Listening at the Speed of Life

Businessman with boxing gloves. Courtesy of California Ticket Masters

There are boxing gloves that can fit every hand for the fight against injustice.

Without the tempered pen of Phillis Wheatley and Ida B. Wells-Barnett… the beautiful creative prowess of Katherine Dunham and Debbie Allen… the cat eyeglasses and church shoes worn by civil rights activists, I wouldn’t be able to do what I do each day. So, I started thinking… if everyone fought the same way, something would go untouched. A collection of varied punches is the only human force that can defeat an enemy of this magnitude. The slobbering rabid dog that it is.

With the crimes that have transpired in the last 2 years (shootings and bombings and murders, oh my…), I decided to challenge myself by compiling a kaleidoscope of ways that people are fighting injustice on a regular basis.  Could I do it? Could I come up with 50 persons that swing in the ring as differently as their fingerprints? Whew! What a challenge!

Though their gloves look different to the naked eye, their fight against what’s wrong in the world sends ripples through history. I made a point to also include people that you may not know, and some I didn’t know until this post.  Their work isn’t always glamourous and may be overshadowed by their fame or “Clark Kent” 9-to-5 identity, but this list is comprised of some heavyweight champions… some, I am honored to know personally. They came to the forefront of my mind and I’ve included their method of fighting as a link within their name. If someone that you admire isn’t on the list, respectfully add it in the comment section below along with a link to provide details about their fighting strategy as it wasn’t meant to be exclusive. Just a segway for conversation and inspiration.

Wouldn’t it be cool if these names were in the history books

so the future can inhale their greatness?

Thank God for alphabetical order. *smile*

1. Al Elliott – Educator, Rapper
2. Alicia Keys – Musician, Songwriter
3. All Military Branches & Law Enforcement – Service
4. Arise Citizens Policy Project – Non-Profit, Advocacy
5. Bertram Young – Non-Profit Unit Director
6. Bill & Melinda Gates – Philanthropists
7. Birmingham Bar Volunteer Lawyers Program – Legal Counsel
8. Brian “Voice Porter” Hawkins – Entrepreneur, Poet, Activist
9. Calvin Littlejohn – Non-Profit Regional Manager
10. Carmelo Anthony – Olympic Athlete, Basketball
11. Clint Smith – Educator, Researcher, Writer
12. Clinton Green – Educator, Musician, Producer, Songwriter
13. Debbie Allen – Actor, Author, Choreographer, Dancer, Director
14. Denzel Washington – Actor, Director
15. Gabby Douglas – Olympic Athlete, Gymnast
16. Gateway Family Church Leaders – Pastors
17. G. I. Magus – Rapper, Songwriter
18. Griena H. K. Davis, Ph.D. – Counselor, Educator, Non-Profit, Advocate
19. Hadiyah-Nicole Green – Educator, Physicist
20. Hedwige “Didi” Saint-Louis, M.D., MPH – Educator, OB/GYN, Advocate
21. Javacia H. Bowser – Educator, Writer
22. Jay-Z – Rapper, Producer, Entrepreneur
23. Jarvis Escott – Entrepreneur, Marketing Professional
24. Jim & Rose McChesney – Birmingham Homeless Ministry Leaders
25. John Hall – Restaurateur
26. Kevin P. Turner – Educator, Pastor, Producer, Songwriter
27. Kimberly Bryant – Technology Education Advocate
28. Lisa Price – Entrepreneur, Hair & Body Care
29. Magic Johnson – Athlete, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist
30. Malala Yousafzai – Non Profit, Activist
31. Mark Bustos – Hairstylist
32. Maya Penn – Entrepreneur
33. Mellody Hobson – Investments Firm President
34. Minority Owned Banks – Financial Service Providers
35. Nadia Richardson, Ph.D. – Educator, Mental Health Advocate
36. Patrick Packer – Advocate, Consultant, Entrepreneur
37. Rosemary Amposah – Welder
38. Ruby Wax – Comedian, Mental Health Advocate
39. Serena Williams – Olympic Athlete, Tennis
40. Shawn Wade, Ph.D. – Educator, Consultant
41. Sherman L. Young – Author, Pastor
42. Sherry Shine – Entrepreneur, Hair Care
43. Shonda Rhimes – Director, Producer, Writer
44. Steven K. Webb, Ph.D. – Educator, Investment Broker
45. Tarra Wilson – Law Enforcement
46. T. D. Jakes – Author, Movie Producer, Pastor
47. T. Marie King – Community & Youth Advocate
48. Tyler Perry – Actor, Director, Playwright, Producer
49. Uawanna J. Day – Administrative Assistant, Sunday School Teacher
50. Warren Buffett – Entrepreneur, Investor
51. Will & Jada Smith – Actors, Directors, Producers, Musicians
52. WNBA  – Athletes, Administrators

So, I thought of 52… who knew?!

10 Ways You Can Fight Too

1. Be a youth/young adult mentor. Don’t freak them out by smothering them. Just love on them. Speak life into them. Mention their interests every now and then. Show up. Support goes a long way.
2. Go outside and be cordial to your neighbors. You can’t criticize who you don’t know. Also, if all eyes are watching for crime, the community creates a line of defense.
3. Learn the names of the officers that police your community. They’re people. Humans live behind that badge. All law enforcement are not bad, just like all vegetables don’t taste gross. Don’t let anything shade your perspective.
4. Read a book. Besides reading God’s Word, I love reading various materials. It helps to maintain healthy conversation when you know what you’re talking about.
5. Discuss a book with others. See #4. Can you imagine what this would do for us all?
6. Be excellent in your craft. Don’t be mediocre because of a paycheck. Be the best. You being your best will make someone else’s life so much better.
7. Excel at the small things. Little things count. Smile. Offer help. Call instead of text. Even if you’re sweeping the floor, remember the corners.
8. Give a compliment to a stranger. Lighten up someone’s load by giving them a smile.
9. Love the unlovable. I know they can be weird and mean. Love them anyway.
10. Bathe yourself in goodness before you go to work. It’s a jungle out there. Be prepared before you walk in. Clothe yourself in righteousness and be ready for whatever. That’s how you don’t flip out.

I hope those names inspire you as much as they did me. Some of them do not receive nearly enough accolades and appreciation, but they fight anyway. Everyday.  Driving their best race in the passionate lane of their career path.

Click on every name. Explore them. If you can, reach out to them… honk your virtual horn and say “Hey. Thanks for fighting.” You may be just the boxer’s corner they need to keep regroup, clean up, and keep going.

Peace & Thanks for listening. *runs to ice fingers from typing*