February is the month of love and since it’s also Black History Month, I think it’s pretty safe to consider it the month of Black love as well.
With that said, I’d like to encourage Blacks to not only exhibit love to others, but to also love the person you are on the inside. As I look at many of our people there are so many things that demonstrate how little they love themselves.
One such example is the deep-rooted sense of complacency and feeling of contentment at minimal effort that many Blacks seem to exhibit. This example is no more prevalent than with the increasing number of Blacks on the welfare system.
In theory, the welfare system is a wonderful program. It enables people the opportunity to have their basic needs met during challenging times by providing the needed resources to obtain food, housing and even utility assistance. This government-funded program is a great stepping stone for anyone that needs to get a head start in life or needs help while overcoming various obstacles.
However, it’s when people get content with the welfare program that problems begin to arise.
When an individual loses momentum, gets lazy or simply stops trying because they are able to use the welfare system to “get by,” is when complacency sets in and love of self begins to diminish.
The reason love of self plays a factor in this equation is because when a person loses that inner love, they begin to accept anything as OK. If loving ourselves remains a top priority always, we’ll understand how special we all are and how much we deserve more than just the bare minimum in life. We’ve all heard the old saying, if you don’t love yourself, you can’t expect anyone else to love you. That saying can be modified a bit to also include if you don’t go the extra mile for yourself, you can’t expect anyone else to go the extra mile for you.
It’s unfortunate that so many people are taking advantage of the welfare system, particularly since there are countless other individuals who do without welfare, but still struggle just as much.
While I’m sure many of those long-term welfare recipients (I’m speaking of the ones who are physically and mentally able to work), will rationalize that they’re “owed” welfare because of all the years of oppression Blacks faced. That is anything but the truth. I doubt very seriously that when Medgar Evers, Sojourner Truth or Harriet Tubman risked their lives for the advancement of Blacks, it was done so we can get the “bare minimum.” I’m quite confident that they would want all of us to strive with all of our might to “work” hard to have the best that life as to offer.
The complacency that many Blacks are feeling speaks to a mentality that has become an ever-growing problem in our society. We, as a people need to change our way of thinking, which in turn will change our way of living.
I know in this column I often discuss the importance of self-enhancements that Blacks need to institute in our lives, but I do so repeatedly in the hopes of motivating at least a small group of people to make a positive change in their lives.
Consistent with changing our position on the welfare rolls, Blacks need to also re-evaluate our familial situations. If times are tough and you’re having difficulty making ends meet, it might be a good idea to limit the number of children you have during such challenging times.
While it’s not my business what methods of prevention a person uses, perhaps something such as abstinence could be implemented so as to not bring children in the world that people may not be able to provide for in a self-sufficient manner.
It’s interesting to see women (and men) have child after child, while remaining on welfare. Not only is it unfair to the taxpayers whose earnings go towards supporting that family, it’s also unfair to the children who have to grow up with such an example of what’s OK to expect out of life.
So as the days in February continue to pass us by, it’s my sincere hope that you all love yourself with all your heart. While loving yourself also love your body and be mindful of who you share it with, as the consequence of not loving yourself and your body can result in children being born to poverty or adverse conditions, an increased likelihood of contracting a sexually transmitted disease, or possibly death.
Of all of the choices that can be made in life, I hope you all choose love.
Be blessed.
