MS01.01.03.B02.F12.010

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5

(9) Well, it goes without saying that black
people are still not a part of the
mainstream of our nation though we
have made certain cultural [crossed out: and] social
and economic gains. We cannot afford
the luxury of thinking we are near
"the promised land". We are still "on
our way to Caanan land". We are only
one step ahead of our ancestors, and
must affirm our position with projections
of excellence in every walk of life. No
one will culturally emanicipate me. I
must be big enough to do it myself. It
may require my wearing three hats
at the same time but perhaps I'm
strong enough to do it. Should I
succumb to the weakest urge within
me? I think not. That urge would
be to let well enough alone too. No,
"life ain't been no crystal stairway. . .,"
and I don't ever expect it to be in
my lifetime. I would love to see
hunger, sickness, racism and the
ills of our society stamped out
today. But being real, it will take
time. My career as an artist, an educator
and all of the other attempts at being
myself are an affirmation of Langston's
famous saying. I'm glad I knew him as
a personal friend. He knew exactly what
he was saying.

10. Yes, some progress has been made towards our being
free souls capable of expressing "our own
black selves" -- but we have the ultimate
gone [go-ahead] of expressing our own black
selves through an assertion of our full humanity.

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