We Are the Ones We’ve Been Waiting For
"We are the Ones We’ve Been Waiting For" is a message from the Hopi Nation Elders, but also associated with Maria Shriver, Barack Obama and Black History Month.
A quick excerpt:
You have been telling the people that this is the Eleventh Hour.Now you must go back and tell the people that this is The Hour.
And there are things to be considered:
- Where are you living?
- What are you doing?
- What are your relationships?
- Are you in right relation?
- Where is your water?
- Know your garden.
- It is time to speak your Truth.
Create your community. Be good to each other. And do not look outside yourself for the leader.
More after the jump.....
I’ve wondered for a while now, if Gen X. was the generation of leaders, or slackers? If we’re fulfilling the promise that our elders spoke of many years ago? If all the information, tools, opportunities, et. al. at our disposal are being put to their fullest and most productive use? If hip-hop (cause I am a hip hop kid at heart) has grown up and become the leader that we who were there at the beginning, thought it could/would be?
I’m an overachiever, masquerading as an underachiever, who secretly has aspirations of being a leader. Yeah, I’ve had my spot on Oprah’s couch picked out for quite some time…….lol.
I’m (sorta) kidding. Honestly, I do feel duly charged to participate in community activities that feed my social conscious, but also give back to those in need. I volunteer, I serve on the board of a non-profit, I donate and I’m passively looking for other ways that I can “give back”. My plate stays on swole. Why? Because I’ve benefited directly from other’s altruism and philanthropy, and I believe in life’s circles and karma. And because it feels good. And because I feel both responsible and accountable.
Call it what you will. I have a friend who calls it guilt – and for the record, I have a special place on my a$$ reserved for him to kiss. I call it retaining balance.
My endeavors are not completely selfless, however. The best way to meet new people is to network, so I do keep my eye out for opportunities that can help me advance my personal interests – entrepreneurship, socializing, dating, etc. What – you know a better way for me to find an equally yoked significant other? Networking people – forget online dating sites, social networking sites and friends hooking me up – I’m chilling on LinkedIn, Reunion.com et. al. My colleagues tell me that National conventions and seminars, such as the NBMBAA annual convention, the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Conference, etc are the new meeting places. Who knew? But seriously, I’ve been thinking about joining a sorority or another board of directors, to further my desire to be active in my community.
I also have my 25th High School reunion pending. The jury’s out on how I feel about that.
And on that note, I was trolling through a group of African-Americans on LinkedIn, looking for colleagues and acquaintances. And aside from the names, their achievements read like a Who’s Who of Community activism. They’ve served on the “right” boards, volunteer with the “right” organizations, the resume of activism is deep. I truly feel like a slacker. A real slacker, comparatively.
We’re picking up the mantle – taking our rightful place as leaders. We coach little league. We volunteer. We teach. We serve as advisors. We provide our time, energy and finances to help others in need. We hold or aspire to positions of authority where we make decisions that greatly impact the lives of others. We write and inform our communities. We pay our taxes, raise our children and we voice our concerns.
Obama may be the most visible (he’s tail end baby-boom, but I’m still claiming him). But we’re all in. We’re the ones…..even lil ole me.