Imperious Entertainment

We must stop relying on the government to act as the breadwinners for our single Black women in need of a helping hand and to stand in as fathers to our fatherless children. We have the power to break these generational curses, but we must take the first steps towards empowering our ignorance. I ask not how much longer WE will stand for this, but rather how much longer with the I’s that make up the WE will stand for this. Each person must be held accountable and carry the burdens of those not strong enough to bear them alone. No longer should we be labeled as a people who do not read and therefore are not educated, intelligent, or aware. We MUST remember that we are descendants of kings and queens and a sophisticated and skilled people that introduced high level arithmetic, built contraptions that allowed them to view the stars, and built the pyramids….a feat that man in all their advancement and innovation still cannot figure out.

• Integrity: this must be the cornerstone of our daily existence. When talking about integrity, I am often taken back to my formative years when my father constantly impressed upon my brother and I the importance of having a good name and a reputation to go along with it. He constantly referenced the Bible and used Proverbs 22:1 to validate his point. It says, “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.” What are you known for? What sorts of things are associated with your name? It sometimes baffles me how we celebrate and encourage the deterioration of our people’s integrity. We live and have lived in a society where the talk and selling of drugs and sex has yielded a huge profit for both the artists who talk about it and the drug dealers, pimps, and hoes that give them something to talk about. We yell “Black Power” and want to march on Washington but never have thought about staging a protest on the corners where the war is really waged, where lives are being lost and to the outsider, the integrity of our race is slowly slipping away. We must stand. The foundation has been laid by the Nat Turners, the Malcolm X’s, The MLK’s…it is our generations turn to continue to build upon that foundation. It is our turn and our chance to make the Jena 6 the last group of black youth that will have to serve as the alarm clock for our hibernating souls.

• Internal Fortitude: This concept reminds me of watching the 1997 NBA Finals in which Michael Jordan, battling the stomach flu played 44 minutes, scored 38 points, and did all this after being diagnosed medically unfit to play. Marv Albert, the famed NBA announcer categorized Jordan’s performance as, “courageous…and classic.” How was he able to accomplish what he did while in the physical condition he was in? The African American in this day and age must possess inward strength capable of overcoming the daily obstacles that are bound to be faced. In the face of adversity and challenging situations, we must learn to turn inward and stand on our own even when what is facing us looks to be unconquerable. This is where Intelligence aids in the strength of our Internal Fortitude because if we do not possess the know-how when it comes to understanding how to deal with (and hopefully avoid) life’s potholes we will continue to wade in the same quicksand we have been stuck in for decades.

• Illusionist: this is the most crucial concept that must be learned and daily implemented. The wholly evolved and socially conscious Black man/woman must act the part that they want to play even if the role is not looking to be filled. By this I mean that we must constantly portray images that allow others to see us serving in capacities that may be different from the job that we are actually doing. For instance, I am an account manager at my current place of employment…a good job but I know that this is not the fulfillment of the greatness that has been placed inside of me. However, I come to work every day and act as if I am the CEO. I am well dressed, prompt to meetings, I carry myself with the sort of enthusiasm and posture that allows mangers and business executives to look at me and see me doing something greater than my current job. I have been told that perception is reality and based on this we, as a people, must continue to act 5 levels higher than wherever we are in an attempt to play on the eyes of those who watch us. We sometimes play the part that has been assigned to us almost too well. We are told and expected to live in poverty, sell drugs, not be able to keep a steady job, leave our women to raise our 3 children, and to at some point in our life go to jail, and we more often than not play right into this. When you change the picture, you change minds.

The world that we live in is one that forces us to constantly be ready to battle opposition both tangible and not. See things clearly. Use your Four I’s.

Comments (13)

...
written by Wordsmith , October 01, 2007

Profound, to say the least. I agree whole heartedly with everything you say. I was honestly trying to determine which one is most important, but all of the 4 I's must be used in conjunction with one another. Let's continue to use the 4 I's to "see" our future in a better light than our present situation.

...
written by Ericka , October 01, 2007

Great job Rob. You continue to get better as you write. The 4 I's are something that I think we must hold dear to our heart and incorporate in our daily living. Its easy to get caught up in our lives as well as the media and entertainment that we forget what our true purpose is on this Earth is; to continue to strive for greatness everyday.

...
written by J'Rod , October 01, 2007

very clear. very thorough. very thought out. the 4 i's should be posted on walls, bathrooms, and hallways all across america. Keep up the inspiration dude.

...
written by The Talented Tenth , October 01, 2007

My dude, you are a beacon of light in a dark and dubious time. I am so glad to hear that other people have this mindset. It never stops amazing me when people who are the descendants of kings and pharoahs and MLKs and Malcolm X's cant believe that we have the power within ourselves, despite all adversity around us. Did we already forget the words of warning and advice from "Life Aint No Crystal Staircase" and "Still, I Rise"? You know my favorite poem "The Man Who Thinks He Can" by Walter D. Wintle provides me encouragement and strength throughout the most arduous of journies. I hope it others will look to these voices of the past who speak through time and death to remind us that we arent weak, we arent perfect, but we ARE, and thats enough to stand up and fight for what we want

-7

...
written by Jackrabbit Jenkins , October 01, 2007

Indeed we tend to play the part we've been assigned. 5 levels higher, huh? Need to start portraying MY CEO persona

...
written by zamaih , October 01, 2007

Very well written my friend....This should be on a poster in little kids' rooms! Bravo!!

...
written by Moni , October 01, 2007

Well done "Parkay"! I look forward to reading many more of your oh so well articulated writings! You've grown so much hon'! I'm proud of you!

...
written by Imhotep's daughter , October 01, 2007

Percerption is reality and I believe whole heartedly that the 21st century Negro should hold themselves to a higher standard than that which our oppressors holds us to; We are not bound for welfare, prison or graves but instead, activisits, scholars, and revoultionaries.

G-d be the Glory

1Love

...
written by T Fields , October 03, 2007

I believe you made very valid points about the black community and its families but what now? How do we reach the people who really need to hear this? What do you think the first steps should be to get us to a better community and children who can really lead us into the future? I think we need a way to get these four I's into every household and every mind.

Again well done and i like to see people who care!

...
written by Shaun , October 03, 2007

Rob,
I especially felt you on the INTEGRITY section. Each day consists of efforts to define ourselves but also to unlearn what we everyone else has taught us to believe who we are. As a teacher, I have found that the simpliest text and lessons on Africa, Africans, African-Americans and much of our cultures (and I emphasize the plural because we are not all the same!) remain biased and unfavorable and is still being published to educate the general poulation all over the world. When you find yourself, checking out aternatate texts to teach middle school students about Africa, you realize that integrity is often absent in regards to colored people period. So integrity becomes most important in this time of our history. Thank you for your words! Look forward to your next set.

...
written by TPickens , October 04, 2007

I just wanted to clarify one thing for those who might go looking for the poems that "The Talented Tenth" mentioned. Langston Hughes' poem is "Mother to Son;" the refrain 'life ain't been no crystal stair' has particular resonance for this piece as it forces the Is: illusionist and intelligence. The title of the poem also interrogates the idea that the father, perhaps, should have had this conversation with his sons (keeping with the ideas presented in Integrity).

...
written by "Frank Abagnale" , October 04, 2007

The blog speaks for itself. Very well said.

...
written by Unc Geoff , October 25, 2007

The Four I' have become an essential necessity in our daily lives. Furthermore, the four I's need to be instilled as a decision making process from birth. As we continually progress as a foward thinking people, we must stand tall against the backdrop of microinequities, hate and prejudice. The points Mr Williams brought to our attention should force us to perpetuate the mobilizing of our minds where we challenge each other to collaborate and stimulate wealth creation. We are in a soceity where it is thought that we are a declining predictable model. Mr. Williams has stimulated us to work our environments and act as..." IF"

---