PRIDE IN OURSELVES

What is Pride. Pride. Pride is a Deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one's own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired.

Today in our culture, monetary value seems to equate success. The question is how we as black people measure that success. Is it the car you drive? Is it the House you live in? or the businesses you own? These things are all non-essential to living a good life filled with spirituality and Peace. Where does pride come from? if you lack pride, will you gain it by having those monetary things. This constant search for pride is found in our urban community service. It's found in the schools where young men and women dedicate themselves to study and learn their craft in math, science and technology. Pride is found in the community service organizations that try to make a difference and seeing that difference manifest itself. This question haunts me when I drive thru our communities and I see our neighborhoods ravaged with Uncut Grass, upkept houses and violence. How can we say "I love the Hood" when we do not take care of our own surroundings. It is that pride that compels us to make our homes beautiful. It is pride that compels us to carry ourselves with pride and act accordingly when we find ourselves in tough situations. When we start taking pride in ourselves and push for the betterment of our living conditions, Pride will not be something we have to learn.. It will be something that we cherish....God Bless you all.

Paul Gordon