Just Stop Talking.

Kanye pissed me off.

I mean, I probably should say “pisses me off” because it seems to be an ongoing thing with him, but given that I’d done a reasonably good job at ignoring him over the last year, I’ll say pissed. This joker really vexed my spirit. Here’s why: 

“Calling from his ranch near Cody, Wyoming, where he says that he registered to vote for the first time on Monday, West denies it is a publicity stunt for his upcoming album.”

This joker has never voted before.

Running for President of the United States of America.

Never. Voted.

It’s sad that this 40-ish year old man has never voted, but that’s not enough to piss me off. It’s just sad.

What pissed me off is that it’s one of the simplest things you can do to serve your people, your community, and your cause...and this joker could never do that. But he wants to be president.

The dearly departed John Lewis said, “The vote is the most powerful non-violent tool that we have.”

And a man who wants to sit in the highest office in the land, has never swung the hammer.

It put into stark clarity for me, just how much ego and self-aggrandizing has exploded in our society.

Everyone wants to lead. But no one wants to serve.

Instagram (and social media, as a whole) has taught us that everyone has to be a “boss.” If you’re not an entrepreneur with 7 hustles, you ain’t living right. You’ll only ever just build someone else’s dream by working a 9-5. Blah blah blah.

The old people are perpetrating this fallacy too. This smoke is free for all ages. Every two months it’s a new church popping up. It wasn’t enough to be the deacon. You need to be the pastor. Everyone’s been “called by God” to lead a flock. All tree of y’all. Yeah, ok. But the message is still this:

Everyone wants to lead. No one wants to serve.

And please don’t mistake me. I’m all about multiple streams. I’m all about ownership. Equity. I love to see people using their God-given gifts to blaze their own path and create a way for themselves and their families that may have not been otherwise possible. But, what I’m saying is this:

Real leaders serve. Strong leaders serve.

They serve by learning. They serve by listening. They serve by engaging. Humility is one of their best attributes because it allows them to see varying perspectives and move in alignment with their purpose.

But folks don’t want to serve anymore. Everyone wants to be a thought-leader, to have something deep to say and they haven’t taken the time to flush out their opinions. They just spit out random foolishness like “Pow! I’m gonna kill em with that one!” and end up apologizing via “iOS Press Release” by way of Twitter 24 hours later.

JUST STOP. 

In the words of the honorable Kendrick Lamar, “Hold up, lil bih. Sit down. Be humble.”

These past few months, that’s really where my mind has been.

“How can I be of service? How do I best serve my people, my God, my children, so that something beautiful continues to grow out of what has been such a troubling time for many of us?”

That’s where my heart has been at. I want to do my part. 

Shirley Chisholm said, “Service is the rent we pay for the privilege of living on this earth.”

I’m trying to pay my rent. 

There’s honor in paying your rent. Dignity in paying your rent.

So, please, pay 👏🏾your 👏🏾damn 👏🏾rent. Preferably on time so you don’t have to retract your statements the next day. Your checks are out here bouncing like Tigger. We’re sick of it!

Read a book. Register to vote. And STFU until such time.