No One's Left
I think because we are young, we foolishly convince ourselves that we and everyone else that matters - in some weird Divine defying way - are immortal. We all know that death is inevitable, but a lot of us (including myself) feel like certain people wont ever die.. or atleast they're not supposed to. It sounds crazy, but Dr.Angelou was supposed to live forever, just like Bernie Mac, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson and Ray Charles were to stay alive. But they're gone. We're losing all of the people we've looked up to. The question that keeps pounding in my mind is "Who's left??"
Who's left to admire or to inspire us? Who's left for us to emulate, imitate or pay homage to?
All areas of society are experiencing the loss of prominent icons whether it be in politics, sciences, technology etc. However what's really affecting us are the losses in the Arts. When our writers, singers, dancers, and actors pass away, it's almost the same as losing a family member or a close friend. While the death of Neil Armstrong in 2012 was a somber moment, it wasn't anything compared to losing Whitney Houston that same year. I'm not trying to diminish the great accomplishment of Armstrong being the first man to walk on the moon, butttttt he wasn't shooting in the gym. Whitney Houston was blasting in our living rooms (even in my Haitian household), her songs were sung into too many hairbrushes than I could count, she was a Fairy Godmother for many little girls. Whitney Houston, despite her fall-outs, was the business and when we lost her, many people sang her songs in tribute but let's admit, no one could deliver a song like Ms. Houston.
The people we spoke about in our classrooms, watched in our households, listened to in our cars and headphones in some weird way were family. We grew up with them, related to them, and they inspired us. I remember having to memorize "Still I Rise" when I was 8. Every Black History Month paper was on Maya Angelou til 5th grade and my love for writing began shortly after. 10 years later here you are reading this aspiring writer's post.
So when I ask "Who's Left?" I already know the answer. No one. Not literally, but in the next 5-10 years, it will be. As intimidating as it sounds, WE are the new Angelous, Mandelas, Cosbys, Jacksons, Hughes and Obamas. We're forever in debt to these people, who've taught us its okay to be hurt, the road is not easy, and if it is, it aint right. Those names opened so many doors for us, they've told their stories, showed us how it can be done and now it's our turn. Our names will be in these search engines inspiring little boys and girls just like we used to do, its our job to give them something to look up to. The obstacles are different, we're still struggling, but we've got to leave a mark on this world like those before us.
"My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style." - Maya Angelou
Rest well Dr. Maya Angelou. Thank you for inspiring me.
With love.
Evelyn