Black Privilege
poem
“They took me out
to some lonesome place.
They said, ‘Do you believe
in the great white race?’I said, ‘Mister,
to tell you the truth,
I’d believe in anything
if you’d just turn me loose.’The white man said, ‘Boy
can it be
you’re a-standin’ there
a-sassin’ me?’They hit me in the head
and knocked me down.
And then they kicked me
on the ground.A klansman said, ‘Nigger,
”
look me in the face—
and tell me you believe in
the great white race.’
“Good night… I would walk a thousand miles to look into his eyes, good night… to be moved by his smile, good night… to be pressed against his thigh, good night… I would walk another thousand miles to steal a kiss from him, Good Night.”
“There is a hush, a hush of silence, a deafening calm that is heard after a storm.
A boisterous echoing void that is still and frightening. The hum of nothingness fills the air.
And through this you can almost hear the concerns of; “is he alright” “are we still alive?” “what are we going to do?”
Yet even louder there is something else… “what can i do to help?” “Do you need anything?” “We have each other!” It’s louder than any howl of wind, any crash of waves, any clap of thunder. It’s the city, it is New York… and in the hush of silence what you hear is Hope.”
“ACCEPTANCE
God in His infinite wisdom
”
Did not make me very wise-
So when my actions are stupid
They hardly take God by surprise
“IF you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ‘em up with worn-out tools:If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
”
’ Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,
if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And - which is more - you’ll be a Man, my son!
House of Aviance Creed →
DESIDERATA
(adopted House creed discovered by Jonathan Clark Aviance)
Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.