CONGRATULATIONS AMERCA

[God's Anointed Angel]

This morning, I came into the knowledge that we as a people have taken
a great step forward. For the first time ever, a black man has been
elected to the highest office available in the United States of
America. This in itself speaks volumes concerning the racism that has
existed here since the people of Africa were brought here on slave
ships over four hundred years ago. It speaks volumes concerning the
assisination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the times of the
lynchings of the 1960's and beyond. The dream that an individual would
not be judged based on the color of their skin, but by the content of
their character has truly evolved to a new level in the minds and the
hearts of the people. There is a hug uproar in the conversation of the
people because of the color of the skin of the next president of the
United States. However, I would like to focus on the change of the
hearts of Americans. I would like to focus on the day that has arrived
for us as a nation of people. We have truly united as a whole. We are
headed into an era of the fulfillment of our love one for another. An
era where an individual will no longer be judged by his skin tone, but
by the character which is on the inside. There is integrity on ALL
side of the table as far as race is concerned, but we as a majority
have overcome one milestone in the equation. There is also a grave
need for inprovement on ALL sides of the table. Yet, it appears that
we are coming to realize as a whole that it is not a race issue as far
as the color of ones skin is concerned. It is however a race issue as
far as who we are is concerned. You see, we are the only creatures on
the earth that were created in the image of God. Therefore, we now
need to focus more on the area of improving that race-the HUMAN race.
I say, "CONGRATULATIONS AMERICA," for you have seen the hearts intent
of a man who appears to be the most humble of servants. He who seeks
the position of leadership is servant unto all, and President Obama
has made the promise to be a faithful servant. He has promised to
return the government that is of the people back to the people that it
is for. He has promised to govern the nation with love and compassion
and to do that which America should have long ago done-make this a
nation that takes care of its own. For God's word says, "He who takes
not care of his own is LESS than an infidel." I took the liberty of
looking up the word long ago as it had trouble me to understand
exactly what that meant. The dictionary describes an infidel as a
fool. Once again, I return to the word of God concerning a fool. It
states, "A fool returns to his folly as a dog does to his vomit." A
very unsettling picture. A dog vomits and returns to lick up that
which his body has rejected. This has in times past been the routine
of America. Americans have rejected the bitterness and hatred fo
racism for decades. Yet, it has never failed to rear its ugly head. I
thank God for a more diverse and determined America. A generation of
people who have said, "I refuse to take on the illness that plagued my
forefathers." A generation of people who are determined to love the
way that Jesus loves. Jesus loved so much that he came to bring the
word and salvation of God not just unto the Jews, but unto the
Gentiles. That love spoke and still does speak volumes unto the human
race. He came not just for the salvation of the nation of people that
he was born into, but he came for the salvation of ALL of the people
that God created. He came for the salvation for the whole people, not
just part.
It is now time for the Black or African American people or whatever we
choose to call ourselves to stand up and live up to the potential that
God has put on the inside of us. This is the same potential that
America sees in our new president elect. Be all that you can be, and
stop blaming those who were not born when this travesty of racism
began. Do what the majority of white Americans have done; give them an
opportunity to show you where there heart is in love. For my white
brothers and sisters who have not yet arrived at this point, think
about babies and how they do not know color. You can take babies of
all nationalities and put them together in the same room or play pen,
and they will bond as-long-as there is no outside interference. Let's
do what God's word requires for us to do, become as new born babes.
For God's word says that we cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven
unless we become as one of these, a child.
On that note, I would like to share a poem with you that I wrote years
ago for a BLACK HISTORY progam as a correctional officer at Mark
Luttrel Correctional Center in Memphis.

PAID IN FULL

The price was paid in full for me to live in America
When queens, kings, princes, and princesses, were taken from Mother
Africa.
This is the price of my nationality and how Black America came to be.
My history carries scars of being battered and bruised,
Disrespected, mistreated, dishonored, and abused.
During years of being whipped across their backs,
It was my forefathers who laid the rairload tracks.
They were labeled property and known as slaves
As their captures sent many of them to early graves.
Families were seperated; young girls and women were raped.
All were forced to watch the torture of those captured after they had
escaped.
(But) the slave master should have known that things could not remain
the same
When young Kunta Kenta being beaten refused to accept Toby for his
name.
My people were treated like animals, placed in shackles and chains.
The black man is the source of America's gains.
Building houses, planting gardens, and stocking the stores
While their women were violated behind closed doors.
Driving Ms. Daisy were she wanted to go.
Dressed up like clowns and humiliated for show.
Clearing the grounds to make the highways,
Came from the sweat, tears, and torture of the black man's days.
Days of working without any rest,
And being beaten for not doing their expected best.
What were my forefathers beaten for?
They opened up this great nations door.
With blood shed, humiliation, and pain,
The black man recieved no material gain.
As the years went by and slavery was gone,
The hatred of the slave master still lived on.
The black man was continously denied his rights
And tormented by Caucasians in white sheets at night.
They endured cross burnings and open police brutality.
People spit on them and burn their homes out of cruelty.
(But) the black man believed that God was on his side.
So, he held his head high and maintained his pride.
Malcolm was a powerful march and riot administrator.
"By any means necessary," he told his demonstrators.
Martin protested with peace and nonviolence,
But he told the nation that there would be no silence
Until there was a true acknowledgement of the equality
That America's constitution guarantees both you and me.
The Black Panthers looked on people in need
And provided meals for families with hungry children to feed.
These were a few who stood up for our rights.
Each had a different way of approaching the fights.
They were blacks who stood strong and proud.
"We demand our justice as humans," the proclaimed out loud.
Now I have heard some say, "Send them back to Africa."
I say, "We are the hybrid children. We built America."
We cannot be sent back to were we've never been.
We are a product of the injustice done to our forefathers way back
when.
Our blood is that of many nations.
America is where God made us and we are a unique creation.
If they did start to send people back,
I think that America would end up mostly Indian and Black.
They would have to redesign Miss Liberty
To resemble more people who look just like me.
I hope this has enhanced your knowledge of America the free
For it is only a small portion of American Black History.
It is not dressed up nor torn down.
Just the facts of my history as it has been found.
This is the price of my nationality,
And how Black America came to be.
POET: ANN BANKS
INSPIRATION:
TO ENLIGHTEN MARK LUTTREL CORRECTIONAL CENTERS INMATES
ABOUT BLACK HISTORY.

I pray that you understand the message and recieve no offense or
render any. May God continue to bless and keep you, in Jesus name.
MLIJC,
God's Anointed
Missionary Ann

P.S.
Reading this poem far fails in comparison to hearing the spoken word
performance
through the eyes of the poet.