Message for the Black Man on this Martin Luther King Jr. Day

On this Martin Luther King Jr. day, if there's any message we should take in, it's that skin color doesn't really matter.  If you are a black man, black woman, or a person of any other color, if you really want to succeed no one can ever hold you back.  Really the only person that can hold you back is yourself.  

In our minds we can come up with all kinds of excuses and reasons we didn't succeed.  Don't let your own reasoning rob you of personal victory.  Don't make excuses for yourself.  Instead, learn something and try again.  If you don't have a chance at an achievement again, take what you learned and make it count elsewhere.  

Don't take this message as advocating success at any cost-for success at the cost of great harm to society or family, or losing one's soul is not something we should strive for.  Taken dishonestly, it is not something worth striving for.  Success may not always be what we thought it would be either.  Look for it in a variety of ways, and forms, and places.  We may not even achieve it where or when or how we thought we would.  

Here's a hint for everyone: it doesn't matter what skin color you have, because many people will find ways to put roadblocks in your way.  They will try to prevent you from succeeding.  Don't believe that this is a real roadblock.  They may try to make you believe it is.  This may be for a variety of reasons, but all I can say is don't give up.  Many people like to say I didn't do this, or I didn't do that because this group didn't let me, or this one person was standing in my way.  Oh, you may have to go and find success elsewhere.  You may have to make, to manufacture your own success through your own accomplishments.  When you are faced with an insurmountable ceiling or at least one everyone said was insurmountable, perhaps you have to find a new and creative way of getting around it, above it, through it.  

I can point to any number of great people who have had "roadblocks" in their way:  people of various skin colors, people with disabilities and severe limitations, low income, or seemingly everything in their way.  Just remember, whoever you are, whatever you want in life-may you use whatever gifts you have to do something noble, something great, something wonderful.  You truly can do all things through God who gives you strength!  

Whoever you are, may this advice serve you well; this message is my gift to you this Martin Luther King Jr. Day.  -Cal Samuel August, copyright 2009.  All rights reserved.