My Two Kobo…

I live in the US and here, there is an idiomatic expression which is “my 2 cents”. The kobo is the Nigerian currency which, I might say that it is not valuable now and much less valuable than what the 2 cents is worth. To find out more, GOOGLE it.

I woke up to a missed call from a family member in Nigeria who has not called nor talked to me in months. I panicked as to what is going on at home and so I called back. When I called back, she was like, how are you and your family, are you safe? She mentioned she had friends who had been calling her about her family in the U.S. as they saw all the riots in the news. She was like are you safe?

I am not going to go into all that we talked about, but it got me thinking happy and sad thoughts. Yes, both mixed emotions. Happy that everyone at home in Nigeria is doing well and that the world is no longer a village because of the internet but sad that it takes a tragedy or bad event to make people call.

I have lived in Nigeria, a country blessed with almost 500 languages if not more, and diverse ethnic groups. Most times, people are minorities in the states they live in and work, and are they treated differently yes!

Everyone in the US/ the world is aware of what has been going on in the news in Minneapolis, Minnesota where George Floyd, an African American was killed by a white police officer and for me which is closer to home, Louisville KY- Breonna Taylor was shot to death in her home by police. If you need specifics, go to Google.

I usually try to avoid talking about politics but this time… I will share my two kobos. I am an African American and being quiet does not mean I condone what is happening around me, and I am not making light of my what my friends, family and colleagues are experiencing. All that happened to these individuals George, Breonna recently, and others could have been me, my brother, my friends, my family. It could be anyone. Yes, something has to be done about it.

Amos 5:24- -But let justice roll on like a river,

righteousness like a never-failing stream!

I ask,

Does Rioting get the point across, does looting get the point across?

I have no answers… Ask me and I might have an answer when you do…

Does racism exist yes it does, and the sad thing is, it is not just in the US- it is everywhere in the world.

What do we do, were can we start?

There are many times I wish my father was alive to ask him what it was like to go to school in the south in the ’70s…what did he do? How did he handle the issues?

Racism/ discrimination must stop!

hen my kid was born, I went to get paperwork for my kid and this person implied that it was illegal to get paperwork for a kid that is not mine… My kid is “latte” complexioned because we are a biracial family. I ignored the comment and got the paperwork that I needed and left. I see the looks I get when I walk with my kid because of the color of our skin. And no, I did not marry my husband based on needing to get papers to stay in the US.

I do not want to raise my kid/ kids based on fear because of what people think about me, them, neither do I want to be afraid to be/ live and love wherever I go with my family.

I pray. I pray to teach my kids to fear God and love Him deeply and to honor His Word to have empathy, to love- to love our neighbors as ourselves just like the story of the Good Samaritan that Jesus told- not just stand there or walk by injustice or people who need help- see Luke 10

God help us

In Nigeria just recently, a girl was raped, to death in the church when she went to study, A 16-year-old- Tina was shot to death by the police, Jennifer who is 12 was raped by men…

Not too long ago, Africans were being ill-treated in China See Video

I end this here…

Life matters, all lives do. We are all God’s children, fearfully and wonderfully made -Psalm 139:14 which says: I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Do not let someone’s bitterness, anger, or fear make you forget that!

And that my dears are my 2 kobo and or cents if you want to call it that!