Prove Yourself and All Will Be Right with the World

There is a common theme that runs through the inspirational movies with people of African descent as the central characters: put up with all the dehumanizing, hostile and violent behavior we can dish out, then you will have proven you are worthy of respect. Remember the Titans —the Black players on the team, and the coach, had to run the gauntlet of bigotry. Men of Honor —Carl Brashear's story. He had to eat boatloads of shit and act like he enjoyed it.

It seems to be a message some have taken to heart. It is also a message that perpetuates the mindset of powerlessness. The time must soon come when people decide that accepting the unacceptable is not necessary to prove oneself worthy of being treated with dignity.