YOUR JOURNEY THROUGH LIFE

Encouraging words and advice for an African American male.

YOUR JOURNEY THROUGH LIFE…
BY QUINTEN I. BRADSHAW
 
 As a child, I was always told life is what you make it. 
If I went to school, made good grades I’d have a great chance at getting into any University I wanted.
From a young age we are told to do this, do that. Trials and hardships are for the few, and you my friend that, that well not be you. 
You will live long, prosper and become the great green giant. Conquer the world and never be defeated. 
Remember to keep your head up high and never give up, for you will get everything out of life that you put in it. 
You, you my friend will become a millionaire. 
Money will grow on a tree in your back yard. Money is everything and don't you let anyone tell you different. 
Some say money is the root of all evil.
Those are just the people, looking outside the peep hole at something that they can't comprehend so they call it a freak show. 
You, you my friend will fail miserably. 
You can't walk down the street at night with a hoodie on, skittles in hand drinking an Arizona.
The world simply hates you. 
You do not belong in society.
You will go to jail, father a bunch of children and make nothing of yourself, 
You are more likely to get killed, land in jail or commit a crime than you are to get a college degree and being a good law abiding citizen.
You, you my friend are the wrong color to succeed in this world. 
This world does not like or care for you. 
This world will eat you up and spit you the f**k out. 
This world has tried time after time to eliminate you, crash your existence, restrain you from progression and keep you in the wrong direction. 
You came from nothing.
Your people came here on boats in chains, as slaves nothing more, nothing less.
You aren't as good as the white person setting next to you.
Does that make you mad? Sorry kid, just being honest.
You., you my friend just aren't meant to be here
And After all of that is said and done, came and gone... 
What, what will you do my friend?
Will you cower behind the tallest wall you can find, act a fool in school to keep your mind off getting beat at home? Wear the hottest sneakers so you can look cool?
Does hiding in the dark, afraid of the bright blue sky scare you?
Will you run from the idea of success?
Will you let every hardship you encounter defeat you and put up the what flag and surrender?
Will you feel so sorry for yourself that you move on to a new life and forget about all those you have impacted and touched with just your sheer presence and existence?
 
What about the love of your life? Will you treat her with respect? Will you care for her? Will you constantly remind her how beautiful she is, and how incredibly blessed you are to have such a string queen? Or will you disrespect her? Will you treat her like a piece of meat and call her out her name?
Will you see her as such a treat that you must try and break down her confidence? Will those be the things that make you a man? Is that what a real man is?
What will your response be when that bhad thick girl with the pretty smile calls you up on the phone one day with a message pleading for your help? 
When you hear the words "I have to tell you something " what will come to mind my friend?
That something great just happened? Or oh s**t it's time to go? 
Will you run out of your child's life because you are too afraid to take responsibility?
Will you be a statistic? Keep the cycle going maybe? And keep are people proud.
Or will you be "that guy”? 
Will you be the man who steps up? 
Does the right thing by your woman and take care of your child? 
 
YES! You will be that guy my friend. You will be a true gentleman to its fullest.
You are a black man. You have endorsed more pain, suffer and sacrifice than any other man. You have been through hell and back multiple times for hundreds if not thousands of years. You have a rich heritage and family tree of both being kings and slaves so you natural know the feeling of both. You know the highest feeling a person can feel, as well as the lowest because you literally have the blood of a king and the blood of a slave pumping through your body.
My message is plain and simple. Everyone has problems. No matter poor or rich, healthy or sick we all have problems. Having problems should not defeat you, but make more of a man out of you. How you deal with your problems determines your real character and shows what you’re about. We live in the day to where you still have a target on your back. I didn’t know should never be an excuse. You are not afforded that luxury. You do not get to make a million mistakes. Your country has an eye on you.
Now weather or not that’s for good or for bad is not my place to say.
You need to wake up every morning no matter your situation and just think to yourself, how can I tackle the hurdles set forth in front of me today? Is my life truly as bad as I’m making it out to be? What would by ancestors do? Both king and slave ones.
How can I be the best man I can possibly be.
How can I conquer the world? 
With a positive mindset and will power.
You, you my friend will be great.
Always expect the worse and go above and beyond and you will get the best. 
You will be great. 
You will get that education that seemed so far away once before. 
You will be a champion.
You will excel in life because you have heart of a lion.
You will be in your child's life because you know the feeling of not having a father and wouldn't dare make your child go through that.
You've taken a pledge to be more than just a product of your environment, or a static America wants to throw on you. 
You are a king my friend. You are also a slave that must constantly prove to yourself and others that tittle no longer can be associated to you. With your effort and the help your ancestor have given you thus far you have officially beaten the odds.
You have made it this far in life already.
You've been through more than most people your age. You have had a life no one would trade for.
Even with that being the case, you, you my friend have won. You have walked over ever obstacle set in front of you. You have proven yourself so many times the other side has nothing left to throw at you. You are a warrior.
So know what? What's your next move? What's the next play going to be? 
Make it happen....
Empower our people…
Keep our dream of equality and freedom alive.
Fight for your people and hold them accountable for their actions.
Spread the word.
98% of the battle is getting in the right state of mind. Remember that.

 

Author's Note

THIS STORY IS NOT MEANT TO OFFEND ANYONE, this is rough draft, ignore grammar, punctuation. Any cretinism welcomed and highly desired. Thank you.