MY TRUTH: Black to Reality

By Cheryl Smith

Can Understanding Be Mellow?

Jerry Butler and Brenda Lee Eager sang, “Ain’t Understanding Mellow.” I loved listening to that song as a young girl growing up in East Orange, NJ.

Recently, BET helped me put those three words into context.

As I watched the BET Awards 24, I said to myself, “I don’t know what they are saying!”

Sounds familiar.

Well, what comes around goes around.

I have constantly heard that young people don’t know their history.

It’s reality check time.

As I watched the show, hosted by the super-talented Taraji P. Henson, I heard names of artists who I was hard pressed to identify two in a category of seven.

So who’s to blame?

Am I in a better position than the young who don’t know their history? Those who never heard of Ida B. Wells, Dr. Dorothy Irene Height, or Paul Robeson. Or worse, those who are trying to erase history.

Which brings me to my truth. As someone who believes that every day on this earth is another day to live, learn, lift and love; just as I want our youth to learn what I know, it is imperative that I learn what our youth know.

Today, I know how my elders felt about some of the music my peers and I were listening to. The one big difference, however; has to be the language.

There are no barriers, or any type of decency in some of the language that is produced.

There’s no effort to protect or respect elders or babies. Instead, any- thing goes — decorum no longer exists.

So I will listen and try to understand, and ask questions. Maybe if we all try to understand better what is at the root of today’s behavior, we can find ways to reach a mutual ground of dignity and respect.

I’m willing to try. Are YOU?