Happy Birthday Dr. King. Thank you for paving the path for equality in America in a time when speaking against inequality and racism in America often costs the life of  Black people. I was a Colored girl as a child, born in the early 60′s. I vaguely remember seeing signs posted, “Whites Only.” I was too young to truly understand racism, as I personally was never exposed to racism and felt love all around me, from people of all colors.
As I grew older, I came to realize that all people were not as friendly and loving as those who were in my comfort circle as a child.

Blatant racism has diminished in America and for that I am thankful. Yet I see a tide that seems to be turning back to those days, when I was a colored girl. I see and hear hatred brewing in America, and I must remind myself and the world  that we must remain vigilant in love for all people, less we may slip backwards.

Your dream is materializing each day in the hearts and minds of many people! I pray that this abundance of love will overshadow the few whose minds and hearts are bent on ignorance and hate. I vow to continue in your legacy and pass on your dream!   I vow to not  allow my own comfort and/or fears to silence me or defer the Dream of equality and love for ALL people!  Not just Black people, or White people, or straight people, or gay people, or Jews, or Latinos, or Asian, or Middle Eastern, or African, or Indians, or old people, or young people, or handicapped people, but ALL people!  Let us not defer the Dream of Equality for All.

Here’s to you, Dr. King!

Dreams Deferred ~By CordieB.

What happens to our dreams deferred?

Unacted upon desires that are seldom heard . . .

Do they wash away with the crimson tide . . .

By the sands of time which can’t be defied?

What happens to our dreams alas. . .

which we sadly allow to simply pass. . .

or hold at bay for a better day

Do they await our return or simply fade away?

What happens when we put our dreams on a shelf?

Do they wait patiently for us to find ourselves

Or do they float away to an unknown dreamland

Where dreams deferred converge and reemerge once again . . .

In the soul of another child-like spirit . .

with the heart to reclaim our neglected dream’s merit

Who will take the forsaken dream and caress its face

And abandon not its saving grace

Allow not our dreams to become deferred

Unnurtured; Seldom talked to; Barely heard. . .

For without our love, passion, and concern

Our dream will whither; thus our heart will burn and yearn. . .

Yet the dream will one day find another

Who will embrace that dream like a new found lover

And the dream will lovingly reciprocate

But sadly for us, it will be too late;

Yet to ease our minds, we will call it fate.

—–

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Blood Tree, courtesty of ~Ksaad, under a creative commons license . Growing veins of sorrow and complications are the seeds that we have sown from our vengeance, hatred, racism, power and craving for more. So long for a cleanse.

There will be blood if we simply look the other way

There will be blood if we continue our lives the same way

There will be blood if the cycle of violence is not forsaken

There will be blood if a life for another life is taken

There will be blood if we continue to fight hatred with hate

There will be blood if we abandon solutions to rehabilitate  rejuvinate

There will be blood if we neglect to teach our young to love

There will be blood if we don’t love our neighbors, inspite of

There will be blood.

There will be more blood.

There wll be an endless,

forever increasing,

cycle of blood. . .

untill…

there is no more blood.

~Written by CordieB

Quote for the Day. 

Deep inside even the most seemingly evil of beings lies a seed of love; it is that seed we must strive to rejuvinate and  cultivate.  When we hate the evil, we only cultivate more hatred ~CordieB.

Peace, Light and Love… 

©2007-2008 =alexiuss

In light of the upcoming election, the tensions of race, political, religion, sexuality and other issues that we allow to separate us; often destroy us — and after reading Paisley’s poem, fuerzas irresistibles , that reminded me of this one today, I simply had to share . . . . Both poems challenge us to look beyond our egos, prejustices, and other differences, look towards the rock, the river, the tree . . . oh how they must cry today; how sad they must be . . . .

©2008 ~motherwarxx

Normally, I stick to poetry or art, but every so often, I write an opinion/article.  I had planned on writing a quasi-xrated poem today, but this morning after reading Angry African’s post on racism , I decided to speak out.  So, blame AA for my writhing this post instead of the quasi-xrated poem I intended to woo you with today.  In his post, AA admitted that he was a racist at one time, and didn’t even realize it.  I prefer to use the word prejustice in AA’s situation, rather than racist.  I think there is a difference . . . He gave us a scenario of how he passed up one hitchhiker without a second thought due their color, and thought about picking up another, because it was, perhaps, "a preferred color."   AA did not say which color he preferred.  I assumed when I first read this article that he gave more thought to picking up the white passenger than so the black passenger because AA is a white male.  But after further reflection, I really don’t know, because he is also an activitist who may have felt more passion towards a black man than a white.  I don’t know.  I hope he never tells.  The point is, racism is racism.  Why is it that he felt compelled to pick up one more so than the other based solely on the color of their skin?  AA challenged us to look at ourselves and admit to our own racisms.  This is something that we do not communicate about in mixed race situations.   Perhaps it is not PC to do so; perhaps we feel that we will offend someone.  But unless we look our actions and our thought patterns then the cycle of racism will continue.  Unless we selfexamine, we will not be compelled to eradiate these ignorant thoughts.  So I said to self, "Self, how am I racist." 

Racist Act No. One.   I don’t consider myself to be racist, but I suppose I have preferences based upon color.  Is that racist?  I prefer relationships with black men; I’ve never been attracted to white men.  Does that make me a racist?  Perhaps yes.  Because, truth be told, I’ve never ever considered trying such because of what’s been handed down to me by society, family and friends.  Oh, I’m perfectly acceptable of others in mixed race relationships; I have many friends who are married to people of a different race.  But me personally, I have never even given such a second thought.  Period. 

Racist Act No. Two.   Now here is another form of racism I have, similar to that of AA’s maybe, maybe not.  I’m walking down a dark street.  On one side of the street are two white men in business suits, on the other are two black men with hoodies and baggy jeans.  As a black female, which group would I feel more comfortable walking past?  Answer – The white men in business suits.  Crazy huh?  Racists huh?  True though.  This is due to what I’ve learned; what I see,  what I’m told by the media, not what I experience.  My thought pattern has nothing whatsoever to do with the people themselves; as I don’t even know these people.  I’ve never been mugged, I’ve never been raped.  I usually walk past either without any interaction whatsoever.  So what has given me this ignorant fear that I’d rather past two white men in business suits than two black men in hoodies and jeans.  It’s simply ignorant.  And, I have to consciously stop this train of ignorant thinking; because I’m passing on this bull to my daughters and sons, either consciously or unconsciously!   A recent study showed that black women would prefer to pass individuals on the street by race and gender in this order – (1) black female (2) white female (3) white male (4) black male.  The black male is last in the pecking order, even by the black female.  Don’t you find that somewhat disturbing.   I feel the same way, yet it is very, very disturbing.  What have I allowed to sink into my head?  What fears have manifested into my belief system?  Wow! 

The Irony of it All.   Now even though I would not  give a white male a second look in the prospect of marriage, I  would rather pass him than a black male   on a dark street!  Ain’t that ignorant!  Think about it! 

Peace, Light and Love . . . CordieB. 

P.S. Don’t tell anyone, but I thought that Angry African was a black man for weeks when I first started reading his blog – why?– Because he’s an Angry African Activitst!.  I’d stereotyped him too.  One day I looked up and I saw those beautiful piercing green eyes in the header and it was then that I looked deeper into what he was.  Not that it should make a difference, right?  Racism is pure ignorance!  We need to check ourselves!

______________________________________________________________

I’ve guided multitudes of earthly beings through many dark nights

I’ve been a beacon of hope for many a man lost in his flight

Although I’m quite illuminous, I have absolutely no light energy alone . . .

I’m blessed by the light of my brethren to co-create life from cold stone

As long as my universal family shines, then I shall shine too . . .

And I, in-turn, humbly reflect that ambiance of light unto you.

So I can aide you in finding your way from the lost journey afar

And  thus, you might illuminate another who may not know whom or where they are.

Like many, I sometimes have dreary days and nights when I feel so alone,

When I’m blocked from my light source by dark storm clouds of energy unknown.

I realise it’s all an illusion, for my light soure remains true, bright and clear

But when you’re lost in dark pastures, tis hard to let go the false fear.

So in today’s midnight, I remind you even a blind man can see the light bright,

For they are not blinded by false perceptions of absense of love’s light.

You see, the blind see beauty in realness . . . and truth without lies . . .

They don’t look for false answers in the suns, moons or skies . . .

They feel warmth in kindness, compassion and love . . .

In darkness, they are guided by inner awareness, not from detachments thereof;

They love, hate or feel indifference to us for ourselves in the mist of life’s rugged race . . .

They most brilliantly  see the love in our hearts–in spite of our physical face!

Visionless, they see the hatred in our hearts, in spite of physical beauty

Like a blind child or man, we should all stress to make it our duty . . .

To look into the true hearts of children, women, and men . . .

See all people as they really are, not pre-judge by their hair, face or skin.

But you needn’t close your eyes to see the light . . .

You can have 20/20 vision and still use your insight . . .

If you’ve accepted and embraced the blessing of inner vision and true clarity

Then you understand, I once was lost but now I’m found; was blind but now I see.

But alas, I will guide you in your journey, it won’t be too late or too soon . . .

I’m a luminous guide in life’s dark forrest, I am simply . . . . (click below for answer)

The Moon.

Written By CordieB.

The riddle above was inspired by some"beautiful" blog friends, Gyspy Heart , a very talented artist who painted the painting below about which there is a beautiful story (click on the painting to read the story – WARNING -it might make your eyes water, Sanity Found , a talented, spirited young woman, who posted today and last week on how our outward perceptions of self even change how we relate to ourselves and life, a new free-spirited blog friend at Spiritual Perceptions , who asked to see a picture of me, the fact that I had perceived Gypsy Heart  to "look" like a gypsy (smile), and the multi-talented, Persistent Illusion , who is so wise and inspirational that he or she is like an illusion.

Photo courtesy of Susan (Gypsy Heart) Morrison Sims - click on image to read the wonderful story behind this beautiful, gifted piece, and to see experience the art fully.