[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQcSoE1bt_A&hl=en]

R.I.P JOSHUA SIMMS

Words can’t express a mother’s pain when her child is lost. Lost to the senseless violence and killings that are frequent amongst young black men today in America. Today I asked myself, why, and if not why how. How can we help, how can I help, is it worth the energy, will people listen? I am sure that it is worth the energy, to save what many are calling an endangered species; the young black male in America. A close friend asked me yesterday, why do you write, what is at your core? I didn’t know how soon I would be able to show her my answer rather than tell her. Why you ask, because that picture above us, that young man’s soul prayerfully resting in heaven could have been me. It can be any one of us who walk this earth searching for a better way. And because it could be us, might be us, this is even more reason why we must stand against the death of our people.

Have you learned the lessons only of those who admired you, and were tender with you, and stood aside for you? Have you not learned great lessons from those who braced themselves against you, and disputed passage with you? - Walt Whitman

Today’s inspiration is a photo of a man who has overcome many obstacles, and in the face of adversity continues to shine brighter than the brightest star. David A. Patterson recently made history by becoming the first black Governor of the state of New York. He also hails from Long Island, like myself, but none of these elements are the reason why I choose to celebrate him today. You see my mother is legally blind, and when the woman who I look up to is inspired by such a man it is inspiring to me! Inspired by his ability to achieve despite his physical handicap, inspired by his enthusiasm about his new position, today I celebrate David Patterson as an inspiration.