Invictus and The Man in the Arena

Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

William Ernest Henley

While incarcerated on Robben Island prison, Nelson Mandela recited the poem to other prisoners and was empowered by its message of self-mastery. In the movie Invictus, Mandela gives the captain of the national South African rugby team the poem to inspire him to lead his team to a Rugby World Cup win, telling him how it inspired him in prison. In reality, as opposed to the movie, Mandela actually gave the captain, Francois Pineaar, a copy of "The Man in the Arena" passage from President of the United States Theodore Roosevelt's speech Citizenship in a Republic instead.

THE MAN IN THE ARENA Excerpt from the speech "Citizenship In A Republic"
delivered at the Sorbonne, in Paris, France on 23 April, 1910

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

A Philosophy for 2013

During this Black History Month of 2013, there have been many quotes offered that have been attributed to W. E. B. DuBois. I now offer not just a quote but a lengthy statement that once upon a time adorned the walls of the homes of African Americans throughout the land. It is especially fitting that we remember these words since DuBois Philosophy for 1913 could still apply today. The following is taken from a speech I gave in 2009 on the centennial anniversary of the founding of the NAACP.  I now offer it as a centennial restatement for 2013.   

Peace,

Everett Jenkins

One of the brightest lights of the NAACP was W. E. B. DuBois. In 1913, DuBois wrote an editorial entitled “A Philosophy for 1913” and I think it bears remembering his words now. DuBois said:

I am by birth and law a free black American citizen.

As such I have both rights and duties.

If I neglect my duties my rights are always in danger. If I do not maintain my rights I cannot perform my duties.

I will listen, therefore, neither to the fool who would make me neglect the things I ought to do, nor to the rascal who advises me to forget the opportunities which I and my children ought to have, and must have, and will have.

Boldly and without flinching, I will face the hard fact that in this, my fatherland, I must expect insult and discrimination from persons who call themselves philanthropists and Christians and gentlemen. I do not wish to meet this despicable attitude by blows; sometimes I cannot even protest by words; but may God forget me and mine if in time or eternity I ever weakly admit to myself or the world that wrong is not wrong, that insult is not insult, or that color discrimination is anything but an inhuman and damnable shame.

Believing this with my utmost soul, I shall fight race prejudice continually.If possible, I shall fight it openly and decidedly by word and deed.When that is not possible I will give of my money to help others to do the deed and say the word which I cannot.This contribution to the greatest of causes shall be my most sacred obligation.

Whenever I meet personal discrimination on account of my race and color I shall protest.If the discrimination is old and deep seated, and sanctioned by law, I shall deem it my duty to make my grievance known, to bring it before the organs of public opinion and to the attention of men of influence, and to urge relief in courts and legislatures.

I will not, because of inertia or timidity or even sensitiveness, allow new discriminations to become usual and habitual.To this end I will make it my duty without ostentation, but with firmness to assert my right to vote, to frequent places of public entertainment and to appear as a man among men.I will religiously do this from time to time, even when personally I prefer the refuge of friends and family.

While thus fighting for Right and Justice, I will keep my soul clean and serene.I will not permit cruel and persistent persecutions to deprive me of the luxury of friends, the enjoyment of laughter, the beauty of sunsets, or the inspiration of a well-written word.Without bitterness (but also without lies), without useless recrimination (but also without cowardly acquiescence), without unnecessary heartache (but with not self-deception), I will walk my way, with uplifted head and level eyes, respecting myself too much to endure without protest studied disrespect from others, and steadily refusing to assent to the silly exaltations of a mere tint of skin or curl of color.

In fine, I will be a man and know myself to be one, even among those who secretly and openly deny my manhood, and I shall persistently and unwaveringly seek by every possible method to compel all men to treat me as I treat them.

"Red Tails", George Lucas, Thaddeus Stevens and the Power of Love

Last Friday, while watching Kim and Kourtney Take Miami, I commandeered the remote to occasionally view the NAACP Image Awards.  

I happened to see the climactic moment when the Best Picture was announced and surprise, surprise, the winner was "Red Tails". 

As I watched the award being given out, I found it rather odd to see the rather short and stout George Lucas being surrounded by four taller African American gentlemen who were obviously associated with the film.

Lucas' appearance at the NAACP Image Awards along with his passionate advocacy for making "Red Tails" and his recent donation of $4 Billion for educational endeavors caused me to look him up to see what may be behind Lucas' new take on life.

  

One of the first articles that came up was this:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/03/george-lucas-mellody-hobson-engaged_n_2404471.html

Having seen the movie "Lincoln" and read about the role the private life of Thaddeus Stevens may have had on his advocacy for the Thirteenth Amendment, I could only begin to wonder if maybe George Lucas' passion for "Red Tails" stemmed from the recent developments in his private life as well.

If so, then it behooves us all to never underestimate the Power of Love.