The Masks that Obscures Humanity
"I love you." Simple words, yet they stirred a storm of complex emotions among Black men across the country. These words, spoken publicly by a U.S. Senator to a former president, held a weight that went beyond affection; they touched on histories of power, pain, and pride. The moment felt layered with unspoken meanings, a glimpse into a reality many sensed but couldn’t fully describe.
It took time—weeks of reflection—for me to begin unraveling why those words felt so profound, why they rang as both familiar and foreign. Many saw this as a political maneuver, a performance for potential political gain. But something more personal stirred in me, taking me back to memories of wisdom passed down, to the words of my mother, who, on her 102nd birthday, simply said, "I love everyone, regardless of how badly they may have treated me." This was her secret to longevity, a message from the heart that echoed a truth I had known since childhood but only now understood on a deeper level.
The journey to understanding who we are—our heritage, our resilience—is one I have walked for over 80 years. In all my years, as a consultant and as a student of life, I have learned to see through facades and to recognize the masquerades that society often forces upon us. We live in a time where many still play the "lonely game," lost in a masquerade of misunderstanding, unable to recognize the wisdom in humility, resilience, and pride that runs through our ancestry.
Yet, enlightenment comes from remembering who we are. Despite what society tells us to suppress or hide, we are descendants of strength and spirit, whose wisdom survived the trials of history. We are not bound to the mentalities of the past; we are capable of evolving beyond them. When we choose to transform the negative energy aimed at us, we awaken to an incredible power—a strength to succeed, to love openly, and to live authentically.
Some may still be "lost in a masquerade," but there is a path forward: one of self-recognition, of reclaiming truths that have always belonged to us. To see beyond the illusions of today, to stand with humility, strength, and understanding—that is the path to wisdom and to freedom. And as I reflect on it all, I know this truth remains: The masquerade can only imprison those who choose not to see beyond it. Our ancestors' wisdom is not distant; it’s here, within us, waiting to guide us if we dare to listen.
May we embrace that truth. And may we stand in the power that comes from knowing who we are, with a spirit unmasked.
We must divorce ourselves from this deception regardless of what side of the mask is being displayed, whether we are wearing it ourselves, or simply watching those being affected by its deception.
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