A Man Ain't Fit to Live, If He Ain't Found Anything Worth Dying For!
I spent part of this past weekend reading The Confessions of Nat Turner
, a historical novel that was written after Nat Turner's trial by his lawyer, Thomas Ruffin Gray. It stemmed from the conversations the two had while Turner was jailed for leading a slave rebellion in Southhampton,Virginia during the early 19th century. This piece is a must read and is deservingly one of the most popular books in African American culture.
As my eyes journeyed across the pages, a profound concept kept repeating in my mind. The notion was powerful and deeply represented many of the people that we admire in our schools, churches,and communities today. It's an idea that supplies an answer, at least partly, to the major question of "what separates regular people from legends?". In reading Nat Turner's Confessions, one of his characteristics stood above the rest. Although he was a man of boldness, intellect, steadfastness, his movement would have never had a chance unless he was totally willing to sacrifice everything to accomplish what he deemed as "his God-ordained mission". Ultimately, he sacrificed his own life for his convictions.
This may be one of the most difficult virtues for those taking leadership, because it challenges the person to perform a self analysis of him or herself to find what they're willing to give up in order to accomplish their goals. It puts in perspective how dedicated someone is to achieving their mission. The extreme in some instances could be death, in two different capacities. Martyrdom, which was essential to the foundation of Christianity. The other is genocide of a nation, which was the intent of Germany's Nazi movement under Hitler's rulership.
The complete opposite extreme is shallow sacrifice, which is when someone is willing to sacrifice little to succeed in their intentions. These are the people that are quick to lose their position of influence due to the fact that no one is willing to follow them in a mission that they themselves aren't earnestly seeking to attain.
In the broad scope of things, martyrdom and death are extreme cases of sacrifice. Moreover, I must state that they are not essential, and in most cases not the best option for those seeking to become better leaders. Instead of paying such a high price, dedicating your whole life to something you believe in is a much more viable alternative. Educator and civil rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune spent her entire life ensuring that African American men and women received adequate educations. In 1904, she founded the Daytona Normal and Industrial Institute, which through her persistence and hard work became Bethune-Cookman College in 1929. Presently, the school is a highly regarded institution for many, and has produced some of the most brilliant thinkers of today. I love her story because it demonstrates what a black woman can do, once she's willing to put her all into something! Also, it speaks volumes to the person looking to leave a legacy behind.
"A man ain't fit to live, if he ain't found anything worth dying for!" This is a statement exclaimed by the legendary Martin Luther King Jr., and in it, I believe, represents his position on this particular topic. Furthermore, it plainly declares what type of sacrifice he was willing to make to inject parity in the United States, between minorities. It's important that we all evaluate ourselves to find what it is that we're willing sacrifice to accomplish our goals. Are we willing to give up what it takes to get the job done, or are we just wasting our time? In answering these questions keep the words of the late great Martin Luther King Jr. in the back of your mind.
If you have any questions or comments feel free to share them with me.
A Man Ain't Fit to Live, If He Ain't Found Anything Worth Dying For!
By: Austin Rolling
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