Make Your Place

"I believe it is time for the black race to show what we are capable of doing. The testing will surely go on for the next generation and the next, but each time we meet the test we'll climb another rung of the ladder until finally we arrive at parity, having earned our place, rather than pleading or demanding that it be given to us."

-Ditchdigger's Daughters

This quote raises many questions for me, the main question being: What Place Are We In The Race For? Often I hear people say where they want to go, where the deserve to be, but I honestly don't know if people understand what race they are in. Many people, even those who are defiant of society, give into the notion of the American Dream. Working hard to find their "place" and finally "make it." Some people don't think they should work hard at all, some people feel entitled to a piece of the American Pie.

Many feel entitled to a place in society, but in what "welcome to the world manual" did we read that offered us a place. We argue that we should get reparations and respect based on the plight that our ancestors had to go through, but we don't respect our ancestors on a daily basis. We want to piggy back on the hard labor of someone else, just because that someone shares the same blood line.

As they say actions speak louder than words, so what are you doing to earn your place. What are you doing to ensure that you are in the place you should be, not in an appointed position by your opposition. There is a place deliberately designed for you in society, everyone in America doesn't get to go to sleep to have that American Dream. Some of us lie awake for years trying to get a moment of rest so we can dream too.

The reality of the situation is everyone doesn't have a place in the American Dream, but if we can restructure the rungs of the ladder and how we measure ourselves, we can all make a place. If you truly think about the above statement, even once you pass "parity" and "make it" to "your place" you are still at the place that someone designed you to be at. Your place is not positioned with you in mind.

So, how do we earn our place, we have to MAKE OUR PLACE!!! It is time for us to restructure our structuring and define new places in our own society. We can combat parity, by learning and understanding. Knowledge will teach us our obstacles, strength in our knowledge will help us overcome them.

There is no design for you, no blueprint to being in America, but if you look at your assignment and set-up, you may think otherwise. There are no glass ceilings, your eyes are just to dense to see what's beyond that. Adjust your vision. See beyond all the negative elements that have been prescribed to you and make your place!!! Where ever you want to be, go there. The first step is on you, you design your ladder and you determine how high you want to climb.

Cliche as it may seem... "Nobody's built like you, you design yourself" ... Make Your Place!!!

Safe to Dream: Dedicated to Aiyana Jones

We live in a place where it isn't safe to dream
She was asleep in her home, safe; or so it would seem
A child, innocent, oblivious to the madness around her
Her dreams stripped away in what the police call a blur

Dreams deferred by bullets and home invasion
Their story and the other story, doesn't add to an equal equation
Answers fall on death ears and there is no one to blame
Cop is licensed killer with paycheck, it's shame

Our children's life stolen, but not in the usual institutionalized way
The light escaped her eyes before she could see the light of day
Now our kids go to sleep afraid to dream
She was asleep in her home, safe; or so it would seem

Atlanta: Positive Event Alert

Conversations on Afrikan Spirit

Every Wednesday in the month of May the Center for Afrikan Biblical Studies and the First Afrikan Church present: Conversations on Afrikan Spirit.

May 5th: The Afrikan Is...
May 12th: The Afrikan Family Is Insightful
May 19th: The Afrikan Family is Informed
May 26th: The Afrikan Family is Inspiring

Free Admission to All Events!!!

Come out and enjoy the conversation.

Events begin at 7:00 p.m. Every Wednesday.

First Afrikan Church
5197 Salem Road
Lithonia, GA

For more information you can contact the First Afrikan Church at fapc@firstafrikanchurch.org or call 770-981-2601.


Black Positive Image, Inc. is not in conjunction with the First Afrikan Church. This event is presented to you as something we feel will benefit the community and wanted to share with anyone who would be interested. We support all positive events in the community and want to show our support for the First Afrikan Church and this event. We look forward to seeing you there.

You Don't Know My Story

You Don't Know My Story is a campaign geared towards recognizing self prosperity through reflection and appreciation that everyone has a life story worth telling.

Help us bring this campaign to life! All we ask is that you take the time to share your story so that people around can learn, reflect, and grow. Your story my be the motivating force to help someone heal. Your voice can be the words someone finally needed to hear. Your story can let someone else know that they are not alone.

Every person has a purpose and every purpose has a story, share yours.

Submission Details:
v Stories should e-mailed to: knowmystory@gmail.com
v Length: 1-2 pages single spaced (Preferred). If you would like to submit a poem or anything shorter, it will greatly be accepted for future use in a picture book for the campaign.
v Submissions can be Anonymous
v We encourage you to invite your network to help keep this campaign alive.
v Understand by submitting a story you give us permission to use it for the printed booklet. However, we will still make selections based on the quantity received. Please specify if you would like to remove your submission from being posted on a blog.

Thank you in advance for helping bring this campaign alive and helping others open their eyes by staring into yours.

Sankofa's Library: 500 Years Later (Documentary)

500 Years Later
Directed By Owen 'Alik Shahadah

March 28, 2010: I had the pleasure of watching the documentary 500 Years Later. A compelling documentary that presents so much history, truth, and hope for the next 500 years. A documentary that explores crime, drugs, HIV/AIDS, poor education, inferiority complex, low expectation, poverty, corruption, poor health, and underdevelopment plaguing people of African descent globally. 500 years later from the onset of slavery and subsequent colonialism, Africans are still struggling for basic freedom. Filmed in five continents, and over twenty countries, 500 Years Later engages the retrospective voice, told from the African vantage-point (Wikipedia).

The main message that I took from this film is the importance of history in our society. Changing HIS-tory into OUR-story. Not being ashamed of our past or afraid to give a voice to our ancestors. Unlike many documentaries, 500 Years Later not only tells history, but gives fundamental advice to using our past to prosper for the future. This movie is definitely a MUST SEE documentary. Visit www.500yearslater.com to learn about the documentary and purchase your copy.

Black Positive Image Presents: "You Don't Know My Story" Campaign

You Don't Know My Story is a campaign geared towards recognizing self prosperity through reflection and appreciation that everyone has a life story worth telling.

Black Positive Image has partnered with an 8th grade after school program in Atlanta, Georgia that serves as a vessel in continuing this campaign. We plan to create a booklet of submissions for the young ladies involved in the character development program and also post them to a blog site created for the campaign.

Help us bring this campaign to life! All we ask is that you take the time to share your story so that young ladies and people around can learn, reflect, and grow.

Submission Details:
v Female Submissions Only
v Stories should e mailed to: knowmystory@gmail.com
v Length: 1-2 pages single spaced
v Submissions can be Anonymous
v We encourage you to invite your network to help keep this campaign alive.
v Understand by submitting a story you give us permission to use it for the printed booklet. However, we will still make selections based on the quantity received. Please specify if you would like to remove your submission from being posted on a blog. Dates:

v Deadline : 4/12/10
v Notified of use for Booklet: 4/23/10
v Booklet made by :5/4/10

Thank you in advance for helping bring this campaign alive and helping young ladies experience triumph through your lens.

Freaknik: Open Letter to DaVinci Barcelo

Dear Mr. DaVinci Barcelo*,

I am writing you to express my concern for your alleged attempt to bring back Freaknik to Cleophis Johnson Park on April 16-17, 2010. While I admire your attempt to resurrect events for our youth to participate in, I have a few concerns and questions that I think you should consider before attempting to bring this event back to Atlanta. This letter is not to discourage you in your efforts to “coordinate” this event, but to shed light on the thoughts that obviously have not crossed your mind in your planning or lack thereof for this event.

My concern with Freaknik is not the event or the parties, but the blatant neglect to participate with city officials to ensure that this is a successful and harmless event for all of the attendees and residents of the city of Atlanta. Without the participation of the city, how can you ensure that this will be a safe event for those involved in the festivities?

On your website you have pictures of past Freaknik's that show no depiction of a structure. I am sure you are aware of the reasons why Freaknik was laid to rest in the year 2000. The Freaknik of the past that you are envisioning is quite different with the current times. A decade has passed since the last Freaknik and as they say “things aren’t the same.” Lack of police patrolling can result in events of Freaknik's past such as rape and violent activity, how will these matters be handled or all together avoided?

The history of Freaknik should be enough to curtail any such event to take place without proper planning and permission from the city of Atlanta. As a coordinator I am sure you are not hosting Freaknik for the sheer pleasure or enjoyment for other individuals who cannot go away for Spring Break. There is a monetary value associated with Freaknik and I am not trying to hinder your business efforts, but are you prepared for any of the ramifications that may emerge from defiance to include the city of Atlanta?

My concern lies with the participants who are unaware that a good time can turn into a bad time within a few short minutes. Who will protect the woman and men who just came to have a good time? I hope that you take into account the concerns that I have placed before you. If you are able to secure enough protection (police, security, etc.) for this event for the number of participants, I would consider you think about going into politics. Atlanta has been dealing with its own issues of having enough public safety protection for its citizens, and if you have the solution; I think your talents will be best served in the public sector.

Again as I stated, I am not trying to stop the efforts of your event. My concern lies only with the protection of the participants. Our youth are to be valued and I will continue to concern myself with the concerns that they may not be aware of. If you can take them into account and provide safety for the participants I am more than willing to dismantle protesting of your event.

Sincerely,

Brittney Greene
Founder of Black Positive Image, Inc.

*DaVinci Barcelo has been identified as the coordinator of Freaknik 2010.

Freaknik was historically started in 1982 as a spring break alternative for college students to enjoy a day in the park. By the 90's, Freaknik had emerged into a nationwide event where over 200,000 people arrived in Atlanta to celebrate the festival and evolved into more than just a day at the park.