A Youthful Perspective from Keyanna - Valuable Insights for ALL:
Today, I was asked by a colleague to explain why I am “SO FIRED UP” and “READY TO GO” for Barack Obama. All of you are well aware of my support for Barack Obama and it allowed a moment for me to express my views.
To begin, I want to stress the importance of my age and ask that you step into the eyes of my generation. I am overcome with sadness because I draw a blank when trying to think of even one inspirational leader of my generation. You see, many of you came along not too long after the civil rights movement. This movement allowed you the ability to dream and to hope for a better future. You had the opportunity to glance back and envision leaders of those times such as Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Bobby Kennedy, etc. You also had the opportunity to connect with their passion and hard work to later become destined to make your mark in America.
Well, times have changed! My generation looks back and sees King’s dream as thing of the past. We see that we have overcome certain challenges and no longer need to hold on to this myth that we have been told. It does not help that our parents have fought a good fight and now feels the obligation to shield us from that fight. They wanted a better life for us so they worked tirelessly to provide us with that life. Nevertheless, they have forgotten that it was that fight that taught them character and meaning in this world.
So again I have been looking for those leaders who can reach our youth. I find that many individuals who have climbed the “ladder” of success often forget that they were once standing at the bottom looking up and dreaming about climbing. I challenge them now to climb down that “ladder” for moment and think about when they were at the bottom. Now, envision the current youth at the bottom and tell me what you see. The world has changed and new problems and obstacles are waiting to tackle those young minds before they even start to think about climbing that “ladder.” This is a NEW day with NEW problems that face our youth and we need a NEW leader with the vision of HOPE. What worked for your generation going up no longer applies to the challenges that we face today. What worked in the ‘90’s is no longer applicable to the challenges that we face today.
Presently, my generation lacks leaders to inspire and give us hope. Consequently, we turn to the entertainment and sports industry and idolize these individuals instead. The net result is that our children are growing up not wanting to be “The Great Debaters” but rather the new Jay-Z, 50-cent, Kanye West, or “American Gangsta”. This is a problem that cannot be overlooked. You must understand that these are individuals that you will be turning this country over to very soon. The crisis that we face requires every individual to stand up and make a CHANGE! At age 23, I have attended many more funerals than desired. “How many more funerals must I attend before you decide that this is something of grave importance?
I realize that my friends and I are the minority who are blessed to transcend this epidemic and mobilize ourselves up the “ladder.” However, I feel the need to emphasize that there are too many people not attempting that mobilization and that should open your eyes to the world you are leaving your children. As we all know, you may raise your children in the correct manner, but when they leave your presence they are in someone else’s territory. I am familiar with that territory and to answer your questions, it is as bad as it seems and it is not getting better. I want you to really see the black community and tell me if your children do not deserve better.
Through all of the despair there is still HOPE. I was reminded by a friend that not all children have hope. Some are born into a cruel world and were not fed hope, inspiration, or motivation. Some were fed the realities of this brutal world, which leads to destruction. We need our youth to have HOPE again. We need our youth to believe in the beauty of a DREAM. It was this belief that pushed me along and I am afraid that we are losing that by the day.
When I first listened to Barack Obama, something came alive within me. It was only then that I was fully aware of the desperation from which we suffer. I saw what he was offering the world and realized that it is what we have been missing all along, HOPE. I believe so strongly that this generation deserves the right to have a leader who can inspire us to become better. This is a movement that is long overdue. Many people show concern for the state of our nation but I show concern for the state of our race. I long for the day that African-Americans grace the polls in massive numbers. As you vote, I want you to take your children and express to them that you are casting a vote for the first African-American President. They may display cynicism by the thought, but the day is coming when they will turn on the television and see the first African-American President being inaugurated into office. I pray that many will say, “Jay-Z is cool, but I want to be like Barack Obama.” We have the opportunity to bring our dreams into reality and give our children the right to dream again. Just think about it…
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