It is the end of November 2023. It is the start of the holiday season. The Thanksgiving turkey will lead to Christmas trees and gift giving. This is a truly pleasant time of year in the USA. This Thanksgiving African Americans have much to be thankful for, and here are a few of these blessings.
African Americans should be thanking their lucky stars that slavery is over. Slavery was the norm in this country until 1865. In the scant 158 years since the abolition of slavery African Americans have had time to heal and embrace the pursuit of the American Dream. African Americans have seemed to forgiven their former slave masters for their actions taken in the past. African Americans have embraced their freedom and over the decades even gained a form of assimilation into U.S. culture and society. African American progress has advanced from being former slaves to President and Vice President of the United States. African Americans, bask in your progress and be thankful on Thanksgiving that slavery is over.
African Americans, celebrate the advancements in equality that you have achieved. No longer are you forced to be victims of Jim Crow laws. The front of the bus is open to African Americans as well as whites. African Americans are no longer confined to ghettos where poverty rules along with high crime rates. African Americans can move into plush suburban dwellings and watch their children grow into fine U.S. citizens next to white people. African Americans can openly vote and even argue in public with white people and not have to worry about a cross being burned on their front lawn. African Americans should smile and sing The Star Spangled Banner as they carve the Thanksgiving turkey.
African Americans should be proud of the integration of all pro sport leagues. African Americans are a force in all sports – from the NFL to NBA. On Thanksgiving day there were three football games played showcasing African American prowess, with three out of six teams competing on Thanksgiving three will have African American starting quarterbacks. This is a classic example of African American advancement. Sports has changed the paradigm in African American childhood dreams and goals. Sports has made African American youth dreams of being a millionaire important and possible. No longer do African American youth have to focus on academics. As long as African American youth show athletic prowess their future is bright. As a result, on Black Friday many African Americans will be shopping for gym shoes or some form of athletic wear as gifts. As you pass the cranberry sauce during Thanksgiving dinner tell the person next to you, how good life is.
African Americans should celebrate the way social media has assisted African American integration into U.S. culture. Social media has enabled African Americans to keep abreast of other people and what they are doing in their lives. This helps African Americans be selfless and focus on others issues, instead of fixing their own. This selfless act by African Americans has led to social media becoming another way to fame and fortune in the world. Social media has made everyone an expert on every subject from relationships to politics. There is always someone on social media to assist when an African American is confused about a topic or needs some guidance. African American on Thanksgiving Day, be sure to post a selfie of you and the chitterlings on Instagram or TikTok. The hashtags should ‘be thankful and love for all’.
I could go on about the many things African American should be thankful for. There is hip hop music. You have the new grey or blue weave fashion that is sweeping the USA for African American females. Alternative lifestyles are helping African American males embrace U.S. culture. As the 2023 holiday season on the way, pause and smile because you have much to be thankful for.
Frank James IV © 2023
beingfrankwithfrank@gmail.com
The opinions expressed in this editorial are those of the writer and not of the Milwaukee Times Weekly Newspaper or HT Group, LLC, its staff or management. “Being Frank” is a bi-weekly column exclusive to the Milwaukee Times Weekly Newspaper.
