What do you see in your dreams?

This seems to be a common question that I ask myself every time I wake up from my sleep. It is part of my everyday ritual that keeps me sane throughout the day, even in the worst of times. However, not every dream depicts how my day is going to go. We all have the good dreams as well as bad ones, but what keeps us from losing our minds is the ability to choose your own destiny, and alter your sometimes irrational decisions.

I recently came across a quote from what some might say an infamous artist named XXXTentacion, who shocked me with his “turn of events”, highlighted in his “Look at Me” official music video. As you would expect, the beginning of the song did not sit well with me; although I do understand the culture that we as humans have grown to accept and in some cases appreciate. But what would shock me in his video is not the inevitable cursing and references to weed and violence that has long been claimed the Hip Hop/ Rap genre; it was more so the switch in flow to actually tell a story, while still maintaining his appearance as the character he is. Make no mistake; XXXTentacion is what people listen to in this new wave of trap like rap, blending in the high flashy life with the never ending soul and “good vibes” displayed in the beats produced. But individuals like me and the majority of the old Hip-Hop listeners are still looking for that story to be told with every line.

And he brought it in classic fashion…

He first drew us in with his flashy rap style that we love today, grabbing our attention before he would switch into a different tune; telling a story of the past conflicts and reconnecting those incidents with the current situation that the world is in.

What really struck me was when he said this:

“If you are a supremacist, be unmoved by the opposition. Remain unscathed in the comfort of your own home, in your own realm. Demonstrate care for the youth's future, white or black, black or white. Are you willing to risk your child's future due to your own bigotry? The choice is yours, but your child will not stand for the hate. This generation will be loved, nurtured, heard and understood”

If I was a book, to be completely honest with you, I would want this exact quote to be within the first couple of pages, if not the intro. It is not the timing of the quote, as the timing is right on the money as we are currently going through some tough times in this world. It’s not even the platform that he used to voice his opinion.

It was the fact that it’s coming from XXXTentacion and from yours truly… I appreciate it.

Now before you come at my neck for the support I just placed on an artist that some would say is the devil’s spawn, let me explain. Understand that while I do not support certain viewpoints and beliefs that he might project from his character, I am not numb to the strong message that he pushed to the thousands of youths that glorify him. It would prove to be a smart move that couldn’t have come at a better time. There have been desperate needs for celebrities, artists, and sport athletes to voice their opinion on the recent developments that continue to plague our country, all while making our international security susceptible to attacks. Why might you ask do we ever need a famous person opinion? Because it is them that we listen to, watch constantly, and for some people, worship. It is them that we have crushes on, wish to meet, and cherish anything that they sign. They’re opinion matters just as much as ours because we have the power while they have the resources.

Trust me when I say that a person that is willing to sacrifice for the betterment of mankind is the most powerful of the bunch, and ultimately becomes the one that incites change. If you don’t believe me, then learn what individuals such as Martin Luther King, Nat Turner, and Harriet Tubman accomplished not for themselves; but for the betterment of all races and all individuals. They were not worried about their pockets, their fans opinions, or the media. Quite frankly, they dedicated their lives, believing in change. In this day and age, the dedication towards materialistic things have blind sighted our purpose, separating us further from equality and drawing us closer into greed and deception.

Am I preaching to you? No, I’m just telling you the truth. The way we grew up, we was tailored to assume that if you’re black and you’re rich, you were a basketball player, football player, actor, or rapper. This was fine, but nobody really cared for the black entrepreneurs, lawyers and doctors, and in my case politicians. Now is you’re a rapper or sports player, we were brought up to shut up and keep your investments safe, not your culture. This is why we experience conflicts going unanswered in the black community, especially sports (for the fear of unemployment, free agency, or loss of endorsements).

So I ask you again… What do you see in your dreams? Do you see someone who is complacent, prideful, or afraid?

I stand tall in any opposition not because I have to, but because it’s right. This has nothing to do with the whole “do the right thing” theme that people love to throw around; it’s about respecting yourself, your family, and those that came before you. An attack on an individual regardless of race that goes unanswered is an attack that you would allow if it were done on you. I am the son of a man that worked his fingers to the bone, struggling for his family and pushing us to do the best he wanted us to be, even when we rejected it.

So with that in mind, when I wake up I look at myself in the mirror, I think about my purpose in this world, and this is what comes to mind:

“I am a Supremacist…Advocating for the betterment of all men and women, regardless of race. I will continue to remain unscathed in the comfort of my brothers and sisters, as we are all human serving our own purpose to make the world a better place to live. I will demonstrate care for the youth’s future, white or black, black or white. I am not willing to risk my child or any child’s future over senseless bigotry. I understand that just like everything else… the choice is mines. I choose to not stand for the hate.

This generation will be loved, nurtured, heard, and understood.”

To everyone reading this article, lead and not follow. Take in all the rage, anger, and hatred; and turn it into positive progression worthy of the highest praise…