Cuffed & Linked to Presidential Cuff Links

YES, America is rejoicing! Overwhelmed by our victory in the re-election of President Barack Obama, the ultimate leader of the United States of America. As CNN projected the Presidential conquest, millions of Americans began to celebrate with electrifying enthusiasm and shouting “4 MORE YEARS, 4 MORE YEARS…”.

A few hours later, our President humbly took the stage with his victory speech and his informal oath to continue to serve us American people.

But let’s be clear, the Black community rejoices on a much deeper level than a re-election. We are overwhelmed of this victory we celebrate because of our past in this Country as a people who were planked and shipped, mistreated and beaten, enslaved and demanded to complete excruciating task until the day we were tossed like heavy-duty trash bags.

Black people being snatched from the love of a continent we call Africa then forced onto ships like La Amistad where we were CUFFED & LINKED and brought to an unfamiliar place to serve as slaves with new names. These were the days of our lives. The thought of learning ABC’s and 123′s would have resulted in STRANGE FRUIT, let alone, uttering the word President.

As the years slowly faded, we became rebellious and began to escape our realities, with HOPE to live a life only imagined. When God’s work was done, and Black folk were finished constructing a united nation, he saw fit to move us FORWARD and slavery was abolished.

Of course this left us in an era of being segregated because of the color of our skin. Employment, Food, Clothing, Shelter, Education, Health, Music, Encouragement, Sympathy, Laughter- all these species of interest were divided by pigmentation and left the Black community in their familiar drought. As the years passed, we became dog-tired and began to protest, march, and speak, despite the consequences we would face like being jailed, beaten, and murdered.

But our voice stood strong! Contrary of “God’s plan” for the construction of the Country, we fought battles that we were forced to fight just to be treated like what God desires, equals. Despite our history of being mentally, physically, emotionally, sexually, and all other librettos that can be used to describe the word abused, we overcame each battle and sang praises to the most-high.

Yes, there’s so much more to be done in the Black community. We are currently dealing with extreme problems in education, health, violence, and modern-day slavery, but our history let’s us know that nothing is impossible, and with HOPE & prayer, anything worth believing can transpire into reality. We have come from being Cuffed & Linked, and now a Black man is wearing Presidential Cuff Links. So please, save the excuses, put in work, and make your dream a reality.