Black Conservatism is Actually a Thing

It's not just the basis of a fictional TV character, Black conservatism is really a real thing, y'all. 

Black people almost unanimously vote for politicians running on the Democrat ticket, regardless of that particular candidate's policies, personal behavior, etc. It's kind of lazy when you think about it, but that's a different post for a different day. The point is Black people vote blue.

On one hand, it makes sense because in theory, a liberal government stimulates the economy from the bottom up, and who's at the bottom? Black people!

On the other hand, aside from financial incentives, Black Americans are wildly conservative. Like, our beliefs as a whole don't match up with the results at the polls. Take a look at the pictures below.

You see, I'm not just pulling facts out of my butt! 40 percent of Black people think abortion should be illegal, even though banning them will over inflate our foster care system, infant mortality rates will skyrocket, people who do not want to be parents will have no choice, so on and so forth...

Wait for it...

Just under half of us disapprove of same-sex marriage, even though Black LGBTQ+ people are the most vulnerable sub-group in our race. Maybe the rates are still so high because some of us foolishly believe homosexuality was created as a disease to infect Black men, thus destroying the Black family? But hey, what do I know.

My own personal beliefs aside, why is it that if you dig to the bottom of deeply polarizing social issues, that can easily be split between party lines, so many Black minds land on the side of the GOP while their ballots do not?

The easiest answer to that is, of course, racism. 

There's this saying that goes "Not all Republicans are racist, but all racists are Republican." Even though it's not a precise statement, it's close enough. If the GOP could find a way to distance themselves from racist behavior and attitudes, Black folks would be in there like swimwear.

I say all of this to say, Black conservatism is one of this nation's best kept secrets. Now that you're hip, don't act surprised when you hear a Black celebrity giving a tone deaf social take, or when 45 hosts a bunch of new age Buppies in the Oval Office. Those Black MAGA kids aren't just a publicity stunt, they're products of their environment and they're not going to go away. 

It's Hard to Win Souls for Christ When People Can't See the God in You

As a Christian, our two main goals are to develop our personal relationships with God and to bring people into the house of the Lord.

HOWEVER THAT SECOND PART HASN'T REALLY BEEN WORKING OUT TOO WELL.

It's not just because people nowadays are too wicked, or that we're cursed or whatever. I'm convinced that the biggest agents against Christ are the ones who attempt to do the most outreach in His name. They're kind of like mall cops who couldn't make it into the real police force. Extra. Abrasive. Out to prove a point.

Have you ever met someone who was so holier-than-thou that made you go like, "Tell me what church you go to, so I can remember to never ever visit there."

The church has been in decline for GENERATIONS, especially among Black folk; how do you expect them to feel the love of God if you're leading with bigotry and shame? Why should people believe that God will love them if you're hating on God's behalf?

Sometimes I wonder if maybe those kinds of people don't actually want others to be saved. More favor for them, perhaps? Hmm. I hope that's not it, because you do not need to be saved to have the favor of God (see: Judas, who betrayed Jesus, still had favor from God to even be a disciple).

What do people want most of all? 

Love, compassion, and understanding. Telling non-believers and those who have strayed what God has brought you through and where you intend to go (in this life as well as the next), is a lot more effective than threatening them with eternal damnation. ESPECIALLY if they already feel like they're living in Hell on Earth.

Once that part is over, focus on what you can do to make a more righteous life for you.

Post-Grad Depression, Despite My Blessings? Maybe So.

This is not me...

For a long time, I couldn't understand what my problem was.

Immediately after I graduated from college, I had a car, my family, my degree and plenty of career opportunities. It's pretty much exactly what you can ask for in an ideal post-grad situation. The problem was, none of that could keep me from the restlessness, isolation, and waves of uncertainty.

Yes I had plans, but my goals felt like someone else's goals. Yes I socialized, but my daily interactions were just me on auto-pilot. I began to evaluate everything and everyone as temporary, which is actually terrifying, because that same feeling begins to apply to yourself. You're reminded of your own mortality.

I began to release myself from this mindset

On July 27th, I followed advice suggested to me months prior by my friend Mo (plug: check out his music). He told me to use the law of attraction to manifest the life I want to live. 

I pulled out my notebook, and began to write down everything that I wanted as specifically as possible, no matter how selfish or impossible it sounded. As I wrote, I poured all of my energy in, with the explicit goal of making all of my intentions come true.

Three days later, I was T-boned by a driver that wasn't paying attention as they pulled into traffic.

According to the EMTs that arrived a few minutes later, without my seatbelt on, I would've absolutely been ejected from the vehicle and died in the middle of the street. I wish I could say that I'd found a new lease on life, but I can't because that's not true. 

What I did find though, was a glimmer of opportunity. After all, just three days before the accident, I poured my heart's desire onto a piece of paper...

It was time to put my intentions to work.

Every day wasn't easy. Every day wasn't perfect. Some days, the day wasn't even mine to control. But, I always focused on my intentions. I prayed over them every morning and slept with them under my pillow every night. Before I knew it, three things on my list would manifest, then five, then seven. It was working and my life was changing because I was kind to myself and obedient to my process.

Today, whenever I get a chance to put my power to the test, I take it because I know that I can get whatever I want. You do too. It's not magic, but it's something that really pulled me through.

Being Related Doesn't Make Us Family.

Even though the family is the most fundamental unit of society, something I've struggled with for all of my adult life is the answer to this question: "Are you family oriented?"

I don't know, am I?

I grew up in a VERY big extended family, but outside of those most closely related, I don't know much about them, don't see them often, and don't particularly care to. Don't get me wrong, relatives are cool, but there's something missing that I'm not willing to fake for anyone.

Now my friends on the other hand? That's a totally different story. The saying goes "The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb" and honestly nothing is more true than this. I love all of my friends deeply and fiercely. I'm willing to sacrifice for, celebrate, and accept them for who they are, because they return the energy tenfold. 

But back to that question...if I say no, I'm not family oriented, then I sound like a pessimistic anarchist or something. I am not anti! So how do I reconcile the two groups of people, that which I was born into, and those whom I've chosen? Well, to answer that question, another must be asked:

What is family? To me, it is:

• support
• physically show up
• financially contribute
• emotionally + spiritually nourish
• commonality
• complimentary goals
• complimentary experiences
• a choice
• conscious effort to maintain the structure despite personal obstacles and outside forces

From my perspective, family can consist of relatives, but all relatives aren't family. 

So, am I a family oriented person? Yes! I respect and care for my family, blood related or not, more than any other group of people. HOWEVER, I am NOT a relative-oriented person, and I probably never will be; a common ancestor just isn't good enough.

What does family mean to you?