I once had a friend (we no longer speak) whom I could talk to and hang out with in every social situation. We talked politics, pop culture, race, history…. it was endless.
To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious, is to be in a rage almost all the time. – James Baldwin
This friend moved to a different state…and to an area where gentrification was actively ongoing.
They dived into the local protests and immersed themselves in the issues (police brutality, housing discrimination, food deserts) surrounding the people in that city.
Our once diverse conversations began to narrow into this militant chokepoint that left us both agreeing to disagree.
Life is beautiful if you know where to look – Hellen Keller
We eventually got tired of talking to each other. This of course, makes me sad when I think about it but…its life.
We lose some things..and we gain others.
I say all of this to say that I live with the “rage” Baldwin talks about and the “optimistic appreciation for life’s beauty” Keller expresses.
They run figure eights in my head..
Sometimes intersecting and sometimes….diverging.
They dance along my consciousness in a violent tango and glide effortlessly in a beautiful waltz.
But they don’t dictate to me..I choose.
Originally posted on Facebook October 19th, 2016
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