Let's Get Together - Pt.2 by L.S.G.

Let me start out first by saying "Welcome to Pittsburgh!" All newcomers and visitors. Pittsburgh's black community actually surprised me. I say this because after I wrote this first article, the response from it's readers, approached me with a very aware and conscience attitude about the happenings of this city and country. Proving to me that maybe we're just lazy or despondent, but definitely not united and responsive.

We need to become extremely proactive about our stand for our survival and the future. How do we go about this? One step at a time, through real communication (acceptance of the truth) no matter how much it hurts. Pittsburgh's general black population is so divided in many subliminal and apparent ways, that it is accepted and believed by it's residents. They actually seem to see each other as competition and the enemy, particularly when no one knows you, or if you out shine them by their own standards.

Why can't we focus on what we have in common instead, so the victory can be won over the true enemy? We have so much potential, power, and the grace of the Lord to implement these positive changes, so what are we waiting for, some other cataclysmic event, so we can scream murder, but recant when it comes to seeking justice. As a community we need to study our race and cultures that was successful in our past, and also the elements that supported our past and forth coming failures. We should see each other as a part of a whole vessel and work as a body would, together.

Newcomers can certainly see that there's something missing in "the recipe" calling for the overall achievement of peace and togetherness that only we could accomplish for the betterment of ourselves. We must reconnect, erase our fears, correct ourselves and stand firm. I have a jewel for music lovers the new song from "Dead Prez" call "Til We Get There feat. Story Jones", please don't hesitate, it is exactly what we need to do. Please also take time out to appreciate our young and the old, because this is from whom the real learning can take place, we definitely must restore the principles that would set us free from bondage. And implement Martin Luther King's points of view towards each other. The revolutionary heart of Malcolm X is how we should relate to the world in my heartiest opinion.

So though there is much work ahead, there really stands the greatest chance we will "get it Together!" So let's get it together, what we need to achieve our peaceful honorable presence before God and Man. Until the next time we meet, apologize or make peace with a long held enemy or person, within your community, that you have wronged or who has wronged you. This maybe hard but we have to start by accepting the fact that the separation we experience is not exactly our own doing, that this kind of separation is systematic, affecting many generations of our people, that only we can reverse and change. We know that through our service to the Lord, that all things are possible. Let's not give up.


About the Author
From The Soul of an Outsider is a new Soul Pitt exclusive column by Lakeda Summes-Giles. This African-American female, originally from Atlanta, talks about Pittsburgh and its community from the perspective of an out-of-towner who has been in the city since 2001 and her analysis of it. Lakeda is also an entrepreneur of the "Truly Natural Self Care Botanicals Systems". Check it out at www.mytrulynatural.com
Send comments/questions to outsider@thesoulpitt.com

Don't go THERE with the HAIR!

A review of concern about the Imus comment
By D.L. Norris

"Oh no... he did not go there-did he? Honey, did he say what I think he just said?", I asked my husband.

This was in response to the Don Imus remarks that were stated in a joking manner this past week on National radio and then website and television. But was he joking? And yes, Imus went all the way "there",as he refered to the Rutgers University's highly talented and winning college team athletes as Imus compared these to the athletes who won the game, the Tennessee female athletes: "Rough..Hardcore..Nappy headed hoes...Bugaboos vs wanna bees"..etc".

In disbelief, I then proceeded to call a couple of my professional "sistah" friends and advised them to check out www.youtube.com- already this site had Imus' remarks and was listed with the highest number of hits.

After some research about Imus' background, I also found out that he has made derogatory comments about one of my favorite poets and author, Maya Angelou. It's apparentl that Imus' style and claim to fame is to make controversial comments about many people.


Still in shock that a professional personality would make such an offensive, racist, ignorant, comment and on national television , I did not know whether to laugh at the ignorance or cry with disbelief? But as this recent Imus story developed over the weekend, I realized that I was not alone with my concerns. Nor was I the only one who felt that Imus initially made light of his comments as reported and also followed with an apparent initial light weighted apology too.

Then as the snow ball story continued to build momentum and simply has not gone away yet, the apologies leading into this morning showed elements of some genuine concern by Imus.

However, was this concern due to the concern of the negative response regarding his comment? Was Imus' now concerns due to thousands requesting for him to be fired? Or, has Imus truly had a change of heart about his comments?

After some thought about the entire ordeal, isn't it common knowledge that some African Americans, male and female, have issues with hair? -now, I could get deep with this, however, another time and another place. But more importantly, will these ignorant and negative stereotypes about African American women being called and depicted as whores and prostitutes" and as often portrayed in the media, ever go away. Will te general public accept and tolerated these type of comments?

Are "we" OK with the perpetual ignorant statements that recently seems to be heard on a grand scale more and more across our federally governed airwaves? What are your thoughts?:

Also, let CBS & NBC know too:

http://www.cbs.com/info/user_services/fb_global_form.shtml

http://www.msnbc.com/news/435157.asp


Imus article of interest:
http://news.aol.com/entertainment/articles/_a/critics-demand-imus-be-fired-over/20070409070209990001


http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/bishop-td-jakes-official-statement/n20070409181309990006

http://news.aol.com/entertainment/articles/_a/don-imus-benched-two-weeks-for-comments/20070409070209990001