It is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr day and I find myself reflecting on it bit differently this year. As a person of color I am particularly aware of the debt I owe to those who came before me. Without the sacrifice, the hurt, the tears, the boycotts, and the sacrifices of those who came before me I wouldn’t have the opportunity to: be educated, work the way that I do, and live life on my terms.
The Debt I Owe
Is more than doing what I want to do for me. It’s important to help other people because “to those who are given much, much is required.” My mother once said to me that it was important for me to help other people. I had grown up with a tradition of volunteering, donating, and helping others so I didn’t think much of it at the time. I was in the depths of feeling sorry for myself at the time so I just didn’t “hear” what she was saying.
Recently, I shared my hardest post ever where I discussed the hard times that I had working hard at Starbucks and trying to keep the roof over my head while helping my mom out. After I shared that I felt a great sense of peace because I shared a situation that sadly isn’t at all uncommon in Black families. In the process of sharing that situation I figured out something huge.
I Figured Out My Calling
I want to help as many people as possible (starting with myself) to become empowered with money and knowledge. I want to help anyone who dreams of a better life for themselves and doesn’t want to be held hostage by the whims of someone else’s hiring and firing decisions. I want to help people save money, cut expenses, and enjoy their lives. Then, I would like to encourage people to pay it forward.
What Would Dr. King Think?
What would Dr. King think about the growing inequality in America? About the shameful tone to American political discourse, and the way that the Middle Class is being buffeted by the winds of:
- Mechanization-We are being kicked out of jobs by machines.
- Globalization-I know that people love Ronald Reagan for opening up the U.S. economy…but when we opened up our economy that began the process of shipping out our jobs to countries with workers who could be payed less than U.S. workers. In the process, losing millions of jobs.
- Ridiculous Educational Expenses-It is said that the majority of millionaires have a number of traits in common-one of which is the constant pursuit of education. What happens when the average man and woman from all walks of life are denied access to education?
I think he would be saddened by what has been happening but I think he would also be pissed off and appalled by Americans of all colors and how they comport themselves. He would ask himself:
- People Look Crazy-Why don’t people look their best every day? And then wonder why they don’t get jobs? (if you’ve read my blog before you know this drives me crazy)
- It’s Someone Else’s Fault-And it just might be…But instead of complaining about what is out of your control there is a moment when you have to focus on what is in your control.
- What happened to American Exceptionalism and let me be very honest since the President Clinton and President Bush years we have slipped into a he said/she said tit for tat that has gotten so bad that I’m afraid we won’t get past it.
- We’ve become whiners-That’s obvious…
This upcoming election is a further example of how badly things have gotten. I do believe however that there is still hope. People have to begin looking inwardly and owning their part in this crappy state of affairs.
Stop Waiting
Stop waiting for a Presidential Knight in Shining armor to change your life for you it’s not going to happen. Even if Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, or Ted Cruz are elected and they are your “man” or “woman” the one you wanted. They won’t rescue you. It’s just not going to happen.
And It Sucks
It sucks telling you that the way that society is currently set up it’s not in our favor (yes, a Mockingbird reference). So what in the heck can you do you tip things in your favor so that you can get ahead when the winds of life keep hitting you in the face? Ironically, it’s possible to flip the script with the very technology that has kicked us in the butt.
- Educate yourself for free! Go to your public library and check out books that will teach you something new. Go online and research something new.
- Find your peeps-Surround yourself with people who share similar views on changing your life.
- Say “No” to Debt-Keep your debt load as low as humanly possible.
- Save your money as soon as you possibly can, as young as you possibly can to grow your wealth because even small amounts grow to become large amounts of money over time.
- Don’t buy brand new cars-That’s just silly.
- Invest-You have to invest to build wealth. Spend time learning about investing and connect with a well vetted professional who can help you with the process.
- Keep your expenses LOW-I’m not talking about being cheap. I’m talking about keeping your expenses low so that you create the financial space to be able to take risks.
Dr. King fought for people who had no voice. Things have changed and we now have a voice, we have the internet, podcasts, Facebook, Twitter, Periscope, and your cell phones. Use your voice to help others, point out injustice, empower others, and empower yourself.
As For Me
I’ve decided to circumvent the status quo because it wasn’t working for me. The status quo has been working against me and because of the education that I have received I am able to flip my script.
American citizens don’t have access to paid maternity and paternity leave, mandatory vacations, or the other markers of societies that truly care about the welfare of its people. I love America but big business doesn’t love me back. The social contract has been broken and because of that it was really easy to walk away.
As we celebrate the life of Dr. King focus on what YOU can do to change your life. Then, help others who might not know where to start. In the upcoming weeks I will be sharing some projects in keeping with this train of thought. I want us to break free from the chains that bind us can’t wait to work as a community of people to move each forward.
A bit of ramble and I wish you good things!
Michelle
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It drives me crazy how many people think a President, or anyone else will save them or fix their problems. I’m talking about everyone here. If you expect that, you’re going to be waiting a very, very long time time. It takes all of our collective energy to fix big problems, but the most important thing to fix right now is your own mind.
It just makes me feel kind of sad that people get caught up in that kind of thinking. It is a time suck that keeps them from working on what can be worked on. I am most bothered by mindsets that I’m noticing in general (all people): helicopter parents, whoa is me, they did this to me..etc. I want people to stop fighting one another and work together for the collective good and I’m not talking communism. I do have to say that I am loving the collective energy behind the protests, etc. I am more of a cash protester-say bye bye to my cash and my a$$ kind of girl. But, I love that people are finally, finally saying “we’ve had enough.” It’s a very wonderful thing to see.
Lovely post! I hope we can all take his teachings to heart and find our own paths.
Thank you Melanie!