Don't Be A Lobster

Yesterday I received an email from a dear Hispanic friend in response to a group we have formed to advocate for the improvement of the academic achievement and graduation rate of Hispanic learners. Her words, "To be honest I have so much hope that this project can bring the unity that is missing that I am even scared at my dream. I am trying not to get excessively excited since I know challenges will come but I have prayed for a long time asking for a miracle," touched my heart.

The word unity stood out. Not only do we need to unite across racial, gender, age, ethnic, and other boundaries, but there also needs to be more unity within. It has broken my heart to see the fighting and accusations that I have witnessed within the Hispanic community in my community.

I'm reminded of a story about lobsters in an open tank in a restaurant. A guest to the restaurant questioned the waiter about why the lobsters didn't crawl out of the tank and escape. The waiter answered that that would never happen because as soon as one lobster started to crawl out, other lobsters would pull him back down. Although we think of lobsters as solitary beings, they are really extremely social---They also hate each other. They are always kicking each other and fighting. Even worse, they are cannibals--they will eat each other!

Barclay says, "It is indeed, more difficult to congratulate another on his success, especially if his success involves disappointment to us, than it is to sympathize with his sorrow and his loss" and Maclaren adds, "To 'rejoice with those that do rejoice' makes a greater demand on unselfish love than to 'weep with those that weep,' because envy is apt to creep in and mar the completeness of joy."

Haven't we all witnessed people who make incredible sacrifices to reach out to those who are suffering who at the same time hurl ugly and painful accusations at those who are succeeding. How sad!

Way too often successful Blacks are called Oreos and successful Hispanics are called Coconuts--"acting white." Whites are not immune to their own kind of name calling. It is critical that we get past this kind of name calling if we are to help our young people of all ethnic backgrounds to enjoy the American Dream. In other words, we must unite and become one in our efforts.

It is also important to remember the words of Marianne Williamson:
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that others won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."