1. First of all, tell yourself that the situation in Africa is reversible, we (Africans) are capable of removing ourselves from the predicament we, and our ancestors, allowed thieving, murdering outsiders to put us in.
2. Secondly, we are all skilled at some profession or the other. We all have talents, let’s put them to use in raising our profiles. Remember, no one culture is above all the rest. We all have something that benefits the continent as a whole, let’s share with the rest. If you can write a play, write it about the good and evils of Africa. Write a novel about a culture you know well. Paint a painting showing life in Africa. Carve or paint traditional art. Embrace performing arts. If you are a doctor, what are you doing to further that profession among your people? If you are in advertising, find an African industry you can lend your expertise to. Find something you can do to better mother Africa. Don’t think the task is meaningless or unattainable. That is a result of years and years of conditioning. A house is built by laying bricks one by one. One by one we can rebuild our house.
3. Respect our women. Women are an integral part of our society. We refer to Africa as mother Africa, not Father Africa. It is in our nature to love our women, to treat them respectfully, and listen to their advice. They are naturally more nurturing and level-minded. We should put this nurturing trait to use while we nurse our mother Africa back to health.
4. Do not be afraid or intimidated. Do not let someone else blow out the candle that is lit within you. Only you can do that, no one else. Be strong. In humans, that candle light can withstand hurricanes and earthquakes. It is the light of your soul. It is your soul. Look in the eyes of some people and you can see it burning brightly. Unfortunately, you can also not see it in the eyes of many people, but these are people that rarely look you in the eye so it’s easy not to notice. Be strong, know that no amount of intimidations, threats, discouragements, or hurts can put out that light that burns within.
5. Today, not tomorrow, is the day to act. Sign up, let us know your story, let us know what you are doing. Wear our flag proudly. Raise it up. It’s red, black, and green with a yellow “A” in the black part. Red is for the blood that has been shed to liberate our motherland. The color that flows within us. Black is for our skin. Though the skin shades differ, we are bound together by this color, we are all black. It’s not a negative color, it’s beautiful. Green is the lush land that is our home. The environment, mother nature herself. The Yellow A is for Africa. Yellow for the richness in our hearts. The richness in our ground. The precious wealth that keeps the world moving, without which it dies. It is out of the black because they go together hand-in-hand. Out of our blackness comes our wealth, the wealth of the world. Only we control this. Wake up.
2. Secondly, we are all skilled at some profession or the other. We all have talents, let’s put them to use in raising our profiles. Remember, no one culture is above all the rest. We all have something that benefits the continent as a whole, let’s share with the rest. If you can write a play, write it about the good and evils of Africa. Write a novel about a culture you know well. Paint a painting showing life in Africa. Carve or paint traditional art. Embrace performing arts. If you are a doctor, what are you doing to further that profession among your people? If you are in advertising, find an African industry you can lend your expertise to. Find something you can do to better mother Africa. Don’t think the task is meaningless or unattainable. That is a result of years and years of conditioning. A house is built by laying bricks one by one. One by one we can rebuild our house.
3. Respect our women. Women are an integral part of our society. We refer to Africa as mother Africa, not Father Africa. It is in our nature to love our women, to treat them respectfully, and listen to their advice. They are naturally more nurturing and level-minded. We should put this nurturing trait to use while we nurse our mother Africa back to health.
4. Do not be afraid or intimidated. Do not let someone else blow out the candle that is lit within you. Only you can do that, no one else. Be strong. In humans, that candle light can withstand hurricanes and earthquakes. It is the light of your soul. It is your soul. Look in the eyes of some people and you can see it burning brightly. Unfortunately, you can also not see it in the eyes of many people, but these are people that rarely look you in the eye so it’s easy not to notice. Be strong, know that no amount of intimidations, threats, discouragements, or hurts can put out that light that burns within.
5. Today, not tomorrow, is the day to act. Sign up, let us know your story, let us know what you are doing. Wear our flag proudly. Raise it up. It’s red, black, and green with a yellow “A” in the black part. Red is for the blood that has been shed to liberate our motherland. The color that flows within us. Black is for our skin. Though the skin shades differ, we are bound together by this color, we are all black. It’s not a negative color, it’s beautiful. Green is the lush land that is our home. The environment, mother nature herself. The Yellow A is for Africa. Yellow for the richness in our hearts. The richness in our ground. The precious wealth that keeps the world moving, without which it dies. It is out of the black because they go together hand-in-hand. Out of our blackness comes our wealth, the wealth of the world. Only we control this. Wake up.
6. Demand that the law is the law. We can not be changing the constitution every time a new dictator takes over. We need a solid foundation. We need laws that outlive our so-called leaders. We have to have laws that are not “eraser laws”, laws that cannot be changed to fit every despot’s wishes. We have to demand this. It is our right, and we have to have it.
7. We have to respect our elders but in today’s age our elders are controlled by forces whose interests are against ours. We need new blood in our leadership. We need people who are not afraid, whose visions are for the advancement of our Africa. We need new Lumumbas, new Sankaras. We need people who are unafraid to die for what they believe. People who know and fully understand what the word sacrifice truly is.
8. Let us sign a petition to the AU demanding the interests of the people be put in front of diplomacy. If a leadership is failing, it’s the job of the rest of the leaders to help them or ask them to step aside. It’s the job of all of us to care for each and every person, we did not establish the borders on our motherland. Why then do we live by them? If the AU is incapable of caring for the people we need another organization for the people, by the people that can put the welfare of the people, and not just that of the leadership, ahead. I will have the petition up soon.
9. We have to acknowledge the existence of classes but not condone the exclusion of any one class from the political process. True change comes from the bottom up, not the top down. The people at the top do not to give up any privileges unless they are assured that their security is guaranteed. There can be no peace when citizens go hungry while others grow obese in their gluttonous indiscipline. Peace is the stillness of mind from worry about the safety of one’s well-being, be it physical, mental, or spiritual. We have to guarantee that this inclusion extends to region, tribe, race, religion, and any other medium through which we measure our diversity.
10. The African is second to no other race or creed. All men are equal in the eyes of existence and all deserve the opportunity to pursue happiness, so long as it does not encroach on another’s quest.
7. We have to respect our elders but in today’s age our elders are controlled by forces whose interests are against ours. We need new blood in our leadership. We need people who are not afraid, whose visions are for the advancement of our Africa. We need new Lumumbas, new Sankaras. We need people who are unafraid to die for what they believe. People who know and fully understand what the word sacrifice truly is.
8. Let us sign a petition to the AU demanding the interests of the people be put in front of diplomacy. If a leadership is failing, it’s the job of the rest of the leaders to help them or ask them to step aside. It’s the job of all of us to care for each and every person, we did not establish the borders on our motherland. Why then do we live by them? If the AU is incapable of caring for the people we need another organization for the people, by the people that can put the welfare of the people, and not just that of the leadership, ahead. I will have the petition up soon.
9. We have to acknowledge the existence of classes but not condone the exclusion of any one class from the political process. True change comes from the bottom up, not the top down. The people at the top do not to give up any privileges unless they are assured that their security is guaranteed. There can be no peace when citizens go hungry while others grow obese in their gluttonous indiscipline. Peace is the stillness of mind from worry about the safety of one’s well-being, be it physical, mental, or spiritual. We have to guarantee that this inclusion extends to region, tribe, race, religion, and any other medium through which we measure our diversity.
10. The African is second to no other race or creed. All men are equal in the eyes of existence and all deserve the opportunity to pursue happiness, so long as it does not encroach on another’s quest.
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