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EmpowerMag.com | Ill Be Dreaming By Julius E. Rhodes, SPHR With the recent passing of yet another Holiday Season and the arrival of our annual remembrance of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., it is an appropriate time to take stock of our lives. I also believe it is a time to look at what will forever define our nation and that is segregation versus integration. The landmark decision of Brown versus Board of Topeka said that separation or segregation is inherently unequal. However, that decision begs the question, is integration inherently equal? I would contend that obviously the answer is no. It is clear that in spite of what the Preamble to the Constitution says all men are not created equal. The new frontier of discrimination in our country actually has very old rootseconomics. Siofok accommodationIn order to address this issue of the continual disparity in our society between the haves and the have nots, we all should and must be dreamers, dreaming of and working for a better world individually; but more importantly, collectively for everyone. This dream should lead us to a deeper understanding of what is required to be the best we are capable of being, and providing assistance to those who need it---not because it will make our individual lives better or because it may lead to some future individual benefits. The assistance should be rendered because it will enable the community that we are all a part of, mankind, to rise above our historical preoccupation with self to a place of total involvement and acceptance. Interlaken alberghi offerte stagionaliThis notion is of particular importance to African-Americans because for decades, we have refused to embrace the idea, in a holistic manner, of Ujamaa, or cooperative economics. We must all realize that what affects one of us affects all of us, and not until we strive to help the least of us will we be judged by the best of us. hoteles InnsbruckIn January 2001, we should endeavor and take a vow to continue to carry that spirit with us throughout the year. With all the unsettling news that we have received recently such as the bankruptcy of the Chicago retailing institution, Montgomery Wards, the planned shuttering of the Brach and Brock Confections, Inc. facility and the 100+ billion dollar merger of America On Line and Time Warner, it should be apparent that all of us need to abide by and practice the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa each and every day. Those seven principles are Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-Determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity) and Imani (Faith). Within our organizations, all of us need to practice intrapreneurship. That means we should behave as if we are a corporation of one, where we all continually hone our skills and cultivate new gifts that will allow us to function in a multitude of scenarios regardless of the situation. To whom much is given, much is expected. All of us, regardless of what we may believe, have been given a great deal. The challenge is to realize what we have and to continue to apply all of our diligent efforts to increase our skills in all possible manners. If each of us does not work to cultivate our gifts we will surely lose them. ERROR MSGIn the year 2001 and beyond, I will be dreaming of and working towards achieving a world where we all work to realize the enormous potential inherent in our community. This community, which time and time again, in isolated instances, has proven to be among the most creative, and brilliant ever assembled by the Creator. Let us all dream of the day when this will become a sustained reality. Will you join me?
About The Author: Julius E. Rhodes, SPHR is Founder and Principal of the mpr group, a full service, broad-based Human Resources consulting firm specializing in training and development, project management and generalist human resources. If you would like to see him address any issues in this column he can be reached at j-rhodes@govst.edu. | |
