Starting Your Dreams Later In Life and Embracing the Detour

Jenee Darden speaking at Creative Mornings I know it's been a while since I've posted anything but that's because of my job. I'm working as a reporter covering Oakland and I host an arts segment on the radio where I get to interview amazing artists from around the Bay Area. Plus I'm publicizing my book  and building my speaking career!  You know what's funny? I thought this would all happen by the time I was 27-30.  Nope. That wasn't God's plan for me. I'm finally beginning to do the things I've wanted to do and I'm almost 40 years old. Some people reading this who are 40 will say 40 is still young. But some younger people reading may think 40 is nearly ancient. But I'm writing this post for those who like me, thought their career and personal dreams would come true much early in life. I'm here to tell you not to give up.  You know, death inspires life. A number of my relatives and friends have passed away, ranging in ...
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Ten- Year- Old Boy Speaks
Knowledge on Slaying the N-Word



"You can only be destroyed by believing that you are really what the white world calls a nigger."--James Baldwin

I HATE the N-word. I don't care what some black people say, it is not a word of endearment or unity. The term is dehumanizing and ignorant. Some people say "Nigger" is different from "Nigga" and that the latter word is one that has been redefined to mean something positive. I totally disagree. Black folks in the U.S. have been saying "Ni**a" for centuries because of vernacular. In "black vernacular" the -er is dropped. Just like you hear some people, especially down South, say "fing-uh" instead of "finger." Back in the day when we called each other brothas and sistas we weren't killing each other like we do today. It's easier to kill someone when you consider them lazy, subhuman, useless and dumb. That's basically what Ni**a means. Wasn't that white racists' justification for killing and enslaving black people?

May be harder to pull the trigger when the barrel is pointing at your brotha. Someone who comes from a family, may share your blood, is someone's child, God's child.

Johnathan McCoy does a better job at breaking down the N-word. One of my Oakland sistas directed me to this video. The 10-year-old won a speech contest at his church where he spoke about why we should stop using the N-word. His speech was so moving and mature that I forgot I was listening to a child. I am so impressed with this brotha. He makes me proud. His speech has received over 200,000 hits on You Tube. You must, must, must listen to this brotha. Tell us what you think after watching the video.

Comments

  1. H. Lewis SmithJune 10, 2009 at 9:10 AM

    It's a shame that it takes a 10 yr old kid to show grown adults the light, when it should be the other way around. More on Black America and the N-word:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dP2U0jmZjec

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  2. Jenee DardenJune 10, 2009 at 4:20 PM

    It's a shame but it's also a good thing. Maybe he can inspire and school his generation on the N-word so they don't use it.

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  3. Bobbie WoodJune 11, 2009 at 9:35 AM

    Okay, I'm a white person and I've always felt that meant there was some barrier to commenting on use of the n-word, though of course no one's ever said so. I just have to say that I hate, hate, hate that word. It's so demeaning and horrible and I can't believe any black person would call another human being the n-word after the way white people used it. This little boy brought me to tears with his singing and his mention of President Obama. You got the message right, Johnathan. Thanks for posting this. :)

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  4. AnonymousJune 12, 2009 at 8:16 PM

    Wow, I can hardly wait to see what he becomes when he grows up. I hope that the people this message was intended for will see it. Thanks for posting it because there are times when people need to be reminded when they come from greatness.

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