February 8, 2012 10:06:03 AM EST
B Ra Carter
I like what you said about not announcing your plans. It made me think about a conversation I had with one of my classes. I told my students that I decided not to return in the fall. I was going to be doing something else. Immediately, they became curious. They asked me where I was going to teach, and I said, "God is still working on it, so I can't talk about it." Planning should be very private and shared only with a few confidants.
Black people like to talk, and sometimes they talk too much about the wrong things. I am my brother's and sister's keeper ONLY to a certain point. Too many black people (young and old) are irresponsible. They blame and scapegoat so they never have to really change. They demonize so they can stay the same. Generally, I avoid people who demonize. That's abuse and I don't have to deal with abusive people.
Young people might think they didn't create this mess we see in the nation, so why should they fix it. I say, "Who else is going to fix it? You are all we have!" A friend of mine sent me some information about the differences between the generations. The Baby Boomers grew up during the Civil Rights movement and the Viet Nam war, so they are proactive about change. The Generation Xers are classified as slackers but they are perceived as adaptable. There is hope. I believe people change in their own way.
Teenagers text, use Facebook, and Twitter becausee they are very connected. I tell young people their connections make them strong. We have to learn to collaborate and work with others. If we're talking about a revolution, this is one good way to start. Competition has kept people separate for too long. I always have students working together on projects and we have Socratic Seminar so they can share ideas and perspectives. I think if there is to be revolution, it should start with respectful communication. That is the way out of "ignorance and demonization."
You say people should lead by example, which is good. But young people paying attention to the wrong things and they talk about it so much, everybody ends up feeling helpless. That's why I like what you said about using the "power of silence." The thing I don't like is where you talk about those who "seek to and continue to destroy us." Who are you paying attention to? No one can destroy us! Your post made me wonder about a few things.
Question: How do you get people to use the power of silence? In a society that likes to talk, how do you keep quiet about certain things? What kinds of plans should we keep private?
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