The Darker My Skin

WOULD IT BE CLICHE, for me to write a piece about the many black icons, such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, and most recently, Barak Obama, or Kamala Harris? These are some of my hero's, all with struggles and obstacles they had to overcome, but they rose to the challenge. John Louis was beaten for his struggle, while Emmitt Till, Medgar Evers, and MLK, gave the ultimate sacrifice for their dedication to civil rights, or simply the color of their skin. Here's a little secrete, I'm not a big republican fan, but Dr. Ben Carson was the first to successfully separate conjoined twins, and for that I'll overlook that little GOP indiscretion, because he helped transcend the field of medicine, and that is neither red or blue; it's black. I could go on and on with names that highlight black influence, names like Harriet Tudman, James Baldwin, and Web DuBois, but there are to many names to list, and I must chose just one. The answer is no, it wouldn't be cliché because I would be honored to write a brilliant piece about one of these Black Icons, but you get the picture; black men and women, helped shape this country because they led by example - they were and are, the very foundation of e pluribus unum.

I do not have idols, I do however, admire those who's accomplishments have been cultivated from the ground up, a home grown thirst for not just success, but for the ability to transcend the black experience. A name that's not surrounded by glitz and glamour, or political movements, although, this young woman is a movement all on her own. I first met this young women the same day as a hundred million other people did.

How did you feel that inauguration day, January twentieth, when young Amanda Gorman, in her Canary yellow jacket, a coifed bun of hair, just twenty-three years of age, deliver one of the most eloquent recitations in recent history - Maya Angelo would have been proud. Given the moment, just fourteen days removed from one the craziest made for reality TV riots in our nations history. Amanda brought the world back together, and our purpose, back into view, if only for seven minutes. On January sixth, anger gripped me. But when Amanda recited "The Hill We Climb" it brought everything back into perspective - it was beautifully in the moment and written like a seasoned linguist; poetry that reaches far beyond the moment, and gives us peek into our own humanity.

I could write for hours about that poem, but there's more to young youth poet laureate, Amanda Gorman. How about she's a graduate of Harvard - yes black people attend this school - Tiger did too, but he's only partly black. I'm kidding, I love Tiger, he's the very reason, I love the 'ish out of golf. He also single handily increased the revenue in golf when he became a member, but this isn't about him. Amanda, though only twenty something, is already an author, while me at fifty-four, have yet to impress anyone with anything I've written - my time will come. But young Amanda, and the thousands of talented Millennials like her, are our bridge to our future - now that's cliché, and a bit cheesy, but it is the inevitable truth. Polosi, Schumer, McConnell, and the geriatrics that make up the house and senate, men and women who walk around with breathing apparatuses, canes, or look as if they'll just fall over and bite it - they need to pass the lectern and allow the youngsters take over for the youngsters.

I believe Amanda when she says she want to run for president in 2036. If I ever meet her in my quest as an author, I will remind her of this, and ask, "how can I help?" I Believe that young men and women like Amanda can save all of us old heads who are too stuck in our own bullshit to recognize the proverbial writing on the wall, from ourselves. As a young activist Amanda Gorman has her sights focused like laser beams, on her considerable future.

The Hill We Climb, will resonate inside my conscious for many years, as it was one of the single most brilliant pieces of writing I've ever heard - the chosen words were visceral, lasting like a hearty bowl of moms beef stew and biscuits. She made every black, brown, and for that matter, white person feel as though they'd been wrapped in their mothers arms, as she whispers everything will be ok.

I believed Amanda when she told me we can overcome our divisions and climb that hill together, and that's the sing of a great leader! Good luck Miss Amanda Gorman!