Monday, July 6, 2020

"I’m exhausted ................" June\July 2020. 1955 to 2020 and Beyond.

Listen and view this essay from Tyler Perry for People TV from June 2020.


When Tyler Perry was asked by PEOPLE to write an essay about hope and his vision for the future of America, he took an uncharacteristic pause. "I initially said no, and that was strange for me because I’m a man of faith and I believe greatly in hope," Perry says.


"My reluctance wasn’t because I didn’t think it was important, and certainly not that I’m not outraged at the murder of George Floyd and so many others."
"It was simply because I was exhausted," the star explains in what would ultimately become a deeply personal and powerful first-person essay for this week’s cover story.

"I’m exhausted from all the hate and the division, the vitriol that I see online from one to another. I’m exhausted from seeing these kinds of senseless murders play out over and over again with no changes in our society."
In the end, Perry, 50, a big-hearted humanitarian with an unending track record of helping those less advantaged, shared his pain, his thoughts for his 5-year-old son and his hope for a nation seeking change.

“The level of racism and brutality that George Floyd faced is something that we as black people know all too well. When I saw that video, I had so many raw, guttural emotions. I felt for him and his family, I felt for all of us as black people, I felt for my five-year-old son,” he wrote. “As I watched with tears in my eyes, it brought back a flood of years of emotions from carrying what feels like the weight of racism on my neck.”

Channeling his emotions, Perry says, “I dried my eyes and put pen to paper for not only myself, not only for hope, but for morning to come for the millions of us who just want to be treated fairly, for those of us who want justice for all, and for my five-year-old son.”

Perry already knows he will soon have to have tough conversations with his son, Aman, who he shares with partner Gelila.

“I know that as his father, a black man in America, it is my duty to prepare him for the harsh reality that awaits him outside of the watchful eyes of his loving parents,” he writes. “It will be a hard, heartbreaking conversation but one that I must have and will have soon.”
In his essay, which Perry reads aloud for an exclusive video to accompany the PEOPLE cover story, he offers hints of promise for what lies ahead. “I will explain to [Aman] that because we are only 12 to 14 percent of the population, this fight will continue to be a long and arduous one, but I will tell him with pride to never give up. I will tell him that progress is made in small steps and even if you get exhausted to fight on, because there are always signs of daybreak before the morning comes.”

The recorded version of Perry’s essay lasts for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, the exact length of time former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin used a knee to pin Floyd by the neck as he died.




For I'm exhausted also.  Exhausted by the senseless killing and death, by the challenges, disparities, EGOs, financial hardships, lack of support, lack of recognition of our organization and membership, and other issues since the conception of the Black Emergency Managers Association International to address our mission  & vision and these important issues that make our communities unique.

Exhausted gaining strength in others that have supported, completed their education & training, begun working in homeland security, disaster\emergency management at all levels from the federal, state, county, city, private sector, educational institutions, and implemented proactive plans, processes and procedures in their communities not only for EM but have taken an added step to address the impacts of climate change in their communities.

Exhausted, but with perseverance that there is more work to be done.  One house, one neighborhood, one community at a time.  It is a lonely road, but the trails of the past have trained me for the future.

Peace be safe, be prepared, stay healthy.

Charles


1231-B Good Hope Road.  S.E.                                                       
Washington, D.C.  20020                                                                 
Office:   202-618-909
bEMA International

              


“We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today.  We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now.  In this unfolding conundrum of life and history there is such a thing as being too late.  Procrastination is still the thief of time.  Life often leaves us standing bare, naked and dejected with a lost opportunity.  This may well be mankind’s last chance to choose between chaos or community.”

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., ‘Where Are We Going From Here:  Chaos or Community’.

Cooperation, Collaboration, Communication, Coordination, Community engagement, and  Partnering (C5&P)            

A 501 (c) 3 organization



No comments:

Post a Comment

RECOMMENDED READING LIST

Search This Blog

ARCHIVE List 2011 - Present