I’m exhausted.

Seriously.  The media, law enforcement, #BlackLivesMatter, racism, broken relationships, networking, webinars, allergies, editing, I mean this list can go on and on. **in my Erykah Badu voice**

I’m not able to wrap my head around the level of hate that is going on around the world.  Over the last week with the murders of two black men by the hands of police in Louisiana and Minnesota, that lead to the protests in cities across the US that resulted in police officers being wounded and killed in Dallas.

For a quick second I wanted to be granted the capability of phoning a friend from history to come back, give us instructions on how to unify the nation, and then disappear.  SO UNREALISTIC but I honestly thought “What would Dr. King or Malcolm X do?”

This is a matter of the heart.  All of our hearts.  These practices begin at home.  I’ll give you an example.  I was volunteering in the neighboring town over the weekend for their annual art festival.  My hometown is predominately black, and the neighboring town is predominately white, separated by a bridge…stay with me.

I was outside directing traffic for the artists, and a couple is walking towards me with their child in a stroller.  The child had to be about one or two years old.  Every one that passed the family before me was white, I was the only black person on the block.  Do you know what that child did when he saw me?  Take a guess.

He began to smile and wave.  The same as he did everyone else.  That child saw a person that he had the free will to speak to in hopes of receiving the same in return.

With everything that has happened over the past week I experienced a wave of emotions.  Dr. King, Malcolm X, Medgar Evers, and countless others gave their lives in order for there to be equality among the races.  The greatest leader of all times (JESUS) performed miracles, and we forget that we have the power to create change.

Our country/world is in the fight for our lives, and it still comes back to the same thing.  What’s in your heart?

When I created the characters for my children’s book, The Alleykats I wanted to display diversity to the masses. I know everyone is not equipped to be a leader, but every small step counts.  What can you do today to bridge the gap?  Look at your community.  How can you give back? Give back to someone that looks like you, and talk to someone who doesn’t look like you.

This problem didn’t happen overnight, but we do have to work at finding the solution to unify us all.

One more thing…when you hear #BlackLivesMatter it doesn’t mean that others don’t.  It simply means that black lives matter TOO! Don’t forget about or count us out.

Until next time…Spread a little more love, and clean out the hate in your heart.

Xoxo,

R.J.