I am not fighting over crust! Are we baking our own pie or not?

by Angela T. Rye, Esq.

Over the past couple of weeks I, as a member of IMPACT, have been afforded the opportunity to dialogue with tremendous emerging leaders in various social settings. There has been a lot of talk about "blockers", passing the torch (or really, not), and the under-utilization of well qualified members of my peer group. While my ideology has oft been dismissed as too idealistic, too optimistic, or too Booker T-ish, I propose that we begin moving towards baking our OWN pie. I am not saying that I don't need help. I am not even saying that I can't use the talents, resources, and gifts of my peers or my elders because that would be a lie. However, I am saying that we need to HEAVILY consider the importance of recognizing the ingredients before us. I like sweet potato pie, so follow me for a minute (and I know, I know everyone makes it differently). There may be someone with flour, someone else with eggs, someone with whipping cream, butter, vanilla, nutmeg, and of course, the yams! Just because an individual brings the yams to the table does not mean that everyone else is insignificant, but we do need to acknowledge the importance of what our gifts are and be comfortable with OUR gifts.

I am a firm believer that God created us to be inter-dependent. We NEED each other. How can we move beyond the bickering, the fighting, and the hurts of the past into a future with solutions that benefit the greater good?