I’m So Confused
We live in America, right?
In the year 2022, I just heard the Republican’s Upper House Minority Leader rant about how obvious racist policies are to ensure the integrity of the country. I’m a father of three & mentor to others, and I can’t honestly tell those I lead that this country is truly inclusive to nonwhite citizens. What I hope for is the spread of truth. Sad to say America’s truth is an ugly one! Kindness is the easiest act, to me, once you are self-aware. I truly do my best to learn every day, create every day, love every day, & reflect every single day! It’s hard to walk a path of enlightenment and not see beauty in everything! Then you’ll work to nurture that beauty! So, kindness is a given in my lifestyle. I strive to embody these principles and hope my children supersede my ambition. Something I cannot do is lie to anyone I lead, love, or respect. Here are a few reasons it’s hard to be of “African descent” & blindly believe there’s inclusion in the hearts of politicians in America. We can march, sing, destroy cities, and write poems until the cows come home! As long as money controls politics here, black people as a whole are in danger!
Policing:
To provide equal access to opportunities you must first be recognized as equal, right? The phrase “Black Lives Matter” directly shows we as a group feel we are not considered worthy of living in the eyes of this society. After DOCUMENTED killings of children by either police or crazed citizens, the phrase became popular and spread throughout the country as a cry for help. Most white communities were outraged by the notion that police nationwide are systemically racist. It doesn’t matter that data shows this to be fact! It doesn’t matter how much footage becomes available of these acts the police always get the benefit of the doubt. So much so white communities counteract our cries for help with a phrase that makes no sense “Blue Lives Matter”. This weird rallying cry screams privilege since you choose your job but do not choose your skin color at birth. Police are not persecuted in any way in America. Police are well-funded by the government & have perks in the community where they work. Also, they have the power to kill at any moment. I’ve been a black man in America for 37 years and enjoy no help from the government, no perks in my community, & no circumstances are allowed to defend myself without going to jail! If the country as a whole can’t agree we need police reform and a better way of hiring police, why would I strive for equal footing before the concept that I’m not equal is addressed?
Policies or lack thereof:
The Asian Hate Crime Bill was passed only after a few months of reports of Asians being attacked by racists during the COVID-19 pandemic. The government should protect the citizens who voted them in but hate crimes against blacks in America are a staple of culture like baseball! For years certain representatives have tried to get laws passed making lynching a federal crime to no prevail. What was announced the same week as the Asian Hate Crime Bill? Juneteenth is now a federal holiday. A day that shows that parts of the country will define the government to be racist is now a holiday. Lynching is primarily done to black people since slavery times. It would seem like a slam-dunk move to outlaw this notion, right? Lately, southern states have made local policies to make voting more difficult for black people. The Senate can’t agree on making sure voting is fair for all citizens, politicizing our rights, and fanning the flames of racism. Another notion of unworthiness towards nonwhites in this country!
Conclusion:
I’m not sure where the country is headed. Corporations have more control over the country than ever before. Communication among communities is key to our growth as a society. Learning each other’s differences and embracing other cultures will make us a true nation! We have to make our news, social commentary, and accolades. Waiting for inclusion from someone who wants to capitalize on you is not smart! This is a capitalistic society, and it feels like 9/11 all over again! During the Bush Administration, inclusive notions were all over the place to hide nefarious war crimes. Not to say the younger generations aren’t inclusive because they are but the problem is people in power! So, to be truly on equal footing, which is balance, we have to cut off the evil factions of American society. I’ve never heard someone say they like a place where the bad outweighs the good. For a lot of black people in America, that’s a reality—unbalanced circumstances.
About the Creator
Richard Lee Scruggs III
From the slums of Chicago, born & raised
In the projects is were I spend most of my days! Surviving & striving never relaxing the cops were so rude
The teachers didn’t really care so I did most of my learning outside of the school 🤷🏿
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The Mighty Glenn
To my dearest friend, The summer of 1998 was a weird one for me. I was 14 years old back then, so I didn’t truly understand how I longed for structure in my life. My anxiety was kinda buzzing as I walked up the stairs of Dunbar Vocational Career Academy. I was so used to the way an elementary school day was scheduled. I was unsure of my new horizon. My cousins made me think it was every man for themselves in high school. So of course I was nervous. A couple of days before I went to the school, I was invited to join the freshman football team by then-freshman team coach Patrick Jerome. Coach Pat called me & told me to come up to the school and see if I would like it. So, there I was ready to embark on the next steps of my life. In search of worthiness or a feeling of belonging. Unbeknownst to you at the time, I had a rough childhood. My biological father was verbally & physically abusive towards me. I still loved my father & wanted nothing from him but to love & be proud of me. My father had a rough upbringing as well. He was part of the Great Black Migration, being he was born in Mississippi in the 30s and then moved to Chicago as a young boy. My grandfather was an actual slave in Clarksdale, MS & beat that hopelessness and despair as a father into mine. My father would tell me how my grandfather would “whoop” him & that I got off easy. I digress, back to our first meeting! So, the summer of 1998 at the steps of Dunbar High School on the southside of Chicago stands me. I’m kinda scared yet hopeful I find a safe place to grow. I enter the doors by the foyer & there you are, sitting with Dr. Hall. I introduced myself to you both & asked if I could speak to the freshman football coach. Dr. Hall informs me that you are the head football coach & your name is Glenn Johnson. I already knew this from going to the Prep Bowl (Chicago’s Football City Championship) in ‘97 & ‘96 with my park district Taekwondo team. I was a fan of the school’s mascot. It was an ancient Egyptian King & Queen called the Mightymen & Women. You looked me up & down & told me I was an offensive lineman. I only played linebacker in elementary school, so I disagreed. You were humored by my talking points. Later on, in my sophomore year, you told me since you met me you believed I was very smart. I could tell by our first conversation. You held such a mean, stand-off, commanding, intimidating nature to everyone else but I swear I thought you were funny from the beginning! You took me on a tour of the first two floors of the school. We talked about sports, the city neighborhoods, & music. Then we ended at the athletic area of the school. You took me into the main gym where a lot of championship banners hung. You asked me what program had the most banners. I said football which did by a landslide. You shrugged your shoulders and walked off saying I’ll see you around Scruggs.
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Under Fire from the Sea, Families in Odesa Try to Escape Russian Barrage
As dawn breaks over the Black Sea, the port city of Odesa wakes not to the sound of waves, but to sirens. For months, Russian naval and missile attacks have turned Ukraine’s historic coastal hub into a frontline city, forcing families to make impossible choices: stay and endure, or flee under fire. The barrage from the sea has transformed everyday life into a test of survival, reshaping Odesa’s streets, homes, and hopes. Odesa has long been known for its cosmopolitan spirit, grand architecture, and strategic importance as Ukraine’s gateway to global trade. Today, that same geography makes it vulnerable. Russian warships positioned in the Black Sea have launched cruise missiles and drones toward the city, targeting ports, energy infrastructure, and residential neighborhoods. Unlike attacks from land, strikes from the sea arrive with little warning, amplifying fear among civilians who never know when the next explosion will come. For families, the danger is not abstract. It is measured in shattered windows, damaged schools, and nights spent in basements. Parents describe the constant challenge of keeping children calm as air raid sirens interrupt meals, homework, and sleep. “You learn to live with a bag packed,” one mother says, referring to emergency essentials kept by the door. “Documents, water, a few clothes — everything else can be replaced.” Escaping Odesa is no simple task. The city’s roads are congested with civilians trying to leave and military convoys heading toward defensive positions. Train stations, once symbols of travel and leisure, now serve as evacuation points. Families queue for hours, unsure whether trains will run on schedule or be delayed by security threats. Some choose to drive west toward Moldova or deeper into Ukraine, while others head north to stay with relatives in comparatively safer regions. The emotional toll of leaving is profound. Many residents have lived in Odesa for generations, their identities tied to the sea and the city’s unique culture. Abandoning homes, businesses, and memories feels like a second loss on top of the war itself. Elderly residents, in particular, struggle with the idea of starting over elsewhere. As a result, some families split up — women and children leave, while older relatives or men stay behind to guard property or contribute to local defense efforts. Those who remain face daily uncertainty. Coastal defenses and air defense systems intercept many incoming threats, but not all. Each successful interception is celebrated quietly, while each impact deepens anxiety. Schools operate intermittently, often shifting to online classes or shelter-based learning. Hospitals continue to function under strain, adapting emergency rooms to handle potential mass casualty events while dealing with routine medical needs. Humanitarian organizations have stepped in to provide support, offering temporary housing, psychological counseling, and basic supplies for displaced families. Local volunteers play a crucial role, organizing evacuation assistance and checking on vulnerable neighbors. In Odesa, community solidarity has become a lifeline. People share information through messaging apps, warn each other of incoming threats, and help strangers reach shelters during attacks. The Russian barrage has also affected Odesa’s economy. The port, vital for grain exports and trade, has faced repeated strikes, disrupting shipping and threatening global food supply chains. For families, this translates into lost jobs and rising prices. Shop owners close early or operate irregularly, while workers in tourism, shipping, and hospitality face prolonged uncertainty about their livelihoods. Yet even under fire, resilience defines Odesa. Murals appear on damaged walls, musicians perform in shelters, and small acts of normalcy persist. Parents try to preserve routines for their children — reading bedtime stories during blackouts or celebrating birthdays underground. These moments do not erase fear, but they assert humanity in the face of violence. Internationally, Odesa’s plight highlights the broader civilian cost of naval warfare. Attacks launched from the sea blur the line between military targets and civilian spaces, especially in port cities. For residents, the sea — once a source of beauty and economic opportunity — has become a direction of danger. The horizon itself feels threatening. As families continue to flee, return, or endure, Odesa stands as a symbol of civilian resilience amid modern conflict. The city’s future remains uncertain, shaped by diplomatic developments, military outcomes, and the will of its people. For now, every family that escapes safely is a small victory, and every night survived is an act of quiet defiance. Under fire from the sea, Odesa’s families are not just victims of war — they are witnesses to its human cost, carrying their stories with them wherever they find refuge.
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