wake up call to what exactly? timid is not fully extrapolating your point. or wanting to fully understand mine.
here is what he said and i was responding to:
now here's my full quote, that you pulled selectively from and misinterpreted:
"i do see your point. and you certainly do not need to accept anyone's terms of unity. you have that choice. that was my point. and like all choices, there will be benefits and there will be costs. other black americans have chosen to not focus on such things, and have gone on to live fully enriched, happy lives. they have also incurred benefits and costs for that choice. some realized now, some much later on down the line, perhaps not in their lifetime. "
no where did i say or imply that if one chooses not to focus on, as HarrietTubmanCane said, "our experiences and history in America....the roots of things, the creator’s history or the country’s history" that one could not go on to live a fully enriched, happy life. what i did do was offer a counter to his claim that a black man in america cannot afford the luxury of not living a life focused on such things. they can, they have, and have lived a full, happy life doing so. to actually suggest otherwise, it to remove their agency and self-actualization. it is to literally do to them what he claims to despise.
further, i made sure to say that all choices(in this case, the choice to focus fully on, or very little on, historical injustices) have benefits and costs. Which is to say, that neither way in my view is necessarily the correct way. that is up to each human to decide... and the consequences, good or bad, will play out over a lifetime and then some.
i went out of my way to ensure agency. to avoid telling anyone how to feel, or what is right or wrong. yet, you both found ways to create a narrative for me, simply because of what i represent to you based on an identity you have given me. my opinion... this is not a winning strategy. but, again, we will see. im truly, honestly pulling for you.
