History Repeating

Call it what you want, but do not lie to yourself anymore: History does repeat itself.

Once upon a time, not that long ago…2003 was not that long ago, in America, the sexists told the Dixie Chicks to shut up and sing. You know what happened.

More recently (two years ago), they simply could not help their exclusionary selves and told LeBron James to shut up and dribble.

Speak up!

When a bully comes for you, speak up. When a bully comes for your friends, speak up.

There have been times when some folk have put on their extra pants with me, to test my composure (the nerve) because they thought they could, for sport…to flex – occasions on which I have had to tell dem folk to relax, OK. Whaddya know, they would not take to that too kindly (“Relax? You are telling me to relax!” would be the most common retort), so, yeah, you know I would simply reinforce the command, and, by golly, if it didn’t throw ’em. I shall admit: Not the most optimal deescalation, but it has done the trick.

And while it doesn’t always work, you always must speak up. It’s how you make history. It’s how you change things and break the cycles that enrich only a few.