Day One-To Tell the Truth

Day One-August 11, 2009

Well here goes. This is an experiment with myself to the world to be honest, and tell the truth. Now you may ask, the truth about what? This is an excellent question but I will try and explain.

Truth-a verified or indisputable fact, proposition, principle, or the like: mathematical truths.

Honest-genuine or unadulterated

Fact-something that actually exists; reality

When I was a little girl, growing up in Detroit, Michigan, my father always encouraged his children to take advantage of education. He would say "education is something no one can ever take from you". He went on "if you play sports, you can become injured in some way and not be able to play, but education cannot be taken". Now as a little girl, I love my father dearly, he was all we had. We did not have a mother. My mother left the family when I was young, maybe 10 or so. I do not remember the exact age, but I know she was not around nor did she keep in touch with her children, for whatever reasons.

My mother and father had five children together, two boys and three girls. I was the fourth child born to this union. My mother use to call me the "knee baby". I still do not understand to this day, what a "knee baby" is.

My father had the most influence on my life than any other person on the face of this earth. He was my role model, in most ways. I wanted to emulate him, in terms of his "can do attitude". My father was a very handsome man. He was about 6'1'tall , golden brown complexion, and he always smelled clean and fresh. He was born in Arkansas but he migrated to Detroit, seeking work, like many other southern blacks, and he was eventually hired by Ford Motor Company. My dad worked for FMC for many years, more than 20, I am sure.

Moreover, I remember days, as a little girl, when my father would take us to areas in Detroit that were not very nice. He would describe men standing around as "lazy" and "trifling", and he would say that those men made all black people look bad. My father would tell us that it made "no sense" for any man to stand around when he could spend his time working or at least trying to find work.

This of course, was the foundation of my belief that, as a whole, black people do not take advantage of the opportunities that are in front of them, even today. As a result, we are going backwards, our education and economic conditions are arguably even worse than in the days of slavery.

I must tell the truth as it really is and not as I would like it to be. There. I said it, I feel a little better that I am finally in a position where I can vent these honest words. As I write this blog, tears are in my eyes because I know the truth can hurt. I hope somebody will eventually read and stay with me because sometimes, if feels as though, I am all alone and no one really wants the truth to be told.

I hope you have a very happy Tuesday.