is someone who hates or fears another person or group based solely on the color of their skin or bias. So again are you a RACIST? Think about it! Now, what is a bully? By definition, a bully is someone who habitually seeks to harm or intimidate those whom they perceive as vulnerable and/or weak! Are you a bully? I believe a bully is someone who hates him or herself, lacks self-love, empathy, compassion, and sees in someone else what they see in themself. So instead of telling that person because he/she is afraid of the outcome, they choose to hurt the person because they want the individual or group to hurt even more than they do. So are you a bully, been bullied, or know someone who is a bully? So doesn't it sound like racists and bullies are one in the same, right? And why do racists and bullies do what they do? And how can we as a collective help them?

Most racists and bullies are very clever! But you have to ever more clever than them. So how do we beat them at their own game? Just like anything else. There is nothing but solutions and you can either get up in the morning and look at your life and the day as an obstacle or an opportunity. You get to decide.

Before we talk about how to deal with racists and bullies, can I share a story with you and why I started my journey of self-love? You see I used to be a racist and a bully myself. But instead of hating and bullying others I chose to hate and bully myself. Because I can't find it in my heart to hurt or bully another person. That's just not who I am! Growing up in the South, Alabama to be exact, I always knew I was "different" than most but I never thought that it mattered. Because in my eyes we are all the same! But as I grew older I began to feel and see that we are not all the same! Some of us get up in the morning and put on masks while some of us just put on makeup in hopes no one will see the pain we are so desperately trying to hide. And if this is you, allow me to be real with you! You don't have to keep wearing that mask because one day you will have to take it off. No one can hide forever because what's done in the dark will eventually come to light. I wish I was one of those who were only bullied as a child for the sole reason of not looking like everyone else but everyday it was for something different. Either I wasn't black enough, white enough, or straight enough! So everyday I had to put not one but three different masks on. And it was so tiring and depressing! But I had to do what I had to do to survive! Putting on a fake smile everyday just so I could hide my pain. But you're going to be surprised when I tell you who did the majority of the bullying! Yes, I am a proud, black man who just happens to love all people and I now realize that makes a lot of people uncomfortable but I could care less about what anybody thinks about me. But almost every person who hated and bullied me was not the white man but the black man! So let's debunk that notion that blacks can't be racist. Yes, people of color are racists! And that's a whole 'notha can of worms that we will delve into at a later time. And until this day I still can't seem to figure out how the ones closest to you can hate you so much! But that's life and that's the way it is. But then I realized that those who hate you actually hate themselves, not YOU!

So I continue to hear people ask "What can I do" or "What Am I supposed to say" to help those who are hurting of suffering right now? My advice to you is this:

1. Help yourself first. Because you can't help anyone if you aren't fully healed yourself. Don't add fuel to the fire. Be Respectful and show them how you care. Talk is Cheap! But if you can't do anything, find a simple way to inspire, encourage and uplift your brother and sisters!

2. Become more self-aware! Be more empathetic and that means to really place yourself in that person or group's shoes at all costs and try to feel what they are feeling. It's truly empowering and life-changing! Why is this so important? Because it could easily be you one day going through the same exact thing!

3. Be Genuine and Authentic. Stop judging others who don't look, talk, or live like you! Because while you are silently judging someone, someone is silently judging you! Trust me, your judgment day is coming too!

4. Help/Learn from someone else who is different from you. You'll be surprised at what you thought you knew after you help someone or just listen to someone else's struggles. Isn't that what it's all about?

5. Learn to trust yourself and others more! Because when you really think about it. Why do some people really hate? It's usually because of fear and trust. They don't trust themselves or others and most fear what they don't know.

6. You must Love yourself first! This is probably the most logical reason why I believe most people hate. They just don't know how to love themselves. Most don't love who or what they see when they look in the mirror. So if you don't love you first, don't expect anyone to ever love you! But always have high expectations, no matter what! So it's up to you to do that inner work and learn to love yourself again. Because no one is going to do it for you! And no one is coming to save you! But I do know that when you truly start to love who you really are both inside and out, then the universe will bring all the right people to you! You won't have to do anything but that! Love YOU!

So to anyone who is hurting right now, please know that this too shall pass and one more thing: It Gets Better!

Remember there is only one race, the human race!