I’ve grown accustomed to the good life over the years. From fine cars and nice schools to the finest homes in the most pristine neighborhoods, access to jobs and a plethora of different career paths. I’ve grown accustom to living life without worry, without fear, without doubt all my life and have never had to question being without it…until last night.
Last night I was invited to a party hosted by a friend in celebration of her sister’s invite to study law at Howard University. The family was particularly thrilled because this was the first time anyone in their family had been given the opportunity to travel to the US. Adachi’s acceptance was their light at the end of a very dark and dungeoned tunnel; they would want for nothing now. Their hopes and dreams would now become a reality weighed heavy on the back of their 17 year old scholarly daughter. To have the potential to live in a new country where the hopes and dreams of tomorrow are propelled forward today was now Adachi’s family’s new reality.
When they realized this, they celebrated like they had never celebrated for anything in their family’s life before. They invited co-workers, members from their church even neighbors down the street because they had finally made it. No more poverty, no more darkness, no more days without electricity, no more unemployment, no more poor healthcare, no more corrupt government, no more stagnation, no more worry, no more fear, no more doubting the stability of their family…No More! From here on out, their portion was growth, stability, and wealth. Adachi’s admission letter had provided the light for a family that had been living in the dark for so long not sure if they would ever be given the grace of light.This was a reality that came all too quickly to the Ibezim family and a revelation that came even quicker to me as I stood their roasting Adachi on a job well done. It accord to me that I had forgotten how good I’d had it all these years. How well life has treated me these last 30 years. How blessed I was to have parents who had the opportunity to go to school here in the US and raise their children to do the same. To be the first of my generation to have a stable and thriving future based on the privilege and sacrifice both my parents and country provide me every single day. I had grown fully accustomed to the good life forgetting that it is privileged…that I am privileged. I did not earn this life, I did not work for this life as many do every single day. I had taken my freedom to work and school where I want, to have running water and electricity 24/7, to be what I want for granted and for such a very long time.
For those of us that have grown accustomed to the way of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, for those of us who are distracted by recent events and activities, for those of us that have been living under a rock or in a bubble all our lives….now is the moment we must analyze our privilege. Because not only are we free to live and be who we want to be but we are provided safety, rights, clean water, 24-Hour electricity, access to a multitude of jobs/occupations/a career amongst many others. The reality is we have grown so accustomed to our bubble of privilege that if one element were to be taken away, we would render ourselves powerless. We have the ability to do our part to render these privileges to others who are without opportunity through sponsorships, business ventures and other avenues. We have the ability provide privilege to others the way it was given to us. If each of us can provide a better life for just one person, we will have changed the pathway for that individual for the better for the rest of their life. So the next time we choose to complain, let us first check our African privilege.
RNHelpingHand 