Many of you have wondered over the years how I write this column. My honest answer: “I have no idea.”
I have often taken pen to paper to write down ideas, hoping the phrases or tangential thoughts would trigger 500 words in a timely fashion. I spend a great deal more time thinking about my column and what I should say or need to say.
You see, I do carry a sense of responsibility in my soul. I believe I’m suppose to leave every situation I encounter better than I found it.
It’s a sentiment echoed during a recent video tribute to Jim Buford, president of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis. Buford was given the second annual Mentor St. Louis Award for his commitment to children and families. He is celebrating nearly 20 years as head of the Urban League.
The other springboard I use to write this column is my children. I spoke at a church recently for Black History Month, and one member told me that my column several years ago about my failed attempt to cut the boys’ hair was his favorite! (By the way, at my husband’s insistence, I’ve never tried that again.)
After a recent 90-minute wait to get a table at Red Lobster and then a 45-minute wait for food, our oldest was whining, “When is our food going to get here? I just can’t take it anymore.” To which his little brother responded with advice from the movie, The Lion King: “PJ, Hakuna Matata!” (For those of you without children or Disney, it means no worries.)
The same advice could be given to the new superintendent of St. Louis Public Schools. Of course, it might not make any sense. After all, Creg Williams comes into a district with a great number of issues to address. But the spirit of my 5-year-old’s advice is worthy for Mr. Williams. Not that I think he’s the worrying sort, but what has worry ever solved? It’s time for action, some creative, determined and savvy action!
You can also count on the findings of some study to raise an eyebrow or two. This week, a study was released that showed the share of blacks recruited by the U.S. Army dropped by about one-third over the past five years, despite generous enlistment bonuses.
The Millward Brown study found that more and more African Americans identify having to fight for a cause they don’t support as a barrier to military service. The image of the military as an avenue to see the world and make pretty decent money has changed in the face of so much death and injury, as well as ongoing service in Afghanistan, Iraq and who knows where next.
But what are those who would normally join the armed forces going to do instead? It’s not as if the unemployment picture has changed for the better. I know the military says recruits join because they are patriotic or they want to get money for college, but no one ever mentions the obvious. Young men join the military because there is nothing keeping them in their town.
Now that’s another column for another time.