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Have you ever contemplated how humankind will change in the next five hundred years? Is it possible that we will evolve into another species? Will the topics that we discuss today become so irrelevant that future generations will not have the capacity to understand?
I hope many of the pertinent challenges we discuss in 2018 do not remain conversation staples five hundred years from now. It sounds idealistic to think about a society devoid of racism, sexism, ageism, ableism, and other socially produced inequalities.
The notion that I am among the first generation of men to contribute solutions to problems not conceivable in the future is almost unfathomable.
Last week, I explained the full spectrum of the vision The Creator provided my spirit with life to fulfill. It involves using my passions of writing, training Capoeira, speaking, serving people, and video editing to influence the lives of others from underserved backgrounds. I mentioned how my vision includes creating lasting positive influences for young people who resemble Stephon Clark—those who could lose their lives in any moment by the hands of law enforcement.
It gives me hope to imagine a world where racism and misguided masculinity cease to support and maintain social injustices.
I am a proponent of optimism and positive thinking, while I am also aware of the senseless violence that continues to prevent substantive progress. The Washington Post reports two hundred seventy-seven fatal police shootings have occurred since January.
Seven bullets hit Stephon Clark’s back and neck on March 18 and killed him in his backyard. Between 2014 and 2017, some 2,710 children under the age of twelve were killed by others with firearms in the United States. I like to believe that I am among the last men who will need to write about these issues, but evidence indicates I am among the first.
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In Olaf Stapledon’s book, Last and First Men, he offers a fictional glimpse into a future where humanity evolves and lives on other planets throughout the solar system. Although fictional, Stapledon’s visions of the future are not far-fetched. In detail, he discusses how with each generation of human beings, violence and the limited knowledge of our potential influences conflict.
Stapledon’s predictions of the future suggest that substantial progress is not possible if we do not work toward unified solutions to today’s problems. Among all the generations Olaf discusses in his book, he states the most successful saw themselves as individual parts to one mind.
If we could begin to make earnest efforts toward collective thoughts and actions aligned with creating an improved future for all people, I believe a society without violence is possible.
It will require each of us to deny parts of ourselves to understand the humanity in people who are from different backgrounds. I believe the sacrifice in appreciating our differences is worth any inconvenience we may experience.
Seeing ourselves as part of a shared history is pivotal to the survival of human life. Without a shift in our awareness to change the individual and systemic nature of social inequalities, we will not realize the great gifts, talents, skills, and abilities in each of us.
The refusal to align social justice thinking with direct actions will render Stephon Clark’s murder as one among other young Black males lost to racialized justice served through state-authorized homicide.
Today I recognize I am one voice among the first men to acknowledge our society needs to change. Every day, I push and desire to encourage you also to work towards the goal of ensuring we are part of the last men who feel it is necessary to fight to live a full life.
For a foundation to develop thinking aligned with actions to create a more positive future, enroll in my course.
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This post is republished on Medium.
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Photo credit: iStock
