Empowerment means to be an independent man. I believe that in this world some people will care about you, others will not care to think about you, your family will love you for some not unfortunately, but in the end you’re the only for yourself. In a logical way, there is only one person who cares for your life, you. Before you are left alone, however, you are nourished by your parents as you matriculate from a baby, to a teenager, to an independent adult. I will be empowered when I am an adult, who is financially stable, educated, and achieved. When I wake up in my own house, when I make my breakfast, when I think for myself, when I know myself, and when I am independent I am empowered.
One of the greatest difficulties in achieving my empowerment is “change”. I usually do a lot of talking but not too much walking. Action! I need to take Action on my beliefs. I am fearful of the consequences or as a philosopher said the “unknown”. Humans are naturally scared of the unknown; therefore, it is not natural for me to change. Changing is not just black and white, it has many different criteria, from the positive to negative, to know consequences and the unknown. For me to be empowered, I think it just takes more guts. More guts to live happier, to follow my beliefs, more guts to be independent, more guts to be empowered. It seems impossible to start from nothing to something. Sometimes I might fall constantly in despair, sometimes I might be pushed down, but it in the end when I become empowered is when the impossible comes true.
Nobody can give you freedom. Nobody can give you equality or justice or anything. If you're a man, you take it.
-Malcolm X
Great overarching statement, Mike. I would like to challenge you to use the blog to be a bit more vulnerable. So many of your statements could be said by any achieving young black male in America. What sets you apart? How do you distinguish your experiences if not finding courage to offer more detail about its specifics. For example: "one has to stay motivated to achieve" isn't nearly as compelling as "I spent an additional two hours after school last year, making sure my homework was done to the best of my ability; despite pressure to "have fun".
ReplyDeleteFeel me? Good job!
Wow, the introduction really did make me feel something. I don't know what, but I teared up; maybe because it is true. Change is the biggest obstacle to becoming empowered for many people, including yourself. You shouldn't fear the unknown, because once that fear consumes you, it controls you, and you can miss out on many opportunities. I believe you can get over that fear of the unknown, and one day become empowered.
ReplyDeleteOmg, the beginning was powerful. i don't know how to describe the feeling i had while i was reading it. you are right, many people fear the unknown, is not because they scared of it but because they don't want to discover the truth or to know what will come ahead. they don't want to know what would come ahead them ,they don't want to predict ahead them by saying[ HOW WOULD BE THE FUTURE]. But in the end i believe that one day you will become empowered.
ReplyDeleteThis blog was very powerful and honest and shows that you are aware of your capability of being empowered and that it takes a cycle of steps in order to properly be empowered. I also like that you understand that empowerment does not come over night and that it takes time to be empowered.
ReplyDelete