The New Normal

Our new normal is seeing our world in chaos. I saw a meme recently that said remember when the biggest problem we had was (First Lady) Michelle Obama's arms showing or that beige suit President Obama wore? We are in too deep, with no end in sight. We have turned a corner as a Nation to where there is no going back. For a lot of us realist and pessimist, we knew that racism was still alive, it's fires still being stoked, to use Cassanova Green's metaphor. But I wonder how those who thought racism was over, that the election of President Obama meant clear skies ahead, how are those people processing the images from Charlottesville, VA this weekend.

For those that don't know, a woman was killed and a man beaten almost to death while dozens of others were injured and two troopers lost their lives in the helicopter crash; all because white nationalist and Nazi's and white militia groups wanted to come out and try to scare and intimidate someone. They thought their tiki torches would instill fear in our hearts. They thought their chants would make us run for cover. Well, they were wrong.

The way to fight terrorism is to stand strong and not be afraid. Like dogs, they smell fear. Many of us are fighting terrorism in our own way and I applaud you all for the steps you are taking to not live in fear. To not let these images define how you interact with people. It sounds cliched and Martin Luther (the) Kingish to say but Love will always win. And I have hope, regardless of what it looks like, that what needs to come out of this treacherous time in our history, will be birthed. I have seen so much creativity as a result of these past few years of reinvigorated overt racism, I have seen a look in my sister and brothers eyes, I have seen co-workers standing up to their family for people that don't look like them, and I see interracial relationships around me persist, nevertheless.

I am determined to fight against this terrorism. I always wanted to live through the 60s so I could walk around with a big afro and a black leather jacket full of black power buttons yelling "Power to the People." Well, the 60s has descended among me, and I am left wondering how to make an impact. For right now, I am choosing one thing a day to do that is a counter-terrorism act.

Day One: I chose love;
Day two: I got on the treadmill;
Day Three: I got a massage and I'm going to therapy.
I will do everything I can to keep my mind strong and free and to show those around me what free living and loving looks like. I may not be the Martin or Malcolm of my generation, I'll leave that up to Maxine Waters, Shaun King and Kiese Laymon and other fearless leaders, but I will be that pebble in the pond. I will make waves, I will not be silenced. I will not fear. I will walk in faith, I will maintain my hope, and I will raise my children to believe in a world where they are loved and adored for who they are and they have the support they need to become the wonderful adults they are intended to become. We will rise on the ashes of everything those tiki torches intended to burn down. We will make it through this time: the new normal.