We Did What?!

Often Regina and I share a moment when we realize that we packed up our family and moved 2,000 miles away from home. We loved Tulsa and Tulsa loved us back so it can be a struggle sometimes looking at a city we don't know. Imagine going days and never running into someone I don't know. Every day you have to introduce yourself and tell them you're new here.

I even miss the little things like "Doris" at the Walgreens. I put quotations cause we have no clue what her name is. But she was a main stay in our life. She was an older lady that rarely smiled, and often rushed you through the line mumbling "um huh" in her reply to have a good day. Because of her demeanor, we often made up stories about her going off on other customers. I still fill its a 50/50 chance she did some of the things we imagined.

Then there is Clarence! Clarence is a homeless man that I warn people about to this day. He is ill both mentally and physically, but he might be known as Tulsa's most famous homeless person right behind Brown Gravy. Clarence didn't like me, but he respected me when it counted. If I tried to get him to shower or change clothes, he would yell at me "get yo stuff and go head on."  However, when a tornado came along, Clarence always listened to me and got in the building if I told him too.

The homeless population and the cast of colorful characters that made up downtown and north Tulsa will be those I miss the most. They set the backdrop for our daily life. I knew all the people at my YMCA's, the running stores and even some of the food joints like Tropical Smoothie. We lived on Greenwood Ave! That is one of the most historic and significant neighborhoods in African American culture. Black Wall street was a place I got to call home, and I am extremely proud of it.

So being in the Portland area where there are no deep African American roots is a bit of a shock to my system. Growing up in Kansas City Mo African American culture helped structure the beginning phases of the city its self. BBQ and Jazz were done by all in Kansas City but well noted to had been perfected by the black folks in town. I was raised to be proud of my skin color and often told by community leaders to be black and proud. From 1991 to 1999 Kansas City had a black Mayor named Emanual Cleaver.  Seeing him in that position for so long made it the norm to see blacks in positions of authority. So moving to Tulsa was odd until I discovered the history of Black Wall Street and the Tulsa 1921 Race Riots.

Those Riots destroyed something beautiful and created a racial divide that still affects the Tulsa community to this day. However, my wife and her generation of North Tulsa natives are going to shake things up. I see leaders rising that will rebuild and re-educate that community. They have millionaire DNA, and it's at the core of who they are. Give it 20 years, and we will see the rise of Black Wall Street 2.0. Hopefully in a less hate filled society that will need to see North Tulsa and African Americans prosperous.

Seeing the positive direction that Tulsa is going makes our assignment here more challenging emotionally but does inspire us. Yes, Jesus sent us here, and yes He made us African American. We are Christians, we are Black, and we are very much proud of both and not ashamed to live both out loud. My wife has that Black Wall Street DNA and Jesus has given her the vision to have her a ministry and business that does natural hair! I get so excited knowing God has blessed her with a great plan for her life that will prosper her and not harm her. This gift will help spread gospel roots in a community that doesn't have time or space for Jesus and if we are honest blacks either. As a husband, this is all I have ever desired for my wife, that she has a purpose driven life that God has anointed with a cause. I'm truly blessed as a result of her obedience and love for God.

As for me, I'm going to meet with a local homeless shelter today to see about a job they are offering me. As the man of the house, I know God sent us here, and He didn't send us here to struggle, so I'm going to expect that on today I will be offered a job that will open up the doors for us to live abundantly. The idea of my wife being able to do what God called her to do exclusively excites me. I love what God is doing in our Life!


P.S.

I got this message and wanted to share it with you all. It inspired me to keep moving forward and be bold in knowing we are beautiful as we are and God used us before and he will do it again!