HEARING THE PROPHETIC MESSENGERS
BY QUENTIN HARRIS
Every day I live, I celebrate the progressive victories of my ancestors as prophetic messengers for a new world order. I am a son and disciple of the African race, and my love of knowledge is powerful like the light of the sun. This love of knowledge purifies my heart and mind daily. I have come to love all people with a renewed courage to dream new dreams. I have also learned to live and think with a bold vision as an architect of my greater destiny.
When I think upon my ancestors, the course of human events passes through my mind’s eye. I envision: Black pharaohs building pyramids; powerful men and women establishing kingdoms on the continent of Africa. I see my ancestors being forced to build this great nation; then after their days of slavery, I see their fight for love, truth, justice, and freedom.
Their fight to overcome political obstacles helped them evolve into the life force of unspoken wisdom and redeemers of this nation’s soul. The great lesson that my ancestors taught America: We the people are working together to build a more powerful America and give life and strength to the reoccurring birth, death, and resurrection of the American dream.
The course of human events reminds me to never bow my head in historical shame or to be ignorant of my history. Even today, my ancestors speak wisdom to me through the story and testimony of their life. All of my ancestors have proven in every generation to be people with beautiful souls, unbreakable spirits, and an amazing capacity to be molded into great leaders. They will stand forever as principled messengers of love, truth, and higher laws of justice. These visionary leaders, by living to their highest potential, have become signs to all of us that we too can break the chains of being enslaved to our past.
One of the greatest gifts my ancestors have given me is the ability to love others free of hidden agendas. Those who love my people and joined us in our fight for justice and equality are my spiritual brothers and sisters. Today we are being challenged to be enlightened citizens and teachers of the higher laws of American culture. One of the great challenges in the twenty-first century is to understand the great truths of our history. Then to speak those truths to power.
One of my most amazing ancestors is Grandmaster Prince Hall, founding father of Black Freemasonry. Prince Hall taught African Americans to fight to create a more powerful America through the founding of great social institutions. These brothers of Prince Hall Freemasonry transformed their Masonic lodges into political laboratories of leadership training.
These militant and intelligent brothers shouted out in a collective voice of diversified leadership to white America: “Am I not a man and a brother? If I am a man, then through the enlightened way I live my life, I demand that you respect my rights to live in eternal pursuit of greater liberty and happiness.”
My ancestors rose as leaders to remind this nation to do away with all forms of political hypocrisy. They knew that which divides us as Americans is an enemy to us all. They created innovative ways to align the laws of this nation with the principles of progressive politics and true leadership. It is now our responsibility to create an inspirational vision of making America greater than it ever was. We are a glorious people full of light, truth, and power. When we live in the spirit of brotherly love and social evolution, the light in our spirit will make us mindful of our power as American citizens. Our fight against racism, bigotry, sexism, tyranny, and excessive materialism can be won.
In African American history we hear the swan song of our collective destiny as a soulful people. This fight will challenge us like it challenged Martin Luther King Jr. to dream of a greater America and share with others our vision of collective prosperity.
When the month of February arrives and Black history is being taught in schools, it is wise to celebrate the progress we have made as a people from state to state. Let this month be a reminder to our soul to not judge people by the color of their skin, or by the condition of life they are living, but by the divine expression of their desire to be loved, respected, and cherished.
As the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, we are all challenged to tear down barriers between us. When we love and live with soulfulness, we realize that the riches of the spirit are equally as important as the riches we can find in the world. Knowing how to love and applying our wisdom will make us rich in self-love. It will also make us rich in understanding how we are to celebrate and love all cultures. Remember that to love ourselves like we love our people tests our faith in the American dream. It also reveals the beauty, power, and glory of our soul.
As American citizens we are on a hero’s journey of defining ourselves and the gospel of enlightened patriotism on our own terms. Knowledge is power, and the meaningful conversations we have with each other will help us see with eyes of prophetic wisdom the truths of history, which will bring joy, unity, and inner peace to each of our souls. In writing upon the spirit of my ancestors I hope you take time to think about how the redemptive power of love, truth, and sister/brotherhood has transformed us all into an international family. We are called to live for greatness.
A great prophet once said, Who is my brother, who is my sister, verily I say to you my brothers and sisters are those who do the will of God. We are all brothers and sisters of the human race, and our historical legacy teaches us we are one people with one almighty destiny. We are bold, we are growing wiser, and we can each join the fight of living as architects of our greater destiny — continuously reinventing ourselves and no longer living as a prisoner in our minds. The dream of our soul is a power that moves spirit to understand the divine poetry of living a meaningful life. In this poetry we honor our ancestors by living an honorable life on earth. With nerves of steel let us live as master builders of our character and with a heart of gold let us joyfully live as disciples of a new world order. Let us lift our voice and sing the wisdom learned from the life our ancestors lived, and go forth perfecting the art of living as our brother’s keeper and sister’s teacher. | QLH
QUENTIN LEE HARRIS IS FROM SALEM, OREGON AND AFRICAN AMERICAN. WRITING HAS BECOME HIS MENTOR, BEST FRIEND, AND THERAPIST TO HIS SOUL.