My cousin Ron and I often talk about the nebulous meaning of a “good economy” and how some people love to point to it whenever they want to brag about how well the country is doing.
We heard a lot of that during the previous Presidential Administration.
Back to my point.
Now, if we were to quiz these same people on said “good economy” they would likely be hard-pressed to give a coherent definition of the concept.
To be more specific, I would argue that the measures which determine what is and what is not a “good” or “healthy” economy are difficult for most people to practically comprehend –with the exception of the unemployment rate.
However, a few months ago, I ran across a study that pointed to a direct connection between discrimination and major economic loss in America.
No doubt, this fact is shocking but definitely not hard to understand.
Point blank, discriminatory practices in the U.S. have resulted in major economic loss for the country as a whole, and now is the time to turn these deep rooted practices around.
If we can do this, we will have brought racial equity to the table and we all win.
Sadly, there are those who will gladly accept this and future losses–to their own detriment–out of sheer hatred and stupidity.
But, that said, I’m convinced that more of us are interested in the well-being of the collective.
Here is what the study found:
According to Citigroup, as quoted in this article from NPR, the U.S. economy lost $16 trillion since 2000 due to discrimination and other broad reaching policies that were blind to racial equity.
The article goes on to count all of the losses:
$13 trillion lost in potential business revenue because of discriminatory lending to African American entrepreneurs, with an estimated 6.1 million jobs not generated as a result
$2.7 trillion in income lost because of disparities in wages suffered by African Americans
$218 billion lost over the past two decades because of discrimination in providing housing credit
And $90 billion to $113 billion in lifetime income lost from discrimination in accessing higher education
Today’s Black History Month Observation:
Despite popular public opinion, Black people are not asking for handouts, we are asking to have systemic filters removed so that we can proceed through and rise to our highest potential.
I don’t want a Black History Month. Black history is American history —Morgan Freeman
You can’t extract the history of Blacks from the history of America; it is one and the same.
I am inclined to agree with Mr. Freeman–Black History is American History and should be included, in a substantive way, in our national educational curriculum, as well as the broader cultural lexicon.
According to DNA ancestry, my Black ancestors have been here for just as long as some of my White ancestors and even longer than others (Irish).
Clearly, black history has suffered in isolation for long enough. It’s time to bring it out and give it the honor and respect that it deserves.
Here’s a fascinating and very necessary project from The Atlantic that seeks to fill in the blanks of lost Black history in America.
Here’s a link for more great quotes related to Black History
I’m not even kidding! We need string instruments back!
Yesterday, my fifteen-year-old daughter, Lady J, and I had a conversation about the music that she enjoys listening to. She even shared some of her favorite songs–which shocked me since Lady J, like most kids her age, can be very elusive.
Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised to find that all of those songs had very gorgeous and complex arrangements–they were beautiful—they were lovely—I was touched by the melodies.
As I sat there listening to one song after another, I noticed two things.
First, the songs were heavily punctuated with string instruments.
Second, they were mostly written, composed and performed by Japanese artists.
You might be wondering where I’m going with this…
You’ll see.
Let me begin by saying that I totally understand Lady J’s current taste in music.
Like her, when I was a teenager, I was mostly interested in music that evoked feeling.
The Late Great Maestro, Barry White said, “When I want to bring emotion, I pull out the strings.”
I don’t know where I heard that, but, based on his musical catalog, if he didn’t say it, he would likely have agreed with it.
May his soul rest in power!
But I digress.
Back to Lady J.
As a teenager, Lady J has become aware of the importance of finding healthy ways to live and cope with daily happinesses (not a real word) as well as the occasional hazard. She has learned that certain music provides the perfect vehicle for the sound (forgive the pun) expression of a range of emotions.
Have you ever heard it said that someone or something “pulled at the heartstrings?”
Now, I got no time to google the origins of that saying but I guarantee that it is related in a some circuitous way.
Got it?
Good.
Now comes the part where I have to confront my own emotions about the current state of music here in America–in the Year Of Our Lord 2021.
To be blunt, I am struck by the fact that my daughter kept sharing song after song by artists who hail from elsewhere. I mean, oftentimes my child feels like she has to “go” all over the world—albeit digitally— to find the kind of music that she likes.
Now, before folks go off, let me check them right now.
I am not writing this to be used as a study in xenophobia because, as a black mother, I don’t play that.
I’ve taught my children to respect the beauty of all races, colors, creeds and cultures.
However, I have also taught them to learn their own—especially when it comes to music.
But there’s a problem.
Excuse my “Southern-ness”–I know it’s showing–honey, there just ain’t that many folks round here making music that incorporates string instruments—or any other classical instrument for that matter.
That’s why my baby gotta go all the way across oceans to find the stuff that she wants, and I would argue, needs to hear.
But, why am I so bothered? I mean, regardless of where it comes from, she has found the music that she likes, right?
To answer that questions, I must take us back in time…
You see, string instruments were an integral part of my childhood.
Hell, I even played violin briefly but I gave it up in order to become a majorette—Sheez!
Priorities!
Anyway, during that time, in the mid to late 1970s, violins, violas, cellos and the like were EV-ER-Y-WHERE—Barry White made sure of that!
The MAESTRO!
Enough said.
However, Barry, wasn’t the only one, string instruments were all over the place then, not just in Soul music (which, I know seems counterintuitive), but in just about any genre that you could think of.
Yes, that’s right, string instruments, the ones of classical music fame, were everywhere—not just at the “INSERT YOUR CITY HERE Symphony Orchestra.”
Granted, I know that violins and cellos were NOT invented in Georgia–nor were they played solo at the cook-out–but that’s not the point. Forget where and when string instruments originated, talented musicians, back in the day, made them do things that Beethoven never could have imagined.
Hell, we were shook by the Delfonics professing love over a wall of high-flying violins in LA-LA- Means I Love You.
And don’t get me started on Bill Withers telling us about a Lovely Day with classical violins, violas and cellos backing him all. the. way. up!
My loves, those kind of heavy handed string arrangements gave me all of the things that I needed to get my emotions out about:
My dying dog, Bones
My unrequited love for…What’s his name?
My very, very, very, serious relationship with…What’s his name?
Flat out, string instruments gave me, and so many others, a quick way to access our emotions about any number of things.
Anyway, you know what I mean.
I just hate the fact that my daughter can’t readily find the kind of mental and emotional tonic that string instruments provide in her own backyard without crossing oceans or sifting through the music of yore.
And so, it seems that the strings are notably absent, but I would contend that we MUST bring them back for our sanity!
This is especially important as we all muddle through some version of a lockdown.
We need string instruments to give us a healthy way to release emotion!
Now, in the midst of my rambling, I must say that I’m grateful that my dear daughter has sense enough to know that mess like Danileigh’s “Yellow bone what he want” is not a good lyric and I shudder to think about the “music” that is enveloping those words.
Baby, I’m not EVEN gonna address that controversy—it would call for a different post.
Let me just say that if you’ve never heard that nonsense, do NOT google it and consider yourself and your ears blessed.
Moving on…
Right here, right now, I’d like to implore musicians in America to find a way to incorporate string instruments into your music!
Do your part to help us get in touch with our emotions.
And if you are wondering, the previous sentence was my “call to action” for musicians from a passionate lover of music advocating for her dear daughter-and the rest of us!
Now, if you don’t get my point, consider this whole thing an exercise in academics–and keep it moving past this old woman–who is probably out of step with the times droning on about nothing.
My mother said I must always be intolerant of ignorance but understanding of illiteracy. That some people, unable to go to school, were more educated and more intelligent than college professors.
–Dr. Maya Angelou
According to Dr. Maya Angelou, there is a distinction between ignorance and intelligence.
I’ve known some very insightful and intelligent people who barely graduated high school–not to mention college.
Have you ever wondered what your mindset has to do with your power?
Well, mindset is defined as “the established set of attitudes held by someone.”
Now, if you know the status of your mindset-which includes your thoughts, attitudes, beliefs—and where your mindset resides—you can evaluate whether or not you are living in your power.
Whenever I think of the potential influence of mindset, I am reminded of these verses from Psalm 91 which state:
9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
Psalm 91
Think about the word “habitation” in this context for a moment.
You see, our habitation is where our thoughts reside—that place is our mindset.
Here, Psalm 91 seems to echo that if we, in terms of our thoughts, reside in a loving frequency, then we MUST experience our divine power.
In this place, we are lifted up into our rightful space of love, peace, joy and security.
Outside of a loving frequency–which I call God–others may refer to it differently–we are at risk of dwelling in a mindset that makes our thoughts vulnerable to errors in truth like lack, limit and hate.
Clearly, when we reside in that ‘outside space,’we are closer in frequency to undesirable consequences.
There is no power in having a mindset like that.
So to sum it up, your mindset is your power, so make The Divine Presence your habitation.
To learn more about frequency and how it affects your life, check out this article from Well + Good
“A Family Conversation” is a storytelling audio series that features weekly discussions between blogging cousins LadyG and Ron Brown on current events along with favorite posts from each other’s blog.
Deadlifts and The Iron Cocks uncle whose nephew idolized him
Ron’s PTSD due to the attack aftermath and his duties as a Medic
“Monuments to procrastination:” The precursor to THIS blog!
Ernest Hemingway’s “little sister”
God’s timing
(2003) The precursor to Seek The Best Blog: This was going to be Ron’s spot to highlight some of his writings in the family newsletter that I created. I called his column: “The World According To Ron Brown.” Sadly, back then, it didn’t go anywhere–but, alas, God’s Timing!
And sure enough even waiting will end…if you can just wait long enough.
William Faulkner
(Video below)
The pandemic did a helluva job shining a light on things that I had once been unable– or unwilling to see.
For me, a beam of searing white-hot light illumined the fact that I’ve had a horrendous case of waiting for (INSERT THE BEST CIRCUMSTANCES HERE) syndrome.
And I didn’t even know it.
Well, maybe I did.
Okay, yes, it’s possible that I knew it; but, I never really questioned it.
That’s right, I never questioned it until this accursed outbreak pushed so many of my dreams, like global traveling, out of reach.
Now I’m left wondering:
What in the hell was I waiting for?
Seriously, during all that time before the pandemic…why didn’t I do more of the things I wanted to do?
Now, let’s shine the light towards you!
I’m curious to know, so I’ll ask:
Why should you wait?
Don’t get me wrong, I am not talking to a teenager questioning the right time to make a serious decision–because in that case, as a mother, I’d say WAIT UNTIL YOU’RE GROWN….And then wait a little longer.
And I’m definitely NOT talking about someone who is debating the need to seek legal or medical advice for a serious situation.
I am talking to people, like me, who have been waiting for any number of “best circumstances,” future events, situations or possibilities to occur.
You see, up until now, I had been waiting for:
The perfect time to write a book
My daughter to graduate so I can travel internationally
The money to come from “somewhere”
My ship to come in
Someone else to “come around” or “make up their mind” or “appreciate my worth”
But guess what?
According to Faulkner, even “waiting ends.”
Unfortunately, it sometimes ends in ways we hadn’t imagined.
For some of us it has already ended.
Forever.
And so, I see now that I no longer have the luxury to wait because waiting for the best circumstances to make a move has stunted my growth!
FORGET “best circumstances.”
The time is nigh.
Right now, I’m writing a book.
I’m finding ways to do things that I had previously waited to do…NOW!
Seek The Best Blog 