Politics Café


Black America and politics
What we owe ourselves.

by Nicole McLean

My father likes to say to me… “Every day that you wake up, you owe somebody something.” I used to think it was his way of telling me that I needed to pay my bills more expediently. Fortunately, I have grown to a deeper understanding of his wisdom. The truth that I find in his words is the reflection that we cannot simply be placeholders during our brief lifetimes; we have to be active participants in life. The adage “nothing in life is free” refers to more than financial collateral; it also refers to our time, energy and active participation in all facets of life that work together to create the life that we enjoy.

While we all may know that nothing in life is free, we are often unaware of the ways that we frivolously give away our collateral. Lack of participation and understanding of the science of politics is collateral that we give away each and every day. I feel that the promise of American democracy is a true gift to every citizen in this nation.

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People from around the globe flock to America – often risking their lives on the trip – for the chance to be free enough to succeed or fail based on their own merits. To be free of the shackles of overtly criminal behaviors of the government and leadership. To be free of a system of government in which you know that by your birth you have no chance to rise to high levels of leadership, irrespective of your own qualifications, gifts, talents and dreams. They leave homes and lands that they have known for generations and take a risk on themselves. That which we take for granted is a cherished treasure by many people around the globe.

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