Copage - Black Pearls

BLACK
PEARLS

Daily Meditations, Affirmations, and Inspirations for African-Americans

Eric V. Copage

To our ancestors

As a child growing up in Los Angeles, I was always intrigued by my grandmothers pocketbook-sized Bible, which she kept in a purse and carried with her everywhere. I noticed how she would begin her days with a quote from one of the Gospels, or rejuvenate herself throughout the day by reading an inspirational section of the Old Testament. I envied the confidence and peace she gained from those words. As I grew older, I began to think: Wouldnt it be great for black Americans to have such a book? Not a religious book, but a book of inspiring sayings and practical advice that stemmed specifically from our heritage and our people. Wouldnt it be great, I thought, for those of us of African descent to have a small book of meditations, affirmations, and inspirations, derived from our culture, with which we could start the day or which we could use anytime to jolt flagging spirits or boost self-confidence.

Black Pearls is intended to be such a book. In it I hope to impart lessons and pearls of wisdom that give full expression to the diversity of our African-American heritage. The 365 quotes that begin each days entry range from African proverbs and great sayings of Frederick Douglass and Sojourner Truth to wisdom from contemporary African-Americans including Terry McMillan, Eldridge Cleaver, Oprah Winfrey, Quincy Jones, Muhammad Ali, Bill Cosby, Jamaica Kincaid, and many others. From these daily inspirations, Ive suggested meditations and specific daily actions. Each day covers a new topic: self-determination, heritage, affirmative action, love, dieting, victimhood, power and success, to name just a few. Like a cup of coffee in the morning, beginning the day with one of the books meditations can brace one for the days activities.

While reading Black Pearls, you might want to remember that I have used the long-standing social definition (there is no scientific definition) of who is black, namely, that any amount of African heritage means that you are black. Also, when I refer to children in the book Im not just talking about biological children, but about African-American youngsters in general.

I have emphasized visualization because it has been shown, through experiments with athletes, that the focused, relaxed mind going over a task paves the way for accomplishing that task in real life. And because its important not to obsess over an object or an event, I have usually suggested spending only five minutes on an exercise.

Some exercises recur periodically throughout the book because some thingsworking toward ones goals, for instancerequire repetition throughout the year to be successful. And, speaking of goals, you will notice that it is probably the most common word in this book. Just remember that when I refer to goals, I mean anything you might want to accomplishfrom being a better automobile driver to making the perfect cherry pie! Goals should not be taken as referring exclusively to professional ambitions. Last, if you dont know a person I have quoted, use this as an opportunity to go to the library and look him or her up!

To be black in America is to be marked and differentiated like no other group in American society. This is not a complaint, just a fact. For centuries our skin color, hair texture, and facial features have marked us as a people held in bondage, and even after emancipation, we have been marked for rare virulence in ongoing discrimination.

But as we continue our struggle, each and every one of usthrough Unity, Self-Determination, Collective Work and Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Creativity, Purpose, and Faithwill look at our heritage and decide what it will meannot to other ethnic groups, but to ourselves. There is a growing movement to make what once marked us negatively become our stamp of personal and collective excellence. I hope this book contributes to that movement.

E RIC V. C OPAGE

Ive had so many downs that I knew the law of averages would be in my favor one day.

D OUG W ILLIAMS

When life seems to bring nothing but a string of defeats and disappointments, weve got to have faith that something good is still in store for us. With this faith, we can forge ahead and continue to put forth our best effort. Without it, we give up and accept what comes our way, good or bad. Our precious dreams begin to seem absurdities.

It is imperative that we see ourselves as worthy and deserving of a good life. There may be rejections; it may take us a while; but as long as we stay in the game, theres every chance well score. On the sidelines, we can only watch as others do the work and the winning.

On this day, I will spend five minutes to relax and visualize success in achieving one of my goals.

January 1

I dont like short-term solutions; they can come back and bite you in the behind later.

C AROLINE R. J ONES

Sometimes short-term solutions are necessary. A bit of fast and fancy footwork can get this months rent or tuition paid, or a school or work assignment turned in on time. But a lifetime of close calls is stressful and fatiguing. Time spent constantly scrambling to meet our deadlines can deplete us of energy better applied to pursuing our dreams and enjoying our lives.

What do we need to do to make our lives easier, more manageable? Lets do some planning. The quick fix may serve to get us through a crisis, but crises recur when the underlying cause is not addressed.

On this day, I will take five minutes to write down one of my goals and devise a long-term strategy as to how to accomplish that goal.

January 2

For us, Africa is not so much a lost continent as an imagined one.

J ACK E. W HITE

There is irony in the fact that many of us ate homesick for a place we really do not know. It rests with us to learn about the birthplace of our ancestors.

We should all know, for example, about the Kingdoms of Ghana, Songhay, and Mali. We are enriched when we study the complex religious heritage and philosophy of life of African peoplesamong them the Yoruba and the Kongo.

Let us go beyond our kente cloth ties and hats to learn of our heritage before our people were chained and brought here. Our culture was stripped from and denied our enslaved ancestors, but we are able and morally bound to pick it up again.

On this day, I will take five minutes to meditate upon something I have that reminds me of my African descentit may be a piece of African cloth, a sculpture, a family photographand let it inspire me to learn more about Africa and do the best I can in whatever I have to accomplish today.

January 3

I made speech my birthright talking back became for me a rite of initiation.

B ELL H OOKS

We all need to talk back once in a while, in our own style. Going through life we may encounter a number of people who will try to pin the blame on us for their errors or shortcomings. We need to stand up for ourselves in such cases and refuse to be the scapegoat.

For some of us, this may go against the grain; we dont like to appear strident or defensive. But if we sit there and take it, our inner rage builds. Why carry that around with us, or risk taking it out indirectly on innocent people? We may be angry, but we neednt be gratuitous or vituperative in our back talk"; we ought to be smart about what were saying and how we say it. But remember, there is no glory or saintliness in being the long-suffering victim of abuse.