"YOU PEOPLE"

 

 

Overheard a conversation between the secretary and an office aid.  She made the comment we dont want to enable the parents.  I sat with it and couldn’t let it go……

 

 

WE DON’T WANT TO BE ENABLERS TO POORBLACK PARENTS? O REALLY!

 

 

An enabler is defined as: Someone whose behaviors allows a loved one to continue self destructive patterns,  practices of behavior.

 

 

Enabler is a person who by their actions make it easier for an addict to continue their self destructive behavior by criticizing or rescuing.

 

 

People who are in the grips of addiction use manipulation to control their enablers. But when you stop enabling those addictions,  your loved one may become enraged to the point of making threats of physical violence or self harm in order to regain control.

 

 

She also made the comment, a parent is ALWAYS angry, let us not take into consideration it is upon her back:

 

YOU GET A MIDDLE CLASS INCOME

 

YOUR BILLS ARE PAID

 

YOU CAN BUY FOOD

 

YOU CAN PAY RENT

 

YOUR NEEDS ARE MET

 

YOU CAN ENJOY YOUR TIME OF RELAXATION BECAUSE SHE AND HER CHILDREN ASSURE  YOU THAT YOUR WANTS ARE MET ALONG WITH YOUR FAMILY

 

SO WHO’S ENABLING WHO, HONESTLY???

 

Hero because he couldn’t heal?

 

Hero because he produced exceptional work while being terminally ill?

 

Hero because he chose to be BLACK FOLKS on a world stage and work as we are newly diagnosed of a terminal illness, in the middle stages of our terminal illness and at the end of life because of intergenerational and generational trauma, ptsd and legislated poverty and oppression?

 

Hero because he chose to “tough” it out?

 

 

Hero because the world didn’t know hos business?

 

 

Hero because he focused on his the people that mattered?

 

 

Hero because he STILL lived, inspired and did what we do WORK til we die?

 

 

Hero because he smiled, encouraged and was selfless while sying slowly?

 

 

Hero because he took cruel words of heartless people as he was declining?

 

 

Hero because he showed up even after treatments?

 

 

Hero because he had a kind and upholding word as he faced his own demise privately?

 

 

Hero because in this country we can’t be ill and Black and feel it?

 

 

Hero because we have to care more about this establishment than our own health?

 

 

Hero because medical apartheid is never addressed seriously?

 

 

Hero because as long as we keep the peace even beingahotted on in this racist placerhat we uphold is ideal?

 

 

Hero because we continuously forgive the lies, narrative, hurt, harm and danger when it comes to Black Lives?

 

 

Hero because well, we are considered to be good niggers when we are silent, permissible and in agreement to the media framing of us?

 

 

Hero because he was dying internally as cancer was eating his body but yet STILL was, did, said, reached, maintained and felt for others?

 

 

Hero because  he hid his battle with cancer and STILL produced movies?

 

 

Hero because he hid his personal struggles and fears?

 

 

Hero because his illness was HIS and he chose not to burden his followers?

 

 

Hero because he kept his marriage intimate?

 

 

Hero because he differentiated between work and home?

 

 

Hero because he touched us when he needed us touching him?

 

 

AUGUST 28TH, 2020

 

“To the world you may be one person; but to one person you may be the world.” ― Dr. Seuss.

 

 

This is the day Dr. King’s famous I HAVE A DREAM SPEECH was thrown back into America’s face.

 

 

This is the day Dr. King’s famous I HAVE A DREAM SPEECH some 57 years later is STILL being legislatively denied, ignored and have evolved into reasons WHY IT HAS NOT AND THE YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE DECLARED ENOUGH IS ENOUGH AND BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY.

 

 

I MADE A VOW TO HONOR YOU DAILY, ON PURPOSE THIS MONTH ELDRINA LYNETTE JONES BECAUSE YOU CELEBRATED YOU EVERY DAY DURING YOUR MONTH;

 

 

YOUR LEGACY IS RICH

 

 

YOUR LEGACY DRASTICALLY CHANGED LIVES

 

 

YOUR LEGACY WAS YOUR FAMILY’S LEGACY AND IT WAS STRATEGIC AND SHOULD BE COMMEMORATED BY ALL I THOUGHT AND SO IT IS………

 

 

THE GOVENOR OF SOUTH CAROLINA ORDERED YEP IN THE GOOD OLD SOUTHERN STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA FLAGS TO BE LOWERED HALF STAFF FOR ANOTHER YOUNG GIFTED AND BLACK TRAILBLAZER WHO IS GONE TOO SOON BY THE NAME OF CHADWICK BOSEMAN.

 

 

YOUNG GIFTED AND BLACK!

 

 

IN DOING A SIDE BY SIDE AND VIEWING THE BOTH OF YOUR LIFE’S DASH, I AM WRTITNG THESE HEARTFELT WORDS FROM MY KNOWLEDGE OF YOU TWO SOUTH CAROLINIANS WHO LEFT US DURING THIS MONTH OF THE DREAM OF DR. KING, DURING A PANDEMIC AND MAJOR UPRORAR IN AMERICA OVER RACE.

 

 

DR. CHADWICK WAS WORKING ON AN UPCOMING SERIES TITLED, WHAT IF TO BE RELEASED IN 2021?

 

 

“You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.” John Bunyan

 

 

THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU BOTH HAVE DONE FOR THE CULTURE.

 

 

YOU WOKE US

YOU SHOOK US

YOU MODLEDED FOR US

YOU SHOWED US

YOU POSITIONED US

 

 

YOU RELEASED US WITH ONE FINAL MESSAGE; SOAR MY SEED, SOAR!

I HATE CANCER!

In our KKKountry there’s a trembling

In our KKKountry there’s a whirling

In our KKKountry there’s a shaking

In our KKKountry there’s  moving

In our KKKountry there’s a brewing

In our KKKountry there’s a reconing

 

IN OUR KKKOUNTRY THERE’S AN UPRISING GETTING READY TO OCCUR

 

This is happening during a MAJOR PANDEMIC where we are tackling ALL AT ONCE:

racism, economic terrorism, health apartheid, education malpractice and 400 years of BLACK LIVES NOT MATTERING in the very KKKountry that BLACK LIVES built and yet is upholding and maintaining and it is taking its toll on us and boiling over.

YES, ALL DURING HURRICANE 

 

This made me reflect on 2 POWERFUL, INFLUENTIAL AND IMPACTFUL women who I respectfully called .

 

These 2 women were instrumental, loved and important in my upbringing.

 

One is deceased and one is alive and kicking.

 

MS. LAURA HELM AND MS. LAURA COLLIER.….

 

1  was spiritual, religious and a healer in EVERY aspect of the word. She was in the healthcare field, a prize nurse of my mom.  She was proficient, timely, accurate and up to date on medical advancement.

 

SHE MASTERED THAT GIVE AND TAKE we no longer cherish in our culture.

SHE GAVE LOVE, SHE TOOK LOVE

SHE GAVE RESPECT, SHE TOOK RESPECT

SHE GAVE MEDICINE SHE TOOK VITALS

SHE GAVE PRESCRIPTIONS SHE TOOK SPECIMENS

SHE GAVE DIAGNOSIS SHE TOOK TO DEPARTMENTS

SHE GAVE PRAYERS SHE TOOK HER CALLING OF HEALING AS TRUE MINISTRY

 

1 was a trash talker, street walker and corner stroller with her cherished

STOP SIGNS raised.

She made sure that children were safe, included and kind to one another.

She was up on the relevancy of policies, procedures, equipment and practices to make sure we were a safe community of walkers.

She was familiar with road hazards, signs, rules and regulations.

She was a quick thinker, timely and a front line worker in their field of education.

She also collaborated with other stake holders in our education so therefore she would report what needed to report and she ALWAYS, always had the best interest of the students and would make it known in public meetings.

These two women name LAURA were indeed HURRICANES, DISMANTLE AND ERADICATED minded women in our community.

People shape what we do, how we speak and what we think and how we feel.

 

I was a substitute in Kimani class.

 

Ms. McGee was that quiet strength in the back of the room.

 

She was a support.

 

She was a room parent.

 

She was present.

 

She was vocal.

 

She understood the importance of education.

 

She wasnt going to play over her Kimani.

 

She took pride is guiding her grandbaby within the education setting, she was all in it and she expected her pride and joy to be, do and present herself in the most exceptional manner possible.

 

She knew couldn’t wasn’t in Mani vocabulary and demanded the educators given.

 

RIGHT

JUST

TRUTHFUL

HONEST

OPEN

SINCERE

FORTHRIGHT

CANDID

DIRECT

HEARTFELT

PROFOUND

GENUINE

REAL AF

AFFECTED

INTENTIONAL

OUTSPOKEN

UNHARMING

UNSCATHING

ACCURATE

TIMELY

AUTHENTIC

FACTUAL

CERTAIN

LEGITIMATE

DEFINITIVE

EXACT

ON POINT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today, ELDRINA LYNETTE JONES  graced the earth, traveled the world and became a rodent, just left seeds EVERYWHERE even if you didn’t see her or know her; SHE WAS THERE!

 

Today, I will honor her in the way I think she should have been while on earth.

 

I will honorably and posthumously give her just flowers, a 21 gun salute and lower the flag because she indeed was a warrior…….

I salute her sacrifice

I salute her dedication

I salute her selflessness

I salute her motherly instincts

I salute her leadership position

I salute her BOSS moves

I salute her boldness

I salute her confidence

I salute her strong will

I salute her care for the least of them

I salute her inner and out beauty

I salute her LOVE for humanity

I salute her HOPE she gave

I salute her pledge to her BLACK people, OUR people

I salute her RESILIENT nature

I salute how she was able to allow young women to LEARN and would step back so that we execute

I salute her humble and modest demeanor because baaaaaby what I have really learned about her AFTER death….

I salute her RADICAL audacity to embody ALL she knew that we were of which made me PROUD to be in your culture, gender and hue

I salute her HARMONIOUS lifestyle, no drama, no gossiping, no nothing; if it wasn’t about uplifting and empowering you weren’t bout it bout it

I salute her DUTY to be responsible and accountable for those who were ignorant, impoverished and marginalized and LEAD THEM TO success, the light, and a different way of thinking and being

I salute her ability to laugh and laugh that infectious laughter that even when I DID NOT want to and attempt to be stubborn, I COULD NOT with her

I salute her feminist position, she COULD, she DID and at times she was the ONLY ONE IN THE ROOM but she left one rich legacy….

TO MAKE SURE THE GIRLS KNEW THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULDN’T DO, BE OR HAVE, YOU SPOKE IT INTO THEM AND THE FACT THEY CALLED YOU TEE TEE ELDRINA I AM GRATEFUL……

I would call you Dr. Jones, the way you touched humanity, the way you loved in spite of, the way you understood, the way you loved in spite of, the way you cared, the way you loved in spite of, the way you gave, the way you loved in spite of, the way you mentored, the way you loved  in spite of, the way you waited to see your seeds become ripe, they way you loved in spite of, the way you waited to see is cross that finished line and be our biggest cheerleaders, the way you loved in spite of…….

 

You lived a life of helping, serving, giving, caring and changing the life trajectory of those who didn’t eve know they needed it but once you exposed, elevated the mind, mentored and said LET’S so everything else fell in place.

 

She said she celebrated herself the ENTIRE month of August and this year my pen is shaking nonstop (that nauseating and excitement).

I choose to honor ELDRINA LYNETTE JONES, BLL style.

BIRTH
LIFE
LEGACY

 

SNUGGLES!

Anyone close to me, knows that I don’t do the hugging and kissing stuff well. I have my OWN LOVE LANGUAGE.

This woman here was ALL ABOUT IT and I couldn’t understand why and didn’t want to understand it either.

At her BIRTH, just as ALL newborns, I am sure her loving and doting mommy was handed her new baby daughter in a covering, SNUGGLED tightly.

She gazed upon her BEAUTIFUL BROWN GIRL and in her unmistakable, intense, deep, southern hospitable manner and motherese began the mothering process.

Every level, experience, exposure and age Momma Marie SNUGGLED MyRinRina closer, closer, closer and closer.

Throughout Rina’s life journey, ALL she knew was to LEAN IN, INVADE SPACES, COME CLOSER, SPEAK IN YOUR EAR, NEVER SHOUT BUT BE PRESENT, SHOW UP UNANNOUNCED, HEAR THE INAUDIBLE AND FEEL THE HIDDEN, EXPOSE THE WOUNDS BECAUSE SHE UNDERSTOOD THAT WAS THE FIRST STEP OF HEALING AND FREEDOM.

 

Today her LEGACY is seed planting, depositing life, growing women, championing with and for women facing hardships, producing assets and not liabilities, healing generational wounds and making lives better and richer for each and every Mary she came in contact with.

 

To know this is WHY you had to leave us but yet CENTERED your calling. Yep, women who you linked up with or tied your umbilical  cord to was injected with some GOOD seeds.  You had MAD SEEDS in utero and the way you CHOSE to live your life was: repositioning, digging, watering, being the sun and our appointed DOULA so we could BIRTH healthy babies.

 

Today is the day your casket will be lowered, YOU WILL BE SNUGGLED IN A COVERING called an OVERLAY and I KNOW your mom will be waiting at the pearly gates rejoicing and saying HAPPY BIRTHDAY DRINA!

 

So, BLACK WOMEN, OUR BLACK SISTERS.since we just don’t know how long we have each other; our anthem should be, WHEN YOU WIN, I WIN!

It is hard to spray fragrance on others and it not stick on you too

It is hard to encourage, inspire and motivate others and it not resonate deep within you too

It is hard to deposit into others and it not boomerang back to you

It is hard to shed light and stay in darkness

ELDRINA JONES always used to say, Sis. you need ALL kind of people on your dream team, the ones you want least are the ones you need closest because in their critique, you will learn you and perfect you.

EJ taught me the difference between someone negatively criticizing me vs. someone constructively criticizing me.

She would ask me, WHAT DO YOU HEAR? (This part irked) Well Sis, people can’t control WHAT YOU HEARD when they shared THEIR position and allowed THEIR heart to speak.

These two women, are indeed MY NIGERIAN SISTERS.

They came into my life as I had finally made up my mind to make a TURN and after that TURN I had to learn how to make GOOD TROUBLE.

They cheered for
They cried with
They talked to
They understood
They encouraged
The motivated
They showed up
They supported
They inspired
They showered
They cared
They loved
They elevated
They seed planted

O BUT THE DAYS OF LAUGHTER AND HEALING

With them, they are MY MISS NIGERIA 2019 and it is not just a cliche, slogan, adage, saying, or a motto BUT they were intentional, authentic, and quick about it; with that by any means necessary maneuvering

I wasn’t judged because they were my Elizabeths

I wasn’t made to feel small because they were my Elizabeths

I wasn’t hurt or harmed because they were my Elizabeths

I was always provided a shoulder, tissue (just in case) O WE CAN’T FORGET BOOTY WIPES (insider)

I wake up this morning ONLY focusing on who I had in ELDRINA and the impact she had on me.

I AM FINALLY AT PEACE AND HAPPY (kinda)!

P.S. If I ever asked, May I Ask A Big Favor?” and told you that I would LOVE to have the honor of adding you to a project I was working on for our two girls, these two women were instrumental in expanding it.

Thanks Michelle Walker

 

TODAY, I REFLECT ON THE BOOK YOU BLESSED ME WITH TITLED, SHOWING MARY.

 

IN THIS BOOK IT DEPICTS THE NEED, THE ESSENTIAL, THE SACRED, THE COVETED RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TWO UNLIKELY WOMEN.

 

THE HAVE AND THE HAVE NOT

 

THE STRONG AND THR WEAK

 

THE IGNORANT AND THE ENLIGHTENED

 

THE OPULENT AND THE SPARSE

 

THE SOCIALITE AND THE ISOLATED

 

THE EMPOWERED AND THE LOW ESTEEM

 

THE CONFIDENT AND THE TIMID

 

THESE TWO WOMEN ALTHOUGH OPPOSITE OUTWARDLY, THEY HAD A COUPLE OF THINGS IN COMMON:

 

THEY WERE BOTH PREGNANT

 

THEY BOTH COULD OFFER THE WORLD GREATNESS

 

THEY BOTH HONED THEIR JUSS

 

THEY BOTH HAD ASPIRATIONS

 

THEY BOTH WERE HUNGRY FOR VARIOUS THINGS

 

THEY BOTH WERE AT THE TABLE

AT THE TABLE!!!!

AT THE TABLE YOU TAUGHT ME ETIQUETTE

 

AT THE TABLE YOU TAUGHT ME HOW TO SPEAK UP AND SPEAK OUT

 

AT THE TABLE YOU TAUGHT ME HOW TO LOOK PEOPLE IN THE EYE

 

AT THE TABLE YOU TAUGHT ME HOW  TO BE SEEN

 

AT THE TABLE YOU TAUGHT ME HOW TO NOT ACCEPT ANY TREATMENT

 

AT THE TABLE YOU ALWAYS SERVED ME A BUFFET OF THIS THAT AND THE OTHER AND ALLOWED ME TO PICK AND CHOOSE WHAT WAS GOOD, NEEDED AND NUTRITIOUS FOR MY BODY, MIND, SPIRIT AND SOUL

 

AT THE TABLE, YOU TOLD ME NWVER TO UIDE MY SCARS, THEY ARE MY NADGES OF HONOR AND A REMINDER THAT I CHOSE TO BE A SURVIVOR

YOU MADE LEMONS FEEL AND TASTE SWEET AND ENJOYABLE

YEAH, THIS MARY NEED TO THANK YOU WHOLEHEARTEDLY FOR TAKING OUT THE TIME TO SHOW ME!

 

 

Dope Dealin Flo!

Going down memory lane, she would sit at HER AUNT Lodia’s house and get in HER favorite corner of the couch and fall asleep even mid conversation.

Grams would in her soft and loving tone flash that big beautiful smile and tell everyone let Flo alone, she tired caue she just got off of work and everyone did. She enjoyed family and community and when she came, you were in for some stories and laughter.

7 traits of a DOPE DEALER:

POPULAR, when you say the name BOX if you are not known, your children are known because of your deposits.

DISTINGUISHED, your household was the go to house hold, as a nurse, you were known to be peaceful and healing.

RESPECTED-This is what you earned and gained when you entered spaces

FEARED-No one like to see the nurse coming; your healing was through the anointing and you didn’t mind slinging oil on anyone

INTELLIGENT-To know when, where, how, why and what and moved your life according and made people feel accepted and inclusive is a skill and ministry not all can say they are called to execute and be for God.

INTUITIVE– God had put the Holy Spirit deep down within you and you operated in such a manner, YOU knew what GOD placed within you and was never fearing the end of life because you prepared yourself and those around you for it

TIMELY-As a DOPE DEALER, you must be accurate, swift, detailed, diligent, exceptional communicator (verbal and nonverbal) and able to code switch

We have our street dealers and hour legal dealers and Flo, mastered the LEGAL way of distributing, diagnosing and healing the sick either mentally, physically, emotionally and also financially.

Living in our community, coming from BIG families were nothing foreign, we supported, helped, loved and united. You raised little boys who grew into men who picked up your spirit of servitude, healing, coaching and making lives better for all. Your daughters are the epitome of grace, dignity and nurtering just as you.

Love your Coublings,

The Randall Family