Satchel Paige:Words of Wisdom

1906-1982

Satchel Paige was one of the greatest players in the history of baseball...he was one of many who came before Jackie Robinson who truly helped pave the way for the integration of Major League Baseball.  Lately (because of spring training starting this week), I have been thinking of him, Josh Gibson, Oscar Charleston, "Cool Papa" Bell, "Bullet" Rogan, "Double Duty" Radcliffe and many other African-American athletes who inspired millions and proudly helped blaze a trail for the Civil Rights Movement during a time of intense racism and racial violence.

So much hurt...so much pain...so many insults...so degrading...Satchel (in spite of his 4th grade education) teaches us about the difficult lessons we learn from American History...so much pride, perseverance, love, etc.

In his words:

"It's not what you don't know that hurts you, 

it's what you know that just ain't so."

I hope you will search for the truth and "know your history" and discover that the stereotypes, images/ portrayals, and things people say about you "just ain't so."

The Invisible Man

If you have never read, analyzed, or allowed Ralph Ellison's book The Invisible Man to challenge your way of thinking...you should. In his 1952 classic "first-person" account, Ellison explores the complicated task of defining ones-self in a world that constantly forces its' values, expectations, stereotypes, oppressive power, and hatred on "him" and how it pressures him (and us) to play inauthentic roles as we go through life.

Yazidi Refugees...another invisible man?

His book evokes deep questions about history/ current events...and maybe even expresses history better (through fiction) than most historians, sociologists, journalists, etc.  

In that regard, here is one of my favorite passages:

"History records the patterns of men's lives, they say: Who slept with whom and with what results; who fought and won and who lived to lie about it afterwards. All things, it is said, are duly recorded - all things of importance, that is. But not quite, for actually it is only the known, the seen, the heard and only those events that the recorder regards as important that are put down, those lies his keepers keep their power by."

In a world where deflated footballs and "reality" T.V. take up massive amounts of "media space" while injustice, starvation, genocide, human atrocities, homelessness, racial profiling, police brutality, big brother surveillance, systematic oppression thrive and lives don't matter...it is not surprising that many of us just can't breathe!

An "invisible" challenge to us all...to focus on truth, justice, the humanity of others and...

the truly important things in life.