"Please say it ain't so!'

I just read something incredible in the AJC. "Some Spelman parents denied entry to graduation" "Several parents of Spelman College graduates were irate Sunday when they missed their children's graduation after being barred from the ceremony."

I am horrified by this heartless behavior but I can not say that I am surprised.  Some people get in positions of authority and lose their minds, their ability to think critically.  Follow the letter of the law (the protocol).  Make sure every one knows that you are rigid and inflexible.  Never care who you hurt.  You are large and in charge.  Your word is law!  You are not to be questioned or criticized.

"Parents from as far away as California and Canada said they were kept from entering a half hour before the graduation Sunday afternoon.  Some said they didn't know the doors would be shut 30 minutes before the ceremony."

"Spelman officials said they didn't do anything different than in the past years, but parents who said they arrived at or just after 2:30 p.m. for the 3 p.m. ceremony said some leeway should have been given.  Rainy weather made it difficult to get to the ceremony, a fact only complicated by traffic being delayed or rerouted to accommodate President Barack Obama's mortorcade when he traveled to nearby Morehouse College to speak at its commencement."

"'This is not a happy day,' said Melvin Cox of Oakland, Calif., who missed his only child's graduation.'I can't put into words how upset I am.'"

" 'Not to be allowed to attend your child's graduation is unconscionable,'he said"  "Belinda Robinson from San Francisco said about 150 people were kept from entering the ceremony."

As I said, while I found this news heartbreaking.  I was not one bit surprised.  Yes I am disappointed, but not by the color of their skin.  I am disappointed that so many people in authority could be so stubborn, rigid, totally inflexible.

Let's tell the complete truth.  Many people will quietly whisper; "n******" in the privacy of their homes or a least think it to themselves.  I assure you it is not a color or racial issue.  It is a human issue.  Our entire world is messed up, divided and confused.  Some men in authority divided us into "races" many years ago.  Convinced the entire world that people should he ranked and divided by skin color.

The number one race is Caucasian or white.  People that can trace their heritage back to the Caucasoid mountains are automatically assigned superior status when they enter this earth.  Don't argue with me and say that whites are not  automatically given the doors to the Kingdom, 99% of the American pie.

Their skin color is prized. "Light bright and damn near white!"  We are taught from birth that their hair is the best.  In fact it is called "good hair".  Every thing about "white people" is envied by our unthinking world.  Thin lips, long sharp noses, small feet, blue eyes, blonde hair, etc.

The racial hierarchy spirals down. " The darker the dumber. The blacker the slacker."  Black is the least desirable color.  No one wants to be black.  We all have Indian in our family.  Yes, it is self hatred.   It is self imposed ignorance.  This is 2013.  We are in the 21st century!  Surely to GOD there are enough people on this earth to stop this madness!

#1 - Stop dividing into racial groups.  We are not sports teams in competition with each other.  Racial grouping and categorizing is a man made construct.  Dr. King dreamed of the day when his children would be judged by their character not the color of their skin.  I've been longing for that day for 62 years and I'm getting tired.  I am not black! I am human! There is only ONE RACE, the Human Race!

#2 - Reject racial stereotyping.  Recognize human characteristics.  Don't let people hide behind skin color to justify wrong doing.  Stop repeating ignorant statements.  "Black people don't like to read."  I'm black and I am a ravenous reader.  What does that make me?  Why am I called a nerd, a lame?  When black people want to pursue academics why do we let people say; "Oh, they just trying to be white."  (If your dumb black a** read something you would know that the greatest academic minds on this earth have been Black!  Who built they Pyramids, the first "people" to perform delicate eye surgery, traveled to the "New World" first?)

#3 - Understand Prophecy; "Our people suffer for lack of knowledge." "The first shall be last.." Study to show yourself approved.  Study because you desire to know. Love wisdom.  Pray for it.

#4 - Don't reject common sense and defend wrong doing because the perpetrator just happens to share the same pigmentation, is a fellow "team mate".  Wrong is wrong! Have the courage to say so.

The final insult, the final slap in the face issued by Spelman College officials was; "Spelman said its commencement 'is the largest and most complex event of the academic year. There are guidelines and protocols in place as safety measures and for optimal event facilitation, including no access to the facility after a certain time, and no exit and re-entry."

"While expressing regret that some guests missed the event, the college said guidelines and protocols were communicated throughout the school year and commencement was streamed live on Spelman's website."

I am outraged! I'm outraged and I don't have chicken or child associated with that school.  How dare you "Spelman Official".  You need to be taken out and horse whipped.  You need to be whipped until you develop some common sense and compassion for your fellow man.

How dare you be so cavalier and cold concerning a once in a life time occasion?  Do you have any idea how much debt  those students incurred to earn the right to graduate?   Shame on you "Spelman College Official".

HBCUs are always complaining that their alums often graduate and forget them, fail to contribute in the form of cash or endowments.  I wonder why?  I graduated from NCA&T State in 1973 and I am still praying to forgive them.

#5 - Don't mistreat anyone.  Have some compassion and understanding for your fellow man.

Stay in His WORD children.  Remember; "Apart from Christ we are nothing."

May GOD's Grace, Mercy and Truth engulf you, cloak you and keep you in Perfect Peace,
Rachel Gwendolyn (the exceedingly proud granddaughter of a great Patriarch, JEROME WALTERS)